SOCA GROOVE MASTER Alphonsus Arrow Cassell was laid to rest earlier today following a more than two hour long funeral service.
Arrow passed away on September 15, after losing the battle with brain cancer.
His body arrived at the Montserrat Cultural Centre at 10 a.m. in a red and yellow-trimmed cedar coffin of a 3D conceptual arrow. Some traditional hymns were also rearranged to bring a folk feel to the 2 p.m. funeral service that was preceded by a private ceremony for the family at the St Patrick’s Roman Catholic Church in Lookout.
A steady stream of onlookers viewed the body as it lay in repose at the Cultural Centre, four hours before the funeral service began.
Local entertainer Red Plastic Bag (RPB) and Edwin Yearwood, former members of Arrow’s Multinational Force Band, Short Shirt, Swallow, Leston Paul and Onyan of Burning Flames were among those from the entertainment fraternity attending the funeral, which attracted dignitaries from throughout the Caribbean.
Chief Minister of Montserrat Reuben Meade, Minister of Culture, Carnival and Independence Aleston Namba Adams, Antigua and Barbuda’s Prime Minister Baldwin Spencer, Chairman of Antigua’s Carnival Vaughn Walters and Trinidad’s Minister of Art and Multiculturalism Winston Gypsy Peters were also in attendance.
Even though his passing has been a blow to the fraternity, the service was more celebratory than solemn as mourners packed the building, spilling on to the outside.
Prime Minister Spencer and Gypsy were among those who joined family members in paying glowing tribute to the life and work of the man who took calypso and the Caribbean to the world.
The celebrations continued well after the funeral service with a concert at the Montserrat Cultural Centre.
Here, Prime Minister of Antigua Baldwin Spencer (left), Chief Minister of Montserrat, Reuben T. Meade, His Excellency the Governor Mr. and Mrs. Peter Waterworth, Governor of Montserrat at the funeral service.
