Neville, a Pioneer of Carnival

Mourners braved the inclement weather yesterday to attend the funeral of 94-year-old masman Neville Romus Aming at the Church of the Assumption in Maraval.

“Daddy was a pioneer of Carnival,” said Aming’s daughter Crystal Aming-Marcus who delivered the eulogy. She fondly recalled memories of him. “His influence lives on in me, as I have been a costume designer for the past 18 years,” said Aming-Marcus.

PIONEER: Neville Aming

Deacon Mike Smith said he recalled growing up with Aming and realising from a young age that Aming had a passion hinged on Carnival. “It was a privilege to know him. Neville intrigued us with his passion for mas,” said Smith.

“His family meant everything to him. Neville was dedicated to his family, friends, vocation to God and his profession—creating mas. This was reflected in him being awarded the Humming Bird Silver in 1996 for his contributions to society,” Smith continued.

Among those in attendance were widow Conchita Aming, eight children, close family members, friends and the president of the National Carnival Bands Association David Lopez. “Neville gave Carnival immense creativity and we thank him for his contributions,” said Lopez.

Aming assisted in developing regional, as well as international, carnivals and was one of the founding members of the Carnival Band Leader’s Association. Some of his most popular Carnival presentations were 1959’s - Reign of the Mings; 1960 - Golden Age of China and 1967 Oriental Fantasy.

“Neville’s passing calls us to look at our own lives. Let this funeral make you reflect on your lives to see if you are living a life that is pleasing to God. Let his death be a conversion for us,” said Deacon Smith. Aming’s grandson Kyle Awah said, “My grandfather was the best and he will be missed.” Aming died peacefully on September 22, surrounded by family. He was buried at the Lapeyrouse Cemetery.

source: Tenisha Sylvester

Neville Aming’s granddaughter: he lived and died Carnival

“He lived and died Carnival,” was how Crystal Aming-Marcus described her grandfather, the late Neville Aming, whom she also referred to as her father. The veteran mas leader, who won the medium band of the year title four times, passed on Friday at 9.20 pm at a private nursing home. Aming’s funeral will be held on Monday at the Assumption Church, Long Circular Road, Maraval. “He passed peacefully. The nuns and his daughters were all with him and they sang him into heaven,” Aming-Marcus told Newsday.

His son, Bobby Aming, who spoke with Newsday via phone, said his 94-year-old father was not ill but rather grieved to death for Carnival and his children.

Bobby said, “He lived and died mas. He retired from Carnival in Trinidad in the mid-90s and then he moved on. He was always into Bermuda and Washington DC, which is where I lived. He would always come after Bermuda and join us and bring carnival. He helped develop carnival in Washington DC.” One of Aming’s daughters, Lisa Aming-Castor also had a band in Washington DC’s carnival.

Aming assisted in developing regional, as well as international, carnivals and was one of the founding members of the Carnival Band Leader’s Association. The band leader was also most known for costumes which referenced Trinidad and Tobago’s history and did not like “bikini and beads mas.” He was awarded the Humming Bird Silver for his contributions to the mas in 1996, the same year Peter Minshall was awarded the Trinity Cross.

Wrenwrick Brown, secretary of The National Carnival Bands Association, extended condolences to the Aming family saying, the entire carnival fraternity mourns whenever one of its icons passes. Aming, he recalled, served on the executive of the then carnival body and was its treasurer at one point. Brown said he was proud to represent TT at the Pan Am games in the US along with Aming.

Aming leaves to mourn his wife Conchita Aming and eight children.

SOURCE:

 Newsday