why i love the Caribbean
The EastEnders actor reveals what draws him back to his island home year after year
DON’T be surprised if you recognise Rudolph Malcolm Walker, CBE. Thanks to his portrayal of Patrick Trueman on EastEnders, he has one of the most familiar faces in the UK. And while he’s been appearing regularly on British television screens since the 1970s, and lives in Berkshire, he was actually born on the twin Caribbean islands of Trinidad and Tobago, a place he still returns to every year.
‘Come November, I start feeling a bit miserable, and I need some sun,’ says Walker, 80. ‘I love to walk around barefoot, feeling the grass and the sand beneath me, listening to the orchestra of the birds during the day, and the crickets at night. It’s just beautiful.’
And one of his favourite events on his home island of Trinidad is the annual carnival. He suggests heading to Tobago to recuperate after the annual two-day party.
‘Tobago has a very laid-back atmosphere,’ Walker explains. ‘So I would say head to the beautiful beach at Pigeon Point, have some rum punch and fresh crab soup on the sand and just relax.’
But it’s not just Trinidad and Tobago that keep him coming back to the Caribbean. ‘Each island has a unique feel,’ says Walker. ‘Barbados is very English in its way of life; Jamaica tends to have a strong cultural vibe, similar to what I have only ever experienced in Nigeria; and Dominica’s rainforest is very special. They pay a lot of attention to eco-tourism, and protecting their natural beauty. Grenada’s Grand Anse Beach is also special – I love eating at BBs Crabback restaurant right on the sand.’
But what makes the Caribbean such a memorable destination? To Walker it’s simple. ‘Hands down it is the atmosphere,’ he says. ‘There is a welcoming and friendliness, a warmth that comes from more than the weather, it comes from the people.’