Cedric Osborne (third from left) after his investiture
Prominent business man Cedric Rawnsley Osborne was decorated at an investiture ceremony on December 30, 2013 at Government house with the most excellent Order of the British Empire (OBE), announced for Her Majesty the Queen’s Birthday Honours.
Mr. Osborne who has been awarded the OBE for his services to the Business community in Montserrat, received the medal from His Excellency Governor Adrian Davis, in the witness of friends and family. He was awarded the MBE in thirty years ago in 1983 for his contribution to culture and community.
His Excellency the Governor read the citation speaking to the award which recognizes Mr. Osborne’s contribution in rebuilding the business sector in Montserrat especially post volcano, carrying on his public service to benefit Montserrat in the fields of business, industry and commerce.
The Governor, continued the citation: “He served the Montserrat Chambers of Commerce and industry as a member for thirty eight years, as director of Montserrat electricity services for twenty two years and Montserrat national trust the president and director for twenty years, as chairman of the public service commission on several occasions and is a founding member of the Montserrat hospitality association and is chairman of the board of directors of the Montserrat building society, the majority of these positions were unpaid.
Within the latter position as director and as chairman of the Montserrat building society, Mr. Osborne in the face of the volcanic crisis and destruction of the assets of the Building Society through volcanic activity succeeded in saving all the funds for share holders in the society, this was despite some 90% of the island’s properties having been destroyed by volcanic activity.
As manager of M S Osborne Cedric brought stability back to the business sector by showing commitment of Montserrat’s future, he rebuilt the company when the majority of his assets were destroyed by the volcano and as such he became a role model for Montserrat’s business sector. The confidence he generated reverberated throughout the business community. He recently retired from the company leaving behind a once again thriving business.
He actively supports the Montserrat red cross, the Dare program (a drug education project) and as chairman of the Finance Committee of the Roman Catholic church, where he is also a Eucharistic minister. Mr. Osborne is also a live-long active member of the rotary club being one of its founding members and has served on a number of occasions as its president. He has been a Rotary Paul Harris Fellow in the past.
The Governor commended his wife Carol as he addressed the honoree. “It has often been said, ‘behind every successful man stands a rather disbelieving woman’ and it would be of course unfair of me to give all the credit to Cedric because Carol has supported you in your partnership in Montserrat for many years, and I see the two of you as an indivisible couple. And, the other thing as we’re talking about you as a pair of the community and raising moral, I think your infectious laugh which we’ve all heard many times, is something that raises moral in the community. If for nothing else, I think you deserve it for that.”
