By Ira Philip

Educator Melvyn Bassett and former Ombudsman Arlene Brock were recently inducted as Fellows of the Bermuda College.

According to Bermuda College president Duranda Greene, they were selected because they’d made a significant difference to the Island and the world.

The honour came at a special ceremony on a very cold night at Coco Reef Resort.

Dr Greene noted that “cold and wet” seemed to be the trademark for this annual event, the 2015 Honorary Fellows Induction Ceremony and Dinner.

Dr Bassett joined a long list of outstanding educators previously named as Fellows; Ms Brock joined her father, Mansfield (Jim) Brock, her brother Malcolm Brock and aunt Merle Brock Swan.

Dr Greene said the College chose to celebrate the outstanding contributions and achievements of members of the Bermuda community by bestowing upon them “our highest honour, an honorary fellowship and inducting them into the Company of Honorary Fellows”.

Dr Greene particularly welcomed Education Minister Wayne Scott, deputy chairman of the College Board of Governors, Dane Commissiong, Acting Permanent Secretary of Education Valerie Robinson-James, and College staff. Master of Ceremonies for the ceremony was Idwal Wyn Hughes.

The Company of Honorary Fellows was established in 1980. During the subsequent 34 years, 85 outstanding individuals and one organisation (Corange Ltd) have been inducted.

“These outstanding individuals include former Premiers, politicians, educators, medical doctors, community activists and successful leaders in business and industry,” Dr Greene noted.

Thirty-four of those honoured are no longer with us, “having been called home to glory”, she added.

It was at this point she called on the gathering to stand, remember and reflect on their legacy, especially the three lost this past year, Vic Garcia Sr, David Gibbons and Donald Lines.

ARLENE’S BIO SKETCH

Arlene’s leadership and organisational skills were born during her last year at the Berkeley Institute. She was one of six students who developed and conducted their own after-school black studies classes and held an historic sit-in at the annual sports day.

At the Sixth Form Centre, the precursor of the Bermuda College headed for many years by her father Mansfield, Arlene and three other students challenged Prince Charles over their right to learn their own history - much to the consternation of Education officials accompanying the Royal visitor.

Ms Brock obtained a BA at McGill University in Canada, where she served on the executive bodies of the International, Caribbean and Black Student Associations. She wrote McGill’s Orientation Guide for Foreign Students, that was used for many years. She also represented McGill on a Canadian university studies overseas month-long tour of Egypt.

She worked as an accountant in Bermuda for several years, during which time she was active in the Anti-Apartheid Group. She then pursued her first law degree at Osgoode Hall, York University before obtaining a Master of Law Degree at Harvard Law School.

She was recruited by Stockton Reinsurance and returned home, where she chaired the Police Complaints Authority, the Permanent (Labour) Arbitration Tribunal and sat as an acting magistrate in Family Court. She currently sits on the Judicial and Legal Services Committee.

Exactly a year ago Ms Brock completed an eight-and-a-half-year term as Bermuda’s first National Ombudsman. While in that office she also served for three-and-a-half-years on the Board of International Ombudsman Institute and was a regional president for the Caribbean and Latin America and chaired the Board’s International Training Committee.

In 2013 Ms Brock was recognised with an Honorary Life Membership in the Institute - the 14th person in 20 years to receive that award. Recently she completed a semester at Northeastern School of Law as a Fulbright Visiting Scholar, being the first Fulbright Scholar on record from any of the UK Overseas Territories.

Arlene credits her mother, the late Eula Liverpool Brock for encouraging an open mind, critical thinking, a global perspective and the courage to speak the truth. She credits her father for giving her the confidence to work hard, excel academically and to insist on the facts.

She also credits her Aunt Merle for continuing to be a primary influence regarding the spiritual imperative of directing one’s skills, knowledge, passions and integrity in the twin quests for justice and equality in Bermuda and the world at large. Those, the new Fellow said, embody the fundamental tenets of the Baha’i faith she strives to realise.

Melvyn Basset’s Bio Sketch

Melvyn Bassett grew up in Bermuda’s West End. He attended Sandys Secondary School before going to Wilberforce University in Ohio where he earned a bachelor of science degree.

He worked for a short while in Boston, where he met the love of his life, Sushila Mendes. He then returned home to take up a teaching position at Sandys Secondary School and it was not long after he and Sushila married. Sandys Secondary principal Mansfield Brock, became his mentor Although Dr Bassett had not initially planned a career in education, he soon realised that it was his calling. After two years in the classroom he enrolled at Howard University, earning a masters of education in 1973. He returned home to join the then principal at Sandys Secondary, Joseph Christopher, who invited him to become his deputy. He served eight years in that post and became principal when Dr Christopher moved to the Department of Education in 1982.

In 1998 Dr Bassett enrolled at St John’s University in New York, graduating with a Doctor of Education Degree.

In all, Dr Bassett served a total of 24 years as principal of Sandys Secondary School and Sandys Secondary Middle School. He has been a busy man, serving on the Archibald Commission, the Turmin Commission and the Educational Planning Team. He was also deputy chair of the Sandys Parish Council, chairman of the Police Advisory Board and deputy chair of the West End Development (Wedco) Board. He currently serves as chairman of Child Evangelism Fellowship Bermuda and is a long-serving member of the Willowbank Foundation and a Deacon in his church.

Upon retiring as school principal in 2007, Dr Bassett launched a new and challenging career as managing director of the Sandys 360 Sports, Aquatic and Enrichment Centre, an outreach facility he was instrumental in establishing and continues to manage.

In recognition of her lifelong service to education and his community, Dr Bassett was awarded the Queen’s Certificate and Badge of Honour in 2010.

Widowed after 43 years of marriage, Dr Bassett has one daughter, Rusheika (now Mrs Joseph Furbert); and a foster daughter. He also has five grandchildren.