Howard Charles, a farmer and animal lover who died on Thursday aged 69, was “born, bred and unfortunately passed in Devonshire”, Progressive Labour Party MP Christopher Famous said yesterday.

A lifelong carriage driver, Mr Charles’s life was claimed in a carriage crash on Brighton Hill Road that also led to the deaths of his two horses.

Mr Famous told the House of Assembly: “Almost every animal in Bermuda was at his family homestead.”

He added Mr Charles had several nicknames, including “Black Cowboy” and “Old McDonald”.

Most MPs remembered Mr Charles by the nickname “Hubby”, and Mr Famous said many political figures had been related to him.

His family links included the late Members of Parliament Quinton Edness and Dame Lois Browne-Evans.

The Premier, David Burt, and other MPs including health minister Kim Wilson, Opposition senator Nandi Outerbridge, PLP senator Jason Hayward, Mr Famous, and the clerk to the legislature, Shernette Wolffe are also related to Mr Charles.

One Bermuda Alliance MP Craig Cannonier offered condolences to Mr Charles’s daughter, businesswoman Lyn Winford.

He said: “Such a jovial man, always smiling.”

He added he remembered Mr Charles as a Front Street fixture from the days when horse and buggy operators lined up for rent.

Mr Cannonier said: “I can’t imagine what his family is going through, seeking answers to what took place.”

One Bermuda Alliance MP Michael Dunkley called “Hubby” a “happy and jovial person — it was always a pleasure to spend time with him. He enjoyed life”.

Mr Burt, whose father was Mr Charles’s first cousin, joined the tributes, along with education minister Diallo Rabain.

Mr Charles was a breeder of horses whose animals often appeared at the Agricultural Exhibition.

His death was listed as the first road fatality of 2018, and remains under investigation by police.