A chartered surveyor and former governor of Warwick Academy, where he graduated in 1960, was also a proud West Ender and repeat political candidate for the United Bermuda Party.

In stepping forward in 1991 as a UBP candidate in Sandys South, Ted Gauntlett campaigned unsuccessfully over successive general elections in an acknowledged Progressive Labour Party stronghold.

Undaunted, he told The Royal Gazette: “I personally believe that almost any constituency is winnable.”

In the days of dual constituencies, Mr Gauntlett ran with Ralph Richardson for the UBP, which was then the ruling party, billing himself as a principled voice for social progress.

The Somerset resident advocated for cleaning up community spaces and holding vigils in areas where drugs were being openly sold.

In a measure of how Mr Gauntlett was seen, he won quick praise from Walter Lister, the PLP MP for Sandys South, who said his ideas were “great”.

Mr Gauntlett called for Daniel’s Head to get developed into a tourism hub after the departure of the Canadian armed forces, set for 1994.

The two candidates quickly got to work canvassing and cleaning up areas such as Hog Bay Park.

In 1992, Mr Gauntlett unveiled his best-known proposal when he called for creating a youth corps devoted to community service.

He told Sandys Rotary Club: “I believe the best opportunity to resolve our racial and indeed many other societal problems lies in enabling all our young people, and especially all our young men, to be raised in a disciplined, integrated environment of positive role models.”

He was also an early advocate of the island purchasing a tall ship for youth development.

Mr Gauntlett’s idea for a youth corps gained some traction within the UBP government.

He modified the concept from compulsory service into an aspect of the school curriculum, saying in 1996: “All children have to go to school, but school can only do so much.

“People need guidance in their formative years, and a lot of them are just not getting it.”

The concept never got off the ground, however, and the ruling party was in its final years.

Politically, Mr Gauntlett stuck to an uphill battle in Sandys South. In 1993, 1998 and 2003, the PLP won capably.

The last time Mr Gauntlett threw his hat in the ring, Terry Lister took 483 votes for the PLP against Mr Gauntlett’s 296 — but the underdog candidate was pleased to have narrowed the gap, even as the PLP finally took the government.

Outspokenly civic-minded, Mr Gauntlett belonged to a variety of organisations and causes.

As well as serving as a deputy chairman of the real estate division in the Bermuda Chamber of Commerce, he was involved with the Bermuda wing of Outward Bound, the addiction charity Pride — since renamed Shift — the Bermuda National Trust, the Bermuda Institute of Ocean Sciences, Keep Bermuda Beautiful, and as a president of the Bermuda Amateur Lobster Catchers Association.

He was especially devoted to Warwick Academy, which posted a tribute online.

“Ted’s connection to Warwick Academy spanned generations,” it said.

“He volunteered his time selflessly and was committed to seeing the school evolve, particularly in its diversity and inclusivity.

“His sons, Adam and Chris, also attended Warwick Academy, continuing the family’s connection to the school.

“We are incredibly grateful for Ted’s service, commitment and contribution to Warwick Academy over the years. He will be greatly missed by our school community.”

After graduating from Warwick Academy, Mr Gauntlett attended Bournemouth College of Technology, now Bournemouth University, in England.

He completed his surveying degree at Portsmouth Polytechnic — now the University of Portsmouth — and married Daphne, his wife, who survives him.

Mr Gauntlett worked for the Government as estates manager after his return to the island in 1970, then went into private practice with Arthur Jones.

In 1989, he started his own business as Ted Gauntlett, Chartered Surveyor.

Even after leaving politics, Mr Gauntlett continued to push for the youth corps concept.

In repeated letters to the Gazette, Mr Gauntlett called for the island’s young people to be steered into positive development.

One, in 2012, cited the adage “first build good character, and good results will follow”.

Mr Gauntlett insisted that if the island could collectively follow the motto, “we could then look to the future with pride in the satisfaction of a job well done for the benefit of each and every one of our young people”.

Arthur Edward “Ted” Gauntlett, a former Warwick Academy governor and political candidate for the United Bermuda Party, was born on December 27, 1941. He died in September 2026, aged 84