Times of the Islands Fall 2020

If you ever hear island folk reference the “History Man,” there’s
a good chance they’re talking about Herbert “Bertie” Sadler. He
spent most of his life in the Turks Islands, loved the country and
its people, and made recording its history his life’s work.
He first came to Grand Turk in the 1950s as a young man from
the Jamaican civil service, with the title “Assistant Commissioner,
Competent Authority.” During his career, he wore several hats in
service of the TCI Government including setting up and running
the Central Purchasing Unit, tasked with sourcing and developing
bulk food imports and shipping links during a difficult time.
What started as the “hobby” of researching and writing up
the TCI’s history became a life-long passion. He had an aptitude
and enthusiasm for sleuthing down stories and records relevant
to the Islands and collected an impressive array of material from
multiple sources, including archives and museums he would
visit himself. His work and research is impressive in its accuracy,
depth and far-reaching scope, enhanced by his love of narrating
stories. He relished an audience, and people remember him as
a gifted raconteur. This is reflected in the style and character of
his book, which includes collections of historical curiosities, the unusual and different perspectives of the old
days, and how things were carried on. My reprint of his classic Turks Island Landfall includes graphic and other
improvements that don’t alter the style of my father’s work.
Marjorie Sadler
80 www.timespub.tc