James Amos

In addition to being an all-round sportsman James Amos was also a military man who served in the Bermuda Regiment. Beginning in 1965 Amos spent the next 13 years in the regiment, reaching the rank of captain. During this time, he saw active service during a period of civil unrest on the island, including the high-profile assassination of Sir Richard Sharples in 1973, who was the then Governor of Bermuda.

Prior to his military career Amos was a good all-round athlete, playing football for St George’s from 1954 to 1964. He was also a keen rifle shooter, which saw him become the Bermuda small-bore champion in both 1960 and 1961. His main talent, however, was on the water, and he became a noted yacht sailor. In the Snipe class he was part of the crew in five editions of the Western Hemisphere Championship, in addition to being selected to represent Bermuda at the Olympics. In 1972 Amos sailed in the Dragon class at the München Games with compatriots Penny Simmons and Richard Belvin, placing 13th overall.

In sports administration Amos was a director of the Bermuda Track and Field Association, and spent 15 years as a member of the Bermuda Olympic Association (BOA), including serving as their Vice-President from 1988 to 1992. During his time with the BOA he served as the chef de mission for Bermuda at both the 1987 Pan American Games and the 1992 Barcelona Olympics. Throughout the 1980s and 1990s Amos also worked with young people across the island, including chairing the Youth Advisory Council.

For recognition for all his hard work in promoting sport Amos was inducted into the Bermuda Sports Hall of Fame in 2004, before being appointed a Member of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire in 2015.