Sir Anthony Bryan laid to rest

Sir Anthony Theophilus Bryan, KA, CHB, GCM, JP, publisher, owner and Chairman of The Barbados Advocate, the island’s oldest newspaper, was laid to rest yesterday.

A Service of Thanksgiving and Celebration for his life was held at the St. Thomas Parish Church, followed by the interment at the St. Matthew Anglican Church. Sir Anthony, who was also the owner of Barbados Broadcasting Service Ltd., passed away at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital on June 5th, 2020, after a brief illness.

Members of the Cabinet of Barbados, distinguished guests and members of the business community were present for the 2 p.m. service, in a show of support to Sir Anthony’s three sons Anthony, David and Richard, other relatives, friends and employees of his two companies. They paid their final respects to the Barbadian self-made businessman, who rose from humble beginnings to build a successful media empire. The service was also viewed via a live stream.

Justice Jefferson Cumberbatch, who delivered An Appreciation during the service, recalled Sir Anthony’s brilliant entrepreneurial drive, which emerged in his formative years and his fearless approach to business in a risk averse society. Cumberbatch noted that his introduction to the world of work started with his first job as a public health inspector. He later became an insurance salesman, before he finally ventured into the field of publishing, which he admired.

His distinguished career in this field started with the formation of his first publishing company, Crown Caribbean Publications, which released several local and regional magazines, including the first in-flight magazine, which was distributed on Caribbean Airways flights to Europe.

Sir Anthony’s entrepreneurial spirit, coupled with his spiritual underpinnings later led him to found the Barbados Broadcasting Service Ltd. (BBS 90.7 FM), the first privately owned FM radio station in Barbados, which was stocked with music from his enviable collection. Following this, Faith FM 102, the island’s first Christian radio station dedicated to religious broadcasting, was birthed. The latter was to be an expression of love and praise to his God, for being his life-long guide and provider. Cumberbatch further revealed that so strong was his love for publishing, that he went on to established the Action Company and newspaper of the same name, which later bought The Advocate.

“In 2000, the Action Company purchased The Barbados Advocate, thereby making Sir Anthony the first black owner of the grand “Old Lady of Fontabelle”. It was justifiably his proudest achievement” Justice Cumberbatch remarked.

Sir Anthony’s achievements have been recognised by the state, which conferred on him three of the highest national honours, during his lifetime. Having been appointed as a Justice of the Peace, he was later awarded the Gold Crown of Merit in 2001 and in 2016, The Companion of Honour award was bestowed on him for his publishing, broadcasting and business achievements. He later received the island’s top national honour, the Knight of St. Andrew in 2017. He was also the recipient of the Paul Harris Fellow award, from the Rotary Club of Barbados.

Cumberbatch however pointed out, “Sir Anthony Bryan was more than a successful businessman. He was a man who cared deeply for his family, his employees and his friends”.

Meanwhile, Officiating Minister Rev. Canon Coleridge Darlington, fondly remembered Sir Anthony as one who encouraged others to grow to their full potential.

“As one who shared many years of friendship with Sir Anthony, I discovered that he was one of those persons who was all ready to provide an opportunity for persons. It seemed to me that he had an eye for potential and then he would use that opportunity to encourage that potential that he saw, by giving persons the opportunity to bring it to some sort of fulfillment and that fulfillment which then led to success, helped to upgrade humanity in a special way” he said on reflection.

“I think this is very important for us this evening, as we say farewell and give God thanks for the life of this unique being. We have something to take away with us, that he would want us to cherish” Rev. Darlington asserted.

“As we go about our own lives, it will take a long while for things to return to normalcy, not only because of the COVID-19 influence, but because it will be a struggle for many of us to make the adjustment to life without Sir Anthony, with his familiar giggle, his smile, his seriousness, his sound advice and his willingness to encourage and push us forward, to achieve what makes us happy in life” he remarked.

The Anglican cleric however called on all those who have been touched by the life of Sir Anthony to remember his legacy and to not allow his memory, nor the hard, committed work he has demonstrated in every sphere of life in his community, to go unnoticed. (RSM)