Lawson Mapp was born in Parsons Road  Pembroke Bermuda. Like lots of young people during that time he was raised by his grandmother. He attended Elliott Primary school. He was not fortunate enough to attend the high school of his desire so at sixteen years of age he like many during those early days went off to work. His first job was sanding floors and painting houses. While working on a site he recognized a sign painters’ business boldly displaying his handy work Harry Greene located on Serpentine Road. Lawson having the urge and most of all courage he approached Mr. Green and obtained a part-time job in sign painting. He made a wage of 10/- for a days work. After a few months at the job he was hired full-time and remained in that job for twelve years.  He and Mr. Green were credited for painting the Hamilton Coat of Arms on the City Hall building in 1960. It can be noticed from the South left hand side of the building. Lawson  knew in his heart that at some point he wanted to branch out on his own  .He  eventually  opened his own sign painting business under the name Mapp Signs Ltd.on Tills Hill,Pembroke. He soon moved his sign painting business and operated on Richmond road. He was definitely from the old school he did all of his painting by hand and stayed with this method and tradition, his service to many became invaluable until he retired after fifty years in that field. Although a busy man in 1979 he submitted his name to become a Councillor with the Corporation of Hamilton.  Lawson was successful in his quest. He eventually moved up the ranks to Alderman, then Deputy Mayor and Mayor of the City of Hamilton from 2000-2006. He became the second black Mayor after Cecil Dismont who had been elected in 1988 and eventually had a street named after him ‘ Dismont Drive.’ Lawson  had the pleasure of welcoming her Majesty Queen Elizabeth of England at City Hall in 1994. He was a long time member of the Anglican Cathedral Church in the city of Hamilton and served as a board member of the Eliza Dolittle Society. He certainly proved that if you dream high  enough and pray long enough prayers will get answered in due time.  Mr. Mapp ‘s hobbies was stamp collecting. He served his community and church well. His work can still be seen about the Island. Well done Lawson. Thank you for your invaluable service to the people of Bermuda.

Very often we have personalities in our midst that we seldom speak about and once passed on we seldom think about. So I take this opportunity to record in history a brief outline of the life of these two persons in the sports arena of Bermuda. Charles Alfred Daulphin was born on  15th of September 1936 in the Frizwell’s Pond Hill Area.He was educated at Ms. Galleons School and Elliott Primary school  in Devonshire. He later joined his father Joseph in the family Construction business. He spent several years with the firm and this provided him with the skills that would serve him in later life. As his life progressed Charles along with his life long friend Mr. William Minors established the International Sports Shop on Bermudiana Road in Hamilton which became a thriving enterprise.  Charles attended the Grace Methodist Church in Pembroke where he attended Sunday School and sang in the choir. He was an avid sportsman and was haled    as one of the most exciting players to grace the annual summer Classic ‘CUP MATCH”‘  He was an excellent batsman, fielder and one of the islands most feared pace bowlers in his heyday. He was definitely a team player.  His Cup Match years covered from 1956-1967. During those years he scored some 405 runs and his highest score being 67. He had a partnership in one Cup match with Sherdian  Raynor in 1964 when between them they made 166 runs. Sherdian was a well-known member of the Raynor family of Southampton and joined several of his family members in the sport of cricket. Charles also played football  with the Pembroke Juniors in October of 1951 playing as a center forward now described in modern-day terms as striker’ he also player right full back . He developed into one of the islands best defenders. He was a keen competitor who played his game clean and hard. and proved to be a no nonsense defender with a powerful kick. He was a credit to sports and a fine example of sportsmanship.

  Today players would do well to emulate his gentlemanly conduct. He earned the highest respect as a gentleman and sports personality.

Joining Charles is another man who had gained the respect of his peers in the sports arena and his community. George Trott born on 8th June 1928 the son of  Mr. Wakefield Trott and Mildred Hill Trott from Hamilton Parish. He attended school at Temperance Hall at Crawl hill. At age 14 he went to work to help support his family. he was a carpenter by trade but also worked at Pink beach Hotel and as a waiter at one point at the Mid-Ocean Club. George also helped his father on occasion with in his father’s Lime Kiln. George loved cricket and played his first match at age 17. It was here he began to establish himself as an outstanding player. He was classed as Bermuda’s best Umpire. He earned a reputation during his time as an early order batsman and seam bowler who occasionally took the new ball.  In  his earlier days he played cricket at Hamilton Parish in the 1960s’. He was a dependable early order batsman and a good bowler he was a very strict personality. His biggest contribution to local cricket was as an Umpire and his high standard earned him the respect of players and peers alike. He brought a lot of professionalism to the organisation Bermuda Cricket Umpires Association. Many up and coming umpires were taught their craft by Mr. Trott. He was the first Bermudian to officiate  in a world cup qualifier at the 1990 ICC trophy in the Netherlands and also stood in the middle in an unprecedented 11 successive “CUP MATCH’ classics. George was a great ambassador for Bermuda. He was honoured by the Bright Temple A.M.E  church for his service to Cup match. George left a legacy for the younger generation to follow. He left us on the same date as he arrived into this beautiful world on his 90th birthday  8th June 2018. Thank you George for your contribution to the sport of Cricket and to your country.

Henry ‘Hank” Eldrige James was born into a large family on 28th July 1936. He was the second youngest of his siblings. His earliest schooling was at Central School. It was noticeable from his early years that he had the potential to be a leader. While most of his neighbourhood friends were opting to play for major football teams in the area such as Pembroke Juniors and Devonshire Lions, Henry and his friends created his own team called the Dock Hill Rangers. They worked diligently to get their team sanctioned by the Bermuda Football League and when they did it became a team to be reckoned with. Henry being the sports personality also loved cricket and was instrumental in the formation of the Pond Hill Stars. Henry kept his family involved in his sporting activities they were some off his biggest supporters.  He was ambitious in his business life  and so determined was he to succeed that he associated himself with several businesses. The Jungle Room, Peter Pans’ Pantry, Club Nine , Galaxy Night Club and Saks of St. George’s and partnered in all these with his friends Irving Simmons. He was successful in being one of the first black Bermudians to own a business on Front Street with Smokers Corner/ Bermuda handcrafts. Several of Henry’s pass times was fishing, golfing,and beaching with his family. He was a giving person and always ready to help others. He was well-respected and became an icon in his community.

David Derick Symonds was a man with a rich and varied life better known to his many friends as Derick or nickname ‘C J). he was the son of Alma Symonds and Earl Simons. His early education was at Central school Victor Scott) He later graduated from St. George Secondary School,Central Technical Institute  and National Institute of Broadcasting in Toronto Canada. He took several broadcasting, courses which included the London School of Broadcasting. His voice could be heard on both Radio and Television for Capital Broadcasting Company (Z F B) . He took on the gimmick name of “Cousin Juicy.) he joined the public transportation Board where he trained in public relations and became a sightseeing coordinator and instructor. He remained  with them for 19 years. He served  as Master of Ceremonies for the Bermuda Beauty pageant and the Queen of Bermuda and Miss Teen Bermuda. He loved jazz and became a part owner of K J A Z 98.1 FM. He hosted many major Jazz shows on the Island this also included the Ms. Bermuda Pageant  for 19 years. He hosted Bermuda’s first Jazz festival at the National Stadium and festivals held at the Royal Naval Dockyard. Derick became a notable sort after person to emcee several outstanding events including Amnesty International Jazz and Razzmatazz. He never hesitated to volunteer his services with small youth bands. He accompanied the school for the blind on their educational trips abroad and sailed on the Lord Nelson with Donald McIntosh. He promoted and produced stage shows with Champagne Productions. He interviewed great musicians like Freddy  Hubbard, Dave Brubeck,Ahmad Jamal, Joe Sample, Al Jarreau, Herbie Hancock, T.S.Monk, Kenny Garrett and many others. In 1983 Derick realized his love for Baha ‘u’lla’h and became a Baha’i. he became an active member on several committees. Derick was responsible for bringing the Baha’i live radio show to the air waves . He loved to sing and at one point sang with the “Sub -Tropicals” later renamed ‘ The Ebb-Tides’  the group later recorded  with Edmar Records and their records received airplay on radio CHUM Toronto,  Canada and Bermuda. He sang with the Baha’i group Lights of Guidance under the direction of Kingsley Swan. C J received the Bermuda Bravery Award for saving the life of an infant girl who ended up in the ocean off the North Shore. He was the recipient of the Queen’s certificate and badge of honour in 2006 for his contributions  to Jazz in Bermuda. He received honours for the Bermuda National Youth Jazz Ensemble by the rhythm Lab, CMB enterprises and Adley productions.  Derrick ( C.J) had an astounding faith and exhibited this throughout his life. He no doubt made an invaluable contribution to his craft of Jazz music, his church and community.

Researched for Bermudian Heritage Museum. By Joy

James A Edwards was the eldest child of Charles A. Edwards and Millicent L. Edwards. They resided in the family homestead on Glebe Road in Pembroke. He attended the Band room  school in North Village once known as Mr. Robinson’s School he then went on to Central School. He was an entrepreneurial person  and this led him to a vast working career. He worked as a Prison Officer, Police Officer, a taxi owner/ Operator, Security guard and a horse groomer. He found his way into several fields. During the years of the horse and buggy days he worked with Cecil Frith Funeral Home. He drove the horse-drawn funeral hearse for Bermuda’s Funeral Directors, such as Perinchief and Bulley-Graham. His handling of horses was one of his greatest passions and he showed his expertise as he drove for many an event such as Funerals and Weddings. This afforded him to be selected to drive for several Governors of Bermuda to all official duties Parades, church and memorial services. He would become a well know owner and operator of a taxi which became the major transportation of many entertainers that performed at the Forty Thieves Club one of the most popular night clubs in Bermuda where he also served as a security  guard during his spare time. He drove such entertainers as Aretha Franklin, Nancy Wilson, The Platters to name a few. He operated the Diamond Catering Service  which was a lunch wagon at many locations about the Island. He attended St. Paul A.M.E. church and served as one of its senior ushers for many years. He surely left a legacy for his children to follow.

Ivan Sinclair ‘Skipper’ Dill was born as the third child of Mary Elizabeth Dill and James Stewart Page. He had one brother  Hilgrove ‘Peter’Dill and three sister Ruth, Myrtle and Winifred. They were the products of a mother of Portuguese descent and a father of European  Descent. Ivan grew up on St. Monica’s road Pembroke. He attended primary school in the neighbourhood. He started work in his early teens. He loved boats and to that end he joined the Royal Navy  as a young man. He sailed to many places around the world and enjoyed telling his sea-faring stories to any one who would listen. He was a member of the War Veteran’s Association and participated in several of their memorial day parades. He loved animals and worked with Dr. Steele a local veterinarian as his assistant. He traveled with Dr. Steele to many other countries during this period. He moved on to work with a department of government for a few years. He also spent a short time helping at the colonial mineral water factory on union street in Hamilton. Skipper was a lover off the water and an avid fisherman. He had the gift to navigate after dark just by looking at one of the lighthouses and finding his way home. He was passionate about fishing and was an excellent net-maker an art he more than likely learnt from his Uncle Antonio ‘Tony’  Minks. He owned several boats and one only needed to search the shore of North Village to seek him out. He attended Grace Methodist Church in Pembroke and became a’ willing worker’ of the church. He was always smartly dressed. He volunteered some of his time at the Bermudian Heritage Museum with two of his cousins Thelma and Inez and enjoyed the idea of learning about the history of the exhibits. As Ivan  aged his favorite hang out was near Hamilton Market place with one of his favorite cousins Grace Martin there he always made sure to pick up his favorite items for his Sunday meal bone-in cod-fish potatoes turned corn meal and okra, this was and is still today a Sunday meal for many Bermudians. He spent his reclining days at the Pembroke home of his cousin Prudence Dublin Frazer and with caring family and did his small bit of gardening and caring for some of his favorite animals. Ivan was a man who gave of his heart his knowledge and surely shared the lineage of his family. Well done your work did not go un-noticed Cousin.

Researched by Joy Wilson-Tucker Historian

Age is no barrier

Myrtle Burrows was raised on Glebe Road North Shore Pembroke  her parents where Gilbert and Mabel Dill . Gilbert was a dockworker and along with his wife raised a large family. Myrtle was the eldest girl and as in most families of that era helped her mother to take care of her siblings. She had the opportunity to learn how to swim of the North Shore after all she should have made an effort living in an Island surrounded by water  but she never did.  She attended Central School and then learnt dressmaking at the Girls Institute of Arts and Craft under Ms. May Francis. She used that craft to her advantage throughout her life. Myrtle would design and draft many of her own patterns for her outfits and made many a wedding gown for other folk. She loved to dance and travel. Her first job was at 16 in a dry goods store in Hamilton. In later years she worked for A.S. Coopers for 12 years and then Sullivan’s Jewellers on Front Street. She enjoyed reading and one of her favorite authors is Daniel Steele. Her favorite flower is the rose. As a senior age 98  she drives many of her friends to special senior functions. She is a member of the Mount Zion Seniors Club and Special Peoples club. She has lots of musical talent in her family her brother Cecil Dill (see story in blog) and two nephews Kenneth ‘Tokey’Dill and Barrett Dill both Former Music Majors and former leaders of the Bermuda Regiment Band and brother Maxwell Dill . Myrtle said age is just a number and she would not let it keep her down. Well done Myrtle.

Very often we look at our young adults as a lost cause to us in many ways. The story of young Shachkeil Burrows in my view is an exception . Shachkeil had a dream which he hoped someday to see become a reality.  He wanted to become a football player and move on to coach the big time games. Born into a family of sports personalities  little does he know that lots of his relatives on his fathers’ side of his family were some of Bermuda’s top football players in this aggressive sport. It appears to take lots of skill training and determination to succeed. It would certainly take lots of time to reach the end game of his desired career to become a professional coach. I’m sure he must have received some mentoring from his father Meshach Wade who made the grade in his own right. So it is true apples don’t fall to far from the tree. In July of year 2017 while home on vacation Shachkeil was in a serious cycle accident as a pillon passenger in so doing his right leg was amputated. For a young man this must have been  without a doubt  most shocking and devastating  to say the least. This had to be a matter of saving his life. At 24 years of age he made up his mind that he was not going to give up on his dream and some how he was going to fight on. He along with a friend found a way to raise funds to achieve his objective. He managed to raise enough funds to get a bi-tech bionic leg designed for sports. Fortunately Shachkeil’s  dilemma did not go un-noticed . He was encouraged by Mr. R. Gibbons who himself had faced a similar dilemma.  Mr. Houghton who plays for a top team in Great Britain amputee team approached him through social media and gave him information that if he was able to get the technical leg he might very well be able to play for  the team in England. Humbly  Mr. Burrows was lucky to be alive and to God should go all the thanks and glory. Many don’t get a second chance. Shachkeil made up his mind he was going to grasp every opportunity he could on the road to achieve his desired career. Keep your positive attitude  young man hopefully you can become  an example to so many others. Good Luck and may you realize your dream and goals someday soon.

Raymond Augustus was born into a family of visionaries , sports personalities and community workers. He was raised in the Frizwell’s Hill area of Pembroke Bermuda and very early in life became involved in the community. He was involved with the Devonshire Recreation Club and had a passion for gardening at his home on Frizwells’Lane. Raymond was definitely a lover of our cultural heritage and the Gombeys were top on his list and why not he was surrounded by various troops in his area. In his early adult hood Raymond worked as a waiter at the Hamilton Princess Hotel for several years like a family tradition the family that prays together stays together his brothers Derrick, Calvin, David Jr. and Gary joined the ranks in the same hotel starting out as waiters. However Raymond was ambitious  and worked his way up to Captaincy and then moved  to the Colony Pub. On his move from hotel work he joined his father David Augustus 2nd well known as ‘Chippo’ and who himself was an icon in the football sports arena  in the Community. As a family they established owned and operated the Augustus Funeral Home. He was not averse  to sharing his time and talents and served as a member of Pembroke Parish Council for many years.

Gone to soon    

He was a fun-loving and giving person and Bermuda lost a very special   son of the soil at his passing. As the saying goes ‘gone to soon”‘.

Researcher Joy Wilson-Tucker

Alvin Embrose Hambone’ Brangman was born in 1923 and lived in middle town  Pembroke to Editha G. Simmons and Charles Embrose Brangman. Alvin’s early education was at Central School and Neversons’ Secondary School. At age 15 he was sent to Mr. E.C.Smith a skill carpenter who taught him in carpentry designs. Alvin had been given another gift that of music. At a very early age he could be found tinkering with the piano keys and he became a gifted pianist. His first debut was with a group known as the  ‘The four Spots ‘. He played with other local talented musicians like Winfield ‘Happy Smith, the Aldano Sextet, Freddie Matthews, Ernie Leader and his band Graham Bean and his Latinaires and Hubert Smith and his Coral Islanders. He performed in many local establishments. Alvin like most local musicians had to have a second job and he worked for the Bermuda Electric light company for 20 years before retiring. He was well-traveled and one place on his bucket was to visit South Africa and this he did and had the great pleasure of meeting Nelson Mandela. Alvin enjoy local holidays like cupmatch and Good Friday like most elders of his era he was a great kite maker and they were always colourful and specially designed. He was honored and inducted into the Bermuda music hall of fame in March of 2011 not just for his musical talent but also for his gift of writing poetry. Alvin gave his all to his community  and left no stone unturned in his musical talent and legacy to his island home Bermuda.