To forget one's ancestors is to be a brook without a source, a tree without a root.

It was 1967 when my brother Peter first introduced his gorgeous girlfriend to our family. Peter was barely 18, Neilsa Tasker was a schoolgirl, not quite 16. She was a striking beauty and my impression from the outset was that she was different. Exotic, even! NiNi was fun-loving and vivacious, with a quick sense of humour and an infectious, bubbly laugh. She spoke Spanish and had a distinctive, appealing Latina air about her. We all knew that our Petes was completely smitten - and truth be said, that never changed.

A child of the fifties, Neilsa was born in Trinidad to Mickey and Elba Tasker. Her dad was Guyanese, of English and Guyanese roots and her mother Venezuelan with some Dutch connections in the island of Saba. Neilsa was their second child, the younger sister of Marcia. The sisters grew up adapting to different cultures, living wherever their father’s work took them - St. Lucia, New York, and Venezuela It was there that Neilsa’s 18 year old sister Marcia died after a short illness. Neilsa was just 14 years old. The memory of Marcia and her tragic parting stayed with NiNi throughout her life.

In the mid sixties, Mickey, Elba and Neilsa moved from Venezuela to Barbados where Neilsa was enrolled at the Ursuline Convent to complete her secondary education. From there she continued her studies at the University of the West Indies, obtaining her BA degree in Sociology and History with top honours. As part of the Tasker family of brilliant tennis players, Neilsa developed a great love of the sport and was herself a skilled player. She and Peter enjoyed games of tennis with her dad Mickey, and they remained avid followers of international tennis. She also enjoyed playing racquetball and squash.

Neilsa and Peter dated as teenagers, in the days when boys would visit at the girls’ home and parents had to approve and know exactly where they were going and responsibly bring them home at the appointed time. On one occasion, Peter worked up the courage to ask Neilsa’s mother if he could take her to the Hotel Royal in Hastings where there was a live band and open-air dancing on a Friday night. Elba firmly put her foot down - absolutely not, you can’t take her out to a public place like that! But you can take her to the Drive-In or so. Needless to say, that was perfectly okay with them. How Neilsa and Peter loved to tell that joke!

Predictably, their young romance blossomed into marriage and a beautiful traditional wedding at St. Patrick’s Cathedral on 17 October 1970 - a few days before Peter’s 21st birthday.

Neilsa’s working career took a diverse path, starting with a teaching job at St. Winifred’s school. Her students still recall their stylish teacher who made learning fun for them! Meanwhile, Peter had already embarked on his lifelong career of photography and was offered a job with The Kodak Company in Puerto Rico. While living in Puerto Rico, Neilsa became involved in selling real estate, and it was there that their only child Renee was born in 1976. Peter’s promotions within the Kodak Company took them to live in Rochester, NY, and in Venezuela. Neilsa loved and supported Peter throughout every step of his career. In 1987, they decided to return to Barbados and open their own photography business, launching Sheps Photo, the one-hour photo developing franchise that became a household name in Barbados. Not only was Neilsa a co-owner and Director of Sheps Photo, she was highly skilled in colour printing, and Peter recalls with a grin that some of their customers would insist that “Mrs. Sheps” print their rolls. Neilsa worked long hours alongside Peter in their Mall 34 Sheps Photo business, the first of five outlets they established together in Barbados, also training staff to operate and run them.

Neilsa and Peter traveled and cruised the world extensively. Their home overlooking the turquoise waters of Cotton Bay is a reflection of their travels, filled with a fascinating mix of treasures that appealed to her eclectic taste, collected from around the world. Though Neilsa was modest about her many talents, she was a gifted artist, ceramist and interior designer. Her pottery and paintings, her sense of colour and love of handcrafted, earthy items show her deep love of animals and nature. NiNi had a green thumb, and you couldn’t please her better than by giving her a clipping, plant or bulb that she could nuture and watch grow. Every plant she touched flourished. She wasn’t at all materialistic and had no interest in shopping for expensive designer clothes and accessories.

Not surprisingly, Peter and Neilsa’s daughter Renee grew up to be an artist, photographer, and costume designer. Neilsa would help Renee make headpieces and costumes for Kadooment, spending days glueing beads, sequins and feathers for her. Eight years ago, after having just crossed the stage as band leader on Kadooment Day in the beautiful costume she had designed, Renee passed away suddenly. Her death was shocking and devasting. But their unending love for each other and for their twin grandsons Harrison and Nicholai saw them through those darkest of times.

In her young days Neilsa loved a party, loved to dance and make jokes. She was warm and loving to her nieces and nephews - young people always found her so much fun to be around. With her larger-than-life personality, we all knew that Neilsa was authentic, genuine, with no pretensions. She enjoyed a wonderful lifetime of love and adventures with her Peter and was truly another sister to all of his siblings. In more recent years she was content to be at home surrounded by her dogs, plants and the people she loved. She made our brother the happiest man on earth, and he returned her love with the deepest devotion. NiNi suffered some serious health challenges during the last couple of years, and she faced them bravely with her Peter by her side until the very end.

We will always hold Neilsa close in our hearts and remember how loving and kind she was to animals, and especially how she loved and cherished our brother Peter, their daughter Renee and grandsons Harrison and Nicholai.

In 2020 during the time of the pandemic, Neilsa and Peter quietly celebrated their Fiftieth Wedding Anniversary at home watching a slideshow of their wedding day that Peter created for his bride. We would now like to share this nostalgic look back to the start of 53 years of their enduring love and life together.