David Saul

David Saul, 77 of Devonshire, Bermuda spent his last days at home cared for by his family and died peacefully on May 15th 2017. David suffered his first stroke at the end of March 2017 and another one at the end of April. He was buried at sea on May 18th - a beautiful Bermuda day, surrounded by a small handful of family and friends. David is survived by his wife Christine, son Jonathan (Elyane) daughter Robin (Will) and four grandchildren.

David John Saul was born at home on Keith Hall Road in Bermuda on November 27, 1939. David studied Physical Education with History at Loughborough University, graduating in 1962. David received an Honorary Doctorate from the Institution in 2012 for his outstanding career in education, politics and international business. David returned to Bermuda from Loughborough to teach before spending a period in Canada where he earned his MA and PhD. He then worked at the University of Toronto and for the Ontario board of Education. With this experience he returned to Bermuda where he was asked to review and dramatically modernise Bermuda's education system. In 1977 he took a job in the Ministry of Finance and from there moved into a financial career that led him to become President of Fidelity Bermuda and Executive Vice-President of Fidelity International. David’s political career was also notable; he won the United Bermuda Party’s seat in Devonshire South in a primary, and followed it up in the General Election of 1989, serving as Minister of Finance. David then went on to serve as Premier of Bermuda from 1995 to 1997.

David had varied interests, a keen oceanographer with a passion for shipwrecks and the sea; he was a founding Trustee of the Bermuda Underwater Exploration Institute and a founding Director of the Professional Shipwreck Explorers Association. He was on the Board of US company Odyssey Marine Exploration which specialises in finding valuable shipwrecks around the world in deep waters. An extraordinary find was the long-lost wreck of HMS Victory in the English Channel. David was an enthusiastic participant in water sports, including scuba diving, fishing and kayaking. His kayaking adventures have taken him from Panama to Alaska, and from NE Greenland to Tasmania. David was also a dedicated long distance runner, holding every Bermuda record from 1 to 10 miles. He completed the Boston Marathon in 2 hours, 47 minutes at age 40 and in 2001 he won the "over 60" age group in Bermuda's annual half marathon. Finally, David owned a fully equipped carpentry shop and specialised in carving items out of old cedar roots. He became famous for carving whales and gave a private showing to Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip during their official visit to Bermuda in 2009.

David was a much loved philanthropic supporter of Loughborough University, having given generously to support the University in a variety of areas including the transformation of the Pilkington Library and research into chronic disease in the National Centre for Sports and Exercise Medicine located on the Loughborough Campus.