Former Governor Martyn Roper’s name will soon officially adorn the street leading to the new Government Administration complex on Cayman Brac, an honour he says he holds dear.
Roper, who served for four-and-a-half years as the representative of the Crown in Cayman, left the island one year ago and, as a parting gift, the Cayman Brac road was to be dedicated in his name as Martyn Roper’s Way.
One year later, the road is set to be officially commissioned on Cayman Brac this month.
“When we departed Cayman I was greatly touched and honoured that a road was named after me in Cayman Brac. We have so many fond memories of Cayman and our numerous visits to see the wonderful communities in the Sister Islands,” Roper told the Cayman Compass via email from London ahead of the renaming of the road.
The Sister Islands renamed the road to pay homage to his commitment to the Cayman Islands.
The Compass understands the sign for the road will be installed shortly, after having arrived on the Brac only recently.
Return to Cayman in the cards
He said since leaving Cayman over a year ago, both he and his wife Lissie have settled back well into the UK.
“We are enjoying seeing more of our family. I am keeping fit and ran a half marathon for the first time in Bath last month. Lissie has joined a local orchestra,” he said.
Roper said he and his family “continue to wish the very best for the people all across the Islands”.
He said he is looking forward to making a return trip to the Cayman and the Brac.
“We hope to visit at some point this year. One possibility is to run my second half marathon in Cayman in December, when we also hope to spend a few days in Cayman Brac,” he said, adding, “Members of our excellent Coast Guard became running buddies during my time as Governor. If they want to join me on a half marathon, they are very welcome.”
New role
It’s not been all leisure for the retired diplomat and former governor since he left the Islands, though.
He recently started a job as senior adviser at strategic communications consultancy firm Kreab Worldwide.
Roper, who left the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office in 2023 after 38 years in the diplomatic service, was one of three senior appointments made at the firm’s London office earlier this month.
According to a press release on the appointment, Roper “will help clients navigate the evolving geopolitical landscape”.
He told the Compass that in addition to his “part-time consultancy work my first appointment is as a Senior Adviser with Kreab, a global communications and reputation management company. I have [also] begun some voluntary work for charities as a management consultant with the Cranfield Trust”.
Roper, in the statement announcing his appointment at Kreab, added that he was “keen to support them in providing high-quality advice to clients using the skills and experience I have developed as a former senior diplomat with the UK’s Foreign Office”.
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