Thomas R. Walcott was a typical Morne Dudon lad who acquired his major faculty schooling on the Castries Methodist College underneath the tutelage of Alix Walcott and Oscar A. Walker. He received a scholarship to attend the one secondary faculty on the time, St. Mary’s Faculty. On the Faculty, he secured an built-in secondary schooling which included each classical and scientific orientations. He was comfy in each areas however was acknowledged for his sensible mathematical thoughts. Because the dictum ‘mens sana in corpore sano’ was all the time actualized by Samarians, he was an energetic participant in extra-curricular actions and though he was a quick off-break bowler at cricket, he most popular soccer.
Upon commencement from St. Mary’s along with his Cambridge Senior College Certificates, he labored as a Technical Assistant on the Public Works Division earlier than continuing to Canada to additional his schooling. In Canada, he entered the College of Toronto and studied Civil Engineering. He was profitable in his research and graduated with a Bachelor of Utilized Science diploma in Engineering. He gained some area engineering expertise with structural engineering companies in Cananda earlier than returning residence to help his father, N.B. Walcott, in his constructing development firm.
Tom quickly opened his personal personal engineering agency which attracted a number of native purchasers. By dint of arduous work, dedication and a radical, meticulous and analytical method, he was capable of contribute considerably to the infrastructural growth of the nation. Along with Pat Brown, and his schoolmate Gregory George, Tom Walcott was a part of the triad of the very best structural engineers that Saint Lucia had produced. Tom was notably competent within the design of floating foundations, which have been thought of important for development on the low-lying Castries flood plain. His structural designs and development administration abilities have been acknowledged by a big and diverse vary of purchasers that included enterprise and industrial homes, banks, cooperative societies, non secular entities, engineering and constructing development corporations, contractors, industrial corporations and particular person householders. The buildings, roads, bridges, retaining partitions and factories constructed by him are to be discovered all through the size and breadth of Saint Lucia.
Tom’s social consciousness led him to grow to be a member of the Saint Lucia Discussion board. He participated actively within the programme of the Discussion board which was aimed primarily on the social and political schooling of the unusual man instilling in them the significance of the worth of self-discipline, self-worth, self-confidence, self-reliance, self-assurance as conditions for growing an unbiased nation.
The Discussion board later morphed into the Saint Lucia Labour Motion Motion of which Tom was a co-founder together with the political activists and aspirants George Odlum and Peter Josie. The triad later joined the Saint Lucia Labour Get together within the seventies.
As a staunch member of the Labour Get together, he supplied recommendation, consolation, counsel and hope to the Get together throughout its lengthy sojourn in Opposition. With out his die-hard assist, the Get together wouldn’t have been capable of survive the turbulent political ‘darkish days’ as exemplified by his bravery in contesting the Babonneau seat which was then held by the indomitable Allan Bousquet. Tom served the Labour Get together with dedication, love and inspirational vitality and with distinction as its Chairman for many years. He was lately given a Lifetime Service Award in honour of his lifetime of dedication, devoted service, unwavering assist to and membership of the Get together.
Tom Walcott’s humanity knew no bounds. He was a person of the unusual, humble, deprived folks for whom he directed his energies in direction of their upliftment. This was quietly demonstrated by his monetary and ethical assist to hanging staff within the Cul-de-Sac and Roseau Valleys within the early 1970’s. He was a real philanthropist devoted to the reason for the underdog by his contribution to their schooling. He did so straight by serving to people but in addition via his monetary assist of the establishments which might pursue the identical, together with the Crusader Publishing Firm and the supply of spacious lodging for the official Headquarters of the Saint Lucia Labour Get together at his Walcott Constructing on Higher Jeremie Avenue. His contributions to charitable establishments and quite a few sporting, social, cultural and academic organisations in addition to people in want is well-known.
On the nationwide political stage, he served as a Senator within the Higher Chamber of the Parliament, the place his contributions have been all the time directed in direction of the upliftment of unusual folks. His fierce loyalty to the Get together and his native nation, Saint Lucia, was a dominant characteristic of his character. Her Majesty the Queen inducted him as an Officer of the Most Wonderful Order of the British Empire (OBE) for his distinguished contribution to Nationwide Improvement.
Thomas Walcott was a household man who exuded love, grace, kindness, consolation, heat and devotion to his spouse and youngsters. He ensured that they have been extraordinarily effectively taken cared for and loved a secure household life. Precedence was all the time given to the schooling of his kids, and he was at pains to see that all of them acquired the very best schooling accessible that was in consonance with their particular person talents, likes and capabilities. He was additionally all the time variety, beneficiant and passionate to the massive Walcott household and expressed his brotherly and sisterly love in quite a lot of methods. He was thought of the hub of the household and was typically wanted for recommendation which he supplied with pleasure.
Apart from Engineering, he was au courant in a variety of topics together with Historical past, Philosophy, Faith, World Affairs and naturally native, regional and worldwide Politics and Economics. Though he was considerably personal, introverted and shied away from social occasions, he had a surprisingly massive variety of buddies and acquaintances. He was all the time trustworthy, straight-talking, amicable, variety and constant in his dealings along with his buddies. Nevertheless, his shows in arguments have been so penetrative and protracted that it was all the time troublesome to win him over as he was strong-minded on a number of points. He will certainly be missed.
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