The former Mayor of St George and One Bermuda Alliance MP, Kenny Bascome, has died. He was 75.

Last night former political colleagues paid tribute to Mr Bascome, who they described as passionate about Bermuda and St George and someone who was a “very honest, genuine man”.

Craig Cannonier, who was the leader of the OBA when Mr Bascome won his parliamentary seat representing St George’s North in 2012, said that Bermuda had lost “one of its greatest cheerleaders”.

“He was St George’s through and through, a man who took it to heart to know everyone, to greet everyone and to speak to everyone. It was very clear that St George's was a very special part of his life,” said Mr Cannonier.

Mr Cannonier said he had known Mr Bascome since he was a child. “He was someone who frequented my house while I was a kid.

“I was speaking to my mother about his death. It is such a loss because we really admired and respected him for the life that he led. I know all of St George's will be mourning his death.

“He epitomised what being a politician is all about and he epitomised what it meant to be a true Bermudian ambassador for the island.

“He cared deeply about the future and spent a lot of time with young people, mentoring them.”

Born in his Wellington Road home in August 1948, Mr Bascome was deeply ingrained in the St George’s community.

He served as a councillor for the Corporation of St George from 1994 before being elected alderman in 1997. He was elected Mayor of St George in December 2009 and again in May 2012.

He also acted as a United Bermuda Party senator in 2007 before joining the One Bermuda Alliance in 2012.

Mr Bascome won the seat for Constituency 1 St George’s North that same year when running against former PLP premier Dame Jennifer Smith but lost to Renée Ming in the July 2017 General Election.

He also ran the Tobacco Bay franchise for 22 years with his late wife, Rochelle, whom he had met during their youth and married in November 1981. Mrs Bascome died of a heart attack on August 19, 2014.

Mr Bascome also served under former OBA leader Michael Dunkley, who promoted him to junior minister of tourism.

“I was very saddened to learn of the passing of my good friend Kenny Bascome. He was a unique person,” said Mr Dunkley.

“He loved St George’s. He loved Bermuda and he loved trying to promote Bermuda. He showed that throughout his life and career.

“I was certainly honoured to appoint him as junior tourism minister and I enjoyed working with Kenny.”

Mr Dunkley added: “There were two things you would always know that Kenny would do: he would speak his mind and he was passionate about what he did. I had the greatest respect for him.

“It was a privilege to have him working alongside me as we tried to make Bermuda a better place. So to his family and his friends, I send our condolences on behalf of my family.

“He has left his mark on the East End of the island and certainly Bermuda.”

Mr Bascome was elected to the House of Assembly at the same time as Jeanne Atherden, a former OBA MP and leader.

“Due to the seating arrangement, we were in the same corner, which gave us the opportunity to talk about things that we were keen on, like young people and supporting St George's, where I had spent time in my youth,” said Ms Atherden.

“He called me his mate and didn’t hesitate to call me after he was no longer an MP to raise a concern about anything relating to St George’s.

“I will miss him. He was a very honest, genuine man. He was one of the few people whose number I kept in my phone all these years after being in Parliament.”

Jarion Richardson, the OBA leader added his tribute: “I’m deeply saddened to hear of the passing of Kenneth ‘Kenny’ Bascome.

“I extend my heartfelt condolences to his family. Kenny was a living legend, known for his frankness. There was no one who could claim they didn’t know what he thought.

“He was incredibly kind to us new politicians, always making time for encouragement and a joke.

“His passing reminds us that time is ticking by and with the passing of every year, we lose a little of what defined us.

“It is incumbent on us new politicians to take on the very best of those who came before us, so that those who come after know who they were.

“Again my deepest condolences to Kenny’s family.”

The Mayor of St George, Quinell Francis, said that as a child growing up in St George’s “we all knew Mr Bascome as the operator of Tobacco Bay Beach”.

“Over the years there have been many encounters with Mr Bascome and in 2011 I joined the Corporation of St George as a councillor under his mayorship.

“He always encouraged me to be more involved in the Town of St George, which I did. Mr Bascome became the MP for Constituency 1 and in 2015 I became the Mayor of St George and worked with him as the local MP.

“Over the last few years he had health challenges but he always pressed on.

“I would like to send to his family and friends my sincere condolences on behalf the people of the Town of George. May he rest in peace.”