Mr. Lester (Teele) Richardson has been given a grand send-off into retirement from the Anguilla public service. This was not because he was a longstanding Technician at the Department of Information and Broadcasting, but the fact that he was a well-loved employee with a great sense of teamwork and interaction among his colleagues.
Mr. Richardson, looking much younger than his 60 years, spent almost 30 years at Radio Anguilla. During that span of time he successfully struggled with keeping the Government-owned station on the air. He serviced and maintained a bulk of antiquated transmitting and studio equipment until, at last, more modern and digital equipment was acquired, thus making his tasks less burdensome and painstaking. Throughout the changing times, he remained faithful and committed to his job – not only within Radio Anguilla’s studios, but at its varied outside broadcasts in the community, the Anguilla House of Assembly, various other events and, most recently, the Government’s Press Conferences.
A special luncheon and presentation ceremony was held in his honour at Ocean Echo Restaurant at Meads Bay on Saturday, September 11. There he was lauded for his dedicated service by the Minister of Home Affairs, Mr. Kenneth Hodge, a former Director of Radio Anguilla, under whose leadership the retired Technician served. “Radio Anguilla has moved tremendously forward – and Teele, I believe, it gave you pride to have been through all of those changing years where we went from basically the worst of times to the best of times,” Minister Hodge said. “And I really want to commend you for your service because being at radio is a thankless job. It is a 24/7 job. Whenever we called you, you were always there; and I can recall that even in those days of hurricane, when everyone was home safely in their beds, some of us were at the station trying to keep our transmitter on, and our broadcasts moving, in order that the public can be informed. So Teele, we owe you a debt of gratitude that can never be repaid.”
Radio Anguilla’s Programme Manager, Mr. Keith ‘Stone’ Greaves, also joined in commending Mr. Richardson for his devotion to his job. “One thing I can say of Lester, to you, is when you want him, he is right there every time,”Greaves told his listeners. “If you want to set up an outside broadcast service, and we told Teele we will be at such and such a place, you bet your bottom dollar that he is going to be there on time. He is going to get vexed with you if he is doing his sound check and you are not ready in the studios to tell him it is coming throughout good. Once you tell him yes, he disappears and then returns on time when you are finished – to pack up and take away the equipment. He is a good man, and has done a great service to Radio Anguilla and the people of the island; and I can’t believe that the time has come for him to go.”
Director of Radio Anguilla, Ms. Farah Banks, also thanked Mr. Richardson for his work. “He took the station from analogue to digital, and now technology is changing so rapidly that whoever tries to fill his shoes will have to buy an extra-large pair,” she stated in part. “Lester, as you now embark on your retirement journey, one that can be as amazing as you want it to be, I would like you to know that I am proud to have worked with you over the years. I wish you the very best in your retirement.”
Teele – as Mr. Richardson was repeatedly called by the speakers – a man of few words, was grateful to all for their kind and appreciative words. He remarked that he was delighted to have worked at Radio Anguilla since December 1992, and offered his best wishes to the Ministry, and Director and Staff of the Department of Information and Broadcasting.
The chairperson of the ceremony was the newly-appointed Chief Information Officer, Ms. Felicia Hennis, who spoke about the close friendship and working relationship which she and Teele enjoyed over the years.
Teele’s father, Mr. Morgan Richardson, and three of his siblings, were special guests at the ceremony. His sister, Grace, speaking on behalf of the family, expressed gratitude to the Ministry and the Department of Information and Broadcasting for hosting the luncheon and presentation ceremony for her brother.
