Statue of Johnny Barnes

The statue of Johnny Barnes (1923-2016) was commissioned in 1998, during his lifetime, and put at his chosen spot at the Foot of the Lane roundabout at Crow Lane to commemorate this much loved Bermudian, who was regularly seen waving to passing traffic there from about 3.45 am to 10 am every day.  His message was: ‘I love you.  God loves you.’  He became so famous that he was mentioned in several guidebooks and appeared in two documentary films.  

John James Randolf Adolphus Mills, to give him his real name, was born to parents in St Kitts.  His main job was as an electrician on the Bermuda railroad until it closed in 1948.  He then became a bus driver, at which point he took to waving to passing motorists.  He gave up his job in 1986 and took up his position by the roundabout, and was invariable to be seen there until he retired in 2015.  He became known as ‘Mr Happy.’  Such a feature of the Bermudian day was he that if for some reason he was not at his chosen spot, people would make frantic calls to radio stations.  Johnny belonged to the Seventh Day Adventist church.