Newsletter for
alumni of The Abbey School, Mt. St. Benedict, Trinidad and Tobago, W.I.
Caracas,
18 of Julio 2020 No. 976
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Dear
Friends,
See
what was published sixteen years ago.
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I am back again!!! (2004) I know that most of you by
now have been feeling relaxed after having opened your mail boxes, Thank God,
no Circulars to delete!!! Maybe some have even looked into the trash bin,
where the unwanted mail gets, but again no Circulars.
But there were those that have written inquiring about
my health, noticing the lack of these Newsletters, I can confirm that at least
for the time being I shall keep sending out these Circulars, until there is
nothing more to inform or reprint messages that you want me to send out.
The reason for my shortcoming is that I have been
travelling all over the country these last four weeks doing multiple trips by
pickup truck and two technicians, specialized technicians that climb 300 foot
communication towers.
It took us four weeks to repair and install
obstruction lighting on 10 towers belonging to the local Petroleum Company,
PDVSA.
These were located all over the country, from the
Guajiras (north of the Lake of Maracaibo), to the Andes; then to Puerto Piritu
in the orient and finally in the Peninsula of Paraguana.
The total trip of about 5000km just ran my creative
powers down to a minimum, although I was back in Caracas every weekend, I just
could not bear to sit in front of the computer.
Thank you for the letters of encouragement, I never
would have thought that these Circulars would be missed.
During my short stay in Maracaibo, I met with Roberto
Bodington, he has health problems with one of his legs, uses crouches to move
about.
Also I met Pablo Castellani, who has not been able to
get a decent construction job these last two years, he sees the possibility of
an interesting foreman’s job in with a large construction company in Aruba!,
hope he gets it.
I was not lucky with Rafael Echeverria, we talked by
telephone and I tried to meet him but not luck, he was at the moment in a very
important law case. Maybe next time when I get to Maracaibo???
I am going to send the missing Circulars before New
Years as all unfinished business must be concluded before 2005.
This Circular is going to be short, but I must send it
out today as next week, who knows how much running around I have to do to
satisfy Santa.
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BULL No. 10 from O.A.S.I.S. published in
1983 by Arthur Knaggs.
[I am sorry to inform you that in the files received
from Arthur Knaggs, BULL No. 10 is missing.
Can anyone help with a copy???
So instead I am going to send a copy of some of the
letters that would have made this Bull No.10.
Remember to send in comments in case you would like to
add, delete or modify anything that is being sent.
Need information on the ALUMNI that are to be
mentioned, I do not have all the email addresses and telephones, or even the
wellbeing for some of them.
So here is the first letter]:
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4-2-83
Dear Arthur
Received the O.A.S.I.S. through Ainsley.
The present Rotarians of S/Fdo decided to form a second Rotary Club
with a dinner meeting, as the present ones is a luncheon meeting, and I am a
member of this new Club, and see AINSLEY quite often.
A bit of sad news, if not reached you as yet, Father Leo passed
away on Monday 31st Jan 83, I enclose a clipping from T´dad
Guardian.
It was very sad, as the church he built in La Romain is
completed, but father was still trying to do more.
How is Valentine and the children? Give my love.
We are all fine.
Spent Christmas in B´dos with mum.
Things are brightening up at the Hotel, hope they keep going
like that.
Not too much happening these days in T´dad, the oil fields are
very slow, but as you know I now work for WIMCO Ltd, and we do not do too much
with the oil companies.
Our medical sales, welding and tractor undercarriage parts are
doing pretty O.K.
The line pipe business is slow,
I hope Texaco and the government can solve their problems and
get things going again.
LAWRENCE MACAULAY is fine, and I believe business is good with
him.
MIKE AMES is no longer with Texaco, formed a new company. Mike,
ERNEST WILLIAMS and MIKE MAHABIR, Machine Shop Work.
Mike is building a house in Palmiste, just behind mine.
Derick and Pat Tempro are back in T´dad at Mayaro.
I notice you got promotion, keep it up.
Today is my birthday, 35 years.
God bless you all
Steven Tempro
(Who is Ainsley?? ed.)
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Dec. 5 1982
I cannot believe that Christmas is upon
us again!.
I have come to the conclusion that the
older you get the faster time goes by.
When I was young, I was bored, so much
time, nothing to do.
Sorry I have not written sooner.
Enclosing is my check for $10.00,
I do not know what kind of response you
got.
Hope it was good.
Apparently, it was not, as I have not
seen a recent bulletin from you.
I have thought about some sort of Old
Boys Reunion, especially for us living here in North America.
Have you?
Apparently, you did not receive my
Christmas card last year as I see you left DAVID DE CASTRO´s address out.
I do not know what he is doing these
days.
He is still crazy as when you and I knew
him in school and loves to play the Quattro and sing calypso.
My eldest child (daughter) is 22,
My 2nd Nicolas will be 21
this month and is married 2 years.
My 3rd (girl) has graduated
from high school and is attending college here in Lakeland.
2 more girls, one in High and one in
Junior – 15 + 13.
I am not a grandfather yet.
Have no desire to be even thought I am
50 going on 51.
Have you seen IAN SHOUL recently?
Have not heard word from him in over a
year.
Still remember those wonderful old days
we had together.
Have not been to Antigua in 12 years.
Left Trinidad 9 years ago, never been
back.
Was in the Cayman Islands in 1979, great
vacation spot.
Mother, Duncan, and Peter still live in
Lakeland.
Blanca remarried and now lives in
Pennsylvania.
Inflation + underemployment is eating us
up.
STANLEY FERGUSON
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14 Nov 81
Dear Art from
Dart,
Received both your letters of contact and now making the effort
to reply, among others.
I am still with the same wife and 3 children.
The eldest is working on a rig in Trinidad, the second at
boarding school in UK and the last, a girl 13, preparing to attend boarding
school in Australia, next year.
We have been in Abu Dhabi for 6 ½ years, our second foreign
assignment since leaving Trinidad in 1968.
Previously to this, I was 6 ½ years in Peru.
Perhaps it is time to move again.
We are still citizens of T&T but intend migrating to
Australia (Perth) in 1983.
Time alone will confirm the degree of successes of this plan.
Life in Abu Dhabi is acceptable; the good points far outweigh
the bad.
Only complaints really are the weather in the hot months, and
the somewhat restricted quality of life.
Better, however, than any other area in the Middle East.
An old Mountie, Robert Anderson (after the Class of 1949) lives
here as well.
Perhaps you may care to write him.
Can’t promise to maintain too steady a correspondence, as the
pressure of my own affairs do consume more than the time I really care to spend
on them.
This makes extra letter writing more than a serious effort.
However, will do what I can to keep in touch.
Also intend visiting Trinidad early next year.
Perhaps for my last Carnival.
Just remember LAERY O´CONNOR and RICHARD who also live in Perth.
You should be able to obtain their address from ANTHONY LLANOS.
Thanks again for your letters.
Will look forward to others as long they come out.
Sincerely
DESMOND
LITTLEPAGE
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17/1/83
Dear Arturo,
I have received January O.A.S.I.S. for
December 1982 and have enjoyed it as usual.
I am enclosing my contribution of $10.00
as requested.
Since I wrote you last week, nothing
sensational has happened are our way, except a Major fire in P.O.S.
The fire of 25 Jan which destroyed
almost the entire block between Henry and Charlotte St. in lower Independence
Square- Arson suspected as usual!!
Carnival is in the air, February 15, 16
to be exact and as usual despite recession etc.
Trinis are striking, their habit as
usual without any apparent cares in the world.
Regards to all the family.
Sincerely,
Chris Krogh
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5 January 1983
Dear Arthuro and family,
I got the shock of my life last night
when I saw my letter returned and why, well it seems the address was off, and
you are not notorious amongst the police.
I am sending it again, this time under
cover of this letter; maybe it will reach this year.
Well, we went with the Jolly Roger and
it was jolly, though the financial success was not that hot.
As you see from the date above, we are
in the New Year and so I wish you all a happy, blessed, and prosperous New
Year, with all fun and happiness the Good Lord and yourselves can supply.
We were supposed to have started school
already but St. John Road is closed for it is open (a bridge give away and so
the whole section collapsed), they are working at it and hope to finish
sufficiently to pass by midday today.
You see in this kindness the Lord give
us till Sunday to recuperate from all our prayers and feting.
He also blesses us with plenty of rain.
Fr. Paul returned last week to Holland
where he is living in a home for the retired missionaries.
Abbot Bernard is trying to enjoy his new
way of living in the Monastery, the new wing (where the old wooden corridor
was) was occupied by the New Year.
Fr. Peter is almost back to his old
youth.
Mr. Willy Carter and Miss Kitty Marcus
are in St. Peter’s Home for the aged (built to the north of our Sports Field).
Fr. Ildefons is charismatically driving
his motorbike all over the island.
The marriage encounter had a big rally
here at the end of November and quite a few past Abbey School boys are actively
involved.
They are trying to catch me, but I
cannot find the right nun as yet, for I don’t want to encounter marriage.
But how are you all doing??
I hope as well as it can be, keeping
cool and behaving like good scouts.
May God bless you and your work.
Cuthbert
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You must be wondering if Mount still
exists.
Well now you know, otherwise this letter
would not have been written and consequently the postman (or post lady) would
not have delivered same at your home.
As it is, we are still going on.
The influx of student is less for the
school fees are getting very high (my salary is still only board and lodge).
Sunday we had our scout investitures: 7 scouts became Venture Scouts and 14
boys joined the troop.
All this happened after a weekend camp
at the back of the sports field.
Even the drum and bugle band could be
heard from far.
BROTHER FRANCIS does a marvellous job
and BERNARD LANGE is still ruling the Venture Scouts, though he teaches at St.
Joseph College.
Maybe you heard about the “Jolly Roger”
cruise which existed for some time in Barbados and now also exists in Trinidad
and Mr. RUSSEL CUNHA is P.R.
So, we the scouts of the 2nd
Mt. St. Benedict rented the boat with crew, food and drink for Saturday 27th
Nov. 1982, hoping to make it jolly and financially profitable.
For our parent Committee wants to send 3
leaders and 17 scouts to the world Jamboree in Canada next year (maybe you
heard about the Jamboree from your friends) a rather ambitious scheme, but for
them realistic.
A pity the Jamboree is not in Nova
Scotia.
By the way I returned from Holland still
the same (+5 pounds).
Abbot Bernard is now back in his
wheelchair, happy to be back and Fr. Peter seems to get back all his energy.
Happily, I have to stop, space is
lacking, and my time is running out.
Best wishes and lots of blessing to all
of you.
Cuthbert
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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:
16LK9619FBNSAFAM, Nathaniel Sampath and family
13LK1316FBGTOWFE, Giacomo Tomaselli and wife
09LK9408FBIGO, Ian Gomes
67UN0001CLASS1969, UNKNOWNS, please check the date
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