The Bermuda Garden Club is responsible for the founding of Keep Bermuda Beautiful, (KBB).

In 1962 Janette R. Zuill was the chairman of the "Keep Bermuda Beautiful Committee'' in the Bermuda Garden Club.

Mrs. Zuill reflected: "I had a lot of help and many members rendered assistance. There was no one individual or association solely responsible for Keep Bermuda Beautiful. Many people were and still are concerned in preserving Bermuda's natural beauty and environment. The Garden Club encouraged such thinking. Mrs. Harry Richardson, the first past president of the Garden Club, created a path to "weed out litter and sow beauty'' Island wide.

Lady Joyce Gascoigne, an honorary member of the Garden Club, founded an independent Island-wide KBB in 1964. She called her inaugural meeting on Monday, March 16, 1964 at 5:30 at the City Hall. Mr. Geoffrey Chaplin was the chairman-elect.

The first Keep Bermuda Beautiful general committee meeting was held at Government House on February 14, 1963, by invitation of Lady Gascoigne. The over-all projects were: a school poster contest, pastel painted trash bins, poem contest, and motor car litter containers. The committee aimed for better garbage collection, more attractive bus stops, cleaner harbour waters, enforcement of the litter laws, improvement of unsightly roadside areas, education, control and care of beaches and additional playground facilities.

The following is an excerpt from Mrs. Zuill's chairman's report dated March 5, 1964: " From the time the KBB seed was planted, it has been nurtured by many helping hands. I would like to acknowledge such non-members of the Garden Club as the American Consul General, Mr. George Renchard; Mr. Henry Vesey, chairman of the Trade Development Board; Dr. Simon Fraser, director of Public Health and Mr. George Wardman, who accumulated material and sound advice on anti-litter and beautification to initial discussion meetings. Special recognition goes to Mr. Wardman who has served as secretary from the start.

"Mr. Colin Selley, government liaison representative, picked up the hoe at a later date to accomplish invaluable weeding. I also would like to include my husband, Vail, who has been head gardener in his patient, through-the-hedge guidance, as KBB has jumped from one stepping-stone to another.'' Another valuable founding member of KBB is Phyllis West-Harron who served as president for seven years. During her presidency she accomplished many tasks on behalf of KBB. She retired from that post in 1974 and the KBB committee bestowed upon her the title of president emeritus.

Prior to her retirement, this devoted leader traveled to several countries at her own expense to learn about protecting the environment. She attended conferences in France, Ireland, England and the US.

"I enjoyed my role in the KBB immensely! I always found gratification from the many members of KBB and the support from the public. The first year I was president we had 49 members and within a year that grew to 763 active members.

Mrs. John Young was the membership director and she did a fine job. Back then the membership dues were two dollars.'' Mrs. West-Harron recalled with a smile.

She explained her powerful connection with nature and the environment. "When I was a small girl, about age 5, our parents impressed upon us a love of the natural beauty of Bermuda and its many creatures. My parents cared very much about this earth and Island.'' On one occasion during Mrs. West-Harron's presidency KBB launched an Island-wide clean up and it was estimated that 7000 people, including the military, turned out for a highly organised shore line cleanup.

"Just about every organisation in Bermuda supported KBB in this special event. The enthusiasm was fantastic and the tonnage gathered was unbelievable! Friends proudly compared blisters. This was wonderful citizen involvement,'' Mrs. West-Harron said.

Another important project was "Clean Sweep'' when KBB members and others collected trash. "I recall that someone donated us a number of brooms, rather flimsy they were. Everyone, including myself, was being handy with a broom sweeping up debris.'' Additionally Mrs. West-Harron implemented the "Plant a Tree Project'' in 1973. "We came up with a little rhyme: `In '73 plant a tree, and plant some more in '74 and keep alive in '75.' I recommended to people to plant a tree to commemorate a special occasion.'' Prior to Government allocating funds for KBB Mrs. West-Harron and her committee and members raised monies through corporate funding. Most of the Front Street Stores were generous KBB patrons.

Mrs. West-Harron concluded, "Environment-conscious people are important to Bermuda because we live in a very small, crowded island where every bit of green matters. Every citizen must do his/her part.'' The current president of KBB is Scott Kitson.

The Ministry of Works and Engineering has been actively involved in providing financial, physical and educational support to KBB since the mid 1980s.

Lennox Boodram is the executive director of KBB, a registered Bermuda charity.

He may be contacted by phone at 295-5142 or fax 292-2977.

First chairperson: Janette R. Zuill was one of the founding members of KBB and was the chairman of the KBB committee in the Bermuda Garden Club in 1962. She received an MBE in 1990. Additionally Mrs. Zuill aided in founding Bermuda's Junior League.

President emeritus : Mrs. Phyllis West-Harron was president of KBB for seven years and remains honorary president for life. She is a responsible leader who has always respected nature.

Lady Joyce Gascoigne, wife of former Governor Sir Julian Gascoigne, founded an independent Island-wide KBB in 1964.