“There was also a famous Star from the West”
Introduction
A “STAR” was born on February 9, 1961, and it was as if he was nicknamed, (so it now appears), Elvis Glenroy Browne. Little did his deceased mom, Margaret Browne, know then: ‘stars’ of significance do not emerge only from the east. His aunt, and the lady who literally mothered him, would confirm through her reflections, that “a masterpiece is not mass produced”. For, a master piece, indeed, is what “STAR” turned out to be.
A Life of Many Seasons
Elvis “Star” Browne’s life had many seasons. The seven “S’s” is how I chose to classify those seasons: Service, Spouse, Sickness, Soccer (Sports), Stewardship, Sibling and Stability.
These seasons were punctuated by the experiences akin to any Kittitian-60’s baby, growing up in ‘De Village’, and graduating from the ‘De Village’ Primary School, through to the St. Kitts-Nevis Grammar School/Basseterre High School and subsequently pursuing studies at the St. Kitts and Nevis Technical College—from where he graduated with a diploma in carpentry.
I can still visualize “Star” and his partner, Felix Julius, walking around Basseterre with pencil behind one ear, plying their trade in the competitive market. “Star” emerged from a generation of Technical College graduates who, until today, constitute the relatively few quality joiners/carpenters that form the bedrock of the home-grown building industry.
He was among those of whom the educational/training institution must have been justly proud.
He later switched gears to become one of the most highly admired regional sports administrators, a respected, knowledgeable and successful coach and an extremely well decorated athlete.
A Season of Service
A pivotal season of his life was typified by an appetite for service. Service to family, service to friends, service to the vulnerable, service to schools, service to community, service to country and service to region. “Star’s humility often meant that a substantive proportion of his acts of service did not make the headline news but those who were the beneficiaries found ways to be grateful. A lifetime friend puts it demonstrably well, “he was gifted and generous”.
A Season as Spouse
As a spouse, we got a glimpse into another aspect of his life which revealed a softer, more romantic side of him; a side which he tended to mask so well when liming with the boys. The person eminently qualified to speak in volumes to this softer side of “Elvis” would be Joy-- his wife of over 11 years.
There are those who are still trying to figure out when and how the courtship began. It only goes to show that we should never under-estimate the power of being able to transfer the skills and competencies of a striker to another sphere of endeavour—even in the field of romance. I am settled in the view that some of the very skills and competencies that combined to make Elvis the scorer of the first hat-trick in OECS Football Competition (1986) and the leading goal scorer in this very Competition over the period 1986-1989, worked in his favour, to help him gain the attraction, capture the attention and maintain the affection, of the former BHS Green House Queen—Joy. Not for the first time, a ‘Star’ became inextricably linked to ‘joy’. Bethlehem comes readily to mind.
Joy proved the complementary match for “Star”—given her inherent love for sport. She was quite comfortable with spending time at the sport venues. She was an ardent football fan and accustomed to following, from close range, football games in which her brother-in- law, Goalkeeper Raphael Payne, was involved—dating back to Grammar School, Santos, and the Benfica era. She rarely missed a game. She was a creditable track and field athlete and frequented the netball courts at Dorset Park in the days of the Orion Sports Club. Joy was, therefore, very much aware that she would have to share “Star” with sports—and, more, specifically football.
Joy can speak at great length, and with emphatic emotions, about “Star’s” love for football and music. He could listen to the immortal Bob Marley for hours, non-stop. It was to Bob Marley’s tunes that he turned for comfort, relaxation and meditation. So much so, that Joy can now recite many a song from the Bob Marley albums.
A Season Visited by Sickness
The couple—Star and Joy—faced a most challenging season of their lives in September and October 2008. Star suffered what was described as a minor stroke on September 14th that year. By October 20th, the stroke had taken a turn for the worse. As if this was not enough, two days earlier, Joy was burying her sister--Teacher Hopey Dasent-Payne. Those of us who have ever had to care for a relative or close friend, who is going through a prolonged illness or may be terminally ill, can empathize with Mrs. Star Browne. I admire Joy’s resilience throughout the ‘stressful’ season, her loyalty to the matrimonial vows: “in sickness and in health…. Until death do us part”.
Her God-fearing attribute, illustrated primarily through her prayers, came to the fore consistently throughout the three year period of her husband’s illness.
Joy will be the first to admit that the care-taking required and the support received came from many quarters. She would therefore like to express heartfelt thanks and appreciation on behalf of her late husband and herself, to care-providers Gaietrie Roopnarine and Molly Britton (from Guyana), Agatha Saddler (Sandy Point); to “faithful helpers”—Saraida Cranston and Dudley Williams; to The Honourable Sam Terrence Condor for his strategic interventions; to Lester (???) Ible, Toussaint and Sandra Riley, Winston Williams, Leroy (Popeye) Greene, Bob Hull, Pastor Ira Pinney and Platini Clarke—for their ever-ready presence in times of need; to Dr. Sahely and the Members of the JNF Therapy Department—for their admirable medical attention; and to Dr. Charles Mc Williams (Nevis) for his timely and trusted therapy and counseling.
I am yet to come to peace with the irony of witnessing the ‘Star’ I knew stripped of two of his strongest, signature features, namely, his speech and his foot. Nonetheless, the welcoming and familiar smile on the arrival of visitors showcased his resilience, hope and the need for our daily, personal and collective gratitude.
A Season Dedicated to (Sports and) Soccer
Perhaps the largest chunk of “Star’s” life’s seasons would be dedicated to the exploits in the field of Sports. As a sportsman, he was an accomplished track and field athlete, a reasonable cricketer. But it was football (soccer) that consumed his passion. Through football, we were able to witness the personality and characteristics that adorned the seasons of his life and complemented his devotion to service.
As a footballer, he was massively under-rated and should not have had to prove himself, as often as he was required. There were few who understood and displayed ‘movement of the ball’ as well as he did. Of such was his appreciation for the factor of space in the game of football. You would be hard-pressed to name me a player who could shield the ball better. He was the ultimate team man—be it at the level of the school team, Super Stars or the national teams.
He was a true student of the game—comparable to the best in the CFU Region. He lived and ate football to the extent that his wife would sometimes threaten, when he skipped meals, to “put a ball in his plate”. For him, football progressed from a passion to a job, from a job to a work, from a work to a career, from a career to a profession. I came to admire his very keen sense of history of the game and his penetrative understanding of the game’s finer points, intricacies and complexities. He did not have to be named captain to assume leadership roles—his leadership attributes always shone through.
Elvis “Star” Browne was as competitive as they come but never one for rubbing the nose of the vanquished in the dirt. He had an insatiable appetite for a challenge. I call to mind the occasions after practice sessions, during my days coaching the national team, of which he was a part, that we would challenge each other in penalty shoot-outs. That is where I developed the taste for red soft drink and milk. That was the prize for the winners. As you would imagine, ‘Star’ would seek to negotiate for a Coke instead of the red soft drink.
He was as engaging as he was competitive. For hours after practice, we would be locked in conversations/discussion as to the pros and cons of a particular decision I made, strategy employed or sequence of a drill. Even back then, I recognized that this was a coach in apprenticeship. It would be difficult to find a modern day footballer with a better pair of discerning ears.
I am sure that in tribute to the architect of several of the Superstar Club honours and victories, the Club will have absolutely no hesitation in retiring the ‘number 9’ jersey that ‘Star’ wore so proudly and with such panache.
A Season of Stewardship
Yet another feature in the seasons of the life of “Star Browne” is related to his stewardship. The recognition he was short-changed as a player he made up for it as a coach. He coached from grass root to international levels. He added value to the product and service of the Government’s Department of Sports and to the delivery of that product and service. He handled the tricky and troubling situation of player-turned-coach with appreciable aplomb.
What is more, as a coach, he introduced a sense of entrepreneurship into the arena that was novel and pioneering. He introduced a business model to the football academy concept and set the trend in this regard. He successfully combined coaching as a calling and coaching as an income-generating endeavour—Star was a pioneer.
It was his entrepreneurial acumen that sometimes got him into stand-off positions with the football administration of the day. But the essence of his position soon became common place in the negotiations and appointments of national coaches/technical directors. Star was indeed a pioneer and a true risk-taker—not dissimilar to his competencies as a striker.
I recall how some coaches will start academies and limit them to their immediate communities. Not Star—he opened his academy to the entire society. Furthermore, his academy introduced an element for parent involvement which the national administration transplanted, with good effect, to the national youth team structure.
Yet another innovation introduced by the visionary, intuitive and provocative Elvis ‘Star’ Browne was the photography museum he mounted at the then Fort Thomas Hotel and later transferred to the Sports Bar at Frigate Bay, with the demise of the Fort Thomas Hotel. That initiative remains, in my mind, a precursor to the inevitable, future sports museum. ‘Star’ Browne would find pride of place, both as athlete/sports personality and an active promoter of the museum project idea.
It was ‘Star’ Browne who took the lead and maintained the momentum in the establishment of Female Football (at School and Community levels); introduced formal Masters Football (40 years and over) to St. Kitts; and was the Founder of, perhaps, the most successful Football Academy to date in the Federation—the “VITA MALT FOOTBALL ACADEMY (ST. KITTS)”.
‘Star’s’ unselfish, generous demeanour, respect for authority and opponents, his capacity to spot talent and nurture that talent, and his absolute sense of comfort in the presence of children, made him a supreme ambassador of the sport, community, country and region.
Season as a Sibling:
Elvis “Star” Browne spent a great deal of his formative years in the company of seniors—persons several years older than he was. Even then, he had the knack for engaging his elders in meaningful debate. And you know, one did not have to give “Star” an excuse to talk.
Star relished a debate—or argument—especially if it was sports-based or political. But to give him his due, he avoided this debate/argument with some individuals. He grew to be able to make the distinction as to when it was worth the while.
Something tells me that he was prone to stammering. However, I never discerned any stammering when the argument/debate centred on football, the exploits of Super Stars Football Club; the virtues of De Village Community, the genius of Tudor Dasent or politics.
The more youthful ‘Star’ fancied himself as a DJ. ‘Sugar Bowl’ should be happy that ‘Star’ opted for football instead. The entire household had to endure ‘Star’s’ perennial dress rehearsals—including station ID’s, time checks and attempts at singing/even replacing the real words to songs with his own. And, he did not just leave these rehearsals to the bath room experience.
As early as a primary school child, we knew football was destined to be a passion of his. For even with a stumped toe, he would escape the vigilance of Mom and still go to play with the stumped toe. Later in the evening, the pain would set in, to his discomfort. Yet, that did not prevent him from repeating the same routine the following day. Eventually, it took seven injections to rid him of the pain and worry of the stumped toe. He never got another stumped toe.
‘Star’ was the ultimate comedian—when he so chose. His sense of humour and knack for heckling were matchless. But he gave as much as he took. His shoulders were broad and his skin was thick.
A Season of Stability
Whilst he enjoyed the company of seniors, he also remained rooted to his peers and life time friends that he acquired. I can recall the many hours of a day that he would spend at the Liburds’ ‘Open House’ on Fern Street, Greenlands, or across by the Mortons at the Corner of Orchid and Flamboyant Streets or at the Nelsons’ Residence on Greenlands Pasture.
In fact, the Nelsons’ Residence was the birth place for the season of youthful stability in the life of Elvis Glenroy ‘Star’ Browne. I speak of the formation of the group, Rebels. Do not let the name fool you. For the only thing rebellious about the group might have been how much confidence it had in itself or the fact that it did not accommodate female membership or its tendency to march through Greenlands, Mc Knight and Basseterre in single file or its love for the concoction of duke and Merchies’ back and neck.
I had the privilege to teach many of these young men—both in the class room setting and on the playing field—and I am positively impressed by their accomplishments, capacity for deferred gratification and propensity to give back to society.
Many of you would not know that the Rebels, together with Harmonites Hitters and Haynes Smith Youth Group were the original creators of what has evolved into the Haynes Smith Caribbean Teen Talent Pageant. Rebels also provided the spring board for the emergence on the scene of the celebrated mass player/organizer—Janice Reynolds. Star was an integral part of this Rebels Group.
So, too, were persons like Ingleton Liburd, Charles Morton, Valentine Henry, Trevor Blake, Graeme Nelson, Basil Hardtman, Duch Govia, Elvis Bart, Carlton Hanley, Dr. Trevor Simmonds, Chris Martin, Shakespeare Southwell, Kennedy Phillip, Daryl Bagnal, John Jeffers, Dunstan Laplace, Dr. Nigel Leader, Kennedy Phillip (deceased) and Bernard Canning (deceased).
I leave you to match the code names/nick names to the individuals: Cicey, Kawundi, Sprite, Head-No-Good, Bolich/Kasba,.Ingleton Liburd, Valentine Henry and Charles Morton, among others, have remained dear friends to the end.
Star’s loyalty could not be faulted. In fact, the loyalty of the entire group prevails to this day. Let challenges, stresses emerge and the real friends show up in spirit and in truth. “Good friends are like stars… You don’t always see them, but you know they are always there”
Conclusion
Football was his platform. De Village, Warner Park, BHS Grounds, the stadia of the CFU Region and wider afield were his plazas. His character was his posterity.
May we be encouraged, as we celebrate the life of Elvis “Star” Browne, to adorn the seasons of our life with the hallmarks that coloured the seasons of the life of Star Browne and in the process construct our own defining platform, plaza and posterity.
I can think of no other way to bid you, so long, “Star”—than in the very words that you would have chosen yourself. The very last words, you uttered to your dear wife. Words from the late Honourable Robert Nesta Marley: “don’t worry! Everything is going to be all right”.
