Guard of honour for ‘Pebbles’ Tardieu

Robert “Pebbles” Tardieu was a man to whom family meant everything, for whom occasions were a celebration of life—and he had a special tradition with his elder brother Derrick “Stones” Tardieu, which said everything about his love for family.

That was how the children of powerboat fraternity member and businessman “Pebbles” Tardieu paid tribute to him yesterday at a packed St Mary’s RC Church in St James.

Tardieu, 69, died on Monday at hospital following injuries from a fall at his Monos Island home a month ago.

Tardieu had been the navigator of the powerboat White Heat, which was driven by his cousins Richard and Victor Tardieu in T&T’s Great Race events over the years. White Heat has been involved in Great Race events—winning titles in its category—since 1982, when Tardieu’s brother, Derrick, also participated.

Tardieu was also connected to the peninsula’s history, particularly Scotland Bay, via his uncle Arnim Tardieu, who was the late US actor Robert Mitchum’s stunt double in two movies filmed in Chaguaramas in 1957. These were the classics Fire Down Below and Heaven Knows Mr Allison.

A former Northern Rugby club member, Tardieu was involved in the trucking sector, particularly with inter-island commerce, for almost 40 years. He served as second vice president of the T&T Truckers’ Association, lobbying over the years for improvements in the Port Authority’s inter-island ferry service.

Yesterday, Tardieu’s daughters, Tasha Tardieu and Kristal Ragoonath, and son Francisco “Turok” Delph, voiced the shock and grief of many following Tardieu’s death. They detailed his roots, joyful spirit, wisdom and credo—and his tradition with his elder brother Derrick.

Tasha recalled her father’s pride at being Derrick’s “Irish twin”—siblings born within 12 months of each other and close in age. She detailed her father’s traditional hail-out to Derrick, which said everything about his love for family, she added.

Derrick, a kidnapping victim last December, had, at that time, sent an SOS for help to Robert in a voice note.

Of their father Robert, his children said yesterday, “He said what he meant and meant what he said … he lived every moment teaching us one simple thing—to treat everyone with the same respect … he never judged anyone, he saw dignity in all and he respected all God’s creations—and he had such a joyful spirit.”

Powerboat fraternity members—in club jerseys—formed a guard of honour alongside Tardieu’s casket as it was borne from the church; with Tardieu’s favourite song, My Way, concluding the departure from the churchyard to subsequent cremation.