Gombey Festival Honouree, September 10, 2008
There have been many men who have drummed on our streets, creating the intoxicating rhythms that call us, making us drop everything and follow them. Then there are the dancers with their bright colours and hypnotizing peacock feathers that move with the beat, prancing in the street, stopping traffic at every corner, their shrill whistles piercing the air, calling us to join them. Everyone knows their sound, everyone knows their call, and each and every Bermudian falls victim to this enthralling piece of history and culture.
One such man, Mr. Francis Llewellyn Spencer “Merry Mice” Darrell, willingly engaged himself with the Gombey tradition at the tender age of seven under the keen watchful eye of Mr. Charles “Boxcart” Norford. Years later, as is the case in Gombey tradition, Mr. Norford passed the group to Mr. John Warner who then passed it on to “Merry Mice” Darrell. Mr. Darrell led the group to triumph for many years, before retiring and moving to Connecticut.
In true traditional Gombey fashion “Merry Mice” passed his group to the trio leadership of Phillip “Marlo” DeShields, Fred “Little Blue” Lodge and Llewellyn “Termite” Warner. It is from Termite Warner that his nephew, Allan Warner inherited the Warner Gombey Troupe. Today “Merry Mice” Darrell’s son, Andrei Simons continues the tradition as the Captain of the Warner Gombey Troupe and has his two sons dancing to the rhythm of the Gombey drum at the tender age of two and four years old.
Now that he lives abroad, Mr. Darrell manages to perform with his group whenever they visit the United States. Two such occasions of which he is most proud were when Warner Gombeys travelled to perform in Central Park, New York for a promotional event led by the Tourism Department and later when they participated in the Bermuda Folklife Festival held at the Smithsonian Institute in Washington D.C., in 2001. As a result of Mr. Darrell’s participation in this event, he was honoured with a silver Gombey coin. He explains that this is a very treasured piece of his heritage which he still proudly has on display at his home today.
Although he is modest about being one of the oldest Gombey dancers still performing, he gently reminds us that the Gombey tradition is one that needs to be continued for generations as it is a vital part of our history, culture and community.
On behalf of the Department of Culture and on behalf of the people of Bermuda, we salute Mr. Francis Llewellyn Spencer “Merry Mice” Darrell for his invaluable contribution to the Gombey tradition.
Note: Mr. Darrell passed in 2015.
