10 Facts About Barry Reckord

Barrington John Reckord, known as Barry Reckord, was a Jamaican playwright, one of the earliest Caribbean writers to make a contribution to theatre in Britain.

Barry Reckord's brother was the actor and director Lloyd Reckord, with whom he sometimes worked.

Barrington John Reckord was born in Kingston, Jamaica, where he grew up in Vineyard Town with his three siblings: two brothers, Carol and Lloyd, and a sister Cynthia.

Barry Reckord attended Kingston College and after matriculation went on to study theology at St Peter's College in 1948.

Barry Reckord left the island in 1950 after winning an Issa Scholarship to Cambridge University, where he read for a degree at Emmanuel College, graduating in 1953.

Barry Reckord began writing plays as a student and several of them were performed at London's Royal Court Theatre, sometimes directed by his brother Lloyd Reckord.

Barry Reckord wrote other television dramas, including for the BBC In the Beautiful Caribbean and Club Havana, as well as a book about Cuba entitled Does Fidel Eat More Than Your Father.

Also in 1973, Barry Reckord was awarded the Silver Musgrave Medal by the Institute of Jamaica.

Barry Reckord spent most of his adult life in Britain, for more than four decades with his companion Diana Athill, who in her memoirs has written candidly about their unconventional relationship, both as lovers and friends.

Barry Reckord died on the island in Boscobel, Saint Mary Parish, in December 2011, aged 85.