Honorary Board Members: Simmons & Jeffers
Ottiwell Simmons and Charles Jeffers were made Honorary Board Members at Age Concern Bermuda’s Annual General Meeting held yesterday [Sept 11] at the Evangelical Church Hall in Paget.
Fellow Director Jonathan Brewin presented the awards, stating that while Mr. Simmons might be best known as a former President of the Bermuda Industrial Union or for his years spent serving the country as a PLP MP, he has been a dedicated member of the Age Concern Board for over 15 years.
Mr. Simmons was recruited in 2004 by former Chairperson, Mr. Walter Roberts to take on the chairmanship of Age Concern’s Handyman program.
Also appointed as an Honorary Board Member was Mr. Charles Jeffers, who has been a member of the Board of Directors for the last decade and is best known for his work as Chairperson of the Advocacy Committee.
Mr. Brewin explained that Mr. Jeffers has “never been shy and has spoken on behalf of the organization on many important topics affecting seniors including: affordable healthcare; age discrimination and; pensions.”
His advocacy tenure was undertaken during the implementation of Future Care; age-related amendments to the Human Rights legislation; an increase of the public sector retirement age and the soon to be introduced national health plan.
Dr. Claudette Fleming said “that these community legends have not only been significant contributors to Age Concern and to the improvement of lives to seniors over the years, but they have also been phenomenal mentors.”
She noted that the organization and she had been privileged to have many community and political figures serve on the Board including: the late Sir John Plowman; the late Mrs. Louise Jackson, the late Lady Jaqueline Swan; Mr. Erwin Adderley, Mr. Walter Roberts, Mr. Walter Lister and the Bob Richards for a brief period.
Age Concern added, “Mr. Jeffers was accompanied at the AGM by his wife Junea and Mr. Simmons was accompanied by his close friends: former Member of Parliament, Mr. Walter Roberts JP; former Speaker of the House, Mr. Stanley Lowe, JP and; former Senator, Mr. Calvin Smith, JP. Dr. Fleming stated among the awardees family, friends and the hundreds of AGM attendees that Mr. Simmons and Mr. Jeffers, ‘are deserving of their roses while they are living’.”
