I’m writing this as a tribute to two personalities who passed to the great beyond in recent days, each of whom I held in high esteem and regarded as good friends.

Arthur James “Jim” McKey, a veteran journalist and broadcaster, was laid to rest on Thursday at Holy Trinity Church, Hamilton Parish, while Sybil Elizabeth Robinson’s life was celebrated in a service at St Paul AME Church, Hamilton a fortnight ago.

Jim was a multi-talented gentleman and scholar who held many “key” posts at The Royal Gazette, Mid-Ocean News and Bermuda Broadcasting Company’s ZBM station. As news director of competing Capital Broadcasting Company’s ZFB, I admired Jim for his penetrating approach at news conferences and smooth, flawless on-air authoritative presentations. He was in his 76th year when he passed.

I’ve regarded Sybil as a “First Lady” from the time she was born in St George’s on June 6, 1931 to the late Edward Swainson and his wife Caroline (Cari). She wanted everyone to know that her father was the first person to score a century in the annual Cup Match.

On hearing she’d passed on June 15, I dove into my archives. On page 12 of my book, CHAMP: The One and Only Alma Hunt, “Champ” elaborated on how the stakes for stardom in Cup Match were high. Career opportunities hinged on it.

Edward “Bosun” Swainson was a Detective Sergeant in the Bermuda Police Force.

He became a national hero and was given an inscribed silver service — at what was tantamount to a State dinner — and a torch-light parade when he scored the first-ever Cup Match century. He was also rewarded with instant promotion, becoming the first black Inspector in the Bermuda Police Force and breaking the rigid colour bar that restricted black officers from rising above the rank of Sergeant.

First Lady Sybil would proudly talk about her niece Gina Swainson who was a beauteous winner of the Miss Bermuda Pageant and subsequent winner of the Miss World title in the Dominican Republic.

She married Vernon Leon Robinson in May 1949 and out of that union three sons were born — Jerome, Brandon and Blaine. She later regarded her daughter-in-law Wendy Flood as the sister she never had. Sybil worked at the Bank of Butterfield until she retired.

Because of her outgoing personality, she was unofficially recognised as an ambassador for the bank and the country. She and her husband cruised the entire Caribbean, Hawaii, London, Holland, Alaska and Greece. She was always the life of the party or social event.

There were other proud moments in Sybil’s life. She was a member of Las Casadores and modelled for them when they held their annual fashion shows for charity. These shows were popular, often with standing room only and, of course, Sybil was the highlight of the entertainment with her demeanour, personality and jokes.

The last two years of Sybil’s life were spent at the Sylvia Richardson Care facility in St George’s, where the staff welcomed her with open arms and quickly fell in love with her. She looked forward to the facility’s weekly outing to the Town Square. She expressed how overjoyed she was, feeling that she had returned to her beginnings in St George.

Her proudest moment in life happened eight years ago when she walked down the aisle on her own initiative and gave her heart to the Lord. She later joined St Paul AME Church under the Pastorate of Rev Dr Lanel Guyton.

Each Sunday she would accompany her best friend, Lois Dill Weeks, to church. This was an endless friendship and Sybil looked forward to the weekly visits of Mrs Weeks at the care facility.