JP Bayly Trust

  About Us |  History | Media Releases |  Locations and Contacts  | Trustees and Almoners  

John Percy Bayly, OBE

(24th January, 1882 to 12th January, 1963)

Taken from Daryl Tarte in “20th Century Fiji”

JP Bayly OBE

JP Bayly, as he was always known, was born in Levuka in 1882, to parents of modest means. Eighty-one years later he died a very wealthy man with freehold land in many parts of Fiji. He was educated at King’s College in Auckland and returned to work for HM Customs in Levuka. On the day that an insurance policy his father had taken out in his name matured, he resigned, stating that he would never again work as an employee. He started his own business as a general land agent and he travelled all over Fiji, often on horseback, buying land for cattle ventures.

He eventually made his home at Deuba (55 km from Suva City) near the mouth of the Qaraniqio river, but never married and lived a very austere life with a box for his table and smaller boxes for chairs. He had a great love for books and the English language and he avoided all social life and religion. He was forever trying new projects and the rubber trees that survive on the Suva/Navua highway are evidence of one of these projects.

Government and politics were another of his concerns and he became a member of the Legislative Council and was made an officer of the Order of the British Empire. As a strong individualist who seldom demonstrated overt affection for his fellow men he was an unlikely candidate for a grandscale philanthropist. Yet he had his compassionate side and took care of his employees, educating their children and providing for their retirement.

His great legacy to Fiji is the J P BAYLY TRUST. This was set up 10 years before his death to provide a medical centre to benefit the poor and needy. The Bayly Clinic broke new ground by filling a great void in the care of destitutes. His partner in this great venture was Dr George Hemming OBE, OF, a teacher, doctor and Anglican priest (who recently passed away in Auckland on 26th July 2003 at a ripe age of 95). They were strange bedfellows given Bayly’s strong rationalist commitments but they shared a common concern for the poor of Fiji regardless of race, colour or creed.

Soon after the Clinic opened a social welfare section was started. Volunteers from the Anglican Fellowship of St Francis and St Clare initially carried out work. And so Bayly came to terms with religion though in his will he specified that no Trust money was to benefit any sect or religious body.

Throughout his life he lent money to all manner of people in need. A great many of these debts were waived either before his death or through his will. All his assets and vast land holdings were left to the Trust and the poor of Fiji continue today to receive vital medical care and help in times of need.