Nine persons will be awarded with the Anguilla Badge of Honour and Queen’s Certificate on Anguilla Day, Thursday May 30th, 2013. The recommendations were made by the Anguilla Honours and Awards Committee were approved by Executive Council at its meeting of Friday April 12th, 2013.
The recipients for 2013 are:
Mr. Eugene Fleming – (Revolution)
Mr. Eugene Fleming was one of Mr. Ronald Webster’s right hand men in 1967 who travelled from East to West guarding the beaches and protecting the revolutionary leader.
Mr. Claude T. Richardson – (Revolution)
Mr. Claude T. Richardson played an integral role in the 1967 Anguilla Revolution. An Anguillian by birth and teacher by profession, he became active in the movement and his views and advice were highly regarded. Mr. Richardson was selected to be a member of the Anguilla delegation, (no doubt being the youngest) which met with the Caribbean government leaders at the Barbados conference on July 25th, 1967 in an effort to find a solution to the crisis.
Ms. Florel Harrigan – (Revolution)
Ms. Florel Harrigan is the sister of revolutionary leader Mr. James Ronald Webster. She stood in the frontlines during the revolution in 1967 and was responsible for hiding Mr. Webster, feeding him and taking information to him while in hiding. Ms. Harrigan was very conscious of this national responsibility and would often tie animals around the bush covered hole which concealed Mr. Webster to distract the British paratroopers in search of him.
Ms. Evelyn Roper – (Revolution)
Ms. Evelyn Roper was one of the many women who stood in the frontlines of the Anguilla revolution giving assistance to the freedom fighters. She was considered to be an early riser rock woman who assisted in keeping the men fed. She never missed an opportunity to be in a van or on a truck heading wherever the struggle was to protect and preserve her island home.
Nurse Susan Harrigan – Social Development)
In 1988, Nurse Susan Harrigan was employed as the first Principal Nursing Officer in Anguilla. While in this post she was responsible for providing the nursing contribution to policy, planning and programmes. The role included advisory and consultative leadership which encompassed leadership strategy, nursing practice, nursing education, legislation, regulation and registration, and intelligence gathering. She is currently a member of the Anguilla Red Cross where she has held many key positions over the years. She now serves on the Governing Committee with oversight responsibility for the Community Services Programme Area. She continues to be highly respected both for her work in nursing and her volunteer role in the Red Cross.
Mr. Alfred Gumbs (Posthumously) – (Social Development)
Mr. Alfred Gumbs better known as Fred was the first Anguillian to own and operate a tyre centre providing tyre repair services. That business is still in operation today as the Highway Tyre Shop. He also worked at the Anguilla Pumping Station/Valley Well as a maintenance worker where he often had the task of going down into the well to fix problems. He was the only person at that time to burn lime keel on Anguilla which was done from coral. The lime was used by many Anguillians in those days to paint their homes and outside ovens. Mr. Gumbs has therefore done much to contribute to the social development of Anguilla.
Mr. Charles Horsford (Posthumously) – (Social Development – Transportation)
Mr. Charles Horsford has contributed much to the island’s social development, particularly in the transportation sector. He operated a Taxi/Car rental service in Anguilla for over thirty years, 1962 – 1996 where his courtesy, reliability and punctuality were hallmarks of service over those years. He helped to organize the Taxi Drivers Association on Anguilla and remained a member until his passing. During the revolution he transported many of the British officials including the then Governor Tony Lee and William Whitlock, MP sometimes at personal risk to himself given the uncertain times of that era. In later years he drove officials from the then Central Government of St. Kitts Nevis Anguilla when they came from St. Kitts on official business as well as the Sombrero Lighthouse Keepers in the wee hours of the morning to Sandy Ground to board the Warspite en-route to Sombrero. He is also credited with assisting many of the younger taxi operators to obtain vehicles to ply their trade.
Mr. Keith Gumbs – (Social Development – Music Development)
Mr. Keith Gumbs has made a valuable contribution to the musical landscape of Anguilla. During the revolution, Keith and his band at that time, the Flamingos, worked at the Sundowner Nightclub in St. Thomas playing music on the weekends. To assist the revolutionary cause, the band would donate funds from their performance on Sundays. In later years Keith formed several other groups including Keith and the Mellotones. He is renowned for his prowess on the saxophone and continues to inspire musicians in Anguilla and in the region.
Mr. Trevor Davis – (Social Development – Sports)
Mr. Trevor Davis, aka Ras Bucket has helped to put Anguilla on the map in sports. He has represented the island with distinction in track and field for many years on the regional and international stage. He was Anguilla’s standout track and field athlete throughout the 1980’s and 1990’s, representing the island in six outdoor World Athletic Championships. Over his athletics career, Ras Bucket has set several national sprint records, at one point in the 60m, 100m and 200m events in such places as the BVI, United Kingdom and the USA. On the international scene he is well liked and respected by his peers and has rubbed shoulders with several of the world’s top athletes. Though retired from active athletics, Ras Bucket continues to aid in the development of sports locally through his work as a physical education tutor in the schools and as a volunteer coach with the Anguilla Amateur Athletics Federation.
Editor’s Note: The Awards are categorized as follows:
§ Anguillians and/or non-Anguillians who have played a critical role during the Anguilla Revolution of 1967-1969;
and since 2004
§ Anguillians and/or non-Anguillians who have made outstanding contributions to the social, economic and political development of Anguilla since 1969.
