Nine more students. Can you name any please?
Bishop’s College Presentation Evening
Thursday 21st December 1967
My diary for that day reads as follows:
‘What a day! A number of students turned up to help with the exhibition and, at last it’s finished. We have covered the following topics; soil, reefs, vegetation, livestock, communications, population and local produce. Mr Barratt, The Agricultural Officer, provided us with some excellent samples which added considerably to the whole display.
Presentation Evening was a great event for all concerned, especially for the students who received awards and prizes. Mr Alleyne gave a memorable speech in which he subtly hinted at the need for greater co-operation from the Governing Body and the Archdeacon. I got the impression that members of the Governing Body on the stage, including R.E.Noel, were somewhat taken aback but then Mr Alleyne has been having difficulties getting finance and much needed resources for the college from the Governing Body.
The presentation of prizes and certificates was impressive. Joycelyn Gay turned out to be the obvious star of the previous year. I lost count how many times she was called up to the stage to receive an award.’
Presentation Challenge
I was fortunate to be able to record the whole Presentation Evening for posterity but I never recorded the names of the students going up to collect their prizes and certificates. So, I would like your help please. If you can put names to any of the students and guests on the stage please send them in. I should be very grateful for such valuable information
I will put up the photos in small batches over the next few weeks and I thank you, in advance, for your co-operation.
Bishop’s College Library
Mr Alleyne was very keen to introduce a library into Bishop’s College. The problem was the College had no money to put in the necessary fittings or buy books. My first recorded discussions took place on Sept. 26th with Mr Alleyne when we ‘drew up rough plans for its development’. I made a note in my diary at the time expressing concerns about when, or if, we’d ever be in a position to get it organised.
We began enthusiastically. George and Cathy contacted people in the States and I wrote to the Rev. Mears in my parish church in Cumbria. Some weeks went by but we eventually got some results. Cathy and George rustled up support from USAID and the parishioners of Silloth in Cumbria, eventually, collected enough books to fill two tea chests and had them shipped over, but it would take some time for them to arrive.
The books that were already available needed to be checked and classified. The job was keenly taken on by some of the girls in 5A. They made a note of each title, author, publisher, date published and the number of copies. Each one was then given a reference number. All the information had to be put on to reference cards. This proved more difficult than we thought: a) because we couldn’t get the materials and b) because the typewriter I’d had shipped out from England arrived in ‘a shocking condition. It had really been battered around en-route and had been torn from the base rivets’.
Library Furniture
The project stalled for lack of funds for library furniture. However, by January Mr Alleyne had persuaded the Governing Body to let him have some petty cash (that was a drama in its own right) and he allocated $25.00 EC to the project. The Catholic fathers kindly donated some ‘discarded table tops’ and George and I had the bright idea of using the old lids off the Nutmeg bins for shelves. Made of very old, seasoned Pitch Pine, they were ideal but hell to saw.
The $25.00 was spent on nails, staples and a length of cow chain. Our plan was to cut the chain into short lengths and use the sections to support the shelves. The plan worked well and we stayed within budget.
George and I spent a good four days sawing, hammering and nailing until finally, on January 28th we were all but done. It took another month before we were able to afford the paint for the shelves and study desks.
Now all we had to do was wait for the overseas book shipments to arrive.
Books Galore
I’m not sure when the books arrived from the USA but I do recall Cathy and George had acquired a considerable number. The consignment from England took ages to arrive. It wasn’t until early April that I sailed to Grenada to look for them.
‘I spent the day on the quayside by the Geestbay Industries searching for the shipment…. I eventually found them and had them put on board the Perseverence ‘B’.’
I seem to remember Paddy’s brother in law, Goldwyn, had agreed to make a short detour on his way up to PM and drop them off at Hillsborough Jetty.
So finally, by April we had the library open and functioning.
The Aftermath
The library proved to be very popular but we were concerned that a number of books were going missing. One evening, after their customary walk beyond the town, stopping in on different homes, Goot and Marion returned almost aching with laughter. Seemingly, wherever they went small numbers of books were being openly, and proudly, displayed in different homes. Far from being annoyed, Goot thought it a really encouraging sign that people were taking book ‘ownership’ so seriously.
Bishop’s College
Early History
The founding of Bishop’s College in 1964 was a defining moment in the history of Carriacou. For the first time Carriacouan students had access to secondary education on the island. Previously, only privileged students were able to continue their education beyond Primary school by studying at colleges in Grenada.
Bishop’s College was inspired by the Rev. L.A.Todd and was supported by the founders Francis Dickson, Dr Laurel Stanislaus, Percy Cox, Gerald Marcelle, John Scott and John Cox. The first intake consisted of 167 students and the first Principal was the Rev. Whappler. The teaching staff included local Carriacouans such as Lorna Cayenne, Franklyn (Paddy) Roberts, Eleuthan (Uthan) Noel and Rodge Gay.
Bernard Bullen replaced the Rev. Whappler. In September 1966 Mr E.S.(Goot) Alleyne arrived from Barbados with wife, Marion and children George (Jeff) and Glenroy (Rufi) to fulfil a three year contract as Principal. ‘Goot’ had degrees in Law and History and he brought a new rigour to the College as well as an inspired vision for the College in the way of educational excellence. During his time as Principal, Bishop’s College established itself as an institution of considerable repute as students began to sit and pass GCE’s.
Bishop’s College Building
The original building occupied the converted Anglican Church Hall in the middle of town. Extra classrooms existed on the other side of the road in a converted Nutmeg Store. The main building had 1st and 2nd year intake groups downstairs. Classes 4A and 5B were upstairs. 5A were housed on the upper floor of the Nutmeg store along with a small Science laboratory built by the staff. The Staffroom and Principal’s office were housed on a raised section at the far end of 5B classroom.
College Year 1967-68
I arrived to join the staff of Bishop’s College at the beginning of September 1967. I joined the teaching staff of an established institution with a growing reputation for academic excellence. Principal, Mr E.S. (Goot) Alleyne led a talented team of teachers which included Franklyn (Paddy) Roberts, Eleuthan (Uthan) Noel, Rodge Gay, Vincent (Yankee) Bullen and George and Cathy Touchton from USA. I myself came on a contract with Voluntary Service Overseas and replaced Tony Cook who taught in the College the previous year.
Students 1967-68
The most important people in the College were, of course, the students. I taught Forms 4, 5A and 5B. It occurred to me you might like to know (or be reminded of) the names of students in each class. (Any ex-students reading this may like to know I still have most of your grades if you would like them!!!!!!)
Form 4
Leonard Alexander, Anne Alexis, Claudia Augustine, Selwyn Babtiste, Barnabus (Barney) Bethel, Maurice Blaize, Paul Boatswain, Vestine Cayenne, Wayne Davidson, Solomon Fleary, Verna Fleary, Clemencia George, Albertus James, Joseph James, David John, Judith John, Veronica John, Josephine Joseph, Stephanie Joseph, Terry Joseph, Regina King, John Lambert, Johnny McKenzie, Jane McLawrence, Coswin McLeod, Hyacinth McQuilkin, Keith McQuilkin, Ann Prime, Merrill Prime, Minora Raymond, Anthony Stiell, Keith Stiell, Kenneth Stiell, Marjorie Thomas.
Form 5B
Everest Alexander, Valerie Alexander, Dennis Alexis, Jacinthia Alexis, Astor Andrew, Ezra Andrew, Alfred Babtiste, Sylvia Bartholomew, Bernadine Bascombe, Patsy Bedeau, Albert Benjamin, Agnes Brown, Margaret Brown, Edith Charles, Deborah Cox, Sybil David, John Douglas, Mavis Emmons, Martin Fleary, Viola Fleary, Esther Guadaloupe, Cornelius Jaffier, Davis Joseph, Magdalene Joseph, Mary Joseph, Sarah McFarlane, Sarahnie McFarlane, Solomon McKenzie, Josiah McLeod, Patricia Levine, Louise Pierre, Esther Prime, Clarissa Scott, Henry Stiell, Minita Williams.
Form 5A
Manson Adams, Palmira Augustine, Lionel Babtiste, Letitia Bartholamew, Tyrone Bethel, Joseph Browne, Annette Cayenne, Evra Cummings, Eileen David, Bernice Davidson, Joseph Faure, Rosalyn Fleary, Nell Gabriel, Monica Guadaloupe, Nicholas Jacob, Vena James, David Joseph, Maria Joseph, Laurel Martineau, Selwyn Mills, Stephanie McKenzie, Jacinta Nedd, Margaret Noel, Matthew Noel, Testina Scott, Carol Stewart, Paul Quamino. Joyce Stiell, Errol Thomas.
Over the next few posts I will try and give you a flavour of daily life in Bishop’s College and relate some of the events that took place during the year. Anyone who would like to add a contribution can contact me using the contact box on this site.
New Year Celebrations
If I thought Christmas had been a hectic round of feting and celebrations it hardly prepared me for the New Year festivities. With Christmas hardly over we were thrown into a headlong flight towards Old Year’s Night and New Year’s Day, as my diary notes suggest.
Saturday Dec. 30th 1967
“A stroke of good fortune took me back to Petit Martinique today. Leo and ‘the boys’ (i.e. Sunblisters) were due to play at a dance on PM and Leo asked if I would like to go along. I jumped at the chance and we trundled off to Windward in a truck laden with equipment and liquor. Once we reached Windward everything was transferred to the boat and we made our way across to PM where the cargo was transferred on to the jetty and hauled up to the hall.
The dance went off extremely well. I served behind the bar for the whole night. Everyone I met was amazingly friendly. The dance finished around 2.00am and when the crowds had dispersed we pulled out the benches to use as beds.
I had just got my head down when I heard a loud banging on the door. It turned out to be a guy I’d given a dollar to earlier in the evening so he could buy himself a quart of jack (enough to fill a coke bottle). He’d walked home after the dance, and had then immediately returned to pay me back the dollar. I was very impressed. Back to the bench and slept ‘til 6.00am.”
Sunday 31st Dec. 1967
“The band returned to Carriacou and I took up Paddy’s invitation to stay and celebrate New Year on PM.
Paddy’s family home is on the north of the island. A constant refreshing breeze blows through the house that his father built around 1936. From the front window you look over to Petit St. Vincent and beyond to the Atlantic. It is an ideal vantage point from which to catch sight of any squalls coming down from the Horse Latitudes. The coast is wild and beautiful and the people work incredibly hard to make a living from the sea.
Old Year’s Night and New Year’s Day appears to be a time of constant feting here in PM. We started off in a small house on the western side of the island. Paddy knew I was looking for a small sailing boat and he told me our hosts had a boat for sail i.e. Archie ‘A’. After a brief discussion I bought it on the spot with a promise to send up the money in a couple of days. We shook hands and ‘fired one on the deal’.
The party seemed endless. At midnight I accompanied Paddy to midnight mass. Afterwards we followed the Serenading band and visited about 20 different homes. The welcome was the same in every one. When Paddy and I left at 6.30am to go home the band was still playing and when I woke up at 8.30am I could still hear them going strong somewhere in the distance.
Monday Jan. 1st 1968
I returned home on the ferry with Father Fitton and arrived in time for lunch. We had a large crowd today for lunch including Mr and Mrs Alleyne with Goot’s brother-in-law and new wife. They are spending their honeymoon here in Carriacou.
Once lunch was over I walked down to the jetty where I met up with Leo and the boys as they were about to leave for Union Island for yet another dance. I didn’t have to be asked twice if I wanted to join them.
The sight of Union had often intrigued me and I had longed to visit for some time. It did not disappoint. We approached the quiet lagoon, the palm clad beach and the lofty spires of ancient volcanic rock and landed the equipment on the concrete jetty. We were met by a Landrover and taken to our destination; a hall with no lighting and a stage at one end. We set up a generator outside to provide the electrics for the lighting and the band.
The dance was tremendous. The Sunblisters played magnificently and at different points during the night everyone in the band swopped instruments. I worked behind the bar and the only incident of any note was when a very drunken guy came to the bar with a few friends and said, ‘Don’t give me no eye white man’ and then added, ‘I don’t trust no white man, no’. Fortunately, at that point two very beautiful lasses wandered past and his friends pointed him in their direction. He staggered off full of hope. They didn’t come back.
Tuesday Jan 2nd 1968
Once again, when the dance was over, we grabbed a few hours sleep on the benches and woke early to return home. The boat was late but when it arrived I just lay down and slept. I didn’t wake up until we put in at Hillsborough. There I found George and Cathy about to leave for Grenada. I could have gone with them but I had promised Paddy I would wait until Thursday to sail ‘Archie’ down from PM.
