‘A brilliant human being’: Montserrat bids farewell to businessman and community stalwart Cedric Osborne

Cedric Osborne was self-confident, self-assured and at times even self-deprecating. But he was never self-serving. He was equally blessed with a sense of community and a sense of humor. He inherited the mantle of the M.S. Osborne dynasty and forged his own legacy of business success, civic responsibility and unbridled generosity. In between he raised five children and embraced the role he said he would most like to be remembered for – a good husband.

Osborne, whose influence in Montserrat’s business and social sectors spanned seven decades, was remembered during a funeral service at the St. Patrick’s Roman Catholic Church in Lookout on Thursday, September 5, 2024. He died August 18 – three weeks following his 88^th birthday.

“He was a brilliant human being and a true icon,” said Rose Willock, a Montserrat broadcasting legend and former Festival Queen who worked with Osborne during his time with the Montserrat Jaycees and Montserrat Festival Committee. “He was extremely practical and people-focused.”

Although Osborne’s homegoing was not an official state funeral, it was adorned with reverence. Montserrat Governor Her Excellency Sarah Tucker, Premier Joseph Farrell and several other politicians attended. Radio Montserrat broadcast the service live, and several businesses closed for the day as a sign of respect, including M.S. Osborne Ltd., Montserrat Utilities Ltd., Montserrat Building Society and Montserrat National Trust – all companies with Osborne’s imprint.

TRIBUTE TO A TITAN

The service began with a poignant but upbeat eulogy from Andrew Arthurton, Osborne’s “honorary” son.

“I must begin with a disclaimer,” he said. “Uncle Cedric is not my real uncle. But my family and the Osborne family have been connected for almost a century. My grandfather Jim Nanton worked at M.S. Osborne for 60 faithful years.”

Arthurton recalled his close relationship with Osborne, their humorous repartee and joke telling, and Osborne’s booming laugh and catchphrase, “Nutten tarl go so!” He also recounted Osborne’s extensive civic involvement and dedication as a family man. He shared a quote from Osborne’s children.

“As a dad he was a man of few words. He wasn’t one to provide life advice but rather communicated through action. Through example he taught us the value and importance of hard work, service to others, integrity, respect, and a good sense of humor.”

Other than the eulogy there were no spoken tributes during the service. As one family member explained: “If we did that, the service would never end.” Instead, tributes were included in the funeral booklet. There was also no interment as Osborne’s remains will be cremated and a private ceremony will be held at a later date.

NATIVE SON

Cedric Rawnsley Osborne was the second of four children born to business mogul M.S. (Michael Symon) Osborne, a Montserratian, and his wife Sylvia Blanchard-Osborne, a native of Dominica. Cedric’s elder brother Bertrand also became a successful businessman and politician who served as Montserrat’s Chief Minister.

Cedric grew up on Town Hill, about a half-mile from the now-buried capital of Plymouth. Cedric and his siblings were home-schooled in their early years. He later attended the Prep School for Grammar School, which was located on Town Hill at the time, and the Montserrat Secondary School. During a 2022 interview Osborne admitted that he wasn’t the best student and said his mother would get upset because he struggled with spelling. Bertrand went on to study business in Canada, but Cedric did not leave the island for further education.

“I have no idea what the inside of a university looks like,” he once said with a smile. However, Cedric took courses in Architectural Drawing, his passion.

Cedric possessed common sense and business savvy. In 1954 at age 18 he was tapped by his father to take over as manager of Bata Shoe Store (M.S. Osborne Ltd. was the local agent). He understudied for a while with the outgoing manager, Moses “Brother” Tuitt – who migrated to England – then took charge.

FROM BATA TO VUE POINTE

Cedric managed Bata from 1955 until 1967, the year his father died suddenly while on duty at the Vue Pointe Hotel. Bertrand and Cedric assumed control of the Osborne companies, with Bertrand managing the operation in town and Cedric taking over at the Vue Pointe.

When the Vue Pointe was built in 1961 it coincided perfectly with Montserrat’s real estate boom. Property investors arrived from the United States, Canada and Britain, and many lodged at the Vue Pointe while conducting business. That helped to build the hotel’s clientele, and many of the guests became repeat customers.

Cedric implemented creative ideas that helped turn Vue Pointe into Montserrat’s marquee tourist hub. The 28 cottages already made Vue Pointe unique, and the hotel later added a secondary bar and restaurant near Old Road Bay called “The Nest.” Wednesday nights were barbeque night, and the entertainment was top-notch. Steel pan music became a staple and folk singer Ivan Browne was a resident figure.

“Cedric was the perfect host,” said John Wilson, a longtime Plymouth businessman and former government minister who knew Cedric since they were boys on Town Hill. “He didn’t have any formal training. It was just his natural character. He was very embracing and humorous, a real people’s man. Come to think of it, I don’t know how he never went into politics.”

Vue Pointe also became a prestigious place to work. Osborne employed hundreds of Montserratians during his tenure – many of them just out of school – and even allowed some to reside at the hotel. “That way we made sure they showed up to work on time,” he once said laughing. He arranged transportation for those who lived far from the hotel and also sponsored several workers to travel around the region for formal training in bartending and culinary arts.

Basil Morgan, Montserrat’s first international umpire, worked at Vue Pointe for eight years, starting in 1968. He said Osborne was a terrific boss who treated his employees well – even after they no longer worked at Vue Pointe.

“He was a true humanitarian,” Morgan said. “He loved people. I recall in 1972 I was playing for the Montserrat cricket team and he and Bertrand paid my way so I could attend a match in Barbados between West Indies and New Zealand. I got to see Garry Sobers hit a century.”

Incidentally, Cedric – who was a big cricket fan – was born on the exact day (July 28, 1936) as Sobers, widely considered the greatest cricketer of all time.

“SHE HAS BEEN VERY GOOD TO ME”

In 1972, Osborne married Carol Hillberg Shea, a native of Massachusetts, USA, whom he met three years earlier. “She was visiting Montserrat and wanted to go to a Catholic church,” Cedric said during an interview. “That’s how we met.”

Cedric and Carol raised five children: Heidi, Michael, Amanda, Leona and Carl. Carol also became an integral partner in the operation of the Vue Pointe Hotel and M.S. Osborne Ltd.

During an interview in 2022, Cedric was asked if he could relive one day, which would it be. “The day I married Carol,” he said. “She has been very good to me.”

In later years when Cedric’s health began to deteriorate, Carol became his caretaker and protector. She said that despite his ailments he never lost his trademark humor.

In fact, humor has been a main component of Cedric’s life, and for many years he was the most sought-after MC in Montserrat. He hosted queen shows, church events, school concerts and much more. He was a consummate showman, often dressing in polyester suits and bright colors.

“It got to the point that when I went on stage people would start laughing before I even opened my mouth,” he once said.

His community service reads like a dream curriculum vitae: Member of Boy Scouts; president of Montserrat Jaycees; founding member and twice president of Montserrat Rotary Club (District 7030); chairman of Montserrat Building Society; Life Member and Board Member of Montserrat National Trust; director of Montserrat Electricity Services; member of Montserrat Chamber of Commerce. He was also a staunch member of the Catholic Church, Chairman of the church’s Finance and Building Committee and Eucharistic Minister for more than 30 years.

“I think my journey of volunteerism stems from my upbringing and my Christian background,” he once said.

TRUE MONTSERRATIAN

A standing-room-only crowd of more than 300 packed the St. Patrick’s church to bid goodbye to Osborne. The mourners traveled from around the Caribbean, the United States and England. They included Osborne’s sister Kathleen and her family from Trinidad, his sister Veda’s family from St. Lucia, cousins from Dominica and Antigua, and longtime friends such as Pam and Percy Arthurton, who live in Antigua.

Osborne’s casket was draped with the Montserrat madras, and during the eulogy Arthurton revealed an interesting fact about Osborne’s fidelity to his home country.

“He never attained another passport other than a Montserrat passport, even though he married an American citizen and Auntie Carol was the U.S. Embassy representative in Montserrat,” he said.

The man who delivered a lifetime of service to Montserrat was reciprocated with a sterling homegoing service. For the final time, he hosted a captive audience. And just like his days as Master of Ceremonies there was applause, laughter and an abundance of love. Cedric Osborne, who once managed a luxury hotel, now resides in the Upper Room.

Famous employees

Prominent Montserratians who worked at Vue Pointe:

Reuben T. Meade, two-time Premier

Tappy Morgan, chef

Joseph "JD" Williams, chef, baker & caterer

Winston "Young Warrior" Christopher, calypso king

Basil Morgan, cricket umpire

Jerry Jarvis, evangelist

Ishmael "Cutter" Skerritt, calypso king

Wilston "Pickett" Johnson, businessman