Circular No 960 Extra

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

Caracas, 29 of March 2020 No. 960 extra

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Dear Friends,

I have created an extra edition to take care of miscellaneous articles that might not be as interesting as the weekly issue but have to do with our School and Oldboys.

Wayne Vincent Brown was a classmate of mine, tormentor during meals during the first month at school, as my knowledge of English was zero when I arrived in September 1955.

The table head prefect wanted me to learn as fast as possible and assigned WVB to the task.

If I did not ask for the food in English then there was nothing to eat.

Soon he saw me as a lost cause and left me alone and I was allowed to take the leftovers in the dishes.

Really it took me quite a while to learn decent English enough for me to write essays, let’s say six months.

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Wayne Vincent Brown, July 18, 1944 – September 15, 2009

Stabroek News September 20, 2009

Wayne Vincent Brown (Wayne Brown as he was widely known) was a poet, memoirist, journalist, literary scholar and creative writing teacher. Born in Port-of-Spain on July 18, 1944, he was the author of two books of poetry, two books of short stories and remembrances, and a biography of Edna Manley. He also edited several books of poetry and was the longstanding editor of the Jamaica Observer’s Literary Arts Magazine.  He died of cancer on September 15, 2009, in Kingston, Jamaica.

One of the “new wave” generation of poets succeeding Derek Walcott, which included Eddie Baugh, Mervyn Morris and Tony McNeil, Brown was credited as having a vital and authentic voice from his first collection On the Coast (André Deutsch, 1972). Poet Ted Hughes said of the book, “Wayne Brown’s poems are often startling and always the genuine thing. His West Indies is real, infinite and near. His flexible natural instinct for ranging through the different and contrary dimensions of his life seems to me new—and his life feels actual.”

Brown joined the Trinidad Guardian as a sports columnist, writing about horse racing, in 1963. He left the paper and journalism in 1964, and entered the University of the West Indies, Mona, to read for a degree in English. Walcott, with whom he had developed a relationship, read some of his poems from this time. Ramchand reports that Walcott told Brown, “Good; you have to start working hard.” Which he certainly did. His first collection of poems, On the Coast, won the Commonwealth Prize for Poetry and is thought to have been the primary motivation for Brown’s selection as Gregory Fellow in Poetry at the University of Leeds in 1974. He was the only non-British poet to hold the post. At Leeds he co-edited a book commemorating 21 years of Poetry & Audience magazine.

Nineteen-seventy-six saw the publication of Edna Manley: The Private Years (André Deutsch), Brown’s biography of the Jamaican sculptor and arts patron who was the wife of Jamaican statesman Norman Manley and mother of Jamaican Prime Minister Michael Manley.

Brown had a longstanding relationship with Jamaica, living there after graduation, returning periodically over the rest of his life and finally settling there in 1997. Though identified as a Trinidadian writer, through his dedication to the magnification of literature in the Jamaican press he nurtured the voices of a new generation of Caribbean poets and fiction writers. With his Creative Writing Workshop, begun in Trinidad and conducted over sixteen years in various incarnations and in different locations, he coached writers including Amanda Smyth, Andrew ‘Kei’ Miller, Gwyneth Barber Wood and Delores Guantlett.

He had a long career as a teacher; a two-year turn at Fatima College in Trinidad preceded positions lecturing in English Literature at UWI, St Augustine and Mona, among other international posts. Before his death he was a tutor in Creative Writing for the MFA programme of Lesley University, Massachussets; and also taught an online course for Stanford University, California.

Brown earned several honours during his career as a writer. In 1968 he won the Jamaican Independence Festival Poetry Prize; he taught as a Fulbright Scholar at the University of Albany, Georgia; and was a fellow of Yaddo, MacDowell, the Virginia Center for the Creative Arts, and the Rockefeller Foundation.

In 1984 he returned to journalism with the column In Our Time, a wide-ranging and elegant commentary on subjects personal, political, cultural and artistic. The column, begun at the Trinidad Express, was published in the Trinidadian, Jamaican and Guyanese press over its lifespan — upwards of 3,500 editions. He came to regard In Our Time as a way that he could speak directly to his people – the people of the Caribbean.  He also wrote a short-lived column called In the Obama Era for six months in 2009. It followed the weekly series The Race for the White House, which appeared between February and November 2008 in the Express, the Barbados Nation and Guyana’s Stabroek News.

Brown’s second volume of poems, Voyages (Inprint Caribbean, 1989), was followed by two collections of short stories and memoirs, Child of the Sea (Inprint Caribbean, 1990) and Landscape with Heron (Observer Literary Books, 2000). He considered the title story of the latter his finest work of fiction. On the Coast is scheduled for re-publication by Peepal Tree Press, which is also slated to publish a new collection of stories and remembrances, The Scent of the Past.

Brown married Megan Hopkyn-Rees in 1968; they divorced in 1981. He is survived by their two daughers, Mariel and Saffrey. Mariel quotes him as saying, “When you and Saffrey were born, I became a celebrant of things outside of myself. I was enamoured of the vivacity and the variety in things.”

Brown had a longstanding relationship with Donna Benny, with whom he lived for some twelve years. At the time of his death his partner was Mignon Manderson-Jones.

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Adolfo´s whatsapp group, used by those who get the donations from TnT.

On Sun, Jan 12, 2020 at 2:38 PM GEORGE MICKIEWICZ wrote:

Hi Nigel et Al

In response to your note below, my humble opinion based on my limited historical knowledge, there has been a TEAM OF SEVERAL LEADERS who have emerged over the last decades since the closing of our beloved school.

I reconnected with the Abbey School around 2007 when I found a reference to the Circulars in Google. Reflecting on what I have learned since, I see the following as leaders that have contributed to our global alumni in one way or another:

Art Knaggs – Oasis

Ladislao Kertesz – Circulars

Don Mitchell -Blog for Circulars, reunion, and overall contributor

Nigel Boos – Database, Scouts, Photos, Librarian/Historian and overall contributor

Joe Berment-McDowald – Past ASSA president, organizer & main fund raiser for our Venezuelan alums-in-need

Dr Adolfo Aumaitre – courageous transporter of USA $, medicines, goods, etc. to our Venezuelan alums-in-need via a boat trip from Trinidad  to Venezuela

Don Goddard – 2018 Brother Vincent/Lionel Roberts St Petersburg reunion organizer

Glen McKoy – Cheerleader and overall contributor

Kazim Abasali – Creator & keeper of the MSB web page, Facebook, current Database and general IT related contributions plus overall contributor

Father Harold Imamshah – Spiritual Director.

Many others, unknown to me at this time, have stepped up and led Abbey School-Mount St Benedict related efforts at one point and time. We recognize them too. Thank Y’All Very much for your value adding leadership in these accomplishments. I am very proud and celebrate each one of you.

16/1/20 Aumaitre Adolfo: This is a note coming from:Abbey School Leadership Team 13 de Enero 2020.

Thank you, George and Nigel for your contributions. As Nigel shared, I consider Knight Ladislao as our present leader. And as Nigel shared King Arthur for his herculean task. Ladislao is also courageously fighting this battle of survival in this our times as Arthur did in his time. With what Venezuela is experiencing and Laz efforts it is indeed admirable of him too.

Nigel, I know you are a humble person. You have contributed a great deal my friend. What you have done too needs mention and Knighthood.

And Glen for his overall cheer-leading support and keeping the White Stones stories alive. Don for sharing what Ladislao puts together. All in all, everyone mentioned by George has paid their dues and is truly loved, admired and appreciated.

Joe, Dr Adolfo, Don Goddard, and so many more

As Don told me in our Trinidad reunion, what we do is a labour of love. We seek no payment. To God be all the praise and glory.

Finally, I am in the process of writing a report communicating the happenings of my life recently. Thanks to Ladislao for asking me to contribute. He works behind the scenes also. There is a great deal happening at present that I must share with you all. First and foremost it goes to Ladislao as my yearly submission to him. Thank you Ladislao for continuing and for keeping us together.

Love you all. Nigel, we are keeping you in our prayers.

1/17/20 Aumaitre Adolfo: Good afternoon brothers, unfortunately I had to leave my Movistar number 04148797398, please contact me by 04168979364 or by 04128330565, thank you and God bless you

1/17/20 Mezzana Luis: Thank you, Adolfo. I already wrote it down.

1/18/20 Luongo Miguel Angel: I am remembering right now (it is 12:33 a.m.) that it is already January 18 and Winston Cabello Luongo is having a birthday. Cousin: I wish you have a truly happy birthday, doing exactly what you like best, with congratulations from family and friends.

Strong hug, with the same affection as always !!!

18/1/20 Lopez Jesus: Brothers good afternoon, if for me a pleasure to tell you that I am in the island,  wao all's of you don't imagine  how this country is now

18/1/20 Robleda Santiago: good for you hope you send photos to see the changes enjoy it brother

18/1/20 Lopez Jesus: Remember brothers is a house in San Fernando from 1966, and it's an island, because all around  they are buildings of concrete gravel sand and cement, I am taking this FOTO in a fuel station, and here nobody make a line to buy gasoline or any fuel, really this it's an easy country have a good economy and the people here look without problem, like us 20 years ago poor Venezuela, here the store are full of everything and people could buy all they want

18/1/20 Aumaitre Adolfo: Good afternoon, brothers, I was chatting on WhatsApp with Joe and I told him that our brother Jesús López, went to Trinidad to work this week illegally, due to the problems that there are in obtaining a visa, he told me to tell you, that if any of us comes up to go to work, that they do not do it illegally, because it is very difficult for them (TT old boys) and almost impossible to help them legalize, since there is relentless persecution, almost a hunting, against the Venezuelans who are illegal there. The police raid all the houses without prior notice, they ask for the documents and they take prisoners to those who are illegal, in addition they are selling false yellow refugee certificates and whoever they grab with one of those false certificates they put from 15 to 20 years in prison. That was his comment to you.

19/1/20 Lopez Jesus: Good afternoon dear brothers, remember and enjoy this FOTO, I hope all's of you can come here, and experiment the emotions that this moment went for me The negro woman is the daughter of the Mrs, how sold us the Candi's and the ice cream, when we walked to the swimming pool She is the sister of my daughter... I beg you pardon, because I wrote with mistakes but I very emotional

19/1/20 Robleda Santiago: thanks for the photos It brings me memories 50 years I haven"t seen my school although I have pretty bad momory

26/1/20 Luongo Humberto: 0424  8285184... To all my friends and group colleagues, and especially to the administrator, I inform that I will stop using this number for which I am writing to you and will start using the one in the heading, that is, 0424 8285184 ... I thank you, therefore, proceed from this very moment to eliminate or cancel this number and use the new movistar that I am giving now. I thank you very much for your help and collaboration to be able to communicate again. ..hug. . Grateful.

1/26/20 Aumaitre Adolfo: I still cannot understand, because people allow themselves to be manipulated so easily, one goes through the PSUV identification points and there are people like ants. Could it be that maduristas do not go hungry and need? That they have everything covered with the bonuses they give you and is that enough to cover all your needs? It is incomprehensible!  Good morning brother Humberto, how are you? I have registered 3 phone numbers of yours 0416, 0426 and 0424 now, which one are you not going to use anymore?

1/26/20 Luongo Humberto: 0416 4 893234 .... that is, the first one you mention. Please delete it and thanks. It is almost out of operation and I cannot pay three rents despite having Wifi at home. Thanks brother. The movistar joins the group, that is, 0424 8285184. Hug

2/2/20 Lopez Jesus: Believe all of the trouble in nineteen century an in this twenty had been created for humans

2/2/20 Aumaitre Adolfo: Jesús, did Joe contact you?  Winston is back on TT he arrived last night and I send him your phone number, he promise me he will contact you this week

2/2/20 Lopez Jesus: No brother, how do you do, when you have an opportunity to speak with him said him I am waiting for his aides  Ok brother thanks a lot for your good wishes

2/2/20 15:18 - Msbvtu Aumaitre Adolfo: I spoke with Joe this morning and he told me he was going to call you, hevask excuse but he missed you phone number  Spoke with Winston this morning too and he will call you during this week

2/2/20 Lopez Jesus: I at this moment need to contact them    here where I live said me if them go with me to the emigration ministries I get the pink card, that is the residents card for had been studied at Mount Well brothers how do you all's, every night I checked the news of our country and my hoped are standby  Ok brother Adolfo, I going to try contact with them

2/2/20 Aumaitre Adolfo: By the moment at least we are alive

2/2/20 Lopez Jesus: My God protect you all's, but brothers, what difference is here to our country

2/2/20 Aumaitre Adolfo: It is different for us that used to study there for a few years

2/2/20 Lopez Jesus: You maybe not believe me but here I start to remember all the English that father Bernard tech me

2/2/20 Aumaitre Adolfo: Jajajaja

2/2/20 Lopez Jesus: Teach

2/2/20 Aumaitre Adolfo: You will never forget that because you learned it as you second mother tongue Jajaja

2/2/20 Lopez Jesus: Yes that is really the truth

2/2/20 Aumaitre Adolfo: I am happy that you are well and enjoying it 

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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:

19DG0002CGODGO, Christian and Donald Goddard

17LK9187FBRGAWFE, Richard Galt and wife

70UN0002CLASS1975, UNKNOWNS

80UN0001CLASS1985, UNKNOWNS