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On Sunday 15th December 2024 friends gathered in Cayman to celebrate the life and numerous achievements of Bobby Nunes, well known for his extensive work sport including Cayman’s participation in the Olympics but lesser known for his real estate ventures, particularly in the Turks & Caicos Islands, where our Chairman worked extensively with him over many years.

Shared below in Martyn’s light hearted tribute to Mas Bobby.

TRIBUTE TO ROBERT HENRY HOUSTON NUNES MAS BOBBY

My words which follow have been directed by Sean Hughs who in the preface to this programme stated “ I know how boring funerals can be” and so-----

Rooms have been reserved for all of you at Marriott and Kimpton, as for me to take the appropriate time to reflect on Bobby’s life is going to take some time-in fact a little like answering the phone when Bobby was calling you!

The exact date I met Bobby is a little hazy (“perhaps due to the application of numerous rum and cokes”) but it was definitely in 1969 shortly after my arrival in Jamaica from UK, at one of his parties at his house in Kingston, which if I recall correctly was on Seaview Avenue, and as I had not formally been invited, and as a nervous young Englishman newly arrived in Jamaica, politely introduced myself to the host-“thank you Mr Nunes for your hospitality” to which Bobby replied “what is your name “ – “Martyn Bould” says I, “ and to which Bobby replied “ the bold Mr Bould-let me introduce you to some Chicks” Bobby’s politically incorrect classification for the fairer sex at the time, and which during the course of his life would become subject to further sub-classification-baby, grannie etc.

What appeared a serendipitous chance meeting has blessed my life in the Cayman Islands and the Caribbean for the past 55 plus years, as the same year, 1969 I was sent to the Cayman Islands and travelled backwards and forwards between Jamaica and Cayman during the period “Joshua”, Michael Manley, swept to power in 1972 with his “rod of correction” and Jamaica suffered economic decline and Cayman prospered.

Bobby’s connection with Cayman was long standing as the more observant amongst you who studied the Compass this week will note his third Christian name was “Houston”, named after his grandfather Hugh Houston Hutchins, who was Commissioner of the Cayman Islands for 10 years from 1919 to 1929.

From a subsequent speaker you will hear of Bobby’s education at Dulwich followed by Cambridge and a degree in law. What hasn’t been mentioned is the reason and timing of Bobby’s dispatch to Dulwich which was his request whilst lying on the bed demanding that nanny take off his shoes and socks for him – Bobby’s mother Aline, more affectionately known simply as “Ma” said “time for boarding school!”

From other speakers you have heard of Bobby’s father Karl’s contribution to cricket, and Bobby’s love of that sport, as well as cycling and Bobby’s contribution to the Olympics for Caymanians. What has not been mentioned is Bobby’s Tri Tennis ranking system, on which Bobby spent many hours and not inconsiderable funding to develop a better system to enable players of different skills to play excitingly and evenly -I am not convinced that Bobby secretly wished to apply this ranking system to his many lady friends!

But I would like to focus on Bobby’s interest in real estate, fueled by father Karl’s interest in San San in Port Antonio, developed in the fabulous fifties in Jamaica, with Port Antonio hosting Errol Flynn, Ian Flemming and Noel Coward, amongst others and buyers at San San included Baron von Thyssen and Prince Sadruddin, the Aga Khan. Throughout his life Bobby befriended an amazing range of personalities, both rich and poor.

I opened an office in Turks and Caicos in 1974 and through Bobby’s extensive network of friends, coupled with the fact that Ma was born there, led to Bobby and I working on a number of projects including a hotel on Grace Bay Beach, land in North Caicos, a supermarket in Providenciales and assistance with Bobby’s brother in law, Jacques Scott, Hawkes Bay subdivision in Grand Turk.

Seeking finance for all these projects led us on a journey through the Caribbean, USA and UK. We got very close to finalizing some of these deals, but it was almost as if Bobby relished the chase more than the kill.

I fondly recall a meeting with George Walker at his office in Knightsbridge, to whom we had been referred as a source of funding given that he was the developer, of a resort in the south of England. We walked into his office and were somewhat taken aback by the photos of a well proportioned boxer on the wall-Billy Walker was a heavyweight champion and his manager was brother George. We presented our comprehensive business plan and after extensive discussion George said “OK I will fund it subject to certain conditions”-at which point Bobby immediately started to backpedal.

connection to banking is even less well known-- Turks and Caicos was for many years dependent on the salt industry led by Bermudians and due to the Hutchins connection with Bermuda, Bobby was well known there, which would lead to Bobby to influence the Bank of Butterfield to open a branch in Cayman, which they did, and which has flourished since.

As I have said, the number of people Bobby knew well all around the world was astonishing, well-illustrated in late October 1989 when I received a call from a friend Jean Louis de Gunzburg asking if Vivian and I would entertain Andrew Howland, and asking that we keep the fact that he was Lord Howland, grandson of the Dule of Bedford and heir to Woburn Abbey, under wraps-to which we replied we would be delighted. We duly invited Andrew to drinks at #26 Plantana to meet our friends- Andrew was really enjoying himself and was an easy going fun guy, so we asked if he would like to join us the next day, Saturday, for a BBQ on the beach, as a precursor to the Pirates Week landing downtown, later the same day. He was delighted and joined us along with many other guests, one of whom was Bobby to whom we introduced Andrew. For reasons of which I am not sure, Bobby opened his conversation with Andrew about horse racing stables (and stated he was, both the youngest and the oldest racehorse owner in Jamaica) and Andrew replied stating he was in charge of the Tavistock stables. Bobby then looked at Andrew said you must know Lady Henrietta Tiarks who I met at her “coming out” ball in 1952-Andrew replied “Henrietta is my mother”-so much for keeping it “low Key”!!! This is yet another example of Bobby being in the know.

Bobby was a great socializer and spent many hours at our homes entertaining all who sat at our table with stories of his life and the people he had met. Sadly, in later years we would invite him for dinner, and he would at the last minute decline claiming illness, but always noting that this was the Nth invitation he had turned down! -maybe that is why we got on so well with my profession as a quantity surveyor and with Bobby’s love of counting and ranking. I will only mention the “list” in passing leaving its contents up to your imagination!

As I stated at the beginning, I could go on for a long time, with the above only barely scratching the surface of the last fifty-five years, but I will leave you in peace as Vivian and I, so leave Bobby.

A truly unique character, full of impish fun, generosity and knowledge-Bobby you have certainly left the world in a much better place than when you found it, to the benefit of many from every walk of life.

Walk good Bobby and a true Rasta greeting to you,

Peace and Love Martyn & Vivian