Sportsmanship
On Thursday 16th August 2012 the Bermudian Friendly Societies Association Celebrated it’s Annual Sportsmanship award. This event held at the Manchester Unity Hall on the corner of Victoria and Union Streets is hosted each year to keep to the fore the tenets of Cupmatch and the vast history behind it’s beginnings and the organizations that were responsible. Coming out of the idea of the Friendly Societies Council which operated until the late 1960’s the name was changed and re -established in 2000 by Sister Joy Wilson-Tucker, Brothers Boyd Smith, Calvin Christopher, Earlston Tuzo. Early membership included Sister Valeria Tuzo, Brothers Stanford Hart, Donald Rhoda, Calvin Minors and Shane Kelly. These eight Lodges combined and became the Bermuda Friendly Societies Association. They are the Loyal Mayflower Lodge #9387, Flower of the Day #6347, Princess Royal Union #135, Somers Pride of Indian Lodge #899. Alexandrina Lodge # 1026, Household of Ruth #61 , Loyal Irresistible Lodge #9385 and Victoria and Albert #1027.
Our aim each year is to recognize a cup match player that displays good sportsmanship throughout the two day classic. Once chosen he is awarded with a Shield, Emancipation Cup which is The Clarence Darrell Cup, donated by former Premier Dr. Ewart Brown in memory of his grandfather Bro. Clarence Darrell, a keepsake cup and certificate among other gifts or donations.
We have had some outstanding speakers and presenters and having the sports ministers and other dignitaries attend makes the night even more outstanding as they show their interest in this cultural event. The programme hosted by the Association has a member from each lodge participating in the actual ceremony. The Welcome, Prayer, Blessings, Caption of the cup match history, guest speaker and presenter. The event on Thursday evening August 16th 2012 was full of excitement as we had two great cricketers one from the East Mr. Leroy Tubby Richardson our Speaker and from the West Mr. John Stovell our presenter. They gave us an ear full of history of their lives as sports personalities and cricket in general and when we reached the words of encouragement and guest remarks they expressed their surprise and pleasure at such an informative event.
This year for the first time younger sisters of the Household of Ruth took to the stage and the welcome was given by sister Wendy Frith, the history was read by sister Donna Smith. Sister Lynn Wilson gave a beautiful prayer followed by the blessing and Provincial Grand Master Sister Sylvia Lightbourne read the scripture. Brothers Kyle Bridgewater, Norbert Simmons and Stanford Hart carried the rank as elder stalwarts assisting throughout the programme and Brother Michael Bradshaw carried the task as the MC. Cameras flashed and the hall beautifully displayed the team colours of red and blue for Somerset and blue and blue for St. George’s. Balloons and miniatures crochet cricket bats made by Sister Lynn Wilson and an exquisite center piece of similar colours graced the donation table.
There was plenty of fresh fruits and veggies. cool drinks, cake and sandwiches for all. Mr. Tubby Richardson expressed his excitement of viewing the photos that graced the walls of the lodge room, while being refreshed. The room buzzed with excitement. At the end of the evening it was an event well attended fun-filled and beautiful. We hold high the legacy that our forefathers left us and we will do our share in preserving this part of our history. We have earned the right to hold the banner high. We await with bated breath to see who our next recipient will be.
Joy Wilson-Tucker Lodge Historian Researcher
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