Gooden expresses confidence in continued assistance to the nation’s children
DESPITE HER scheduled departure to England on May 31, Patricia Gooden expressed optimism that she may still be able to continue to assist youngsters in Jamaica, as the over 4,500 miles would not distance her from her students.
Gooden, a music teacher and vocal coach, has never shied away from highlighting how proud she felt about the work of her students, or her connection to them. This has been mostly manifested over the years in her house along Waterloo Road, where she has preserved and proudly displayed their many drawings and artwork.
Interestingly, Gooden’s house is where she also operates her music studio.
The music teacher and vocal coach was popularly known as ‘Aunty Pat’, especially because of the children’s radio programme ‘Colgate Cavity Fighters Club’ which she was part of for 26 years along with host the late Neville ‘Uncle Nev’ Willoughby.
Gooden admitted that she simply felt an unfathomable connection with children and only wished to see them reach their full potential in life.
“It’s just a part of me,” she said, adding that volunteering never became boring and didn’t feel like work.
IMMENSE INFLUENCE
Even though she was born into music, given that her father was a singer and played several instruments, Gooden’s maternal grandmother had an immense influence on her music career.
Though her grandmother – who she is believed to resemble greatly – had a beautiful voice, because of her status in society she was not allowed back then to be on stage and “so she sought of put everything into me”, Gooden remarked.
Gooden remembers being on stage singing with a band, when she was “around the age of five”, even though her mother says she showed interest from as early as three years old.
She added that her grandmother paid for a variety of extracurricular endeavours, including tap dance, ballet dancing, piano lessons, and singing lessons.
To this day, Gooden holds dear her grandmother’s piano, which was shipped to Jamaica and is now more than 100 years old.
“I think perhaps I’ve inherited it from my same grandmother, who, I’m so like her in every way. Our birthdays were two days apart. I’m no saint, but she was the nearest thing to a saint I’ve ever met. She would give you the shirt off her back and not even think about it,” she added.
OUTSTANDING CONTRIBUTION
Aunty Pat received a plaque from Governor-General Sir Patrick Allen in recognition of her outstanding contribution to the Jamaica Legion and the National Poppy Appeal.
Gooden has since resigned from her presidency of the Caledonian Society of Jamaica where she served in the position for seven years. During her time there, the group also made contributions to Walker’s Place of Safety in St Andrew and Sir John Golding Rehabilitation Centre.
During her last stint as president, Gooden donated a cheque for $75,000 from the proceeds of the Burns Supper 2023 – an annual event – to the Jamaica National Children’s Home, which was damaged by fire in 2019.
It was “so unfortunate”, according to Gooden, that several individuals who are capable of volunteering their time to mentor kids failed to do so despite the urgency for such an intervention in Jamaica. She, therefore, urged citizens to become involved in creating time to support children in need.
“It gives me such a lift, it really does because, I’m all alone – which is sadly why I’m having to leave Jamaica and y’know from all these children, they come in and I work with them and when they leave, it really gives me a lift, I feel wonderful,” she said, mentioning how the children were very affectionate and caused her to feel deeply appreciated and loved.
“Oh! I’m going to miss you all, I love you, I love you, don’t forget Aunty Pat,” she said.