Saturday 24 September 2016

Circular No 777









Newsletter for alumni of The Abbey School, Mt. St. Benedict, Trinidad and Tobago, W.I.
Caracas, 24 of September 2016 No. 777
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Dear Friends,
Last night I have checked out my list of links to Web pages that appear at the bottom of the Circular. And have found the following:
Published every week, do not hesitate to ask for the missing number to: idmitch@anguillanet.com, http://abbeyschool2016circulars.blogspot.com/, Working fine thank you Don.
This email is to inform you that we now have a website to serve us, by Kazim Abseil: http://www.msbasaa.com/, The page has information from 2014 reunion but nothing after that. Could not find a link to the DATABASE???
Look at www.paxabbey.com , for information on the Monastery, Mt St. Benedict. The page is not in the server, so no information is available.
http://www.tntyp.com/, TT phone directory. It is working and well
Look for David Bratt´s column at http://guardian.co.tt/search/node/david+bratt, The link is lost and nothing appears of David Brat’s writings
Paul Zeven’s website: www.paulzevencoaching.com, Does not exist
So, I have decided to take them off the Newsletter and wait for the interested parties to make the necessary corrections.
Remember that the Newsletter is just that, news from all of the Old Boys, so if you want to have your presence known, give me a line or two.
If you would like to have a link inserted, please write.
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A weekly article by Julio Cesar Arreaza, in Spanish, about the situation here in Venezuela:
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Nigel mailto:nigelboos@gmail.com
Sep 23 at 8:20 AM
Kazim,
I’m sorry to advise you that yet another of our Old Boys has gone home to the Lord and is no longer with us.
Our wonderful, friendly, happy Anthony “Bolo” Krogh died 2 days ago in Trinidad.
I have no details of his passing, but I’m sure that the OB’s receiving this information will say a quiet prayer for the happy repose of his soul.
There have now been 3 of our OB group who have left us this month - Trevor Soodeen, Christopher Knowles and Anthony “Bolo” Krogh.
The obituaries in Trinidad’s press will surely carry the news of Bolo’s death.
May our Old Boys now rest in peace.
Nigel
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Ralph Echeverria
19 sep 2016
Hi Ladislao, long time no see!!
Thank you for your Mount Letter 775 (I was shocked that there were so many of them already!!!) ... 
I particularly enjoyed this one for the reference made to A Man for All Seasons. 
That was a great play and had a lot of positive comments from educational institutions in Port of Spain who were invited to the presentation.
I remember we made two presentations, the first one to the student body, parents and family and then another one that was very formal and - is I remember correctly - there were even members of the diplomatic corps present.
I distinctly remember the presence of the ambassador of the United States who was a good friend of my Dad.
Take note bellow of my new phone number and mailing address. 
Un Abrazo y Siempre Amigo ... 
Ralph / CheChe
ECHEVERRIA & ASSOCIATES
International Consulting Law Firm
340 West Flager St., Unit 2201
Miami, FL, 33130
Mobile: (786) 768.4135
Direct Line: (305) 407 8667
Skype: ralph.echeverria1
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Re: Memories of Fr. Benedict-Science Class
Richard Farah <RFarah@mdc-um.com>
Friday, January 2, 2009 7:24:27 PM
John,
I can remember that experiment vividly to this day.
And I became a gunpowder freak from that day on to the eternal annoyance of our Cascade neighbours at holiday time as they had to endure bombs and rockets every week, as I used to buy the chemicals at Albert Phillips Pharmacy, corner of Queen and Henry streets
It’s amazing that priests like father Benedict gave up their lives to pass on their knowledge gratis.
May God rest his soul.
Richard.
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From: jongolding
Sent: Fri Jan 02 19:01:47 2009
Nigel,
Please add this to your circular if you think it OK.
I believe these are among the last photos of him which I took on a recent visit to his sick room in the monastery. 
It is ironic he took so many pictures of the 'boys' and that the last ones of him should be from the 'boys'.
You might want to add this:
OUR MOST UNFORGETTABLE SCIENCE DEMO
=======================================
1957 - Form 1 class - held in upstairs large study hall - Science class.
I used to sit next to 'Mousey' (Richard Farah) - about 3 months before his mango tree accident which cost him his leg. Brave soul and another Mount Hero!
Fr Benedict was teaching us about gunpowder that day. To demonstrate, he made gunpowder in the class, a mix of Carbon, Potassium Nitrate and Sulphur. Mousey and I quickly wrote down the proportions (which we later bought on a dentist trip to PoS, and tried out in the bush near the reservoir. But we nearly killed Louis Lacour and my brother Geoff!!).
Our intrepid science teacher then produced a small cannon he had made from some lead piping, one end hammered flat, the other end a lethal open gun barrel anchored firmly onto a chunky mahogany 2 by 4.
He positioned the weapon at the hall window aiming it at a mango tree a mile away on the hill across the valley. His intention was to see if he could hit a mango from this distance. 
In went the gunpowder followed by a ramrod stick from Brother Joseph's woodwork shop to pack it tight. He then inserted a marble he had confiscated from one the Venezuelans in an earlier class.  (These guys sometimes used to roll a few marbles onto the floor before the monks came in to teach, hoping they'd 'buss their ass' on the floor! But so far no hits. Fr B knew the game and caught one redhanded the week before! Anyway he had his cannon ball for the demo and told us that is what he'd do with all the marbles he found on the floor!
Next step, he pulled out a length of Jetex fuse wire. We all held our breath realising this experiment was getting reeeel serious!!!   You could hear a pin drop. No other monk/ teacher had ever exhibited such macho bravado in a class that any of us had attended in the prison on the hill.
He ran the wire along the window sill and inserted the end into a hole in the pipe cannon near the flattened end. He drew a sketch on the blackboard to show us what was going to happen and asked us to write down the chemical equation; C+S+PNi = BANG!!
He then stepped back and pulled out a cigarette lighter (he'd borrowed from Fr Paul, the walking Chimney!). We all began to talk loudly and nervously and duck under the desks. It was pandemonium!! I vividly remember that Mousey and I could not stop laughing - wide-eyed and in disbelief to relieve our anxiety.
"OK, boys, get down, here comes the countdown!  Ten - nine - eight - seven .... we all chorused the countdown getting louder and louder. By this time everybody was ducking down below their desks --------------
" - two - one - ZERO!!!" -------------------
Dead Silence!
Nothing happened!
Actually it did!! 
We looked up from under the desks and saw he'd just lit the Jetex fuse. I remember some of the guys sitting near the corridor were so scared they ran into the corridor. Others ducked down into the walkway between the desks and crawled to the back of the study hall. Mousey and I were in the second row from the front and we decided to stay put. We kept looking at the fuse hissing its way quickly towards the cannon and saw that our Voosh had moved behind the big desk at the front (where they used to sit to supervise us in study time).
When the fuse sparks were climbing up to the cannon we ducked down for certain this time and did not have to wait too long:
!!!!--------- BBBAAAANNNNGGGGGGGGG!!!----------------!!!!
The cannon let out such a loud bang we could not believe it. Heads slowly began appearing above the desks and we saw a huge amount of smoke coming from the cannon window - an after effect of the explosion.
The next thing I heard was someone starting to clap until we all quickly joined in the rousing applause! Our new military hero - Fr Benedict!!! We'd go into battle for him immediately, confident he knew how to blow away the enemy!!
Well the fun did not last long.
Next thing we knew was Fr Bernard coming rushing down the corridor into the study hall his face as white as a sheet and eyes wide open searching the room madly - as if to find an assassin hiding under a desk. He did not notice Fr Benedict at first since he and the big desk were camouflaged behind the smoke cloud.
Fr Bernard shouted out in near panic:
"What's going on here?"  
We all sat frozen as we faced this unexpected after shock! Our dear headmaster had never looked so furious and lethal - as if to prepare himself for the battle that Fr Benedict had signalled with his opening round of cannon fire.
The tension broke when Fr Benedict, amazed at his resounding success (sorry about the pun), called out apologetically, "It's OK, Fr Bernard, it was only an experiment!"
I cannot remember the rest of the dialogue but it was not pretty. Fr Bernard laid into Fr Benedict about how irresponsible it was not to inform him and the rest of the school first. We found out later that the bang was so loud that most of the other classes were cut short as they all ran out into the corridors to see what had happened.
Eventually, Fr Bernard left in a huff and Fr Benedict looked sheepishly at his terminated science lesson, ducking his head down a little with a mischievous grin, but receiving a round of supporting laughter and light applause from his newly initiated class. Yes, this was an initiation - into science - that every one of us present that day will never forget!
From that day on, we all listened intently to every word in his science classes and I believe we all got record marks, never to be repeated again. I am sure someone in our class will get a Nobel Prize for science one day!
For me, it was a true positive initiation into science which I approached fearlessly from then on - I eventually got A's all the way through 'A' levels and university and it is to Fr Benedict I owe my motivation - gaining my BSc(Hons) in the UK eventually.
I know I am joined by all those in the 1957 science class, and beyond, in expressing our utmost affection and admiration for our unsung hero of science education who put more than his best efforts into making our classes interesting and memorable. To top it all, he never needed to get heavy with us for discipline and had a lovely charm and gentle smile - identifying with the 'boy' in all of us - in a way that only few of the other teachers could!
The pictures attached, which I was fortunate to take before he went to be with the Lord, say it all! 
Let us pray that one day we also will arrive and see him again at that Heavenly Place where he must be continuing his curious science experiments - since God most certainly would have rewarded him with the biggest science lab and endless gunpowder to shoot down the enemy of our souls.
May God rest our Fr Benedict, a true Benedictine par excellence, and exemplar for us to emulate while we still have the time!
Well done Fr Benedict and may the angels "Voooooosssssssh" you straight up into the Heavens like a cannon ball !!
Your grateful and admiring student
Jon Golding (1955 - 1962)
On behalf of all the science class of 1957
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According to the list, the following Oldboys are not with us anymore.
The first number is the year of graduation in Form V
79        Carlin              Robert
54        Castellani        Pablo
61        Castillo           Ernest
69        Cedeno           Anthony
71        Chow             Michael
54        Cope               Ian
49        Cribbes           Dennis
61        Da Costa         David
48        Darwent          Michael
48        Darwent          Walter E.
54        Darwent          Roger
54        Darwent          Roger
54        De Cambra     Gregory
?          De Gale          Roger
69        De Jesus          Sylvester
?          de Verteuil      Roger
49        Didier              Archie
49        Du Boulay      Arthur
Please make the necessary corrections
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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.
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Photos:
61LK2554FBFARAHGRP, At Piarco Airport, farewell.
15LK0906FBFAUBIRTHDAY, Father Augustine´s Nth birthday
14LK7895FBDDVWFE, Dennis de Verteuil and wife
02DM0005DMI, Don Mitchell’s portrait






Saturday 17 September 2016

Circular No 776









Newsletter for alumni of The Abbey School, Mt. St. Benedict, Trinidad and Tobago, W.I.
Caracas, 17 of September 2016 No. 776
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Dear Friends,
Let us start with music, courtesy Glen Evelyn.
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Here is an addition to the list of brothers that have left us for a better life.
May I remind all the old boys that you must supply the necessary information so that I can place it in the files of the CIRCULAR or NEWSLETTER,
I try to look for information all over the internet but better from the horse´s mouth.
Be this in the form of letters or photos.
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mailto:mark.soodeen075@sympatico.ca
Sep 19 at 11:29 PM
Hi Mr. Kertesz:
My name is Mark Soodeen and my father is Ralph Trevor Soodeen who just passed away last week.
I was searching the web to find some pictures from his days at MSBABBEY!
Would you be able to assist me?
Thanks very much in advance.
Mark
(Unfortunately, no photos, although I have asked for them ten years ago, EDITOR)
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Nigel mailto:nigelboos@gmail.com
Sep 17 at 9:01 AM
Hi there, Hilary.
Thank you for the sad news of Trevor’s death.
Have you any news about how he died, and whether any of his children were with him when he passed away?
Also, would you please let me know what and when the funeral arrangements are to be held?
Trevor lived his life like a gentleman and has fully run the course.
Now, he faces the goodness, love and mercy of Almighty God.
Please extend my sincere sympathy to his family.
Thank you for remembering me with this news too, Glenda.
To the MSB Old Boys -  please remember Trevor in your prayers.
He had been a kidney dialysis patient for years, and during the last 5 or so years, had also gone blind.
May his soul rest in peace.
Nigel
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On Sep 14, 2016, at 7:15 PM,
Hilary Als <stacch@rogers.com> wrote:
Hi, Nigel,
Hope all is well with you and your family.
I am the bearer of sad news. Glenda asked me to let you know, Trevor Sooden passed away Sunday evening.
No arrangements at this time.
God bless
Hilary
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mailto:idmitch@anguillanet.com
Sep 14 at 8:14 AM
Hello, Ron,
That is pretty clear. 
We have to get Kazim to correct your final year to 1966 instead of 1958 in the Database!
Interestingly, Gordon got the Portuguese Man –o-War stings on a Sunday outing from Mount to Maracas Bay.
I remember him in a sort of coma for about an hour. 
I am not sure in those days we knew the different methods of killing the stings. 
We had to wait until about 1964 when James Bond offered to pea on Pussy Galore’s sea egg wound, before we learned that heat was one of the recognised methods! 
Another way is to rub it with strong alcohol like rum: kills and denatures the protein in the poison stings. 
So, he lay passed out from the pain in the back of the bus until it was time to set out for Mount, singing “The Prison on the Mount” at the top of our lungs.
I don’t remember a book store in the mid-1960s. 
Which room was it in? 
Or, do you mean the sweet shop, or tuck shop, where Juicy and sweets were sold?
Congrats on coming in first! 
That is quite remarkable. 
I make do with a little walking and gardening.
See you next month.
Don
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From: horsey
Sent: Tuesday, September 13, 2016 10:49 PM
Not that old....LOL.
I got there in 1959 with my brother Terry, who was 2 years older than me, but only one class ahead.
I caught up to him and my parents thought I was too young to leave school even though my marks were better than his so that allowed me to waste a year of my life at the mount.
I left in 1966.
Spent three years in Guyana before moving to Toronto.
Spent a few years in the 80s in Princeton, NJ, (not at the University...LOL) and about 7 years in Florida.
I'm only 67 closer to your brother Gordon's age., and we hung a bit.
I distinctly remember him coming back from holidays with the man-o-war stings on his chest and stomach.
If you look in the 66 class pictures you'll see my contemporaries, mostly troublemakers.
Most of the folks you mention were ahead of me.
I was helping Brother Vincent hand out the pocket money before he left and when you were in the library I was in the bookstore helping Fr Augustine and took care of it when he went back to Holland for a bit.
I ride a lot and travel to compete, mostly to keep healthy.
Haven't ridden as a youngster it's hard to beat the top guys my age, but in the second tier, fun race I can hold my own against all ages.
One good thing though the longer I keep at it the less competition.
Here is a race from last year.
You can click on the pics and results of the 15 mile race.
Have to rumble with the young guys in Pennsylvania again this weekend probably in the rain.
I did a lot of travelling, mostly to warm places, but I prefer to be off the beaten path.
It will be good to jog each other's memories of the times at the Mount.
Lots of things have been forgotten but I am sure that most of them can be revived with some prodding.
Went from the old dorm up to the top floor with Joe Azar and then in with the seniors between the shoe and washroom.
Ron
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On Tue, 9/13/16, Don Mitchell <idmitch@anguillanet.com> wrote:
To: "horsey" <oats@rogers.com
Date: Tuesday, September 13, 2016, 3:18 PM
Hello, Ron,
I looked you up in Nigel’s Database, and I see that you were the “Towsie” who left Mount in 1958 five or six years before me. 
That would make you about 75 years old now. 
That may also put you in the same class as Brian Goddard who came to visit us in Anguilla last year. 
He is hoping to visit Anguilla again later this year. 
In case he is going to be in Anguilla at the same time, I’ll copy him in on this letter, as with Ladislao, our chronicler.
Perhaps you were a contemporary of Donald Goddard, Hamish Herrera, Gordon and John Thavenaut, Urbano Von Fedak, and Joseph Azar? 
You see, who says it should not be called a computer since none of uses it to compute anything?
Looking forward to meeting your group when you visit Anguilla later in October. 
You will only be the second or third Mount Boy I know to have visited Anguilla during my time here.
Don
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From: horsey
Sent: Tuesday, September 13, 2016 12:42 PM
That would be great, hooking up again.
Still not the fussy type.
The meal would be on me.
Staying at Easy Corner Villas Sandy Ground from 28th Sep to Oct 5th via ST Martin, then onto Guadeloupe for a week and Orlando for a few weeks..
I live 50/40/10 in Toronto, outside of Orlando and Niagara Falls NY.
Let me if there is anything you need from here in Toronto or the U.S.
Ron
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On Tue, 9/13/16,
Don Mitchell <idmitch@anguillanet.com> wrote:
To: "horsey"oats@rogers.com
Date: Tuesday, September 13, 2016, 12:18 PM
I would love to give you the guided tour, and perhaps we could have a meal. 
How long are you here for? 
And, where are you staying?
Don
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From: horsey
Sent: Tuesday, September 13, 2016 9:12 AM
Hi Don,
Hope all is well with you and Maggie.
It has been over 50 years since our paths crossed at Mount.
I will be in Anguilla in a few weeks, would be great if we can meet and touch bases again. I will be with my significant other, Carol and another couple.
Doesn't have to be anything complicated, let me know your thoughts.
Regards,
Ron Ferreira
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On Mon, 7/11/16,
Don Mitchell <idmitch@anguillanet.com>
Dear Old Boys,
Posting comments on this Blog should be easy to use, but let me know if you have any question on how to use “comments”.
Of course, if it is too complicated, you could always send me any comment you have on the contents of any Circular.
I would then help by publishing it for you.
Keep well.
Don
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According to the list, the following Oldboy are not with us anymore.
The first number is the year the student would graduate in Form V
77 ??   Boland            Peter
67        Aboud             Edward
63        Alkins             John
49        Anderson        Mascot
58        Argenti           Roberto
54        Austin             Trevor
            Beddoe           Peter
49        Bergasse         Peter
63        Bermudez       Rene
75        Bharath           Pascal
63        Blandin           Joel
63        Bonadie          Earl
60        Brown            Vincent Wayne
72        Burke              David
Please check the list and give us details if you know any.
Like Beddeo Peter’s years at Mount? [Editor]
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EDITED by LadislaoKertesz,  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.
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Photos:
15LK3841FBAZAFAM,  Arturo Zavarce and Family
15LK9140FBGFA, Gregory Farfan
62IF0024BVIWFE, Brother Vincent and wife
08LK4338FBJBA, Jerry Bain
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Published every week, do not hesitate to ask for the missing number to idmitch@anguillanet.com, http://abbeyschool2016circulars.blogspot.com/,