Circular No 675

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

Caracas, 11 of October 2014 No. 675

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Dear Friends,

I have been slow these few months with the Circulars as I have been taking care of my mother for the last five months.  She passed away on the 29 of September 2014, at the age of 97.

On a lighter side, HAPPY BIRTHDAY, Fr. CUTHBERT

Looking up the email collection, here are some that have to do with Fr. Cuthbert and also Ms Kitty Marcus that have not been published before.

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Dutch monk Cuthbert van de Sande, “the brain behind the yogurt,” samples soursop in the chiller of a small factory on the grounds of the Mt St Benedict Abbey, St John’s Road, St Augustine.

By Michelle Loubon

Tobago will soon get a taste of Pax yogurt from the monks of Mt St Benedict in St Augustine.

Maxim de Comarmond, manager of Pax Yogurt Company Limited, was buoyed by the response he got from hotels last Wednesday.

“A lot of hotels are interested in it, especially those with German guests,” he said. “The chefs in the hotels use it for cooking.

They are very interested in it.

We did some sampling from the local company.

The tasters found it was excellent...a local company producing this neat product.

I will be going back within the next week.”

Pax yogurt produces six delicious flavours—almond, guava, passion fruit, pineapple, soursop, strawberry and natural.

Vanilla is expected to be on stream by month’s end.

Prior to producing yogurt, the monastery produced Pax (Latin for peace) honey on a small scale.

The monk/apiarist died and the abbey passed the hives to another priest who continued the practice.

The more successful business venture, Pax Yogurt Company, was innocently started 14 years ago in the kitchen of the Mt St Benedict monastery.

Abbot John Pereira credited former Mt St Benedict abbot Francis Alleyne, now bishop of Guyana, and Dutch monk Cuthbert van de Sande, the “brain behind the yogurt,” for their pivotal roles.

Tracing the birth of the company in April 2003, Pereira said: “Yogurt making was simply an attempt to improve the diet of the monks.

It began as a “kitchen master” finding ways to improve the diet of the monks.

Fr Cuthbert grew up in a dairy culture.

He also makes fine goat cheese.

It is sold to the embassies.”

“Then, we started to sell the yogurt to friends.

We opened up a little outlet in the front.

We started getting orders.

Suddenly, we had to think of a way to respond to this trend.

Little by little, it was catching on throughout the length of the island.”

Soon, the abbey invested in a refrigerated vehicle to meet the demand of Hi-Lo, Tru Valu and Xtra Foods supermarkets.

A half-litre of the signature health food fetches between $10 and $11, and a litre, $21. TT

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From: Glen Mckoy <mckoy43glen@hotmail.com>

Date: 20 August 2014 13:53

Subject: RE: Fr. Cuthbert's 90th Birthday

My Dear Brother, Sir Allan

HAPPY BELATED 90TH BIRTHDAY - WE LOVE YOU GREAT GRAND MASTER, SIR FR.CUTHBERT- WE CONTINUE TO WALK IN YOUR FOOTSTEPS.

LONG LIVE THE ABBEY SCHOOL OLD BOYS CLUB. LONG LIVE OUR LEADERS.

So wonderful to read your email. 

This is very important for us all to know,

I wish we had knowledge of this earlier, we could have sent up a nice cake & gift, to this great mentor & scout leader to so many of us.  

Well what an inspiration he is to this Club, it is because of Sir Cutty, we have this Club. ha! ha!  

Thank God for Brothers like you, Sir Allan & Sir Maxim, you certainly earn our highest respect.

Best Regards from all of us, its another Great Day to be in this Club. Cheers

Mis Amigos-

Adios Glen.

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Subject: Fr. Cuthbert's 90th Birthday

To: mckoy43glen@hotmail.com

Date: Mon, 18 Aug 2014 18:41:38 +0000

Hi Glen,

It's been a while since we chatted. I trust all is well?

I visited Fr. Cuthbert today being his 90th birthday.

He's still active and met up with him in his office at the yogurt factory.

Spent a few hrs chatting, and then had lunch with him, a few of the monks including Abbot Pereira and friends.

The only other old boy there was Maxim De Comarmond who works with Cutty at the factory.

He's doing well, and according to Abbot John the only thing that Cutty is suffering from is old age.

He's still mobile with his walking stick and walker that he uses to move from the refectory to the monastery.

Best regards,

Allan

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To all my friends

I hope that you are getting the Circulars.

I am a bit late this month but still at it, for this year?

With Don´s Blog page, those that have missed some of the latest issues are assured that they can read and comment.

I am not looking into the blog itself, because I feel that there is a need of another space for the Oldboys.

Naturally, if I do not get information in the usual way, then it does not get printed in the Circular.

Based on this, I would like you to participate as always in the memories of the School.

I am keeping all communications so that when a studious being would need or want information on the School, he can write, maybe the history of the school.

Please tell me on your Scouting experience as Scoutmaster, I was not a scout so if I write it is from an outsider’s view.

Keep well, God Bless

Ladislao

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Glen Mckoy <mckoy43glen@hotmail.com>

Saturday, February 23, 2008 4:54:33 PM

Hello, Gentlemen,

Father Cuthbert, I sending a big Hello from Mr. Arthur Knaggs and Mr. Eion O'Connors a past head prefect in 1968 when he left and I was starting.

There was a presentation about Trinidad at the Bedford Library here in Nova Scotia, just about an hour ago, 

Arthur called me and I hurried down. 

Both gentlemen looks like in good shape and health, and cheerful, lots of promises to get together etc.  

We spoke about the Mount for a hour or so, Eion spoke a lot of the Mount with such passion, what a nice person, he also spoke a lot of his buddy Cutty. 

Arthur keep cracking jokes

Breaking the Silence: 

Are we putting too much on Mr. Ladislao??

I asked him to make decisions where he needs help, I did so thinking there is some committee somewhere in the sky, just wishful thinking I guess.

Anyhow now that we know where we stand, let’s move gentlemen.

We need some kind of physical leader in Trinidad for the ongoing business etc.

A President? or a selected body? 

Whatever, 

I have put across some of my ideas, as you can see in other emails below. 

About the Kitty project, I am hearing the woman might not be able to go on any long trip??

These are the questions we require from Trinidad, this is why things have to move along in Trinidad for us out here, to raise funds, and give you in Trinidad our utmost cooperation.

I think Mr Jon Golding, Mr. Winston Ramsahai, and Mr. Joseph Berment, have been in the forefront in Trinidad for past Reunions etc. 

So obviously Gentlemen we are calling on you three to represent us on the following in Trinidad.  

1) A little space on the mount we can call our own. 

We rent, or we make a donation. 

This is business, so please don't get all religious on me, we deserve a space on the mount,  just like any monk. 

A place, to place our big brass plaque with all our names from 1944 to 1974 I think. 

A place we can show photos, a place a brother visiting Trinidad could sign a guess book or something. 

Please gentlemen this is just me wishing, so please give me you true comment on this,  for we have to know how other members feel.   

2) Compensation for the Circular, something must be done here, 

Mr. Ladislao will not say a thing to me, I have asked what will help etc, he is a very humble man, because he older than me ,

I am requesting Nigel to feel Mr. Ladislao out. Find out what will be of help, more delegation of some of the work, more storage space, or a upgraded computer?? Whatever. We need to know these thing so we can properly approach these ongoing comments. 

I hear from time to time, well let’s do something about all that soon.. 

Not all brothers can contribute, because of financial times or whatever, well the rest of us will make up the difference for those who cannot.  

At this moment I can only state as a fact that all the Hippies from the Sixties who are now in their 30's a few who have dared to visit our site from other times, that I can depend on, the rest of the classes from all the other years??

I don't know how they feel, so I must say I am talking only from my group point of view.

About Kitty, Fr. Cuthbert, Fr. Odo, Fr. Augustine, we need to know more of these people,  what is beneficial towards appreciation.  

Now before we raise funds wild, as we did a week ago, we don't need this, we have people willing to jump in, however we must have a plan so we can get a much larger support.

Now Father Cuthbert did indicate that anything with the Mount will have to be addressed with Abbot John, 

I understand the man is waiting and ready to speak to us, and in establishing a better link with the past boys, so in future, should we do anything on the Mount , we can have his blessings and permission.

On establishing contact with Abbot John, we only then know what perimeters we have to work with, should we be doing anything on the Mount.  

Well, gentlemen, I am not one for much words, so I will shout up my big mouth now, and get ready for some action.   

Willing to help in presentations, planning, whatever I can, to the ruling body??   

With my best intentions for every single brother, who was on the ship, on the list..  

Love to all on this Saturday 23rd/ Feb/2008   never too late.

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From: gevelyn1@bellsouth.net

Subject: RE: Kitty Marcus Project

Date: Sat, 23 Feb 2008 11:35:45 +0000

Glen,

It’s all about location. I am far away, and so is Nigel and others that are helpless. 

Winston and Joseph please assist.

Just in case you can't remember, travel East towards Tunapuna-- take a left at the junction North and follow the road up "The Hill"  

Someone "JUST GO"

Let’s reach the goal on all the projects you mentioned. 

Your family are the bankers.

We need a "Donation Collector" Not me.

You work it out.

Let’s have a fund drive.

People want to give now not like in the past.

Ain’t you a Scout?  "Be Prepared"

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Happy birthday Fr. Cuthbert

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Photos:

85UN0001FCU,  Fr. Cuthbert and Unknown

IMG 1934 movie 2009

59LK0001FCU, Taken by you editor

13 TH2007THE, Tim Healy