The Tribune

By DENISE MAYCOCK

Tribune Freeport Reporter

dmaycock@tribunemedia.net

RAYBERTHA'S Senior Citizens Centre in Grand Bahama is home to some 12 residents, including a former hotel executive chef who made cooking history in the United Bahamian Party-era and served as a private chef to Sir Lynden Pindling and Dame Marguerite Pindling.

When The Tribune visited the home last week, this newspaper found that well-known Bahamian chef Granville Johnson, 90, resides at the assisted living facility in Freeport.

He was happy to share his extraordinary life as a chef who was applauded and recognised for his culinary skills by Sir Stafford Sands, former minister of tourism, and his many guests from Miami high society.

Mr Johnson recalled that in those days, during the segregation era, blacks were not allowed to live in Miami Beach.

"I represented The Bahamas in the United States and Canada to put on a Bahamian food exhibition. The UBP government sent me over to Florida to represent the Bahamas, and it was called 'Bahamian Dinner Flown to Miami,' he said.

"I grew up in the hotel from a young boy scrubbing the floor and taking out the garbage at the Bahamas Country Club at Sir Harry Oakes, and later became a chef there," he recalled.

Mr Johnson eventually became an executive chef. He was flown over to Florida to cook an authentic Bahamian meal for Sir Stafford and his guests at a Bahamian themed-event.

"They flew a live turtle over… and we put on a whole display of Bahamian food. When we finished, Sir Stafford Sands, who was then minister of tourism, came into the kitchen and took me to the dining room and introduced me to the crowd of white people.

"Sir Stafford said, 'ladies and gentlemen, I would like to introduce you to the young chef that did all that wonderful food,' and the whole room stood up and clapped. They were all white persons, doctors and lawyers - there were no blacks there," Mr Johnson recalled.

"At that time in Miami, black people could not live there, and they booked me to stay at the McAllister Hotel in downtown Miami."

Mr Johnson was also a private chef to former Prime Minister Sir Lynden and his wife, Governor General Dame Marguerite, preparing meals for the couple during special parties and events at their home.

"Anytime (Dame) Marguerite was having a party, she would call me to create a menu, and I would get my stuff together and go up to their house when they were at Village Road," he said.

Mr Johnson said that he enjoyed working for the Pindlings.

"Sir Lynden and I were very good friends," he said.

While recuperating at his brother's home following surgery in Miami, Mr Johnson said that his sister-in-law was quite surprised when Sir Lynden called to speak with him.

"My brother's wife answered the phone, and she was so excited and came calling, 'Granville, Granville, the prime minister is on the phone to you!'"

After leaving New Providence, Mr Johnson worked in Grand Bahama as the executive chef of the Lucayan Beach Hotel and Lucayan Harbour Hotel at the same time.

Mr Johnson has been living at the Raybertha Home for the past two years. He credits his good health to God and living a clean life.

"I never smoked, and I don't drink," he said, adding that he is not on any medication. "I believe in God, I trust God, and I thank Him every morning for granting me long life, and good health."