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Message from Canon Andrew White – The Vicar of Baghdad

Today ( 18 February)  was such a hard day. Not because of the complexities of our Iraqi conference in Denmark, but because my mentor, friend and teacher died. He was not my university professor, or my Bishop. He was my teacher at school some 26 years ago. He was the head of our 6th form; he did not just teach me economics and politics he taught me to respect others, to understand international affairs and to take seriously reconciliation. He was simply the inspiration to the whole of my life. When I was 10 I remember telling my teacher that I wanted to work in Anaesthetics and be a Priest. She looked at me as if I was mad and told me I could only do one thing. Seven years later I said the same thing to my teacher Mr Amos, he looked at me and simply said “you will” and he was right. I know that I can only do what I do today because of what he taught me when I was still a teenager.

Often I have found myself in the midst of war zones, with bombs and rockets flying. I have thought to myself what would Mr Amos do here. As the years went on, as my work became more complex I thought of him even more. In recent months he was so often in my mind, literally every day. I did not see him for years. Then one day a new leader of the House of Lords was appointed. It was Baroness Valerie Amos, I did not know her, but wondered if she was related to my teacher. She was also an inspirational person, she was also black, and she was also from the area where I grew up. I soon had reason to write to her and as a post script, I asked her if she was related to my teacher Michael Amos. The reply from her came back saying that she was indeed his daughter.

That was the beginning of my reconnection with my teacher. I was presented a prize for my work in interfaith relations at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office in London. Mr Amos and his equally wonderful wife were there. Then just a few weeks ago when I was awarded the Wolf Pursuer of Peace Prize I stated that I really wanted Mr Amos there. I was told that he was ill and that it was not certain he would be able to come. On the night he was there with Baroness Amos his daughter. He was in his wheelchair sitting at the high table in one of the Inns of Court. At the table was a former Prime Minister, Lord Chancellor, Lord Chief Justice and other members of the great and good but the only person I was proud about was the presence my teacher Mr Amos. When I spoke I made clear that this man was my inspiration. When it came to the presentation I was overjoyed that it was given by Baroness Amos his daughter. This meant so much to me. She knew of the role her father had played in my own life and spoke about it. That was the very last time that Mr Amos went out.

Just last week Baroness Amos phoned me and told me how ill her father was. Last Friday I went to see him. In pain and unconscious was my mentor, my friend and my teacher. I knew it would be the last time I would see him alive. I prayed with him, read the Bible and then said the Lord’s Prayer. As I came to the last line he joined in “for ever and ever Amen”. The last words I ever heard him say. This morning as I arrived in Copenhagen I responded to a message from Baroness Amos. Michael Amos had died early this morning. I knew it was coming but it did not make it any easier.

Now I am planning to take the funeral of Mr Amos next week. It will be so difficult but I am so pleased to be able to do it. It will mean I am unable to go to Saudi Arabia next week. I know that Mr Amos is now with our Lord, and  I pray that he may rest in peace and rise in glory and that our Lord will surround and protect his wonderful family.

( February 2008)

Yane Amos Zwambila – Grandson

My pops was the definition of what a man should be, the type of man I would like to be.  I am convinced that if you look up the word Man in the oxford dictionary granddads picture should be there staring at us with that massive grin that we have all come to know so well.  When Granddad married my grandmother he decided to live his life by one rule, His family first and everything else second.  As a young man growing up, and as im sure all the men in this church can testify to, that rule is easier said than done.  The men that do succeed have a huge impact on people’s lives for ever.  Well, I stand here as the proud grandson of a man that didn’t just say it but did it.

Granddad was the man of the house, he always sat at the head of the table, and he always got served first and always had the biggest piece of chicken.  He would also like us all to believe that he had the last word, but come on granddad we live with Amos Women.  Watching granddad handle the women in my family was always amusing and an invaluable lesson.  Anytime granny, auntie, mum Shyko or Chloe demanded anything he would simply look at them and say YES DEAR or YES DARLING. After meals granddad would always say BLESS YOU MY DEAR.  A charming, gentleman who made all the women in the family feel like they were queens and princess’, valued and precious.

As I’m sure you all know Shyko and I were raised by our grandparents.  I was 3 and Shyko was 7 so we have a life time of moments and memories.  No words can really express the unconditional love that came from my grandfather.  He never told me he loved me (but you know how it is guys) but I still knew he did.  I knew he loved me, because for as long as I can remember he would always share that piece of chicken with me, or offer to share his plate of food: because he was there for me to say goodnight too and he was there for me to say Good morning too.  He was there after school, before school and on the weekends.

Granddads religion was education.  He would always say that all his grandchildren must be educated to a degree level as a good education was and I quote, “Not the guarantee of great wealth but it was a guarantee against abject poverty.” In other words as granddad would have also said, “with a good education you wouldn’t starve.” Many after school nights and summer holidays were spent doing extra work to both Shyko’s and my dismay.  We hated doing extra work but never the less we were made to do it.  This is a good time to mention that granddad called me Bwoi or son and the only time he referred to me as Yane was when I was getting some math’s question wrong that he felt he had explained already. (Yane goes into impression).  Granddad did have a firm hand but he just wanted us to always try our best.  If we got 95%in a test and we didn’t try our best he would say where was the other 5%. But if we got 55% and he knew we had tried our hardest he was the proudest man on earth.

Granddad was like Bob the Builder and Tony Blair wrapped into one.  If anything needed fixing or building he was the man for the job.  Similarly with granddads oratory skills all the worlds’ wrongs were put to rights at the dinner table, in car journeys, or getting ready for school, or at a lime with a glass of rum in his hands.  Always moving with the times he loved to hear things from a younger perspective, David, Ted, Leon, Brian, Blaze, Strom, Ray, Henry, Clive and Carl on behalf of granddad thank you for the lively funny energetic conversation.  You would always know that granddad was in the room if you heard the comments….. ahhh ahhh, I tell you, but his an asssss.   His passion for music flows through us, granddad would literally jam in the front room, in his chair, one hand on head and the other, that’s right u guessed it swirling a glass of rum listening to his music.

When Eddie and Chloe were born granddad again was on top of the world, you would have believed yet again that he was the only man on the planet with grandchildren.  Eddie and Chloe have brought hours of fun for granddad. Eddie and Chloe Speak

As testimony to my grandfather’s impact on my life, I am working toward the goal of being a Head Master. (For those who don’t know granddad was a teacher)   About 3 weeks ago I asked him his advice on how to go about achieving this dream.  He said, you have to be more educated than the others, get your masters, and get your PHD.  So I will get my masters and try my very best to be at the top of my game.  About 10 days ago granddad had become very poorly and could not really communicate, yet he listened intently to me speaking to him about my dissertation, he said to me that he was sorry he could not help me.  I would like to take this opportunity to say that my grandfather has nothing to apologise for.  He has given me a life time of goodness, fun and laughter, a life time of true love and a life time of unwavering support, belief and commitment. I know his belief in me as a man had no limits and that he will indeed continue to help me through in strong spirit.   On behalf of your Grandchildren, granddad we thank you.

(February 2008)

Allison Bishop

Auntie Dolly will always hold a special place in my heart. Everytime I look at my wedding pictures I see the wonderful cake she made for us. Her laughter, her smile, the fond way she called me

Alli.

( 2008)

Elroy Hinton

They were both good & wonderful people & will be missed by everyone who knew them. It will be comforting to you to know that they were loved by everyone.

( 2008)

Colin Swann

every time I met with Michael, he would always offer me a drink, but unfortunately I was always driving.  As I enjoy a rum too, as you know, it would have been so nice to have shared a few with Michael.   We did not share his love of sport, but we certainly had a few political debates whilst I was working away, and heavy discussions about life in general.

It is a shame that I did not meet Michael when I was at school. Perhaps I would have been better educated. 

Cheryl P Jordan

 I can remember some of the stories my parents told me about them. How happy and full of life they were. My father used to say to me "You should try to be a good teacher like teacher Dolly. Michael was really good at his job and Dolly, oh so full of energy. You would like her if you got to know her." Those words will live on in my heart.

Bev Fisher

I was privileged to work with him in the early sixties at Picardy Boys School in Erith and can remember his excitement at bringing his Family to this Country.  At the time I was in "digs" with Trevor Porteous and Derek Roberts and he invited us to meet the Family.

I last saw Mum and Dad a couple of years ago at a reunion of Picardy Staff at Mike Greens and I will treasure the memory of that day.

vid Ryner

 Da

I remember when I first came to work for you reading your Hansard Society speech and was touched by your description of your journey from a small village (on an island on a river I think) in Guyana to this country.  

Your debt to and love for your parents shone through the speech and added force to its more general theme.

Your father must have been a remarkable person.

Phillip & Florence Thompson
Subject: THE HEROES OF MY YOUTH: DEEPEST SYMPATHY

Phillip Trent Thompson

They were the  persons I aspire to emulate when I was growing up as a youngster in Wakenaam, Essequibo.  Cousin Edward, particularly, had an awe about him that I  revered him as someone whom I could look up to always.  He never let me down. 

When I was just a teen, the men in Fredericksburg started a scout troop, and Cousin Edward was our scout leader.  All the boys in the village joined the troop, and we had loads of fun.  We gave concerts to raise money to buy our scout uniforms, and we went camping in the woods, and held competitions against other scout troops on the island of Wakenaam.  Your Daddy was in everything that we did.  We learned how to survive if we were lost, how to make various scout knots, how to make a raft etc.   He was really our inspiration. He taught us from an early age the importance of getting a good education, saving money, how to treat and relate to members of the opposite sex and also introduced us to politics in Guyana at that time.  

When I became a teacher in early 1960, it was through his inspiration.  I took lots of his mannerisms with a hope of being a fine teacher as your Dad was.  He taught me lots of things I did not know, for I took private lessons from him, but he refused to accept payment for his services.  He told me that he could not charge me anything because we were too closely related, and that he liked the way I valued learning. (Your Dad's Mother: Aunt Flora, and my grandfather: James Williams, were brother and sister).  Unfortunately for me, when I was just about to get comfortable learning as much as possible from Cousin Edward, he informed me that he was leaving for England.  I was disappointed, but I knew that, at that time it was the best thing for his inquiring mind.  Your Mom had the arduous task of waiting for two years along with you, and you siblings Colleen and Michael to join your Dad.  That time flew very fast, you all were united.

Since your whole family had left Guyana, I was only fortunate to see Cousin Edward and Cousin Dolly on three occasions in Guyana.  Once in August 1985, they attended the wedding in Georgetown of my little sister-in-law.  They came with Cousin Marge and Cousin Jean.  They were accompanied on that trip by Shyko (forgive the spelling) Colleen's daughter.  They had a grand time.  The best time I had, however, was when I visited England in the Summer of 2000.  As soon as I arrived I called your parents, and your Mom called back the next day and told that she would try to arrange a tour of the Houses of Parliament with you.  I was thrilled.  I really enjoyed that tour.  You were really a gracious host, and I would like to thank you again and again for that tour.  The next day I paid a visit to your parents' home in Kent.  I spent a whole day, and it was really rewarding.  Your Dad and I caught up where we had left off years ago.  We discussed politics, sports, education, etc.  Your Mom gave me a tour of her garden, and we also discussed family life, and of course your great achievements, and the achievements of your siblings were highlighted.  Later Colleen, and her two kids came over.  It was just a memorable meeting which I will never forget.  I'm sorry I did not return to England sooner to once again see my childhood heroes.

I can write a lot about your Mom, but that will take up more time.  I may have to do that another time.

Guyanese Mafia` Out In Force To Commemorate Baroness Amos` Parents  

By John Mair in London

CaribWorldNews, NEW YORK, NY, Tues. June 10, 2008: Sixty years to the month after the arrival of the `SS Windrush `with the first cohort of Caribbean immigrants  at Tilbury Docks, African Caribbeans showed they had scaled the heights of  the British Establishment in Westminster last Friday.

A Memorial service for the lives of Michael and Dolly Amos at St Margaret`s Church in the shadow of Westminster Abbey provided a platform for a gathering of the `great and good of the British black community.` Prominent among them was the so called `Guyanese Mafia.`

Baroness Valerie Amos, Michael and Dolly Amos` daughter and the former leader of the UK House of Lords is at the epicenter of that group. Born in Guyana and raised in England, she remembered her parents who had come to the UK from Guyana in the early 1960`s for their children` in a very fond and moving eulogy.

Michael Amos had left behind a career as a head teacher in Wakenhaam, Essequibo for the unsure pastures of the British motherland and Kent in particular. It was not that welcoming an environment but `my father was not a quitter and failure was not in his vocabulary,` said Baroness Amos.

Throughout his half century in the UK, Michael Amos kept a `fierce pride` in the land of his birth, believing in his heritage  while still warming to the land of his migration despite its` many flaws.

Michael wanted the best for his three children.  `He loved a challenge and expected very high standards,` said Lady Amos.  His wife, christened Eunice but known by all as `Dolly,` was his steadfast support throughout.  She died on the morning of his funeral earlier this year.

Lady Amos described their relationship as `truly inspirational.`

`They shared a love for over sixty years,` and as she elegantly put it, `We shall miss them but they will not be forgotten.`

Many of the near 500 strong congregation  had earlier been invited by Baroness Amos to tea on the Thames side terrace of the Houses of Parliament across the road; that peak long scaled by the Black British MPs Bernie Grant and David Pitt.

Today`s successors to them were out in force. Representing the `Mafia`(a gentle term of affection used for those of Guyanese origin who have risen in public life in Britain), were Lord Herman Ouseley, the former Head of the Commission for Racial Equality, Trevor Phillips the current Head of its` successor the Commission on Equality and Human Rights and David Lammy MP, still a junior UK Government Minister.

Other prominent members of the UK Diaspora included Professor Cynthia Pine of Liverpool University; Michael Brotherson, representing the Government of Guyana; the Reverend Ivelaw Bowman; Keith Waithe,the musician; Juliet Alexander,the broadcaster plus Jessica and Eric Huntley, pioneering  publishers.

But it was not an all Guyanese affair. Among the very well known black-British faces were Baroness Patricia Scotland, Attorney General in Gordon Brown`s government; Moira Stuart the former BBC newsreader; Ben Okri, the Booker Award winning novelist and Baroness Ros Howells. It all showed how far one ethnic group had moved in six decades-from the docks to the high pews of Westminster.

As the congregation filed slowly out into the summer rain outside St Margaret`s, the parish church of Parliament and normally reserved for commemorating statesmen, one was struck by just how  much had been achieved by `the Guyanese mafia` and others and just how much sheer love there was for the Amos family.