Caymanians Loxley E M Banks and Frances McConvey will be presented with medals by Governor Jane Owen at the official celebrations of the King’s Birthday on 23 June.
Also to be recognized is the family of the late Morgan DaCosta.
The presentation of honours will follow a special parade set to take place outside Government House on West Bay Road at 8am.
Both Banks and McConvey were awarded 2025 New Year’s Honours by His Majesty the King for outstanding service to the Cayman Islands.
McConvey, subject leader of music at John Gray High School and a teacher for more than four decades, received a British Empire Medal for “services to music education in the Cayman Islands.” In a prior interview with the Compass, she referred to the honour as “an award for all teachers” and “a nice surprise”.
Banks, the former director of broadcasting at Radio Cayman whose broadcasting career spans more than 60 years, was made a Member of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire for “services to broadcasting in the Cayman Islands”. Banks, who was interviewed by the Compass in January, said that he was happy to be recognised for his contributions “while I am still standing”.
“It gives me some adulation, some degree of joy to know that at least the community recognises what I have contributed”, he said.
The late Morgan DaCosta, who passed away on 29 September 2024, was awarded the King’s Certificate and Badge of Honour in 2024 for “service to cultural preservation and development.” At the time, DaCosta – a passionate advocate for local arts and culture and long-serving board member of the Cayman National Cultural Foundation – told the Compass that the recognition was “obviously, quite the honour.”
“I was just simply doing what I believe was for the love of country more than anything else and the preservation and perpetuation of the Cayman Islands culture, through the Cayman Islands National Cultural Foundation,” he said.
The New Year Honours and the King’s Birthday Honours list are the United Kingdom’s most significant announcements of civilian and military gallantry awards. There were no Caymanians recognised on this year’s King’s Birthday Honours list, which was published in a supplement of the Gazette – the official newspaper of the Crown – on 13 June.
The honours system recognises people for their achievements in public life, commitment to serving the Cayman Islands and outstanding contributions that have improved the lives of others. Honourees are recognised for achievements such as long-term volunteerism, improving the reputation of the Cayman Islands, making a difference to their community or profession, innovation, entrepreneurship, improving the lives of the vulnerable and displaying moral courage.
Said Governor Jane Owen via social media: “I look forward to the King’s Birthday Parade on 23 June, including the presentation of honours – an opportunity to recognise exceptional individuals who have served our Islands with distinction.”
The King’s Birthday event will be broadcast live on CIGTV and Cayman Islands Government YouTube channel. The public is also invited to attend.
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