Found at: http://www.anguillaguide.com/article/articleprint/4994/-1/140/
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CCB ENDS 30TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATIONS WITH AWARDS, SERVICE Farewell To Preston Bryan, Marjorie Hors
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The Caribbean Commercial Bank (CCB), held the last three of a year-long series of activities on Saturday and Sunday, July 14 and 15, bringing down the curtains on the celebrations marking its 30th Anniversary.
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Directors and Staff of CCB
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Saturday night, many invited guests, CCB’s Directors and Staff crowded the newly-constructed reception building at Callaloo Yacht Club at Cul de Sac where the Bank honoured former Managing Director Preston Bryan and Marjorie Horsford who both gave 30 years of service to the indigenous financial institution and have now retired.
In his brief welcome address, Director Alan Gumbs said in part: “I think it is important to point out that tonight is a very historic occasion because the bank is now 30 years old and we have two individuals – Preston Bryan and Marjorie Horsford - who were the two original employees of Caribbean Commercial Bank.” He stated that over those years, CCB, under the management of Mr. Bryan, had grown from two hundred and fifty dollars to over seven hundred million dollars in assets. He also pointed out that the original Board of Directors included James Ronald Webster who contributed much to the development of the bank and who was still a Board member.
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CCB Directors, other personnel and invited guests
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Following the invocation by Senior Manager, Pastor Leslie Richardson, Director of the bank, Dr. Franklin Lloyd, recalled that prior to his employment with CCB Mr. Bryan had worked with Bank of America for ten years and Mrs. Horsford was a civil servant. “These two individuals played a very important role in brining CCB from where it was to where it is today,” he complimented them.
“We say thanks to Mr. Bryan and Mrs. Horsford for their wonderful years of service and to you our friends, customers, and colleagues, thanks for coming to share the evening with us and enjoy yourself” he added.
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Hon. Osbourne Fleming presents gift to Mr. Preston Bryan and Mrs. Majorie Horsford
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Shirlene Goddard who spoke on behalf of her aunt, Mrs. Horsford, said she began her banking career on July 18, 1977 at what was then the Caribbean Mortgage Bank where she served as a telephone operator, secretary and teller. When the company became the Caribbean Commercial Bank, she served in the Operations and Loans Department until her retirement.
“She built a relationship, forming friendships that would last a life-time and thirty years later, nothing has changed,” Mrs. Goddard went on. “This is because of her continued commitment, diligence and dedication that grant us this opportunity to celebrate this milestone.” She described Mrs. Horsford as “a God-fearing and virtuous woman, a [dedicated] and supportive employee, a caring friend, a loving and dedicated wife and a nurturing and caring mother.”
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Mr. Val Banks of NBA
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E. Valentine Banks, Chief Executive Officer of the National Bank of Anguilla (NBA), was the next speaker. “I think I can say with authority that Preston Brathwaite Bryan has been the single most, influential person in banking in Anguilla for the last thirty years,” he acknowledged.
Mr. Banks recalled the years during which he worked with Mr. Bryan at the Bank of America and said he learned a lot from him and that Bryan was certainly a role model for him. He spoke about the close social and professional relationship they enjoyed as heads of the CCB and NBA respectively and how they had worked together to formulate plans and policies which helped built their organisations to be strong and in the positions their banks now hold in the banking industry.
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At the retirement of Preston Bryan and Marjorie Horsford
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He also spoke of Mr. Bryan’s associations with banking institutions in the region and the Rotary Club and the high esteem in which he is held. He said that banking in Anguilla would be poorer with the retirement of Mr. Bryan but that he needed time for himself after away from a very stressful job.
Chairman of CCB, the Hon. Osbourne Fleming, then presented beautifully carved glass plaques to Mr. Bryan and Mrs. Horsford and informed them that in addition the Board of Directors had decided to give them a monetary award for their services to the bank.
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At Church Service at Christian Fellowship Church
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In lauding them for their work over the years, Mr. Fleming said: “This presentation symbolises what the bank will do for all staff members once they have worked with the bank for at least 25 years. So that staff must recognise the only way they can get a presentation of this kind would be to work for 25 years and more.
Replying, Mrs. Horsford thanked her family, friends and CCB for their support over the years and wished all of them much success in the future.
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Christian Fellowship Church singers
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Mr. Bryan thanked his staff for their devotion and loyalty and the Caribbean Commercial Bank which offered him employment for so long and with a good income. He said there were a number of challenges during his career, but the core principles he adopted – trust, respect, integrity and work ethics - had helped him to have had a successful banking career.
“I have been very lucky and blessed to have a good staff to help me to see the bank through good times and bad times,” he said. “Caribbean Commercial Bank is a special bank. I know it, our customers and our patrons know it. It has been an honour for me to have been its first Managing Director. I leave with the knowledge that the bank is in good hands. A mature and talented Managing Director with many years banking experience has already been selected and put in place (Starry Webster-Benjamin). She is supported by a highly-qualified, dedicated and loyal staff. I leave with the sound conviction that I have served the bank well…I am bent on finding out what the advantages are of being a man of leisure and will be content to occupy myself with the things that I like to do best.”
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Some of the CCB Awardees
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Director John Benjamin joined in commending Mr. Bryan and Mrs. Horsford for their services to the bank and raised a toast in their honour.
The next CCB event was attendance at a Church Service held on Sunday morning at the Christian Fellowship Church on the Blowing Point Road. There Mr. Fleming addressed the congregation in his capacity as Chairman of the bank and spoke about matters relating to life and Christianity. Members of staff also participated in Scripture reading and in singing during the service.
The preacher was Reverend Mary Richardson who was delighted to have the CCB personnel worshipping with the congregation.
The final activity was an award ceremony on Sunday night at the Brazilian Emerald Villa at Altamer Resort.
The recipients of long service awards (glass plaques and cash envelopes) were Trevor Woodley, Charlene Davis and Moricia Romney, for 19 years of service; Lauren Hughes, 18 years; Wade Richardson, 20 years; Loraine Rey, 22 years; Leslie Richardson, 25 years; Veronique Woods, James Allan Richardson and Stella Gumbs, 26 years; Myrna Sasso, 27 years; Preston Bryan and Marjorie Hodge (both presented with cash envelopes only), 30 years. Board Director Ronald Webster was not present to receive his award for 30 years of service.
The awards were presented by CCB’s Chairman, Mr. Fleming. During the presentation ceremony, Mr. Bryan made his final remarks in which he again reflected on the success of the bank, spoke of the hard work of the staff and wished them and the bank every success.
His successor, Starry Webster-Benjamin, pledged with the continued support of the staff to build on the foundation already laid and to take CCB to greater heights in the banking world.
The Vote of Thanks was given by Leslie Richardson, Director and Senior Manager.
