OBIT: Prof John Spence dies at age 83

Prof John Spence had died at age 83. His wife told local media Spence suffered a heart attack and died peacefully on Wednesday night.

Spence was a Professor of Botany and also Dean of the Faculty of Agriculture at the University of the West Indies, St Augustine.

He also served as an Independent Senator from 1987 to 2000 and was awarded the Chaconia Medal Gold in 1980. He retired from UWI in 1989 but continued to head the Cocoa Research Unit.

Funeral arrangements have not yet been finalised. The family is awaiting the return of the professor's son from the United Kingdom.

Spence was born in St. Vincent and migrated to Trinidad when he was 11. he attended Queen's Royal College and the University of Bristol where he specialised in tropical agriculture.