April 13th, 1952 – Garfield Christopher was born to Lemuel Christopher of Point and Florence Shaw of Grays Farm, deceased and raised at Parliament Street, Grays Farm.

As a child, he recalls the simplicity of life and the wholesome values that were instilled in him, particularly spirituality. He lived in a Moravian household; however, he regularly attended the Wesleyan Holiness Church in the village, commonly known as ‘Mission’ back then. There was also a strong Anglican presence in his immediate environment; thus, in the village raising a child philosophy, Christopher would be ushered off to church at St. John’s Cathedral, where he would be confirmed.

He completed his educational journey at the Greenbay Primary School, where he developed a fondness for playing football and shared treasured memories with friends. He recalls running up Cherry Hill, now known as Cooks Hill, during recess on Fridays to pick mangoes and cherries with his schoolmates.

Upon leaving school, he became an apprentice in the bodywork trade.

After a few years, his brother made a request of him that would change the trajectory of his life forever. He asked him to fill in as a security officer at the Lands and Survey Department while he traveled for two weeks. During this time, a position for land inspector opened in the department, and Christopher applied successfully. Over the years, through self-teaching, he developed his skills and earned promotions in his field before retiring as a Senior Land Officer after 30 years of service. Due to his hands-on approach to his work, he became the go-to person for individuals dealing with land matters, and even in retirement, he continues to go out into the field to assist others.

Christopher maintained a very active presence outside of work in the Grays Green community. He was well known in the football arena due to his penchant for scoring goals, which earned him the nickname ‘Sancho.’ He began playing with the Greenbay Primary School, where they successfully won the island’s first-ever interschool competition. He was one of the initial members of the Hoppers Football Club, playing center forward, at its inception in 1969 and played with them in the 1970 Premier League. Throughout his time with the team, he was able to amass a total of 82 goals over 136 matches and represented the national team in Guadeloupe and St. Kitts.

He further demonstrated his diverse sporting abilities by branching out into cricket and playing with the Ministry of Agriculture team, which he also captained. His coaching abilities came to the fore during stints as a coach for the Hoppers Football Team, Sunset Netball Team, and Braves Basketball Team.

Christopher embodies the true essence of community spirit through his willingness to serve and give of himself and his resources to his community. From 1992 until 2005, he served on the local Village Council in St. John’s Rural West. The Council exerted a positive influence; Garfield and other community stalwarts led positive developments in the area.

Christopher recounts notable accomplishments, including founding the community Christmas lighting competition along with Uriah Mack. The top three winners were rewarded with paying their utility bills for the month. The competition was so well received that it caught the attention of the Government, which in turn expanded it into the national Christmas Lighting Competition.

The Council was also instrumental in putting on the Grays Green teen pageant.  For decades, this pageant was a community flagship, becoming a platform to unearth many talented young ladies who went on to dominate pageants and competitions at the national level.

Christopher’s tenure on the Council concluded when the then government decided to disband village councils. His work within the community continued unabated. He has also served as a member of the Grays Green Drama Group, the Children’s Carnival Committee, the Disaster and Preparedness Council, and the St John’s Rural West feeding program.

He remains closely affiliated with his alma mater, Greenbay Primary School. He is a regular patron and assists in various forms of outreach, including sponsoring a student annually in their educational pursuits. The school expressed gratitude during its 75th-anniversary celebrations by presenting him with a plaque.

Christopher is Grays Green to the core; he has never lived elsewhere—a conscious decision driven by his love for the community and his people. After getting married, he relocated to Union Road, Hatton.  In 1995, he was plunged into single fatherhood, raising his children (seven and nine at the time) after the death of his wife.

Although not moving as swiftly these days, Christopher focuses on maintaining a simple life while continuing to assist his people wherever needed. His primary concern is the rising crime at the community and country levels. He urges the authorities to remain persistent in their efforts to counter the increasing crime and related social issues. He encourages young people to “stay focused, avoid drugs, and be mindful of the company you keep.”

 Christopher can still be found in Union Road, Hatton, sitting on his verandah. Residents can easily access him or give him a friendly ‘hail’ as they make their way along the busy street.