A surprise proposal, a musical flash mob and, of course, the
leading ladies of Bermuda made for a wonderful evening at the Bermuda
CableVision Salute to Service Banquet on Saturday.
This year’s theme was ‘A Tribute to Bermuda’s Leading
Ladies’. Ten women were honoured during the ceremony and Bermuda’s three former
female premiers and six premier’s wives were recognised.
The winners were Amy Adderley, Sister Molly Burgess, Shirley
Dill, Rev Betty Furbert-Woolridge, Dr Eva Hodgson, the late Louise Jackson,
Dolly Pitcher, Ann Smith Gordon, Ruth Thomas and Bernella Williams.
In addition, Kyrah Scraders was recognised with the annual
Rollin Nathan Community Awards and was given $1,000 towards her training
programmes for track competitions.
The evening began with a cocktail reception
followed by a five-course dinner at the Fairmont Southampton, during which the Bermuda Institute steel pan band performed.
Margaret Fergusson, Governor George Fergusson’s wife, spoke
before dinner and said: “Tonight, we celebrate leadership in ten women who have
demanded to be taken seriously; who have advocated for the young, the sick, the old, the
marginal and the abused. Who have shown a fearless commitment to enriching the
lives of others and, in the process, represented us all.
“I am proud to salute you.”
First Ladies
Antoinette Cannonier, Premier Craig Cannonier’s wife, introduced the wives of the former Premiers of Bermuda, including Lady Eileen
Sharpe, Lady Lully Gibbons, Lady Jacquelyn Swan, Christine Saul, Olga Scott and
Wanda Henton Brown.
Mrs Cannonier said: “In every sphere of life, they used
their positions to shine lights of encouragement and support.
“And they represented Bermuda abroad and to visitors here at
home, from kings and queens, to presidents and prime ministers, always with
dignity and graces.
“It is my view that Bermudians were proud of the way these
ladies carried themselves. I also suspect that their work and their example
assured many that there was a sensible, grounded presence in the lives in the Premiers.”
Former Premiers Dame Pamela Gordon Banks, Dame Jennifer
Smith and Paula Cox were recognised for their work in Bermuda while serving as Premier, and for their contributions afterwards.
Entertainment
In addition to the speeches, the entertainment was fabulous.
After dinner, attendees saw a musical flash mob by Proclaim It, who sang “You’ll
be a witness’.
Working Title, fronted by Lamont Robinson, sang ‘Ladies Night’ and ‘It’s a Man’s World’.
A group of young boys also sang an a capella version of
‘Wade in the Water’.
And a surprise proposal took place as Mike Jones, a long
time employee of CableVision, stepped on stage with his girlfriend, MC for the
evening Danilee Trott, and professed his love for her to much applause from the
audience.
At the end of the evening, the Delta Sigma Theta Sorority
was gifted $5,00 to help with their reading programme.
Chapter President Roxanne Christopher said: “This $5,000
will go a long was as we give free books to every household of Bermuda to make
reading and literacy fun.”
The event ended after 11pm, with many guests trickling away as
the evening drew to a close.