Veteran broadcaster and music teacher awarded King’s New Year honours

Former Radio Cayman Locksley broadcasting director E M Banks and Francis McConvey, head of music at John Gray High School, were honored in the King’s 2025 New Year’s Honours.

In a statement Monday evening, Governor Jane Owen announced the local winners of the award.

Banks, 86, was awarded a Most Distinguished Order of the British Empire (MBE) for services to “Broadcasting in the Cayman Islands” and McConvey was awarded a Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (BEM) for services to “Music Education in the Cayman Islands”. “Islands.”

“Sending my warmest congratulations to them both,” Owen said in the short statement.

Banks are talking to Cayman compass He said Tuesday in a phone interview that he was grateful to be recognized for his work “while I’m still standing.”

“A lot of people who contribute a lot never get any accolades in their lives, and when they are put up against the East they don’t know anything about it. That’s one of the thoughts I had… and I appreciate that [it.]He said.

Community recognition

Banks, whose career in radio broadcasting spans 60 years, said he did not expect the award and was grateful for the honor.

“It gives me some adulation, and a certain degree of happiness to know that the community at least acknowledges what I have contributed and is not contributing it in any way looking for accolades, but just doing what I thought was best and right for the community at the time,” he said.

Banks, who is taking a short break from his radio show on Radio Cayman, said he plans to return to the airwaves early in the new year.

The Cayman Broadcasting Corporation has worked for US radio stations, the US Armed Forces Radio and Television Network, and is very active with the local Veterans Association and Seamen’s Association.

“An award for all teachers.”

McConvey speaks with compass She said Tuesday morning that she was honored by the honor, especially for her role as a music teacher.

“It’s definitely a great honor, and I think it’s very nice for someone to get an award, who is just a mentor,” she said, adding that often the people at the top are honored and not the people doing the hard work.

She shares her honor with many teachers on the island who play a crucial role in nurturing future leaders.

“The award is really an award for all teachers. It’s for people who work hard. I’m not the only one who works hard,” she said.

When she first got the call about her award in November, she was sworn to secrecy, she said, adding that this was the third recognition she had received for her work in 41 years of teaching.

“But it was a nice surprise,” she added, adding that she had no problem keeping the secret.

Cayman has a lot of talented musical children, McConvey said.

“It’s very nice and certainly a huge honor to get an award. I think it’s an encouragement to the work that I do with the Cayman Arts Festival and with John Gray’s children and so on. It’s very encouraging to get the award,” she said.

Jonathan Clark, principal of John Gray High School, offered congratulations to McConvey, saying she is “just an outstanding teacher.”

“She is exactly what you would want in a teacher. She cares deeply about all the students in her care. She takes care of the staff, and she has great relationships with her parents. She has a wonderful ability to discover hidden talents in students and then nurture them,” Clark told The New York Times. “. compass Tuesday.

McConvey said it was especially nice to see the music recognized at such a prestigious level.