‘Not a lot of chatting’

Being an orator for royal visits is no easy task, says Fae Ellington, one of Jamaica’s most embraced broadcasters.

On Monday, while gearing up for the arrival of Their Royal Highnesses, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, Prince William and Catherine, Ellington highlighted some skills incorporated in her presentation patterns.

“Everything is scripted. It’s not a lot of chatting. Everything is scripted,” Ellington explained.

“As an outside broadcast presenter – or as anybody – you have to learn the correct terminology and how to use, when to use it and so on ... . You can’t just go stretch out your hands fi go shake Queen hand. It nuh go so, even the other heads of states, you couldn’t do that either,” she jokingly added.

During her 48 years of service in media, Ellington assisted with providing coverage for three previous royal visits with Queen Elizabeth II in 1983, 1994 and 2002.

She also provided coverage during the state visits of other royals, such as the Prince of Wales, Charles, in 2000; Princess Anne in both 1990 and 2010, and Prince Harry in 2012.

Providing coverage for the visits of the royal family are similar to covering the visits of heads of states from other countries, she said.

“It is different, but not different, in that you have to understand the protocols associated with it and the terminology. For example, how you refer to The Queen, don’t just say The Queen. On first mention, it is a whole pile of things, her reign ... all of that,” she told The Gleaner.

Ellington was presented to The Queen, along with other media personnel, in 1994. She has a keepsake photograph of the occasion, which she will publish in her memoir.

She recalled having to work under the supervision of former veteran journalist, Ken Chaplin, who was responsible for communication and the organising of events for state visits, and ‘Mr Protocol’, Merrick Needham, ceremonial and protocol consultant.

Ellington also recalled some fun times and excitement while providing coverage, one of which was having to climb a ladder at the former Oceana Hotel in downtown Kingston to get a better vantage point to report on the arrival of The Queen.

“I remember covering Gordon House, along with Leonie Forbes. One of us did TV and one did radio, and we were sitting on the first floor at the window, so that we could see properly. A funny thing happened. People were curious to see this woman and they were right across from Parliament – the Parliament’s gardens – and somebody climbed into a soursop tree to get a good vantage point. Dem drop out a di tree right there while we doing the commentary, y’know,” she said before laughing.

Added Ellington: “I look pon Leonie, Leonie look pan mi, and, of course, we wove it into what we were saying, but did it to bring a light moment, but also still maintained out professional coverage.”

Ellington told The Gleaner that another part of her preparations for royal visits include attending rehearsals with members of the Jamaica Defence Force (JDF) and study their patterns, which, as an orator, she will have to describe in detail and with precision.

“I come to three or four rehearsals before the actual event ... . You don’t just come and sit down in a di little place and start seh something. Where the JDF are concerned, I have to look on and know, because you can’t just talk and nuh know when fi stop talk. Yuh nuh want you and the parade commander a talk same time. It’s a kind of training and culturalisation and you have an interest in these kinds of things,” Ellington said.

She believes her training in theatre arts before joining the media prepared her for what was to come, especially her skills as an orator.

“You’re only as good as your last performance, and theatre is a thing that calls for rehearsals, discipline, and theatre is a thing that calls for teamwork,” she said.

Ellington is scheduled to provide coverage of two events during the royal visit by the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge.

ainsworth.morris@gleanerjm.com