Circular No 64

Newsletter for past alumni of The Abbey School, Mt. St. Benedict, Trinidad and Tobago, W.I.
Caracas, 25 of January 2003. Circular No. 64
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Dear Friends,

Use Lkertesz3@icqmail.com for photos that you have scanned and wish to send to me and share with those receiving the circulars, send them in 500kb size or in 150 pixel/inche resolution as I leave enough storage space for these. Those who were Scouts, should have some memoirs such as medals, badges, notebooks etc., I was not a scout but I shall include soon information that all of you had in your hands and used in your trips, so Queen's Scouts, perk up, you should let other MSB classmates know your achievements, these should not be hidden.
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I am annexing a message from: "R.d'Abadie Consulting
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Services" <roland@on.aibn.com>
Date: Tue, 15 Oct 2002 11:40:16 -0400

Ladislao:

Michael Howard, one of my many cousins who attended "The Abbey School", was good enough to recently send me some info. about the Mount and now I must thank you for placing my name on the mailing list and bringing back many faded memories of days long past. The Mount has many memories for me although I was only there for a few short years and left prior to
graduation. My younger brother Bernard attended after I left, my sister worked with the addicts that used our old dorms after the school was closed and my Dad died at the old age home. The de Verteuils featured in the "recent photo's" are cousins and living here in Canada, and Richard and Randall Galt were also classmates of mine, just to name a few. The student list also reminded me of many names and memories that were tucked away in my memory bank.

While looking through the recent photos, I also came across one of Pedro Castro, one of the three Castro brothers who were there during my day. Do you have any news of Timieno? He was a good friend and classmate. The last I heard, several years ago, was that he was living in Caracas.

I could go on forever but this is a starting point. Having left Trinidad in 1960 for Jamaica and then moving to Canada, trips to Trinidad have not been frequent and crossing paths with old friends, much too infrequent. Unfortunately, I have no photos to share of my days at the Mount but many pleasant memories. Playing soccer, cricket, volley ball, boy scouts "squirrel patrol" singing in the choir etc.

Thanks for the memories and yes I received circular No. 48 this morning.
All the best

Roland d'Abadie
Toronto, Canada
e-mail (roland@on.aibn.com)
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From: "Costelloe, Dion"
Date: Mon, 23 Sep 2002 08:56:52 -0400

Sean lives in Toronto, Canada, and Brian is in St. Augustine , Trinidad. Neither would have an E-mail address but their wives,
children would. Sean's wife is Hillary, child is Brenna. Brian's wife is Charlene, child is Sarah. Perhaps you could find them with a search.
Dion Costelloe

Dion.Costelloe@ispat.com
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Can anyone help??? -those living in St. Augustine???? Maybe Jerry Bain can help in Toronto???

And now again I am writing about another regular event that happened at the Mount: In this one I wanted to recall our everyday going to Mass at 6:15 am. The chapel was next to the small boy's dormitory and on the other side the staircase going down to the playhall, where we had pictures, 16mm pictures, every Saturday night.

What can I say, this can be called a routine, for some of you the memories might recall happiness but for the majority it was no fun. The bench prefects had to keep their charge awake, no head was allowed to touch the bench top and the kneeling had to be straight, no backside was allowed to touch the seat. This drill, which some objected, did make us what we are today, I do not regret it. In my case I was one of those that preferred study to Mass, I always had something to write or read, mostly unfinished homework.

From the time I entered MSB, Prep A ( I entered MSB on Sept. 1955) to Form III (1957) the routine was of going to Mass as soon as we woke up, before breakfast. The Mass lasted exactly 37 minutes!!! joking, but there were favourite priests who took about 30 minutes and those not so favourite that took 45 minutes. No matter those with a watch always found that the time crawled. Naturally I am talking as a personal experience and the looks on the faces of those that kneeled around my location. Piece of wood plank was the surface for kneeling; not the soft kneeling stools of nowadays. But I enjoyed the Latin of them days to the local language now days and the Gregorian singing to the rock and whatever and wherever is done today. Maybe someone would like to add to this!!!

God Bless

Ladislao
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Listado: C64.xls
Photos: DSC00104 msb M Lew
How to feel happy 01
Column: What is happening in Venezuela 1
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ATTACHMENTS

Listado C64.xls

Names	Form V	Contact	nickname	business address	Phone	e-mail
Smart, Ian	1958	Huggins		Calgary, Alberta, Ca		ismart@advantageenergy.com
Smith, Norman	1966	gabby		Colombia
Smith, Rodereick		roge
Sojo, Raul		glen		YV
Sol-Dominguez, Eugenio		glen		Assa oriente, Barcelona, Venezuela	(281) 267 4722	assa@assa.com.ve, yoli.amaya@assa.com.ve,
Sol-Dominguez, Fernando		glen		Barcelona, Venezuela		assa_pos@cantv.net
Soodeen, Scipio		roger		Barbados	sooden???
Soodeen, Trevor				Windsor, Ontario
Soodeen, Tyrone Dr.				Abboisford, BC
Springer, Richard		roge
Stanley,
Stein, Michael	1963	pablo	Tobi		miami
Stein, Paul	1967	pablo	Figuito	Johnson & Johnson	miami/ houston
Stephen, Fr.		lk
Stone, Bernard				3 Vale Cresent, Ajax, Ontario	(905) 427 1791	national@aol.com nathose@hotmail.com nathose@aol.com

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Circular No 63

Newsletter for past alumni of The Abbey School, Mt. St. Benedict, Trinidad and Tobago, W.I. Caracas, 18 of January 2003. Circular No. 63
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Dear Friends,

Send information to: Ladislaokertesz@hotmail.com, if you would like to continue in the circular's mailing list or if you know any old boy that you would like to include.

And now here is the article that Jerry Bain has posted in his web page, and his comments:
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"The education of a Trini"

It all started at Miss Smith's private School on Charles St. in Port of Spain at the tender age of four. From then it was on to Miss Sylvester's in Diego Martin and then Mr. Roberts in Woodbrook. Then I hit the big time, it was up to The Abbey School at Mt. St. Benedict with fellas like Robert Elias (Mighty Trini), Leon Alves, the Serrano Brothers (Small World 1 and 2) and the best track and field coach at the time, P.G. Wilson.

After four years at "The Prison on the Hill", as we called it, I was transferred to Fatima College to finish my schooling. Now, that was memories, liming by Mr. Williams' Palour, fellas like Peter Geoffrey, Denis Niles, Garth Wills, Heyden Duprey (our goalie) and of course, that was the year we 'drafted' Everad Cummings to play "intercol" for us. After completing three years at Fatima, I had to put in my "free labour" at the family owned business on Edward Street. This is where I learnt what hard work is all about. We had a great bunch of electricians there, Desmond St. Hill, Glen Loney to name a few. Next door was Russ Archer Photo Studio.

Right across the road was Carl Baker, the tailor, and next door lived "the Taylors" who were bakers.... What a MIXED UP WORLD! Anyway, the old man decided to send me off to Canada to study electronics, just about three months after becoming engaged (Surprise !!!) you could see that coming. So it was two years at Radio College of Canada where I learnt how to repair televisions with tubes in it ! I'm still living in Canada now, still trying to figure what happened to all the tubes?

'Special Memories'
The guys I used to race with at Wallerfield on Sundays... Pernell "PeeWee" Welsh, Sidney Manhim, Silborn Clarke, Michael Munes, Ralph Thom, "Eggie" Gonzales to name a few. My liming buddies, Louis Hurdle, "Patches", Derick and Alan Viera, "Doodie" from Maracas. Ellingtonn "Jiggs" Griffith, Carlton Ahyee, Errol Rennie, Andre Penco. If any of you guys are still out there, DROP ME A LINE ! SPECIAL THANKS to my wife, Debbie, my two beautiful daughters, Alannah and Jenna and my son Jason.
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From: "Jerry Bain" <jerry.bain@sympatico.ca>
Date: Sat, 11 Jan 2003 18:21:53 -0500

Hi guys,

Well, what a lovely surprise to open my e mail and find a picture of myself in your archives ( Class of 1966, third on the right of Mr Tyrell, back row ). I'm Jerry Bain, # 80 ( it would really be nice to know how many people remember their numbers). My fondest memory of the Mount, was trying not to get a green soft drink after school, that special toast bread we had at breakfast, a teacher we called "Toots", the Serrano brothers, (Small World 1 & 2), remember "Box head" ?

I think I had one of the best teachers of the time, Mr. Ernie Tyrell, you know, I can still sign his initials. I also remember that mango tree that used to look like a Christmas tree at night from all the cigarette smokers in the tree. And Joan who worked in the kitchen (smile), the "siphon" gang. St. Francis short pants with a white long sleeve shirt, (collar had to be up, shirt open 3 buttons).

I've been living in Canada for the last 30 years now, married to Debbie, 2 daughters and a son. As a matter of fact, those interested can check out my web site, just enter " Trinidad and Tobago in Canada" (preferably on Yahoo) and there you'll get the rest of the story.

Anyone know the whereabouts of Herman Vercrissen #77 (Aruba), Cornel De Freitas, David Narine, Leon Alves or Bobby Wharton ? Drop me a line if you're still out there guys.
Regards to all,
Jerry Bain.
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From the above I perceive that a good number of the guys mentioned were from Fatima but some were from MSB. I included this resume as I am sure that some of you must have been in the same class as Brian, either at MSB or at Fatima. Please give me a line if you know Bain and those that he mentions. I have enclosed a photo so that you may recognize him when in Canada!!!.

<<<<<<COMMENCEMENT WEEK AT SCHOOL:

This was a rough week for all the new comers; remember that school year started in January in our times. ( I believe that this was changed to September in 1963). We were given the books, notebooks etc. from the Bursar and the classroom assignment.

The first reunion was in the Study Hall, Form I classroom, where we were assigned our desks for the whole year. Form I was in front and then came Form II and so on to From V at the back. This is where we kept the books and all our study material, etc. Seating assignment was according to a list prepared by the authorities (knowledgeable priests) with the idea of controlling the kids.

But in our individual classrooms there was no pre assigned listing, so everyone stalked out the DESK!!! The window seat. The seat close to the door, the seat at the rear, until our teachers called for students to occupy the empty front row, which was usually empty during the first day or class of the year. Those front seats being important to a special group while the back seats belonged to the more leisure group, that were not too keen to be in the sight of the teacher, in the middle were the rest or because there were no more back seats!!

Remember the meeting of old friends and finding out who were the new ones and those that did not make it (the whys and where they when) rumours, then the talk of the just passed holidays, trips, etc.

Of course those that had to take an airplane to get to the school had a more agitated time not because of the trip but because you did not want to forget anything, clothe, sweets, presents, toys, new pens ( Parker ball points).

God Bless

Ladislao
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Listado: C63 .xls
Photos: Jerry Bain, Just hangin out
DSC00103 msb M Lew (front of the main church)
Column: 021222 wvb The carols and the waif (it is late but I can only send what I have on hand).
These columns have been published in a newspaper and were sent by the authors for distribuition to you. I need new articles.
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ATTACHMENTS

Listado c63.xls

Names	Form V	Contact	nicknames	business address	business phone	e-mail
Serrano, Antonio		roger	Small world
Serrano, Miguel		roger
Serrette, Irwin	1959
Serrette, Owen		roge		Seminarian
Shaeffer, Glenn		cosca		TT
Sheppard, Paul		jgioannetti
Shoul, Conrad				St.Johns, Antigua
Shoul, Ian P.A.				Antigua
Shoul, Stephen		Don				shoulsb@candw.ag
Siklosi, Tomas L.		glen		YV
Silva, Juan Luis		cosca		YV rio caribe
Silva, Luis
Singh Wong	1967			TT
Skinner, John			Slim	Derby, Uk
Slinger, Paul				Grenada

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Circular No 62

Newsletter for past alumni of The Abbey School, Mt. St. Benedict, Trinidad and Tobago, W.I. Caracas, 11 of January 2003. Circular No. 62
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Dear Friends,

For those that are new to these Circulars please look us up at http://www.theabbeyschool.com, an all class msb web site. I am sure you would like to see a large quantity of photos and articles.

This week I am going to let others take over, so a couple of lines from Dr. George Laquis.
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Date: Mon, 14 Oct 2002 13:41:53

Dear Ladislao,

Abraham Laquis is my older brother. He left MSB in Form 3 to run the family business and is extremely successful.

My younger brother, Joseph Laquis, did not attend MSB but St. Mary's College in Port of Spain. He is also a Physician.

I attended MSB and graduated in 1959. I am a physician and practiced in Florida, USA until my "Heart Attack" in 1996 - secondary to being allowed to smoke in MSB at age 13. I am now retired and involved in different charities in Trinidad and Tobago.

Anthony Sabga - "Bulldog" - is now known as Antoine Sabga. He left in 1959 without graduating but got into University of Ottawa in Canada, became a Certified Chartered Accountant, and owns an extremely successful construction business in Florida called Trinity Construction Corp.
We are married to two sisters i.e. we are brothers-in-law. Richard Galt lives in the same city (Coral Springs) as did I until 1996.

Richard is considered the most successful State Farm insurance agent in the entire USA.
Dr. Ronald Charles is a G.P. in Trinidad. I see him from time to time. His daughter recently opened her own medical practice in Trinidad.

God Bless

George (Pud)

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Subject: Class of '59

Ladislao,

It was good to hear from you but I am still trying to put a face to the name. I have a very vague image in my mind.

The photo you sent me is indeed part of the Class of 1959. It was taken one week after graduation at the end of a retreat conducted by Fr. Peter Nicholson (#13) from St. Mary's College who, incidentally, now suffers from severe Alzheimer's Disease. I remember this photo well and the exact spot where it was taken. Missing from the photo are Dr. David Ames, Richard Galt, Randall Galt, which brings the total to 12 pupils.

God Bless

George (Pud)
(Flags@tstt.net.tt)
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From the above statements, the photo of Class 1959 is nearly complete, thank you for those that helped in identifying their classmates.
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Remember, those with check books, it is 2003!!!. Those who do not write checks, no problem, cash is accepted everywhere and the date is not a matter of importance except those going to or in Europe. Those with no cash in/out of the bank should not bother with the above warning.

Just as I did last year I am going to try to recall one of the yearly events that happened at the Mount, I recall the large grasshoppers that arrived in the evening during January every year; these were green with orange coloured, size of a hand. We used to kick them once they settled on the ground and run to avoid being jumped. I always found them rather disgusting because you never knew where they would land. There were those that would try to hold them by the hind legs (Goddards?) and in the process get cut with the sharp leg barbs. It is interesting that they would arrive by nightfall and next day they would disappear, I suppose they looked for
the lights. The invasion lasted about three days.

Maybe someone else has observed these creatures and would confirm???

In my last Circular I included my Terminal Report of December 1955, and from your answers, no one had a better one!!! Now I am including the Receipts for that period, maybe this would satisfy those that wanted to know the cost of tuition at the most expensive school of the island. The Receipt consisted of three pieces of paper, so here they are. In those days the USD was 4.00 Bolivars to the USD and 2.00 Bolivars to the TT dollar. So doing calculus, Fr. Paul would have been proud, the TT Dollar was 2.00 to the USD.

God Bless

Ladislao
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Listado: C62.xls
Photos: DSC00102 msb M Lew (inside main church)
School receipt 1955, 1,2,3,
Column: 021215 wvb turn of the century blues.
Column: 021126 tv Egypt and Venezuela.
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ATTACHMENTS

Listado C62.xls

Scott, Andrew		roge
Scott, Larry		stephen
Scott, Lawrence				Uk???	(868) 628 0456 (868) 653 1770	lscott4634@aol.com		(868) 662 8850
Scott, Michael				Houston
Scott, Mike				Brazil
Scott, Nigel							(868) 633 5616
Scott, Philip
Scott, Quintin		roge			RIP
Seaforth, Alfredo		glen		YV
Seheult, Anthony
Seheult, Anthony	1963	lk		bwia	reservations	sejon@tstt.net.tt,		(868) 632 4243
Seheult, James			Mac			mac.seheult@cpkelco.com, a.seheult@worldnet.att.net,
Seheult, Peter
Sellier, Pat				TT

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Circular No 61

Newsletter for past alumni of The Abbey School, Mt. St. Benedict, Trinidad and Tobago, W.I. Caracas, 4 of January 2003. Circular No. 61
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Dear Friends,

Hi, to all, those who thought that the "Last" was my cue for quitting the literary scene, and those who realized that "Last" was effectively the last circular of the year. But not many realized that the 28th of December is "Fools day" in Spanish speaking countries and some others, just like the 1st of April in Anglo-Saxon countries. So back to the computertypewriter, to hack out meaningful and meaningless phrases, fortunately the type does not stick and fingers do not get dirty with the ribbon, and best of all, I do not need a corrector ribbon.

I hope all of you survived all the wine and dancing and the holidays and are ready for this New Year. Here in Venezuela we have survived and are staging a work stoppage since last 2 of December trying to get the President to call for elections, we have a shortage of fuel, the majority of our industry has closed and our oil industry is nearly shut down, we do not have beer or rum!! which ran out before Christmas, so you can feel the seriousness of the situation. Hope all of you keep track of the news by
internet as our struggle has not be taken up by international news papers with the required coverage because of the Iraq crisis.

I have noticed that some of the oldboys are not too keen in writing up a resume, but their friends with a mighty feathers, (mighty fingers??? to be in tune with times), might give us a clue on these silent oldboys which I am sure is interesting to all.

Thank you for your support sending in new names for the MSB old boys list. I am including part of the list, this year I shall be sending out 15 names each time, thank you for your diligence. If you wondered where the names came from?, 70% of the list came from Nigel Boos who took it from Arthur Kraggs who published a pamphlet called OASIS Overseas Abbey School
Interested Students, years ago with the same intentions as our internet multilog, (is this correct???) dialog does not seem right, I have to ask Wayne Brown!!! and Glen Evelyn, who sent some mimeographed pages of the Venezuelan oldboys that went to the MSB.

Feel free to use, erase, add, etc to this list, you can then send the corrections to the Web or me. Remember that I am sending the circulars to all for whom I have the e-mail address, to promote our page.

In this New Year I have in my goals to make contact with all the recipients of this Circular. You have wondered why I have not put out an email directory, well the reason is because I do not what to give out emails of oldboys that might not be old boys as some have not confirmed their status or email addresses that are of silent alumni, as these have a reason for not wanting to be bothered by their classmates or friends, I believe that one email per week is sufficient reminder for them on their time at MSB.

Some of the Circulars this year shall be dedicated to the oldboys that wrote last year and were not included in my writings. I am sorry to have left them out but late is better than never. Please note: you may have missed some of the circulars, if you have not
received one every week, do not hesitate to ask for the missing number. Lot of you would like to seen photos of the times, so please look up your parents album and scan those photos. I only have a limited number of pictures.

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On the 23 of May 2002 Richard Johnson wrote:

Dear Ladislao,

I confirm that I have received all of the circulars.

With regard to the old Boys. To the best of my knowledge Claude Johnson, Nigel Moffat and Stuart Monplasir are all in England. I do not know a David Johnson. I do not think Claude has e-mail or fax. There were two other Moffat boys who went to Mount. They also live in U.K. Andrew who became a Pilot and I believe flies for British Airways and Lindsey who is into art and decorating. Stuart Monplasir has some family in St. Lucia. I will try to get additional information and pass it on to you.

I run a hardware business in St. Lucia. It was the family hardware started by my Grandfather in 1922. Some years ago I bought out my 3 brothers and 3 sisters. My wife Patricia and I have a son Norman who works with me in the business. He recently got married.
Regards
Richard
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Now for a couple of lines from Howard Ho:

Date: Fri, 11 Oct 2002 01:19:52 EDT

Ladislao,
1962 sounds about right!... I think I can scan some old photos during the Mount days and forward to you.
I was a day student and did not skate at school so it could have been Ho Koon...small built!....
I am 55 yrs old .......
I'll try and scan a photo tomorrow or Mon for the latest.
all the best, Howard.

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Maybe someone knows where Ho Koon is???

Maybe some of you can resend your manuscripts with additional information.
A year ago this Circular was sent to about 25 oldboys, this has grown tenfold??? So most of the stories and anecdotes have not been read by many.

I am on the lookout for all the names with e-mail address!! Especially those who had brothers and cousins that went to the Mount. I need for each oldboy in my listing the Form V graduation date, or the, would have graduated date, (WHG), to place their names in the correct class list.

And now for a look at the archives: the TERMINAL REPORT, the most revered piece of paper at school. Who can match it???

God Bless

Ladislao
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Listado: C61 .xls
Photos: DSC00101 msb M Lew (New Dinning Hall.)
Terminal report lk 1955, p1,2
Column: Wvb 021208 in the name of the real world
021211 Davis Bratt 89, sorry for including it this late!
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ATTACHMENTS

Listado C61.xls

Names	Form V	Contact	nickname	business address	business phone	e-mail
Saez, Fransisco		glen		YV
Samaroo, Jimmy		jgioannetti			johnny garcia´s cousin
Sanchez, Carlos	1954	jon
Sanchez, Regulo		glen		YV
Santos, C
Savorgnan, Luciano	1958	farcheg		usa
Savorgnan, Roberto	1961	farcheg		usa
Scannone, Antonio Julio		glen		YV
Schnell, Oscar		glen		YV
Schroeder,		glen		YV
Schroeder,		glen		YV

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