Newsletter for
alumni of The Abbey School, Mt. St. Benedict, Trinidad and Tobago, W.I.
Caracas,
1 of August 2020 No. 978
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Dear
Friends,
Here
is a video of Dominique Piton, an Oldboy famous for dog training and judging.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NPZX_Yicmcg
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In the absence of any new mail to include
in the Circular, I continue with a series of very old messages (ed).
From:
Art & Val Knaggs <av_knaggs@hotmail.com>
Sent:
Sunday, November 14, 2004 3:06 AM
To: shadowlawn@sunbeach.net
Cecil,
Great to hear from you, and regards to
Elizabeth.
We are on a year of roaming, and right
now we are in the U.S. leg of our adventures, having been through Maine, New
Hampshire, Maryland, Georgia, Virginia, Mississippi, Louisiana.
I am now in Florida, for a couple weeks,
before we end our way back up to Canada by Dec 5th; then down to T & T by
Jan 3rd.
Also hope to be able to visit Barbados,
so will keep in touch direct and through Eve.
Having a marvellous time visiting with
friends and family, and tenting or moteling in between.
We don’t have too much of a fixed plan,
but drift along "one day at a time" as mood and time allows.
Hope to see you next year.
All the very best,
Art & Val
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From: "Elizabeth
Ince" <shadowlawn@sunbeach.net>
To: <av_knaggs@hotmail.com>
Subject: Keeping in touch
Date: Fri, 12 Nov 2004 21:09:49 -0400
Dear Arthur:
Got your email from Eve and her brother.
Eve lives two doors from us.
Just to keep in touch.
We gather you are planning to visit the
Caribbean sometime soon.
Would love to see you all.
Sending this message as somehow, Eve
mentioned you could not get through with email to us.
Looking forward to hearing from you.
CECIL
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From: Art & Val
Knaggs <av_knaggs@hotmail.com>
Sent: Friday,
December 24, 2004 3:30 PM
To: cuthpax@yahoo.co.uk
Dearest Fr. Cuthbert,
Surprise! Surprise! Got your e-mail
address from Eion O'Connor; and what a wonderful opportunity to send Greetings
& Best Wishes to The Abbot & Community.
We have relinquished our
"House", and now we have a new Mobile Home (our car); we also have no
phone.
Anne-marie & Martin are in our house
for a year and we are "drifting in the wind", "one day at a
time", with a rough (not cast in stone) schedule which gives us lots of
flexibility, opportunity, and diversity (don't know what these big words mean,
but they sound so positive).
After our June B.C. adventure to welcome
our #9 grandchild,
We returned to hand over our House to A
& M on Aug 31st;
Then scooted down to "Our Island
Retreat" for Sept & part of Oct, to upgrade, do repairs, tidy up,
relax and thoroughly enjoy the outdoors, peace & tranquillity of that wilderness,
primitive life (felt like St. Francis - no running water - no electricity -
out-house facilities - 'voluntary simplicity' at its best.
Next phase was to tackle our U.S. Tour
(for 45 days - drove over 10,000 kilometres) through most of the Eastern &
Southern States (as far down & west as Louisiana, then back through
Mississippi, Alabama, the 'Pan Handle' of Florida, and slowly & gradually meander
back to jolly, old, cold, but wonderful Nova Scotia.
We spent a glorious trip trapesing about
between family, friends and all else who crossed our path, and being
"Helping Hands", "Chefs" (Val), and loving & caring
about all who crossed our path.
We rushed back on Dec 4th to be here for
our 3 grans (from 3 families) who were in a multiple Play at the Dartmouth
Players, and all had leading parts, and it was a resounding success.
Now we have been floating between our A,
B & C children's homes; awaiting the gathering of 'Our Clan' here for
Christmas (E just flew in from Sheffield, Eng) (D arrives Christmas day from
New Brunswick); then we scoot off to Trinidad & Tobago on 4th Jan for 3
months (to meet up with F #6 who just moved to Tobago;
After that we are open to novel ideas
and fantastic possibilities.
We send our fondest Greetings and Wishes
for a faithful, fruitful and exciting New Year to you and all at the Mount.
Understand you just achieved a great
contract for Pax Yogurt at the Hotels there in Tobago, and wish you and the
Abbey continued success with that terrific venture.
Thanks for all the wonderful memories
you have given us (Old Mounties) over the years; and Val & I will surely be
visiting Trinidad, and promise to look you up.
As always, with love,
Art & Val
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From: Art & Val
Knaggs <av_knaggs@hotmail.com>
Sent: Friday, December 31, 2004 2:15 PM
Ladislao,
Unable to open your attachment, on the
two last Circulars, it just shows blank on my screen.
Know I am Computer Challenged, but my
daughter can’t download it either, what is the system you are using, or the
format?!
Art
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16 August 1985
Dear Arthur,
It is always a pleasure to receive one
of your newsletters.
So was OASIS No. 14.
I can’t help feeling guilty however,
because I have not paid my dues.
The problem is getting the money to you.
Could you let me know how much I owe?
If you get the time to drop me a line, I
would be grateful.
In the mean time I am enclosing $10.00
U.S. hoping that it will reach you intact.
I spent an evening at the Mount this
week and had a short glimpse of Fr. Ildefons.
He is always very busy.
Being head of the Charismatic movement
in Trinidad, he doesn’t have a moment to spare, and gets around everywhere on
his motorcycle.
A dangerous means of transport,
especially today.
He most certainly has God’s protection.
Since your migration, (wish I could do
the same) Trinidad has changed immensely.
It is no longer the quite easy going
place it used to be.
You would probably be surprised to see
Trinidad as it is today.
The overcrowding, the traffic jams, the
parking problems.
On the road to Mount St. Benedict, most
of the trees have been cut down.
In the area just before your enter the
gate, and on the right hand side of the roads, a housing development has
recently completed.
There is also a lot more squatting on
the mountain sides, where people have planted gardens.
These are just a few of the many changes
that have taken place, besides all the huge Government buildings in Port of
Spain and the rest of the Island.
Crime and unemployment have increased,
but the police are doing their best to keep lawlessness under control.
Hope you can pay us a visit soon.
My family and myself wish to send our
kindest regards to you and your family, wishing you the best of health and
prosperity over the coming years
God bless you
Anselm Brunton.
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24 March 1983
Dear Arthur,
It was indeed a pleasure receiving your
Old Boys Newsletter and as my Mother was here spending time with me it brought
back many memories of Mt. St. Benedict.
I have always appreciated the fact that
I was able to attend Mount St. Benedict which in my opinion contributed to the
greatest hay days ever.
I also have a sincere deep feeling for
all the “Old Boys” and many who I have met share that same feeling. (They must
have done something right).
Now for some news:
I met Adrian Ache about two months ago
and we spent a most pleasant day tracking down business contacts.
I have been involved in the Export
Market for several years, so please advise the old boys that whatever they may
be looking for in the nature of Exports that Dave should be their contact man,
for I am part of a World Wide Organization with access to many avenues
including not only in obtaining the required products or items but also
shipping.
Hence one of my reasons for leaving
Canada to be nearer South and Central America and the West Indies.
Delano is doing well in Trinidad and is
the President of the Custom Brokers Association. Of Trinidad and Tobago and
also runs his own Brokerage Co.
I suppose your know that Phillip Nassief
(so I’ve read) is the Minister of Development of New Industry.
Should you have any address of any Old
Boys please forward them with your next Newsletter.
I think it may be a good idea to ask the
Old Boys to write in any funny situation they may remember.
For instance – Does anyone remember when
Joe Azar got a Donnelly Cake for his Birthday and how I, Malcolm Boyack, and
some of the boys pestered him for a piece, but Joe refused constantly.
Eventually, I persuaded him to open the
tin and at least let us look at the cake, he did “MISTAKE” a dozen hands
immediately attach the cake and poor Joe was left crying with the empty tin
can.
There must be endless stories and one
day I must get Stanley Ferguson (who only lives an hour away) and myself to
make a tape and send for you and some of the other boys can do the same to add
for a tape collection.
The economy in the U.S. is extremely bad
and jobs are very hard to come by, unless you have U.S.A. Documentation even
for Doctors, Lawyers, Tradesmen, etc. (no U.S. Certificates, No Jobs.)
My entire family is doing extremely
well, however things are pretty tough with me.
One of my daughters Cassandra will
graduate this year and has just been awarded the Honour Society of Country Side
High School out of 3000.
Students only 27 were picked as the
Principle opening remarks said “Ladies and Gentlemen” this is the Cream of the
Crop.
Enclosed is a Xmas Greeting Letter that
we send out each year.
As you are planning to come down this
way, please be sure to get in touch with me.
By the way what does “O.A.S.I.S.” mean??
Best regards for 1983 to you and all the
old boys
David de Castro
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9/2/83
Dear Arthur,
Many thanks for your newsletter.
Fact of all, I now headquarter myself back in Trinidad
weekending home in Granada so mail should he sent here.
Brother Nigel till runs his insurance Brokerage firm, Trinidad
Insurance Consultants, he is dead keen on farming has an Estate, cattle and
race horses.
Naturally, he is still playing good golf.
He has 4 kids 3 girls one boy.
I have 3 girls.
Clive Bethencourt-Gomes now lives in England – Meddow Street,
Huntlane, Witherley, Atherstone, Warichshire.
Anyway, I have enclosed a check to help keep OASIS alive.
With best wishes to you and your family.
Paul Slinger.
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Here is the last email on Raymond Vivies, who died
some years back.
I was looking for MICHAEL VIVIES, but no luck (ed).
--------------------------------------------------
From:
ViviesEvelyne@aol.com
Subject: Re. Circular
No. 149 The Abbey School MSB
Date: 9/19/2004
11:34:06 AM
Dear Ladislao,
Unfortunately, I have no use for this
news letter so you can take me off the list.
But I finally got a hold of the 2 email
addresses that you will be interested in.
First, simon.hayot@Sadipro.gp is the
email address of Simon Hayot who is married to Raymon Vivies' daughter
Collette.
Simon is very keen on Raymon's family
history.
He is the one who takes the Vivies
family photograph every year on the day of Raymon's mother's birthday.
Plus, Simon speaks good English and has
often gone to Trinidad.
Second, lvi@egce.gp is the email address
of Laurence Vivies, wife of Raymon's son Bertrand.
Laurence is also related to the De
Verteuil family from Trinidad.
PLEASE resend them the first pictures
that you sent me of Raymon in Trinidad!!!
Best regards
Evelyne
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In the last few days I have been asked about
articles from the 1970s, etc., by those who would like to read more recent
history.
I have not been able to be forthcoming
with these, as although I have a few oldboys from the era, these are not too
helpful as to writing or even send in their classmates’ names!.
From comments and my correspondence, I
have the impression that this era was not as fortunate as mine or those of the
1950s and 1960s.
We used to be a wild bunch but have kept
in touch, maybe not all with everyone but in smaller groups.
So those that want to hear what happened
in the 1970s until 1985, please write.
I had hoped that after the 1st
REUNION, that would be some communication from those that assisted, guys from
the 1985s, such as Miguel Gonzalez, chief organizer.
I am waiting for the promised 2nd REUNION
for this year. What about it?
Remember that I need time to inform those
in the list, so that many more would attend this time (ed).
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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:
07LK8972FBTHE, Tim Healy
05AK0001AKNGRP, Cecil Ince, Scipio Soodeen, Jack
Knaggs and Arthur Knaggs
14LK9922FBAPL, Aelred Plummer
19LK4583FBDPI, Dominique Piton
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