Mr Horne – The embodiment of courtesy, graciousness, warmth and wit

by Carleen Heather Marshall

“And when great souls die after a period peace blooms slowly and always irregularly. Spaces fill with a kind a soothing electric vibration. Our senses, restored, never to be the same, whisper to us. They existed. They existed. We can be. Be and better. For they existed…” Maya Angelou
Mr Horne, was one such great soul and someone I had always admired from a distance, tall, distinguished looking and with an eloquence of speech that held your attention. In 1998, I was transferred to the Ministry of Trade and it was there I developed a relationship with him that endured after we had both said goodbye to that Ministry, and in his case competitive politics. He was a joy to work with, the embodiment of courtesy, graciousness, warmth and wit.

Each day he strode through the office doors he always found time to exchange pleasantries and enquire about our well being. He trusted me, Leno Gould (his secretary) and the late Sybil Ferdinand with his sensitive matters secure in the knowledge that his trust in us would not be broken. He was fiercely protective of his staff and kept the “would be” abusive constituents who often accused us of “hiding Mr Horne” from them, in check. In his gentle but firm manner he reminded them to always accord us respect or he would not be seeing them.

I remember the day a very irate man came to the office demanding to see Mr. Horne. Mr Horne had gotten him a job but he had been dismissed and wanted Mr. Horne to make a call to his erstwhile employee and right the wrong committed on him. Mr Horne listened to him and calmly said” I got you the job; it’s your duty to keep it. There’s nothing I can do”. That was the mark of the man and the fairness he exhibited.

He made milestones special, academic or otherwise, and always ensured we were suitably rewarded. The celebratory lunches or the random ones when he insisted we link up will never be forgotten. Ever the historian, he regaled us with stories and pictures of St Vincent of yesteryear. His eyes would dance and his body would become animated as he showed us beautiful photographs of a Kingstown we did not know. Although, we never told him we secretly wished we had lived through those times that through his eyes seemed so magical.

On a personal note, he was a good listening ear when I needed to sound off especially when I was undergoing challenges at the workplace. He would say in his inimitable way “Marsh, keep your head up they cannot deny you forever”. He, of course was correct. When I had surgery in 1999, he reassured me everything would be fine and I jokingly told him to make sure and bring me chocolate. Needless to say he delivered in person a box of chocolates which I ate post surgery against the doctor’s instructions.

Rest in Peace Mr Horne, you were one of the sweetest human beings I have had the pleasure of meeting on this side of heaven. Go fly with the angels and may light perpetual shine on your soul.