The community at large hasn’t been the same since the almost unexpected passing of Willard (Pommy) Lightbourne. He was the most personable, popular, hardworking man who was the owner and operator of the appropriately named and immaculately kept tourist facility, “Brightside”, on the corner of Flatts Village and Flatts Hill.If ever there was a versatile, successful achiever, it was Pommy. He made his first mark as a barber. And it was his insatiable passion for music from an early age that culminated in his induction into the Bermuda Music Hall of Fame at Shine’s Music Studio in 2009.In fact, during most of the 1940s through to the 1970s, Willard was known as the barber of North Village. He was an extraordinary stylist. His shop near St. Monica’s Church on what was then the virgin 42nd Street was another impressive landmark. His artistry with the advent of the Afro Hair Cut, gave status to many a male and female customer from miles around, who beat such a path to his facility as to necessitate a change in name to that of Pommy’s Barber Shop and Beauty Parlour.However, Pommy gave up big-time barbering and entered the Civil Service. He earned a Diploma in Supervisory Management at the Bermuda College, having earlier become the first black immigration inspector of the Department of Immigration.Upon retiring from the Civil Service in 1987, Pommy’s entrepreneurial instincts as a realtor focused him on the hospitality industry and his ownership of Brightside Guest Apartments.Pommy was in his 86th year when he passed away on January 11. His funeral at the First Church of God, on the North Shore, Pembroke Road drew hundreds. It was conducted by Bishop Vernon G. Lambe, Sr, MBE with the eulogist being Pastor Harold Lambe of the Evening Tabernacle Church.Among those paying tribute to Mr Lightbourne were his son-in-law, Lt Col Edward Lamb, Pastor Dean Smith, Elder MacDonald Tucker former Premier Sir John Swan, who was also the Minister of Immigration. Also his grandson Dakota Lamb; Yvonne James, Trustee of Grace Methodist Church; niece Charlene Williamson.Pommy’s daughter, Dr. Andrea Lightbourne, gave the obituary. She mentioned how her father made the most important decision of his life in 1951 when he became a ”born-again Christian” at North Shore Gospel Hall, he put aside his secular musical involvements and dedicated his time to Christian service. He served as a Sunday School Superintendent for 17 years at the Chapel.He met and married his wife Gwyneth Dilworth there, where they married in 1955.In 1977 he received a call to help at Grace Methodist Church. Both he and his wife were subsequently installed as Lay Pastoral Ministers. And together their contributions to the growth, development and sustainability of that church were deemed invaluable.