My father, Henry Michael Bodden II took his first voyage at the tender age of 11 years when his Dad took him out of school and told him he had to help the family by going to live in the Miskito Cays off the coast of Nicaragua to learn how to be a good swimmer, diver, fisherman and about turtles. He stayed with a Miskito family for 10 months after which his father returned and brought him back home to Grand Cayman. Over the many years, Dad engaged in many jobs including building catboats with my grandfather, the late Thomas Evans Hydes. He also worked in the USA with the Suwannee Steamship Company on routes between Jacksonville, Mobile and Houston, but because that job kept him away from his wife and young family for too long, he returned to Grand Cayman and joined the West Bay crew of the MV Adams which plied a turtling trade between the Miskito Cays, Key West Florida and Grand Cayman. Dad worked his way up the command chain until he reached the position of Chief Mate, a position he held until the MV Adams was retired around 1968. He was second in command to Capt. Chesley Parsons (of blessed memory) and many times Dad would "take the wheel" and bring that beloved vessel into the North Sound. After this, he then joined the Cayman Turtle Farm (Cayman Turtle Centre), where he excelled as he was so well versed in the arts of the turtling trade. His final job before retirement at 89 years was at the famous Holiday Inn where he worked as a gardener. In the year 2000, Dad was presented with the award and title of "Ambassador of Turtling of the Cayman Islands" and received his award and citation at a prestigious celebration ceremony at Heroes Square.

My father, Henry Michael Bodden II took his first voyage at the tender age of 11 years when his Dad took him out of school and told him he had to help the family by going to live in the Miskito Cays off the coast of Nicaragua to learn how to be a good swimmer, diver, fisherman and about turtles. He stayed with a Miskito family for 10 months after which his father returned and brought him back home to Grand Cayman. Over the many years, Dad engaged in many jobs including building catboats with my grandfather, the late Thomas Evans Hydes. He also worked in the USA with the Suwannee Steamship Company on routes between Jacksonville, Mobile and Houston, but because that job kept him away from his wife and young family for too long, he returned to Grand Cayman and joined the West Bay crew of the MV Adams which plied a turtling trade between the Miskito Cays, Key West Florida and Grand Cayman. Dad worked his way up the command chain until he reached the position of Chief Mate, a position he held until the MV Adams was retired around 1968. He was second in command to Capt. Chesley Parsons (of blessed memory) and many times Dad would "take the wheel" and bring that beloved vessel into the North Sound. After this, he then joined the Cayman Turtle Farm (Cayman Turtle Centre), where he excelled as he was so well versed in the arts of the turtling trade. His final job before retirement at 89 years was at the famous Holiday Inn where he worked as a gardener. In the year 2000, Dad was presented with the award and title of "Ambassador of Turtling of the Cayman Islands" and received his award and citation at a prestigious celebration ceremony at Heroes Square.