Hundreds of mourners paid their last respects to Nelson Bascome at an official funeral this afternoon.

Premier Ewart Brown, Opposition leader Kim Swan and former union leader Ottiwell Simmons were among those paying touching tribute to the late Health Minister and PLP MP at a two-hour service at the Anglican Cathedral.

Dr. Brown told the congregation — including Mr. Bascome’s widow Shirlene — that the 53-year-old father-of-three’s sudden death while in the US last Tuesday continued to affect the people of Bermuda.

“Feelings of shock and disbelief have transformed into fond memories of a public servant and a man of the people whose loss will take some time to accept,” he said.

He spoke of Mr. Bascome’s incredible contribution to the community and his deep love for his family. “Nelson was never alone,” he said. “His brand of friendship and loyalty meant that he was a man of great friends and one who attracted loyalty in others.”

Mr. Swan spoke of Mr. Bascome’s compassion and his ability to listen to other people’s problems, both as a politician and in his professional life as a drugs counsellor.

Mr. Simmons, the Minister’s former running mate in Pembroke East, described him as an “extremely well-educated and knowledgeable young fellow”.

He suggested that the gap left in constituency 16 by Mr. Bascome’s death might be filled by someone close to his heart. “Shirlene, you may want to think about that as an option,” he said to Mrs. Bascome, chairman of the PLP branch in Pembroke East Central.

Proceedings closed with a rousing eulogy from Canon James Francis who suggested that everyone in Bermuda should look to Mr. Bascome as an example of how to give back to the community.

He said the family had written an epitaph for their loved one in which they described him as a “human terrier” who was “in the community, of the community and for the community”.

See tomorrow’s edition of The Royal Gazette for full coverage of today’s funeral.

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