Eric Williams

Eric Williams 1911-81, prime minister of Trinidad and Tobago (1961-81). He attended Oxford and taught at Howard Univ. in Washington, D.C. (1939-53). Returning to Trinidad, he founded (1955) the country's first formal political party. He became chief minister in 1956 and prime minister in 1961. Elections in 1966 and 1971 reaffirmed his position. He led his country to independence within the Commonwealth of Nations (1962). Williams launched several ambitious five-year development plans, attracting foreign capital through tax incentives and acquiring foreign aid. He concentrated his efforts on the improvement of education and the development and diversification of industry and agriculture. Although of African descent, he faced increasing black militant opposition to his government. His numerous writings include The Negro in the Caribbean (1942, repr. 1970); History of the People of Trinidad and Tobago (1964); British Historians and the West Indies (1964); and From Columbus to Castro (1970, repr. 1983).

Bibliography: See his autobiography, Inward Hunger (1969).

Fenby, Eric (William) (b Scarborough, 1906; d Scarborough, 1997). Eng. organist, composer, and teacher. His unique claim to fame was that, at the age of 22 and totally unknown, he volunteered to go to Grez-sur-Loing to act as amanuensis to the blind and paralysed Delius. Several of Delius's late works, incl. A Song of Summer, the 3rd vn. sonata, Songs of Farewell, Fantastic Dance, Irmelin Prelude and the Idyll, were dictated to Fenby, a laborious and sometimes acrimonious process recorded in Fenby's book Delius as I knew him (1936, rev. 1981). Also arr. some of Delius's mus., and after the composer's death in 1934 was active in writing about it, and in working for the Delius Trust. Comps. incl. a sym. and the ov. Rossini on Ilkla Moor, and mus. for the film Jamaica Inn. Mus. dir. North Riding Training Coll. 1948–62. Prof. of harmony, RAM 1964–77. Art. dir. Delius centenary fest. 1962. OBE 1962.