Press, broadcasting proprietor Bryan dies

Just over a year after losing one of the founders of the Nation newspaper, Harold Hoyte, Fontabelle has again been thrown into mourning today with the death of Sir Anthony Bryan, the publisher of the Barbados Advocate.

Sir Anthony, said to be in his late 70s, died this afternoon at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital, the Advocate announced on its Facebook page.

Sir Anthony, who was knighted in 2017 for his contribution to the broadcast and print media, created the first privately owned radio station on the FM band when he established Barbados Broadcasting Service Limited, which went on the air as BBS 90.7 FM in 1982 specialising in easy listening music.

Early in 1991 during Operation Desert Storm, when Iraq’s invasion of Kuwait triggered war with the United States and allied forces, Sir Anthony established the first Christian-oriented station, Faith 102.1 FM, which was billed as “a sound of peace in a time of war”. Both of these stations are still on the air and have retained their original formats.

In 2001, Sir Anthony received the Gold Crown of Merit (GCM) 2001 and in 2016,  the Companion of Honour (CHB).

His publishing career began in magazines as owner of Crown Publishing Company.

His wife predeceased him in 2011. He is survived by three sons and a number of grandchildren.