The Executive Council has approved Five (5) persons for the award of the Anguilla Badge of Honour and Queen’s Certificate on Anguilla Day.
The official parade and ceremony marking the 51st Anniversary of the Anguilla Revolution and Anguilla Day will be held at the James Ronald Webster Park on Wednesday May 30th, 2018 under the theme “Still Strong, Proud and Free, Anguilla at 51, Charting our Destiny!”
The Awardees for this year are:
i. Mr. Bevan C. Hodge (posthumously) – Revolution
ii. Mr. Charles A. Liddy – Revolution
iii. Ms. Brenda Hodge – Social Development
iv. Mrs. Patricia Beard – Social Development
v. Mrs. Yolande O. Richardson – Social Development
It is to be noted that the Awards have been categorized as follows:
a. Anguillians and/or non-Anguillians who have played a critical role during the Anguilla Revolution of 1967-1969; and
b. Anguillians and/or non-Anguillians who have made outstanding contributions to the Social, Political, Economic, Cultural and (Arts, Science and Technology, Entrepreneurship) development of Anguilla prior to and since 1969.
i. Mr. Bevan C. Hodge (Posthumously) – Revolution
During the 1967 Anguilla Revolution Bevan who flew for Anguilla Airways was instrumental in providing an important service to the people of Anguilla in that he brought in the media who were so influential in getting Anguilla’s story out to the rest of the world. In addition he transported much of the vital supplies needed by the interim government to keep things moving. Bevan worked tirelessly day after day without much regard to his safety. An account is given that on the morning of March 19th, 1969 when the British paratroopers invaded Anguilla, Bevan after landing his plane at the airport was accosted by an armed soldier demanding to see his pilot’s licence. A potential situation was averted with the intervention of the late John Thomas who confronted the soldier and then the soldier walked away. There is no doubt that Bevan gave selfless service to his country above and beyond the call of duty.
ii. Mr. Charles A. Liddy – Revolution
Charles was a foot soldier of note in the 1967 revolution. He would often leave his young wife and children at home for days on end to meet up with his comrades to guard the Cottage Hospital and the beaches and keep watch for intruders. One notable event that he would recount was when he ‘boxed off’ an Englishman at the airport when they went to hold up young Anguillian pilot Beavan Hodge of Anguilla Airways to probe questions about his pilot’s licence. Charles was also arrested briefly but the support provided by the Father of the Nation and other freedom fighters such as Pastor Googe, Daisy Wong and Mildred Hodge who were at the airport resulted in no action being taken.
iii. Ms. Brenda Hodge – Social Development
After some ten years of nursing in New York and Florida, Brenda returned home to Anguilla and worked as a Nurse at the Princess Alexandra Hospital from 2001 to 2002 and then at the Hughes Medical Centre from 2002 – 2004. In July 2004, she founded and continues to manage the Tender Loving Care Home for the elderly. Depriving herself of vacations for the last thirteen years, and setting her alarm several times per night to check on her beloved residents, Brenda gives heart and soul into providing phenomenal care to the residents – emotionally, spiritually and physically – touching the lives of Anguilla’s elderly and serving an important need in the community for the past thirteen years and counting. The elderly can be found singing, chatting, praying and happily entertaining any visitors at Tender Loving Care. After Hurricane Irma, although the home was destroyed, Brenda took the residents to her childhood home in George Hill and they all still live there with Brenda’s parents until the TLC can be repaired.
iv. Mrs. Patricia Beard – Social Development
Patricia Beard affectionately known as Tr. Patsy has served her homeland well in many notable areas of community life. In the late 60’s and early 70’s Patsy worked in the field of education initially as an classroom teacher and following training as an Early Childhood Educator, at the infant level. She is credited with pioneering Early Childhood Education in Anguilla. Some years following, she joined the Medical and Health Department as a Family Life Educator and later as Health Promotion Officer where she was able to significantly raise the profile of HIV/AIDs awareness and programming. Patsy is a member and past president of the Anguilla Beautification Club and an active parishioner at the St. Gerards Roman Catholic Church.
v. Mrs. Yolande O. Richardson – Social Development
Yolande continues to serve her Church, Community and Anguilla at large with unstinting service to all. She has enjoyed a distinguished career in Education serving as the first female principal of the Albena Lake Hodge Comprehensive School and later as Chief Education Officer. Among her many other accomplishments, she helped to create opportunity for the participation of men and women in the economic development of Anguilla through the establishment of the Anguilla Craft Shop. Yolande has used and continues to use her vast array of skills and knowledge for the educational development of Anguilla’s young people both in the formal and informal sectors.
– Press Release
(Published without editing by The Anguillian newspaper.)
