New book published on R.S. Turton

He was a benefactor to the National Library Service and the North Front Street extension was named the “Turton Library” in his honor. Finally, more than half a century after his death, Robert Sydney Turton is being singled out for recognition. The National Library Service commissioned Leroy Grant to compile a book entitled “The life of Robert Sydney Turton”. The book, which chronicles the achievements of “Belize’s first millionaire” from his birth in 1877 to his death in 1955, took over ten months to complete. According to Grant, although Turton was only educated to the standard three level, he was an avid reader and was always interested in, what was then known as the Belize Library.

Leroy Grant

“Getting material about Sidney Turton was very difficult. We had to put all the pieces together and search all over the place, and we tried to get material from England and other places he visited: Mexico, Guatemala, Nicaragua. Those are the sources.

A man who knew what he wanted, where he was going and those are the characteristics that really made me interested. What struck me is that there is so little material in Belize. I want Belizeans to know about him, they might not probably know much about him but I want them to be aware of him and that is what I brought out in the book.”

The book was launched last week as part of ceremonies to celebrate the sixty-third anniversary of the National Library Service. “The Life of Robert Sidney Turton” is available at the Leo Bradley Library and Angelus Press. The price is ten dollars.