The Bermuda Health Foundation honoured Sir John Swan on Friday for a lifetime of service to the Island.In a well-attended ceremony at the Fairmont Hamilton Princess, the former premier was presented the Tenth-Annual Salute to Service Award.Accepting the award, Sir John called for the public to continue to work together to protect and improve the Island for future generations.“I ask you to go on in the process of making sure Bermuda is looked after, and that it’s a place that your grand children and those children yet unborn can say they know the work and the effort and the commitment of their ancestors that protected a place they enjoy living in,” he said.Sir John, Bermuda’s longest serving Premier, is also a celebrated businessman who built numerous homes and offices across the Island.He was elected to parliament in 1975 and became Premier in 1982. In his more than 13 years as Premier, Sir John led the United Bermuda Party to victory in four consecutive elections before stepping down from the post.Several speakers spoke to the crowd about Sir John, including his son Nicholas Swan, business associate Sjur Linberg and political colleague Quinton Edness.Mr Swan described his father as a man who overcame numerous obstacles, including poor eyesight and dyslexia, to become the figure he is today.“My father has always believed one should bet on oneself,” Mr Swan said. “In light of his accomplishments, it might seem that his success was a sure thing or that his achievements were obtained easily.“However, no one was a longer shot than my father, Sir John Swan.”Mr Linberg meanwhile described Sir John as a trailblazing Bermudian businessman who would not only think of the big picture, but on all the individual details.And Mr Edness praised his political acumen, noting not only his numerous accomplishments as Premier, but also his connection to the people.“Apart from being probably the most dynamic, charismatic premier and person in this country, he’s also the friendliest person our country ever made,” he said.Mr Edness described campaigning with Sir John in Warwick and seeing him wave at everyone he saw — including a dog.“If I was a little quicker, I would have said ‘He doesn’t have a vote’.” Mr Edness joked. “And he would have replied: ‘But his family do’.”Former Premier and co-founder of the Bermuda Health Foundation Dr Ewart Brown said that even after stepping away from politics, Sir John made himself available for consultation.“On more than one occasion as Premier he and I had conversations,” Dr Brown said. “You may assume that I didn’t listen but that wouldn’t be correct.”Dr Brown said that we must overcome our differences and celebrate what we have in common.“We have to rise above our differences, and we are guaranteed to have those differences, but we must rise above them as we do, or as we say we do, on Sunday,” Dr Brown said.Premier Paula Cox, Opposition Leader Craig Cannonier and the United Bermuda Party’s Kim Swan also paid tribute to Sir John in written statements.Premier Cox hailed Sir John’s years of service, saying his name is synonymous with statesmanship and magnanimity, while Mr Cannonier called the former leader as a positive force for Bermuda, noting specifically his hard work in creating a tax treaty with the United States.Kim Swan meanwhile noted Sir John’s work as a leader and a diplomat, saying: “Through it all it was his charming personality, approachable nature and ability to fit in anywhere in Bermuda that allowed him to navigate the political landscape with its mine fields and enjoy an unprecedented political tenure.”Sir John is the tenth person to receive the Salute to Service Award by the Bermuda Health Foundation.Previous awards have gone to Premier Cox, Bishop Vernon Lambe, Bruce Barritt, Dr Clarence James, Dr Bert McPhee and Alfred (Alf) Oughton.