National Hero of Barbados - Sir Hugh Worrell Springer, G.C.V.O.,K.A., C.B.E., O.B.E.
Dedicated to Making a Difference!
1913 - 1994

Often recalled as one of the greatest Barbadians of all time… Hugh Worrell Springer was a gem of a human being, talented, generous and a man of the people.

An educated gentleman, Sir Hugh gave of himself each day of his life.  He was an educator, a politician and a leader of organized labour, served in parliament, and was a member of the House of Assembly.  His highest acclaim is that of being appointed Head of State.

Sir Hugh held the position of the first General Secretary of the Barbados Workers’ Union  during the period 1940 to 1947, General Secretary of the Barbados Labour Party, Acting Governor and Commander-in-Chief of Barbados,  he served as Director of the Commonwealth Education Liaison Unit, Commonwealth Assistant Secretary-General and Secretary-General of the Association of Commonwealth Universities!  An unbelievable amount of public service for one person, Sir Hugh was a man who can only be described as dedicated to making a difference.

In 1946, the Barbados Progressive League-Congress Party coalition appointed Sir Hugh to be responsible for Education, Legal Departments, Agriculture and Fisheries.  In 1947, seeing the need for regional assistance he resigned from the League and the Union in order to accept the position of Registrar of the University College of the West Indies at Mona Jamaica.

For further information on Sir Hugh Springer’s work, please consult regional publications such as:

Caribbean Quarterly 
Pelican Annual 
Torch 
RSA Journal 
Universities Quarterly 
F.A. Hoyos’ book The Story of the Progressive Movement 
This beloved Governor-General was laid to rest in 1994 and was survived by his wife Dorothy, their three sons and one daughter.