Richard Ashenheim (left), Director Emeritus of The Gleaner Co. Ltd., receives a plaque from Collin Bourne, Company Secretary, at a function yesterday to honour Mr. Ashenheim on his retirement as a board member. The function was put on at the Terra Nova Hotel, Waterloo Road, St. Andrew. - Rudolph Brown/Staff Photographer RICHARD ASHENHEIM, Director Emeritus of The Gleaner Company Ltd., was honoured yesterday on his retirement as a board member in a quiet ceremony filled with memories and best wishes from friends and other members of the Gleaner board.
Mr. Ashenheim who had been counsel to The Gleaner since 1950 when he did his very first case, also served the company for 40 years as Director, with positions as Alternate Director from 1962-1967, Director 1967-1973 and Vice Chairman from 1973 to August 2002 when he retired.
He was also a sports writer, who covered all Olympic Games since 1968for the Gleaner and has been described as an encyclopaedia of knowledge on the Olympics. Also, he covered for The Gleaner, Commonwealth and Pan American Games as well as Caribbean and Central American Games.
At a luncheon in Mr. Ashenheim's honour yesterday at the Terra Nova Hotel, Waterloo Road, St. Andrew, Oliver Clarke, the Gleaner Company's managing director, said the company owed very substantial debts of gratitude to him, "a man who has the greatest knowledge of the libel laws in Jamaica".
Hinting at the many cases that arose from the Editorial Department, he said that Mr. Ashenheim committed his time to the task and provided outstanding legal work.
"I'd like to say thanks to Richard for a job well done and the power behind him, Ursula (his wife)," Mr. Clarke said. "I can think of no other director who has been as valuable. It's very important to the continuity of the company to have people willing to commit the time ... he had to spend hours and hours deciding what was libellous and what's not. He very seldom said 'I can't deal with this thing'."
Mr. Clarke said he was particularly saddened, as it was the first time that the Gleaner would not have a member of the founding family on the board.
"Richard is a consummate gentleman, always polite and never failed to be a strong person," Mr. Clarke said.
Mr. Ashenheim thanked the directors for the honour of being named Director Emeritus.
"The mere fact that I'm going to be allowed to work with you is something I regard as a very great privilege," he said. "The Gleaner has lived to the tradition of always being first with the news. The Gleaner is synonymous for newspaper, everybody knows."
He expressed appreciation for the kindness of journalists he had worked with, members of his family, friends and Gleaner editors especially former editor the late Theodore Sealy, who he said had been "an absolute tower of strength."
"He was a marvellous person to work with, always seemed to know what was going on. I have found it a very enjoyable experience working with the Gleaner," he said. "I urge my colleagues on the board to ensure that what we have tried to achieve as freedom of the press will continue. It's important to remember that it's the public's right to know."
As director and legal counsel Mr. Ashenheim provided significant help to the chairman and the board of directors over the years. His personal help and wise counsel in the drafting of the Debenture Trust Deed in 1978 when the company was in deep financial problems was highlighted as one memorable occasion. He is a retired attorney-at-law and among other things, a member of the Hall of Fame of the Jamaica Racing Commission.
He was born in St. Andrew in 1927 and is the son of Sir Neville Noel Ashenheim and Leonie Delevante, his wife. He was educated at Jamaica College, Wadham College and Oxford University, is married to Ursula, and they have two sons. His interests include horseracing and athletics.
Among the well-wishers attending yesterday's function were barrister, Ramon Alberga, Olympian Herb McKenley and Christopher Bovell, businessman and lawyer.
