The Tribune

QUEEN’S College has lost one one of its longest serving members on the Board of Governors and one of its most committed supporters with the death of Captain Geoffrey Brown on Monday.

Capt Brown graduated from Queen’s College (QC) in 1944 and was inducted into the QC Hall of Fame in 2008. He joined fellow inductees Rev Charles Sweeting and Sir Durward Knowles and was later followed by Dr Keva Bethel.

For many decades, he supported the development, day-to-day management and success of the school through his membership on the Board of Governors, Board of Trustees and as a Trustee of the Queen’s College Foundation.

Andrea Gibson, the Queen’s College Principal, paid tribute to Capt Brown’s contribution to the school states. “Captain Geoffrey Brown was larger than life itself at Queen’s College, before I began my tenure here and during the years I have served as Principal of Queen’s College,” she said.

“People who knew him well will know that although he was not big in stature, he was a commanding presence when he entered a room. He took QC to heart and adopted the school as a member of his family. He was capable of talking loud and long on campus and off campus, especially about his early years at Queen’s College. He was emotionally committed to the growth and development of Queen’s College.

“Captain Brown took on the building of the auditorium as his individual project. Before the auditorium was built, our graduation ceremonies were held in the High School Quad. The Quad was an open air space and we were often challenged by whatever came our way weather wise.

“It was Captain Brown’s insight, vision and dream to build an auditorium. After each stage of the building had been completed, he would then promise to launch the next stage. Ground was broken for the auditorium in 1982 and through the drive and determination of Captain Brown the auditorium was completed.

“Captain Brown held to his promise to ensure that the Auditorium was fully air-conditioned and this became a reality in 2010. On October 23rd, 2008, the Queen’s College community gathered to officially name the auditorium “The Geoffrey Brown Auditorium.”

The Auditorium stands as a living campus memorial to the man who transformed a grassy space on an open field into a 2,000-seat auditorium. He was also a major donor to the construction of the Early Learning Centre and also provided funding for the Primary School computer lab.

The flags over the auditorium flew at half-mast “in honour of a great Bahamian and a committed member of the Methodist Church, who constantly and generously gave to advance education and make Queen’s College a first class institution for Bahamians from all walks of life to study, grow and develop,” a statement from the College said.

“The Board of Governors owe a debt of gratitude to Captain Brown,” Rev Christopher Neely said. “As Chair of the Board of Governors, and on behalf of the Queen’s College family, we offer our sympathy and prayers to Mrs Janet Brown and the family of the late Captain Geoffrey Brown.

“We value his contributions of time, energy and funding to Queen’s College. We will remember the role he played in the development of the school. At a deeper level we will honour his dedication to and his love of Queen’s College. His commitment to the school has blessed the lives of thousands of Bahamians over many decades who choose to attend Queen’s College.”

Miss Gibson said that the Queen’s College community will celebrate Captain Brown’s legacy and contributions to the school in a Memorial Service in the Auditorium that bears his name. A date and time will be announced and a Book of Condolences will be opened at Queen’s College.