Newsletter for alumni of The Abbey School,
Mt. St. Benedict, Trinidad and Tobago, W.I.
Caracas, 19 of May 2018 No. 863
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Dear Friends,
It is good to hear from Richard De Verteuil:
------------------------------------------
From: Richard
de Verteuil <r_deverteuil@yahoo.co.uk>
Date: 14
May 2018 at 00:21:17 BST
Subject:
Swami Galt
I am sorry to hear of Swami’s passing.
I knew him, his wife and daughter well when they ran their beach club business
in Barbados. We went often to have a meal and listen to his performances of
Sparrow calypsos that he delivered as well as any professional calypsonian. I
made a cassette tape of him doing his stuff. I was very sad when he closed the
club due to some problem with the lease or it might have been the owner of the
hotel in the grounds of which the building was situated.
His daughter went to
work in another beach bar, but I do not think he performed there. I was only in
Barbados for a short time after my father died in Jan 1999 and I stayed on to
help sort out his affairs and get my mother settled in a town house on Rockley
golf course.
Not long after his
wife suffered from cancer and sadly died. I think he may have returned to
Trinidad but by then I had returned to England and lost touch with him as I
have not visited Barbados or Trinidad very often in the intervening years.
My condolences to
Richard, who I did not know but may have met him many years ago. We are
distantly related, as is my family to a high proportion of Trinies.
Richard A de
Verteuil OMSB 1949-51
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laszlo
kertesz <kertesz11@yahoo.com>
May 19 at 9:30 AM
Thank you Richard
for the comments on swami.
Please
give me some news on other oldboys with whom you had visits or helped, etc.
Memory
tends to fade and I try to rekindle these beautiful moments for posterity.
How
about adding your CV for the Circular?
Did
you meet any old boys in Barbados besides Swami. There were a few including the
Knaggs and Ince.
God bless
Ladislao EDITOR
circulars
---------------------------------------.
From: Nasser
Khan <nkhantt@gmail.com>
Sent: Tuesday,
May 15, 2018, 8:32:38 AM GMT-4
FR.
AUGUSTINE CELEBRATES SEVENTY YEARS OF MONASTIC PROFESSION AS A MONK OF MOUNT ST
BENEDICT IN TRINIDAD.
On February 19, 1947, a twenty-two
year old Dutch youth arrived on the shores of Trinidad and Tobago willing to
give his life completely to God. He was a long way off from his homeland in
Holland, which he left during the Second World War, but very excited
nonetheless by the novelty of the experience and the reason he had made the
long voyage by sea. On Wednesday 16 May 2018 he will be celebrating seventy
years of monastic profession in the monastery of Mount St Benedict in Tunapuna.
On 15 October 2018
he will be celebrating his ninety-fourth birthday and so has spent more than
three-quarters of his life at Mount St Benedict Abbey living the life of a
Benedictine monk. Peter Schreurs was from a family of ten siblings. The name
given to him in the monastery was Augustine. Today he is known as Fr.
Augustine. He lived with his family in Tegelan, province of Linburg in the
Netherlands, close to the German border. His secondary education was
interrupted several times as a result of the German occupation of Holland.
The Gestapo had
closed down the school he attended as they had done with so many schools. These
schools were closed so that Germans could obtain young boys of school age to
work in their factories in Germany. A decree was issued which mandated that all
Dutch men between the ages of 18 to 45 who were not working were required to go
to the labour bureau to be registered.
After registration
the men would be called on to work in German factories and would be transported
by train, under the watchful eye of German soldiers to work in Germany. Men who
attempted to jump off the train were shot at once.
Peter obtained a job
in a German hospital near to his home and was fortunate enough to secure a
permit to return home every weekend. In the hospital he worked as a
jack-of-all-trades and struggled to get a secondary education in between. Life
was difficult and very uncertain. “You never knew if a bomb was going to drop
on your home.” Some people had a very hard time to get food especially in the
winter because often there was no electricity, no oil … especially towards the
end of the war.
There was a
procurator priest in the Netherlands who was from Mount St. Benedict. He would
go to schools and speak about Trinidad. His base was with some Benedictine
sisters who were neighbours to the Schreurs family. Peter soon became an
acolyte at the Benedictine convent. It was there that he first encountered Fr.
Willibrord, the procurator from Mount St Benedict.
Fr Willibrord had
several albums about the Benedictine monastery in Trinidad and its mission in
the island of St. Vincent. Fr Augustine was soon captivated by what he saw and
heard. Before long he was on his way to Trinidad together with the late Frs.
Cuthbert van de Sande and Jerome Koot.
We thank God for Fr.
Augustine’s life of dedication and for answering the call of God to become a
Benedictine Monk. In spite of his age, he makes every effort to be present at
our community prayer and meals. He is well loved by all the monks. May God
continue to bless you!!
---------------------------------------------------------------.
Nigel Boos 16:35 (17 hours ago)
Thanks, Geoff,
I certainly do
remember “Rughead.” He was a serious man, with hardly a sense of humour, but
always in control of his emotions. He spoke clearly, distinctly and sharply,
expecting an immediate obedient response from the object of his attention. He
often supervised the refectory together with “Duck” (Fr. Gregory), and one had
to recognize him as someone who commanded respect.
What an interesting
collection of Dutchman we were fortunate to have as our exemplars during the
1955-1960 era - good men, all, each with his particular foibles,
idiosyncrasies and stories.
Think of them:
“Abbot” Fr.
Adelbert van Duin
“Bobo” Fr. Bernard -
The Friendly Principal, but don’t cross him
“Scrutz” Fr.
Ildefons - The Stern Scoutmaster, the Woodsman
“Voosh" Fr.
Benedict - The Mad Scientist
Fr. Jerome - The
Mathematician
Fr. Paul - The Chess
Player, another Mathematician
Fr. Lee Sing - The
Cricket Fanatic - Perhaps he was a Trini?
“Mozart” Fr. Forgot
His Name - He may have been Guyanese.
“Duck” Fr. Gregory
“Rughead” Fr.
Augustine
“Cutty” Fr. Cuthbert
- Scout Master, Friend, Kindly man, who loved being with his boys
Bro Gabriel - The
Magician and Builder of the Mount
Bro. Anthony - Thin,
quiet man, in charge of the tourist shop in front of the Abbey Church
And there were also
some interesting Trini characters as well:
“Bro. Vince”
Trini, - Friend to all, a kind, loving man. Eventually he became a
lawyer, married and has 2 daughters, currently living in the US (Louisiana?)
“Swa” Trini or
Guyanese? - In charge of PAX Honey and the many mango trees
Tailor Bro George -
Always had a yellow canary in his little tailoring room, to keep him company
with its whistling
Scoutmaster Bro.
Francis - Scout Master, later Fr. Francis, and currently Bishop of Guyana
I’m sure there were
others, whose names I cannot now remember, . If you do, please fill them in for
me.
So, “Rughead” is now
hitting 93 and will turn 94 in 2018 October. Great innings, old fella, and may
he live for many more years too, to hit the big 100.
May God grant him
peace and a quiet certitude that he has lived a good life, been a friend to
many, has served his Lord and Master with love and devotion all his days, has
kept faithfully to the Rules of his Monastery and is now ready to stand before
His merciful judgment.
Nigel
----------------------------------------------------------------------
On May 15, 2018, at 5:07 PM,
GEOFFREY GOLDING <geoffreygolding@rogers.com> wrote:
Hi Stuart,
Thanks for
forwarding this info about Fr. Augustine, better known as "rug head"
by all of us who attended his classes.
I remember him well.
He was an excellent teacher but really tough on you if you did not pay
attention or was disruptive in class. You would quickly see the black board
cleaner coming your way!!! He was probably the strictest teacher. He also had
an expression, - "ats - ats". Can’t remember what it
meant or in what context it was used but it was in response to something we had
done or said. Does anyone remember that???
He looks good and
may God bless him with many more years.
Regards,
Geoff
----------------------------------------------------------------------
24-11-2017
+44 7853 384622‬: You can
hear the emotion, raw emotion of that Lady, the Comedian. Trinidad needs hard
action and now. Very worrying.
24-11-2017
(868) 477-2906‬: Very sad
for an island that has everything
24-11-2017
+44 7853 384622‬: Indeed. But
the problem is everything is a joke, or appears that way. No one takes things
seriously at least not those who should. Discipline does not exist. There are
no consequences.
24-11-2017
(868) 477-2906‬: Correct
and what do some say. We do not want to be like the us a police state
24-11-2017
+44 7853 384622‬: Some also
say “we like it so.”
24-11-2017
(868) 477-2906‬: Sad thing
is that many of the things are coming from activities that have been seen or
learnt on cable. We were better off with TTT. Sad to say there are many that
are ignorant and are easily manipulated by a few. This starts from our leaders
24-11-2017
+44 7853 384622‬: I agree.
Do you feel safe. What about the others? How do you all feel, safe??
24-11-2017
(868) 477-2906‬: I am aware
of the situation, concerned but not scared. As I will not live anymore
24-11-2017
(868) 681-9448‬: Basically
we are living in jail, when reach home I avoid going out, Nadim
24-11-2017
(868) 477-2906‬: This is
because my family is still in Trinidad. Mom and sisters and cousins. My wife
wants to move out
24-11-2017
(268) 764-2759‬: But we
jamming still
24-11-2017
+44 7853 384622‬: This is
not a way to live. Sad.
24-11-2017
(868) 766-6566‬: It's from
2013 have a freind in the media
24-11-2017
(268) 764-2759‬: I was just
told that as well. It’s about 3 yrs old
24-11-2017
(868) 796-4692‬: I say it
must be a Friday night lime, I am not hearing.
24-11-2017
Garth Mc Alpin: May the
force be with you next week guys
24-11-2017
(868) 683-0945‬: Will all
due respect Neil, there are all forms and levels of terror in the world, but we
can’t all it to cripple or else they win. As much is this concerning, I don’t
seeing as being worse than what happened in England at Arianna Grande’s
concert. Or what happened recently in Las Vegas or early this year in Orlando.
24-11-2017
Garth Mc Alpin: When you
first started using whatsapp, do you remember your first profile picture?
You might
have forgotten, but whatsapp didn't.
25-11-2017
(868) 796-4692‬: I only
hope you do not like that.
25-11-2017
+44 7853 384622‬: Robert B,
I understand what you are saying. Not saying it is worse, just saying it is
bad, period. Trinidad is so small in my opinion that when things like that
happen it just magnifies the situation. Especially as I know what Trinidad is
like.
25-11-2017
+44 7853 384622‬: Good
morning.
25-11-2017
(868) 766-6566‬: Robert how
we arranging for Saturday?
25-11-2017
Joseph Habib: Guys have
you all arranged a time? Would be a dutch lime. Meaning, bring what you
drinking.
25-11-2017
Garth Mc Alpin: What time
is the lime?
25-11-2017
(868) 766-6566‬: Guys I say
an evening say 5- 6 as it's cooler than day time dont know what to say
about food 😎 whether food or snacks finger food etc ?
25-11-2017
(868) 683-0945‬: Alyuh
making dis ting complicated......jess bring ting an come, end ah story,
25-11-2017
1Joseph Habib: What is
the correct address?
25-11-2017
(868) 766-6566‬: 3A
McCarthy street. St Augustine Will share location. What tings Rob suppose every
body bring the same ting lol. I would love a few vennies but wife might kill me
lol
25-11-2017
(868) 683-0945‬: Ah sure if
is “Vennies” yuh go complain, tho !!...lol. Yuh eh go complain. Like yuh read
meh mind as a typing, boi !....lol
25-11-2017
16:14:48: ‪+1 (868) 766-6566‬: Nah wife may kill me but no complaints
lol. Great minds think alike 😎
25-11-2017
+44 7853 384622‬: I will be
there in spirit.
25-11-2017
(868) 683-0945‬: For sure !
25-11-2017
Garth Mc Alpin: lol
26-11-2017
(868) 745-3434‬: This is
the true meaning of WTF
26-11-2017
(868) 277-4913‬: How was
the lime. Yesterday
26-11-2017
(868) 277-4913‬: Good
morning Christopher very interesting post. Thank you
26-11-2017
(868) 766-6566‬: Warning
from Police
This is
the thing these days, with people out of work and needing cash (mainly for
drugs!). Beware, it's headed your way. Just last weekend on Friday night
we parked in a public parking area. As we drove away I noticed a sticker
on the rear window of the car. When I got home and took it off, it was a
receipt for gas. Luckily my friend had told me not to stop as it could be
someone waiting for me to get out of the car.
------------------------------------------
EDITED by Ladislao Kertesz, kertesz11@yahoo.com,
if you would like to be in the circular’s mailing list or any old boy that you
would like to include.
---------------------------------------------------
Photos:
98UN0008MSBNEWS
54UN0007DPAM
12LK6237FBJDV,
Jacques de Verteuil
09DB2924LKEDBA,
David Basanta
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