Julian Marryshow

Julian Marryshow, from Grenada, was a fighter pilot during World War II. Later, as a tourism advisor in Barbados, he was credited with having reintroduced the traditional Crop Over festival, which had a considerable influence on tourism to that country.

Julian Marryshow
Born1918
Grenada
DiedJuly 17, 2012(2012-07-17) (aged 93–94)
AllegianceUnited Kingdom
Air Force
UnitRoyal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
Battles/warsWorld War II
RelationsTheophilus Albert Marryshow
Other workTourism advisor

Julian Albert Marryshow was born in Grenada (1918?), one of 17 children[1] of Theophilus Albert Marryshow, a political activist and campaigner for a West Indies Federation. He was possibly named after Julien Fédon, a folk hero in Grenada who had led a rebellion against British rule in 1795. Marryshow senior had encouraged people from the Caribbean to fight in World War I as members of the British West Indies Regiment, so it was perhaps no surprise that his son joined the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve in order to fight in World War II. Marryshow was part of the "Trinidad Air Training Scheme" and, after completing training on 6 June 1941, was posted to the 602 Squadron at Peterhead, Scotland, which was equipped with Spitfires. In this capacity he took part in the ill-fated Dieppe Raid.[2] He later converted to the Hawker Typhoon, a fighter-bomber, being transferred to 193 Squadron. He flew sorties during the Normandy landings (6 June 1944, onwards), and was credited with the destruction of trains and rocket-launcher sites. On 24 February 1945, his plane was hit and came down near Breda. He survived and was able to rejoin the squadron.[3][4][5][6]

After the war, Marryshow obtained a place on the British government's Further Education and Vocational Training Scheme. This took him to London to study economics under the Marxist professor Harold Laski at the London School of Economics. He went on to be employed in a variety of roles in the Caribbean and elsewhere. In the early 1970s he was running an advertising agency when the Barbados Tourist Board invited proposals for a project to make Barbadians aware of the importance of the tourism industry. After winning the contract, Marryshow eventually became a consultant to the Board. In an attempt to attract tourists to the country during the low-season months he learnt of the celebration by slaves in Barbados that took place at the end of the sugar cane harvest. In 1974, he headed a committee that decided to revive the Crop Over festival, which is now held annually.[7][8][9]

Further work took Marryshow to the South Pacific in the 1980s, where he advised the tourism boards in Tonga and the Solomon Islands. He was particularly popular in Tonga as he had a photograph[10] of his father and Tonga’s Queen Salote, which had been taken at the Coronation of Queen Elizabeth II.

Julian Marryshow retired to his home in Christchurch, Barbados. He died on 17 July 2012.[5]

References
  1. "Obituary for Basil Albert Marryshow". Grenadian Connection. Retrieved 6 July 2020.
  2. Thomas, Nick (2014). Hurricane Squadron Ace: The Story of Battle of Britain Ace, Air Commodore Peter Brothers, CBE, DSO, DFC and Bar. Pen and Sword. ISBN 9078178159.
  3. Sheppard, Jill (1957). Marryshow of Grenada: An Introduction. Grenada: Letchworth Press.
  4. Steele, Beverley A. "Marryshow House — A Living Legacy". University of West Indies. Retrieved 26 June 2020.
  5. "Marryshow, Julian". Caribbean aircrew in the RAF during WW2. Retrieved 27 June 2020.
  6. Brizan, George (2002). Brave Young Grenadians: Loyal British Subjects. Grenada: Paria Publishing.
  7. Carter, Gercine. "The father of crop-over". Nation News. Retrieved 27 June 2020.
  8. Smith, Livingston; Fullerton-Cooper, Stephanie; Gordon, Erica (2017). The Caribbean in a Changing World: Surveying the Past, Mapping the Future, Volume 2. Cambridge Scholars. ISBN 9781443809979.
  9. "What is Crop Over?". TravelFly. Retrieved 27 June 2020.
  10. "Photo of T.A. Marryshow and Queen Salote of Tonga". Retrieved 27 June 2020.
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