March in A.A. History, day unknown

Origins of A.A. in Barbados: Information about the beginnings of Alcoholics Anonymous in Barbados has been imprecise and often contradictory. The "founder" has been reported as either a Californian or a Canadian.
    The most reliable accounts suggest that in the early 1960s, an American named Ed A. from San Diego, California, who had previously been exposed to A.A. in the U.S., was living and working in Bridgetown, Barbados. Ed, a former professional tennis player, often worked as an umpire at local tournaments and was a member of the exclusive Barbados Yacht Club, which was restricted to white members. He struggled to stay sober, threatening his job.

    In March 1962, Ed visited the offices of the Advocate, Barbados’s principal newspaper [right: front page, Dec 1966]. He met with Ian Gale, the editor, expressing his interest in raising awareness about alcohol-related issues and suggesting a notice or column on alcohol abuse. He indicated that Barbados needed an A.A. program. Mr. Gale referred Ed to journalist Tony V., known for his heavy drinking and previously advised to reduce his alcohol consumption.
    In their first conversation, Ed requested that someone write an article on alcohol abuse in Barbados, including statistics, and expressed his desire to start an A.A. program.

    As a result, Mr. Smith the Headmaster of St. Matthias Boys School in Christ Church, was contacted. He agreed to provide a meeting place for the first regular A.A. group in Barbados, in the annex of St. Matthias Church [left: late 1800s, c. 1965]. A donation of $3 was given weekly to the sexton for opening and closing the church. Early members included Ed A., Tony V., Robert, Cyrus, and Bert E.
    Despite claiming to have brought A.A. to Barbados, Ed A. struggled to maintain sobriety. After umpiring a tennis match at Bachelors’ Hall, St. James, he drunkenly announced he was the President of A.A. in Barbados.
    Bert, a salesman, got sober but relapsed when his pigeons won a competition. He later sobered up again and became a committed A.A. member.