| Veteran broadcaster Hugh Cholmondeley dies | | Print | |
| Written by Demerara Waves |
| Friday, 10 August 2012 23:32 |
Mr. Cholmondeley (left) chatting with Ian Mc Donald, Odinga Lumumba and David De Caires (Stabroek News photo)
Veteran Guyanese broadcaster and former United Nations consultant, High Cholmondeley died Friday in a New York hospital after a battle with lung cancer. He was 73. His daughter, Cathy Hughes, confirmed that he died in NYU Hospital, New York around 6:20 PM. He is survived by his wife and five children. He was a former General Manager of the now defunct Guyana Broadcasting Service (GBS). Cholmondeley was also a former Media Consultant for the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM). During political unrest in Guyana several years ago, he had been engaged in shuttle diplomacy between the government and the then main opposition Peoples National Congress Reform (PNCR). He worked in Somalia as Coordinator for humanitarian aid and rehabilitation. Back in 2010, he led a Caricom mission to observe Trinidad and Tobago’s general election. Cholmondeley retired as a Director at the United Nations Development Programme based in
He opened the UNESCO Caribbean office in 1980 and was highly instrumental in the establishment of a number of Caricom generated media institutions such as the Caribbean Broadcasting Union, Caribbean Institute of Media and Communications (CARIMAC) at the University of the 
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Comments
condolences to the family and especially Cathy......
Hope Guyana honours you!
When listening to Cathy, I could have tell, she was from very good material, not knowing, uncle High was her dad.(what a very small world in Guyana).
Mr. Hugh Cholmondeley, (I used to call him "uncle High"), was a very, very decent, caring human being, who was manager of GBS, later GBI in Hadfield Street Lodge Village,(not far from John st, lodge Village),workin g there also was Mr. Bruser, Mr. Terence Holder, (Terry),Mr.Reginald Gaskin (reggie)n others, not forgetting Mrs. Princess Speed, (Speedy, beautiful woman), who took care of the building.
After God n my mom, uncle High was very instrumential in my future, in those days, partying was the norm every saturday night, after leaving high school, I attended commercial school at teacher Fraser, at the corner of Durband n Hill streets,there I did Pitman's short hand, english n maths, after graduating, I wasn't doing much for myself, other than partying in social life style, with others like Derrick Boston n other lawyers, Niel fisher, Eustace lovell, other female lawyers, magistrates n others, uncle High saw the path I was going,(a bright, decent educated young teen, with qualifications) , he spoke, (not with me, but to me), hence decided to speak with Mr. Samuel Brotherson, (lawyer), who offered me a job, cause I wasn't doing much, other than working in a printing job, in Durband streets Lodge, my education was going down the drain, I worked with Mr. Brotherson for sometime, again, uncle Hugh spoke to me,(cannot forget his stern warnings, "YOU ARE A VERY GOOD LOOKING YOUNG WOMAN, PARTYING ALL NIGHT, YOU NEED TO APPLY TO THE ARMY, THEY WOULD STRAIGHTEN YOU OUT", I DID APPLIED, WAS ACCEPTED, THE GDF REALLY STRAIGHTENED ME OUT, I LEARNED TO APPLY MYSELF, N WAS SPOKEN TO BY Mr. Niel Benjamin, who knew me since five yrs old, attending Christ Church, I remained in the armed forces for years,(worked under some tough men, who taught me, "ORDERS WERE ORDERS", CAUSE MY MOM WASN'T GETTING THROUGH TO ME.
Uncle High again, questioned,"WHAT DO U WANT OUT OF LIFE"?, WHY DID U RESIGN?,You should write your brothers n leave Guiana, I decided to be married, left guiana for NA, (I never forgot uncle High advises, I took it through life, until now), "WHAT DO YOU WANT OUT OF LIFE"?, I entered JFK with my spouse, n took it from there, did my GED, passed, applied to Medical Assistant school, from there, it was upwards, constantly, graduated from three other colledges,my first job was a medical assistance, working n studying,passed the Washington DC exam at Hofstra University, passed n became a Senior Lab Tecnologist, hence was able to gain admittance into a major Catholic Hospital in Manhattan NY, I had to be up at three every morning, returning home at eleven pm, taking care of my family, almost 40 yrs away from my birth country n constantly returns.
In conclusion, my "BACK BONE START IN LIFE WAS UNCLE HIGH),(our dad never showed interest in us), I spoke with him many yrs ago, n lost contact, BUT NEVER FORGOT HIM, A CARING HUMAN BEING, WHO WAS ALSO VERY, VERY PRIVATE, NEVER SAW HIS SPOUSE, HE NEVER SPOKE ABOUT HIS FAMILIES,NEVER GIVE AN OPENING FOR ANYONE TO QUESTION HIM, CONCERNING HIS PERSONAL LIFE, HE NEVER QUESTIONED ME, CONCERNING MY PERSONAL LIFE, his was advise n nothing else.
He was tall, very handsome,to the point, I have never seen uncle High mixing with anyone in Lodge area, his words were, "GOOD MORNING", to all, nothing else, why he took an intrest in me, as an uncle?, HE WAS A GOD SENT, as I sit here an pen this long drawn out letter, I'm sad, sad that other young persons, didn't have the opportunity as I, to know someone, who would give advise, to make this world a better place.
I'M SURE, "UNCLE HIGH" HAS DONE HIS JOB WELL IN THIS WORLD, N HAS GONE TO BE AT PEACE WITH HIS MASTER, ONLY THOSE WHO HAD THE OPPORTUNITY AS I, CAN ATTEST TO THIS WONDERFUL HUMAN BEING.
Not sure if "uncle High" has other children, but, to Cathy, I must say to you, have faith, YOUR DAD WAS A WONDERFUL PERSON, I'M A LIVING EXAMPLE.
peaceful resting place My condolences to his bereaved relatives and
family members.
We were colleagues at GBC for a number of years and I
enjoyed working with such a talented individual.
I worked with him when he set up the Guyana Broadcasting Service on Hadfield Street Lodge in October 1968.
He was a hardworking, talented, honest and dedicated person. He had a powerful voice and was an excellent news presenter who rarely bothered to review the scripts.
He was kind-hearted and made us all proud. The last time I saw him was in Brooklyn at the funeral of our colleague
Wordsworth Mc Andrew.
My sympathy goes out to his sorrowing relatives.
May his soul rest in peace
Oscar Ramjeet
Boynton Beach Florida.
It was a tough task for him and he worked almost round the clock for weeks.
He was an excellent administrator and his broadcasting skills were way above the others. He had a powerful voice and his news presentation was tops despite the fact that he rarely reviewed his scripts.
He made Guyanese proud for his commuunication ability.
My sympathy goes out to his sorrying relatives.
May his soul rest in peace.
Oscar Ramjeet
Boynton Beach Florida.
Cholmondeley spirit's lives, be stronger than ever, one love to you and the family.......
In 1985 when I interviewed Mr. Ronald Sanders (now Sir Ronald Sanders)on 91.5 FM, WNYE as part of the Medgar Evers Outreach Program, I realized how important Hugh was to the development of Radio in Guyana and the Caribbean. As Ron told me in that interview, when Hugh left for UNESCO, the job of General Manager was offered to Ron (just back from the BBC)by the Prime Minister of Guyana. However, he had so much respect and admiration for his colleague Hugh Cholmondeley, that he went directly to Hugh's home to find out first if Hugh was being "pushed out" or was leaving on his own free will. This was important for him before he accepted the job as GM of GBS. With Hugh's blessings, Ron took the job as General Manager of GBS. Both men have had a tremendous impact on broadcasting in Guyana and in the Caribbean.
My only regret is that I have never had the good fortune to meet Hugh Cholmondeley personally. As a broadcaster myself, I can only say that Hugh was a stalwart whose name was a legend for those of us who worked in radio (at GBS and elsewhere). He definitely belongs in the Caribbean Broadcasting Hall of Fame. I just wish that I knew the man personally.
To the bereaved relatives of Mr. Hugh Cholmondeley I offer my sincerest of condolences. A truly outstanding Caribbean citizen has passed on. He was a man whose diction, style, and eloquence is worthy of emulation by all present and future broadcasters.
"His life was gentle, and the elements
So mixed in him that Nature might stand up
And say to all the world, “This was a man.”
Rest well, Hugh.
Henry Muttoo
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