It is with deep regret that 'Wirebird' records the death of the Honourable H. W. Solomon, C.B.E., who passed away in hospital on the 30th October, at the age of 83 years.

Homfray Welby Solomon, Cornmander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, was born in St. Helena on the 3rd April, 1877.  A grandson  of  Bishop  Welby,  2nd Bishop of this Diocese, Mr. Solomon gave his life-long service to St. Helena in business, administration and sport and not only for these reasons but for many others as well, he will long be remembered here as well as by many friends abroad.

He spent his early boyhood in St Helena and then went overseas to be educated in both England and Belgium.  In 1903, having completed his education, he returned to the place of his birth to take over the management of his family's business which had for many years past become the well established firm of Solomon & Company Limited, which he managed for the remainder, of his active life.  This firm was founded by Mr, Solomon's great-grandfather towards the end of the eighteenth century.

In 1929 he was appointed an Officer of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire and later in 1952 he was honoured with the appointment of Commander of the same Order.

Other aspects of his public life saw him as Honorary Consul of Norway, Denmark and the Netherlands. These foreign countries recognised his valuable voluntary service to them, for in 1930 he was appointed a Chevalier of the Order of St. Olav; in 1931 a Chevalier of the Order of Danneborg and his last foreign award came in 1952 when he was made an Officer of the Order of Orange Nassau.

In sport, especially cricket, one cannot see how the name of Homfray Solomon will ever be forgotten.  It was in 1903 when he returned to the Island, that he founded the St. Helena Cricket League which later developed into the St. Helena Cricket Association of which he was President until the time of his death.  In this field he took an active interest and was a great inspiration to all those who had the pleasure of taking King Willow to the wicket.  At one time at the beginning of the league, the teams taking part were made up chiefly of his firm's employees.  He himself led the Farm Lodge team and a glance through the records has shown that more than once he topped the batting averages for his team and as a bowler he was one who batsmen feared and were forced to treat his deliveries with the utmost respect. The cricket bat was not his only sporting tool; with the tennis racket he was a difficult opponent to defeat.

In cooler surroundings, he also found great pleasure. Earlier on when he resided in Jamestown he regularly indulged in the benefits of an early morning swim in the ocean, which he always thoroughly enjoyed, and what a strong swimmer he was!

There were Royal occasions at which he has also been a prominent figure for at the Coronation of the late King George VI and that of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, he represented St. Helena.

It is an apt description of Mr. Solomon to say he was the Father of Motor Transport on St. Helena. This feeling is confirmed by the late Dr. Philip Gosse who in his hook "St. Helena 1502-1938", said this: "The following year, 1929, St. Helena's leading and most enterprising inhabitant, the Hon. H. W. Solomon, O.B.E.  imported  an Austin  Seven, the first motor vehicle to run on the Island roads".

This was 31 years ago and yet his first motor still lives on although it has changed hands several times since it was owned by Mr. Solomon.  It must have been a great joy to him to see what his introduction of motor transport means for St. Helena today. From his purse he was a cheerful and generous giver. Looking through the records one hardly finds a list of subscribers without the name of H.W. Solomon appearing in it.  His. biggest known gift was  that of £ 10,000  which marked the founding of the "Solomon Trust Fund" instituted by him to assist the poor and needy of the Island.

Space will not allow us to record all of his generosity but we cannot omit the Lych Gate at St. Paul's Cathedral which was erected with funds provided by this grandson of the 2nd Bishop of St. Helena.

Even at this length we have failed to record all that Mr. Solomon has done and we ask to be excused for the omissions but let us conclude by saying that with the passing of Homfray Solomon, St. Helena has lost a great friend - never to be forgotten for he has left us many landmarks.