Gwyneth Squires, Veteran Band Leader and Designer, Passes Away

Veteran band leader and one of the Crop Over Festival’s top designers, Gwyneth Squires, has passed away.

Head of Kontact Band and former president of the Barbados Association of Masqueraders (BAM), Anthony Layne, gave that confirmation on Wednesday after news circulated that Squires, who was ill, had died.

“We have a lost legend and I want to offer condolences to her friends and family,” he said.

“Gwyneth was an astute designer, band leader and a fierce competitor and when she came out every year, she came to win. There were no two ways about it.

“She took the art form very seriously and she was very vocal that she was for the traditional aspect of the artform. When you beat Gwyneth, you had to come really good,” Layne said.

Didi Winston, who was flagperson for many years with Squires’ band, was heartbroken on hearing the news, posting on Instagram: “My queen, my icon, my legend, my mother of the masquerade has gone on to play mas up above.

“You were phenomenal and coloured my life in more ways than one, for which I am truly grateful.”

Over the years, Squires, who was one of the most decorated designers in the country, competed in both Junior Kadooment and Grand Kadooment and won scores of titles.

However, she was unable to compete in the Crop Over Festival since it returned in 2022, following a two-year absence. (TSG)