In this article, we revere and record for posterity, the phenomenal accomplishments and dedication of this outstanding Bermudian who touched, taught, tutored, inspired, guided, mentored and championed, innumerable local male and female students, over a period of 50 years. While Dr. Maxwell’s tenure at the Bermuda Technical Institute ‘BTI’ was only 1958 — 1968, his influence still reverberates among most BTI day and ‘evening extension’ students, and in the higher echelons of both the private and public sectors.

Dr. Maxwell was a deeply religious, ethical, unbiased individual, who combined these qualities with empathy for all students and a determination, if you loved learning, to move mountains for you. When, for example, there were instances at the ‘Tech’ where students could not find the fees for a term, or the money for their Mathematics books, the resources would suddenly appear. While no one knew, or even asked how, we always suspected Dr. Maxwell’s involvement. If you failed a Mathematics exam at the ‘Tech’, there was no fudging of results. However, over time, one would notice that weak Mathematics students would get his attention and improve their confidence and performance.

Dr. Maxwell had absolute mastery of technical Mathematics, including the Union of Lancashire and Cheshire Institutes ’UCLI Syllabus’. He would light up when teaching O-Level, or A-level Pure-Mathematics after 4pm, to the 16+ age group. He radiated the three perspectives of academic excellence, hard work and the development of moral fibre in preparing his young, mostly male charges, for real-life work and social challenges. As a teacher, Dr. Maxwell was not alone at the BTI with skills and dedication. However, he was the ‘not so quiet champion’ in the areas of academic excellence, Mathematics and provision of Physics resources for external UK examinations, particularly for the London University O-Level GCE.

Despite obstacles, Dr. Maxwell groomed BTI students to take external examinations, most notably in the summer of 1963. That summer, with the help of the Berkeley Institute Physics teacher, Dr. Maxwell shepherded BTI students to combined Mathematics and Physics examination results that surpassed in numbers and quality, the results of other individual schools in Bermuda. That performance helped cement the BTI in Bermuda and externally as a pillar of technical and academic excellence.

With some students, Dr. Maxwell used gentle encouragement to establish hard work, academic excellence and focused career objectives. With others, he inspired them with visions of what they were going to accomplish, that they were going to the UK, or to Canada, and not just to average institutions, to further their studies. He would then work with them, with their parents, guardians and or employers, to achieve success. He set systems in motion that continued long after he left BTI in 1968. Dr. Maxwell’s greatest BTI legacy may have been tireless efforts to prevent any student leaving the BTI before graduation — for any reason!

Dr. Maxwell was among the best of his generation of good teachers. His mastery of discipline as a class control technique was matched by his use of discipline as motivation. He was a strict disciplinarian, but no student had a problem approaching him on any subject, even if one knew a reprimand was coming. BTI boys had total confidence in his understanding of situations, his ability to solve a problem and his irreproachable integrity.

Dr. Maxwell’s favourite classroom question while at the BTI was, “Do I hear noise?” Since whispering, talking, or laughter was not allowed under any circumstances during classes, the only acceptable response was silence. Noise while waiting to enter class, or anything besides the scratching of pens or pencils on paper while in class, would mean that the whole class had to come back after normal classes for some unscheduled Mathematics. If anyone was silly enough to identify the culprit, Dr. Maxwell would look at everyone else other than the informant, remind everyone that there was collective responsibility in place and then ask if we also wanted to come back tomorrow. He never wasted time on unproductive detention. Dr. Maxwell never lost his temper with us. He was the consummate gentleman.

As we grew older, it was obvious that he was equally at home with both teenagers and adults. People understood that he had their welfare at heart, an attribute that helped him get the best out of most students, regardless of age, or background. Even after he left the BTI in 1968 and finished his duties as Principal at the Berkeley Institute from 1971 to 1990, Dr. Maxwell was available for mentoring, or for a written recommendation.

He moved to the Bermuda College from 1991 until 2009 and even then, his determination to get the best out of all students was unfaltering. While there, Dr. Maxwell designed a Technical Mathematics syllabus at the Division of Applied Science and Technology that was still in place in 2011.

The BTI closed in 1972. However, the academic and technical background from which many of Bermuda’s best Professional Engineers, Technician Engineers, Architects, Draftsmen, Technicians, Skilled Tradesmen, Specialist Fitters and most persons in Telecommunications, started at BTI and continued far beyond 1972. Dr. Maxwell was the driving force at the BTI for achieving exceptional Mathematics and Physics results in a variety of external examinations. He was an exceptional mentor for both day and evening students. Lastly, along with the other talented and dedicated teachers at the BTI, we give Dr. Maxwell credit as an impeccable role model.

Alongside acknowledging Dr. Maxwell’s contributions to our technical and academic successes, we pay homage to Mrs. Florenz Webbe-Maxwell for her steadfast support throughout her husband’s teaching career. We are indebted to her for allowing Dr. Maxwell to stay behind for us on many afternoons long after the 4pm end of school day. We feel bound to express how thankful we are that she and her family shared this unique and excellent educator with us and for so long. We, ‘The Bermuda Technical Institute Alumni Association’, are eternally grateful.