Captain Alva Ashton Reid was born in Little Cayman in 1901 and went to sea in 1917 on the schooner 'Carmania'. He secured his Master's License in sail by age 20 and in steamships by age 22. From 1921 to 1926 he was Master of the 'Carmania' and from 1927 to 1933 was Master of the Caymanian owned vessels 'Magister', 'Arminder', 'Balboa', 'Register' and 'Eross'. In 1933 he joined the US salvage company Merritt Chapman & Scott. By 1937 he was appointed Relieving Master of the vessel 'Killerig' and in 1941 was appointed Permanent Salvage Master by Merritt Chapman. In December, 1941 he was seconded to the US Navy and posted to the Navy Salvage Department as a Salvage Master. In 1943 he was transferred to Trinidad as Master of the US Navy ship 'Crusader'. For his remarkable success in that capacity he was awarded a US Navy Certificate of Commendation citing his role in salvaging US$700,000,000 worth of war damaged vessels. Captain Reid was also a successful ship owner. Before and during World War 2 he owned four trading schooners and after the war, upon being posted to Jamaica, established himself as one of the major Caymanian ship owners from 1946 to 1970. Motor ships owned by his company Capt. A.A. Reid & Son included 'Precise', 'Anne T. William', 'Adier', 'Artemis', 'Arlon', 'Athenia' and 'Andoria'. In 1971, after more than 50 years as a Master Mariner and ship owner, Captain Reid returned to the Cayman Islands. As a pioneer in property development he was noted for the Snug Harbour subdivision and was elected to the Legislative Assembly in 1972 as a Representative for the Sister Islands. He was married to Trixie Anne Reid (sister of Aston Rutty) of Cayman Brac and they had two children, Anne and William.

Captain Alva Ashton Reid was born in Little Cayman in 1901 and went to sea in 1917 on the schooner 'Carmania'. He secured his Master's License in sail by age 20 and in steamships by age 22. From 1921 to 1926 he was Master of the 'Carmania' and from 1927 to 1933 was Master of the Caymanian owned vessels 'Magister', 'Arminder', 'Balboa', 'Register' and 'Eross'. In 1933 he joined the US salvage company Merritt Chapman & Scott. By 1937 he was appointed Relieving Master of the vessel 'Killerig' and in 1941 was appointed Permanent Salvage Master by Merritt Chapman. In December, 1941 he was seconded to the US Navy and posted to the Navy Salvage Department as a Salvage Master. In 1943 he was transferred to Trinidad as Master of the US Navy ship 'Crusader'. For his remarkable success in that capacity he was awarded a US Navy Certificate of Commendation citing his role in salvaging US$700,000,000 worth of war damaged vessels. Captain Reid was also a successful ship owner. Before and during World War 2 he owned four trading schooners and after the war, upon being posted to Jamaica, established himself as one of the major Caymanian ship owners from 1946 to 1970. Motor ships owned by his company Capt. A.A. Reid & Son included 'Precise', 'Anne T. William', 'Adier', 'Artemis', 'Arlon', 'Athenia' and 'Andoria'. In 1971, after more than 50 years as a Master Mariner and ship owner, Captain Reid returned to the Cayman Islands. As a pioneer in property development he was noted for the Snug Harbour subdivision and was elected to the Legislative Assembly in 1972 as a Representative for the Sister Islands. He was married to Trixie Anne Reid (sister of Aston Rutty) of Cayman Brac and they had two children, Anne and William.