The granddaughter of legendary principal Hilton C. Richardson is calling for Government to delay any move to rename St. David's Primary School in his honour.

Lucinda O'Brien said her grandfather would not have wanted to spark the kind of uproar among St. David's Islanders that has been provoked by the Ministry of Education's controversial proposal.

She thanked Government for wanting to honour Mr. Richardson, but said such a name change should not be forced on the people of St. David's.

Islanders have reacted angrily to the idea, saying they want to keep the existing name as a matter of pride and complaining they were not consulted over the move.

Education Minister Randolph Horton has agreed to listen to their concerns, but Culture Minister Dale Butler has said residents need to read up on their history and recognise the importance of renaming buildings after community heroes.

Mrs. O'Brien told The Royal Gazette: "People weren't really against anything in the school being named after him — what they were against was the way it was being done.

"St. David's Islanders have decided we are not going to accept anything like this. We have gone through a lot recently and this is a slap in the face.

"Our family says thanks, but our grandfather wouldn't have wanted it this way. He would have been honoured that they would have wanted to name the school after him, but I don't think he would have really wanted the type of atmosphere associated with it.

"If they wanted to name a room after him, like a library, he would have appreciated that. But to have all this confusion? No.

"Maybe if they were to leave it for a while and then address it ... but right now? No."

Regarding Mr. Butler's remarks, Mrs. O'Brien said: "They should be teaching Bermuda's history in schools if they want the history to be known."

According to his family, Mr. Richardson was a farmer, preacher, architect, builder and teacher. He was the architect of St. Luke AME Church, which is considered by locals as the Cathedral of St. David's.

He worked alongside his wife and others to oversee the building of the original school, and was appointed headmaster in 1910, retiring in 1957.