Share your memories of Dr Maxwell

Dr Maxwell was a champion educator. He was a man who worked tireless for pupil success, to use the popular jargon. 

I met Dr Maxwell in the late '60s when he came to the Berkeley from the Bermuda Technical Institute. He had a tremendous job ahead of him in being required to fill the shoes of the great FS Furbert who had led the Berkeley for well over 30 years and had shaped the school into a first rate  modern educational facility.

As if that wasn't enough, Dr Maxwell had to deal with the integration of schools and its impact on the Berkeley. Of all the previously black schools Berkeley would be impacted the most as its usual student population for the first time had the option of attending those schools previously closed to them.

Against this backdrop Dr Maxwell was being held to the same standard as Mr Furbert as far as GCE success. Naturally, he was challenged from this perspective throughout his leadership of the Berkeley. He led Berkeley until 1990. During the later years of his principal ship, I served as chairman of the Berkeley Educational Society and had the opportunity to work with him in trying to achieve his goals for the students.

Upon leaving Berkeley, being a true educator, Dr Maxwell joined the staff at the Bermuda College and, once again in the classroom, trained young minds. 

Still being committed to the Berkeley, Dr Maxwell later took  the role, which I had held years earlier, of Chairman of the Berkeley Educational Society.  Even at that stage of his life his commitment to the Berkeley and its students did not wane.

Bermuda has lost a son of the soil who toiled for our children. Many of us have had enriched lives due to his personal involvement in our lives. For this I thank Dr Maxwell. 

We would like to add our voice to those of others paying tribute today to Dr Clifford Vincent Maxwell, a well known and distinguished educator, principal of the Berkeley Institute, whose teaching career in Bermuda spanned a period of over 40 years.

Mr Thad Hollis, OBA Chairman, said “Dr Maxwell left his mark on thousands of Bermudians who were his pupils during those 40 years.  He made a very substantial contribution to Bermuda during his life.  We offer our heartfelt condolences to his family.”

Born in Bermuda in 1933, Dr Maxwell’s teaching career began at the Bermuda Technical Institute, where he remained until 1968, when it was decided the Institute would become a College.  While at the Technical Institute, he earned a Bachelor of Education degree and a Masters in Educational Administration from the University of Toronto. 

He was President of the Bermuda Union of Teachers in 1960, and served for a period as President and executive member of the Association of School Principals.

When he left the Technical Institute in 1968, he left Bermuda with his family for a year to study in London, where he became an Associate of the Institute of Education at London University.   He returned to Bermuda to become Mathematics master and First Assistant Master at the Berkeley Institute.  He served there as Deputy Principal and then Principal for 20 years, until his retirement in 1990.

He was awarded a doctorate in Educational Administration at Atlanta University in Georgia in 1983.

In 1990, with other members of the Progressive Group, Dr Maxwell was awarded a Queen’s Certificate and Badge of Honour.  The awards marked the 40th Anniversary of the group whose organisation of the Theatre Boycott in 1959 ended segregation in theatres in Bermuda.

Statement by PLP leader Marc Bean

The PLP joins Bermudians  in celebrating the life of Dr. Clifford Maxwell.  Through his work with The Progressive Group, Bermuda was moved closer to a place where every Bermudian, regardless of the colour of their skin will be treated with fairness and equality.  Through his work in education at The Berkeley Institute, he helped to shape the minds of scores of Bermudians who, to this day continue to contribute positively to our island home.   We owe Dr. Maxwell and his wife Florenze a tremendous debt.

The prayers of our people are with the family of Dr. Maxwell and Bermuda is thankful for his life.

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