Circular No 720

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

Caracas, 22 august 2015 No. 720

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Dear Friends,

The Newsletter is short of messages so I have resorted to interchanges that are in Facebook, I am sure that some of you do not read what is going on in Facebook.

I don’t but sometimes I get messages of reference in my emails.

Thus I am taking some of the interference especially when a photo is inserted.

Here is the result.

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A photo was posted depicting the Top dormitory; from here you were assigned to the big boys dorm cubicles.

The best way is to look at the photo that I have included

Gerry Campbell Tea time was memorable with dem special buns....hmmmm..always fresh and tasty...

Jerry Bain I could still taste that lime green soft drink... Excel.

Gerry Campbell Fellas, ah enjoying dis....don't stop...our years are different, but we share a common language...only mount boys could understand it

Jerry Bain Yeah, I was up there too, bottom bunk, David Narine was up top. I think "Jinks" was our prefect.

Terrence Ferreira Jerry Bain Yeah! It was a dorm of bunk beds. Both of the Serrao brothers slept there. How come you didn't notice Clements?

Jerry Bain Is that Miguel "small world" Serrao in the black shirt ?

Attila Gyuris Oh yeah.... the Excel soft drink... I had completely forgotten about that one. Tea time at 5 o'clock, soft drinks and buns, with jam inside!

Neil Charles tea time was at 3..or 3:30pm

Neil Charles Dinner was at 6pm

Terrence Ferreira Yes, tea for me was after class at 3pm .... showers at 5pm

Glen G. McKoy we had cubicles, thank you for the photos amigo, cheers Glen.

Terrence Ferreira Cubicles in all the dorms, Glen G. McKoy? We only had cubicles on the right, the volleyball court side on the third floor. The photograph is of the fourth floor.

Attila Gyuris By the time I got in Form V (1968-1969), we all had cubicles in the east side of the 3rd floor dormitories. On both sides and the middle. Mine was on the north (mountain) side window. The other dorms of lower forms did not

Terrence Ferreira Correct..I meant the entire third floor right/east side. You explained it much better Attila Gyuris.

Attila Gyuris When I first got there in 1964, the very top floor in the centre of the main building ( I guess that would be the 4th floor?) was a dormitory for the older boys. This lasted a couple of years, then, after 1966 onwards, that large hall became the General Study Hall, where every student had an assigned top opening wooden desk to keep the books, notebooks and supplies.

If I remember correctly, that was the way it was still when I left in 1969.

Me and Kevan Torry used to spend hours throwing paper airplanes down the hill from those south facing windows.

Attila Gyuris During my first three years there (1964 to 1967) the small boys dormitory was down in the adjacent small downhill building to the East, on the top floor, and just above the nurse's office and the chemistry & physics labs. The small chapel was also there on the south side exactly above the chemistry lab. Then, in Form IV, I got to go into the dorm in the West side of the third floor (the one nearest to the basketball court), then, in Form V (1968-1969), I finally got my cubicle in the East side of the third floor. 

I remember the head prefect that school year was Paul Quesnel, and he got a cubicle that was a veritable "suite" compared to the rest, with a south facing bay window with a grand view of the Caroni plain.

Terrence Ferreira So Mount boarded less students? My brother Ronald and I went from the small dorm by the chapel to the top floor, and then skipping the basketball side on the third floor, we went straight to the prized cubicles. We had the first cubicle on the right as you went up the three or four steps. We were on the right just before the shoe rack and its toe jam. The top dorm, the 4th floor was all bunk beds and a prefect cubicle by the washbasins. The small guy at the bottom right of the photograph is Ronald.

Gerry Campbell What colour were the lockers?....cream and green?

Terrence Ferreira I recall the cream.

Gerry Campbell Attila and Terrence, I really appreciate the .....history from 64 to 67....because, it gives me an idea of things before I appeared on the scene in 68..We are...mount boys..really fortunate to be part of this, It is truly amazing.

Gerry Campbell I used to disappear down by the physics and biology labs, right outside the infirmary’ door, on that concrete bench.....with a great view of the caroni plains and piarco airport.....to read, read and read. I was a......fanatic, but I enjoyed it 4 so!

Terrence Ferreira During my time instead of Paul Quesnel ... the senior dorm was run by Father Eugene who at the end of one term just up and left the priesthood. We figured he flew to England but I wished it was Mars. I disliked that man with a passion. It was perhaps around 1963 or early 1964 (not sure when) that Father Gregory/Duck, our Sports Master at that time and replacement for Brother Vincent/Roberts who also left Mount, occupied the cherished room at the far end of the dorm

Sadly, although I understood the reasons for Brother Vincent's departure I never got over it. To me everyone else was second best. Also he took our Sports Days with him ... a huge void in 1962, 63, 64 and even in 1965, the year I left.

Terrence Ferreira No-no I'm incorrect, it was Father Bernard/Bobo sleeping in the cherished room. Eugene was running the dorm on the basketball side.

Attila Gyuris During my first year in Prep A (1964-1965) I was in the small boys dorm in the small East building, and Bobo had the private room at the far end of our dorm. 

During my senior year in Form V (1968-1969) , if I remember correctly, Fr Duck had the private room in the back of the senior dorm with the cubicles

Terrence Ferreira When I arrived in 59 Bobo was running the small dorm. Perhaps around 60/61 he made way for Big Gianetti who then left and Jeff Herrera ran it until he left ...Attila Gyuris you have Bobo after Herrera. Gianetti shared out lines like crazy but we deserved them lol .... no talking the in dorm. What a thing ... that's my recollection.

Terrence Ferreira Attila Gyuris what House were you in? I’m trying to place you.

Terrence Ferreira... but wasn't there two special rooms in the Small Dorm? Thinking about it when my brother Ronald and I arrived in the Small Dorm both Gianetti and Bobo were in it. Gianetti in the front room left of the front door and Bobo down the way at the back. Now, was there a door back there to the Chapel? My memory isn't very clear on this stuff.

Terrence Ferreira Duck came to the Senior dorm whilst we Ferreiras were there. I believe he was after Bobo, .... perhaps 1964.

Terrence Ferreira Roger Gianetti?

Terrence Ferreira I'm attending a funeral in Toronto tomorrow, however when I return I'll try to place you in one of our group photographs, almost the entire school, in 1965. Saint Anthony, ..Attila Gyuris I assume Harry Laughlin was your first football star.

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These exchanges were the comments on the photos of a Reunion for Glen Schaefer’s visit to Ian Gomes’ home.

Keith Allen Ah pack ah cards

Gerry Campbell Wait nah!...Bunty is meh real bro.....he and me grew up....he from blue range in diego....tell him Gerry said to layout the 5star treatment....fuh meh mount bros......signed Gerry...

Neil Charles Smokey and Bunty? I hate that rum shop...ok, next time I am in T'dad I will get 30+ guys to invite.

Neil Charles I always do when I am in T'dad..you forget or what?

Keith Allen Ah pack ah cards

Rory Davies Zephryn rolling sumting dey ah wah?..

Ian Gomes Neil Charles 3 people going by Smokey and Bunty to drink beers is not e REAL reunion. when yuh get more than 30 mount boys together for a lunch or lime then yuh could talk reunion. I know we are a dying breed, but the organisation of food, drinks entertainment and a location for such a gathering is only the tip of the iceberg man.

Alfredo Montiel Bezara Nice to read your chat ! Keep up ! 

Ian Gomes WTF you come and do it.

Neil Charles LMAO..if a bunch of school girls can organize a reunion, I don't know why we mount boys can't.

Ian Gomes boy you know wha kinna pressure dat is?

Neil Charles So why not try and organize a small reunion, I will come down for it.

Ian Gomes OK

Neil Charles I will be there in June, but Krishna and Skippy will be there in July,

Ian Gomes Yep we looking to go by Thomas Pegus in La Lune, Moruga. Neil and Skippy ah hope all yuh could be here man.

Neil Charles Make sure and give him a sampath, it will bring back memories for him

Neil Charles Is Pegus you guys planning to meet with?

Neil Charles Please don't plan and then cancel, I know two mount boys that will be in T'dad in late july, if it turn out to be a big lime, i will come down for it.

Harold Imamshah back home?...oops, sorry I didn't realize that you weren't living here in T & T...we'll see then...if it's Aug 7th

Glen Schaefer Aug 7th? The guys back home will have a firmer date

Harold Imamshah when?

Glen Schaefer Nice Pig would like dat. Yes Father La Lune in Moruga. planning a lime with one of our Abbey brothers.

Harold Imamshah La Lune in Moruga

Keith Allen Ian, Joe, Zeph, Milton. And other

Glen Schaefer Who else going down Laloon?

Keith Allen Skip ya miss ah good one Next one is down Laloon in July

Glen Schaefer Nice man

Neil Charles Ok, they go over fish Grenada just now..

Ian Gomes Boy we does get dat from Grenada. Price Smart does sell it.

Neil Charles Dem fellas belly big enough, they ain't want beer.

Neil Charles T'dad still have conch?

Ian Gomes Lime had start around 5.30 and went till midnight. Glen Schaefer, Neil Charles allyuh right Zeph not drinking any alcohol for lent so d beers ah buy stay right dey in d ice had to put all in d fridge. Joe and another partner deal with d XM 10 and Garth d Johnny Black. Also food remain except for d curry lambie (Sea Conchs).

Neil Charles Skippy, dem fellas look like they eat and drink too much, is a bed they were thinking of.

Neil Charles I think cards was the # 1 thing that was sold at the bursars office. I played enough all-fours at the mount.

Glen Schaefer Zeph eh drinking fuh Lent

Nathaniel Sampath Time to take a drink

Glen Schaefer All four licks does make yuh look dat way

Salvador Coscarart Feeling no pain, now. but wait till morning, jejejejejej,

Ian Gomes Nah. All fours in progress. Garth and I sit there and beat all comers till we get tired.

Harold Imamshah look dazed to me...lol

Neil Charles Why dem fellas looking so mad/rum done?

Ian Gomes yes glen. That's Milton. still fit and yes he was a good runner.

Glen G. McKoy dat is Milton with the beard right, boy he could run, I remember running on the mount, always trying to catch up with Milton, cheers my brothers Glen'\

Glen Schaefer Yuh know I supposed to be yuh partner but ah see yuh pick ah good one Garth 

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Enjoy the photos,  Ladislao kertesz kertesz11@yahoo.com,

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Photos:

Bandit p39 The Early Times

15LK1241FBREUNION, Ian Gomes reunion

15LK1511FBREUNION, Ian Gomes reunion

99IF0001FIL, Life and times article Fr. Ildefonse

99NL0001NLLWFEp.2 Page two letter Llanos

10JK0092  p.5  Jan Koendraat part 5