The father of Bermuda’s Miss World winner has died. Edward Raymond Swainson was 88.

His daughter, Gina, was crowned Miss World in 1979 having been first runner-up in the Miss Universe contest earlier that year.

Mr Swainson grew up in St George’s and later lived in Spanish Point, before leaving to live in Atlanta, Georgia.

He worked as a refrigeration technician and was a keen footballer.

During his first marriage to Winifred, Mr Swainson had a son and three daughters — John, now deceased, Gina, Donna and Catherine.

He married a second time to Rosalind with whom he had three more children Nefertari, Natelege and Michael.

Mr Swainson’s cousin Vernon Swainson told The Royal Gazette: “Eddie was like a mentor to me; we were very close. He excelled in soccer. He was a very cool guy, he was very personable.”

Vernon added that Mr Swainson was delighted when his daughter won Miss World.

He said: “Oh that was a big moment. He was very proud of his daughter.”

Mr Swainson’s father Edward “Bosun” Swainson scored the first-ever Cup Match century and was also the first black person to reach the rank of Inspector in the Bermuda Police Service.