West Indian boy meets godfather in Suva
AFIVE-year-old West Indian boy, by chance, met his godfather for the first time on one weekend in November 1969 in Suva, Fiji. He was Pierre La Borde, who was in Fiji with his parents Mr and Mrs Harold La Borde of Trinidad onboard their ketch Hummingbird II, which was on a world cruise.
Pierre’s godfather was a former Royal Navy officer, Mike Braille, who arrived in Fiji from Vila in his 25-feet Norwegian-designed yacht Jessicle II.
The La Bordes and Mr Braille were old friends.
They met many years prior to 1969 in Trinidad, where Mr Braille sailed Jellicle II from Newcastle, England.
“Pierre was six-months-old and when he was christened we asked Mr Braille to be his godfather,” Mr La Borde told The Fiji Times.
Their meeting in Suva was purely by chance.
“I always wanted to meet Mr Braille again and it took us five years to do this. It was a pleasant surprise because we didn’t know we were going to meet here,” Mr La Borde said.
The La Bordes had planned to spend about six months in Suva, sitting out the hurricane season before continuing their round-the-world cruise.
Mr Braille had set out of Newcastle in 1959, a week after his discharge from the Navy.
On board with Mr Braille was a young Canadian, Mr Jim Peterson, who joined the yacht in Auckland.
“This is the first time I have had an English-speaking companion on board, Mr Braille said.
“I haven’t got an auxilliary engine for the simple reason that for 17 years as an engineer in the Royal Navy, I listened to engines. Now I want peace and quiet.”
Mr Braille lived on his navy pension of $12 a week.
“With money like this I’ve got to really economise and do without luxuries like bacon and eggs for breakfast,” he said.
Mr Braille was in Suva earlier in August and after spending some time at Nabouwalu and Ono, Kadavu sailed for the New Hebrides.
“We couldn’t stand it there and returned to Fiji where people are more friendly,” he said.
Jellicle II spent about a week in Suva before sailing for Auckland.