Circular No 1054

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

Caracas, 8 May 2022. No. 1054

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Dear Friends,

Here continuing with the disposition of the Archives that were held by Don Mitchell.

Would like to remind Joe Berment that during his watch, the ASAA received artefacts for the future Abbey School Museum. These artefacts and documents should also be included in the collection, as no Museum was established.

Also, News on the Bridge and Swimming Pool.

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220427

gregorymmilne <gregorymmilne@yahoo.co.uk>

Dear Fr Imamshah,

I never knew there was a bridge behind The Abbey School!

I studied at the school for 7 years and never noticed a bridge!

Where is it located?

Kind regards,

Greg

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Andres Freites Borges <andresfreitesb@gmail.com>

Wed, Apr 27

Wow, Father Harold!!! 

Thanks, a Tonne!!

Great present for all of us Mount Boys. 

Most recently we have had many very pleasant (.... vale of Argos) news from you:

Father, from Don and from the Glen Knight of the Cove who is always rendering us with his good comments (..and exotic photographs, so to say).

And also the Mount Boy from Scandinavia.... not to forget Sir Laszlo's great contributions!!!!!

God bless you Brothers and must also compliment Father Abbot for his doing of a really great job. 

Andres (Freddie) Freytes

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idmitch@anguillanet.com

Wed, Apr 27

Hello, Fr Harold,

Thank you for these photos. 

Those of the pool show a version that is much improved from the rather spartan original. 

Do you have any idea whose money was behind this effort?

It must have been hundreds of thousands of US dollars. 

Does the Abbey still own it? 

Or is it now a government-owned facility? 

I did not realise that there was anyone in the environs who would benefit from this refurbishment to the extent they would be prepared to pay for its upkeep. 

But I realise that 65-plus years’ absence from the scene must leave me in the dark. 

Best,

Don

NB: National Archives persons excluded

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Don Mitchell CBE QC

Apr 27, 2022

Wow! That is an amazing sight. Better than the original.

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Father Harold Imamshah <frharold12@gmail.com>

Apr 27, 2022

The Bridge behind the Abbey School and the Swimming Pool have both been refurbished in the last 2 months.

humbly,

Fr. Harold Imamshah

Servant of Mary for Jesus

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Patricia Bissessar <patbissessar1@gmail.com>

Apr 27, 2022

I am so happy to hear that the documents will be preserved by the National Archives.

Thank you Roma Wong Sang for coming to the assistance of Don Mitchell and the Abbey's Alumni Association

Happy to see things worked out as planned.

Patricia Bissessar.  

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Andres Freites Borges <andresfreitesb@gmail.com>

Apr 27, 2022

Great job, Don.

Thank you very much!

Freddie

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idmitch@anguillanet.com

Apr 27, 2022

Dear All,

I FedExed the original paper archives to Mrs Wong Sang yesterday. 

Then, belatedly, the fog of failing memory parted, and I remembered I had dozens of folders of documents and photographs on my computer (including scans of the original documents). 

I am FedExing those on a thumb drive to her later today, kicking myself for the unnecessary duplication. 

A triplication really if you consider I spent the day before emailing her scans of the original documents which are included on the thumb drive.

I think that should get rid of all my continuity and succession panic, so I am satisfied.

Best,

Don

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From: idmitch@anguillanet.com

Sent: Monday, 25 April 2022 19:05

Subject: Abbey School, Mt St Benedict, Tunapuna - Archives

Dear All,

This is to bring you up to date.

The following is the latest of my correspondence with Ms Wong Sang.

As only Bruce Locke replied to my inquiry to you of which of you was interested in having your email Inbox jammed up with copies of the documents, only he got copies of the emailed documents.

Best,

Don

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From Ms Wong Sang this afternoon:

From: Roma WongSang Roma.WongSang@gov.tt

Sent: Monday, 25 April 2022 14:15

Subject: Re: Abbey School, Mt St Benedict, Tunapuna - Digital Archives - MSB 25 - 31

Dear Mr. Mitchell and Alumni,

Thank you for the digital collection.

Please see attached list I prepared of the items received via email from you today.

MSB 7 seems to be missing, as everything else seems to follow a sequence.

There are a few repeated items.

The information contained has good archival value, including for family history.

I noted some familiar names (eg. David Bratt, Alex deVerteuil, Norman Sabga, Colm Imbert, etc. and a few firsts by the school - Duke of Edinburgh awards, first school pan side, etc.

Also, the newsletter "Mount Inside" is quite informative and hopefully we may be able to get other issues later on.

Some of the Mount's own history is included too.

I noted that the school was merged in 1974 with the St. Bede Vocational School to form the Mt. St. Benedict Comprehensive. 

I had wondered about that school too.

I saw photos of the school's pool - was it located at the Abbey School or at St. Bedes?

I have visited Mount Tabor (to the top) and heard that there are remnants of old buildings near the top - was it the residence of the first monks?

There is a photo of an ajoupa with thatched roof so was wondering if it was indeed remnants of this building.

I'm sure as boys you would have climbed Mt Tabor and enjoyed those awesome views!

The bridge has recently been repaired and was featured in the news.

I look forward to receiving the rest of the documents after which I will prepare a full list.

I also will have to prepare a brief history to accompany the collection.

Since the collection will be made available for persons undertaking research at the National Archives, I would like to get your permission to use the photos provided.

Additionally, we sometimes highlight parts of our collections on our social media and website platforms to help tell engaging stories from our diverse past so permission for that is also required.

I will be in touch again after I go through the full collection.

Kind regards,

Roma Wong Sang

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And my reply of a few minutes ago to Ms Wong Sang:

From: idmitch@anguillanet.com

Sent: Monday, 25 April 2022

Dear Ms Wong Sang,

Thank you for your list.

And, yes, there are a few repeated items. 

I have tried to make a note to that effect in my catalogue, but did not always succeed.

I am relieved that you got them.

I hasten to attach the missing MSB 7.

The school’s now abandoned and derelict swimming pool, excavated and built in the late 1950s, as I recall, mainly by equipment, labour, and materials donated by parents of alumni, was located on the slope just north of and on the hillside above St Bede's. 

I seem to recall St Bede's college was started at a later date, shortly before I left Trinidad in 1964.

On Mt Tabor, you may be amused to read my recollections at:

https://donmitchellcbeqc.blogspot.com/2017/05/abbey-school.html 

There are also photographs and accounts of the early years at Mt Tabor in some of the articles and booklets included in the archives.

On permission to use the photos, I am in no position to give it but I am sure none of the alumni would have any objection to their use by the National Archives. 

We would only hope that some mention would be made of the Abbey School Alumni Association (ASAA). 

This is an unincorporated, informal association, with no officers I am aware of who can give anyone permission to do anything. 

Most of the older college photographs were taken by Fr Benedict, who is now deceased and so far as I know whose estate is without any personal representative. 

Additionally, the copyright in a few of the photographs and articles may be in the authors or their personal representatives. 

I cannot see anyone objecting to your using them, especially if you take the trouble to acknowledge the ASAA.

The same applies to the use of our archival documents on your social media and website platforms. 

I could not imagine that anyone would have any objection. 

Remembering always that some of them are published books which have their own copyright holders.

Best wishes,

Don

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JUSTICE DON MITCHELL, CBE (RETD)

OWEN LANE, NORTH HILL

P O BOX 83, THE VALLEY

AI-2640 ANGUILLA, BWI

Cellphone: (264) 235 8654

Email: idmitch@anguillanet.com

26 April, 2022

Ms Roma Wong Sang,

Senior Archives and Records Officer,

National Archives of Trinidad and Tobago,

105 St Vincent St,

Port of Spain,

Trinidad and Tobago,

West Indies

1-868-623-2874 Ext 3073

1-868-682-9115

By FedEx

Dear Ms Wong Sang,

Re: Abbey School, Mt St Benedict Archives – Thumb drive

Please now find enclosed a thumb drive onto which I have copied all my digital files relating to the School.

Don’t hesitate to let me know if you have any question.

With all best wishes,

Yours sincerely,

Don Mitchell

cc: Various alumni for information

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EDITED by Ladislao Kertesz,  kertesz11@yahoo.com,  if you would like to subscribe for a whole year and be in the circular’s mailing list or if you would like to mention any old boy that you would like to include, write to me.

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Photo:

21LK4449FBEDITV, news on the TV station

55HH0010ENGLISH, Hans Hermans

00UN0009FIL, News on Father Ildefonse

21LK6465FBFCUGRP, One of the last photos of Fr. Cuthbert