Prof Pedro Welch in memoriam

London 21 February 2025. Whereas I was transiting from London to Barbados, I received a message from Miss Alison Johnson announcing the passing of Professor Pedro Welch, former Deputy Principal of the Cave Hill Campus and former Dean of the Faculty of Humanities and Education. I am personally saddened by the loss of this great Caribbean historian, who once chose me to become his Deputy Dean. Prof Welch is among the few persons I knew during the first year of my presence at Cave Hill and to whom I became closed. The first time I met him was when we had to deal with French Lecturers of different Caribbean territories. At that time he was in charge of Distance Education. After the publication of his major and seminal book titled  Slave Society in the City: Bridgetown Barbados 1680-1834 (Ian Randle Publishers, 2003) he joined the Dept. of History and Philosophy, and he became our Dean succeeding to Prof Hazel Simmons-McDonald. It was also during his tenure as Dean of FHE, that I was promoted to the rank of Professor of Francophone African and Caribbean Literature. He called me from St Augustine to announce this achievement of my university career. Beside his academic activities, Pedro was a church minister, he used to come on Wednesdays to participate in prayers with the community in the Art Lecture Theatre. He possessed also musical talents. I once witnessed his performance at a funeral in a church at Grazette, he played keyboard to an outstanding level. I was amazed. I salute the colleague and friend, I salute a family father whose daughter was married to a Nigerian fellow. I salute the man, the leader and the generous Christian apostle. Deepest condolences to his wife, family and dear ones. May his soul rest in peace. Amen.