// Local History

The History of Alpha in Bermuda

The Alpha Spirit has burned brightly in Bermuda since the establishment of the Epsilon Theta Lambda Chapter on February 21, 1950 by a group of Bermudian men who joined the Fraternity while attending universities in America. Upon returning home in the late 1940s, they perceived a need for an Alpha presence in Bermuda. The founders were: Collingwood Burch, MCP, Dr. Eustace A. Cann, Lawrence L. Clark, H. Roy Dismont, Frederick S. Furbert, JP, Hilton G. Hill II, MBE, Alfred L. Hinson, Dr. Charles A. Smith, Dr. Thomas C. Stowe, MBE and Winton Williams. Immediately the charter members went about making meaningful contributions to the community. On May 17 1954, Rev. Kelly A. Collins, Minister of St. Paul AME Church in Hamilton, wrote to the chapter seeking membership. Similar letters followed this from lawyers Arnold Francis and Walter Robinson. The three gentlemen eventually secured membership to become the first Bermudian line to cross the burning sands.
Alphas were instrumental in many of the changes that shaped the island politically and socially. They were part of the throngs agitating for changes to Bermuda’s restrictive franchise. The work of Alphas led to the passing of the Franchise Act 1963. Members of the Epsilon Theta Lambda chapter were part of the Secret Society that organized the successful Theatre Boycott of 1959. Many of the brothers served in the political spectrum, currently Brother Shawn Crockwell and Brother David Burt, former Premier the Late E.T. Richards, Dr. Vincent Bridgewater, The Hon. Stanley Lowe and Collingwood Burch MCP, Dr. Eustace A. Cann, and Hilton G. Hill II, MBE, Wayne Caines. More recently, the members of the fraternity have continued to serve Bermuda in fields such as medicine and business and on the sports field, which underscores the incredible diversity of talent and commitment found locally.

While the Alpha legacy has been rich and considerable over the last 100 years, the fraternity intends to continue its march into the next century with its focus clearly wedded to its aims of “Manly Deeds, Scholarship and Love of All Mankind.” While noble and lofty sounding, the men of Epsilon Theta Lambda pay tribute each day to this aim through their tireless and committed leadership within their own families and through their mentoring and educational programs that extend island-wide. This commitment to excellence allowed us to receive consecutive National Alumni Chapter of the Year Awards in 2008 and 2009.