The Tribune

By DENISE MAYCOCK

Tribune Freeport Reporter

dmaycock@ tribunemedia.net

THE ashes of Sir Jack Hayward will be spread throughout various parts of Britain and the Bahamas – the final and fitting farewell to the British philanthropist who gave so much to so many in his home country, and his country away from home.

Rick Hayward says his father touched the hearts and lives of so many people. “He did so many wonderful things, I can’t begin to think of all the lives he touched with his generosity,” he said.

Sir Jack’s funeral will be held on February 3 at 2pm at St Peter’s Church in Wolverhampton, where he was born. The church seats 600 and only invited persons will be admitted to the service.

“There are so many fans we had to do that,” said Mr Hayward. A memorial service is also planned for Freeport at a date to be announced.

Sir Jack died on January 13 in Fort Lauderdale. He was 91.

Rick Hayward was at his father’s side when he died. “As every family has its ups and downs, we all reconciled and had the most marvelous time – I was with him when he died. Mrs Bloom and I brought him back from Mexico to Fort Lauderdale, and he died,” he recalled.

“My father was specific about his funeral in Wolverhampton where he was born, and where he had many passions, and one was the football club, Wolverhamptom Wanderers,” he said.

The process of Sir Jack’s coffin will start from the Molineu Stadium, and the cortege of cars will go to the church. His coffin will have the Union Jack on it, in addition to his medals.

Mr Hayward will speak and read one of his father’s favourite poems, “If,” by Rudyard Kipling. His younger brother, Jonathan, will also speak; Baroness Rachel Hayhoe-Fling will read the eulogy.

Sir Jack was born June 14, 1923 in Wolverhampton, the only son of industrialist Sir Charles Hayward, and his wife Hilda (nee Arnold). He arrived in the Bahamas in 1951, and moved to Freeport in 1957, from Nassau.

Rick Hayward, the eldest of Sir Jack’s three children, said his father was a Bahamian at heart. “I was born in the Bahamas, and I am Bahamian and my children are Bahamian, I thought he would become a Bahamian,” he said.

Mr Hayward said he was a generous man who gave to so many individuals and organisations in the Bahamas and in Britain.

“Some things I have been reading and seeing on the television, I never even knew he had done. He sometimes did things anonymously and it was marvelous. I thought that people had forgotten about him, but they had not.

“The Prime Minister (Perry Christie) telephoned me a few hours after he died and gave his condolences to me, my mother, and the family, and to his long time companion Patti Bloom, and I thought it was wonderful,” he recalled.

David Cameron, the Prime Minister of Great Britain, also made a statement.

Mr Hayward noted that there has been tremendous support extended to his family.

“The telephone has not stopped going; the emails, letters, and condolences have kept me and the family going, we just can’t believe the outpouring, particularly here in the Bahamas, and I suppose he was quite a famous figure. He lived a great life and did a tremendous amount of wonderful things.”

A number of charities would be represented at the funeral. It is not known whether a representative of the Royal Family will attend.

Mr Hayward said Baroness Rachel Hayhoe-Fling, who was involved in women’s cricket, will attend.

“That was also one of things he supported, he built an indoor cricket facility,” he said.