Circular No 993

 

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

Caracas, 14 of November 2020 No. 993

----------------------------------------------------------

Dear Friends,

The last normal issue is No. 1000 to be dated 2 of January 2021.

I appreciate the multiple emails that I have received in the last couple of weeks,

But outside the half a dozen subscriptions, that will terminate with the last issue, no new subscriptions have signed up.

Kind words but poor pockets.

Even the monthly issue for the future needs at least one subscription per month.

I cannot afford to continue due to lack of tangible support.

Conditions have deteriorated here in Venezuela to the extent of extreme poverty.

So, I am hoping that a dozen of donors would have the courage and place the money in the horse’s mouth and would make good their wishes, for me to embrace the new year and for you to receive the Circulars. 

---------------------------------------------------------------.

Brian Gonsalves Wed, 11 Nov, 09:26

Dear Ladislao,

I refer to your email (which was sent to my discontinued Yahoo e-address) and I apologise for my delay in responding.

First of all, my sincere congratulations to you personally - and also to Don, Nigel and others who helped you - for keeping the faithful spirit, communal ethos and the lasting memories of the Mount alive for the diverse alumni, scattered around the World, 

The target of 1000 issue (only 9 to go) reflects your dedicated commitment and sustained hard work, on our behalf, over the years - so thank you and well done.

It is a truly remarkable achievement that you have kept the circulars running, despite severe challenges over the years, especially after the official closure of our historical Alma Mater.

I do understand the logical reasons, submitted recently by other contributors, for the closure of the MSB Newsletters but I am saddened by the prospects of losing the interesting, topical, and vibrant circulars.

My personal hope is that future issues, albeit subject to extra funding being provided, can be maintained.  

As a compromise I suggest that the decision about the final demise is deferred, pending the achievement of the 1,000th issue.

Meanwhile, a clear and concise evaluation can be made of the funds needed as well as the preferred wishes, benefits, and expectations of the alumni.

Keep safe, best wishes and good health to all

Brian

---------------------------------------------------------.

Brian Gonsalves <brian.gonsalves36@yahoo.com>

Sat, Jun 27 at 2:45 PM

Thank you, Anthony,

for your email and I shall try to make a few basic comments about my erstwhile attendance at MSB, from April 1945 to June '46 .... BUT - although I have vivid recollections of specific incidents over 75 years ago – I have only sparse memories, of the routine school activities at that time.

A couple of the vivid memories (as submitted to Ladislao/Don in previous correspondence) included the "snake incident", the "V for Victory" sign on the mountain, and I also remember a special 'day off' school outing (Public or Religious holiday) to Manzanilla Beach (which had dangerous tidal currents) and 3 Mount boys (one a senior) nearly drowned - some panic and an early return to school for everyone!

You enquired about "those early days, the first students, numbers of pupils, what facilities were available and information about the operating admin staff" ….

In quick order, I do not know when MSB was opened (I suspect maybe in1942-43?)

I guess there were only 90 - 110 boys in my time.

The playing field had only just been levelled out to a flat expanse of hard earth - no swimming pool, no tennis court(s) and no 'club house'.

I do not remember "Mr Tom", which is not surprising since the only establishment individuals I remember were Fr Bernard, Fr Ildefons, & Brother Anthony (whose parents owned a cocoa plantation at Roxborough Bay in Tobago, where the 'BG boys' spent the short Easter holidays - great fun, horse-riding on the beach, swimming and generally running wild for 3 weeks) there were obviously some other monks, teachers and fellow pupils, whose names are 'lost in the mists of time' for me.

Other than a few outlandish memories (eg. furtive hunts to purloin honey from the Monks' carefully protected hives) I am sorry that there is very little else I can pass on to you - but if you have any other particular matters you want to know about, please contact me again, when I shall try to dig into my old grey cells.

Meanwhile, for information purposes, I am attaching a few old photographs of the "Boys from BG" who started at MSB in 1945, together with a photo of Mrs Farfan, whose sons were also at MSB with us, as mentioned in my previous correspondence …

Best wishes, stay well, and good health to all,

-------------------------------------------------------------.,

On Saturday, 27 June 2020, 15:06:33 BST,

Marcia Seheult <a.seheult@verizon.net> wrote:

Good morning, Brian.

I am an old Mount boy [1955 to 1964] and would like to know more about the early days of the Mount.

My wife has convinced me to write a short story of my days at the Mount but would like to know more about those early days, like when the first students began at the Mount, how many students were there, and what facilities where available to you at that time.  

Like the playing field, the tennis courts and the ‘club house’ at the playing field.  

Also, was Mr. Tom there during your time at the mount. 

Whatever information you can pass on to me would be gratefully appreciated.

I would like to be as accurate as possible.

I look forward to hearing from you. 

I lived in Venezuela at the time I spent at the Mount even though my family is from Trinidad and now live in Tampa, Florida.

I hope this finds you in good health. 

Thank you in advance.

God Bless

Anthony Seheult

a.seheult@verizon.net 813-230-9811 

-------------------------------------------------------------------.

idmitch@anguillanet.com

Tue, 30 Jun, 19:10

Thanks, Brian, for this information on Archival photo MSB 1946,

I’ll forward your comments to Ladislao who is principally responsible for labelling all these photos.

Best,

Don

 -----------------------------------------------------------.

From: Brian Gonsalves <brian.gonsalves36@yahoo.com>

Sent: Tuesday, 30 June 2020 18:53

Many thanks, Don, for sending me the photocopy from your records of the "1945 Alumni" - BUT, having checked the picture as carefully as possible, I am sure that it was taken in the September Term of "1946", for the following reasons:

Five of the original "BG Boys" - Clive Bettencourt-Gomes, Anthony & Johnny Willems plus Bernard, Terrence & Brian Gonsalves - do not feature in the photo, since they left MSB in June '46, prior to leaving for the UK in July/August 1946.

The two Farfan brothers - David (No. 58) and John (No. 69) - stayed on at MSB for an extra year in '47, before departing to the UK in mid-1947.

Two more BG Boys - Maurice Correia (No. 64) and my cousin Don Mattias (No.92) -- did not start at MSB until the September Term of 1946.

I also made a careful study of the unidentified boys (Nos. 33, 44, 67, 73 76, 86, 87, 89, 90 < …….> 109) none of whom were recognisable as contemporaries from 1945/46.

Thank you again for all your help,

Brian

-----------------------------------------------------------.

WhattsApp:

3/7/19 Aumaitre Adolfo created the group "Abbey Schoolmates Group"

7/27/19 Ladislao Kertesz: Is it true? Santiago, have you already talked to Pedro?

7/31/19 Robleda Santiago: How is my corduroy ladislao, I already spoke with Pablo, I thanked him for remembering me and thank you for introducing him

8/2/19 Ladislao Kertesz: Good evening Friends.

Circular no. 923 is out of the press and in the internet.

If you would like to read it, send your email address.

Need José Baptista email address.

God bless Ladislao EDITOR

8/2/19 Aumaitre Adolfo: doctoraumaitrebrito@gmail.com

8/2/19 Moffie Edgar: emoffie@hotmail.com

3/8/19 Seaforth: alfredoseaforth.25@gmail.com

9/26/19 Kecskemeti Pal: No matter what I am repairing ... my bike also has a fault

10/2/19 Robleda Santiago: it's disposable or an inflatable doll, I'm just like a sweetie

11/16/19 Ladislao Kertesz: Haha it looks like it but it's a clone

11/16/19 Robleda Santiago: my cordislao ladislao a fraternal greeting I saw Pedro very happy and he must be a clone I look less and less

11/16/19 Ladislao Kertesz: Haha. Joking greetings Thank you Adolfo. I will use it,

12/2/19 Robleda Santiago: if you have heard any of these songs take care and enjoy yourself hello brother Adolfo remembering the good music and sharing it with you

12/3/19 Luongo miguel angel: MERRY XMAS AND HAPPY NEW YEAR 2020 to all my dear family and friends, along with my blessings and best wishes for Venezuela. Strong hug,

12/10/19 Aumaitre Adolfo Good morning my dear brothers, my new WhatsApp number is 04168979364 it was necessary to change the phone number due to problems with the movistar platform. Greetings,

12/23/19 Seaforth: Amen Amen Amen, same to you bro

12/24/19 Robleda Santiago: Merry Christmas Friend, all the Best For You

12/24/19 Moffie Edgar: My sincere wishes to the Abbey Schoolmates fraternity group that they receive a great and merry Christmas with their family and friends ... God bless you and guide you always in this fraternity ... Edgar Moffie MSB 1967/72 .. # 90

12/24/19 Lopez Jesus: I wish to all my dears brothers from Mount and his family a Merry Christmas and spent a Happy New year ... May God bless you all

12/24/19 Moffie Edgar: Amen .... same to you Jesús, have a wonderful xmas together in family ... God bless you .. greetings EAM ..

12/24/19 Robleda Santiago: wishing all my brothes happiness joy and health thanks for been there Marry Chistmas

12/25/19 Lopez Jesus: Dear brothers, derived from a circumstance that, I can't finish my school at Mount maybe I don't have capacity of good writing in English language but I am proud happy, had been at the Abbey school, you know why, because I found out that you all are alive and in my ignorance

12/25/19 Aumaitre Adolfo: Don't worry Jesus, don't get nostalgic, we know your circumstances and why you didn't complete your studies at Mount, feel happy that you can share this brotherhood with us and you are of great value for us

12/25/19 Lopez Jesus: I found you all and that it's a given from God ... I am very happy to have found, you And in my prayers I include you all to my God concern you with health ... Go bless you all brothers,

12/25/19 Seaforth: Amen Amen Amen

12/25/19 Aumaitre Adolfo: Let us give thanks to God our Father that we have a solid brotherhood and pray that things will get better this new year coming, pray for the health and blessings of those Mount old boys around the world that with great pleasure and sacrifice had been helping us to have a better economic status, God bless them, their families and us always. We are eternally grateful to them

12/25/19 Seaforth: That's correct, God bless them all

12/25/19 Lopez Jesus: Yes brother at this moment I was thinking that, but for me found you all in Venezuela, the guys how had studied at Mount, it's wonderful, that it for me the most important did that's those old father's show us, and now after 50 years we can be together

12/25/19 Luongo miguel angel: I don't think there are any complains about your English, from anyone of our group of Mount Old Boys. On the contrary Jesús, I really believe that we are all agree with Adolfo Aumaitre. You are one of us, just because we met at Mount when we were about twelve in 1966; make numbers and you'll see for how long we've been friends, and surely you don't have more friends since so long. With and without English, I'll be always your friend and I think I can talk for all the others too, so don't worry, be happy. After all, we all know that because of very special family reasons you couldn't continue with your studies at Mount. Hope to see you soon.

12/25/19 Lopez Jesus: For me the school was the best thing in our lives it's the family and we are a family What important it is And for Santi Robleda I don't know it's you are the guy how jumped the high jump on the head, at that time I meet a guy how did it, brother if you was, in that time you were plenty friend of Patiño ... piringo ... Were he is? Brother's if anyone knows where Piringo is, tell him, that I conserve a baseball glove, that he give me at that time, for me and my family it's not touched at this time it's very strange but I conserve it

12/26/19 Luongo miguel angel: Last time I knew something about José Antonio Patiño was in 1971, when Gocho (Miguel Angel García) told me that he was going to the University at Rio de Janeiro- Brasil and Patiño was also going with the same purpose. I never heard about them again.

12/26/19 Robleda Santiago: my name is Santiqgo Robleda I reached form 4th at Mount Saint BENEDIT i didn't {finish high school there I love you all because you make me remember things I have forgotten I don't know how to thank you all I can't write more I think Humbertico was almost finishing when Robertico and I started and forgive me I am almost drunk

12/28/19 Lopez Jesus: Today is April Fool’s Day ... The traditional festivities of Caicara de Maturín

12/31/19 Luongo Humberto: Happy New Year!! May your happiness in 2020 be infinite ...

12/31/19 Robleda Santiago: To all the brothers for reporting their jokes because they always have a word of encouragement even for the girls at least they lift our spirits and especially for me that they led me to remember those years at Abbey School, thank you Brothers for being there I wish you' a happy New Year in union with your families if I do not get drunk I send you a photo the years do not pass in vain

12/31/19 Lopez Jesus: Thanks Santi, at this moment I am reading your message, and I'm feeling by that emotions, you are expressed in that words you wrote ... Them I thought what important was for us to have been studied at the Abby school, know all of you, how are in life have a great brotherhood after more than 50 years, that is not easy for understand but this year occurred with us and that it's wonderful ... For all my brothers of mount HAPPY NEW YEAR, and my my God brings you a long life for continuing chat

12/31/19 Kecskemeti Pal: I wish you all together with your family and friends a happy new year

12/31/19 19: Robleda Santiago: I rather wait till 12 to wish you a happy new year

12/31/19 Aumaitre Adolfo: I'm doing it early before lines collapse or fall I'll tell you that Tucupita looks like a ghost town without music, without atmosphere and nobody on the streets, a total solitude

12/31/19 Robleda Santiago: Happy New year may this coming year be better than almost last year wishing the best for you and your family God bless you all

12/31/19 Moffie Edgar: give me time Santiago as well as everyone in your family and our brothers from MSB .... happy new year to everyone and may God bless you all... same to you Santiago ..

------------------------------------------------------------------.

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.

-------------------------------------------------------------------

Photos:

48TE0004CLASS1949

48TM0001CLASS1949

08RC0011RCH, Roger Chenault

20LK5414FBACHWFE, Anthony Chankar and wife