A lifelong devotion to the environment has earned the former head of the Bermuda Environmental Sustainability Taskforce a top award from the Catholic Church.

Stuart Hayward, also a former independent MP, attended his presentation of a Peace and Justice award at St Theresa’s Cathedral in Hamilton despite recent illness.

He told the gathering: “Thank you for making me feel special.”

Heather DeSilva, of the Peace and Justice sub-committee at St Theresa’s, told Mr Hayward: “Thank you, Stuart, for your inspiration over the years. Thank you for what you have done. Thank you for inspiring our diocese.”

She added the Catholic Church would work to cut waste at special events and reduce the use of harmful chemicals on its properties.

Mr Hayward, also cofounder of Eco Bermuda and Save the Garden Campaign, was said to be an inspirational influence on many people who had since joined the fight to protect the environment.

Stuart Kriendler of green energy firm BE Solar, said: “You are like Captain Bermuda.”

Mr Hayward, 77, explained he opted to become an environmentalist because “Bermuda was such a near-perfect environment when I grew up”.

He told the audience at the event last Thursday that there were no fast cars or bikes and no electronic noisemakers.

Mr Hayward added there was “lots of blues and greens”.

He said: “These assets helped Bermuda to be a near perfect environment.”

Mr Hayward’s mother helped him to develop strong environmental values. He said her maxims such as “waste not, want not” and “wilful waste brings wilful want” had stayed with him.

Mr Hayward, who cofounded BEST, worked for decades to protect Bermuda’s “near-perfect environment” and was the driving force behind many projects designed to protect natural heritage.

He founded the Admiralty House Park Association with residents who wanted to keep the property in public ownership and control.

The former chairman of the National Trust’s Environmental Committee and member of the Government’s Roads Advisory Council also started Save Open Spaces in 1982 to reduce or stop the use of public open spaces for roads or houses, or other purposes that were not environmentally sound.

Jamie Beacon, Mr Hayward’s wife, said he had been involved in other work to benefit Bermuda.

Mr Hayward was instrumental in the creation of the Transcendental Meditation Centre and a cofounder of the Bermuda Leadership Forum.

She said: “While Stuart may be best known for his outstanding environmental work and advocacy, he also did much for the people in his community as well.”

• To view the poster charting Stuart Hayward’s lifetime of community service, click on the PDF link under “Related Media”