Your Ultimate Guide To Barbados

Frank Collymore

This well-known author, poet, acclaimed Barbadian man of letters, stage performer and painter grew up in Chelsea Road, Bridgetown, Barbados. He was a single child who was an avid reader. He attended Combermere School which he entered in 1903 and seven years later became appointed as a teacher until his retirement as deputy headmaster in 1958. Despite his retirement, he continued his sought-after service up until 1963. His successful teaching career was amalgamated with time spent on stage along with the creativity of art and poetry.

Collymore was also a renowned letter-writer whose art of his handwritting ornamented many lettergrams across the Caribbean and world.

Launch of BIM

From the very launch of the BIM magazine and throughout its lifetime, Collymore was destined to take it places. This magazine started as a production of the Young Men's Progressive Club of Barbados and was launched in December 1942 at a time when he was one of the many editors on board. By Issue No. 3 he became sole editor and the subsequent thirty three (33) years were taken up with him producing some fifty-six (56) issues. However, in 1975 he passed on the editorial duties to John Wickham.

BIM magazine offered contemporary short stories, poetry, criticism, and commentary on new books by Caribbean authors abroad. The magazine was seen as public means of expression for budding Caribean writers.

Inclusive in the many issues of the BIM magazine were the seemingly strange and diverse collections of Collymore's work. Hundreds of sketches and watercolours were used to illustrate his poems and verses which he referred to as "Collybeasts" or "Collycreatures".

His Work As a Poet

The unconventional and conservative side of Frank Collymore often time came out in his poetry as he used this particular medium as a means to express himself in a variety of art forms.

Frank Collymore Hall

The Frank Collymore Hall is located in the Central Bank of Barbados and was established in honour of the contribution Frank Walcott made towards the performing arts in Barbados. With a a seating capacity of approximately 491, this state-of-the-art venue has served well in accommodating a variety of plays, special events, concerts, film screenings, conferences and cultural activities.