The Royal Anguilla Police Force paid respect to one of its former and popular members: the late retired Corporal Alban Ashford John, on Saturday, June 26, 2021. That was when a group of officers served as pall bearers at the Service of Thanksgiving at the Pro-Cathedral of St. Mary.
They were backed up by all ranks of the Force including the recently-appointed Commissioner, Mr. David Lynch. Former Commissioners, Mr. Keithly Benjamin, OBE, now Senior Magistrate, and Mr. Rudolph Proctor, as well as others who served with Mr. John, were also among the considerably large crowd at the funeral.
Alban Ashford John
Mrs. Vanessa John-Hobson, daughter of the deceased, and of his wife, Mrs. Celestine John, delivered her father’s eulogy, aptly dividing his life in various interesting chapters. He was born in St. Vincent where he served as a schoolteacher and then as a member of the Police Academy In February 1977, he was among the first batch of Vincentians to join the Royal Anguilla Police Force in which he rose to the rank of Corporal – a rank that no longer exists. He was later transferred to the post of Head of Security at the Airport where he served for several years until his transfer to the General Post Office as a Senior Officer. He held that position until 1999 when he retired, but he continued to give active service as an Invigilator for the Department of Education, and the Open Campus of the University of the West Indies, for local and regional examinations. He also served as a member of the Anguilla Public Service Commission and as a trained youth worker.
He was also a musician, cricket enthusiast and a domino player – and was of a quiet and friendly demeanour with many friends and acquaintances across Anguilla. He was an outgoing personality but was severely restricted later on when he was involved in a road accident. He then became a well-known and highly respected resident of Brenda’s Tender Loving Care Home in The Valley. John passed away on May 5, 2021. He was born in St. Vincent on May 17, 1944.
The Rt. Rev. L. Leroy Brooks and Rev. Fr. Raliville Christian officiated at the service of Thanksgiving. Speaking highly about the late Mr. John, Bishop Brooks said in part: “Many of us know that Alban was incapacitated for several years but, in spite of his challenges, he was a very thoughtful person and had concern for the welfare of others. Whenever I administered to him he was receptive, and would always inquire about relatives and friends and ask that they be given his best wishes. I thought that was very kind. There are some people who only think about themselves especially when they are in a situation as he was. We give thanks to God for whatever good he was able to do – and we pray that God would grant him rest in His Kingdom.”
A number of individuals and groups paid tribute to the life and service of Mr. John prior to the actual Service of Thanksgiving. His body was interred at the Churchyard Cemetery of the Pro-Cathedral of St. Mary.
