Dr David Saul, the last remaining member of the “famous four” who put into motion the creation of Bermuda College, is to give a lecture about how the establishment came about.

Dr Saul, who produced the draft paper that served as the basis for the college’s formation, describes himself as the institution’s “midwife”.

This year marks the 40th anniversary since the college opened and the lecture is one of a series of celebratory events lined up throughout the year.

The Bermuda College, the Island’s only postsecondary institution, was created by the Parliament of Bermuda through the passage of the Bermuda College Act in 1974. It incorporated three existing educational institutions — Bermuda Hotel and Catering College, the Bermuda Technical Institute and the Academic Sixth Form Centre.

The college had its genesis with Stanley Ratteray who was the Minister of Education in the early 1970s. The man who spoke for education was Bill Cox and he shared his dream of opening up a pre-university level college.

“Lots of people mocked him as they thought the only way to get an education was to go abroad. That was valid but he championed the idea of Bermuda College — basically an American junior college,” said Dr Saul.

Then Premier Edward T Richards appointed Gloria McPhee, the first female elected into Cabinet, and she learned of the idea about the college. Mrs McPhee, Mr Cox and Mr Ratteray, along with Dr Saul, made up the “famous four”.

Along with Stan Gascoigne, the then Permanent Secretary for Education, the politicians began planning the college, and reached out to Dr Saul who was in Canada as a visiting professor at the University of Toronto. As a Bermudian with a PHD in the field of education, he seemed to be the perfect candidate. On acceptance, he was given the task of writing a report on how to improve education in Bermuda.

“I arrived just after the election, no more Mr Ratteray [he was not elected in the seat], hello, Mrs McPhee,” said Dr Saul.

“Hence, I say Mr Ratteray was the father of Bermuda College and Mrs McPhee was the mother.

“I, having arrived on the scene saying I think a two-year college would be great for Bermuda — was the midwife. Those two were the parents, they had the idea, and I delivered the baby.

“A college would save money for both parents and students — they could do two years here in Bermuda and do their next year or two abroad.”

Dr Saul’s talk will also cover the formation of the Board headed up by David Gibbons, later Sir David Gibbons, and Dr C Ross Ford who became the college’s first CEO, followed by his Bermudian understudy, Mansfield Brock, former principal at Sandys Secondary School.

It will also cover the process of finding its Paget home and the design of the building.

“Lots of people, after 40 years, are completely unaware of this history.

“ I am the only member of the famous four still alive so, I said, this needs to be put on the record. Students ought to know these facts,” Dr Saul said.

The free talk is in the North Hall (G301) of the Bermuda College this Thursday from 7pm. Other 40th anniversary celebrations include a Bermuda College Heritage Day parade float, a community and the publication of the Bermuda College in Education in May.