By SANCHESKA BROWN
Tribune Staff Reporter
sbrown@tribunemedia.net
SIR Jack Hayward, honorary chairman and co-owner of the Grand Bahama Port Authority, died yesterday in Fort Lauderdale, Florida after battling an illness for several months. He was 91.
In a statement, Prime Minister Perry Christie described Sir Jack as “the single most important figure behind the economic development of the city of Freeport”.
Sir Jack’s last public appearance in The Bahamas was for the opening of new tennis facilities in Grand Bahama.
He was an avid supporter of sports in the country and gave much to the local rugby and sports teams.
“Sir Jack was a colourful, larger-than-life personality who was held in great affection by the Bahamian people and by successive governments of our nation. He was widely admired for his candour, warmth, generous philanthropy, and deeply held dual patriotism for his native England and the Bahamas. He was passionately committed to the advancement of Freeport in particular. Through good times and in bad, he remained steadfast in his loyalty to our nation’s second city and never lost faith in its future,” Mr Christie said.
“Indeed just before embarking on what was to be his last cruise, Sir Jack and his equity partner in the GBPA, Lady Henrietta St George, had joined me in an important conference call to discuss the way forward for Freeport. I was struck at the time by how optimistic and enthusiastic Sir Jack still was about the prospects for the expansion of tourism and industrial development in Freeport, this despite the increasing frailty of his own health and his greatly advanced years. He remained a true believer in Freeport to the very end of his days and had been looking forward to its continued revitalisation.”
Grand Bahama Chamber of Commerce President Kevin Seymour said Sir Jack left an “indelible mark” on the island’s development.
He said: “I would just like to say that what Sir Jack represented to the Bahamas and Grand Bahama in his philanthropic work and his initiatives to improve the infrastructure of Grand Bahama, and to attract visitors to Grand Bahama; he and his late partner, Edward St George, those contributions are very much appreciated by the Grand Bahama Chamber of Commerce and the local business community. And it would not be a stretch to refer to the life of Sir Jack and the late Edward St George, Wallace Groves, and others as nation builders because they have certainly left an indelible mark on the development here on Grand Bahama island.
“I had the good fortune of meeting with Sir Jack late last year just before he went away, and there were many issues which we had common agreement. One thing became very clear during our meeting was his deep love for Grand Bahama, and so he will be sorely missed.”
A statement from the Grand Bahama Port Authority last night said Freeport “has lost the last of its original founding fathers and a great philanthropist.”
The statement said Sarah St George, vice-chairman of the GBPA, remembered Sir Jack as “a cornerstone in Freeport’s living history” adding that yesterday was a “sad day for us all.”
“He was a truly unique man with an epic life and I was privileged to work side by side with him for the last decade, and experience firsthand his determination, bravery, passion and humour,” she added. “I will miss him immensely.”
Sir Jack was also the owner of Wolverhampton Wanderers, a famous British football club, for 17 years. Wolves players wore black armbands and observed a minute’s silence before their FA Cup third round replay against Fulham last night.
Sir Jack’s many philanthropic acts include founding The YMCA, the Sir Charles Hayward Library, the Grand Bahama Humane Society, the Regency Theatre and the Jack Hayward High School, among others.
Sir Jack was born on June 14, 1923, the only child of Sir Charles Hayward, a leading industrialist, and his wife, Hilda. Sir Jack served in the Royal Air Force during the war, training as a pilot and flying missions over India and Burma.
Knighted in 1986, he was fiercely patriotic and often known as “Union Jack”.
In a 2010 Daily Mail article, it was stated his inheritance would go to charities in the Bahamas.
Sir Jack is survived by his wife Lady Hayward, and his partner of many years, Mrs Patricia Bloom, who was at his side throughout his illness.
Also at his side during his last hours was his eldest son, Richard.
Comments
gloriareagan 9 years, 2 months ago
Sir Jack was Chairman of The Salvation Army Board in Freeport during our appointment to the Bahamas - 1986-1990. How supportive he was of the Army's work and people. I loved his stories and his love of theater! Witty, intelligent, delightful come to mind as I remember a man who cared deeply about people and worked tirelessly to make a difference in the lives of people. He dreamed great dreams and they became reality! His landrover, his jack shirts, his black rimmed glasses - descriptive of him to this day! We had served in Zambia as missionaries prior to coming to the Bahamas. Sir Jack had worked in Africa years before so we instantly connected! The Army will miss him! The people of Freeport will miss him. We will miss him! Majors Mike and Gloria Reagan
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