LAST WEEK, the Works and Services Department bade farewell to Arthur Thomas, better known as Sonny Bo, as he left on the RMS St Helena, along with his wife Linda, after many years of employment here on Ascension.

In the days prior to Sonny Bo’s departure there were a series of farewell parties, including a drinks party in the Council Chamber on Wednesday 17th September.  On this occasion, Sonny was presented with a gift from the Ascension Island Government and the Administrator Michael Hill gave a speech in his honour.  Below is an extract from his speech:

“Some forty four years ago, on the 14 May 1964, Sonny Bo (at the age of 19 years) arrived on Ascension to take up employment, as a labourer, with an organisation by the name of MPBW (the Ministry of Public Buildings & Works). Sonny Bo worked for MPBW until it was replaced by DoE (Department of the Environment) in the early 1970’s; he was taken on by DoE as an electrician, a job that he had received training in whilst employed with MPBW.

“Sonny Bo’s working time with MPBW, and later DoE, was largely spent in assisting with the construction of the power station at North East Bay and the larger part of Two Boats Village. All of this construction work was being carried out for the BBC in support of its South Atlantic Relay Station. In the mid 1970’s DoE was replaced by PSA (the Property Services Agency); Sonny Bo continued working for this organisation but now in an enhanced capacity as a Foreman Electrician.

“When PSA left Ascension in 1977, Sonny Bo went to work for Cable & Wireless as an electrician; however he spent only a short period of one year with this company and then moved on to employment with the BBC in 1978 as an Electrician’s Mate. He did not remain in this position for very long, as the BBC having recognised his potential, appointed him to the position of electrician.

“Sonny Bo worked as an electrician for the BBC for approximately fifteen years, before moving on to work with the newly formed AIS (Ascension Island Services) in March 1993, in their Refrigeration, Air-conditioning and Electrical Section, as a Foreman Electrician. In July 1993, a report from Sonny Bo’s line manager stated ‘Mr Thomas is co-operative, industrious and courteous and has the ability to exercise initiative and responsibility’. I am sure that the words contained in this statement were very relevant throughout Sonny Bo’s working life on Ascension.

“Sonny Bo’s career progressed with AIS and ‘as a result of his achievements in ensuring the efficient management of the services provided by the M&E Section’ (quotation from Roy Drinkwater) he ended up being appointed to the position of M & E Section Leader.

“When the Ascension Island Works and Services Agency took over from AIS, Sonny Bo continued in his employment as M & E Section Leader. When AIG was created his title was changed to M & E Foreman, he continued to hold that position up until last year, when the restructuring and renaming of his section dictated that his title be changed to Building Services Foreman. It is from this position within AIG that Sonny Bo has now retired.

“To conclude, I would like to thank Sonny Bo for the forty four plus years of dedicated and exemplary service that he has put in on the Island, and more especially with the Ascension Island Government, and to wish him, his wife Linda and Alex all the very best on behalf of all of us. We really hope you have a long, safe and happy retirement. Good luck, and let us all now raise our glasses to Sonny Bo!”

Works Office Supervisor
For Human Resources Manager and
Director of Technical Services