CHARLESTOWN, NEVIS, August 24, 2021 (MMS-SKN) — The Nevis Co-operative Credit Union (NCCU), the oldest such society in the Federation, paid glowing tribute to its stalwart pioneer Mr. Arthur Lionel Evelyn at a funeral service held at the Elquemedo T. Willett Park in Charlestown on Monday August 23rd. Mr. Evelyn, who died on Friday August 13th at the age of 93, was accorded an official funeral attended by the Deputy Governor General for Nevis Her Honour Mrs. Hyleeta Liburd, Governor General’s Deputy His Excellency Michael Morton, Prime Minister Dr. Timothy Harris, and Premier of Nevis and Federal Minister of Foreign Affairs the Hon. Mark Brantley, among others.
NCCU General Manager Mr. Sydney Newton said: “Mr. Arthur Lionel Evelyn stands out as a stalwart pioneer of the Nevis Co-operative Credit Union Limited, having earned this distinction by his unparalleled contribution to the stability, growth and development of the credit union in its formative years.” After the registration of the NCCU on July 25, 1972, as the successor to the Charlestown Co-operative Credit Union Limited, Mr. Evelyn worked with other pioneers to lay a strong foundation for the institution. His most significant contribution was the provision of free office space for the fledgling credit union upstairs his private business on Main Street in Charlestown for over ten years, during which he also allowed an employee a measure of freedom to assist the young society during normal business hours. He was instrumental in securing grant funding from the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) in the early 1980s for the NCCU to erect its own office building on Chapel Street in 1984. “Mr. Arthur L. Evelyn was the epitome of humility, integrity and service, and a role model worthy of emulation,” said Mr. Newton. In recognition of his sterling contribution to the development of the NCCU, the society’s Board Room was named in his honour in 2007 as ‘The Arthur L. Evelyn Board Room’.