|
|
|
Last Updated: Dec 29, 2011 - 2:18:31 AM |
The Scout Association of The Bahamas was saddened to learn of the passing of one of the stalwarts of the Movement in the person of Mr. Cyril Raymond Baily. Mr. Baily was extremely active in the local Movement back in the early 1960s when he worked as an Accountant with the firm of Price Waterhouse.
Cyril Baily’s life in Scouting began when he joined the Cub-Scouts of the 7th Aintree Pack in Liverpool, England and he progressed through the ranks, becoming a young Leader himself. In 1962, he was assigned to The Bahamas by Price Waterhouse and immediately continued his work with the Boy Scouts. His life revolved around basically two themes which were assisting young people and service to his community. Ideally, the Scout Movement permitted him to pursue both of his passions simultaneously.
Upon his arrival in Nassau, he immediately joined the congregation of Ebenezer Methodist Church, where the 1st Bahamas Sea Scouts were attached and Mr. Baily, as a matter of course, offered his assistance to the leaders of this group. He subsequently went on to serve as Commissioner for Cub-Scouts in The Bahamas and was instrumental in the growth and development of this uniformed youth organization during his time here.
With a passion for learning and a zeal for helping others, Mr. Baily knew that it was crucial to the future growth and success of the Movement to have scout leaders trained and qualified so to this end he played a vital role in the recruitment and training of several Bahamians who eventually became executives of the Scout Movement in this country. When the initial Wood Badge Training Courses were held in New Providence and Grand Bahama, Mr. Baily played a pivotal role and a lot of what was instilled in the participants back then are still being taught today. This level of training is necessary for the local Movement to acquire and maintain recognized international standards set by the World Bureau of Scouting.
In addition to his drive and his enthusiasm, he had a knack for going above and beyond the call of duty and he was fervent in his belief that he should always give his best. This was evident in every facet of his life but was never more vividly demonstrated than with his work with our nation’s youth. With this sort of work ethic it was not difficult for him to teach important life lessons to the young men under his charge and supervision. A man of courage, he thought nothing of standing up for what was right, sometimes in the face of ridicule and opposition.
Another area in which he greatly assisted was with the development of the National Campsite. The Scout Association acquired a tract of land in the vicinity of Adlaide Village but this land had to be cleared and made suitable for boys to spend the weekends ‘under canvas’. Mr. Baily made this a personal passion and spent countless hours making the area suitable for camping. Realizing the necessity of compiling and documenting information, he is also credited with publishing the first edition of the booklet “The History of Scouting in The Bahamas.”
His tenure in the country was brief and after only three years he was reassigned to the United Kingdom and as was his nature, he instantly became involved in Scouting. This time, he was active in the town of Kirby which was a new housing development created for persons who had been living in the slum areas of Liverpool. He eventually rose to the position of District Commissioner in an area with high unemployment, crime and despair yet he was able to motivate the boys and young men through his efforts and involvement with Scouting, giving them hope and a reason for living.
His interest and determination were rewarded when he was presented with Scouting’s “Award of Merit” in recognition of his service to Scouting, and when the district was fully re-organized, he was honoured to receive the district flag for the town of Kirby. And even without a single musical bone in his body, he was able to at least beat a bass drum sufficiently to keep his troops at a marching pace during parades.
After a stellar “career” in the Scout Movement, Cyril Baily became involved in Local Government, serving as Parish Councilor in several districts both in and around Liverpool in the north, as well as the communities near Surrey in the southern part of England, where he had relocated with his family. He brought the same passion and determination to that career as he did with his primary profession and youth work. He was involved in several projects and committees including work with the local hospital; school boards; finance committees; policing; recreational programmes; local businesses and several aspects of community relationships. He was presented with the national award for outstanding service by a non-executive in the area of “Public Finance”.
Many persons in The Bahamas, from the Methodist Church, the Scout Association and the field of Accounting will hold very fond memories of Mr. Cyril Raymond Baily, including Past Chief Scout Commissioner & Mrs. William Pemberton; Late Commissioner Mr. Maceo Coakley and his widow, Mizpah and the family of Mr. Basil Sands who was assisted by Mr. Baily in preparation for his studies in Accounting and whose children had the opportunity to reinforce this relationship when they attended school in England with Mr. Baily’s daughters.
Having particularly fond memories is his former colleague, associate, Brother Scout and family friend, Mr. T. Maitland Cates. In commenting on their relationship, Mr. Cates described Mr. Baily as “…a great man, an exceptional father to his four daughters, a good friend and an excellent Scout. He will be missed.” The Baily family still holds fond memories of their time in The Bahamas and expressed their gratitude for the many messages of condolences that they have received from friends “in the Islands”.
Mr. Cyril Raymond Baily passed away on February 16, 2011 at the age of 73 years after a relatively short period of illness. He is survived by his wife, Joyce, four daughters and five grand children. The Worldwide Brotherhood of Scouts has a saying that when one of their own dies, that individual has been “…called to a higher service”. The Scout Association of The Bahamas extends its most profound sympathy and condolences to the family and friends of the late Cyril Raymond Baily.
MAY HIS SOUL REST IN PEACE.
© Copyright 2011 by thebahamasweekly.com
Top of Page
|
|
|
|
