OBITUARY

Mr Craddock Ebanks, OBE, JP
7 November 1911 – 24 July 2004

Mr Craddock Ebanks during a visit by Her Majesty the
Queen

The late Mr Craddock Ebanks, surrounded by those
who loved him

Friday, August 6, 2004

Craddock Ebanks of North Side passed away recently at George Town Hospital. Known simply as Mr Craddock, he is fondly remembered for the great many years of public service he gave to the Cayman Islands.

He joined the Merchant Marines before World War Two in 1939, then served in the Royal Navy Reserve before returning to the Merchant Marines then finally settling back in Cayman in 1951.

Initially out of “curiosity” Mr Craddock represented the North Side from 1952 until he retired in 1984, aged 73. He was appointed a Justice of the Peace in 1976.

He married Louise Ebanks in 1940 and had two sons: Byron (deceased) and Donovan. He also ran a successful transport business, and is remembered by the many children who he bussed to school.

The following tributes were made at a service for Mr Craddock at the Craddock Ebanks Civic Centre. Among those paying tribute were: MLA Edna M. Moyle, Hon McKeeva Bush (Leader of Government Business); Speaker of the Legislative Assembly, Hon Linford A. Pierson, JP, and National Hero Sybil McLaughlin.

National Hero Sybil McLaughlin:

“On 7 November 1911, in the cozy community in North Side known as the Hut, Ernest and Editha Ebanks became the proud parents of their first child. They named him Craddock, a name as unique as the person that their son would grow up to become.

In 1983, Mr Craddock experienced the exhilarating experience of having his beloved islands host a visit by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.

It was a momentous occasion for him, and his colleagues in the Legislative Assembly afforded him the opportunity to deliver the thanks to Her Majesty following her delivery of the Throne Speech.

The occasion was topped off by Her Majesty presenting him with the award of Officer of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, or OBE.

I was a great admirer of Mr Craddock from my earliest days, going back to 1945 when I joined the staff in the office of the Commissioner.

In 1959 when I became Clerk of the Legislative Assembly and Executive Council, I worked with this stalwart, dignified and strong Representative from North Side.

In 1984, after some 32 years of representing his beloved district of North Side, Mr Craddock decided to get out of politics.

He stunned his political colleagues of the day, led by the late Mr Jim Bodden, when he announced his intention not to seek re-election at a public meeting in North Side without having said a word to them.

When asked the next day by Mr Jim why he had announced this without saying anything to them, Mr Craddock calmly replied: “They put me here and so they had to be the first to know.”

Mr Craddock and Mrs Louise joyously celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary in 1990. They would go on to celebrate 13 more, and fall just short of their 64th.

These islands have lost a legend; one who epitomised the values of hard work, honesty and commitment to family, community and country.”

Speaker of the Legislative Assembly, Hon Linford A. Pierson:

“Craddock Ebanks was a good man – husband, father, politician and public servant. I consider myself fortunate to have known a man of Mr Craddock’s calibre.

He was a no-nonsense individual who believed fiercely in protecting the rights of his people. To me, he embodied the very best of what it means to be a true Caymanian.

Throughout his political career he remained true to his ideals, taking his constituents’ ideas on board even as he refused to compromise his own principles and values.

He lobbied extensively for road extension and improvements as well as for better telephone services, winning many battles in the Legislative Assembly through sheer determination.

Mr Craddock served at a time when our islands saw many changes.

He was indeed part of the driving force that propelled our Islands from poverty to affluence.

Mr Craddock will long be remembered for his invaluable contributions to these islands.”

Father of the House was fitting title

Hon McKeeva Bush, OBE, JP,
Leader of Government Business:

“To get a sense of the man, we need to recognise that in those early years, legislators never received a penny in compensation. Rather, his was a determination of spirit that was hard to outstrip.

In the early 70s, the Government was introducing the Cadastral Laws to give people proper title to their land and to regulate the pace of development. Understandably, the package of laws had a lot of people upset.

The profound changes that occurred in the 70s resulted in some understandable turbulence and feelings were running high. As the time neared for the laws to be brought to the legislature, the tempo of threats and incidents escalated and cow itch was stockpiled.

Such was the level of concern that Britain ordered the legislation to go through and sent down a warship to keep the peace.

On the morning of the debate, hundreds of people turned out. There were armed guards; people were searched as they entered the LA. Following Mr Craddock’s arrival for the meeting - then in the George Town Hall - windows were barricaded and doors were locked.

The Governor called the House to order and prayers were said, but tensions remained high.

Then Mr Craddock rose to his feet. He refused to sit in a parliament with locked doors, barred windows and armed guards. Caymanians, he said, were not criminals and a Legislative Assembly meeting behind closed doors was not democracy.

The people stood and cheered, and when the Governor ordered doors unlocked and the guards removed, Mr Craddock was the first to tear down a piece of the ply board that had barricaded the windows.

Joined by his colleagues, his sense of the right thing to do and his courage to lead the way calmed the situation and the war ship left.

Mr Craddock, son of the soil, you were such a man! We salute you today.”

MLA Edna M. Moyle:

“The patriarch of the community of North Side is with us no more. Mr Craddock spent the greater portion of his 92 years on this earth working for the people of North Side, always with a vision of making our lot in life better.

As our elected representative from 1952 until he retired in 1984, he served with a level of commitment that one and all would wish to emulate.
His dedication and drive brought electricity and telephones into our homes and it was on his watch that the district of North Side saw its first real Post Office, and we cannot forget how we got our first clinic.

We all remember quite well when he discovered that Public Works was building public bathrooms in front of our Town Hall, how he went there with a sledge hammer and he stopped the building of that facility.

The building was quite advanced so instead of wasting the country’s money he then got them to turn it into a clinic.

At a national level, Mr. Craddock’s stable thought process and sage advice was always welcome in the Legislative Assembly. It was a fitting title he earned, being called the ‘Father of the House.’

Miss Louise and Donnie, we the people of North Side say thank you for allowing Mr Craddock to fight so that the needs of the people of the district of North Side were not forgotten or ignored.”

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