John Philip (Phil) Aspinall

Phil Aspinall comes from Derby, a city of some 234,000 in the East Midlands of England.  He currently lives in McNamara, Roadtown, but has also lived on Soldier Hill, in the East End, in Havers, and in Slaney, since he arrived on Tortola in 1990. He joined the RAF when he was 16, and completed seventeen years of service. Trained in aircraft engineering (for three years) he was ‘on loan service’ from 1990-92 in Tortola to the Royal BVI Police Force working on Drug Interdiction with the Royal VI Police Aviation Unit. (He simultaneously had a similar job in the Turks and Caicos.) He liked the BVI so much that he retired from the RAF and came here to live in October 1992.

After coming back, Phil became service manager and de facto operator of Tradewind Yachting Services Ltd., the top dinghy sales and service facility in the Virgin Islands, owned at that time by Peter Clarke. Phil purchased this business in 1996-97. Begun in 1979, Tradewind offers a wide range of services and products; from Yamaha outboard engine sales & service, dinghy sales, repair and rentals, to life raft certifications and rentals (http://www.tradewindsbvi.com/).
Originally located on Wickham’s Cay II, the business operated in a couple of other locations before moving, five years ago, to a building located behind the H.R Penn Marina, and next door to “The Pub”. Currently its workshops are in Fish Bay and later in 2010 the whole operation will be consolidated into newly constructed premises in Fish Bay.

Since arriving here Phil Aspinall has seen many changes. Roadtown has grown considerably. When he first came Fish Bay and Nanny Cay would have been seen as “out of town”, but now they are increasingly regarded as part of “Greater Roadtown”. Along with this growth has come an improvement in roads, and of course, the installation of traffic lights. But as is often the case, better roads have generated more traffic, and congestion and its resultant effects on time consumption is a major reason for the move of Tradewind to its new location.

The new Peebles Hospital is another important change. It is way better, than 20 years ago. Phil cites its Emergency Services as having improved dramatically. He regularly comes in contact with Peebles as a result of his work with VISAR (Virgin Islands Search and Rescue: http://www.visar.org/).

Other elements of the BVI infrastructure have also improved over the past two decades. The airport is now a true international airport. Improved shipping times have meant that consumer goods such as foods are readily available in the supermarkets and elsewhere. In addition, educational services (e.g. Cedar School, Montessori School, and HLSCC) have improved – an important factor for a business owner who is regularly hiring workers. He needs trained people.

In addition to his company, Phil Aspinall has made a number of important contributions to the BVI that have made a difference. His “big mouth” as he puts it, has made him a first choice for ‘MC-ing’ numerous events, speaking at public events, and as an amateur auctioneer for several charities (e.g. Humane Society Gaming Night and Dog Show, Cedar School Auctions). He has also become involved in a number of amateur dramatic events. He finds these actions to be a welcome change from work (“a change is as good as a rest”). But his major contribution, for which he received an MBE (Member of the Order of the British Empire) in 2009 from Queen Elizabeth II, has been to VISAR, which he has been involved with since 1990. It has become his “passion”.

“Virgin Islands Search and Rescue (VISAR) is a voluntary organisation dedicated to saving life at sea. It is the officially recognised search and rescue service in the British Virgin Islands, where it provides 24-hour cover every day of the year in close co-operation with the Royal British Virgin Islands police, fire and ambulance services” (http://www.visar.org/). Phil has “three hats”, as President, chief “PR” officer, and chief coordinator for VISAR and spends a lot of time, daily and during rescues, keeping the organization running efficiently and successfully. His position as President also leads him to be involved in numerous other related activities in Tortola and other parts of the world (http://www.visar.org/news/visar-president-awarded-mbe/). VISAR is Phil’s passion, and if he could afford it he would do the job full-time!!

Phil has no regrets about moving to the BVI, which is “a beautiful place with beautiful people”.  He recognises, however, that the country has a number of challenges, which have resulted from the country growing too fast in some ways. Phil sees these issues as being part of a world-generated problem, with the BVI being the victim. Quantum leaps in technology and increases in incomes (particularly in North America and Europe) have led to, amongst other things, an enormous increase in tourism on Tortola, without sufficient infrastructure to support it. The Cruise Ships provide a classic example of this challenge, with many people and taxis in parts of Roadtown without a well planned road system to move them around, and through, the urban area. This is not good either for the residents or for the ‘cruisers’.

Only in his early fifties, Phil’s immediate future is likely to see a continuation of his present day activities. A big question is “does he want another challenge or can he continue feel fulfilled by what he does now?” Time will tell.
 

Draft of March 17th 2010, of interview of March 16th 2010.

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