Bermuda, as John Woolridge pointed out in his timeless classic Proud to be Bermudian, is so much more than blue skies and pink sand.
And while unique quirks like our white roof tops, Bermy shorts and knee-high socks rightfully put a smile on our faces, this island is much more than those too.
Bermuda is really about its people.
Young people. Seniors. Bermudians who’ve lived here their whole lives. Foreigners who made Bermuda their permanent home. Guest workers who stay for a couple of years. Holiday-making visitors who mingle among us. Workers. Schoolchildren. Business owners. Loyal customers. It’s all of us.
As our interviews in this edition of RG Local Legacies demonstrate, just as people change over time, so does our culture.
We see this every year at our Bermuda Day celebrations.
The parade, with its iconic Gombeys and majorettes, brings a carnival atmosphere loved by one and all. Yet as individuals we also have our own traditions, old and new, whether it’s taking that annual dip in the ocean, running a half-marathon, wearing a new outfit while watching the parade, relaxing on the beach or simply watching Netflix on the couch with a cup of iced tea.
In our Bermuda Day feature, veteran majorette Valerie Byron and Horseshoe Bay-loving teenager Canasia Wolffe show that while May 24 might mean something different to everyone, it will always be a special day close to all our hearts.
The blending of our historical culture with our modern-day needs and preferences is a recurring theme throughout this supplement.
We shine a light on long-serving GB’s Autos on King Street, where manager Gavin Black preserves his father Artie Black’s community-based philosophy of building trust with his clients, while embracing technological advancements to ensure the firm doesn’t fall behind competitors.
At Bailey’s Bay Cricket Club – a club built by the people, for the people – president Stephen Outerbridge tells us of the continuing efforts to protect culture while empowering the next generation.
In the Town of St George, meanwhile, Dennie O’Connor, Dr Charlotte Andrews and Quinnell Francis discuss how they balance preserving their extraordinary history with the demands of modernisation.
One of the reasons for Bermuda’s relentless evolution, of course, is the influence of newcomers. Since the first settlement in 1609, people from all corners of the world have arrived and made their mark on the way we live.
Thanks to globalisation and our island’s role as an international business hub, one-third of Bermuda’s population today was born elsewhere – from 176 different countries, according to the latest Census.
We’ve got features on some of the countries who have made the biggest impact, from Portugal, including the Azores, from the Caribbean and from Canada.
Their thankfulness at being made welcome, and their pride at helping shape our island culture, suggest John Woolridge hit the nail on the head:
A brighter destiny will dawn for us.
As we blend our hopes and dreams.
And we live in peace as one.
Happy Bermuda Day everyone.
