One of Anguilla’s patriotic nationals, who passed away recently, has been given island-wide recognition in a celebration of his life and service which included the flying of flags at half-mast, arranged by the Government of Anguilla.
The late patriot was the well-known Mr. Raymond Connor of Blowing Point. He was a leading boat builder and sea captain who plied the waters of the Caribbean and established Anguilla’s sea-faring trade in the region. In later years, he was also a contributor to the island’s tourism industry.
An Official Statement of Condolence, written in the funeral booklet by the Elected Representative for Road South, Minister Haydn Hughes, spoke about the patriotism and varied contribution of Mr. Connor for several decades.
Mr. Hughes, who was then Anguilla’s Acting Premier, wrote in part: “The late Mr. Raymond Connor was regarded as a pioneer in the development of Anguilla’s tourism and boat-building industries. As a young entrepreneur in the 1940s, he built many small boats for himself and other local fishermen – and over the following two decades established himself as a leading boat-builder locally and regionally. Many of his boats were used in the ferryboat and cargo trade between Anguilla and St. Maarten. In later years, the late Mr. Connor became a taxi-driver – a job he joyfully performed for many years before his retirement. Such was his contribution to this sector, that he was honoured as a Pioneer of Tourism by the Anguilla Tourist Board for his many sterling services.
“The late Mr. Raymond Connor was awarded the Anguilla Badge of Honour and Queen’s Certificate on Anguilla Day, 2016, for his distinguished contribution to Social Development.”
The celebration of Mr. Connor’s life climaxed with a funeral service at the Maranatha Methodist Church at Blowing Point on July 8, 2021, two months after he passed away on May, 10, 2021. He was born on June 1, 1926, around the same time that a number of other Anguillian sea captains were also born.
The Officiating Ministers at the funeral service were Rev. Dunstan Richardson; Rev. Wilmoth Hodge, who delivered the sermon; Rev. Candis Niles; and Rev. John A. Gumbs.
Rev. Gumbs’ daughter, Mrs. Josephine Gumbs-Connor, an Attorney-at-Law, is married to the late Mr. Connor’s son, Dr. Trevor Connor, a Dental Surgeon.
All the Ministers took the opportunity to speak highly about the life and work of Mr. Raymond Connor, a staunch Methodist particularly in his village church.
