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In 1865, Redonda’s only true value lay in its phosphate mining and as was typical in those days, the British decided that rather than have those darn Americans take it, they had better act, so they annexed the island as part of nearby Antigua. Mining employed about 100 people and was finally given up in 1930. It was decided, after the fact (very Caribbean), to confirm some type of ownership by building a post office there and issuing a commemorative stamp honoring the 100th anniversary of mining. This lasted one year until all was wiped out by a hurricane and landslides. That’s history.
Now the quirky bits. Back in 1865, after eight daughters, a son was presented to one Mathew Dowdy, an Irish-Montserrat merchant. With grandiose ideas of making his son a King, he set out to find a kingdom — behold, Redonda Rock! To his determination, no final claim had been made, so when his son “M.P.” was 15 he set out armed with the most official “official” he could find, a bishop, and crowned his heir apparent, King Filipe I of Redonda, followed by much blessing and alcohol consumption. The new king promptly changed his name and moved to London, not a bad plan looking at Redonda of the cacti. There he wrote Gothic Romance and Science Fiction and was actually held in high esteem by his peers including H.G. Wells. He did his best to maintain his title, holding court in London and creating several literary duchies to the realm. Near the end, M.P. petitioned the crown to recognize his title to no avail; however, finally in 1947 he was pensioned as recognition for his literary efforts.
If only it ended there, but, no. At his death, Shiel passed his title to fellow writer John Galsworth — King Juan I, who enjoyed his drink a bit too much and traded titles for beer and tried to sell his kingdom unsuccessfully, several times before passing it on at his death in 1970 (say it isn’t so!) to Jon Wynn-Tyson, King Juan II. He led a group of Shiel enthusiasts to Redonda in 1979 to plant a flag on the mountain and must have been exhausted by these duties, for he abdicated, passing the title on to Robert Williamson, a writer and artist currently living in Antigua where he keeps a flamboyant royal yacht in English Harbor. King Robert, or as he is affectionately known…wait for it….Bob the Bald, reigns on.
Sharon Heggie, a Canadian, has been everything from a successful innkeeper to a chiropractic assistant to a TV producer/host and the list now includes sailor! When not traveling, she cheerfully bakes cookies for her family in Midlothian, VA where she can also be found at frequent food and wine events.
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