Hundreds bid farewell to Sir Henry Forde

Hundreds of people from all walks of life turned out at the Christ Church Parish Church today to bid a final farewell to Sir Henry de Boulay Forde hailed by Prime Minister Mia Amor Mottley in her tribute as  a “patriot, statesman and gentleman.”

President of Barbados The Most Honourable Dame Sandra Mason, parliamentarians, stalwarts of the Barbados Labour Party (BLP), people from the constituency of Christ Church West which Sir Henry served as the BLP representative for 30 unbroken years; alumni of his alma mater Christ Church Boys’ Foundation School and a host of others whose lives the late patriot touched in some way, all listened with rapt attention.

Sir Henry gave yeoman service to the BLP, assuming leadership of the party  in 1986 and the position of Leader of the Opposition twice. He stepped down as party leader due to poor health.

The Prime Minister highlighted an enduring feature of Sir Henry’s legacy, citing two pieces of legislation he piloted – the  Succession Act which she said “stopped the majority of our children in this country from being considered bastards” and  the Family Law Act which “recognised that the absence of a church should not in any way denigrate the holiness and love necessary for families in a marriage.”

Sir Henry served as Attorney General from 1976 to 1981.  He also chaired the Constitutional Review Commission of 1991.

Several religious leaders participated in the three-hour official funeral service.

Among those mourning Sir Henry’s passing were his widow, Cheryl Lady Forde, sons Nicholas, Martyn and Ryan. He was predeceased by his fourth son Patrick last year.

The interment took place at Coral Ridge Memorial Gardens in Christ Church immediately after the funeral service.

The post Hundreds bid farewell to Sir Henry Forde appeared first on nationnews.com.