Official Portrait of R.W. hanging in the KSAC (City Council)

KSAC in the early 20th century

R. W. or Bobby was born in Shorncliffe, Kent in the UK on 8th July 1865 and came to Jamaica in July of 1887 to work with the Telegraph Office. He then studied to be a solicitor and was admitted to practice in January 1898. He was also a "renaissance man"  like the two Henrys into whose family he had married. He served as Mayor of Kingston from 1911-12 and again from 1917-1923. He decided that hanging painted portraits in the Council Chambers was an "antiquated" idea and his became the first photographic portrait hung.

He was a staunch champion of the disenfranchised worker and in fact, his law practice suffered greatly because of the volume of pro bono work he undertook. He was awarded an MBE for "general war work" undertaken during World War One.  Along with his colleague, JAG Smith, Sr. he worked with national hero, Norman Manley, on early drafts of Jamaica's Constitution. He was also involved in the Universal Negro Improvement Association and in 1915 presented a prize for "Elocution" to the young Marcus Garvey.

Bobby divided his time between his home and his official life. Picture at right shows him standing to the left of King George V.

 

Bobby's sister Jessie Pointer and her family
Jessie never visited Jamaica but kept up a regular correspondence with her family here.
 

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