Saturday, January 31, 2004

Circular No 117



Newsletter for past alumni of The Abbey School, Mt. St. Benedict, Trinidad and Tobago, W.I.
Caracas, 31 of January 2004. Circular No. 117
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Dear Friends,
More news on Abbot Francis Alleyne, his nomination as Bishop of Georgetown, article thanks to Graham Gonsalves.
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From: "Graham Gonsalves" <gourmet@tstt.net.tt>
Date: 29 Nov 17:51 (PST)

Ladislao,
Are you aware that Abbot Alleyne has been chosen as the new Bishop of Georgetown, Guyana. He will be ordained in January next year. Check the "Scrolling News" on the AEC website http://www.catholiccaribbean.org/ .
God bless
Graham
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NEW BISHOP OF GEORGETOWN, GUYANA
Abbot Francis Alleyne, O.S.B., of the Benedictine Monastery at Mt. St. Benedict, Tunapuna, Trinidad, has been named the new Bishop of Georgetown to succeed Bishop Benedict Singh who retired earlier this year at the age of 75 years.
The new Bishop is the third Bishop of Georgetown. The episcopal ordination of Bishop-elect Alleyne has been scheduled for the evening of Friday, January 30th, 2004, in the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, Brickdam, Georgetown.
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From: "Don Mitchell, QC" <idmitch@candw.ag>
Date: 1 Dec 17:13 (PST)
Subject: Old issues

Hi Salvador,
I lost my computer in August. My Outlook back up folder turned out to be a bare cupboard. However, we have some on Maggie's computer. Tell me the issues you need and I shall do my best.
All the best,
Don
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From: Ladislao Kertesz [mailto:lkertesz2@icqmail.com]
Sent: Monday, December 01, 2003 15:38 PM
Subject: Re: Old issues

Salvador,
You can get old issues from Boxhead, I believe he has all issues.
Saludos
Ladislao
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From: "Salvador Coscarart" <salborbolla@hotmail.com>
Date: 29 Nov 07:42 (PST)

Hello Ladislao,
How are you, please see if you can help Christopher with his request, I myself don't have all of them.
Gracias Salvador.
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From: "kristof de marothy" <kristof_demarothy@hotmail.com>
To: "'Salvador Coscarart'" <salborbolla@hotmail.com>
Date: Thu, 27 Nov 2003 00:00:33 -0500

Hi Salvador,
Have not forgotten you. I will mail you pictures this week or Monday at the latest. I thought about scanning/emailing until I realized that my Yahoo limits the amount of Mbytes I can send.
All is well here but have not received any more email from Kertesz, since he does not have my new email address. I was stupid enough to forget to send it to him. The last one I got was #98. If you have them (and have time to kill) could you please email me circulars 1 thru 60 (exclude 36, 44, 59) and 69, 72, 73, 80, 81, 82, 83, 89 & 90.
Have a Happy Turkey!!
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From: Salvador Coscarart [mailto:salborbolla@hotmail.com]
Sent: Sunday, October 19, 2003 10:56 AM
To: kristof_demarothy@hotmail.com
Subject: Regards abbey boy

Hello,
This is a test to make sure you are getting my mail last time I wrote and send pictures it came back so am testing now if you receive this please let me know,
Thanks
Salvador .
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Here is an old article thanks to Anthony Milne, whom I have tried to contact since last year but no luck. Maybe someone can help???
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News for you, direct from the Trinidad Express.
Abbey library needs help.
By ANTHONY MILNE.

ORIGINAL editions of early works by Sir Vidia Naipaul, Sir Louis de Verteuil's 19th-century book on Trinidad, works on West Indian sociology also from that century, and writings by French priest Père Labat on what the Caribbean was like 300 years ago are among the treasures in the 89-year-old library at the Abbey of Our Lady of Exile, at Mount St Benedict in St Augustine.
Talking to the Express last week, Fr Christopher Theunissen, now in charge of refurbishing the library, spoke about other works there, the library's history, and plans to continue refurbishing the library. Funds and equipment, including proper lighting and air conditioning, and computer facilities to help catalogue the library's collection, are also being sought. The library has just received a gift of a dozen chairs from Bewil & Co, of Philips Street, Port of Spain. Original works by Eric Williams are also on the library's shelves, as are the complete works of Sir Walter Scott and Voltaire, political writings by South American Liberator Simón Bolívar, books by Charles Kingsley, ancient musical manuscripts. There is also, of course, a comprehensive collection of scriptural and theological works for use by monks, students of theology at the Regional Seminary of St John Vianney and the Ugandan Martyrs, just down the hill from the abbey, and members of the public allowed to use the library. The library now houses about 20,000 volumes. Rev Theunissen explained that a library of sorts was established at the 90-year-old abbey the year after it was founded by Dutch Benedictine monks who had been expelled from Bahia in Brazil where they had fallen foul of the government. "In 1979," Theunissen explained, "one of the monks at the abbey, Fr Ildefonse, was appointed librarian." Other monks had helped with the library before this, including Revs Adelbert van Duin and Francis Friesen. One of his first tasks was to break through the concrete wall separating what was once a tailor shop from a former vestry, to make access to the library possible from within the main monastery building. He was helped by other monks, including Rev Francis Alleyne, now Abbot. "In 1982 Fr Ildefonse began the daunting task of proper cataloguing," Theunissen explained. "It had become necessary to introduce a recognised standard system, the Dewy Decimal Classification". He got help from a Mr Nadar, a trained librarian at the University of the West Indies, also in St Augustine. The task was completed in seven years, with the then-10,000 books in the library catalogued and a special card system introduced. Theunissen nevertheless bemoaned the fact that a number of valuable books in the library have disappeared, some borrowed and never returned, over the years. Afterwards Rev John Pereira, another monk, did a lot of work in the library. The abbey, to celebrate it 90th anniversary later this year, also has archives, kept carefully by Abbot Francis. One of the oldest buildings at the Benedictine Abbey is to be bulldozed on Wednesday, April 3. Monks at the Abbey explained that the ornate old building, constructed of tapia, was to be demolished two years ago. Citizens for Conservation, they said, got the authorities to hold their hand then, promising to help raise the $2 million needed to restore the old building and make it safe. The building remained standing but no funds were forthcoming. Each Benedictine abbey throughout the world, it was explained, must be self-sufficient and so must be able to raise its own funds or create income. Theunissen said the abbey library "is one of the oldest of its kind in the Caribbean", and has a wide and large selection of monastic and spiritual books as well as secular and inter-denominational books.
Photo: Fr Christopher Theunissen proudly displays some of the books in the library
-----------------------------------------------------------------
I am extremely sorry that Wayne Vincent Brown, is having his time limited, his story telling ability is missed by many. Those who want to contact him please use this email address: wvb@kasnet.com. Maybe with a little persuasion he could let us know the insides of Fr. Ildefonse, his Scout Master, and of course the Scout Master of many others, too.
From emails received Fr. Ildefonse was a very strict and difficult to please. One of these days I shall prepare a couple of lines, hoping that these would get the ball rolling, to muster further activity.
Have lost contact with: Peter Boos, Ivan Laughlin, Rolph Hive, can any one help???
God Bless
Ladislao
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Photos: Fr. Christopher Theunissen
Patrick Devaux 4th photo: Abbey class 1965 no.
Listado: C117.xls
Column: David Bratt Healing with music
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ATTACHMENTS

Listado c117.xls

Names Form V Contact Nickname business address Phone e-mail
Piton, Dominique
glen
YV

Placid, Fr.





Plimmer, Aelred 1988 PB



Plimmer, Stephen 1988 PB



Polderman, Rudy 1974 moffie



Pollonais, Phillip


TT

Prada, Charles


St.Catharine, Ontario
Prada, Geoffrey


Caracas, Venezuela
Prada, Manuel 1960
arepita yv
manjosepra@hotmail.com,
Pratts, Alexander 1966 pablo



Prypchan, George Roman
glen
YV

Pugh, John (RIP)


Dominica

Quesnel, Christian





Quesnel, Paul
ornellas
12-14 castro st. chaguaramasTT (868) 673 3447 636 9061 Kissbaking@carib-link.net Kccandy@tstt.net.tt
Quesnel, Peter


UK???

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Saturday, January 24, 2004

Circular No 116



Newsletter for past alumni of The Abbey School, Mt. St. Benedict, Trinidad and Tobago, W.I.
Caracas, 24 of January 2004. Circular No. 116
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Dear Friends,
A jump start in this Circular, no blabla from me to introduce the stars:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
De: "Cecil & Liz Ince" <shadowlawn@sunbeach.net>
Fecha: 14 Jan 11:20 (PST)
Asunto: Abbey School correspondence

Dear Ladislao:
I have been receiving your e-mails regularly.
I am interested to read them I belong to the l948/49 years - as a day-boy from ARIMA where I lived.
I went to work at l6 at Huggins & Co - as an office boy. After two years, I joined BWIA - transferring to Jamaica l954 - Barbados
where I have lived since l956 - with a transfer to Guyana and Antigua during l965-68.
Arthur Knaggs persevered for years with another newsletter - OASIS - but I think he eventually gave up some years ago.
I could supply, from Memory, some names of my contemporaries at Mount.
PAX/UIOGD.
Sincerely
Cecil

CECIL IP.S. In l969, I joined a small Travel Company here of which I was part owner. Since then the Company - Foster & Ince and its associates have grown nicely.
I am retired (200l) but stayed on as Chairman in what is now a fairly substantial service supplier to cruise ships.
---------------------------------------------------------------
From: Stuart Monplaisir <stumon@yahoo.com>
Subject: Camping Hell
Date: Sun, 19 Oct 2003 16:44:34 -0400

Ladislao,
I have forgotten the badge for which we were trying to qualify and the name of the place where we were to camp.
Fr. Ildefonse dropped us off west of Tunapuna at the base of some mountain. We were to climb to the top and pitch camp there for the night then the next day we were to find our way to the area around Tunapuna while collecting information for
an accurate map of the route that we took.
The instructions were that we were to camp on the very top of the mountain not down on the side somewhere. When we got to the top we found that it was bare of any vegetation but grass and part of it was rocky. We debated whether to pitch the camp down from the top a bit where there was less rocky soil but we were afraid that Fr.Ildefonse would find out, so we camped at the very top.
There were three tents one modern and two were vintage World War II, or maybe even WW I, heavy canvass things which had snap fasteners at the top. One was used for the storage of the equipment and food. Some guys slept in the other old one and we were in the newer one. That night it turned cold, the wind started to blow and the rain came down in buckets. Suddenly there was someone trying to open our tent and in piled the rest of the group. The snap fasteners on their tent had become unfastened in the wind and the water had drenched them. Make room, don't touch the tent ... too late, in came the water. Needless to say it was a miserable, damp, cold night, worrying all along whether we were going to get struck by lightening.
By morning the storm was over. However, the storage tent had also opened up and any extra clothes were wet. We broke camp and proceeded to map our way down an old road carrying the extra weight of the wet stuff, grumbling all the way.
We drew our maps got grilled by Fr. Idefonse and got our badges, glad that we didn't have to do it all over again.
Stu Monplaisir
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From: Raymond Devaux <raydevaux@netscape.net>
Date: 10 Dec 14:22 (PST)

Dear Ladislao,
I am in Florida now but will be going to Montreal on December 18. When I will be in Montreal I will give you the date that I graduated (Senior Cambridge Certificate at that time) it is a long time ago, sometime in the early 1950's, but I will check the date on my certificate.
I know Richard and Leary O'Connors who where at MSB during my time, are they the one's you are referring to in your e-mail?
They live in Australia and I have their e-mail address in Montreal which I will forward to you when I get there..
I do not know Driver nor Anthony Lucky. Do you know Arthur Knaggs? He is also one of my generation and he has a lot of contacts with the boys of our time. If you wish I can also get the information as to how you can contact him.
I do not know anyone on the circular that you sent Alain, but it is interesting.
What year did you graduate a MSB.? (ed. 1960)
Best,
Raymond
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Dear Ray,
Thank you for responding.
I hope you liked the Circular that I sent Alain!! If you know other Mount boys, please send them the Circular that I shall be sending you soon, it is weekly.
Could you tell me if you met the O´connors?? Driver?? or Anthony Lucky??
Can you tell me when did you graduate at Mount, that is Form V?? if you did not then when did you graduate, I need the year to place you with others of your time!!.
God Bless
Ladislao
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On Tue, 09 Dec 2003 20:25:41 -0500, Raymond Devaux wrote:

Dear Ladislao,
You sent a message to my brother, Alain Devaux, saying that you are looking for myself who attended Mt St Benedict in the nineteen forties and also for my other brother Patrick Devaux whose e-mail is: ( patrick.devaux@chubbsecurity.com) or (pdevauxchubb@hotmail.com).
Alain Devaux also attended Mt St Benedict in the nineteen fifties. Unfortunately I do not know any of the people that you mention in your e-mail but I would like to hear from you.
I live in Montreal, Canada during the summer months and in Ft Lauderdale, Florida during the winter months.
Best,
Raymond Devaux
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From: "Raymond Devaux" <rdevaux@attglobal.net>
Date: 1 Jan 12:30 (PST)
Subject: Happy New Year

Dear Ladislao,
Thank you very much for your card which I only received today because I did not open my e-mails since I left Florida for Montreal on December 18. I also wish you a very happy year 2004 and a lot of good health.
I looked for my Cambridge certificate but I am unable to find it, however, I believe that I graduated in 1950 or 1951. I do not remember too many of my class mates. Some of them are: Dr Hamelin, Desmond Rostant (Died a few years ago), Phillip Nassief from Dominica, Leary & Richard O'Cornnor, now living in Australia, Crompton DuBoulay from St Lucia. It was a small class of about 12.
Others who were also in form 5a or 5b were Arthur Knaggs, now living in Halifax, Phillip Scott (Also died), Trevor Evelyn (who was a very fast short-run runner), Ronney Lambkin (now living in Halifax), Peter Ferguson.
As you can see we were among the first students at Mt St Benedict.
I remember I loved mathematics and therefore was very close to Fr Paul who taught maths, I was the first and only student at the time to take higher mathematics at school.
I also became a King scout under the guidance of Fr Ildephonse.
I saw my brother, Patrick, who told me that he was very happy to have received your news, he told me that he left in 1960 so he knows many of the people that are mentioned.
I do not have pictures since at that time cameras were not too common. I do have one when we were in Tobago, sitting in the back of a open small jitney with Brother Anthony and a few students. I will try to find it and send it to you.
Well, Ladislao, thanks again for the news from The School and please keep in touch.
Best regards,
Raymond Devaux

Please note that my new e-mail address is: rdevaux@attglobal.net
----------------------------------------------------------------
Hi Las,
Keep up the good work. While it is great to see the number of old boys coming under one roof, it is unfortunate that very few see it fit to write about all the crazy exploits that we as students under the watchful or not so watchful eyes of Fr(s). Bernard, Augustine, Gregory and others would get up to.
While I would admit that not every day was a happy one, the memories that I have of MSB today are lasting, and looking back were enjoyable. I remember the hikes to white stones and continuing on to the old Monastery on Mount Tabor, playing in the scout band and the long weekend camps in Mayaro. As Sparrow would say, school days were happy! happy! days.
Hey, Manuel, remember the scout band, may not remember me, but then again many should. I was the most miserable young student together with Gordon Mitchell (young boxhead), where did you get that name from? that loved to "terrorize" the "big boys". It was hit and run, run like you never ran before, because when you got caught, God help you. Cut ass for days.
I remember playing in the Mount band as a drummer, dressed in either white, or scout uniform. With the scout hat on my head, and drum at my side, I was invisible. Manuel was head drummer at the time, with others like Daniel de Verteuil, Roger Ames, Nigel Boos, and others whose names I can't remember at this time.
At that time, the Mount band was the best in the island, no other scout troop had a band. What do you expect! We where the best.
Something else always fascinated me. Where did all the nick names come from? how where they derived? But then that might be another story, maybe one for you Don? or Chris?, Wayne?
Robert.
----------------------------------------
Continuing with Rafael Echeverria

I was SO inspired by your latest Circular No. 46 and reading the story by Robert Huggins ... you know .... he described IN A VERY PRECISE MANNER how we all feel about the long lasting marks The Abbey School of Mt. St. Benedict left in
all of us ... deep in our hearts ... .
I remember how we use to complain all the time ... "Gosh ... this is jail man ... " ... The food stinks ... it's terrible" .... "All the"Fathers are dictators" ... and so forth ... but the truth is that we ALL miss those days ...any of us would give anything just to go back to one normal mount day .... just for one day .... wouldn't we ???? .. I know I would ... any time ...

Yes !!! ... Yes !!! ... That's Mount St. Benedict ... AND WE ARE ALL BLESSED for ever being a part of that "jail" .... it was heaven !!!! .... but it's only now that we realize it ... so please extend my best regards to Robert and convey to him my best feelings .... he has made me "revive" my best times .... and I still have sooooo many more memories ... it's incredible .... how important can a life experience be .... God Bless Mount !!!! ... for ever !!!! ... and The Mount Boys of whom I feel so
proud to be a part of .... and I feel so proud of Trinidad ... their people ... I still have so many friends from there ... I have to go back one day !!!! .... HOPEFULLY NEXT YEAR .. FOR THE MOUNT BOYS GATHERING !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! ...
Please Ladislao ... tell all how much I love them and miss them .... The be a Mount Boy ... is an old experience transformed into a culture ... almost a philosophy about life ...
Rafael
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Friends now to the Questions period !!! read up on Circular No. 114
********************************
Who was Jeremy?? His last name, please.
Where is John Abraham??
What was the name of Ferreira, the singer??
Unfortunately I have not been able to find Norman Smith, ????
I am still looking for Enrique Gomez, but there are too many Gomez here in Caracas.
Unfortunately Raul Leoni is out of the Country so no luck, can any one help with the email?
I hope Harry Laughlin can give us his opinion on the Basketball team and Rafael´s
performance. Harry can you send me a photo of the team or the names and
positions. The team record?. Whom did we beat!!
In Circular No. 115 I did not post any questions
Friends now to the Questions period !!! Read up on Circular No. 116
********************************************************
Cecil, please send me the names and the photo.
Where is Dr Hamelin?
Anyone has Phillip Nassief address from Dominica?
Or Crompton DuBoulay from St Lucia?
God Bless
Ladislao
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Listado: C116.xls
Photos: by Patrick Devaux, 2nd and 3rd of 4 photos: Abbey champs, St. Francis, Abbey tennis champs
Column: David Bratt Culture of Nurses
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ATTACHMENTS

Listado C116.xls

Names Form V Contact Nickname business address Phone e-mail
Penasa, Dario
glen
YV

Penasa, Roberto
kenrick



Pereira, Francis
coscart khaki TT

Persad
glen



Peter, Fr. OSB, Religion teacher lk



Peters, Allan
M.donellas
TT San Fernando peters@carb-link.net
Peters, Bruce
roge



Peters, Kirby
M.donellas
TT San Fernando
Petersen, Svend
glen
YV

Phillip, Colin


ca

Picardi, Ernesto
glen
YV

Picolli,
coscarart



Pierre, Jean
coscarart



Pierre, Richard 1958 PB



Pires, BC
lk
uk London bcpires@skettel.com, BC@wow.net
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Saturday, January 10, 2004

Circular No 115



Newsletter for past alumni of The Abbey School, Mt. St. Benedict, Trinidad and Tobago, W.I.
Caracas, 10 of January 2004. Circular No. 114
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Dear Friends,
Here is the first detailed article that I have received on Fr. Bernard, capturing the essence of the man. Since this is the most difficult aspect in writing about a person, Rafael has captured the personality to a fine detail, wonderful testimony for posterity.
I would like to hear comments, another opinion, how about it, Wayne! I hope that this resume could be expanded to other priests and members of the MSB community in future Circulars.
-------------------------------------------------------
From: "Rafael Echeverria G." <reglaw@netuno.net.ve>
Date: 26 Oct 10:17 (PST)

Dear Ladislao,
First of all let me confirm my deep regret in not being able to meet with you for lunch during your last visit to Maracaibo last Thursday. I promise I will be contacting you when I go to Caracas next time.
I have been deeply touched by Fr. Bernard's Eulogy. It brought me back memories of what Fr. Bernard meant to me. Of how much he taught me.
WHAT FATHER BERNARD MEANT TO ME.-
He was always the silent ... but always a present ... authority. It was not necessary for him to be present anywhere or at any time in particular for all of us to know that we would never wished to have to confront him if we failed to do things the right way. I remember how much Norman Smith and myself made jokes about him. Laughing at the nickname everybody knew him by. But we all knew that in spite of that Fr. Bernard ... Our HEADMASTER ... had our full and deep respect.
Father Bernard taught me how to face the truth. He taught me a lot about honesty. Honesty with myself. I dare say that his being so severe was based precisely in making me confront myself and with my own weaknesses and mistakes. Fr. Bernard would make sure that I would do anything in my power to correct myself. And if I failed in trying, he would take care of things. The hard way. He would always call me to put my feet on earth as I pretended to make The Beatles a substitution for my Mathematics and English Literature. He taught me to laugh at myself. I was a dreamer.
He made me appreciate the love for my Father (Don Rafael Echeverría). He always talked to me about my father's professional and political merits as a thinker. I will never forget his teachings about strength of character. Very especially as our Director in the Play "A Man for All Season".
To receive the notification of having to appear at his Desk, was always an incredible feeling of challenge, and fear. It was not easy to stand to his eyes looking at you over the rim of his thin glasses while asking you whatever he wanted to know or whatever he wanted to stress in your heart. Fr. Bernard taught me how stupid one can be by being selfish and conceited. He taught the
greatness of facing the truth no matter how painful it was the price to be paid. He made me stronger by making me suffer in confronting myself.
It was a challenge to face Fr. Bernard. As my Religion Teacher, he took things very seriously and exposed me to shame - a
couple of times - when falling asleep in his classes. My mind would just jump when hearing his voice "... Rafael ...." almost as a whisper from his teacher's desk. Then I would open my eyes having to confront the whole class ... and his eyes ... once again ... looking straight at me over the rim of his thin glasses ... and smiling ... with holy patience. That episode - and others he provoked - made me feel so incredibly stupid, and taught me so much. He always put me to the challenge. The challenge of confronting myself and my miseries. He taught me the value of honour.
The last time I saw him was in Caracas, I remember him so well while driving down Av. Luis Roche in Altamira. He looked healthy and strong with excellent humour. I was with Kendrik Allum in his car and Father Bernard - after a brief and pleasant conversation - exploded with laughter and told me "You are still the same philosopher Rafael" .... He laughed so much. He asked me lots of questions about my plans for the future. It was heaven talking to him.
He was my HEADMASTER. He was my friend. I love him. I will never forget him. I regret not being closer to him during his last years. How can I ever honour him enough ? How can I make my wife, children and grandchildren know how much he meant to me ? How can I make all of them understand that the person which I am now ... whatever or whoever I am ... I owe him in a great and important part ... to him ... Father Bernard ... my HEADMASTER at The Abbey School of Mount St. Benedict.
Father Bernard meant my whole life to me. He taught me to Love Christ. He made me a Christian. He made me a Mount Boy. He made me a man.
I guess the best way to honour him is never to forget him and live every day following his example. His heroism. I will try my best ... while I imagine his eyes looking at me over the rim of his thin glasses ... with a smile.
Rafael (CheChe)
----------------------------------------------------------
Another article on specific topics, by my inspired friend, Rafael The Music .. I remember how much I admired John Abraham and Jeremy with their band "The Interpreters" ... They were The Mount Musical Band ... The Mount Boys Band ... they used to play a lot of calypso songs and instrumentals.
The Shadows who were very famous at the time ... somehow parallel to era of The Beatles who came up with their revolutionary "rock with voice harmonies" ....which was a "revelation" compared with the unison rock of Elvis Presley, Little Richard and all those. I used to sit and listen to the Interpreters in their Mount Hall backstage rehearsals... I remember a guy by the name of Ferreira who use to sing.... I envied them so much that I would give anything to become a part of that band ... one day I remember that I started to give my opinions ... and that really "pissed" John ...he told me to GET OUT !!!! .... With time John and I became
great friends .... I started to learn how to play the guitar ... Jeremy was my informal professor ..
I bought a cheap guitar in down town Port of Spain ... and I didn't have the slightest idea of how to form a chord ... but Jeremy taught me ... I will always thank him for that. ....
With time... Norman Smith (The Interpreters bass player) left the band for some reason and I picked up the bass guitar which became my passion ....
I will always remember the day I spent at John Abraham's home in Port of Spain ... he invited me to practice his songs and after I was playing for some time he softly said .... "boy ... you are good!" ... MY GOD THAT WAS A REVELATION TO ME!!!! ... I was earning the respect and recognition from the person I so much admired ... and respected .... and we had some "Kalaloo" .... it's missing the crab though" ... John said ... that was the first time in my life I had "Kalaloo" ... didn't like it much .. but I ate it !!! ...I preferred Roty ...
Then afterwards ... as I have said in past reports ... I formed the Band "Chains" .... playing Beatles ... with Norman Smith who took the Rhythm Guitar ... My brother Gustavo (they use to call him "small CheChe") ... he played a VOX 12 string guitar which John Abraham loved .... (I still have it up in my room) ... and Enrique Gomez (Departamento de Tira-Coñazos)... played the drums ....
We made a presentation at the Mount's Hall and it was WILD !!!! ... It was great ..we became very popular among a group of friends in Port of Spain ... for some time ... we also played at St. Joseph's Convent (girls school in Port of Spain) ... boy... we felt like stars !!!! .... girls were nice !!!! .... AND ... we came to Caracas ... and we were the first Rock Group that played at La
Casona ... The Venezuelan Presidential Residence ... CHAINS !!!! ... a Mount Boy's Rock Group ... Venezuelan Mount Boys ... we were invited by Raul Leoni's son (Raul) who was also a Mount Boy at the time ... to celebrate Menca de Leoni's birthday
.... I will never forget that ... how can one ever forget ???? ... we were in heaven ...
The Basketball .... I became .. with a lot of effort ... a member of Abbey's A Team ... I remember Harry Laughlin ... great player !!!! ... good guy ... Our walks to White Stones .. digging out spiders and putting them to fight .... tarantulas .... the Scout Trips ... walking ... to Maracas Bay .... I don't remember the name of our Coach ( can any one help? ed.) ... he was our guide ...
that was the first time I ate Baby Shark .... our guide prepared it ... with curry ... I remember that bad night we had ... sleeping on the sand ... it was raining ...
Just last night I was at a friend's house and I met a guy from Trinidad ... Jimmy Brennan ... he is the General Manager for Venezuela for Tucker Services (and Oil Service Co.) ... The "Tuckers" are all Trinidadians .. they now live in Texas .... and I told them
about my days in Mount and we had a great talk .. he also started remembering his good times in Trinidad ...
I have in fact met lots of people from Trinidad over the years ... all the time ...as a International Lawyer in my practice in the Oil Industry ... and I have a great time with all of them ...
I even met a group one at an Opus Day Retreat near Caracas ... and we played Calypsos ... I picked a guitar and played a calypso (RinTinTin) I remembered from The Merrymen (A group from Barbados) I wonder if it still exists ... I guess not ... they were really good ... they played "Yesterday" (Beatles) but with calypso tempo .. it was great ... when I went to England to continue my studies I played "Yesterday" as a calypso and the Brits just would not believe it !!! HA !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Rin Tin Tin ...
Everybody hear this tin ...
Ma' galfriend promis' to gimme sometin...
and the bells won't ring ...
and the birds won't sing...
'caus she promis' to gimme some tin tin tin
Ev'ry year is the same tin ...
all she do is promissin ...
well she promise me a house and a motor car ...
Ev'ry year is the same tin ..
all you do is promissin gal ...
bu' so help me God I'm gonna catch yu 'dis carnival !!!
BLESSINGS TO ALL !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Rafael Echeverría (CheChe)
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Friends now to the Questions period !!!
********************************
Who was Jeremy??, his last name, please?
Where is John Abraham??
What was the name of Ferreira, the singer??
Unfortunately I have not been able to find Norman Smith, ????
I am still looking for Enrique Gomez, but there are too many Gomez here in Caracas.
Unfortunately Raul Leoni is out of the Country so no luck, can any one help with the email?
I hope Harry Laughlin can give us his opinion on the Basketball team and Rafael´s performance. Harry can you send me a photo of the team or the names and positions. The team record?. Whom did we beat!!
The new photos are from Bernard Fontaine (BF), please place names on the faces, use the numbers, and indicate the photo so that I can place them in a file next to the photo.
God Bless
Ladislao
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Listado: C114.xls
Photos: Bf Scoutband no
BF St. Anthony no
Column: David Bratt - health corruption crime
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Circular No 114



Newsletter for past alumni of The Abbey School, Mt. St. Benedict, Trinidad and Tobago, W.I.
Caracas, 10 of January 2004. Circular No. 114
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Dear Friends,
Here is the first detailed article that I have received on Fr. Bernard, capturing the essence of the man. Since this is the most difficult aspect in writing about a person, Rafael has captured the personality to a fine detail, wonderful testimony for posterity.
I would like to hear comments, another opinion, how about it, Wayne! I hope that this resume could be expanded to other priests and members of the MSB community in future Circulars.
-------------------------------------------------------
From: "Rafael Echeverria G." <reglaw@netuno.net.ve>
Date: 26 Oct 10:17 (PST)

Dear Ladislao,
First of all let me confirm my deep regret in not being able to meet with you for lunch during your last visit to Maracaibo last Thursday. I promise I will be contacting you when I go to Caracas next time.
I have been deeply touched by Fr. Bernard's Eulogy. It brought me back memories of what Fr. Bernard meant to me. Of how much he taught me.
WHAT FATHER BERNARD MEANT TO ME.-
He was always the silent ... but always a present ... authority. It was not necessary for him to be present anywhere or at any time in particular for all of us to know that we would never wished to have to confront him if we failed to do things the right way. I remember how much Norman Smith and myself made jokes about him. Laughing at the nickname everybody knew him by. But we all knew that in spite of that Fr. Bernard ... Our HEADMASTER ... had our full and deep respect.
Father Bernard taught me how to face the truth. He taught me a lot about honesty. Honesty with myself. I dare say that his being so severe was based precisely in making me confront myself and with my own weaknesses and mistakes. Fr. Bernard would make sure that I would do anything in my power to correct myself. And if I failed in trying, he would take care of things. The hard way. He would always call me to put my feet on earth as I pretended to make The Beatles a substitution for my Mathematics and English Literature. He taught me to laugh at myself. I was a dreamer.
He made me appreciate the love for my Father (Don Rafael Echeverría). He always talked to me about my father's professional and political merits as a thinker. I will never forget his teachings about strength of character. Very especially as our Director in the Play "A Man for All Season".
To receive the notification of having to appear at his Desk, was always an incredible feeling of challenge, and fear. It was not easy to stand to his eyes looking at you over the rim of his thin glasses while asking you whatever he wanted to know or whatever he wanted to stress in your heart. Fr. Bernard taught me how stupid one can be by being selfish and conceited. He taught the
greatness of facing the truth no matter how painful it was the price to be paid. He made me stronger by making me suffer in confronting myself.
It was a challenge to face Fr. Bernard. As my Religion Teacher, he took things very seriously and exposed me to shame - a
couple of times - when falling asleep in his classes. My mind would just jump when hearing his voice "... Rafael ...." almost as a whisper from his teacher's desk. Then I would open my eyes having to confront the whole class ... and his eyes ... once again ... looking straight at me over the rim of his thin glasses ... and smiling ... with holy patience. That episode - and others he provoked - made me feel so incredibly stupid, and taught me so much. He always put me to the challenge. The challenge of confronting myself and my miseries. He taught me the value of honour.
The last time I saw him was in Caracas, I remember him so well while driving down Av. Luis Roche in Altamira. He looked healthy and strong with excellent humour. I was with Kendrik Allum in his car and Father Bernard - after a brief and pleasant conversation - exploded with laughter and told me "You are still the same philosopher Rafael" .... He laughed so much. He asked me lots of questions about my plans for the future. It was heaven talking to him.
He was my HEADMASTER. He was my friend. I love him. I will never forget him. I regret not being closer to him during his last years. How can I ever honour him enough ? How can I make my wife, children and grandchildren know how much he meant to me ? How can I make all of them understand that the person which I am now ... whatever or whoever I am ... I owe him in a great and important part ... to him ... Father Bernard ... my HEADMASTER at The Abbey School of Mount St. Benedict.
Father Bernard meant my whole life to me. He taught me to Love Christ. He made me a Christian. He made me a Mount Boy. He made me a man.
I guess the best way to honour him is never to forget him and live every day following his example. His heroism. I will try my best ... while I imagine his eyes looking at me over the rim of his thin glasses ... with a smile.
Rafael (CheChe)
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Another article on specific topics, by my inspired friend, Rafael The Music .. I remember how much I admired John Abraham and Jeremy with their band "The Interpreters" ... They were The Mount Musical Band ... The Mount Boys Band ... they used to play a lot of calypso songs and instrumentals.
The Shadows who were very famous at the time ... somehow parallel to era of The Beatles who came up with their revolutionary "rock with voice harmonies" ....which was a "revelation" compared with the unison rock of Elvis Presley, Little Richard and all those. I used to sit and listen to the Interpreters in their Mount Hall backstage rehearsals... I remember a guy by the name of Ferreira who use to sing.... I envied them so much that I would give anything to become a part of that band ... one day I remember that I started to give my opinions ... and that really "pissed" John ...he told me to GET OUT !!!! .... With time John and I became
great friends .... I started to learn how to play the guitar ... Jeremy was my informal professor ..
I bought a cheap guitar in down town Port of Spain ... and I didn't have the slightest idea of how to form a chord ... but Jeremy taught me ... I will always thank him for that. ....
With time... Norman Smith (The Interpreters bass player) left the band for some reason and I picked up the bass guitar which became my passion ....
I will always remember the day I spent at John Abraham's home in Port of Spain ... he invited me to practice his songs and after I was playing for some time he softly said .... "boy ... you are good!" ... MY GOD THAT WAS A REVELATION TO ME!!!! ... I was earning the respect and recognition from the person I so much admired ... and respected .... and we had some "Kalaloo" .... it's missing the crab though" ... John said ... that was the first time in my life I had "Kalaloo" ... didn't like it much .. but I ate it !!! ...I preferred Roty ...
Then afterwards ... as I have said in past reports ... I formed the Band "Chains" .... playing Beatles ... with Norman Smith who took the Rhythm Guitar ... My brother Gustavo (they use to call him "small CheChe") ... he played a VOX 12 string guitar which John Abraham loved .... (I still have it up in my room) ... and Enrique Gomez (Departamento de Tira-Coñazos)... played the drums ....
We made a presentation at the Mount's Hall and it was WILD !!!! ... It was great ..we became very popular among a group of friends in Port of Spain ... for some time ... we also played at St. Joseph's Convent (girls school in Port of Spain) ... boy... we felt like stars !!!! .... girls were nice !!!! .... AND ... we came to Caracas ... and we were the first Rock Group that played at La
Casona ... The Venezuelan Presidential Residence ... CHAINS !!!! ... a Mount Boy's Rock Group ... Venezuelan Mount Boys ... we were invited by Raul Leoni's son (Raul) who was also a Mount Boy at the time ... to celebrate Menca de Leoni's birthday
.... I will never forget that ... how can one ever forget ???? ... we were in heaven ...
The Basketball .... I became .. with a lot of effort ... a member of Abbey's A Team ... I remember Harry Laughlin ... great player !!!! ... good guy ... Our walks to White Stones .. digging out spiders and putting them to fight .... tarantulas .... the Scout Trips ... walking ... to Maracas Bay .... I don't remember the name of our Coach ( can any one help? ed.) ... he was our guide ...
that was the first time I ate Baby Shark .... our guide prepared it ... with curry ... I remember that bad night we had ... sleeping on the sand ... it was raining ...
Just last night I was at a friend's house and I met a guy from Trinidad ... Jimmy Brennan ... he is the General Manager for Venezuela for Tucker Services (and Oil Service Co.) ... The "Tuckers" are all Trinidadians .. they now live in Texas .... and I told them
about my days in Mount and we had a great talk .. he also started remembering his good times in Trinidad ...
I have in fact met lots of people from Trinidad over the years ... all the time ...as a International Lawyer in my practice in the Oil Industry ... and I have a great time with all of them ...
I even met a group one at an Opus Day Retreat near Caracas ... and we played Calypsos ... I picked a guitar and played a calypso (RinTinTin) I remembered from The Merrymen (A group from Barbados) I wonder if it still exists ... I guess not ... they were really good ... they played "Yesterday" (Beatles) but with calypso tempo .. it was great ... when I went to England to continue my studies I played "Yesterday" as a calypso and the Brits just would not believe it !!! HA !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Rin Tin Tin ...
Everybody hear this tin ...
Ma' galfriend promis' to gimme sometin...
and the bells won't ring ...
and the birds won't sing...
'caus she promis' to gimme some tin tin tin
Ev'ry year is the same tin ...
all she do is promissin ...
well she promise me a house and a motor car ...
Ev'ry year is the same tin ..
all you do is promissin gal ...
bu' so help me God I'm gonna catch yu 'dis carnival !!!
BLESSINGS TO ALL !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Rafael Echeverría (CheChe)
--------------------------------------------------------------
Friends now to the Questions period !!!

Who was Jeremy?? His last name, please?
Where is John Abraham??
What was the name of Ferreira, the singer??
Unfortunately I have not been able to find Norman Smith ????
I am still looking for Enrique Gomez, but there are too many Gomez here in Caracas.
Unfortunately Raul Leoni is out of the Country so no luck, can any one help with the email?
I hope Harry Laughlin can give us his opinion on the Basketball team and Rafael´s performance. Harry can you send me a photo of the team or the names and positions. The team record?. Whom did we beat!!
The new photos are from Bernard Fontaine (BF), please place names on the faces, use the numbers, and indicate the photo so that I can place them in a file next to the photo.
God Bless
Ladislao
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Listado: C114.xls
Photos: Bf Scoutband no
BF St. Anthony no
Column: David Bratt - health corruption crime
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Sunday, January 04, 2004

Circular No 113



Newsletter for past alumni of The Abbey School, Mt. St. Benedict, Trinidad and Tobago, W.I.
Caracas, 4 of January 2004. Circular No. 113
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Dear Friends,
As you have noticed, I did not quit last year!. For some maybe it is an omen; keep on sending information and I shall send it out to your friends. Those that have survived Christmas dinner, New Year´s, celebrations, good for you, you belong to the hardy group of alumni that have and will keep up the MSB traditions proudly.
ALUMNI LISTING:
Before you start reading the Circular, I would like to ask you to open the .xls EXCEL file and use the result to build your private List of Alumni. The format is always the same so you can copy the weekly group into the principal. If you do not see a friend or classmate, please let me know.
The column: Form V, is the year you have graduated, be it in The Abbey School or any other school you went after leaving MSB. This is useful in creating your Class group.
The Contact information is the name of the person that included your name in the listing, this is important in the case an alumni has past away. The same is true for the nickname, business address business telephone, e-mail, home address, home telephone, and cell phone. Check these out, I am sure that there are a lot of mistakes; your name might be misspelled, just as your telephone might have changed???. I might want to call you !!!.
So now here is the part you have been waiting for, hope you can find a friend or can broaden the information.
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From: Manuel José Prada Padovani <manjosepra@hotmail.com>
Date: 2 Jan 07:21 (PST)

Ladislao:
Thanks for keeping good memories alive...
Best and sincere wishes for each and everyone of the mount boys in this coming year.
For us, the Venezuelans, we need lots of prayers and divine protection to sort this political problem that has us on the verge of civil strife, violence and what not.
Manuel Prada
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And here is another email in response to our efforts to round up all the alumni.
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From: <keung@tstt.net.tt>
Date: 31 Dec 04:09 (PST)

Dear Ladislao,
I have received two of your circulars to date. I however am not an old boy of MSB but read the circulars nevertheless.
I notice in one of the circulars there was mention of Brent Gonsalves, did he have a brother by the name of Andrew? if he is the same one, then I am friends with his family - his wife and three children.
God's Blessings and have a trouble free 2004.
Anthony
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De: ANDRES MOFFIE moffiea@pdvsa.com
Asunto: PUT ME IN THE LIST.
Fecha: 12/08/2003 14:19:43

HI, guys,
I was up in mount since 1967 to 74 the same time as the Coscarart, the Garners, Thomas Pegus, Rudy Polderman, Thimothy Heally, W. Ramlogant ( off former SCALET IBIS HOTEL IN TUNAPUNA), Johnny Garcia, Skippy, Jimmy Samaroo, Wayne
Chang, Danny Isse, Garth Alexander, and others.
If Salvador remembers we did a lot of swimming for the Abbey Aqua Lads, I remember swimming against some swimming clubs here in Venezuela.
I have lots of photos of those wonderful days up in Abbey, I'll do my best to have them sent to you.
Do you guys remember Nurse Kelly, Mr. Marck, Mr. Julian, Basanta, Lord Short Pants (Mcintoch) ?. What about B. Lange Alias Rosita, and Br. Rupy?
I married 10 years ago, got two kids, one of 7 and one of 9 they are doing very well at school, and she is expecting another one in February coming, shit never to old for this business.
Right now I am working for the oil industry PDVSA in Engineering and Construction Department at Campo Morichal.
My home phone 0283-2555908, cel. No. 0416-7837219,
My brother Edgar e-mail EMOFFIE@HANOVER-CO.COM, his cel. No. 0416-6920974
Well amigos hope to hear from you all before Xmas.
Forgot to tell you I am also a extraordinary Eucharistic minister or the catholic church.
Jodio esto pero bueno.
ANDRES ELOY MOFFIE.
(If any one can give me clues as to the wellbeing of the mentioned, oldboys and personnel, please write. Ed.)
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De: Don Mitchell, QC idmitch@candw.ag
Fecha: 05/10/2003 14:46:44

Hello Ladislao,
Congratulations are in order!! I do not know how you can manage it.
As a matter of curiosity, what is the 1962 document attached that bears all the signatures? [mine is one of them]
Don
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From: Don Mitchell, QC idmitch@candw.ag
Date: 28 Aug 18:15 (PDT)

Hello Ladislao,
Here I am back in Antigua.
The trip to Trinidad is now past, and I must get back to work. But, I would like to send you some of the photographs I took.
My computer broke down, and is being repaired. I am borrowing Maggie's at the present.
I have downloaded the photos to it, and will attach them one by one to email messages that I shall send to you.
I am very bad with names, so please excuse the lack of information. The first one I call "The Head Table."
The old boys of the 1985 class who organised the function treated us all very hospitably. I thoroughly enjoyed the event, and hope that more of us will make it next year. They have promised to make it an annual event.
The monks and Ms Markus attended the Friday event. I attach several photos of them. It was so nostalgic to see them again.
Only Fr Abbot was able to make it to the Sunday lunch in the Maraval Valley.
The photos of the men and women in formal dress were taken at the dinner on the Friday night. The ones of us dressed less formally were taken on the Sunday at the home of Mr Hardip-Singh, where we enjoyed viewing the wide array of wild animals
surrounding the house.
Very few of the old boys from our generation were present. You will recognise the ones who are in the photos.
All the best,
Don
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From: Manuel José Prada Padovani <manjosepra@hotmail.com>
Date: Thu, 02 Jan 2003 15:12:01 +0000

Never the last Ladislao.
Thanks a million for the good and bad news, bad when they refer to people passing away but that is life. On a personal basis you have opened a book that Isaias, Urbano, Pedro, Azier and I, among others tried to keep open on the first Monday of every month, at times we tried to keep updated on our former friends but we were not able to keep things going steadily.
So thanks to you and my dear Gabby, I must write him, I love him dearly, he doesn't know how grateful I am to him for his kindness with me at Atchison Kansas, only God knows.
All the best Ladislao, really,
God bless and protect you.
Manuel prada.
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From: Manuel José Prada Padovani <manjosepra@hotmail.com>
Date: Mon, 13 Jan 2003 22:59:22 +0000

Ladislao,
Quien escribió ese articulo, tan interesante sobre Egipto y Venezuela, por favor envíame su dirección y solamente el articulo ya que no se, coño como guardar solamente ese trabajo tan interesante, gracias, amigo, Te debo mi articulo sobre mi experiencia educativa en Trinidad,
Promise.
Manuel

Who wrote that article, so interesting on Egypt and Venezuela, please send me his address and only the artìcule since I do not know, coño how to save only that so interesting work, thanks, friend.
I owe you my articule on my experience in Trinidad,
Promise.
Manuel
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As you can read from the last two email from Manuel, I am checking out all the files at a slow rate to make sure all your comments are published. Some are old but most are not time limited, and I am sure the writer needs assurances that his comment are for posterity.
God Bless
Ladislao
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Listado: C113.xls
Photos: Salvador Coscarart, a firiend and Pedro Coscarart
old boys R3 Fr. Abbot Alleyne, now in Guyana
Column: David Bratt - no column this week
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