Dear Sir,

Quinton Edness gave me my first job at the age of 16, working in the engineering department of ZBM. My father, John Patton, was at the time in charge of fisheries and agriculture, which included responsibility for the aquarium. He suggested to me that I should ask the captain of the aquarium’s research boat if there were any summer jobs available. So I rode my Mobylette to Flatts and made my request, but unfortunately there were no positions available.

Quite despondent, I was on my way home when I happened to pass ZBM and I thought: “Why not give it a shot?” That was my first encounter with Quinton, who sat magisterially on the other side of his desk and quizzed me thoroughly but ever so politely about my qualifications. We parted, with Quinton saying: “Let me check with Tommy Logan in engineering to see if he has a position for you. Come back in a week.”

So I went home and told my father about the abortive trip to the aquarium and that I had applied at ZBM. Next week I went back and saw Quinton again. In his gentlemanly way, he told me that yes, indeed, there was a job at £5 a week, working seven days.

Right at the end of our conversation he smiled at me and said: “Did you know that your father is secretary to the board of directors of this company?”

To say that I was stunned is an understatement. But, and this is the point of this long story, it points to the character of both Quinton and my dad that neither pulled any strings or gave me preferential treatment.

Even though my father knew I had applied at the aquarium and at ZBM, he didn’t even let on that he had any connection to either one. Even though Quinton knew at our first meeting who my father was, he said nothing and let Tommy Logan decide if I was qualified for the job.

Quinton, like my dad, acquired the title of “Honourable” when he became a Cabinet minister, but I can tell you that he was honourable long before he ever got into politics. Once there, he found his true calling, working tirelessly for the benefit of all Bermudians.

GEORGE PATTON