Video: Sir “ET” Richards’ Painting In TV Show
[Written by Stephen Wright]
A painting depicting the family home of Sir Edward Trenton “ET” Richards, Bermuda’s first Black Premier, featured on the hit British television show, The Repair Shop, this week.
His daughter Patricia Dangor and granddaughter Rokeya Dangor brought in a faded canvas painting to the BBC show in which beloved family heirlooms are restored for their owners by experts.
Sir Edward, described a “trailblazing Civil Rights activist” on the show, had the artwork of the family home, built for his wife Madree, commissioned in the 1950s.
It features the family dog, Spot, who was in danger of disappearing altogether before the painting was restored to its former vibrancy by art conservator Lucia Scalisi.
Patricia Dangor, the first female judge for the Court of Appeal for Bermuda, who now lives in the UK, told the show’s host, Jay Blades: “My father, Edward Trenton, had the house built for my mother before they were married.
“She was not allowed to come and look at the building while the work was going on.
“The day they were married, he carried her over the threshold. They lived in it until they died.
“When he built the house, he was a teacher [at Berkeley Institute].”
Patricia Dangor the first Black woman to sit as a circuit judge in England and Wales, said her father was a vocal critic of segregation.
“He practised law and had always been interested in the difficulties of Bermuda and politics,” she said. “He was persuaded to run for parliament and he did.”
Rokeya Dangor added: “He was a larger-than-life character and very charming. You could understand the impact he had on everyone he met.
“I remember going into town with him [as Premier], and he would be hailed left, right and centre by people in the street.
“I could then understand how he’d been able to make the changes he’d been able to make in persuading people to change [segregation] legislation.”
Sir Edward was appointed Deputy Government Leader and Deputy Leader of the UBP in 1968 before becoming Bermuda’s first Black leader in 1971 – a position he held until 1975.
He was knighted by Queen Elizabeth II in 1970 and died aged 82 in 1991.
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What a great show and how wonderful that it highlighted the first black premier of Bermuda with his aim to change Bermuda for the better and his love for his family with the painting of his house that his daughter and granddaughter treasure.