Born in 1920, former Governor of the Cayman Islands, Mr. Thomas Russell, grew up in Scotland where he went onto serve in the Scottish Black Watch and the Cameronians Battalion in the Parachute Regiment. During the year of 1944, Mr. Russell miraculously survived being shot and taken hostage, to be later discharged at the rank of Captain in 1946.

Moving onto Colonial administration, he assumed parliamentary duties in the Solomon Islands where he was awarded the Officer of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (OBE) and subsequently awarded the Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (CBE).

In 1974, Mr. Russell became Governor of the Cayman Islands, where he served for seven and a half years making him the longest-standing Governor in our history, for which he earned the Companion of the Most Distinguished Order of Saint Michael and Saint George CMG in 1980.

Following his time as Governor to Cayman, he returned to the UK and established the Cayman Islands Government Office in the United Kingdom where he continued to serve as the Cayman Islands Representative to the UK until his retirement in 2000.

Mr. Russell passed away in his Scotland home at the age of 96 and is affectionately remembered as the “People’s Governor” in the Cayman Islands. To express a wealth of gratitude and pay respects on behalf of the Cayman Islands, Mr. Bush and Mr. Parchment attended the funeral and celebration of the life of Mr. Russell. Mr. Bush, as the Cayman Islands Representative gave the Government’s tribute and was honoured by being asked to deliver the eulogy.

Over 100 family and friends attended the service.