Sir. Arleigh Winston Scott | Epsilon Sigma Chapter

Sir. Arleigh Winston Scott was born on March 27, 1900 to Walter and Edith Scott who resided in My Lord’s Hill, St. Michael, walking distance from his future destiny, Government House. His educational foundation began at St. Giles Boys’ School, after which he attended both Lynch’s Secondary School and Harrison College, where he was awarded a scholarship and excelled in the 3As: Academics, Athletics and the Arts. He sat the Island Scholarship Exams while in Sixth Form at Harrison College, where he was a member of the rowing and swimming club as well as captain of the school’s Football Eleven. In addition, he joined the school’s Glee Club, where he demonstrated his passion for music by singing bass and playing the piano.

In his pursuit of a medical career, he attended Howard University in Washington D.C., where he received a Bachelor of Science degree in 1921 and graduated as a Doctor of Medicine in 1925. While there, he became a brother of the Epsilon Sigma Chapter of the Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity which was founded on the premise of Brotherhood, Scholarship and Service. He later entered Edinburgh University in Scotland, where he undertook his Licentiate of the Royal College of Physicians, Licentiate of the Royal College of Surgeons and was later awarded his Licentiate of the Royal Faculty of Physicians and Surgeons from Glasgow University. He parlayed his educational training into an illustrious career in the medical field. To this end, he went into practice while in London for a period of eighteen months. Afterwards, he returned to the United States where he established a General Practice in New York and became a visiting ophthalmic surgeon at Harlem Hospital for the next eight years. At the same time, he continued to improve himself by pursuing a Bachelor of Medicine and Surgery degree; which he completed in 1931. Equipped with additional training in ophthalmology, ear, nose and throat medicine, he returned to Barbados in 1934 and established his private practice initially at Rayburn, his childhood home in My Lord’s Hill. He later opened a clinic in 1943 at his private residence, the former Hynam family home, in Woodside, Bay Street, which he operated until his appointment to High Office. This clinic was dedicated to the memory of his beloved mother and was aptly named the Edith Scott Memorial Hospital; it was later renamed the Woodside Memorial Clinic. During this time, he took two post graduate courses, first at Charing Cross Hospital in 1937, and later, Moorfield Hospital in 1950.

Around the mid-1930s, he married Ms. Rosita May Hynam and together they raised three daughters: Pamela, Gloria and Angela and became regular worshippers at James Street Methodist Church. He was a deeply religious man and a devout churchgoer with a voracious appetite for reading which added to his vast wealth of knowledge. Given his affable and hospitable nature, he availed himself to all cross-sections of Barbadian society by opening his private home to parties for people of all colours, classes and creeds. Likewise, Woodside was lent for fairs and other functions which supported various charitable causes due to the socially conscious nature of both Scott and his wife. One such event was the annual Woodside Christmas Fair for the needy which was sponsored by the Scotts. Being community minded, he gave free services to the Children’s Goodwill League and frequently lectured on public health. Moreover, he occasionally taught hygiene to students at primary schools in the Bridgetown environs and gave annual check-ups to pupils of Combermere School.

Scott began his political career as a Senator in 1964; in that capacity he attended the General Council of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association, where he represented Barbados in New Zealand and Canada in 1965 and 1966 respectively. He was appointed to the Privy Council of Barbados in 1966. Following this, he was designated to the post of Governor General in 1967 on the recommendation of the Prime Minister, to replace Sir John Stow, whose term of office expired six months after Independence in 1966. Accordingly, he was awarded the Knight Grand Cross of the Order of St. Michael and St. George by Her Majesty the Queen. He also received an honorary degree from his alma mater, Howard University in 1972. During his term in office, he suffered a heart attack which led to his hospitalization; however, his keen sense of duty saw him returning to office a few months later. Unfortunately, he was unable to complete the remainder of his tenure.

Sir Winston Scott, Doctor of Medicine, Knight Grand Cross of the Order of St. Michael and St. George, Knight Grand Cross of the Royal Victorian Order, who was inaugurated as Barbados’ first native Governor General on May 18, 1967, remained in office until his sudden death, shortly before noon, on August 9, 1976 at age 74. He was the second Head of State of Barbados to have died while in office and up to that present time, the sixteenth Head of Administration throughout Barbados’ 351 year history. His body lay in state at Government House, his official residence, until his burial on August 14, 1976 at Westbury Cemetery following a service at James Street Methodist Church.

Scott was a humble man from humble beginnings who won the respect, affection and admiration of many Barbadians by his quiet dignity, charm and devotion to his duties. He lived a life of dedicated service to his fellowman through the provision of medical services and social programmes. He was duly rewarded for his conscientious nature by his appointment to the highest office in the land, that of Governor General. He was honoured posthumously when the Ladymeade Polyclinic in Jemmott’s Lane was renamed the Sir Winston Scott Polyclinic. Furthermore, the Central Bank of Barbados instituted the Sir Winston Scott Memorial Lecture Series in 1976 to honour the memory of Barbados’ first native Governor General and at the same time, to celebrate the country’s independence.

Scott transitioned to the Omega Chapter on Monday, August 9, 1976 in Bridgetown, Barbados.