Circular No 677

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

Caracas, 25 of October 2014 No. 677

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Dear Friends,

You may wonder why I have been resending old Circulars??

I am running short of emails from you, the audience. To improve your input, maybe we should pick a fight with the Monastery?

A few months ago I had to make space with extra issues, jajaj

All those who promised 50 words, make yourself present.

I am resending some photos because these did not have the numbering system.  Remember to use these numbers when making observations, to facilitate a feedback.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v3nMokg_R3M,

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salvador coscarart <coscarartsalvador@hotmail.com>

Saturday, April 18, 2009 10:16:09 PM

Hola Ladislao

Aqui esta otro estudiante del abbey school de la epoca de los 67-70.

Se llama Frank Ibarra y es el primo de Raul Leoni.

Hoy nos pusimos en contacto asi que hay tienes su dirección para invitarlo a los circulares

Bueno hasta pronto y gracias por los circulares un gran trabajo.

Muchisimas gracias.

Salvador.

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Hello Ladislao,

Here is another abbey school student from the 67-70 .

Frank Ibarra is the cousin of Raul Leoni.

We made contact today so there you have a new address to invite to your circular,

Good see you soon and thanks for a great job.

Thank you.

Salvador.

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From: franibar834@cantv.net

Date: Sat, 18 Apr 2009 21:51:52 -0400

Buenas tardes, Salvador:

Primeramente muchos saludos para ti, para tu familia y para Pedro.

He sabido que vives en USA, gracias a Dios, y más o menos recibo información de Uds.

Por favor, dale muchos saludos a Pedro.

Todavía recuerdo gratamente los días que pasé en tu casa.

Estoy ahora trabajando en un proyecto en República Dominicana, aunque también tengo obligaciones en Caracas con la misma compañía.

Vamos a ver si la economía empieza a moverse para apurar todo esto.

Cuando viaje a US te llamo a ver si nos podemos reunir.

Saludos y gracias por contactarme!

Frank

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Good afternoon Salvador:

First, many greetings to you and your family and Peter.

I heard that you live in the USA , thanks to God, from the information I received.

Please give many greetings to Peter.

Still pleasantly remember the days I spent at your home.

I 'm working on a project in the Dominican Republic, although I have obligations in Caracas with the same company.

Let's see if the economy starts to move to hasten this.

When I travel to the US I shall call you to see if we can meet.

Greetings and thanks for contacting me!

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Date: Thu, 30 Oct 2014 05:46:08 -0700

To: msbabbeyoldboys@groups.facebook.com

Subject: Re: Mount St Benedict Abbey boys Trinidad

It would be nice to have an album, a pictorial...

Salvador Coscarart

30 October 08:16

THANKS, AS WELL. MANY BLESSINGS.

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Terrence Ferreira

29 October 19:37

Amen!

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Glen G. McKoy

29 October 09:32

This is a gigantic start if I must say. Many thanks to Sir Ladislao Kertesz & Sir Don for keeping The Circular & Blog Alive, and of course you my dear brother Sir Kazim, for taking your time to put all this stuff in some sort of order.

Cheers Mis Amigos - Muchas Gracias, from every one of us, from The Abbey School, Mt. St.Benedict - Long Live Our Club - Cheers Glen.

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Kazim Abasali

29 October 04:43

Yes, Terrence,

A place we can post ourselves, and year by year.

I will try to create or incorporate it in our website in the future.

Right now I am studying to do these sort of things.

It involves programming or coding on a larger scale as opposed to just the usual uploading by a webmaster.

I will create a Facebook like section to get the photos uploaded by the Boys as you suggested.

Thanks and appreciation for your many postings and photos my friend.

As this Mount Facebook Group Admin, it is always wonderful to see so much participation.

Thanks again to all who contribute.

As well as Glen and Neil and others.

Take care.

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Kazim Abasali

29 October 04:36

http://www.msbasaa.com/photo-gallery/

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Terrence Ferreira

29 October 03:41

It would be nice to have an album, a pictorial history of the Abbey School: students, priests, brothers, teachers, scouts, individual sports, etc..

A tool so we can respectively post.

Better yet, just by year to year.

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Date: Wed, 29 Oct 2014 07:02:50 -0700

Glen G. McKoy mentioned you in a comment in Mount St Benedict Abbey boys Trinidad.

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Caracas, 24 of August 2002. Circular No.41

Dear Friends

Back in Caracas, with a backlog of business that has kept me from fulfilling my obligations to you in getting this circular out on Saturday, although I have kept the date in the header.

Here is the second instalment of my trip to TT that started on Monday, the 12^th of August, in Caracas. My actual arrival in TT was on the 14^th of August.

The first part of the instalment bringing my odyssey up to Saturday the 17^th .

My voyage concluded on the 23^rd of August when I finished the trip arriving home.

Now back to the narrative, where I left off in Circular No.40, written in Diego Martin.

 As you remember I had lunch with Capt. Anthony Date (BWIA) at the Trinidad and Tobago Yacht Club (The Royal Yacht Club for those old boys like myself). During lunch we saw Anthony De Verteuil come in and we invited him to join us. We talked over an hour on different topics.

On Sunday it was easy as I spent time with my host and family, going to the Las Cuevas beach, even saw my daughter Viki who is staying with their niece.  It was a calm cloudy day but it did not rain, and we left for a late lunch.

Monday was a busy day as I met with Alex de Verteuil at his advertising company Pearl and Dean and right after at 13:00 went with Michael Dórnellas to Mt. St. Benedict. Michael had made arrangements to meet Ms. Kitty Markus at St. Peter´s Home for the aged, close to the play field, and with Frs. Cuthbert, Augustine, and Benedict, at the monastery. We stayed late as Ms. Markus gave us two hours of lively talk on occurrences of past school history. Next we met Fr. Cuthbert at his office where the old bakery was originally located and went on a guided tour through his yoghurt factory, 300 litres a week, all sold and committed.

After this tour we went to meet Fr. Augustine and Fr. Benedict. Fr. Benedict showed us his static detector which I hope to show you in a photo. Fr. Augustine has eyesight problems that are preventing him from working in his guava jelly factory. Bro. Gerard joined us before we left for a short tour up our old school and St. Bede´s dining hall, which has been turned into a restaurant. I hope to have photos on these. At 18:30 we left for POS.

In the evening I had dinner with Alex De Verteuil´s and Gerard Kenny´s family. Saw Alex´s scissors collection, over 300 pieces, all of them different, very interesting story which I hope he would repeat in writing for this circular´s fans.

It was a really pleasant evening, thank you Alex.

On Tuesday, my last full day in TT was spent shopping in the morning and for lunch I met with Roger Henderson and Michael Herrera. In the afternoon Dr. David Bratt came over to my host´s home and had a nice chat on MSB, then I started packing.

In this second instalment I can tell my friends that I talked to Franklyn Kerry, Michael Ames, Geoffrey Agostini, Douglas Agostini, Gordon Thavenot, Bernard Tappin, Dr. George Laquis, Abraham Laquis, Norman Gabriel, Bruce Hutton, Stuart Henderson, Jeffrey Gransaull, Jean De Meillac, John Camps-Campins, Malcom Boyack and a few other that I have lost in my notes. Thank you all for your encouragement and also for your praise of Anthony Johnson´s  Web page.

On Wednesday at 7:00 am we went to Pier No.1 to get on the ferry. About 40 people got together and left 9:00 am sharp. The customs and immigration went very smoothly.  Interestingly the date stamped in my passport was the 21st  of July, so I embarked three week before I arrived?? The sea was all right for the 3 ½ hour trip, it was cloudy and with a light drizzle.

In the Venezuelan side the customs and emigration were not sharp, it took half an hour waiting in a drizzle before the officials who were on the spot, decided that they would start to check us out of the pier. I got a lift to the storage area where my Dodge Ram pickup vehicle was kept. Here I got a unpleasant surprise, the watch dog eat through and sliced the electrical cables going from the engine to the gas pump and tank. At first I though that this was sabotage or wrongful damage but after the local electrician repaired the cables I changed opinion. So instead of leaving from Guiria to Maturin at 13:00 pm we left at 16:00 for the five hour drive, which was uneventful.

On Thursday we went to the airport to pick up an aeronautical omnidirectional radio beacon that was supposed to have been brought over from the Pedernales Airport in the Orinoco delta. No luck, at the airport the person in charge said that there were too many cables to disconnect and told me that I should do this, so a simple pick up turned into a 35 minute flight towards the East in a Beech 1900 to this remote airport, just a stepping stone from TT. I cut all the cables and returned with the equipment by midday. Luckily there was a seating place for my daughter, and she enjoyed the flight which was jumpy.

On Friday I started the day with a meeting at PDVSA, our oil company, on a heliport project and an inspection to their private airport that I hope to do next month. After this at 9:00 we took road to Caripe where I hopped to meet Luis Alfredo Mezzana, an old boy and the local coffee chieftain. We had lunch and at 14:00 we retraced our journey back to the main highway and in 7 hours we arrived home at 20:30, an uneventful last day.

To my friends in TT, especially those have called me during my stay, and those with whom I met, thank you for your support.

Those that I called and we were not able to meet, maybe next time, God willing.

God Bless

Ladislao

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Photos:

Dbandit p02 The Early Years

03SC1991MSBEDI, Monastery

03DM0024CMA, Christopher Marothy

05GP0001GPA, Gerard Pampellone

Circular No 676

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

Caracas, 18 of October 2014 No. 676

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Dear Friends,

http://www.calypsobandit.com/Music02/Come%20and%20Meet%20my%20Friend-Paramount.mp3,

From this Circular on, I am sending you the booklet published by David de Castro on his EARLY YEARS at the Mount.

For those that want a hard print copy endorsed by the BANDIT please contact him, there might be some charges, but you shall have the complete issue, TOMORROW.

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Gerard Pampellone has left us

Nigel Boos

Sep 24

Kazim,

It is my sad duty to report to you that Gerard Pampellonne (OB 1959/60) has passed away today in England, after a battle with cancer. His wife and children were at his bedside when he died.

I would appreciate if you would do the honours and advise the Old Boys of MSB of his passing.

Gerard was, in my time, our 2nd Mt. St. Benedict Scout Troop Leader, and a fine, highly principled young man he was. He graduated from the Abbey School in either 1959 or 1960.

He married Kathleen, an English girl, who he met while studying in England. Their children are Anna-Marie, Jean-Marc, Claudette, Andre and the twins Christian and Chantal. They lived in San Fernando for many years, while he operated an oilfield service company - Trinidad Inspection Services Ltd. He retired from his business to move to England some years ago, and his son-in-law, Paul Navarro, now runs the company.

In 2011 Gerard was planning to return to Trinidad to spend time in a house he had built in Diego Martin. Everything was packed and they were ready to leave, when, feeling unwell, he went to see the specialists and he was diagnosed with lung cancer. They managed a final visit to Trinidad last year when he was still feeling strong.

Gerard's brother, Dave, was also a student at the Abbey School, but unfortunately, I do not have his email address.

I'm sure I speak for all of us Old Boys in expressing my deepest sympathy to Kathleen and her children and to Dave.

May his soul rest in peace.

Anyone wishing to contact his family can do so using this contact telephone number (0208 508 - 7730) and email address: gerard.pampellonne@ntlworld.com

Nigel

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From: "Don Mitchell" idmitch@anguillanet.com

Sent: Sunday, August 31, 2014 10:45:26 AM

Dear all,

Just a note to remind you to visit Ladislao’s Circulars on Sundays: http://abbeyschool2014circulars.blogspot.com/

Keep well.

Don

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From: bgcaribajan@live.com

Subject: RE: Abbey School Circulars

Date: Mon, 1 Sep 2014 19:12:19 -0400

Hey, Don: 

After reading the different response links, I specially noticed the one sent by Salvador Coscarart, where some friends got together in Lafayette, Louisiana, not far from where my brother Donald lives (Baton Rouge) and I am sure that he would have enjoyed being at the referred reunion.

We should try getting Donald and Salvador to make contact; since they live so close by!?

Just a thought and all the best to you and yr family,

Saludos, Brian Goddard

PS: Thanks again Ladislao and Don for yr MSB news down memory lane.

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From: mckoy43glen@hotmail.com

Subject: RE: Hot off the press

Date: Tue, 23 Sep 2014 20:09:52 +0000

Hello, Sir Anthony,

Thank you for sharing this good news with us.

Your daughter Gillian is a great person for this jo.  Hopefully, we will have one honest person there ha! ha!

Give me a call when you are back in town, have a great day,

Cheers, mi amigo, adios,

Glen.

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From: celandaal@hotmail.com

Date: Mon, 22 Sep 2014 12:35:22 +0000

Hi Glen,

Here is a photo

Regards

Anthony

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FORMER PCA DIRECTOR APPOINTED JUDGE

Story by Bavita Gopaulchan

Former Director of the Police Complaints Authority, Gillian Lucky was today appointed a judge of the high court.

Justice Lucky was sworn in at President’s house this morning at 9:30am in the presence of the Chief Justice and close family members.

Justice Archie warmly welcomed and congratulated Justice Lucky on her accomplishment as the country’s newest puisne judge.

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Nigel Boos

Oct 18

Champion Golfer, Stephen Ames, has been inducted into the Canadian Golf Hall of Fame. 

Stephen is the son of Michael Ames (Mt. St. Benedict 1955) and we should all feel a sense of pride in his achievement.

I’m forwarding this report to you, for your enjoyment, and, should you wish to do so, please send it along to others who might also enjoy i.

Nigel

Video link to "From a Dot on the Map" also includes an interview with Bob Weeks of Score Golf which showed last night on TSN

http://review.bellmedia.ca/view/1324119405

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Diego Martin, 17 of August 2002. Circular No. 40

Dear Friends,

This Newsletter is being prepared from Trinidad. I finally did get to the island, leaving the work and stress in Venezuela.

The trip was uneventful, I started on the trip on Monday, 11^th with my daughter Viki (13) early in the morning to avoid traffic in Caracas; we arrived in Pto. La Cruz about 300 km away at about 10am, where I met Hector Ahow (those that were at msb in the mid 1960 would remember him) and family and left Viki while I moved to a meeting with the chief of communications of the local cellphone company to discuss the possibility of giving a workshop on obstruction lighting systems and the controllers that we manufacture. After the meeting I had lunch with Hector while Viki had a great time swimming with Hector’ s daughters.

In the afternoon I went to Hector’s office which is close by, but the traffic was horrible, strange for the resort city. After being stuck for a few hours at his office we decided to walk back instead of using the car.

Later in the evening the Tv news showed the reason for the traffic stoppage. Students from the local University had taken their transport buses and placed them across the main road and only intersection of the city, effectively blocking traffic in all directions. They were protesting the lack of action by the judiciary and local government in a multiple run over and a death by a drunken driver that ran over four students two days before.

We closed the day with a barbecue and the arrival of additional friends.

Next morning I had another meeting at the main offices of our Venezuelan oil company, PDVSA. This took about two hours. We took to the road towards Cumana where we arrived about midday, ate lunch and went to the local Airport for a show of the flag, but we did not meet anybody.

On the road again, this time to Carupano we again encountered a traffic blockage, this time local citizens of a small village were protesting a company that was about to scavenge a large cargo ship nearby. Although we never found out the real reason, we stood for close to two hours in the middle of nowhere while authorities, police got rid of the burning tyres and re-established traffic flow.

Upon reaching Carupano, again to the Airport, and we did meet the local authority, had a chat and returned to the road towards Rio Caribe and our goal Guiria.

But again a turn of fate about half an hour out of Rio Caribe the road was closed. The reason was because local residents of a small village had physically cut the road about two weeks before because after a strong rain lasting hours their houses were flooded and their only solution was to cut the road to let the dammed up water to recede. So far so good, but why were there no signs indicating that there was no through traffic from Rio Caribe to Guiria??

So we drove back to Carupano and took the alternate the road to the south to Guiria, a loss of nearly two hours. This added to the two hours already lost, totalled four hours, so instead of arriving at 5pm we arrived at 9pm. I do not mind driving in the dark but I prefer to drive during daylight to enjoy the sights.

We spent the night at a nice small hotel, we were rather tired after so many hours sitting in the vehicle.

Next morning we went to the office of the Pier #1 ferryboat and bought tickets, 46 USD one way.

The ship left the docks at about 3pm for the 3 ½ hour trip to Pier #1 docks, which was uneventful.

The trip was over once we saw our friends at the TT dock.

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So, now I am in TT, enjoying my friends’ hospitality, and my daughter is with girlfriends of her age at another home, trying out the tricks her mind and tongue learned at her English language class at school this last year.

Now, off course, you are a bit annoyed, as you want to know not about my trip but about the contacts I made here in TT these few days. So here is the part that you want:

On the 15^th I started calling friends of my class 1960 and others on the list. I called Roger Henderson at the Bank but was told that he retired, but were kind enough to give me his new telephone number. I got hold of him and we agreed to call each other on Monday. The same situation with Michael Herrera.

I went with my hosts to the Trinidad and Tobago Sailing Association on Thursday morning and was rained out by midday.

I called in the afternoon my good friend Graham Gonsalves, and oldboys Alfonso De Lima, Stuart Henderson, Jean De Melliac, Capt. Jeffrey Gransaull and Gerard Kenny with whom I had a nice chat.

I left a message with Vernon De Lima

Going to meet Dr. David Bratt for lunch on Monday or Tuesday.

Had lunch with Rene Bermudez at the Chaguaramas Golf Club on Friday.

On Saturday I had lunch with Capt. Robert Date, BWIA, at Trinidad and Tobago Yacht Club, (old Royal Yacht Club), where I also met by chance with Robert De Verteuil.

My plans for Sunday are to go with my hosts to Maracas Bay and Las Cuevas in the morning until we get rained out. It does rain every day, the accustomed 5 minutes on and 15 minutes off.

Monday will be dedicated to the Piarco Airport and Mt. St. Benedict.

In the morning I may go to see Denis Gurley, and Abraham Laquis who invited me to their offices in Pos, but I do not know if I can make it.

In the afternoon I am going to msb with Michael D’ornellas, hope to get good photos and meet Frs. Benedict, Cuthbert, Augustine and maybe others.

In the evening I am going to meet Alex de Verteuil.

The plans for Tuesday are not set but that would be my last day in town. The ferry leaves at 9am on Wednesday.

Left my number for Robert Azar, and others, I feel that time is going to be short to be able to meet them.

Gordon Mitchell was in Tobago.

Judge Anthony Lucky, Richard Gransaull, are out of the country.

Eddie Hares, tried but no answer on the phone.

Tried to make new contacts with David Strisiver, George Laquis, John Abraham, but no luck.

I may have missed out on some of the names as I made close to a hundred calls, but you all know that the telephone book does not reflect the uptodate changes, and that some numbers just rang and rang without answer. So until next week for the second part of my enjoyable eventful trip to TT.

God Bless

Ladislao

Sorry no photos and columns.

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Photos:

Bnadit p01, The Early Years

14DP0002DPHWFE, Derek Phillips and wife Marie Anne

14AL0001GLU, Judge Guillian Lucky, Anthony´s Daughter

03SC8350GRPDCU, only one name is missing, can you help?