Jackson tops Queen’s New Year’s Honours List

“It was an unforgettable moment.” 

This from Louise Jackson as she recalled hearing the news from the Governor on being awarded an OBE.

Ms Jackson topped the list of Bermuda’s recipients in the Queen’s New Year’s Honours List, which also saw Stan ‘Lord Necktie’ Seymour, Kathleen Ford and David Thompson awarded Queen’s Certificates and Badges of Honour.

Mrs Jackson told the Bermuda Sun: “The anticipation and excitement receiving an official call from the Governor was an unforgettable moment.

“Hearing him deliver the message on behalf of the Queen filled me with pride. “Keeping the Honour a secret has been extremely difficult, but I held this news in strictest confidence.

“I’m so excited I can now share with everybody.”

The official announcement of the 2014 recipients was made tonight by Government House.

Mrs Jackson worked as a teacher for most of her life, but balanced her career with her political commitments as an MP as well as a prominent role in the island’s arts world.

She was also the founder of the National Dance Theatre of Bermuda.

Mrs Jackson was elected to Parliament under the old United Bermuda Party in 2003. The mother-of-two was a tireless campaigner for seniors and continued to remain active in public life after she stepped down as an MP in December 2012.

Entertainer and musician Stan ‘Lord Necktie’ Seymour was awarded the Queen’s Certificate for services to tourism and the arts. In a career spanning 60 years the so-called King of Calypso became one of the island’s most important entertainment ambassadors.

While Kathleen Ester Ford was given the Queen’s Certificate for service to the community having devoted much of her life to helping those in need.

Mrs Ford opens her home to seniors and those in need on a weekly basis to serve meals and provide support.

While David Michael Thompson was the final Bermuda recipient of 2014.

Mr Thompson was awarded the Queen’s Certificate for services to Bermuda’s youth and to missionary work.

As a member of Christ Church in Warwick, and president of the Bermuda Overseas Missions, he has helped make a huge contribution to the island and countries across the world.