Published on May 6, 2012 by voonkyo1
Johnny Barnes born John James Adolphus Mills on June 23, 1924, is a Bermuda native found waving to passing traffic at the Foot of the Lane roundabout in Hamilton, Bermuda, from roughly 3:45 am to 10 am, every workday, rain or shine. A Bermuda institution mentioned in several guidebooks and profiled in a documentary film, he is known for waving and saying "I love you, God loves you," to passing commuters during the morning rush hour into Hamilton. Due to the unique layout of the island and its roads, nearly all drivers at rush hour coming from the western and southern areas of the island pass Barnes at the roundabout.
Barnes, now an elderly pensioner, was an electrician by trade and worked on the Bermuda Railroad as an electrician until the railroad closed in 1948. He then became a bus driver. Barnes was fond of waving to people while driving the bus, and would occasionally sit and wave to people on his breaks or when coming to work.
One day in approximately 1986, Barnes stopped at the Crow Lane roundabout took up waving to traffic. He has been there almost every day since, and local radio stations report receiving frantic calls when Barnes is not at his unofficial post. He is occasionally joined by people, sometimes costumed, waving signs to promote a charity, event, or business.
In the 2011 short-subject documentary, Mr. Happy Man, Barnes identifies himself as a religious man, a Seventh-Day Adventist who is motivated to share God's love for everyone. Though Barnes will pray with visitors to his post if requested, he is not known as a religious proselytizer.
In November 1998, a group of local businessmen unveiled a life-size bronze statue of Barnes blowing kisses in the air. The statue is located on Crow Lane just up from the roundabout. Although there were objections to spending $70,000 to build a statue to a man still living, Barnes said in Mr. Happy Man that he appreciated the gesture while he was still alive, saying he wouldn't be able to enjoy it if he were dead.
Barnes was married in 1949 and still lives with his wife. His wife has a cheery disposition because he (Johnny) has "covered her with honey" since they were married.
//////
No comments:
Post a Comment