Circular No 974

 

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

Caracas, 4 of Julio 2020 No. 974

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Dear Friends,

Heal the World - BP Renegades – YouTube

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YT0UL9oTnt0

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Nigel Boos <nigelboos@gmail.com>

Wed, Jun 10 at 11:12 PM

Beautiful pan!

And of course, ZOOM does extend the potential - bringing so many artists together.

Here’s a little article recording a time when I used to manage the AMOCO Renegades, between 1970-1973, I think. But this occasion was one when I’d invited them to play for a Christmas Liturgy at Assumption Church in Maraval, Trinidad - I believe it was the first time that a steel-band had played in a Catholic Church - at the height of the Black Power Movement in the island.

I hope you enjoy it:

1971      SINGING WITH THE AMOCO RENEGADES

Christmas of 1971 was the year that Amoco Renegades Steel Orchestra came to play at our Christmas Vigil at Assumption Church.

The Black Power Revolution of 1970 had soured relationships between the “Have’s” and the “Have Nots” of Port of Spain society. There was ill-feeling in Morvant and Laventille, where many poorer black people lived and where indeed, a number of steelbandsmen lived, members of the Amoco Renegades Steel Orchestra, which Amoco Trinidad Oil Company had been sponsoring since 1970.

As it happened, in June 1970, I had founded the “Assumption Folk Chorale” in Maraval, where dozens of young people would congregate each Saturday evening to sing at the 6.00 p.m. Mass and would then hang out together at one or other home, or dance hall, ice-cream shop or whatever.  Youngsters came from every stratum of Trinidad society. There were black kids, white kids, Chinese, Indians, Syrians, Lebanese, French stock, Spanish backgrounders, Germans, English and Irish kids, and they brought with them their own religious beliefs. Most were Catholics, but we also attracted some Protestants of various stripes, and there were Anglicans, Baptists, Presbyterians, Pentecostalists and so on. All were attracted by the vibrancy of our music, but in addition, there was always the attraction of meeting their peers in a non-threatening, controlled atmosphere, and of getting together socially afterwards.

At the same time, as the Public Relations Co-Ordinator of Amoco Trinidad Oil Company, I had been given the responsibility, by my company, Amoco Trinidad, of handling budget meetings with the management team of the “Amoco Renegades”, a company-sponsored steelband of approximately 40 members, who lived in the Morvant and Laventille parts of Port of Spain, and of bringing their concerns and suggestions to the attention of Amoco’s management.

We were getting close to Christmas, when, one day, the thought struck me, that I was in the unusual and enviable position of bringing the two groups together, the Assumption Folk Chorale and the Amoco Renegades, to play at a function at the Church itself. Now, wouldn’t that be interesting? No steelband had ever, to my knowledge, played at a Mass before, and as Churches went, the Assumption Church in Maraval had to be considered one of the bastions of the white “French creole” establishment. It was probably fair to say that very few members of the Laventille / Morvant community would have ever ventured into the precincts of the Assumption Church.

I called together a number of the members of the Chorale and put it to them, that we might consider presenting our 1971 Christmas Vigil at the Church in conjunction with the Renegades Steel Orchestra. The reaction was immediate and intense. Yes! The decision resounded loudly among the group, and we decided to seek the permission of the parents at least of the younger Choir members, since we would need to drive into the Laventille / Morvant area at night, to practice with the steelband, and we would need the assurance of safety for the young people.

I also spoke with the leaders of the Renegades, to sound them out and to see whether they would be interested in an effort such as this. Wilfred Cox, the Captain, was enthusiastic; but quite naturally, he wondered aloud, “Do you think that the priest would allow a steelband into the Church?” “How would the white people react to our presence?” “Will we be in trouble?” and so on. Somehow, we were able to allay all of his fears, and I explained to him that we would consider it an honour to have Renegades play at the Assumption Church.

A few weeks later, a convoy of some 8 – 10 cars, jam-packed with excited youngsters, all spruced up for the evening, headed east to the hills of Laventille, towards a destination none had ever seen before, to practice with the Amoco Renegades, a name that, frankly, connoted violence and some fear. Some parents accompanied us, to act as chaperones, and the youngsters huddled together as we proceeded slowly up the hills, watched by inquisitive black faces as they wondered what was going on.

We arrived at the top of the hill, where the newly built Renegades Pan House was located, and got out of the cars. It was more than I expected. I hadn’t expected to find hundreds of local people already congregated among the trees and buildings, looking, staring at us, inquiringly. It really was a bit intimidating, and I worried whether this social experiment could succeed.

But I shouldn’t have worried. When I announced that we’d like to start with “Silent Night”, and the band struck up their opening movement, moving softly across the metallic notes and into the first verse, I could have sworn that we were in chorale-heaven. Our choir was suddenly and unexpectedly swollen by the addition of hundreds of voices emanating from the trees and the general unlit darkness, as the entire mass of local residents took up the harmony and joined in the singing. It was marvellous! “Silent Night” had never sounded so sweetly before this.

We moved from song to song, and the Renegades themselves, with no musical scores to follow, but playing only from memory and from their hearts, led us all the way, from “Away in a Manger”, through “Go, tell it on a mountain”, to “Mary’s Boy Child”, and through many more as well.

It was all impromptu, all perfect, and there was no need for a second practice. But as we left that night and headed back to our homes, with many young black teenagers running alongside our cars, the general feeling of good-will and joy which we all felt was echoed by the question that someone shouted out as we drove off:

“When all yuh comin’ back again?”

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On Jun 9, 2020, at 4:06 PM, Kermitt Walrond <kermittw@msn.com> wrote:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YT0UL9oTnt0&feature=youtu.be

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Nigel Boos <nigelboos@gmail.com>

Thu, Jun 11 at 9:46 PM

Dear brothers of the Mount,

Just a wee word to everyone.

Salvador Coscarart has also been having his own problems with cancer, as the note below details. He begins treatment on June 18 - i.e. in one week’s time.

Perhaps we can all say a little prayer for him, that he will have the courage and the strength to handle the difficulties that may arise with these treatments coming up.

"Almighty God, please look mercifully on our brother, Salvador, during this difficult time, and keep him always in your grace and your love. And heal him, Lord God, if that is your will for him. We know that you’ve said, ‘Where two or three gather in my name, there you’ll be in the midst of them” (Matt 18:20). As you are with us then, Lord God, and as you are here with us, we humbly ask for a full healing for our dear bother, Salvador. We ask this in the name of Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, One God, forever and ever."

Nigel

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From: Salvador COSCARART <coscarartsalvador@hotmail.com>

Date: June 11, 2020 at 5:29:55 PM EDT

My dear brother Nigel.

I did the Cat scan and a petscan and a bone marrow. Did two byopsia, one on my neck T10 and on the hip to extract the marrow and both came positive, so I’ll be starting treatments on the 18 of June.  I’ll keep you posted.  Give my love to Jackie and big hug to both of you.  Many blessings.

Salvador. God bless.

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On May 11, 2020, at 11:01 PM,

salvador coscarart <coscarartsalvador@hotmail.com> wrote:

Thank you, Nigel.

Pray that you are coming along fine, give my regards to Jackie. I will be doing a Pet Scan on May 20th. I am praying so it would be clean and no more cancer. Amen.

Best wishes for you and your family. I just turn 64 yesterday on Mother’s day. jejejejejej

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From: Empower With Art

Sent: Saturday, May 9, 2020 4:16 AM

Thanks for letting us know.

George can you take note of this please,

Kaz

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From: Nigel Boos <nigelboos@gmail.com> 

Sent: Friday, 8 May 2020 17:33

Thanks for the clarification, Salvador.

Hope you’re keeping well.

Kaz / Don - you may want to update the MSB database.

Nigel

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From: Salvador Coscarart <salborbolla@yahoo.com>

Date: May 8, 2020 at 5:00:26 PM EDT

Please so everybody will know Jose is NOT CACHAPA.   

Cachapa IS AMERICO OLIVEROS FROM CARIPE, Venezuela.

Thank you.

Salvador. God bless.

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Empower With Art <empowerwithart@gmail.com>

Tue, Jun 9 at 2:56 AM

Hi Sir,

Almost every email has a signature.  It’s the title, company, phone number, fax number, email address, pithy quote, legal disclaimer, website URL, list of website URLs, call to action, and/or dashed line that many people put at the bottom of every message that they send.

It is usually standard. It is not an advertisement. However, that is how I chose to have my emails sent out everywhere it goes all over the world. It may not be what everyone does. I am not sure how aware you are of this. I am a computer consultant. Ask anyone in the industry if this is not so as stated above.

Kazim Abasali

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On Mon, Jun 8, 2020 at 10:27 PM

TriniPila <trinipila@gmail.com> wrote:

Has Fr. Harold asked for this movement to be made known?

P.

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From: Empower With Art

Sent: Monday, June 8, 2020 1:12 AM

Thank you, Fr. Harold,

appreciate you. Nigel, you continue to be in our prayers.

Kaz

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On Sun, Jun 7, 2020 at 7:05 PM

 <trini97g@aol.com> wrote:

tks…  listening

-----Original Message--------------------------

From: Father Harold Imamshah <frharold12@gmail.com>

Sent: Sun, Jun 7, 2020 12:26 pm

Mass of the Most Holy Trinity

https://youtu.be/LQwGGo3aknA

humbly,

Fr. Harold Imamshah

Servant of Mary for Jesus

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On Fri, Jun 5, 2020 at 1:42 PM

<trini97g@aol.com> wrote:

Nigel,

Prayers being offered for your healing.   

Am happy that George keeps me updated with your health. He also shares uplifting daily emails.

Prayers for all especially for Nigel and family.

Love,

 Gwen

-----Original Message----------------------------------------
From: GEORGE MICKIEWICZ <amickiew@att.net>

Sent: Thu, Jun 4, 2020 7:30 am

Father, we humbly pray for Nigel who is fighting cancer. Give him the hope and courage he needs each day. Comfort him in his pain and bless him with healing. May the Holy Spirit strengthen Jackie, his family, friends, and caregivers. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Please share this request with family and friends.

Please be extra careful and stay healthy, safe and sound,

George

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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:

13LK2296FBBCP, BC Pires

09LK0001FBPGO, Peter Gorinsky

15LK2086FBGCA, Gerry Campbell

74LK2535FBAKA, Arthur Knaggs