The LSOSA congratulates Mr. MacDonald Fingall - Barbados Service Medal – in recognition of his contribution to education, the development of the youth and the development of the Crop Over Festival particularly as comedian, tent manager, entertainer and calypsonian. Mac Fingall’s dedication and commitment to excellence and comedic skills was nurtured at the Lodge School. An old Lodge boy himself, Mac went on to teach at Princess Margaret after a brief civil service stint. He became a policemen in Bermuda before relocating to the USA. When he first returned to Barbados to teach, The Lodge School was having serious problems with behaviour and discipline. The lead singer for Spice & Co., Geoffrey Cordle (aka Biggie Irie) was at the school when Mac arrived. “We were told he would be the strictest teacher on the staff and he was. He was a disciplinarian with a military approach. But he really put the school back on track.” The school was doing poorly in sports; Mac revived it. He introduced basketball and drama. “Many people started their careers through him at school,” says Cordle, “myself included. Square One started there. So did Ras Iley, John King, Terry Mayers — there are so many. Everybody respects him a lot. I still miss and still call him Sir.” David and Marcia Weekes, the producers of the HUSH movie said Mac played an integral role in the series as well as CHRISSY. Michael Crawford, the former grounds-man at the Lodge School turned teacher said it was Mac who insisted that he pursue educational qualifications up to the Masters level. The 6’5” former Athletic Director, Physical Education & Health Instructor & Coach of several sports at the Lodge School, is remembered with his desk cluttered with school ties, plastic trophies, ping-pong balls, music scores and a confiscated curling iron. A wall-size world map looming behind him. He was the originator of the “Fighting Back” Programme. Barbadian Mac Fingall juggled two demanding full-time careers with community work, record distribution and sales, managing Calypso King Red Plastic Bag and running a calypso tent. He teached all week, then flew off for weekend shows, often driving straight to school from the airport on Monday mornings. Summer was no better. He managed and emceed the Untouchables Calypso Tent, records his album, emceeing and performing at most of the Crop Over events, and flies off to overseas shows in between. “PEOPLES, ARE YOU RED-DAAY?” Few people who see him on stage or at cricket at Kensington Oval, understand what teaching means to him or how easily his strong beliefs have landed him controversy time and time again. He may have two careers, but he doesn’t “make sport”. Teaching is a mission with him; “comedy,” he says, “is serious business.” This is a no-nonsense personality which can intimidate a class with one scathing glance or captivate thousands with one comic look. Behind a bawdy stage persona, the real Mac Fingall is a staunch moralist. A thing is right or wrong — no gray areas and no exceptions. Veteran Calypsonian Red Plastic Bag says, “He’s extremely serious about anything he does and if he can’t give it his best shot, he’s not going to do it. His standards are very high and he doesn’t sacrifice principles for anything. He is quite a leader and once he becomes a part of your life he definitely has an impact on it. He has done a lot for me and my career and he’s such a hard taskmaster there’s hardly a time he’s not breathing down your neck to do something.” Mac has different musical personalities too. He performs calypso but sings remarkable blues, and most likes country & western. Mac runs his classes with drill-sergeant ferocity. He barks, cajoles, intimidates and teases his students into shape. But underneath is so genuinely concerned about other people, particularly children. Mac is the picture of fitness and can out-perform most of students in calisthenics or sports. A former track and field champion, a health and physical education graduate, he represented Barbados in high jump, going four years unbeaten. In the US he was into track and field in college, later shifting to football where he was good enough to gain a scholarship. He turned it down, preferring “to study rather than play football.” MAC SHOWS NO SIGN OF SOFTENING UP, AND HIS REPUTATION IS LEGENDARY.
Posted on: Wed, 03 Dec 2014 08:14:23 +0000
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