John Bryan Bothwell, a recipient of the Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE)	Rex Herbert Crighton, a recipient of the Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE)
Dr Alfred Benjamin will receive the Cayman Islands Certificate and Badge of Honour	Sarah Alice Mae Coe to be given the Cayman Islands Certificate and Badge of Honour

Her Majesty the Queen Elizabeth II has recognised two prominent members of the Caymanian community in her 2008 New Year’s Honours list. John Bryan Bothwell and Rex Herbert Crighton are made Members of the Order of the British Empire (MBE).

Mr Bothwell is being honoured for his services to the community and the financial industry in the Cayman Islands, while Mr Crighton is being rewarded for his services to the development of the Cayman Islands and charitable interests.

Additionally, His Excellency the Governor, Stuart Jack, CVO, has named two Caymanians to be awarded the Cayman Islands Certificate and Badge of Honour (Cert. Hon.). Dr Alfred Benjamin is being honoured for his service to agriculture and Sarah Alice Mae Coe is being honoured for her service to the community.


Rex H. Crighton

Rex Crighton is a community leader whose achievements have affected and enhanced the lives of multiple generations in the Cayman Islands.

Mr Crighton was educated at the Cayman Islands Government School, as well as the Merchant Marine Engineering School in New York.

In line with his training, his first job was as a merchant marine engineer, but it was not long before his entrepreneurial inclinations became apparent.

Mr Crighton tested the capitalist waters in 1961 with the Caribbean Furniture Company. It was a history-making venture, as it was the first company on the island to offer purchase-by-financing terms.

He launched other businesses, including Able Rent-a-Car, Star Communications and Caribbean Motors – Cayman’s first motorcycle dealership.

Mr Crighton branched into the career that has resulted in recognition throughout the Islands – land development. He and a partner launched Prospect Park and Omega Bay Estates. He was the first in Cayman to sell land on financing terms.

Mr Crighton is a founding member, and indeed the founding president, of the Cayman Islands Real Estate Association, more commonly known as CIREBA.


John Bryan Bothwell

John Bryan Bothwell is the Director to the Cayman Islands Monetary Authority (CIMA).

Mr Bothwell was employed in the banking and trust industry in the Cayman Islands for over 35 years, with particular interests in trusts, company management and other elements of international private banking services.

Most recently, he held positions of directorship in the Ansbacher Group until his retirement on 31 October 2001. He has been a non-executive Director of Caribbean Utilities Company (CUC) since October 2004 and chairs that board’s Audit Committee.

In addition, Mr Bothwell serves as the Deputy General Secretary – Cayman of the United Church in Jamaica and the Cayman Islands.


Order of The British Empire

The Order of the British Empire was created in 1917 during the First World War by King George V. The King recognised the necessity for a new award of honour, which could be more widely granted, in recognition of the large numbers of people in the British Islands and other parts of the Empire who were helping the war effort both as combatants and as civilians on the home front.

For the first time, women were included in the order of chivalry, and it was decided that the Order should also include foreigners who had helped the British war effort.

From 1918 onwards there were Military and Civil Divisions, as George V also intended that after the war the Order should be used to reward services to the State, defined in a much wider sense to acknowledge distinguished service to the arts and sciences, public services outside the Civil Service and work with charitable and welfare organizations of all kinds.

Valuable service is the only criterion for the award, and the Order is made up of five levels. Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the British Empire (GBE), Knight of the Order of the British Empire (KBE); both of which confer knighthood (the recipient is known as either Sir, or if female, Dame); and the three lower levels are Commander (CBE), Officer (OBE), and Member (MBE). Citizens from other countries may also receive an honourary award, for services rendered to the United Kingdom and its people. There are more than 100,000 living members of the Order throughout the world.

After some debate, St. Paul’s Cathedral was nominated by a special committee and approved by The Queen as the Chapel of the Order. As the cathedral of the capital city, it could accommodate services attended by very large congregations, and (in the words of one committee member) ‘St Paul’s symbolized the victory of the British spirit during World War II 1939-1945 in that, although badly damaged and shaken, it survived the ordeal by battle in an almost miraculous way.’

A Chapel for the Order was subsequently built in the cathedral crypt (where Nelson, Wellington and Sir Christopher Wren are buried, amongst others) and its formal dedication in 1969 was attended by The Queen and The Duke of Edinburgh (Grand Master of the Order).

Once every four years, approximately 2,000 members of the Order attend a service there to celebrate the Order. Many people who have been awarded an honour from overseas attend these services, and each person attending wears their award.