Circular No 818

Newsletter for alumni of The Abbey School, Mt. St. Benedict, Trinidad and Tobago, W.I.

Caracas, 8 July 2017 No. 818

------------------------------------------------------------------------

Dear Friends,

Looking for Randal Galt, “SWAMI”

(868) 678 7323        (868) 678 7323

Calling CLASS 1960, please need his email address.

In this issue I must acknowledge George´s contribution to the school history by creating a Wikipedia page.

I made some small additions but these must be corroborated by others.

Please give George any additional information

----------------------------------------------------------------------

GEORGE MICKIEWICZ <amickiew@att.net>

Jul 17 at 8:41 AM

Hi Ladislao,

Thought about your observation yesterday regarding getting  nothing from me for the Circulars in a while. 

Perhaps we can enlist those who are interested to further expand on this input that I drafted last year in Wikipedia:

Abbey School was part of the Mount Saint Benedict Abbey, a Benedictine monastery following the Order of Saint Benedict.

The school was located in the Northwestern town of St. Augustine in Tunapuna-Piarco in Trinidad and Tobago.

The Abbey School opened in 1941 and closed in 1986.

It offered a Catholic centered education and way of life.

History[

The school was built in late thirties and started in 1941.

The "boys", as those attending this boarding school were called, came mostly from Trinidad.

Most were boarders but a dozen or so lived at home and were bused daily to attend classes.

Other boarders came from the Caribbean region: Venezuela, Colombia, British and Dutch Guyanas, Barbados, Curacao, Martinique, Guadalupe Dominica.

The administration and teachers were primarily monks from the monastery.

As time passed the number of non-monk and lay teachers increased.

There were 7 grade levels; Preps A&B, Forms I to V.

The school followed the British education system.

It followed a calendar year schedule till 1963 when it changed to a fiscal year from September to June.

Sports played an important activity in the daily life of the students: football, cricket, basketball, volleyball, tennis, table tennis.

The entire school was divided into three groups named St Anthony, St Lawrence and St Francis; (in the beginning there was an additional group St Benedict) within each group there were 3 divisions with different age groups.

The colours were: Red white, Green White, Black White and (yellow White)

The Abbey School competed in cricket, football, tennis, basketball and swimming with other schools in and outside Trinidad.

Scouting was another major activity in which a large number of boys participated in. Originally there was a 1^st St, Benedict, Aero; then the 2^nd St, Benedict

Two major additions were made to the school in the late 1956: a Small Olympic size pool 25 meters and a new refectory 1961 St. Bede.

The second floor of the refectory was an assembly hall where movies were shown every Saturday night, plays acted out, dances held, music shows presented by talented students.

The pool presented a new opportunity for students to enjoy their free time.

It led to the creation of the Aqua Lads swimming team which became a competitive force in Trinidad and the Caribbean area

The Black Power revolution that took place in Trinidad in 1970 had a negative impact on attracting new students from the other islands and countries.

Financial challenges began to appear in the 1970s as the free education entered in the island and the priest did not want to compromise and as the Caribbean area economy began to face serious inflation related issues.

By the 1980s the large number of Venezuelan boarders were reduced to only a handful.

There were still about approximately 40–50 boarders and the Monastic Community were at pains to find ways to keep the school open for the 100 or so boys.

A temporary solution was to employ more teachers and pay out less in salaries.

This only worked for a short time and the school was closed at the end of the 1986 school year due to financial challenges.

It is estimated that around 2000 boys or so were privileged to attend the Abbey School through its lifetime.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------.

Do not forget that you can send in news thru the kertesz11@yahoo.com, mail box.

This would help me a lot, to keep the Circular going.

I know that you do not like to use BCC but include me in the news. (Editor)

-----------------------------------------------------------------------.

27-03-2017 M Gomes Ian: I stayed with a swimmer named "Antonio Aguerevere" who was the CAC champion in breaststroke. Hermandad Gallega I believe was the club we went to swim against. No need to say who won the 100m breaststroke at a cruz. Let’s just say it was NOT me. Still have the moment for participating. Will post just now. That was 1969. Says so on the trophy.

27-03-2017 M Coscarart Salvador: Cool

27-03-2017 M Gomes Ian: I believe this was just a photo of some members of the Aqua Lad team. The reason I say so is Mario Gangoo is not in the picture and he was the 100m backstroke swimmer that went. I also remember Jean Borrel and Wayne Ramlogan being on the team and they are not in the picture.

27-03-2017 M Coscarart Salvador: I will be bombarding with good memories photos gradually.

27-03-2017 M Gomes Ian: That’s cool Sal. I promised to take some pics of memorabilia I have and have not gotten round to it as yet. Pictures of athletic and swimming medals as well as prefect badge etc. Will do so maybe in May. Going up the Grenadines in early April for a while so will be out of commission.

27-03-2017 M Coscarart Salvador: This was a trip made to Valencia Venezuela and that was the whole team thus was in 1972. Pryor to this meet there was another group that went to the hermandad Gallega in Caracas and my brother Pedro and Enrique zanelli went on that trip . I did not made the team.

27-03-2017 M Gomes Ian: All rightee then. I left MSB in 1972.

27-03-2017: M Coscarart Salvador: Don't forget to ask you cousins about my friend nurse here in Katy Texas at Memorial Herman Hospital . Her name is Lucinda Hercules.

27-03-2017 M Gomes Ian: But so did Johnny and he is in that pic.  Don’t worry I won’t forget that bro.

27-03-2017 M Coscarart Salvador: My brother Pedro became the Head Prefect Ok you have a great time in with your relatives in Bequia is this how is spell?

27-03-2017 M Gomes Ian: After i left. Johnny Garcia was the Head Prefect. Winston Copeland, Kamal Khan and myself were the other 3 prefects Bequia. And above is prefects.

27-03-2017 M Coscarart Salvador: After Johnny Garcia  . Pedro became the Head prefect cool

27-03-2017 M Gomes Ian: Great but I was gone. Was damn typos

27-03-2017 M Coscarart Salvador: send some photos of Bequia

27-03-2017 M Gomes Ian: Will do bro

27-03-2017 M Coscarart Salvador: God bless and safe travels

27-03-2017 M Gomes Ian: Thanks man and I wish you a speedy recovery.

27-03-2017 M Coscarart Salvador: just finish my first chemo treatment and is going good. treatment Is not that bad. Jajajaj

27-03-2017 M Gomes Ian: Great I see your fingers working very good😆

27-03-2017 M Coscarart Salvador: Thank you Oscar .yeap got to keep up with it jajajajaj

27-03-2017 Mt Ramsahai Winston: Keep the faith be positive: Catch some catfish Ian

27-03-2017 M Coscarart Salvador: Thanks Winston I will send recipe for callalou. jejejejej very detailed.

27-03-2017 Mt Ramsahai Winston: I may come soon I will visit a Mexican supermarket and ID the spinach.

27-03-2017 M Gomes Ian: Sal Bequia 1 Harbour 2&3 are of Low Bay the towel at the bottom leg corner is mine. Pics of last vist.4 View from my grand moms home Lok at pic 3 good d sea water there is priceless like the Bahamas as well. I intend to bathe in the sea till I shrivel up.😆

27-03-2017 M Coscarart Salvador: Nice I love it. I bet it must have excellent fishing .and a good cold rum drink to relax with coconut water very beautiful many hotels. How expensive is it over there. I found it on the internet. Cool

27-03-2017 M Gomes Ian: Will send pics sal of various things. Fear not.

27-03-2017 M Zanelli Victor: Zanelli, Víctor (Pipo) & Fletcher. Aqualads 1970. Eating crawfish with Salvador

27-03-2017 M Cantore Oscar: They are high colesterol so be careful not to eat too many Not getting any younger

27-03-2017 M Ibarra Frank: Enjoy it!!!!!

27-03-2017: M Zanelli Enrique: Not every day

27-03-2017 M Coscarart Salvador: jajajajaj it was worth it and they were good and hot. Jejejeej After them we also had some grilled salmon burgers and they were delicious and also some chorizo sandwiches. Very fruitful Sunday. jejejeje Forgot to mention we had some tres leches cake for desert and grilled pineapple.

28-03-2017 M Alfredo Montiel Bezara: Excelente!! Buen provecho!!! 🍻

------------------------------------------

EDITED by Ladislao Kertesz,  kertesz11@yahoo.com,  if you would like to be in the circular’s mailing list or any old boy that you would like to include.

-------------------------------------------

Photos:

68SC0103BAND

17LK0721FBRLEFAM, Raul Leoni and Family

CLASS 1975??????, need input

17LK1070FBRDABDA, Roland and Bernard D´abadie