Four Bermudians are to be honoured for Black History Month during a gala dinner held by the Hamilton Princess and Beach Club.

This year’s event on February 25, which is celebrating education, will recognise Randolph Horton, former Speaker of the House of Assembly; teacher and athlete Ellen-Kate Horton; Robert Horton, who has held a string of educational and political roles, and Duranda Greene, the outgoing president of the Bermuda College.

Former Speaker Mr Horton is former Assistant Director of Tourism as well as a sportsman and teacher which included ten years as principal of the former Warwick Secondary School.

He represented Bermuda internationally in cricket and football, playing for the Somerset Trojans football club and professional football with the New York Cosmos in the North American Soccer League, before returning to Bermuda.

He has taught at primary and secondary level in Bermuda as well as college in the US.

His community involvement has included being a member of the Board of trustees of the Hotels Pension Fund, the executive of the Amalgamated Bermuda Union of Teachers, the Association of School Principals, the Police Advisory Council, and president of Francis Patton School.

Mr Horton serves on the Board of Governors at Bermuda College, is chairman of the Honorary Fellows of Bermuda College, and chairs the Parliamentary Prayer Breakfast Committee.

He was appointed an Officer of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire last year.

Mr Horton said he was honoured to be recognised by the same hotel where he spent 13 years as director of learning.

Ms Horton is known through Bermuda and the Caribbean for her sporting, educational and unionist credentials.

She served as head of maths and acting deputy principal at Warwick Secondary and was the president of the Amalgamated Bermuda Union of Teachers – now the BUT – and led its negotiations team.

Ms Horton was vice president of the Caribbean Union of Teachers, and later its first organiser.

In softball, she captained the Somerset Bluebirds, and was shortstop and a batter in the Big Blue Machine, where as vice-captain she led the team to the gold medal at the 1978 Central American and Caribbean Games.

She is a certified diving coach and international diving judge.

“Thrilled” to join honourees, Ms Horton added: “It is a special treat to be honoured with my brothers.”

Robert Horton is a former teacher of English, Deputy Principal, Acting Principal, Senior Education Officer, Assistant Cabinet Secretary and Permanent Secretary.

He stepped down from public service in 2013 after 43 years’ service.

Mr Horton taught English language and literature at the Berkeley Institute where he became deputy principal.

In the Ministry of Education he was special assistant to the Permanent Secretary, later holding other Permanent Secretary roles.

On behalf of the Bermuda Olympic Association, he organised the 2014 visit of the Queen’s Baton Relay to Bermuda and in 2016 served as chairman of the BOA’s 80th Anniversary Committee.

In 2013 and 2014 he provided technical support for the National Security and Defence Review Committee, and the Commission of Inquiry Into Historic Land Losses in Bermuda.

Mr Horton said: “I have attended the Black History Month celebrations at Hamilton Princess every year, and I never would have thought that it would be me to be recognised.

“I am truly honoured and look forward to the celebration.”

Dr Greene, an alumna of Bermuda College, became its first woman president in 2007.

Before becoming president, Dr Greene served as a faculty member in the Department of Business, was dean of Business and Hospitality, and assistant to the president for special projects.

She led the college to international accreditation with the New England Commission of Higher Education, and has launched programmes including nursing, diagnostic imaging technology, marine science and compliance.

Dr Greene’s leadership saw the establishment of the Bermuda College Foundation to raise money, which led to the new Career Development Centre.

Calling herself “truly humbled”, Dr Greene added: “To be sharing this accolade with such outstanding educators as Robert Horton, my former teacher; Randolph Horton, my current board member and former Board chair, and Ellen-Kate Horton is truly an honour.”

Tim Morrison, general manager at the Hamilton Princess, said was pleased to recognise “a phenomenal group of educators and passionate community advocates”.

The dinner begins at 6pm, with tickets available via Ptix.

A portion of proceeds will be donated to the honourees’ charities of choice, the Bermuda College Foundation, and the Packwood Home in Sandys.