Download Office of the Premier - Government of Montserrat

Office of the Premier
P.O. Box 292, Government Headquarters, Brades, Montserrat
Tel: (664) 491 3378/3463/2066/2557, Fax: (664) 491 6780/4632
Email: [email protected]
09 March, 2016
PRESS RELEASE ON
DEATH OF SIR GEORGE MARTIN - STATEMENT BY HONOURABLE PREMIER, DONALDSON ROMEO
The people of Montserrat are saddened by the passing of Sir George Martin and wish to extend sincere
condolences to his wife Lady Judy and the entire family.
Sir George’s sterling contribution to Montserrat goes way back to 1979, when he built a state of the art
studio called the Air Studios. Many artiste like Boy George, Elton John, Eric Clapton and Stevie Wonder,
recorded some of the biggest selling albums at the Air Studios in the 80s and played an important role in
showcasing Montserrat to the world.
To those who were around when the volcanic crisis began in 1995, Sir George’s generosity and dedication
were seen when at first, he allowed the offices of the Government of Montserrat to operate from his family
vacation home in Olveston and later permitted the use of his home as a guest house and restaurant, after
the Vue Pointe Hotel was forced to close, due to volcanic activities.
The “Many Happy Returns” concert, which was held in Montserrat to raise funds during the peak of the
volcanic crisis, reiterated Sir George’s love for the island and its people. In addition his donation of the
Montserrat Cultural Centre, an EC10 million dollar infrastructural investment, further concretized his
dedication to the development of music, culture and the arts in Montserrat.
Montserrat mourns the loss of this outstanding ‘born again’ Montserratian by choice, and we intend to
honour his contributions so that the legacy he began, remains evident.