Circular No 721

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

Caracas, 29 August 2015 No. 721

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Dear Friends,

For those that remember the Old Abbey School Interested Students, O.A.S.I.S. files. Here is the exchange on how the files changed hands.

But what about the MOUNT INSIDE Bulletin??? Are there any copies at MSB? Or has anyone a few copies at hand after so many years??? Can you send them to me??

But to the matter at hand, here is the story on how the O.A.S.I.S. files got to Venezuela.

****I would like to apologize if the emails sometimes have possible grammatical faults (I read and re-read the emails but sometimes these have sensitive and sensible information which I might not recognize and so cannot correct or eliminate) but be sure that I always strive to send out the information just as I get it.****

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From: "Nigel P. Boos" <nigelboos@eagles-wings.ca>

Date: 31 Mar 10:15 (PST)

Art,

Thank you for your kind note.

I'm sure that Ladislao will be thrilled to receive your package of O.A.S.I.S file info, as it'll give him years of reading matter with which to compile his stories.

All the guys will benefit from it as well, so, on behalf of everyone who had been privileged to pass through the halls of MSB, thank you for preserving the memories for us.

Best wishes,

Nigel

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On Mar 31, 2004, at 12:17 PM,

Art & Val Knaggs wrote:

Dear Nigel,

Just a little note to let you know that I received your letter re O.A.S.I.S. and thank you for your kind words and great wishes.

I had already mailed the package to Ladislao, as Val & I decided that it would be a tribute to the marvellous efforts of those who picked up the "ball" and ran with it.

My days at "The Mount" were and are a host of tremendous memories (especially spiritual) and it accounts for me being still here today.

The great "Man" upstairs must have some plan for me yet, so here am I, still hanging in there for whatever is put on my plate.

You have played a great part in my efforts for always encouraging me over the latter years of the newsletter and I thank you for that.

In the meantime, all the very best, my The Good Lord continue to influence you.

Sincerely,

Art

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From: Nigel Boos

Date: Mon, 12 Jan 2004 11:20:11 -0500

Las,

I've asked Bernard Stone to cover the cost at approx CAD $165.00, understanding that he will be reimbursed.

He has agreed to do so, and I have contacted Arthur to advise him.

Arthur's address, to which you can send a replacement cheque, is: 2 Dubonnet Drive, Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, B2X 2V3, Canada and his phone number is 902-462-6749.

Keep up the good work.

Nigel

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On Jan 10, 2004, at 9:03 AM, Ladislao Kertesz wrote:

Dear Nigel

From the email that I sent Art on the famous box of OASIS files, you can perceive that the problem might be

1) Weight and size

2) Costs.

I would like to propose to you that since you are closer to Art, you can help me in forwarding the money to him for the shipment.

I can then reimburse you with a check of the Bank of America that I will make out in your name. The check would be in USD.

Would you trust me, in this transaction?,

I do not want Art to scan the paper and photos, as this takes time ( I know this from experience) and then maybe the scanning is not detailed enough for me to use?, when I repair, improve, etc. the material in Photoshop.

Please your suggestions??

God Bless

Ladislao

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From: "Art & Val Knaggs"

Date: Fri, 09 Jan 2004 13:36:24 -0400

Ladislao,

Great to be in touch again, and here is the scoop.

The package is 16 x 10 x 2.25 inches and weighs app 4.5 lbs.

40 x 25 x 6 centimetres app 2 kilos

By regular mail it would be $32, by air it would be $45;

Checked Fed-Ex and they want $165.

All above in Can $s, a lot of moulers for an ancient, retired, scrunting, senior like me.

It is one of the reasons I went out of mailing the OASIS all over the world (the cost) before e-mail.

I will try and see if I can find someone to send them as attachments (photographed) or such, as I am still quite electronically challenged. I did get a computer update, but do not have internet, so am using the Library.

Toss me some ideas and I will see what I can come up with.

Art

P.S. will try and get some e-mails of oldies I know wh may be competent at this game.

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From: Nigel Boos <nigelboos@yahoo.ca>

Sent: Friday, January 2, 2004 10:23 PM

Hey Las,

Guess what! We've got 'em.

Art Knaggs must have got hold of a computer at last, and so he can participate in all the wonderful goings-on of our rowdy bunch.

As I'd said long ago, Arthur is a mine of information for just about anything to do with the old school and the guys who passed through those hallowed halls.

Arthur was also President of the Old Boys Association of long ago, and took upon himself the awesome responsibility of keeping us all in touch with one another, long before the advent of e-mail.

He used Photostat copies, business cards, photographs, news items from just about anywhere, and did a fantastic job all around.

His O.A.S.I.S. reports, which came through roughly 2-3 times a year, carry within them a whole lot of information about our friends and predecessors at MSB, and he has now prepared them for shipping to you.

I'm not going to tell him where to ship them, in light of the state of things in Venezuela today, but I'm going to leave that up to you entirely.

I'm sure that you are going to get a heck of a kick out of all this paper, and I'm sure that Arthur believes, as I do myself, that these precious documents will find a happy home in the offices and filing cabinet of one Ladislao Kertesz.

I believe that you will be receiving a treasure trove of information about so many old MSB alumni, that you're going to wish you'd never started this project.

But cheer up. With God all things are possible.

Let me take this opportunity to wish you and all the guys a very happy New Year.

May God bless us all.

Nigel

P.S. Arthur: Thank you for getting this file together, ol' man. You've done a wonderful job over the years, and on behalf of all the old boys of the Mount, thank you so much for your undying interest. Please give me a call sometime at (905) 426-8999, and if you're ever in Ajax, let's get together for a drink and to shoot some blag. By the way, I need a recipe for sorrel wine. Got any?

Note to Ladislao: Bernard Stone (married to Maggie Mosca) celebrated his 50th wedding anniversary about 4 weeks ago. A great time was had by all.

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From: "Art & Val Knaggs" <av_knaggs@hotmail.com>

Date: January 2, 2004 12:50:47 PM EST

Happy New Year and all the very Best for 2004.

I have all my "Old Abbey School Interested Student" files all bundled up and ready for posting, all I need is an address?!?!

I have some writing addresses of some of the real original Mount "Oldies", but most of them are computer challenged, so no e-mail addresses.

You guys are doing a magnificent and worthwhile adventure into the History and Past of 'Our Old School", and don't forget our Priests and Teachers who can contribute a great deal as well. Fr Cuthbert may like to help.

As Ever,

Art

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From: Ladislao Kertesz <ladislaokertesz@hotmail.com>

Sent: Saturday, January 3, 2004 2:06 AM

Dear Val and Art

I have just read your email. I am glad that you got hold of a computer. Remember that if you do not receive a Circular or are missing one, please give a line to Don Mitchell,

Thank you for bundling up the OASIS files, and sending me notification.

How much does it weigh??? and what dimensions does it have. Since it is paper, I presume that it does weigh.

I believe that the best way would be by Courier, but please send me the approximate weight so that I may make a quick calculation, as there is also the way by Air Parcel Post.

Can you get an estimate by FEDEX or similar. to Caracas Venezuela.

The address by the way is:

Kertesz & Kertesz C.A.,

Atn. Ladislao Kertesz

Av. San Juan Bosco

Edif. Dumas, Apto. 11, piso 2

Altamira Sur.

Caracas - Venezuela

Telf +58 212 263.5346, 267.2416

As Nigel said, things are a bit unsettled but courier is the best way.

Now that we are in touch, we can exchange information readily. I would like you to inform me of your graduation date Form V so that I may place you with your classmates.

I shall write you longer latter but I am all excited with the prospect of keeping the Circular for another year.

Hope that we would have the same luck with the Web page this coming year.

I wish you and your family a prosperous healthy new year.

God Bless

Ladislao

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From: Nigel Boos <nigelboos@yahoo.ca>

Date: Mon, 2 Jun 2003 07:42:28 -0400 (EDT)

Dear Ladislao,

I've received your last e-mail concerning the future of the web-site and must say I felt saddened by the news of the impending end to all the great memories.

I'm also saddened to find that Gabby apparently does not wish to be bothered by our telephone calls or e-mail messages any longer.

I believe he's simply over-worked, like me.

I had sent him an e-mail within the last 3 weeks and got no response either. Ah well.

As for Arthur Knaggs, I did speak to him many months ago and found out that he does not own a computer.

He can therefore access messages only when he visits his children's homes elsewhere in Nova Scotia.

I do have a little suggestion, though.

I happen to have preserved a number of Arthur's old O.A.S.I.S. files, which he had been accustomed to send out to the old boys years ago, (O.A.S.I.S. meant, "Overseas Abbey Students in Suspense" or something like that.) I'd be very happy to send you these records, so I'm going to see what I can do about that.

With the current stat of things in Venezuela today, however, I'd be concerned whether they'd even get to you.

What do you think? Also, if you'd want to receive them, please let me have your mailing address.

Keep up the good work. You're doing a fine job, and thanks for doing it.

Nigel

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From :Nigel Boos <nigelboos@yahoo.ca>

Sent: Monday, October 6, 2003 5:36PM

THANK YOU, LAS. I'M SORRY TO HEAR ABOUT GABBY. Our classmate Anthony Johnson.

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Dear Nigel

I am sorry to report that Gabby has lost the initial enthusiasm about a year ago.

Don has been trying:

1) To get someone of us to do the job.

2) To have his web manager to do it.

His offer is to pay for the first year, and then we would take care the subsequent years.

I suppose each of us would sponsor a year.

I would gladly place the name of the sponsor in my Circulars.

God Bless

Ladislao

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From: Nigel Boos <nigelboos@yahoo.ca>

Sent: Monday, October 6, 2003 3:29 AM

Las,

I'm gonna post the lot to you. Please archive them.

There's no need to return them either.

I just think that this could be a gold mine of information for you.

Good luck and God bless your efforts.

Nigel

P.S. No news from Gabby as yet? What's going on with him, eh?

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From: Nigel Boos

Date: Mon, 22 Sep 2003 07:10:44 -0400

Las,

1. No news yet on Ian Smart.

I've asked Robbie Huggins to let me have some news about him, but nothing so far.

2. O.A.S.I.S. ---- Thanks for reminding me. I'll see what I can do.

Part of the problem is that they were originally printed onto "foolscap" paper - which is much larger than an 8 1/2 x 10 sheet, so each page may have to be scanned twice, to get the whole lot.

Alternatively, I could just SEND you the bundle, and you can use it as you see fit.

Please advise.

3. Robbie Huggins' mother died last Tuesday in Trinidad and she was buried on Saturday, September 20th. Robbie also lost his dad in October 2002. He is now the head of his family.

4. No, I've not spoken to Arthur for a LONG time. I'll let you know when I do.

5. Re Gordon and Jack Knaggs - no info, but I know Jack had retired in Trinidad from Amoco, and might have moved to Barbados, to be closer to his wife's family.

Love always,

Nigel

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On Sunday, September 21, 2003, at 03:58 PM,

Nothing new on Ian Smart.

I still get the email returned. 403 616 5788, should have been his telf number.

Also nothing new on the O.A.S.I.S. documents?,

Have you spoken to Arthur???

Do you know the email to Gregory Knaggs and Jack???

Are you getting the Circulars????

God Bless

Ladislao

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EDITED by Ladislao Kertesz  Kertesz11@yahoo.com

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Photos:

Bandit p.40 The Early Times

47RL0001RLL,  Robert Llanos

99UN0001KCR, Ken Cross

14LK1091FBPKEFAM, Pablo Kecskemeti family