Circular No 339

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

Caracas, 3 of May 2008. No 339

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Dear Friends,

Interesting exchanges, and news on Abraham Laquis.

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"gevelyn1@bellsouth.net"

Thursday, February 7, 2008 7:46:30 AM

G#2,

You've got the blues, I'll see you at the crossroads, you can play guitar, I play a Hammond B3 organ o.k get Che on bass.

David could sing, Hudson on Piano, Wayne on pan, hire a professional drummer so we could sound good ha ha..

I remember when we heard this big bang and a tree fell down somewhere out here, we thought one of you guys were dead.

When I came to Halifax in 1975, Ian Alphonso was here and Roger Farrah, and Hudson and other boys from Trinidad, we all came up to Saint Mary's University, I lived there for 3 years, best time of my late teens, did the same things played music, party all week Ian Alphonso / always 2 classes ahead of his peers, he lives in Canada, Toronto not sure, but Hudson could find him.

He got married to a girl from Nova Scotia.

Yeah his father was one of Eric Williams doctors right. (Professor fate) Hudson and Ian was here before me, Hudson got in right after mount.

Ian would be kissing his girl friend, he would be half drunk and still beat me at chess.

I took my game serious. ha ha

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G#2 I think Jon was right be careful of who we cc. ing to.

I was talking to another brother and it seems to me on that last forum it must had about 100 people reading our personal chats from all over the world that was not on the list, words from the wise ones before us.

Ain't that special, any how moving on, G#2, Tim sends me an email, asking me, if I am leaving the forum, Tim, I only saw 2 notes from you, one I'm sorry and the other one, are you leaving the forum, ah learn a few phrases from the last forum ah might have to share with you, so mr. forum we waiting for your input...............

G#1gone. (parrot troop) proud member( since 1968).......

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G#1,

You hit the right note as the only thing I can play OK on the guitar is the minor pentatonic.

Three Kings---you missed uncle BB. ---- Albert was the one string man and they all copied your partner Freddy.

One of them was a Booker T @ MG's but I cannot remember which.

The only white-man is Clapton and the only black man that sounds white is Cray. Smile.

As for the Den-Man that would be Tim.

The forestry commission still looking for him for wrecking the environment.

And you were the king of mischief.

Secret places in our own back-yard.

Imagine if they had a hardware store close by.

I was probably the biggest burglar when it came to potassium nitrate, sulphur and carbon.

As soon as Kitty ( the Queen of Mount most loving Lady) turned her back the bottle of oxygen maker was gone.

Learned to blow a tree in two from Ian "Professor Fate".

I turned them into perfect lean-up-on trees in one bang.

The thing I enjoyed most was the cook-ups of stolen grub from Mrs Tardeaer.

It was good times and my education suffered as a result.

I had to go back to High school in Florida at 27 years old before I could be accepted into College.

The only GCE I passed at Mt was English.

Saludos G#2

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Glen Mckoy

Thursday, February 7, 2008 6:20:17 AM

Dear Glen,

I hear yuh man.

Let's get the party started again, on a musical note, Stevie Ray copy Hendrix who copy Freddy King, who copy Albert King, what's your comment on that blues brother??

listen carefully you can hear it so clearly.

Your buddy Doug on pan, he's good man I cc.

Wayne Hackett and David Decastro to check it out also.

Also I would like to say sorry to our Vene. brothers for things that was said which we had no control off, however I will add the spitting game is not an English sport.

As Bob Marley said who the cap fit let them wear it.

Lets get the ball rolling, how about some good Den building stories, Den finding and destroying, Dens that was never found, Tim might remember we had a den nobody ever found , ah get a good red belly for that one, but ah never told them where it was, remember Tim.

Let get back on track,

Have a nice lent day one and all,

Glen McKoy....

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From: mckoy43glen@hotmail.com

Subject: RE: Michelle

Date: Sun, 10 Feb 2008 15:03:07 +0000

Hello,

Lover boy Tarzan that is when your and I started to go different ways, went you hit that Tobago love, and start to walk around with that stupid look on your face.

I don't know what ah do with that picture Michelle give meh (just kidding),

You would die for ah picture her, well ah go ask she husband for yuh o.k

Bushboy should only have encounters not relationships.

Talking about Wayne Chan meh buddy, bad as hell but I always liked Wayne always was good to me.

Tim you remember the time you and Wayne get in the fight outside the cafeteria, so ah think you punch Wayne in the face, Wayne drop yuh on the ground , he pull back his arm fist tight, ready to punch yuh in the face, ah run out the crowd and grab Wayne arm, and ah tell yuh it took meh whole body to hold back his arm.

Father Odo swing the corner fight done, hear Wayne, ah go get yuh, me and meh big mouth, well Wayne you better kill meh, because you better don't fall asleep..

For me it was more treats than fights.

Wayne some mental problems, but a loyal buddy.

Coscarat how the hell you could kiss a girl with that nose, another wild Vene.

I could say that because I was part of the wild and crazy bunch.

Big Hi to Mono, very good friend to share a joke with.

Love you stupid ignorant idiots. G#1,

How about the nice and quiet bunch, these guys did not fight, they concentrated more on things like studying, Hudson, Winston and the rest of the nice boys.

G#1 back in town. later (remember#1-Respect for MSB thank you my brothers for all the support in the storm)

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From: timhealy@email.com

Date: Sun, 10 Feb 2008 10:27:45 +0800

Subject: Michelle

I would die for a picture of Michelle.

I remember Gwynneth very well she was Pedro's girlfriend.

As a matter of fact it was because of Gwynneth that John got beat up the last nigth he was up Mount.

You know her son got killed last year in a bad wreck, pictures of his body on the highway were on the front page of the Express.

I tried to get some contact info on her back then but could not.

Now that you mention Jennifer I have a faint recollection.

In my short story I call Pedro's girlfriend Jennifer because I could not find a spelling for Gwynneth.

Thanks for that too.

Also thanks for that picture with Glen, Wayne Chang and me in the front row.

Glen made a copy of that picture for me a few years back but I lost it during my move to TN.

Hang tight,

Bushboy

----- Original Message -----------------------------------------------------.

From: "Salvador Coscarart"

Date: Sat, 9 Feb 2008 18:00:26 -0600

Men, I tell you you did an excellent job with the email you send, and I have also gone thru your web site and it is awesome, all the pictures of mardigras .

When you mention the name of Michelle ,I have a picture that I took with her in maracas beach when I went to the beach with her and Jennifer and Gwennyth trestle,do you remember them, they were in the same group.

I also have a picture of Gwennyth in girl scouts uniform at mount . .

I will scanned the photos and will send then to you .

Okey my brother you take care and god bless.

Salvador.

ps: i have attached 2 photos. Me on the job and the other your group at mt.

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Round 2‏

From: Glen Mckoy (mckoy43glen@hotmail.com)

Sent: Tue 2/12/08 2:33 PM

Thank you very much, I will keep that in my drafts.

Now that am I here with you. I should ask , are you o.k, with title ,the List Maker ?? (Godfather?)
Any comments or questions you may have about whats happening ??

How do you feel ?? I hope the assignments of receiving members problems are rare?? I did not know where else to send it .

I did not choose to be in this position, I suddenly got this inspiration to write, also by the true working bees like yourselves, I felt the extra need to contribute in some way, I am looking forward to us having a wonderful year, of working together in making this year, the year of, - I AM PROUD TO BE A MOUNT BOY - that's as far as I got , so Help...where are we going from here ?? I need some input , Jon / Glen ,( Che my brother in arms). feed back, feed back.. now that I feel this bond .

with you gentlemen,

Faithfully yours

Glen McKoy...

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From:gevelyn1@bellsouth.net

Sent: Fri 2/08/08 7:18 PM

Would you believe I ran into one of those girls here in Ft Lauderdale.

Said she was in love with Frank Holmes.

Long black hair, sharp nails, high heels and dressed to kill.

After 1/2 hour talking in Spanish my wife said "OK the moon went out of that honey long ago." Time to go home."

What about Mr Julian and Mr Carter.

I used to slide the history book off the desk with a band and Mac would say "Leave it there it won't fall any further"

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Alain Laquis (aalmed@gmail.com)

Fri 5/09/08 12:06 AM

Pic of Ab...jpg (14.1 KB)

Dear Ladislao

With regards to my father Abraham Laquis, I wish to inform you all of the following on his behalf.

I am with him now at Jackson Memorial Hospital, for which he has been an inpatient for over two months.

We were browsing the Internet and came across "The Abbey School" website.

He was happy to read the newsletters posted and reminisced of the good ole days with his peers.

He has asked that I inform you, his friends and classmates, of his present situation.

Last August he was diagnosed with Lymphoma, and began receiving treatment in Florida at Jackson Memorial.

In December after receiving several rounds of chemo he was given a clean bill of health and was allowed to return home for Christmas.

In early January symptoms of the lymphoma reoccurred and he was immediately returned to Florida for further treatment.

He has been in the Hospital ever since and has been receiving aggressive treatment with hope of being able to receive a Stem cell Transplant.

He has become extremely week and fragile, but his spirit is strong and he continues to fight, and has asked to send his regards to all and has asked that you notify also Urbano and Dr. Farcheg of his present situation.

The support and love shown throughout his illness has been his strength. He has asked me to ask you to keep him in your prayers.

Your Prayers and thoughts

Any replies you may please email annielaquis@hotmail.com

Regards

Alain Laquis

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Art & Val Knaggs (av_knaggs@hotmail.com)

Sent: Thu 2/14/08 5:53 PM

Thanks for the info Trev, am working on the list from Nigel, and will try and get some computer time to send something to him.

KIT,

Art

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From: tevelyn@rogers.com

Date: Tue, 12 Feb 2008 16:05:03 -0500

Arthur

To my knowkedge the boarding school started in 1944.

I believe the first students were John Darwent, John Mendes, J.D.Miller, Emuel Mendes, Stanley Raymond, Matthews no first name, Jack Knaggs

The bunch from Guyana arrived on April 22nd 1945.

We were housed in the building at the bottom of the path leading to the new school

In that building was Br. Michael and his bakery next to that was the refectory ?

the classes were held in the 2 buildings across from there .

I remember the names of some of the ones in 45 Tony Gomes Scipio Soodeen Charles Prada who went AWL and caused quite a stir.

Clive Bettencourt Gomes, John Willems, Anthony Willems, Brian Gonsalves, Bunny Gonsalves, Terence Gonsalves, David Serrao, Hamil Marcelin, BIG Arneaud, cannot remember his first name.

My brain hurts can go no further.

I tried hope this helps

Regards

Trev

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From:
Andres Larsen (andres_larsen@yahoo.com)

Sent: Sun 2/10/08 8:55 PM

carlos alberto maneiro luongo wrote:

Hola Andres

Te saludo realmente no me acuerdo de ti, pero me alegra que seamos ex compañeros del Abbey,

Tengo entendido que Rozas murió hace mucho tiempo en un accidente de moto, me lo contó el enano en Cumana,

Yo estoy viviendo en la isla de Margarita, aquí vive Pedro Mata que lo conocí por casualidad viviendo en Chacopata donde se caso con una chama del pueblo.

Yo vivo en la Urb Jorge Coll y trabajo en la estación de servicio CCM que esta al lado del Sambil, donde estoy a la orden.

No nombres a Americo Oliveros (cachapa), la última vez que lo vi vivía en Caripe y era profesor de ingles.

Bueno hasta otra ocasión.

Saludos

I really greet you but I do not remember you, but I am happy that we are ex- companions of the Abbey,

I understand that Rozas died long ago in a motorcycle accident, the enano told me in Cumana,

I I am living in Margarita island, Pedro Mata lives here that I by chance met him living in Chacopata where he married with a girl of the town.

I live in the Urb Jorge Coll and work in a gas station CCM that is next to the Sambil, where I am at your service.

Do not name Americo Oliveros (cachapa), the last time that I saw lived in Caripe and was professor of ingles.

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It would be easier if the correspondences would be in English but you can count on my poor translation.

Ladislao

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Photos:

08LK0426LKEGRP, Dr. Rodolfo Aumaitre and your Editor

60IF0017IFAGRP, UNKNOWN and Isaias Farcheg

08AL0001ALA, Abraham Laquis

XXUN0001AQUALADS, UNKNOWNS??? HELP,MAYDAY.

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Circular No 338

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

Caracas, 26 of April 2008 No. 338
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Dear Friends,

Here we continue our weekly resume of the email that are received at the Circular´s “Headquarters”.
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From: KenTrini@aol.com
Sun 12/09/07 2:14 AM

Dear Ladislao,

I am Kenneth Ian Austin .

I was a student at the Abbey School from 1946 to 1952.

Yesterday I was trying to connect with PAXABBEY to gather news of any recent happenings.

But was unable to connect because the server is offline or some other problem.

However, fortunately the website for the Abbey School old boys circulars came up.

I spent the next many hours reading previous editions and looking at photos on Gioanetti site.

Years ago I used to receive newsletters regarding old Mount boys which I believe were compiled by Arthur Knaggs.

However I have not received any in many years and conclude that you have taken over that task, using modern technology.

Needless to say I was delighted to have hit on the site inadvertently.

I notice from the circulars that some of my contemporaries such as Leary and Richard Oconnor are still around albeit in Australia.

I left Trinidad in January1954 and went with Trevor Soodeen to New York University.

Trevor received his degree in Commerce and now resides in Canada,

Unfortunately/I do not have an e-mail address for him.

I transferred to Howard University in Washington, DC in 1956 where I got my BS in Chemistry in 1957 and MD in 1961.

After specialising in Internal Medicine/Rheumatology, I joined the faculty of my Alma mater in 1966 and taught until my retirement in 2002.

I now practise 2 half-days a week in order to keep my hand in it and my brain active.

I married a Washingtonian in 1962 and we have 3 children:

Janine, an ophthalmologist at the National Institutes of health, Sabrina, a lawyer and Sean who manages a tennis club.

Some of my contemporaries at Mount were Arthur Knaggs Peter Gaffney, David and John Farfan,Ray Dacambra,Hugh and Christopher Henderson,Anthony Lucky,David and Delano Dacastro, Phillip Nassief from Antigua,Vernon Lee Kit,Bernard And Osmond Gomes from Guyana.,Christen Krogh and Johnny Nieto from Venezuela.

My brother, Trevor and I started at Mount in 1946 and Trevor replaced Nieto as the smallest boy earning the nickname, Mousey.

Trevor died in Trinidad in 1995, having received the last rites from the original abbot, Father Adelbert, who also ministered to my mother before her death in 1999.

My sister still lives in Trinidad and I try to visit her occasionally and when I am there I always visit the Mount.

I hope to be visiting in 2008.

Please add my name to the list to receive the circulars at kentrini@AOL.com and may you and your family have a happy holiday season.

Maybe we will meet at a reunion of old boys one day.

Thanks for your efforts and keep up the good work.

Kenneth I. Austin, MD
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De: michielid@cantv.net [michielid@cantv.net]
Fecha: 13/01/ 00:57:58

Good night to all of you.

I had my PC turned off for many days and today I have had the great pleasure of reading many messages of old friends from Abbey School.

I hope that all of you, and your families, are finding happy, together, in very good health, working hard and fulfilling all the wishes you could have (a little difficult in our current Venezuela, by now).

I will try to make time to read and answer all the mails, on time.

Greetings to Dr Bratt:

If I go to Port of Spain in anytime be sure I'll look for you, to go up Abbey School; it's a deal.

Thanks

Daniel
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Thursday, January 31, 2008 2:46:27 PM
Alfredo Montiel Bezara <amontielb@megaval.com> wrote:

Nazi,

That's how I remember you !!

It has been a real pleasure to hear from you, at one point I thought you were in Germany, and since them we never heard from you.

Probably Andrés Larsen knew but also for some time I did not see Andrés.

Me agrada si vienes a Caracas podemos vernos en algún momento.

Pronto te escribo nuevamente,

Alfredo Montiel Bezara

MSB 67-72
-----Mensaje original---------------------------------------------------------------
From: mlew@cantv.net
Date: Tue, 29 Jan 2008 23:07:44 -0430

Hi Salvador,

It has been a long time since I have had any contact with Mount boys who went to school during the 6 years I spent at Mount.

Actually I have had more contact with the older generation like Urbano v. Fedak who I know from the German church in Caracas.

Also his brother Mathias I see often when he goes to play tennis at the Caracas Sports Club were I am a member.

I am also in touch with Pedro Castro, his brother Reinaldo, who is now working in the German church and Donald Goddard, whom I know from the time I worked in the oil industry for ten years in Maraven.

I do remember you and your mother and the hotel where we always used to stay when we went to Cumana.

I think I have only gone back once more when I took my wife to see where we use to live in Tunapuy, pasando Carupano where my father was a doctor.

Let me tell you a little bit about what I have been doing since I left mount (63-69) and provide some correct information since Andres Larsen did not get all the information correct.

I went to St. Marys University in Halifax, Canada, for one year, since my brother had gone there.

Then I followed my brother to Memorial University in Newfoundland, Canada, where I obtained a bachelors degree in geology.

From there I returned to Venezuela and worked in the Ministerio de Minas with Donald Goddard for about six months before I went back to Canada, Windsor University in Windsor, Ontario.

There I did my masters degree in geology and my thesis was the study of the natural solar pond that exists in the island of Grand Roque in the archipelago Los Roques.

In Windsor I met my wife and once I finished I left for Gottingen, Germany, where I did a Phd in geochemistry.

I returned to Venezuela and worked one year in Intevep and nine years at Maraven.

In 1991, I left Maraven and went into the wholesale jewelry business where I continue to work.

Actually, I just came back today with my wife from New York, where we attended a jewelry show.

I have a house in Boca Raton and we come and go about once a month.

I have two boys, Misha (23) and Yuri (21), they are both in university in Canada.

Misha is at York in Toronto studying economics and Yuri is in Carleton University in Ottawa studying computer science.

Misha played professional tennis until last year but that did not go too good.

When he was 12 he spent two years at the Niki Pilic Academy in Munich.

I will send you pictures of him with the current Australian open champion Novak Djokovich.

With regards to the nazi name, that was the name given to my brother while in mount and once I got there they also called me nazi.

I think it had to do with my brother speaking German, I was not that fluent at that time.

Actually my mother is German and my father Ukrainian.

The Ronnie is what my mother still calls me but my real name is Myron, a common Ukrainian name.

I am returning to Venezuela on the 9th and I will send you some pictures of the family once I am there.

I am glad that all is going well with you and your family.

By the way, how is your mother doing? My regards to her.

If you ever come to Florida let me know, maybe I might be here and we can get together.

All the best

Myron

New e-mail:myronlew1@gmail.com
----------- Mensaje Original ------------------------------------------------------
De: Salvador Coscarart [salborbolla@hotmail.com]
Fecha: 29/01/2008 16:12:57

Hola Ronnie .

Espero que tu y tu familia estén todos bien y también tu mama.

Aquí estoy viviendo en Lafayette Louisiana y mi hermano pedro en St.Petersburg Florida.

Después del Mount nos vinimos a estudiar aquí en Louisiana State Unversity en Baton Rouge Louisiana.

Y nos quedamos por aquí.

Yo casado desde el 80 y con tres hijos ya todos graduados en physical therapy.

El mayor casado y el segundo para casarse en mayo 17 y mi hija de 21 también con su fiance para casarse muy pronto así como ves ya la nueva generación de los coscarart para adelante jajajaj.

Pedro también casado dos veces y cuatro hijos el mayor de 23 y 21 3 1 y medio jajajajajaj .

Parece a un conejito .

Bueno veo por el e-mail que me mando Andrés Larsen que estas muy bien también.

Un cordial saludo y abraso que dios los protejas y los cuide siempre.

Salvador Coscarart.

Abbey boy 67-74.
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Andres Larsen ...
Tuesday, January 29, 2008 11:41:37 AM

Hello Nigel

"Nazi" is none other than Myron, also known as Ronnie, Lew.

He is married to a Canadian, they both are chemical engineers but he is in the precious gems business, also doing business in the Netherlands and Belgium.

He and his wife commute between Florida and Caracas.

They have two grown sons, both in college, and both, from what I understand, also majoring in chemical engineering.

Myron and his two sons are professional tennis players on the side.

In his younger days Myron and family would stay on vacations at the hotel that Salvador Coscarart's mother,

Theresa, owned and ran in Cumana in eastern Venezuela.

Hope that clears things up a bit about "Nazi".

His e-mail address is mlew@cantv.net

Best regards

Andres Larsen
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"Nigel P. Boos" <nigelboos@eagles-wings.ca> wrote:

Wonderful, Andres.

Man! Didn't the guys at Mount have strange names, eh? Just like mine, I guess!!

Say, did you know a chap named "Nazi" during your time.

I never knew the poor guy's name, but I always called him "Nazi".

Why? I don't even know.

But he was a great fellow, and in fact, I have a photograph of him, to share:

I thought his name was "Nascimento" or something like that?

So, do you remember him?

Regards,

Nigel
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HIPPIES FROM THE SIXTIES‏
Glen Mckoy (mckoy43glen@hotmail.com)
Fri 2/08/08 6:44 PM

HELLO OUT THERE - AZIZ CALL ME, HE BORED. - OK WE BACK ON - ACTION PACK- TALES FROM THE MOUNT.-

Remember:

Volley ball at night, under the lights.

Dances with the Vene girls in St Joseph

Throwing stones at opposing team bus if they beat we in cricket or football

Making wild cat calls at any females we see anywhere, love at first sight, in some cases looks didn't have much to do with it

A soft drink you would not buy any where else.

I got a warning not to be hanging out where the young ladies were studying to become nuns. (none for me)

If you were not on the swimming team, then you might be in the back seat of car kissing some girl you just meet

Any excuse to go and see the nurse

Best swimmers in the country

Johnny Gracia saves two drowning people in the sea/ he was so fast /Jimmy Samaroo also Wild man Tim Healy catch big snake, sells to London Zoo I think $100

Remember:

Mount Lockdown /Black power uprising in the country/no where to run/we were there

Rumors are:

Rebels suppose to be coming from the mountains behind us, riot mobs suppose to be coming up the hill. Trini army on its way to the mount, Vene boys scared however their government sends two planes to get them with soldiers

Joe Azaz our #1 scout (big respect goes out to this guy) have to help Trini top army find their way thru the mountains.

All for one and and one for all in prayer because we think we dead now.

Its all history now and we all survived.

Old boy Bernard Lange come up to teach Mackintosh: One of my favourite teachers, great style of teaching, unfortunately I had to spend some classes standing outside the class, affected some of my spelling as you can see.

Good calypso singer also.

Running away on the weekends to see a movie down the hill, they should ah put a traffic light on that track the amount of people up and down.

Did Cutty ever sleep, if you were planning a night escape don't do it on Cutty watch.

Cachapa finds keys for the Kitchen, need friend who is not scared to get expelled if caught but will go because food is involved. Never get caught and I think Cachapa still have keys.

I told Cutty the story about 10 years after, he just looked at me, kinda half smile Assam and Alloy (mono) Garner, member of parrot troop/ never without food, if we suppose to have 2 tins of beans, well we would have about 5 tins of beans, some other poor campers, would have to go with out, this practise continued for about two world jamborees, Cutty didn't have to worry about us, and if he needed extra supplies he had an idea where it might be.

Parrot troop always with a big smile.

Glen / passing out not.

later........Aziz
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Now some photos from the collection. REMEMBER TO USE THE CODE NUMBER

Ladislao
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Photos:
03SC0354GRP, Reunion 2003 group, Salvador and Fr. Benedict and UNKNOWNS
08LK0012GRP, Brian Goddard and Alberto Ache in Maracay
07DM0005FHG, Fr. Hilderbrand Green, Abbot of Bartica Monastery in Guyana.
59RB0002d2, Photo taken by Roberto Bodington, Farchegs, Bro Vincent, Lipavski

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Circular No 337

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

Caracas, 19 of April 2008 No. 337
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Dear Friends

Who was the PIANO teacher and other information.
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Monday, January 14, 2008 2:59:32 PM

To: Lindsay John Moffat

Dear John:

It's funny how most of us wanted to get the hell off the Mount, that island, and the Caribbean, on to bigger and better things.

The sooner the better.

Wow, I didn't realise you were at the Mount for so long: 1960 to 1969, that's 9 long years...Certainly much too long!

You probably hold the record...

Now that we are older, there are many of my friends are looking for properties to buy in the Caribbean to live and retire to!

"The Rats"..HMM.

Probably you all walked around with your shirt collars up too! LOL.

Do you remember the smoke filled Form V room, with the old record player, a couch, a couple of tables for playing cards and board games and the curtain for a door?

There was a Form IV room next door, with less accoutrements and, for a while, even a Form III room but that didn't last long.

Attila

MSB 1964-1969
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Lindsay John Moffat <l.john@hotmail.co.uk> wrote:

Dear Atilla

Our swift reply.

As regards your question about Form V, I am not sure what to say for some reason my memory is vague as to what classes we were together in the end.

I did reach Form V before leaving but perhaps my mind was more on wanting to get away and finally leave the Caribbean all together!! That was 1969.

It is strange what the mind chooses to remember.

For instance vividly remembering the piano teacher's scary accent & hairy arms and strange smoking habits as I have recently described, but perhaps because those images were slightly surreal and comical.

Ah the name Professor Katz as Jan has recently recalled - he was actually a decent, gentle, enthusiastic fellow and was pleased that he thought us and took us to see interesting musical experiences though I never developed the ability to read music and gave it up altogether on leaving.

Thank you for reminding me that it was you at the the Queens Hall concert with us.

I thought perhaps that Jan was there too but he has said that he must of left the year before that so we may of been together in Form V after all...

All I mainly remember from Form V is hanging about a lot with Paul Quesnel, Douglas Watson, Derek Phillips, Richard Knox and a few others - we had a gang called The Rats – and limed about in torn up khaki shirts with images and slogans painted on them - possibly getting up to no good and thinking we were the bees knees- The name the Rats seems silly now!

Well I must go but thanks for the stories .

Perhaps the jigsaw pieces will eventually fit together one day..

Best Wishes...

Lindsay John

MSB 1960 - 1969. Too long
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Dear John:

Thank you for forwarding that email you had sent to Jan.

And also thanks for your CV.

You are quite an accomplished artist! Congratulations.

I could foresee that, since even early on at the Mount, you already exhibited artistic talents.

Question: You did attend Form V with Andres Larsen and I, correct?

Yes, you and I were the piano teacher's pet students for a while.

In fact, it was you and I, he took us to see that classical Philharmonic orchestra performance in Queen's Hall in Post-of-Spain that night.

Towards the end, I remember I was so relaxed in that chair that I could not keep my eyes open, and fell asleep. oops...

You also taught me some of the Sound of Music tunes on the piano.

I can still hunt-and-peck through some of them, even though I quit taking piano lessons after about 3 years.

I remember we would race upstairs of the Refectory Hall to practise piano after lunch and after 3:30 pm when classes were over for the day.

My problem was that you and Jan would always beat me to it, and I couldn't get enough practise time on the darned thing, so I became frustrated and eventually quit piano.

I took up guitar instead, since then I could have my own instrument and I could practise whenever and for as long as I wanted and wouldn't have to compete anybody for it.

That didn't go very far either, because, even though I was an OK technical player and could follow somebody playing, I lacked the necessary musical talent.

Now I just listen to music rather than play it.

I think our piano teacher's name was Professor Katz...

Yes, I too remember he was a chain smoker and also that there were some burn stains on the piano keys.

By the way, talking about music, here is a neat website for free music that I really like: www.jango.com

You just type in the name of the artist or band and it will come up with most of their songs.

Then you click on the particular song, and it plays it in full.

All for free.

Cheers,

Attila Gyuris
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Lindsay John Moffat <l.john@hotmail.co.uk> wrote:

Dear Atilla...

This is a recent communication I sent to Jan after reading your shared memories. I thought you may like to read it too because it has some memories of the Piano teacher.

I can not remember his name.

I wish all the best to you for 2008...

Lindsay John
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Dear Jan...

I hope you had good New Year Celebrations and wishing all the best for 2008!

Forgive me but I am not very good at keeping up written communication let alone on-line through e-mail, news letters etc.

I am not even on-line at home yet -this is done at my local library where all the facilities are free-in many ways I am still a Neanderthal among computers!! and still have not learnt to put attachments properly to e-mails yet.

Anyway thanks for sending the collective conversations you have been having with Atilla etc.

I have been reading them recently and am amazed at what you all remember from your experiences at the 'Mount'.

For instance I had completely forgot that I had taught you all those Sound of Music tunes and that you remember that with fondness... I am quite moved by that.

To me you just shone and I was sad when you disappeared.

I also did not realise that Miss Marcus was Polish.

I had always assumed that she was German Jewish and had escaped the war and therefore persecution too by coming to Trinidad with the help or connection of the Dutch Benedictine Monks.

Also that the Piano teacher was Polish too!!

At the time I found him and his accent a bit scary and for me he could just as well of come from Transylvania!!

I think that was because at the time my knowledge of Europe was so poor!

I have since got to know more thank God and like the Polish people much and have even travelled to Poland to work on an intensive International Performance Project.

That was just during the time 'Solidarity' got in.

Anyway, I digress....

Yes the Piano Teacher....

He once took a group us to see an Opera - I think Carmen and also the visiting Philadelphia Philharmonic Orchestra from the USA playing at Queens Hall.

Were you there too?

I remember he also had very hairy fore-arms and smoked like a chimney even while he was playing!

I used to gaze in amazement at him so fully engrossed in his playing without taking the cigarette out of his mouth as it burnt down with the ash getting longer and longer until it would finally drop off near the end of the cigarette and fall onto the piano keys and bounce around while he played on... eventually the ash would disintegrate and fall between the keys to disappear forever.

It was quite comical.

Funny the things you remember.

Must go now but delighted to hear your stories.

Best Wishes...

Lindsay John

PS: Someone had recently attached for me my CV to use in a project application. If you are interested it shows what I have done in the arts since I left the West Indies. X
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Dearest Lindsay,

Thank you very much for your long mail, you surprise me so much!

I understand completely that you don't use Internet frequently but I am glad you follow the conversation that pops up now and then.

I will keep in mind that you cannot reply every time.

Hope you had the same New Year Celebrations and same best wishes for 2008.

And yes, we speak with fondness about you learning me and - and as he wrote me - Attila some useful tricks with the piano so we could get on, on our own and play more often a popular tune.

I still remember them until today, I can still play Do-re-mi, Edelweiss, 67 is the season, Climb every Mountain, Down Town, Spanish Eyes, Quantanamera, Yo soy un hombre sincero.

You taught me all of them. As I read at the end of your CV you were at last the Art teacher for students, well I can vouch for you that you were already the teacher in making back at the Mount.

I remember well you were always busy with art things, one time you had a period where you were making funny drawings of an old fat faced man with freckles and speckles.

I just took a pen to show you I can still draw them!

But you call yourself a Neanderthal behind the computer, ha!

Amazing that you were in Poland at the time of Solidarity.

It was still true communism by then, you had probably strict regulations at the border and restrictions in the country.

The region I live in here in the south of the Netherlands with the main city Breda, was liberated by Polish soldiers of general Maczeck at the end of WWII.

There are a lot of monuments here and there and street names to commemorate that and a Polish War cemetery.

After the war a lot of polish soldiers could not go back to Poland and stayed here in Holland for the rest of their life.

When Poland united with the EC in April 2003, the borders went open so we went for a short holiday on a roundabout trip by car to Poznan, Warschau, Lublin, Krakow and Auschwitz.

Most probably you saw the monument of the mermaid in the town square of Warschau, being the twin sister of the mermaid in Denmark.

Yes indeed, Polish are very nice people, but we could only park our car in a compound with supervision.

I quit piano lessons one day, so I missed the trip to the Queens Hall in Port of Spain. But in my first year I was with the boys choir, and at the end they took us to the Queens Hall to see Hello Dolly and that impressed me very much.

This piano teacher had indeed hairy arms but he was always very kind and polite.

Yes I remember holding his cigarette in his mouth while playing or on the side of the keyboard when he played and sometimes it burned the piano I think.

I am impressed by your CV.

I only knew your skills in drawing and playing piano, but later on you added sculpture, choreography, costume collaborations and dance to it.

Some years ago you send me pictures of carnival costumes you designed.

You started with designing costumes for the Gallery of Modern Art, founded Catalyst for some artist-ferment process and so on, went to Japan to dance with "Butch", and a lot more going on until 1998 when you took to lecturing.

You must have given a big contribution to art in Scotland and Glasgow.

I am not in the art business but I can appreciate it well and try to understand what it means.

Took me a long time to figure out why for example the Mona Lisa or Venus from Botticelli is more special than equal paintings of present day, but I think it is because it was the first time they painted the proportions and perspective correct.

Anyway, that's your department.

Hope to hear from you again when you have time.

Much greetings,

Jan Koenraadt
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Re: Josh Schoemaker's house at the Sugar Mill & Plantation...

Gmail Jan ...

Tuesday, January 8, 2008 5:28:42 PM

It was fun, skylarking the whole week with those neighbour boys and girls.

The songs of Sound of Music made a deep impact at the Abbey School.

I got piano lessons from this Polish teacher, but he gave me only Swan Lake of Tchaikovsky to play or The Blue Danube of Johan Strauss and other classics.

One day Lindsay Moffat came by and showed me how to play Do-re-me and Edelweiss and so, making the accords with your left hand 1-5-8-13 and the tune with your right hand.

And how to make major 1-4-8-13 and minor 1-5-8-11.

From then on I boosted up with my piano playing and next term I quit with the teacher and went on playing the way Lindsay showed me.

Don't know his name.

But now I read the story of Miss Markus in the circulars that she was one of the few Polish refugees who were allowed to immigrate in the country before WWII while another time a whole ship with refuge seeking Jews was sent back to Europe (before 1939).

Now I understand why this Polish piano teacher was in Trinidad.

Greetings,

Jan Koenraadt
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Attila GYURIS ...

Tuesday, January 8, 2008 11:10:25 PM

Yes I remember that the Sound of Music was the movie of the year during 1965-1966. We went to POS to see it one Saturday.

Yes...I took piano lessons from the same polish piano teacher.

I think our Piano teacher was Professor Katz ( not sure if spelled right ) He was Jewish-Polish.

Then, after about 2 1/2 years, I too quit after too much classical stuff and no fun modern music I could relate to...what a shame he didn't realise what we needed to retain us as his students.

I remember you playing the piano after lunch up in the movie hall with the wood parquet floor above the refectory.

I think it was you who influenced me to go ahead and sign up with him for piano lessons.

After a while Lindsay Moffat and I became his pet students.

He would take us both out to Tchaichowsky concerts in POS. I would fall asleep...

Later on I went on to take guitar lessons, as it was a more accessible and popular music instrument at the time, (i.e., the girls dug it)

Attila Gyuris
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That is all for now on Professor Katz.

Ladislao
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Photos:

03UN0029CRO, Clinton Ross, Does anyone has his telephone number?

03UN6237JBE, Joseph Berment

60LK0001LKE, Ladislao Kertesz taking a shower at the swimming pool.

72UN0002AQUALADS, Does anyone know the names??

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