LOCAL PILOT LAID TO REST AFTER MASSIVE FUNERAL AND FLY-OVER

“There is not a place to stand or sit,” one discerning gentleman remarked, accurately describing the scene of the funeral for the late Anguillian pilot, Cardigan (Cardy) Hodge), as he elbowed his way through the massive crowd to find a vantage point.

Family members, friends and others at the Church service

The thanksgiving and farewell service at St. Augustine’s Anglican Church, East End, on Saturday, September 24, came exactly two weeks after the 51-year-old pilot, formerly of Island Harbour, died at his residence in Puerto Rico. Cardy was Chief Pilot and Director of Flight Operations with Rainbow International Airlines. He worked closely with his brother, Kirby Hodge, who operates an Anguilla Air Express flight service to and from Anguilla as well as a jet charter service to various destinations.

Family members, friends and others at the Church service

A substantial portion of the crowd comprised some fifty pilots, the majority of whom flew in from the US Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico. They included a number of Anguillian pilots serving on the island, in St. Maarten and in the US Virgin Islands. Customs, Immigration and Security personal at the Clayton J. Lloyd Airport in Anguilla also added to the large assembly.

Some of the pilots in attendance

The officiating Ministers were Rev. Menes Hodge, Assistant Anglican Priest in Anguilla, and Canon Franklyn Reid, an Anguillian Minister visiting from Antigua. “Along with your pain and sorrow, there is also a feeling of thankfulness that we were associated with this good man, this wonderful human being,” Canon Reid said in his sermon. “He was a kind and generous man, a man who shared his life, his time and money with his family and friends. So this is all a celebration of love for Cardy and his love for us.”

Leaving Church for Sandy Hill’s Cemetery

The eulogy, which followed later, also spoke in celebration of the late pilot’s work and life, and his love for family and friends. It also covered his professional background and training, and his flying career with Aero Virgin Islands, Four Star Aviation, Air Anguilla, Roblex and Rainbow International Airlines and Anguilla Air Express.

One of the planes that flew over the cemetery

Interment was at the Sandy Hill Cemetery. Well into the grave-yard service a squadron of aircraft, mainly piloted by a number of visiting pilots, made an impressive fly-overin a farewell salute to the departed Anguillian airman.