DERRY BAYLEY has been described as “a classic example of the true Barbadian spirit”. Geraldine and Keith Telling, of Brentwood, England, forgot a pair of prescription Maui Jim sunglasses worth US$1 000 on the beach earlier this year.
Bayley, 28, a beach chair operator at Alleyne’s Bay in Mount Standfast, St James, found the sunglasses and waited for just over an hour to see if the owner would return.
Bayley was specially honoured during the Barbados Tourism Product Authority’s (BTPA) Tourism Parade 2015, which climaxed in Independence Square, The City, yesterday.
BTPA chief executive officer Dr Kerry Hall said: “We are proud today to highlight his single act of honesty that has turned the Tellings into Barbados customers for life and honorary Barbadians.”
The Tellings, she said, insisted on being at the parade to recognise Bayley for his act of honesty.
“We are impressed that he waited there, just in case we came back. That is an honest and unselfish act,” said Keith.
A shy and reserved Bayley said: “This is nothing new for me; it is something normal and something I do on a regular basis. I am glad we were recognised for it after all the bad things they say about young people.”
When asked if he had any idea of the value of the shades, he replied: “Expensive or not, they did not catch my eye. I just knew they belonged to someone and I wanted to return them.” (RA)
