George Ernest Beausire Barnard (my grandfather)

Copied from a news article (partially damaged) and written in 1914.

The Opening of the Choiseul Bridge

"The Government's regular routine for building a bridge each year over one of the principal thoroughfares crossed by a river, brought the Hon. Colonial Engineer and his attendants to Choiseul during the latter part of the last year.
Work was actually commenced in February this year, during the last days of Mr. Cameron's administration, and the long drought made it ideal weather for the acceleration of such work. The river being all the time at its lowest, the job occupying a little over three months from beginning to end.
When the completion of the bridge was within sight, it was thought that its opening should be marked as a special event, and a few gentlemen of the District, representing the community of Choiseul, formed themselves into a committee to solicit pecuniary assistance from the general public, wherewith to hold various athletic sports and to ask his Excellency...Governor*, to perform the ceremony of opening the bridge to the public on Empire Day. Subscriptions were sent to our friends in Castries, Soufriere and Laborie; and the idea at once appealed to all as being a suitable way of manifesting loyalty to the Government for any progressive steps toward the general welfare of the island.
Empire Day opened in all its brilliance and crowds of expectant pleasure seekers could be seen wending their way to one common centre - Choiseul Village. Bands of ragtime music began to parade the streets at an early hour to which crowds of elated admirers flocked and tried to keep time in the dance of some of the most popular airs. The Hon Colonial Engineer kindly lent the Promoting Committee a number of flags etc. wherewith to decorate the bridge. An arch was formed , stretched along the bridge’s length on each side, and streamers of the Union Jack floated over all, and gave the beautiful structure a still more beautiful appearance.
At about 10 a.m. Mr. George Barnard** was seen to be approaching the village in his motor car; and this spectacle now drew the feelings of the great crowd to boiling pitch, and when this popular gentleman entered the village he was welcomed with quite an ovation." (rest of article lost)

*William Douglas
**George Barnard helped in the design of the bridge, according to family legend ! He was somewhat of an inventor and had several items patented with the UK Patent Office.