 . Commander V.E.B.
Nicholson
On the death of my father in February 1982, David Looby of ABS Radio filed
the following report: "May His Sacrifice Be His Memorial". "Commander
Vernon Edward Barling Nicholson, OBE RN (Retd.), has died at his home in
Ireland, at the age of 82. Commander Nicholson sailed from his home in Ireland across the
Atlantic to Antigua in 1949. With him aboard his 72 ft.
schooner "Mollihawk" was his wife Emma and two sons, Desmond and Rodney.
The family then fell in love with the completely deserted Dockyard and under the
Commander's enthusiastic and energetic direction the beautiful "Mollihawk" was
refitted alongside the walls of her new home.
The Commander soon realised the potential of yachting in the Caribbean and
advertised that his yacht was available for charter out of English Harbour in Antigua.
Many people availed themselves of the marvellous opportunity.
Soon it was necessary to bring in other yachts to Antigua to meet the demand. And so,
before many of the luxury hotels on the island were built, an exciting and entirely new
tourist venture was put into operation by Commander Nicholson.
Slowly, as if from a deep sleep, Nelson's Dockyard awakened to become one
of the major yachting centres of the world. Throughout its growth, Commander Nicholson
would personally meet each new yacht and invite its
crew to his home. This he carried on until numbers of visiting yachts became too many. His
visitor's book reads like that of an embassy, royalty, potential leaders, entertainment
figures are literally sprinkled across his pages, and of course the world's most famous
sailing names were proud to shake his hands.
Throughout the years, the Commander became deeply obsessed with the love of his island.
He had a kind word and a greeting for all, and many Antiguans
will remember his generosity in times of need. As a result of his determination to put
English Harbour and the yachting industry on the map, yachtsmen from all over the world
placed Antigua on top of the list for a place to visit. English Harbour without him, can
never quite be the same, but his spirit will live on reflected in the vigour and
prosperity of the new Dockyard. A man of warmth, humanity, intelligence and immense good
humour, Antiguans will greatly miss him. I understand that V.E.B. Nicholson, his ashes,
will be returned to Antigua to be set alongside the body of his wife in the tiny cemetery
at English Harbour. May his sacrifice be his memorial."
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