Born to Clarine Dewar and Neil Savory, he was the youngest of the 4 boys they managed to have before Neil’s untimely death in 1934. Ronnie was only 3 months old. In the family they were known as “Neil the devil and his band of cut-throats”! In later years they became the ‘Savory” boys – Dickie, Ivan, Colin and Ronnie.
He grew up with a strong mother in an extended family filled with strong women. His male role models were his uncles, some of whom were not much older than he and his brothers.
Ronnie followed his older brothers to Queen’s College. He joined the Public Service and worked at the Lands and Mines Department. He played basketball for fun and dabbled in art.
In 1960 he married Sheila, daughter of well-known Berbician Charlie Hancock. We all went with him to the wedding in New Amsterdam. Shortly after they married Ronnie was posted to Kamarang in the Mazaruni District. Sheila and Ronnie set up house in the “bush”. In 1961 they were blessed with their daughter, Lois.
Ronnie was always a painter, exploring pencils, water colours, oils, acrylics and other mediums. It was during his time in the Mazaruni that his love of Guyana’s beauty blossomed. He painted the petroglyphs he discovered on the rocks in the Mazaruni; beautiful paintings of the Mazaruni River, and of the mountains in the Mazaruni Range, including the spectacular Ayangaik Mountain. There were paintings of “gold miners” going about their craft, paintings of the rain forest, mainly done at floor level, and paintings of the indigenous people of Guyana in the Mazaruni area. He certainly knew how to capture the beauty of his native land.
After Kamarang Ronnie and Sheila went to Lethem. It was most interesting to see the change in his painting. We were now treated to the awesome beauty of the Rupununi Savannahs and the lovely Pakaraima Mountains. I have never been to the Rupununi but I certainly loved seeing it through his eyes.
In the late 60’s the Savorys moved back to Georgetown and Ronnie went to work at GBS. Now involved in media and culture he nevertheless remained the artist. He went to the BBC Training School in the 1960s and worked with engineers, architects and museum curators working in the fields of study and vocation related to development.
Ronnie loved music – always! He loved jazz and the classical music. He loved sound and dabbled in electronics. He subscribed to the Audiophile magazine and was always building some revolutionary sound system. I remember the concoction with the amplifier full of glass tubes and the speakers he put together with parts he imported or bought locally from Affonso’s or Booker’s. Charlotte Street was always filled with music. He had an ear for fine sound and loved KEF speakers and Marantz amplifiers.
In 1966 Sheila and Ronnie were blessed with their first son Stewart. A year later Ian came along.
By this time the family had moved to 11 Belvoir Court. It seemed really far away from Charlotte Street; riding along Sheriff Street against the sea wall breeze to get to them seemed to take forever. Ronnie moseyed around in Georgetown on his Velosolex with the 2 side bags. For those who don’t know – a Velosolex is a motorised bicycle made in France. It had a small engine on the front wheel and you pedalled it to get going. A most fuel-efficient vehicle! But then Ronnie was an environmentalist before that became popular.
He had exhibitions and shows almost every year. He was involved with the British Council and the USIS Library and the shows were often held there. At some point Ronnie decided it was time to realise his dream and become a full-time artist. Along with painting, he also did some framing. His attention to detail was amazing and everything he produced was beautifully done.
Ronnie sold his first painting in 1958. In 1967 he was invited to hold an exhibition at
the Carlart Gallery in Port of Spain. He also did shows in Sussex, Dominica, Barbados, St. Lucia and, of course, in Guyana. In 1970 he was invited to coordinate the mounting of Carifesta 72, 36 exhibitions in Guyana – quite an honour!
In 2010 he exhibited at the National Gallery in Guyana with a show called “Evocations”. It was inspired by his readings of some of Guyana and the Caribbean’s finest poets and writers. He also did a show highlighting the poetry of Ian McDonald, a collection entitled Essequibo, and a solo exhibition at the Gallery of Caribbean Art in Barbados. He was also part of an exhibition of Guyanese Art in Caracas called “Togetherness in Guyana” in 2002.
In 1979 he moved the family to St. Lucia. He opened his studio up on the hill on “L Anse Road. His themes slowly changed to the flora and landscapes of St. Lucia. He painted the Caribbean Sea and the islands. He also did framing and painted post cards. He painted the St. Lucia Rainforest and the Pitons.
In the 90’s he was contracted to decorate the interior walls of old Barclays Bank (now GBTI) on Water Street in Georgetown with his artwork. The paintings are amazing.
I remember when he discovered the internet and email. I used to get nice emails from him. Then he got Magic Jack; he could not understand that you could talk for a long time at no cost. He kept handing the phone to Sheila so we could chat to her before the money ran out!
He was a revolutionary! A non-conformist! A rebel!
He did not have too much time on material things. Just those things that were absolutely necessary. In many ways he was like his aunt Lilian whom he adored. I don’t remember ever seeing him in a suit. He didn’t care too much about stuff like that. He was always simply dressed and he loved to be “cool”. He loved those sleeveless shirts! He didn’t give a damn that he didn’t’ have a “six pack” to show off! He loved his vests! On a trip to Guyana once he forgot 2 of his shirts. We were all really concerned that he had left 50% of his wardrobe in Guyana, and hurried to send the 2 shirts on to St. Lucia.
He was also faithful to his toothbrush! Spent hours brushing! There was a story in the family that someone threw out his favorite toothbrush. He went crazy. Everyone kept saying “it’s only a toothbrush” but to Ronnie, it was not just a toothbrush, it was his favorite toothbrush!
There was another side to this complex man. He not only loved listening to music – he also played. He played the steel pan. In 1956 he conducted the Symphonia Steel Band in the production of “Stabroek Fantasy”. The show was produced and choreographed by Helen Tait, sister of his good friend Clairmont. It was centred around a group of hucksters in the Stabroek Market. The music for the show was written by Ronnie’s long time friend Hugh Sam, and produced by Ronnie and another of his long time friends Michael Gilkes.
He did things his way. He never uttered an unnecessary word. He always paused to think before he spoke.
He loved his family. His loved his mother and visited her as often as he could. He loved his friends. When Ronnie was your friend, you had a friend for life!
We will all miss him.
Guyana has lost one of her proud sons. Ronnie loved his country. He may have made St. Lucia his home but we know part of his heart was always in Guyana.
He always spoke of the lack of appreciation for his art throughout the Caribbean. He always felt under-appreciated!
Let us stop and appreciate the man!
He was brilliant, complex and funny!
Safe travels Ronnie!
