The end of an era

A private man with a national reach.

Those words can ably describe Publisher, Owner and Chairman of the Barbados Advocate, Sir Anthony T. Bryan KA, CHB, GCM, JP, who passed away yesterday at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital after a brief illness.

A man who shunned the spotlight, but loved to focus it on others, especially those whom he nurtured within his businesses, Sir Anthony had a gift of identifying talents within individuals and helping them to express those talents in meaningful ways.
Known as a tough but fair businessman, who had a knack for finding the solution to tough situations, Sir Anthony has molded some of this island's top journalists, some of whom are a part of the fraternity, across the island.

Sir Anthony was a man of faith who constantly told staff that it was 'God first, Company second', as a testimony to the character of a man, who took the Barbados Advocate under his wing in 2000 and continued its work as a newspaper of substance.  He continued the work of molding the newspaper into a force within the community for fairness and at all times speaking truth to power.

One of his single highest honours was the attainment of the Knight of St. Andrew, in the Independence honours of 2017, and was then conferred with the title by then new Governor General, Her Excellency Dame Sandra Mason, at Government House in January 2018. That honour was bestowed on him for his outstanding contribution to publishing, broadcasting and business - including International Business - for presenting a positive, balanced credible view of Barbados.

A Barbadian by birth, Sir Anthony was a self-made businessman, who rose from humble beginnings to build a successful media empire, whilst armed with ambition, the drive to boldly venture into new territory and the desire to see his beloved country thrive. Not one to settle for mediocrity nor fazed by failure, he has embarked on numerous daring business ventures and has turned what for some would only be a mere thought or vision into practical reality.

A titan of publishing, his career in this field started in 1972, with the formation of his first publishing company, Crown Caribbean Publications, which released several local and regional magazines.  He also published several books, including academic text books used by the University of the West Indies.

Sir Anthony, always pushing for the next challenge to conquer,  branched out into broadcasting in 1982, forming the Barbados Broadcasting Service Ltd. (BBS 90.7 FM), Barbados’ first privately owned FM stereo radio station and Faith FM 102, the first Christian radio station which was dedicated to religious broadcasting  as a service to the community.

In 2000, he purchased the Barbados Advocate, known as the 105-year “Old Lady” of Fontabelle, which was preceded by his accomplishments in a publication called “Action”.

He was no stranger to recognition, and in 1997, he was appointed as a Justice of the Peace. In 2001, he was awarded the Gold Crown of Merit and in 2016, The Companion of Honour award was bestowed on him for his publishing, broadcasting and business achievements. He received the Knight of St. Andrew honour in 2017. He is also the recipient of the Paul Harris Fellow award, from the Rotary Club of Barbados.

He lost his wife Astoria of 45 years a few years ago and leaves to mourn three sons, Anthony, Alvin and Allan, and five grandchildren.

Rest easy, Sir Anthony, a true light in these troubling times.