The?people of Bayville and the bodybuilders of Barbados were at one at St Paul’s Anglican Church yesterday afternoon.
They paid reverence and respect to one of their own, Winfield Nathaniel Bascombe, weightlifter and bodybuilding administrator, who left an indelible mark on both sporting disciplines.
Bascombe, a founder member of the Barbados Amateur Bodybuilding Federation (BABBF) and the Central American and Caribbean Bodybuilding Federation (CACBBF), who passed away on May 20 at the age of 81, got the send-off he deserved.
His wife of the last 34 years, Linda, was teary-eyed at graveside, while his daughter Shelly, who placed the first wreath on the grave, couldn’t fight back the tears.
Bascombe’s niece, Marlene Bascombe, the former Hotspurs and Barbados netballer, now based in Florida, was unable to attend the funeral but his nephew, Tyrone “Potter”?Emmanuel, the former Everton, Notre Dame and Barbados hard-tackling football defender of the 1980s, came in from New York to say farewell.
Veteran sports journalist Sam Wilkinson, in the eulogy, hailed Bascombe as “loyal and committed a servant of sport as anyone in his generation”.
Wilkinson said that Bascombe, who played football for Notre Dame, was a man for all seasons.
“Winfield sought every available opportunity to promote local, regional and international bodybuilding in order to ensure the sustainability of the sporting discipline through a well developed public relations programme,” he said.
“Winfield was a gentleman, who served with a sense of purpose that truly embodied his character. He clearly has left an indelible mark on the sport of bodybuilding in this country.”
Bascombe was manager/coach of the Barbados team to the 1976 World Championships in Montreal, Canada and the leader of that trio, Darcy Beckles, was among the congregation at St Paul’s.
“I had to be here. Bascombe did a lot for bodybuilding and will not be forgotten. He was a gentleman,”?Beckles said.
President of the BABBF, Andrew Forde, former Mr Universe Earl Maynard and four-time Mr Barbados William Prescott, had front row seats. Other mourners included top bodybuilders David “Noddy”?Alleyne, Walter Sobers, Andy Forde, Therold Babb and reigning Mr Bridgetown Joseph “Runt”?Bourne.
It was Bascombe, Roy Callender and Cleveland Rose, of Val Rosa Club, who helped in forming the Barbados Amateur Bodybuilding Federation in 1970. When the CAC?Championships were held here for the first time at Marine House in 1974, Bascombe was president of the local federation and had the satisfaction of seeing the host country capture the first of several team titles.
That year, he was presented with the Caribbean International Award for his dynamic contribution to the sport here and in the region.
Bascombe, a father of four – Marvin Callender, Simon Rayside, Sean Bascombe, and Shelly Bascombe – was buried at Westbury Cemetery.
