Circular No 405

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

Caracas, 8 of August 2009 No.405

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Dear Friends,

Here we start with a Fund Raiser on behalf of Angie Galt petition, due to her conditions.

Also a short summary (résumé) of Peter Gorinsky´s fishing enterprise.

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Fund Raiser on behalf of Angie Galt

Nigel Boos

Monday, May 18, 2009 11:32:16 AM

Hi there, guys,

Tilson Tang has asked me to circulate the following message to all MSB Old Boys living in Trinidad, to seek support for a Fund Raiser on behalf of Angie Galt, wife of Randall "Swami" Galt, (MSB 1960).

Angie has recently returned home to Barbados after major spinal surgery in Cuba, is re-learning how to walk and is also suffering from Parkinson's Disease.

Please consider attending this Fund Raiser as a form of assistance to Angie and Swami. Your attendance will be very much appreciated.

Unfortunately, I am not currently able to easily differentiate between those who live in Trinidad and those who live elsewhere.

If therefore, you happen to live outside of Trinidad and you can't make it to the dinner-dance, perhaps you can send this invitation on to others on your address-book who live in TT, to let them know about the event.

Best wishes to y'all.

Nigel

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From: Tilson Tang <ciscobme@hotmail.com>

Date: May 18, 2009 9:13:38 AM GMT-04:00

Hi Nigel,

Swami's wife Angela who resides in Barbados has just returned from major spinal surgery in Cuba.

She had not been able to walk for the last two years but since the surgery she is able to make steps and she is learning to walk all over again.

She has also been diagnosed with Parkinsons disease.

As you could well imagine the financial cost has been exceedingly high and there is also the rehab as well as treatment for the Parkinsons so a group of us all his friends have organized a fund raising dinner and dance in an effort to assist her with her expenses.

I would appreciate very much if you could circulate a copy of the ticket to all the A.S.A.A, members living in Trinidad asking for their support of this worthy venture.

It is an all inclusive and promises to be a wonderful evening with a ton load of top class entertainment from both T&T and Barbados.

Attached is a copy of the ticket with all the info and tickets can be obtained by calling me Tel: 683 6212 or emailing me at the above address.

Thanks in advance for your assistance.

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Here is the only information that we have on Richard Galt

I have been married for 34 years to Anne (Hackshaw).

We have three children, Natalie, Wade and Christian. Natalie has a 19-month old daughter, Madison.

Wade has his own financial consulting business and plays competitive volleyball.

Christian is a Senior, playing baseball for his university.

Got married in 1967, moved to Toronto in 1968, moved to Coral Springs, Florida in 1973 where we still reside.

This is my 40th year in the insurance business.

I have a State Farm Insurance Agency. Enjoy fishing, visiting Natalie, Brad and Madison in Naples, Florida, while trying not to miss any of Wade and Christian's games.

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From: peterg2

Date: Mon, 10 Jun 18:42:23 -0600

Hi Ladislao ...

Yes, I am here in Costa Rica.

Been living in Central America now for nearly 30 years.

In April I was in Trinidad for a few days and met with Alex deVerteuil, my old buddy from Mount times.

We had a lot of old time things to remember and I was hoping to be able to visit the Mount ... but time did not allow and I will have to leave this to some other visit.

Sure glad to make the contact.

We will just have to see what can be done to help the Library ... and there are probably a lot more other things to do.

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From: Ladislao kertesz

Date: 10 Oct 18:36:29 -0700

Dear Peter

I wanted to write to you to inquire if you have been getting the Circulars???

Have you any comment on them?

Do you know, Fernando Hangen and Carlos Fonseca?

Please do not forget the photos!!!!

I am running out of articles.

Why BG boy???

When was your graduation year, Form V????

God Bless

LAdislao

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On Mon, 10 June , peterg2 wrote:

Hi Ladislao,

I have found a number of photos from my Mount Days ... I will have them scanned and send them on.

Will be in touch.

Peter

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From: Peter Gorinsky

Date: 9/28/ 2:10:57 AM

Hi Ladislao,

I found this old photo of circa 1956 of the Mount St. Benedict choir.

I am in the back row at 5 th. from right, the tallest.

Quite a good choir that was also a great bunch of school mates.

Most of my school photos were lost in the disturbances in Guyana 1969.

I certainly do appreciate your great effort in keeping us in contact with the Mount and a treasured memory alive.

Peter Gorinsky

Costa Rica

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On 23-May-09, at 11:27 AM, Peter Gorinsky wrote:

Hi Nigel,

Thank you for sending me the updated list and here are some requested changes and additions.

My name spelling is Peter Gorinsky and not Peter Gorinski.

My brother Luke Gorinsky should also be added.

We were both at the Mount from 1955 to 1959 with my brother remaining there until 1960.

These are sort of approximations.

Thanks,

Peter Gorinsky

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From: peterg2

Date: Mon, 30 Dec 2002 10:44:35 -0600

Hi Lazslo ... here is wishing you and your family the very best for 2003 and thank you for all the wonderful news and memories

I received from you with relish on the old Mount.

I was able to recognize so many of my old friends... most of whom I had sadly forgotten until I saw the photos and refreshed my dimming memory.

I pass through Caracas regularly on my way to Guyana.

I fly San Jose > Caracas > Trinidad > Guyana and have a really long 6 hour stay over in Caracas before being able to head on to P-o-Spain. > Guyana.

When next I am there I will give you a call.

In fact, I am thinking of breaking off the trip in Caracas and going to Guyana via the road to Brazil and back again to Guyana.

It is probably more interesting.

Yours,

Peter Gorinsky

Fly Fish Costa Rica / Guyana

E-mail: peter@flyfishcostarica.com

Phone: (506) 228 0267

Fax: (506) 289 6611

Cellular: (506) 393 2158

Web: http://www.flyfishcostarica.com

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From: peterg2

Date: 28 Sep 19:41 (PDT)

Dear Ladislao,

I was unfortunately undergoing some major cardio surgical operations since July in Miami and I have only now returned home to Costa Rica.

During this time I think there was some problem with my internet account since the load of spam was such that not being on hand to empty the cache during these months, it sort of sadly collapsed under the weight of rubbish.

Unfortunately, many important notes were also lost and I think I can safely say that I am back on line at this address: peterg2@racsa.co.cr

Your Mount news letters are very appreciated and enjoyed.

I have a lot of wonderful old Mount photos that I will try to scan and send ... now that I have more time to do such non-stressful activities. In about five months I will be again back in full swing and undertaking fishing expeditions in both Guyana and Brazil.

It is also hoped that I will be able to spend a few weeks in Venezuela and have the chance to check out the trout fishing near Merida.

All the very best and thank you for your note and inquiry. We will certainly remain in touch ...

Best regards,

Peter Gorinsky

Web Sites:

www.flyfishcostarica.com

www.amazonflyfishing.com

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May 23, 2009

Hi Nigel,

I was a student in the Abbey School from 1958 to 1964, finishing my Form 4 there and returning to Venezuela to finish in a High School in my transition to the USA to University.

I really enjoyed your emails as I have seen information on my old friends, and should be contacting some of them in due time.

Regards,

Irvin Allum

mallumsaudio@gmail.com

Business telephone in Caracas: 58+212+9853743

Home Phone: 58+212+9430995

Mobile phone:58+414+2501666

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Nigel P. Boos

Sunday, May 24, 2009 8:48:30 AM

SO, THAT'S what happened to you and Garry.

I never knew.

Just realized that you had both suddenly disappeared.

Interesting about Rockwell.

I stayed there myself for a while, one summer -1968, I think.

Any idea when David Johnson was a student at MSB? Also, do you have an email address for him.

Say, Wayne, what about a recent photograph of yourself, for the record?

Thanks.

Nigel

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On 24-May-09, at 8:17 AM, WAYNE HENDERSON wrote:

Hi Nigel,

I was expelled from Mount in 1958 for roughing up the Dean of discipline Fr.Eugene.

My father decided to take Garry out at the same time.

Garry went on to Rockwell Collage in Ireland.

I decided to stay in Trinidad and finished up in a private school in San Fernando.

Garry and family live in Boca-Raton Florida.

I live on my Ranch in Texas.

Still very active in the oil sector.

Have operations in U.S., Mexico, Venezuela ( shut down Ven. because of Chavez ) and China.

About to start up two large operations in China later on this year.

Well, the summer is here so its time to get some boating and fishing in in between all my trips.

David Johnson (not the St.Lucia brothers) lives in Perth Australia.

His wife’s name is Wendy.

David was best man at my wedding.

Have a good one.

Wayne Henderson

InterEnergy Services Inc.

Mobile: 281 744 8430

wayneies@avantel.net.vcf

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Saturday, April 18, 2009 7:58:05 AM

Hi Las,

The lady who ran the kitchen wsa Ms Su Poi.

She eventually ended up owning Shay Shay Tien Restaurant in Woodbrook.

Regards,

Robert

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From: Robert Elias <dmightytrini@tstt.net.tt>

Date: April 19, 2009 12:55:48 AM GMT-04:00

Hello Ladislao,

I read where Nigel Boos made mention of The Chinese Lady at the Mount Kitchen.

She is Ms. Soo Poy and is very alive.

I can get her Telephone No. for you if you so desire.

Best Wishes,

Robert Elias,

De Mighty Trini.

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Keep well and take care during summer holidays

Ladislao Kertesz, kertesz11@yahoo.com,

So now you have all the exchanges and photos.

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Photos:

03PG0029PGOGY, Peter Gorinsky showing fish in Guyana.

03PG0003PGOCR, Peter Gorinsky showing fish in Costa Rica.

56PG0001CHOIMSB, Photo of the Choir.

09UN0001RGAWFE, Angela Galt and UNKNOWN, in Barbados.

Circular No 404

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

Caracas, 1 of August 2009 No.404

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Dear Friends,

It is the events for my 6^th day visit to TT, unfortunately the last day.

This day was reserved to visit Mt. St. Benedict and have a lunch invited by the Abbot.

Having made an appointment, Chris and I preceded up the hill and parked at the rear gates of the Monastery, where the car garage was located.

We met Fr. Cuthbert and had a warm welcome; his helpers are Maxime and his brother Raymond de Comarmond, also additional help. Since my last visit, the refrigerator had been taken out of the processing room and placed next to the entrance and is much larger.

There a new refrigerated truck and larger offices with cubicles.

We did a run thru the facilities, tasted a new product, drinkable yogurt, which is selling fast.

During the tour I asked to see a couple of places that have been curious and upon inquiring about the old building where Fr. Abbot Adelbert van Duin used to relax with some old boys, setting up model Lionel trains.

Fr. Cuthbert took us to the old building which some of us might remember, as it is still there a bit rundown but with imagination I can see Fr. Abbot playing with the large locomotives that used the centre rail tracks and commenting on the changes, buildings and hill that had to be constructed.

Fr. Cuthbert told us that the train set was moved in the early 1950s to the basement of the sweets shop, which had recently been built next to the cemetery, down where we bought sweets for the Saturday night movies. This is where Fr. Abbot once or twice a week disappeared to recover for the pressures of the work; there was no talk of Stress in those days!!

It was a well kept secret, I would not have suspected this and interestingly enough there was never a talk about it.

Also we walked by the carpentry where our hard wood Tops were manufactured on order, and in my case I had a Starting block made for Gerard Arnaud, whom I trained in running.

We visited Fr. Augustine, who lives below the small music tower above the entrance stairs that go to the souvenir shop.

Fr. Augustine was very happy to meet us and we had a good talk and he showed us the photo of the Prep A class that he taught in 1955?. Or was it in 1954?

We got to the refectory ahead of time and met the Editor of the booklet on Mt. St. Benedict, Fr. Mark Tierney , he showed us the works of a similar but more extensive work that he performed for his Alma Mater in Ireland. GLENSTAL ABBEY SCHOOL and Monastery. Fortunately both alive and healthy.

Before lunch Fr. Abbot arrived and got into our discussion group regarding the importance of school books and the necessity of identifying the old documents, meaning photographs that Fr. Benedict left.

The discussion centred on the fact that the photo on page no. 82 was incorrectly labelled class of 1965, where I clearly recognized myself together with my classmates graduating in 1960. I asked Fr. Abbot if it was possible to get the photo that was used.

The chat was interrupted by the bell. We had lunch which was well appreciated and maybe not thanked as should have been.

We took photos as unfortunately Fr. Abbot had to leave, promising to look into our arguments to permit us to see the photos.

Fr. Mark told me that he would try to convince Fr. Abbot of the necessity of identifying the photos and memorabilia before all the actors and their friend died out.

Christopher Knowles was left in charge of the follow up, with Fr. Mark.

On the way back into town we stopped at the Sports field, it seemed that WWII had just passed by the buildings , as there was nothing left standing. I presume that there is going to be new buildings and tennis courts??. We never were mentioned of any plans to reconstruct?? I hope for the best.

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RE: Does GOD speak to us?

Glen Mckoy

Friday, March 27, 2009 2:39:46 PM

Dear Cornel,

The Mini reunion, I did hear about these reunions from Nigel Boos, I believe, many of the others would not know of this because of the age difference, many reunions started with boys who were in the same classes, or lived at the same time on the mount.

Now that many of the members are over 50 yrs old, there seem to be closer ties with many little circles that have been formed over the years.

I believe you were on the mount 2 yrs after I was born, I was born Aug.9th/1956.

I am glad to read, about what you had to say about Castro, after he took over Cuba, on his first visit to Trinidad, he requested to visit, what he referred to as the "Fortress on the Hill", our castle in the sky, the Abbey, Mt. St. Benedict.

Cornel, you asked what is the Club, my friend, that is a hard question, which I will try to answer, the Club my friend is why we are speaking to each other now, if you were not in the Club, I would not be having this conversation with you, you see, you are the Club, I am the Club, the Club is when any two brothers get together from the mount.

The fire is alive.

There is a lot more about this Club, in time that will be revealed.

I am happy that Ladislao found you; he is a god sent for all of us in the Club.

I will forward this email to other brothers, who may also would like to contact you.

Take care my brother, its a pleasure to hear from you,

best regards,

Glen Mckoy

80 Adelaide Ave.

Halifax Nova Scotia,

Canada B3N 2N8 Phone- 902-443-5437

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From: corneldefreitas@hotmail.com

Subject: RE: Does GOD speak to us?

Date: Thu, 26 Mar 2009 15:06:33 -0400

Dear Glen:

Thank you for your speedy response.

It is greatly appreciated - more than you would imagine.

Sorry you are unable either for geographic positioning or simply unable to attend the little reunion (we have been referring to it as a mini-reunion).

So, I would like to know a little more about you.

You are obviously one of my brothers from Mount St. Benedict.

I was there from 1958(9) I believe until about 1965.

I was there at the Mount when we, at the Abbey School lowered the "Union Jack" and raised the new Tri-coloured red-white and black for Trinidad's independence.

Also when Castro took over Cuba and came to visit Trinidad for the first time and requested to see the, what he referred to the "Fortress on the Hill".

What years did you attend the Abbey School?

And can I also ask you what is this "Club" you refer to.

I was only recently discovered by 'Ladislao Kertesz', in November of 2008.

I received an email from him one day saying: "Cornel, thank God we found you."

I was so completely overjoyed when I realized I was gong to be able to keep in touch with my "Brothers' from The Abbey School"

I have already written to Ladislao many times and been in touch with a number of "Old Boys" that live right here in Ontario.

I will try to expand on this some more another time.

I have to run for now. Duty call.

GOD Bless,

Cornel de Freitas

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From: mckoy43glen@hotmail.com

Subject: RE: Does GOD speak to us?

Date: Thu, 26 Mar 2009 08:16:51 +0000

Dear Cornel,

I am so sorry to hear about your brother Carlos.

As he is still in the hearts he touched.

May God bless him.

I am glad to hear you are pleased with the emails you have received, we are just trying to keep the connection, as long as some of us are here,

I have not been to any reunions yet, it must have been some one else.

I must thank you, for your support, and it’s a pleasure to serve, all my fellow brothers in this small way that I do.

May God bless you and your family at this moment in life.

From us all here in the club we extend a big hug to you brother.

Best regards

Glen McKoy.

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From: corneldefreitas@hotmail.com

Subject: Does GOD speak to us?

Date: Thu, 26 Mar 2009 02:09:09 -0400

Dear Glen:

Your really beautiful Power Point presentations have been an absolute delight.

It is ironic that the first one I received was the one about the second anniversary of the death of our beloved John -Paul II.

It was received about a week after my dear brother Carlos passed away in Aruba.

I was unable to attend his funeral, though my other brother and sister and their families were able to attend, along with most of the rest of the island, including the Governor. He was well known and very much loved.

Anyway a heart felt thanks.

Also for the one titled "LIFE". They are all absolutely magnificent.

I forwarded some of them to other close friends and relatives including my pastor(S).

Keep in touch - I needed to let you know how I felt and to express my appreciation.

You were at the little "ROTILICIOUS" mini reunion in Ajax? (Unless I have you mixed up with someone else.

No matter, you are an MSB Old Boy, and it is nice to hear from you.

GOD bless you, and take care.

If you have time to respond, it would be nice

Cornel de Freitas

P.S. someone sent me the one I am forwarding, hope you like it.

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WELCOME TO THE CLUB/ MEMBERS ONLY/ ASAA - MSB / WORLDWIDE.

From the time 1944 - 1984 , the place, a Castle in the sky/ The Abbey.

In their sacred, secret, circle, the Knights of "White Stones" continues, in the here and now, in "THE GOLDEN RING OF LIGHT".

The Life of a Knight.

As all brothers, find their way back to the realm from East to West, North and South.

The completion of this sacred secret circle has been formed.

A Golden Ring of Light.

We are from the future, we are brothers from the past, and we are one in the present.

Long live these wise Knights, of "White Stones", who lived in their castle, located in the Dutch enclave of Monks, of Mt. St. Benedict, surrounded by that mystical emerald forest, of Mt. Tabor.

Where the Eagles fly, from where they watched the ocean, touch the sky, overlooking the flat lands, where the Caribs once roamed. Tunapuna.

As written in the book, "The King of Harts, which is in the chest that is buried in a bunker, somewhere on Mt.Tabor, close to that sacred place they called, "White stones".

For what a Knight knows, to the rest of the world, is only fiction.

An invisible kingdom, hidden in the sky.

Invisible to the naked eye, the realm.

THE CARIB KNIGHT, RAY FROM ARIMA. (Tales from: "White Stones", 196X).

The last year of the Dreamer on the Mount, was very difficult, as he had grown to be part of this hidden treasure, a safe place he had come to appreciate , he wanted to stay in his heart, but had to go, in order to continue his education.

He knew that there was still so much to do, and hoped, that the younger ones will continue, in the tradition of the legend.

Where we created our future, from our past friendships, to meet again in the present as one.

This would be the last year, the dreamer is the leader of the Knights, he had so much to do, before he went out into the outer world.

He had to pass on the leadership, to his dear and good friend, Ray, the Carib Knight from Arima.

They hiked up to the top of " White Stones", around noon.

As they sat there, liming, shooting the breeze, the Dreamer remembered, three years ago when some boys, was tapping up Ray, and he rescued him.

From that day on, Ray knew the power of the Knights.

Ray changed the conversation, and started telling the story of his people, and this place we call White Stones.

Ray: It is told, that only the leaders of the Carib tribe, were allowed to come up here, to discuss matters of importance.

The Caribs had a great respect for this place.

He said his people also have a legend of some Spanish soldiers on horses up here, they were carrying bags of belongings.

It is believe that they buried something here also.

It is said that once there was an explosion, it smelled like gunpowder, according to the legend, three Spanish soldiers were killed, this was just after the 3rd voyage of Columbus.

The dreamer then acknowledged what Ray had said, you are correct my friend this is what may have happened.

The spot where the bunker is, had a huge hole which is why, it was picked by past Knights, as a place to build the Bunker.

As years went on, Knights would always find gold coins, in the area, all around, so the blast, must have blown things around, and some coins, in the chest, are from this spot.

May we live a long life, to see that great year 2000, after when so much will be revealed, the secrets, legends and tales, and why so many years of silence.

My dear friend Ray, you are to become, the leader of a tradition and legend, a chain that has never been broken, what I will tell you, is what you must remember, to tell the next leader after you.

As you know, we have a chest, with gold coins, a golden candle stand, and a manuscript from a Jesuit Monk.

In the past decade or more, the Knights have added the book "The King Of Harts", and their personal momentum's.

We are the keepers of something that is greater than any thing we would ever encounter in our entire life.

Well you remembered over the years, the writings that were read, from the book the" King of Harts", of the Jesuit monk from Brazil.

You learned of the tribe, that the Jesuit monk taught and lived with, at the edge of the Great Amazon Jungle, and how he fled from that turmoil, he took with him a small chest, in it was the golden candle stand, some precious metals, some old Spanish gold coins, and his manuscript .

The part that was left out, when the younger knights were present, was the part of what is in the golden candle stand, that is the secret of the Realm.

Mi Amigo, inside the candle stand, there is a cylinder, it holds a power, beyond our imagination.

In the month of March, in the year 1709, after a terrible thunder storm, hit the heart of the Amazon Jungle, a craft from the sky, crashed close to the pyramids, buried in the Emerald Green of the Jungle, as translated by the Jesuit monk of that time, of what the two members of this jungle tribe, the invisible people, was giving him and telling him, as the only outsider they trusted, that helped in getting rid of this curse on their people.

Ray, shouts out, What Curse ??

Well Ray, The Dreamer reply's, It took the tribes two generation, to realize that the cylinder made the young men sterile, unable to have children, from the radiation it emitted, if touch or exposed to, for a given time.

So this is how the Jesuit Monk ended up with this cylinder, that's why, after the first Knights on the mount saw it, they knew and felt its power, no other Knights have seen it again, so I hope you understand the utmost secrecy, for the benefit of all knights.

We are only the Keepers, not to hold or touch it.

We will access its powers, in the future as a brain to a computer, for easy universal information access, of things beyond our wildest dreams, and with this, we will help, in the survival, and success, of the free world.

In the book the "King of Harts", in the pages of the future, as you will read as the next leader of the Knights, It says, that the Pax Generation will come long after us, the Children of the Knights.

They will be the Keepers of the Cylinder, the "Children of the Knights", in the pages of the future, you will read these tales.

Ray, it’s getting late, we will continue this tomorrow, we better get down the hill in time, so we are not late for showers.

Dreamer, I'll race you down the hill, Carib.

You wish Pale face, ha! ha! and through the razor grass they ran, aarrrhhh....

Thanking all my brothers for their time and support,

best regards to all,

Glen McKoy, a proud of member of parrot troop, hippies from the sixties.

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I promise to be up to date by next week.

Regards,

Ladislao Kertesz, kertesz11@yahoo.com,

So now you have all the exchanges and photos.

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Photos:

09LK1836TTVISITYOGPER, Fr. Augustine, Ladislao Kertesz, Maxime and Raymond de Comarmond.

09LK0056TTVISITRR, Rail road shed.

09LK0054TTVISITREF,

09LK1868TTVISITFAU, Fr. Augustine and Ladislao Kertesz

Circular No 403

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

Caracas, 25 of July 2009 No. 403

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Dear Friends,

Here I am including a mix of emails, and two class photos.

Can you help with them???

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Fw: ...VERY HAPPY TO HEAR FROM YOU...

From: Gmail Jan jankoenraadt@gmail.com

Sent: Thursday, February 12, 2009 8:59:38 AM

Dear Cornel,

Yes, we are all very grateful to Ladislao Kertez, Nigel Boos, Don Mitchell and other aiders for keeping up the Old Boys Alumni so we can communicate with each other via internet.

Ladislao has been sending out circulars all the way back starting in 2001.

They are numbered staring with #1 and last December 2008 was #373.

The circulars puzzled me first, but you have to see them as when some old boys send each other mails and pictures, they send a copy to Ladislao and he publishes them in the circulars.

Mostly a few months later.

Sometimes a message is a reaction upon another message; sometimes they are "stand alone".

Please keep in mind; you have to read the circulars from bottom to top.

You can find all the circulars back to 2001 on this website:

http://abbeyschool2008circulars.blogspot.com/

This is the year 2008, but if you scroll down a little and on the right side you see the other years until 2001.

People tried to put up some weblogs about MSB where old boys can drop messages, you see them on the sidebar.

If you want to see old pictures of MSB, almost every circular has 4 pictures.

If you left click on a picture you get a larger one which you can save with a right click to your hard disk.

About some pictures there were discussions going on, if you can add anything, if you recognize the UNKNOWNS add a copy of the picture in your mail and send it to Ladislao.

If you already visited Nigel Boos, he mad a beautiful compendium of the history of MSB from the beginning only with pictures.

We all got one, please ask him a copy.

You can see in the database of Nigel Boos that about 1100 old boys have been tracked down until now, residing over almost all the continents.

Thanks a lot for your pictures. I see I was right about your thick glasses and darkish frame.

But your recent pictures show there has been a lot of styling and design going one in glasses since 1960 ;-).

The picture of you from 1970 comes closest as I remember you.

The one of the sports fields 1960 you are young to me.

Strange T-shirt with the large V on the boys, don't remember that shirt.

Cornel, would you send your old MSB pictures and any other of your choice also to Ladislao, he will publish them in the circulars one at a time when possible.

I am sending you a bunch of old and present pictures.

There is one 65UN0001CLASS1967 unknown.jpg. I got this picture from Ladislao.

Could this be your class?

Are you #28 on the picture? If so, if you can remember any names, please mail them to Ladislao.

My eldest son is living in München in Germany.

Every year München has the large Beer Festival.

Some pictures enclosed are made at that festival.

Best wishes to you too, nice to hear from you,

Much greetings,

Jan Koenraadt

----- Original Message ---------------------------------------------------------------------

From: Cornel de Freitas

Sent: Thursday, February 12, 2009 6:50 AM

Subject: ...VERY HAPPY TO HEAR FROM YOU...

Dear Jan:

Amazing! and Fantastic! - being able to reach out and once again touch the lives of 'My Brothers' of The (old) Abbey School, Mount St. Benedict.

I, and all of us 'Old boys', owe a great debt of gratitude to our 'Big (older) Brothers', such as the likes of Ladislao Kertesz, Nigel Boos to name just "two" of the many men, who have given so much of their time, so that we could, after all these years of silence.

We can finally contact each other and rekindle the fire of friendship and camaraderie that existed between all of us, that were literally thrown together by our fathers and mothers.

We grew up together and 'grew together' as brothers, as the older ones moved up through the ranks of our classes and the younger ones joined us at the Mount in Prep.

Interacting together much as real brothers do.

Sometimes supportive and sometimes not as supportive as we should have been or could have been - all of the time.

I have, for so long, felt like being detached from a greater something, but did not know what it was, until Ladislao Kertesz literally "found me through my 'real (baby) brother, Errol de Freitas, who resides currently with his wife Nathaly in Miami.

[He has been there studying for his Masters Degree]

I have one other brother who still resides on the Dutch Island of Aruba, [Sadly at this time he is in the Hospital in Aruba with a serious kidney problem]

We are all praying for him, with the hope that he will get better.

He has two sons both married with children (three grandsons).

I also have two sisters, one (the older) still lives in Aruba, and the other lives in Canada, Ontario not too far from me.

So does Nigel Boos, by the way.

I was literally overjoyed when Ladislao informed me that one of my MSB brothers did not live far from me.

I did not take me long to contact him and discover that he lived about 50-60 kms from me.

I called him the minute I got his telephone number and had great chat on the phone with him.

I asked him if he would mind if I dropped by to pay a visit and he was equally delighted at the idea.

*>>> Amazing, so close to each other. It looks like Ontario is an old boy "hotspot".

Soooo... I did!

My son, Michael is (what I like to refer to him as) 'a computer wizard', had a computer he had 'fixed' to return to a friend of ours that he used to work with about ten years ago, they were having all kinds of "Virus" problems.

I asked Michael if, when we returned the computer to his friend Marcella, if we could make a small detour to the town of Ajax and pay Nigel a visit on that same day.

As it turned out, Marcella had recently moved into a new house, and when she explained where she had moved to, we took out the map that we printed from a map site on the internet, and discovered to our amazement that she lived on the same street as Nigel Boos.

She said to us don't you dare visiting your friend Nigel and not come over to my house (about three houses down on the other side of the road)...so we stopped in and visited with Nigel and his wife Jackie for a few hours and when Marcella got home around 6pm that evening we crossed over to the other side of the road about three houses down and visited with her and her family until after 10pm.

(My son during the course of the visit to Marcella, left for a few minutes to pick up his two sons just a few minutes away from where Marcella lived, and they joined us there.

It was their weekend to spend with us.

My son is currently separated from his wife, and the boys just adore their grandfather - me!

*>>> You are blessed! I have to wait a few years, at this moment I am in a stage that one beauty after the other passes by soliciting for daughter in law . . .

I will try to remember to include a photograph of my two little angels, Lorenzo (7, he was born on the first of January) and his younger brother Christian (5+ soon to 6 on the 28th. of May)

My life right now is pretty much dedicated to them.

Now... I don't want to put you to sleep with my long-winded letter (almost a little book).

*>>> I am at the other side of the world, when you write we sleep, when you sleep we read, ha ha!

I am overjoyed that you took the time to write to me.

I sincerely wish more do.

I know that you said that you told your story many times, but I must say that I would be delighted to hear it or just about anything related to the Mount.

There are so many stories, and I loved the pictures you sent,....send more! if you have them... I could not find you in the first class picture: [Class picture of 1966 in 1962].

*>>> That is right, they were a class below me.

I did recognise you [#2] in 65UN0001 CLASS 1968 FORM II 1965, and of course you standing next to Bro. Alphonse [1965]

Jan, there are more stories, but I must get some sleep.

Best wishes to you and your loved ones for a healthy 2009

GOD bless you all,

Cornel de Freitas

P.S.: I will answer some of your questions into your email to me ...the one below...!

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From: jankoenraadt@gmail.com

Date: Wed, 11 Feb 2009 22:46:47 +0100

Dear Cornel de Freitas,

Amazing you still remember me. You were an older boy to me in a higher class, but you were one of the few other boys at the Abbey School who spoke Dutch.

We were not allowed to speak Dutch, but in my first term I had to learn English and maybe you helped me out once in a while.

*>>> I am glad to have helped...

I remember you wearing thick glasses with a darkish frame and you came from Aruba.

You say you were until about 1964 at Mount?

I remember you more than one year after 1963, maybe two or three years, maybe you left in 1965 of later?

>>> I can't remember exactly what year I left...

Two years ago I discovered the Old Boys Alumni like you do now, and I have been writing and chatting already with several old boys I knew well. I have told my story several times.

*>>> I think you are lucky to have been discovered / found before me...

I had my prep school same as you in the Dutch system from the 1st to 6th grade in Surinam, and before that even the Fröbel school (sort of kindergarten).

After that I went to Mount and after four years in 1967 my dad decided to put me on the Dutch "hogere burgerschool HBS" in Surinam for better connection to the university in the Netherlands.

I heard from other boys the same story that the GCE O-level did not qualify for university, you need an extra year.

And that's what I got on the "HBS" in Surinam.

After that I went to the technical university of Delft to study civil engineering and later changing to architecture finishing in 1978.

I got married living in Netherlands since then and we have four sons, being big young men now.

*>>> You've been a busy boy

I always say Nederland too, but don't know how you guys want it in English, Netherlands or "the Netherlands".

We still are "the lowlands" of Europe, les Pays Bas, haha!

I haven't been in Curaçao or Aruba, but a lot of people from the Antilles are staying here.

I only need to hear them say one word for me to know if they are Otrabande Papiamento or Patoi from the Antilles, or Kondreman Sranang Tongo from Surinam, because they look the same.

*>>> I am surprised you never got to spend a vacation in Aruba, you would have loved it....

Paul Zeven contacted me too.

He has family living right here in my hometown Oosterhout in the south of the Netherlands and is planning a visit.

About a school picture I attach my class picture of June 1965 made by Father "Voosh". There are a lot of pictures going around to Ladislao.

There is a nice compendium with pictures of the Mount made by Nigel Boos.

But what about you? What have you been doing after you left Mount?

Have you any pictures of yourself and the Mount?

*>>> Thank you very much for the photographs... any more?

Much greetings

Jan Koenraadt

MSB 1963-1967

----- Original Message -------------------------------------------------------------------

From: Cornel de Freitas

Sent: Monday, February 09, 2009 7:47 AM

Subject: FW: Re. Circular No.379, The Abbey School MSB

I would first like to pay my respects to the family of Gordon Walker and his brother, Alan Walker.

I am so very sorry at your loss.

It is always sad to hear news of the passing of one of our brothers.

Please accept my deepest sympathy.

Be comforted in the knowledge that he is now with Our Lord in heaven, and at peace with all of those who have gone through that beautiful door to the other side, welcomed, I am sure, by all of our other family members and friends who have gone before us and are now celebrating their new life in the presence of GOD.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------.

Hi Ladislao:

Very interesting reading in your Circular No.379;

Glad to make the 'acquaintance' of two more MSB boys in the persons of Paul Zeven (the name: 'Zeven' translates to seven in dutch) and Jan Koenraadt.

These are Dutch names.

Greetings to Paul Zeven and to Jan Koenraadt,

We attended The Abbey School, Mount St. Benedict at about the same time.

I attended somewhere between 1959 to 1964.

Nice to read all of the very interesting stories of all of our experiences.

I grew up in Aruba and was educated under the Dutch system from the "Eerste clas" - (First grade) upto the "zesde clas" - ( sixth grade ) and was then shipped off to attend a British/English education.

My dad was educated in the British system.

I speak dutch and because I grew in Aruba and there their system is dutch, there is also the local language and most of the populous speaks spanish because of our close proximity to Venezuela and they all like to follow the "Novelas" (soap operas) on the spanish channels.

I notice, Paul and Jan, that you refer to 'Holland' as the 'Netherlands', whereas I know it as 'Nederland'?

Have either of you - and your families ever visited Aruba or Curacao or Bonaire?

Is there a school picture from MSB that either of you are in?

I must say, that it is really 'Fantastic' that we are able to "reach out and touch" and I am eternally grateful to Ladislao and Nigel and the many others who have contributed so much time of their lives to facilitate this little miracle.

It means a lot to me - and I am sure so too do the many others of us old MSB boys.

Keep in touch you guys, may GOD keep you all in good health....and keep those pictures coming...there are so many great memories are embedded in them.

I am still trying (hoping) to get to see a photograph of the old refectory we used just before the new one was opened...does anyone have any photographs of those old buildings?

Goodbye for now and hug your loved ones - everybody deserves a hug!

All the best,

May GOD bless you all

Cornel de Freitas ...

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I promise to be up to date by next week.

Regards

Ladislao Kertesz, kertesz11@yahoo.com,

So now you have all the exchanges and photos.

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Photos:

48TE0001CLASSMIX, with inputs from Mew, Evelyn and others.

64TF0001TFEGRP, John Abraham, Russell Cunha, Jose Fernandez and Terence Ferreira, eating Watermelon.

09SC0011REUNIONAJAX, Salah Wilson and Steelpans

09SC0021REUNIONAJAX, David Johnson and Fr. John Boos