Cecil Francis de Caires died recently in Barbados. Born in Guyana in 1917, he took over the family business, Francis de Caires & Company Limited, in 1951 after the death of his father. He also managed the business of North American Life Insurance until 1962 when he emigrated to Barbados.

While in Guyana de Caires had started a programme for the education of the handicapped which was later developed into the David Rose School for the Handicapped. He founded the Lions in Guyana in 1960 and was the Charter President of the Georgetown Lions Club.

In Barbados, after running North American Life for several years he decided to form his own Insurance Company, Life of Barbados, in 1971. That company later grew into a large and successful insurance company.

It was recently acquired by the Barbados Mutual Life Assurance Society, now Sagicor.

De Caires played a pivotal role in the establishment of The Barbados Association of Mentally Retarded Children and was president from 1969 to 1973.

He was also instrumental in founding the Thelma Vaughan Memorial Home for Physically Handicapped Children in Barbados and was its first chairman in 1973.

On November 30, 1995, de Caires was awarded the Companion of Honour of Barbados (CHB), that country’s second highest accolade, awarded for distinguished national achievement and merit.

De Caires was a sportsman and represented British Guiana in hockey during 1945 to 1953.

He played tennis, cricket and football and managed the West Indies cricket team to England in 1957.

He served on The West Indies Cricket Board of Control and performed the duties of a Selector.

He leaves his wife Thelma and two sons, Geoffrey and Ian.