Former Premier Paula Cox honoured by The Queen

Her Majesty the Queen has recognized the following persons in her Birthday Honours List 2014:

Commander of the British Empire

Ms. Paula A. Cox

The following persons have been awarded Queen’s Certificates and Badges of Honour:

Rev. Dr. Conway Simmons – for services to the Church

Mr. Graham Pewter – for services to the community

Mr. Richard Bascome – for services to the community

Ms. Paula A. Cox, CBE – For services to Bermuda. Lately Member of Parliament and formerly Premier, Bermuda. Paula Cox’s public service and political has career has spanned nearly 20 years. She was the former Premier and Minister of Finance and was first elected to the Bermuda Parliament in October 1996. She has had varied experience in Government, having held a number of Cabinet Portfolios.  In November 1998, she was appointed as the first PLP Minister of Labour, Home Affairs and Public Safety.

In 2001 she was appointed Minister of Education and Development. In 2003, while she was serving as the Attorney-General and Minister of Education and Development, Wheelock College (US) invited the then Minister Paula Cox to accept an honorary doctorate in Education. In 2009, Dalhousie University invited her to become an Honorary alumnus of Dalhousie University. The Hon. Paula Cox assumed the Finance portfolio in January 2004, succeeding her late father, the Hon. C. Eugene Cox, CBE, JP, MP.  She held the Ministry of Finance up until December 2012 when the Government changed following the December 2012 General Election.

In 2011 the Hon. Paula Cox received the Caribbean region’s “Woman of the Year Award” in 2011. In 2012, the Hon. Paula Cox received a “Women Who Make A Difference” Award from the International Women’s Forum.

Paula A Cox attended Havergal Ladies College, in Toronto. Later this year Havergal Ladies College will induct the Hon. Paula Cox into their Hall of Distinction. She earned a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Political Science from McGill University in Montreal, Quebec, and a post-graduate Diploma in International Law from the University of Manchester. She trained in the UK as a Solicitor and was called to the Bermuda Bar. She was the Founding President of the International Women’s Forum-Bermuda Forum, which she established.

Rev. Dr. Conway Simmons – For services to the church. Rev. Dr. Conway Milton Simmons retired from Pastoral Ministry in February 2014. He was the pastor of Richard Allen Church in the World Heritage Site of St George’s. He served at Richard Allen for 49 years.

He was ordained as an Itinerant Elder in the African Methodist Episcopal Church, Kingston, Jamaica. Over his many decades of service, Rev. Simmons has pastored at numerous churches both home and abroad. Locally, he led St. John’s AME Church, Heard Chapel AME, Vernon Temple AME, and St. Paul’s AME Church.

He was the Presiding Elder for the Jamaica Annual Conference Central District and for the Bermuda Annual Conference. He is an honoured and celebrated figure in Bermuda’s religious and wider community. He has served as a mentor to many pastors over the years, and through the many challenges, Rev. Simmons has served the community and the church fraternity with dignity, grace and pride. His favourite scripture is Proverbs 3: 5 & 6 “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; In all ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths.”

Mr. Graham Pewter – For services to the community. Graham C. Pewter is President and CEO of Catlin Insurance Company. Under the umbrella of Catlin, Mr. Pewter has spearheaded a robust charitable movement over the years. Catlin Bermuda is involved in a number of community endeavours. Most notably, it is the title sponsor for the annual End to End Walk. They also support Caron Bermuda, which is a charity that provides assistance and treatment to people struggling with substance addiction and he is heavily invested in our youth.

Catlin provides funding to the Student Assistance Programme (SAP) at Pride Bermuda, and several schools around the Island. Catlin has also assisted the Bermuda Football Association's National Academy programme which works with boys from 12 to 18-years-old.

In his spare time, Mr. Pewter is also significantly involved with the Centre on Philanthropy and is deputy chair and chairman of their development committee.

He is a community minded individual who wants only the best for Bermuda and its people. He is selfless and generous advocate of the non-profit sector, who has always sought to find positive ways to tackle the growing funding challenges to address the increasing social needs for our community.

Mr. Richard Bascome Jr. – For services to the community – Richard Bascome from West Over Farm, is no stranger to the agricultural scene. Richie was born into a farming family, and has been involved in farming since a young boy.  As a youngster Richard Jr. was required with his brother Bryson, to deliver milk as far as Hog Bay by horse and carriage every day before school began.

Richard Jr. attended Southampton Glebe Primary School, where his mother, Elsie Bascome was a teacher. After primary school he attended Sandys Secondary High School and then continued his education abroad at Hampton University. He started working on the farm with his father in the 1960s.

Though better known as a dairyman, Richie also grows a wide range of traditional field crops. Many of the Island’s residents, especially those in the Somerset area, are very familiar with Richie’s tasty sweet corn, potatoes and onions.

A summer pilgrimage to West Over Farm to buy one of Ritchie’s legendary watermelons is an annual custom for many. Interested in Bermuda’s agricultural history? Ask Richie and be prepared to spend a while listening to some of the most fabulous stories of days gone by. His knowledge of agricultural environment was valued by the Government who appointed him to the Agricultural Board. Richie Bascome takes great pride in the fact that over the past 50 years he has encouraged or mentored most of the commercial farmers working today.