Olga Lopes-Seale | |
---|---|
Born | Olga Lopes 26 December 1918
British Guiana (now
Guyana) |
Died | 4 February 2011
Bridgetown, Barbados | (aged 92)
Occupation | radio broadcaster |
Spouse | Dick Seale |
Dame Olga Lopes-Seale DA MBE, (26 December 1918 – 4 February 2011) [1] was a Guyanese-born Barbados-based social and community worker, radio broadcaster and singer.
Born in Guyana as Olga Lopes, she was born to Portuguese Guyanese indentured laborers. She sang and played mandolin and had performed in Guyana and Barbados before becoming a broadcaster for Radio Demerara (where she acquired the nickname "Auntie Olga"). [2] In 1960, she started the Radio Needy Children's Fund. [3] She married Barbadian Dick Seale, moving to Barbados in 1963 where she continued her radio and charity work. [4] [5]
In Barbados, she worked for the Barbados Rediffusion Services Limited (now Starcom Network) and was active in community work. In the 1940s and 1950s she was known as "the Vera Lynn of the Caribbean". [6] She discovered Red Plastic Bag (a Barbadian Calypsonian) and convinced Rediffusion to provide a studio for recording, launching his career. She was also involved in the creation of the Barbadian national anthem. [7]
On 9 December 2010, Lopes-Seale fell at her home and broke her hip, suffering multiple fractures, [8] leaving her unable to continue her charity work for the Needy Children's Fund.
She died on 4 February 2011, aged 92 at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Bridgetown, Barbados. [1]
Lopes-Seale has been honored for her work throughout the Caribbean:
Olga Lopes-Seale | |
---|---|
Born | Olga Lopes 26 December 1918
British Guiana (now
Guyana) |
Died | 4 February 2011
Bridgetown, Barbados | (aged 92)
Occupation | radio broadcaster |
Spouse | Dick Seale |
Dame Olga Lopes-Seale DA MBE, (26 December 1918 – 4 February 2011) [1] was a Guyanese-born Barbados-based social and community worker, radio broadcaster and singer.
Born in Guyana as Olga Lopes, she was born to Portuguese Guyanese indentured laborers. She sang and played mandolin and had performed in Guyana and Barbados before becoming a broadcaster for Radio Demerara (where she acquired the nickname "Auntie Olga"). [2] In 1960, she started the Radio Needy Children's Fund. [3] She married Barbadian Dick Seale, moving to Barbados in 1963 where she continued her radio and charity work. [4] [5]
In Barbados, she worked for the Barbados Rediffusion Services Limited (now Starcom Network) and was active in community work. In the 1940s and 1950s she was known as "the Vera Lynn of the Caribbean". [6] She discovered Red Plastic Bag (a Barbadian Calypsonian) and convinced Rediffusion to provide a studio for recording, launching his career. She was also involved in the creation of the Barbadian national anthem. [7]
On 9 December 2010, Lopes-Seale fell at her home and broke her hip, suffering multiple fractures, [8] leaving her unable to continue her charity work for the Needy Children's Fund.
She died on 4 February 2011, aged 92 at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Bridgetown, Barbados. [1]
Lopes-Seale has been honored for her work throughout the Caribbean: