A timeline of our family story
by Linda Lampkin
• Late 1950’s and the 1960’s •
In the 1950s, our father, Charlie Blades, relocated from Barbados to Nassau, Bahamas, accompanied by his older brother Philip, in search of work and a chance to explore the world. While he was there, Charlie met two delightful sisters, Lorraine and Beverly, who were also residing in Nassau. They were renting the cottage next door and came from Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. Before long, Charlie and Lorraine began dating, and soon after, they decided to get married. Their first child, James, was born in Nassau. Soon after his arrival, our parents made the decision to go back to our Dad's native land, Barbados. Dad had witnessed the tourism boom in Nassau, and he was eager to "give it a shot" in the emerging tourism sector in Barbados. Why not? The beaches in Barbados were just as beautiful as those they had seen in the Bahamas. Upon returning home, Charlie and Lorraine welcomed two more sons, “the twins,” Ted and Mark. Our parents purchased a charming old house, right on the beach in St Lawrence Gap. With a lot of hard work and commitment, they turned the old house into an eight-room guesthouse and a beach bar. They named it "White Sands." This was the beginning of their journey in the tourism industry.
• Early 1970’s •
The family grew to welcome a girl, our sister Beverly, and finally, the youngest daughter, Linda joined the family in 1972. As Dad put it, "with five kids to support, failure was not an option!", so he moonlighted as a tour representative to earn some extra money. One of the hotels he frequently visited was a South Coast establishment called The Coconut Court. This hotel was owned by a friendly English gentleman named Mr. “Happy” Apthorpe, whose affluent British family owned Bejam frozen foods in the UK.
• 1975 •
Mr. Apthorpe truly liked our Dad, so when he decided to retire and return to England because of health issues, he asked Charlie if he would like to purchase The Coconut Court. My parents sold White Sands, and our Dad managed to scrape together the remaining funds with assistance from his family and friends.
In 1975, our parents, Charlie and Lorraine Blades, acquired Coconut Court Beach Hotel. To this day, our Dad affectionately calls Mr. Apthorpe his 'godfather' and acknowledges him for providing our family with an opportunity of a lifetime. Our family has never looked back!
• 1980’s •
In those early years, our parents, Charlie and Lorraine, worked countless hours to ensure that their new business became a success. They made numerous enhancements to the hotel and beach during that time.
In 1981, they added 20 guest rooms, and then in 1987, our Dad contributed another 20 rooms. This brought the total number of guest rooms at Coconut Court from 40, when they first purchased it, to 90 rooms in 1987.
Alongside the room expansion, our Mum Lorraine crafted the curtains and pillows, and decorated each of the guest rooms, while doing her best to care for the needs of the five kids at home with the invaluable assistance of nanny, Gloria Ince. Our Dad has always been passionate about the beach and the sea. He put in a lot of effort to establish a clean beach and safe swimming area for the guests. At the end of each day, he could be spotted wearing a mask and carrying a large basket, diligently clearing stones and rocks from the sea to make a sandy swimming spot for the hotel guests to enjoy.
Additionally, Dad planted numerous coconut trees to offer shade for those guests who wanted to relax on the beach without being overly exposed to the sun. Dad also organised for an old fishing boat, the Friars Crag, to be sunk offshore from the hotel, where it remains a popular diving location for scuba divers along the southern coast.
• 1991 •
After six years of persistent applications to the Barbados government, Dad was finally granted permission to clear a large section of the sea, directly in front of the hotel, and to build a coral stone breakwater to prevent waves and strong ocean currents. This coral barrier created a large, safe and sandy swimming lagoon for hotel guests, which they continue to enjoy to this day.
• 1996 •
In 1996, Dad felt it was the right time to step back from Coconut Court, so he sold his shares to his five children, allowing him to retire and spend more time playing the guitar, sailing, fishing, and travelling. Our mum, Lorraine, remained a shareholder with us until she passed away in 2018.
• 1997 and early 2000’s •
James and Mark assumed control of the hotel's management and operations, and during their time there, they added 30 more rooms, increasing the total number of guest accommodations to 120. Additionally, James and Mark established the Barbados Marine Trust, which was dedicated to education and conservation. They created numerous 'reef balls' that served as habitats for small, displaced fish. They set up a number of these 'reef balls' in the swimming lagoon so that guests can enjoy snorkelling and observing the various fish and marine life. In 2003, James and Mark also constructed and inaugurated the historic Barbados Pavilion. Between 2003 to 2008, our eldest sister Beverly, managed the operations at Coconut Court, with support from Linda and her husband, Jason Lampkin. In 2007, our brother Mark came back to work at the hotel. Throughout these years, our Dad, Charlie, also offered invaluable guidance and management support.
• 2008 - present •
Since 2008, the management of Coconut Court Beach Hotel has been in the competent hands of Jason Lampkin. Linda and Mark support Jason, along with a hard-working bunch of individuals who form the rest of the dedicated team at Coconut Court.
In 2009, we began our initiative to completely renovate every hotel guest room as well as all public areas including the lobby, gift shop, pool deck, Coco's Beachside restaurant, and Captain Charlie's Beach Bar. Additionally, we acquired the hotel Annex, which features 12 self-catering apartments along with the full-service restaurant and bar, Jake's Island Grille.
Several of our children, now part of the third generation, have joined the team, including Katy, Nelson, Laurence, and Kim. Each of them brings their own personal creative energy and ideas to enhance our business.
Over the years, our family business has weathered global recessions, hurricanes, volcanic eruptions, and the Covid-19 pandemic. Despite these significant challenges, we not only continue to survive but also flourish. In a world that is becoming more impersonal and fast-paced, Coconut Court remains a tranquil oasis, where we continue our family tradition established by our parents, Charlie and Lorraine Blades many years ago, of offering comfortable, clean accommodation along with our own special blend of friendly, warm and authentic hospitality.
We are excited to extend the warmest welcome to our new guests and returning friends from around the world, inviting you to experience our ‘Labour of Love’ and the sunny paradise of beautiful Barbados.
