‘Moments of love and laughter’ linger for Winston Williams’ daughter
Published:Thursday | July 27, 2023 | 12:09 AMChristopher Serju/Senior Gleaner Writer
‘Winston, the Conscious One in Kingston’ and ‘The Whip with The Solid Kick’ were just two of the titles accorded to legendary broadcast journalist Winston Mansfield Williams during a career that spanned over 50 years. However, according to Williams’ cousin, Winnifred Jones, his love affair with names began soon after his birth 84 years ago.
Jones was addressing relatives, friends, and admirers in attendance for the broadcaster’s thanksgiving service, held yesterday at the St Matthew’s Anglican Church in Allman Town, Kingston.
She shared that following her cousin’s birth on September 24, 1939, it took his proud parents all of three days to decide on a suitable name for their firstborn.
“Then they decided on Winston, believing that he would withstand any battle and become a winner,” she recalled.
Growing up in Allman Town, Williams attended service at St Matthews, where he was very active and served as an altar boy and attended Calabar Primary School before copping a scholarship to Kingston College, where he was an outstanding student, Jones recalled.
Radio trailblazer
Thereafter, the lure of music and the entertainment industry beckoned, and Winston answered the call, easily transitioned to radio, where he would become a trailblazer and exemplar, consistently demonstrating the qualities of a first-rate broadcaster up to the time of his death. Blessed with a distinct voice that was coupled with an engaging mind, he entertained, educated, and kept millions of radio listeners spellbound for at least five decades.
However, for all the recognition, awards, and titles he earned over those years, daughter Mishca Williams used her tribute to recall the many “moments of love and laughter” they shared in Jamaica when she was a child, and that continued after she emigrated to the United States.
“He kept calling and never missed a birthday,” she shared about some of her beautiful childhood memories.
After recounting the many names by which her father was known, Mishca declared: “The name that will resonate in his children’s soul until the end of time is ‘Daddy’. His wide smile and that famous gap are features of our father that we will miss dearly. His beautiful voice, like no other, will forever echo in our minds.”
Williams, who passed away in the Kingston Public Hospital (KPH) after a brief illness, worked in both local and regional media during his career, receiving several accolades. He joined Radio Jamaica in 1963 before leaving three years later for work in the Caribbean as a radio host in The Bahamas, where he shepherded a programme called ‘Music To Remember’ at ZNS.
He returned to Jamaica in 1967 and joined the Jamaica Broadcasting Corporation (JBC) as host of an afternoon show known as ‘The Whip with the solid kick’. During that stint, he went head-to-head with Radio Jamaica’s ‘El Numero Uno’, disk jockey Don Topping. While at JBC, Williams also read radio and television news.
After various stints at JBC and RJR over the years, Williams had a stint at Hot 102 FM in the late 1990s before moving on to Power 106FM in 2003. He retired from the latter a few years ago, bringing an end to his illustrious media career.
In November 2022, Williams was among the 81 pensioners honoured by the RJRGLEANER Communications Group and told this reporter: “It was joy unspeakable. It’s good that they honour you while you are here.”
He added, “I’m elated, over the moon.”
Asked whether he might re-emerge on the airwaves, Williams had quipped then: “Get back into radio? No, man. I’m retired. I’m now working with RNR: Retired Not Rich.”