Following the death of Dr Edlin Merren, one of Cayman’s pioneers in dentistry, three more of our pioneers have also sadly passed away.

James Ashnead “Sonny Boy” Bodden died last week (Tue 12) at the age of 85.

Sonny Boy was notable for building boats but he had many other various interests.

In 1948 he joined Public Works and then went to sea with National Bulk Carriers and was chief pump-man. He was assistant manager at the Yacht Club and in November 1962 became manager for Esso in the Cayman Islands. Before that, however, he started his own tyre business and he sold branded products after accepting a proposal from D&G salesmen. In 1985 he joined his wife Rose Marie, whom he had married in 1956, to help her with Bodden Beverages.

Sonny Boy was a charter member and past president of the Rotary Club of Grand Cayman and served on the Planning Board and the Pines Retirement Home Committee. If that wasn’t enough he was past councillor of the Chamber of Commerce and member and past master of the Cayman Lodge, an officer of the District Grand Lodge of Jamaica, a member of the Mark Lodge, the Royal Arch Chapter and Rose Croix.

In 1985, he was made a Member of the British Empire in 1985, listed in the Queen’s Birthday Honours for his public and community services in the Cayman Islands.

A funeral service on the life of James Ashnead “Sonny Boy” Bodden will be held at Agape Family Worship Centre at 2 p.m. on Saturday, May 23.

After losing two of our pioneers came another shock. Only the day before, on May 11th Christopher Carl Godet passed away at the age of 82.

Carl was born in Grand Turk and soon found church was to become a major part of his life. He had an undiagnosed but terminal illness that he amazingly recovered from and he attributed his recovery to the healing hands of God.

He worked for Cable and Wireless although before that he was a cook at the Grand Turk US Naval Base and lighthouse tender. After this he worked as an Aeronautical and Telegraph Operator with a British Aeronautical firm – IAL. This involved tracking planes and providing this information to the Air Traffic Control Centre.

On Grand Cayman, Owen Roberts Airport was being built and they needed someone with his experience. No one wanted to relocate to the mosquito infested Cayman Islands but Carl volunteered. The rest is history.
Carl became Station Manager and after IAL pulled out of Cayman, Carl and George Hunter, who was also working at the airport, left to form Aeradio Service Ltd.

In 1982 Carl started up another company, AVCOM, with Erroll Kellyman. They provided technical assistance to government that included installing the first radio beacon on Cayman Brac. The company also installed and serviced 2-way radio equipment, establishment of an island wide paging system, provision of vehicular mobile phones and hand held radios. He also started a vending machine business with the late John Elliott. The business is still operating under the name of Godet and Sons Vending.

In 2004 Carl suffered a stroke.

Carl was recognised for his pioneering services to aviation and in 2002 he received the Cayman Islands Certificate and Badge of Honour.

Sadly as we all get older we lose our pioneers but they never will be forgotten.

PS: And I omitted another sad death of another of our pioneers – Thomas “Tommy” Hurlston who passed away on Saturday 16th May. Tommy was Charter president of the Lions Club of Grand Cayman.

From Facebook:”

Lion Tommy had many roles ~ Our Hero | King Lion | Lion Heart | Father Figure | Godfather | Stalwart | Mentor ~ not only to our Club members but the entire Cayman Lions Family. He was more than just a Lion he was one who was never afraid to speak his mind and let us one and all know his thoughts and feelings and Lionism was like blood in his veins.

As we reflect on the stalwarts of our beloved islands who have passed from amongst us in the past few months we can only but stop and recall Lion Tommy’s words “the Lord giveth and the Lord taketh”.

To our new Lions who perhaps never had the chance to be touched by this man and to all of us his words of advice “WEAR THAT PIN WITH PRIDE! IF YOU DO NOT DISGRACE IT – IT WILL NEVER DISGRACE YOU” will resonate with us and we will endeavor to maintain such!

Lion Tommy you have taken your final ROAR here on earth but We are sure that it will only be echoed louder in Heaven.

Our thoughts and prayers are with his Partner in Service Lady Lion Dortha and the rest of his family.

He will remain and live on in our hearts!

Rest In Peace Lion Tommy ~ We will Always Love You!”