Circular No 195

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

Caracas, 30 July 2005. Circular No. 195

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Dear Friends,

Here is a new old boy, good to hear from one of the many Blancs that were at MSB, wonder where are the others? Allan! Need your help.

Also I have included information on the last meeting of Old Boys, and I hope that by this issue there would be a movement to get the Old Boys Association resuscitated, obviously it should reside in TT.

This miracle could be done by having the name of an old boy that is willing to be the anchor, (meeting or calling point for those that require information or assistance).

This old boy does not have to write to anyone but be the “white pages” of the MSB Alumni. Maybe he is going to get some phone calls from alumni looking for someone; get additional information from me, etc.

Maybe this “right” person would be about to retire and still have a secretary to receive phone calls, and be able to tell those in need of information, where to go.

It is sad to note that because of the shortage of future monastic candidates at the Monastery, this function cannot be arranged there.

As we all have discussed through the years, the large amount of archives are being lost at the Monastery, and I am not talking about the Library, but school records.

Some say that it is for the good, this way there is nothing to write about and of course nothing to read.

I want your comments. Ed.

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

From: Allan Blanc

Subject: Lost Student

Date: 4/28/2005 10:14:43 AM

Hi Ladislao,

Got a call from Johnny Blanc with your email information which I had him foreword to me so that I could send some information to you.

My name is Allan ( Sonny ) Blanc one and the same person.

At the Abbey School I was known as Allan but some of my friends who knew me from where I grew up called me by my nickname Sonny.

I went to the College in 1947 and left in 1953.

I am 72 years old and guess I was one of the original students of the Mount.

We lived in the Monastery and there was no college building at that time.

I think there were aprox 35 Students at the time.

No playing field or swimming pool.

That was all built when we were students, including the college building and a few other buildings.

The original Headmaster in my time was Fr Bernard.

I have many fond memories of the Abbey and meet many old students from time to time.

Will write you a longer note soon and fill you in with more details.

Will have to confirm the dates above but I am pretty sure they are pretty close.

Will write soon

Allan Blanc

blanc@tstt.net.tt

TEL 1 868 633 3127

(Waiting for those news to publish. Ed)

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

THE ABBEY SCHOOL

From: "Leonard Abbott" < leonard@tstt.net.tt >

Date: 2 Aug 19:02 (PDT)

Dear Ladislao,

Just to give you an update, Mr. Bernard Tappin (1961) contacted me today and he is assisting in contacting more old boys that he knows.

I tried making contact with Dr. Bratt, however all I'm getting is his office voice mail.

I left a message there but did not get a response.

I will try again on Monday, but if you have a home contact number for him please let me know.

Again it seems that we are getting a strong response from the older boys and I feel it is very important while they are only now coming on board their input into this event would be most welcomed and I'm using this forum to invite any suggestions these distinguished gentlemen may have to offer.

Thanks again for your assistance.

PS: this circular is copied to the members of the reunion committee

Please feel free to add their names to your circular if you do not have them already.

God bless,

Leonard Abbott

Reunion Committee

Phone: 1-868-692-3135

Mobile: 1-868-763-7073

(I am sorry that there has been no new attempt to get a REUNION together this year. Ed)

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

From: Ladislao Kertesz [mailto: lkertesz1@icqmail.com ]

Sent: Thursday, July 31, 2003 9:15 AM

Dear Leonard

I have received information on our contact with Fr. Abbot, and we are making diligence to have the rest of the old boys informed, unfortunately time is against us.

Miguel has been receiving the circulars since March but he never mentioned any event.

I mention this because Salvador Coscarart informed me of his address and the planned event.

I would have helped your cause but lacked the information that I published recently.

I have retained the circular No. 90 waiting for this confirmation, so tonight it goes out with the necessary haste.

If you want me to send the circular to your friends or those you think should get it, please send me their emails.

God Bless

Ladislao

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

On Tue, 29 Jul 2003 15:48:49 -0400, "Leonard Abbott" wrote:

Ladislao,

Fr. Abbot's contact # is 1 868-662-5286.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

From: "JonGolding" < jongolding@wow.net >

Date: Sun, 27 Jul 2003 14:11:25 -0400

Ladislao,

I'll do my best.

I have found a few others in TT like Peter Boos (1957)

I sent a request for a ticket direct to the Abbot but have heard nothing so far.

If I hear nothing I will just show up on the Sunday.

I leave in a few days for London.

Take care

Jon

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

From: "Ladislao Kertesz" < lkertesz1@icqmail.com >

To:

Sent: Sunday, July 27, 2003 12:28 PM

Dear Jon,

I hope you have bought rolls of film or new batteries for the digital camera.

Please send me the photos of the event so that I may include them in the circular.

Of course individual photos of the guys that we knew would be appreciated.

Please make propaganda for the circular, we need new guys in the listing, I am sure most are not in the list; and of course I do not have their emails.

I hope you meet additional friends, other than those that you already met.

Maybe someone knows about PG. Wilson (there is nothing in the internet)

God Bless

Ladislao

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

On Sun, 20 Jul 2003 21:46:12 -0400, "JonGolding" wrote:

Hi Ladislao,

I am settling in to TT very well but never been so busy in my life!!

I have a demanding but very interesting job with RBTT Bank.

When I see you on 17th August I will fill you in.

Hope you are well

God Bless

Jon

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

From: "Ladislao Kertesz" < lkertesz1@icqmail.com >

To: < jongolding@wow.net >

Sent: Sunday, July 20, 2003 7:55 PM

Dear Jon,

How are you?

I hope that TT is as you thought it would be?

I have not written to you before as I know that if you had any information you would send it along.

O can it be that you are not receiving the Circulars ????

Well just let you know we are still trying to get MSB old boys a rerun

God Bless

Ladislao

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

I have included a painting that should be a view of the Monastery in 1917, can anyone elaborate?

Maybe this is not really MSB in TT but somewhere else in the world.

Is this from Mt. Talbot? if not where were these?

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

REMEMBER TO PAY YOUR DUES, 50 WORDS PER YEAR, OR SEND A CHECK ANY U.S. BANK to my mailing address:

Ladislao Kertesz

Apartado 69072

Caracas 1062A Venezuela

For those that prefer this way to cooperate with the Circular and the expense that this generates. It is 52 issues per year.

God Bless

Ladislao

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Photo: Painting Monastery 1917???

PG. Wilson

--------------------------------------------------------------

---

---

---

Circular No 194

Newsletter for past alumni of The Abbey School, Mt. St. Benedict, Trinidad and Tobago, W.I. Caracas, 23 July 2005. Circular No. 194
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Dear Friends,

How about this email from your friend Jeremy?

Can anyone match his prose?? Even Vincent Wayne must be jealous, I am sure.

By the way, Wayne Vincent Brown must be having problems, I have not heard from him since I had an editorial disagreement with him in 2002, and lately his e-mail address has ceased to work??

Maybe this is because of the pre-hurricane period? preparing for the bad weather?

Here is the email that describes what the Mount meant to most of us, good work!!!.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Date: 6/10/2005 3:05:49 PM Eastern Daylight Time
From: Jeremy

Hi Ladislao,

You’re the greatest as usual.

Here is a new email name to you I think;

See if you would like to pop this one up in your next news-letter.

Very Best Regards

Jeremy de Barry
==================================
Extract from eMail in reply to:
Norman Smith

Norman starts with:

Subject: Blast from the past
Date: Wed, 08 Jun 2005 17:05:20 -0400

Jeremy,

It's been almost 4 decades since I've seen or heard from any Mount old boy.(etc)…

I would also like to contact other old friends like Roger Ames and Rafael Echeverria...(email reply body - then..)

Finally, for now; [Sorry Norman - You triggered this one off!]

Two score years, and counting, is a lifetime to many, and the mark to a generation.

We have all done well in our separate ways, scattered as we now are, like pollen in the wind.

We remain forever loose brothers, (You too Rafael) united by our past.

Yes, we were part of a brotherhood.

It was never our choice to be where we were placed, our parents’ patronage ruling our futures.

Obedient to the times, we sullied to the benefice rhythms of the Mount, to have our adolescence squandered over years, for the higher stake of education.

We learnt tolerance, and found brothers for those who had none; or found brothers to add to family, or to exchange for those who were not in sympathy.

We learnt love and hate and discovered our strengths and weaknesses.

Boredom and apathy were never a part of the fabric of that life; there was too much going on all the time; so much to do; and literally, so many hills to climb.

Moments of introspection, should one fall prey to that aloneness or disjuncture, perhaps on arrival for the start of those long terms, could be soothed by glances into the beckoning background hills, or by steering down the slope and across the distant plains; where on a clear day 'You could see forever'.

But not for long in contemplation, least you got caught napping, as violence could career around the corner, and gears would mesh in you head and legs to implement strategies of escape in quick movement; some new, some old, to avoid 'the hedging' or 'the flushing'; and then you were back in the game of Mount.

In the end we hated few, and loved many.

We were deeply moved as friends or role models came to term and moved to depart from this pediment.

We knew for many, we would never meet again.

And then it was our turn.

With few regrets but hearty goodbyes, we would descend down that ever winding road, taking our last glimpses of arches, bee-hives, battered VW busses, bottle works; and scattered through the trees the Abbey, rest house and guest house.

Then the bamboo way past the seminary; and dropping, through the row of cashew trees, the convent, pool and playing field; then it all disappeared round the bend.

Pax.

Over the years, some would return in pilgrimage; either on their own, with friends, or with members of their families.

Reasons aside, to most who made the journey, there were those instants of queasy excitement, that would rise with the upward journey, and subside surprisingly, to tranquillity on arrival.

And then it would slowly hit you.

As you began to explore; every corner, every angle, every shadow triggered cascades of long forgotten moments.

Each space held its own story.

Then a light sadness and a thin puzzlement would arise.

It was too quiet.

Beyond the saddening realisation that an era and a unique institution had passed into the annals of history; were those jolting wisps of imaginings for the sights of cream shirts, kaki shorts; or white longs, blue yellow striped tie and the ubiquitous crimson jumper or blazer with that vivid yellow pocket emblem; the odd white robe, sashes curtaining a wide black belt; and the animated faces.

Always a spin of movement, to a cacophony of chatter in Trini English, ringing Panyol and broken Patois! Mon Dieu!

Those of us who withstood long internment as boarders of The Abbey School, Mount St. Benedict, would only truly realise this privilege that we had shared, as the years of living slowly stacked to rise in metaphoric counterpoint to the height of Mount itself.

Our schooling was in the main solid.

Our activities had made us tough; even the fat ones were no wimps.

Our ever present hunger, and our trademark of withstanding 3 minute cold showers (and to a timely few of us the simultaneous bombasting of Luongo's bass Cantatas); saw us leave the Mount in sinewy good form.

Most left as young men, not quite as Captains of Industry or Movers of Nations, but generally to be persons of some consequence.
Our psychologies were a little warped and biased to the antisocial and loners at first; coming out of that nest was a new learning curve all by itself.

But mildly strictured by a Benedictine benevolence of moral philosophy, together with that wild environment of a multicultural enclave, produced in us an adaptability for survival and an ability to integrate; though painful at times to achieve, that proved in the main, adequate for our lives needs.

We are the Boys from The Mount, that is our mark.

We were few, but what a bunch!.

To those of us who occasion to traverse the East-West corridor of Trinidad, we always take a moment to look North, to that range of tropical mountains, with a whimsical turn of mind to that old home, The Mount; creamily pixillated with hints of red orca, to a background of green, on the crest of the distant foothills.

May your Gods be with you my Brothers.

tojo - 10 June 2005
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Here is another old boy, maybe you would like to contact him. Maybe he can print that special ad that you want??

I have had no luck in exchanging emails with him.

CREATIVE PRINTING LTD.

Address: Lot 24A, O’Meara Industrial Estate, O’Meara Road, Arima, Trinidad

Tel.: (868) 646-2661, 646-2646, 646-2536, 646-0796

Fax: (868) 646-2647

E-mail: datavis@tstt.net.tt

Contact: Mr. Richard Knox, Managing Director

Services: Printing
---------------------------------------------------------------------------.
Now back to the Venezuelan Old Boys

From: "jurislipavsky (ABA)"
Date:Tue, 7 Jan 18:26:27 -0400

Dear OLD Mount "Boy"

First: As you can see, I love to call my younger fellow men: "OLD" boys.

Second: I wrote BOY between " " because after all these years BOY is just a "way" of speech.

Third: I must sincerely congratulate you for the excellent work that you have done this past year trying to collect the shattered pieces of remembrances and glue them together in order to build a golden picture of the Mount that we miss, almost as much as the youth gone by.

Fourth: Don’t you expect too much from me, but I would like to be useful in your quest .

I received your e-mail with a picture of class 1958.

Could you send it again?

I am sure we can give you names, origins (ie. where the hell they come from), their whereabouts and so on.

Please send that photo again (my C.P. ate it )

Thank you and let’s hope we can enjoy the New Year.

Kindest regards

Roberto Lipavsky

(0414) 789 1206
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
REMEMBER TO PAY YOUR DUES, 50 WORDS PER YEAR, OR SEND A CHECK preferably from any U.S. Bank, to my address:
Ladislao Kertesz
Apartado 69072
Caracas 1062A Venezuela
For those that prefer this way to cooperate with the Circular and the expense that this generates. It is 52 issues per year.
God Bless
Ladislao
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Photo: class 1958 no, Roberto lipavsky
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Look us up at http://www.theabbeyschool.com, an all class msb web site.
Look at www.paxabbey.com for information on the Monastery, Mt St. Benedict.
For those that want to communicate with the web, use, webmaster@theabbeyschool.com.
Send information to: Ladislaokertesz@hotmail.com if you would like to be in the circular’s mailing list or any old boy that you would like to include. Telf. 0 (212) 263.5346 Caracas.
Use kaviacion@cantv.net or kertesz11@yahoo.com for photos as I leave enough storage space for these.
Please note: you may have missed some of the circulars, if you have not received one every week, do not hesitate to ask for the missing number to idmitch@anguillanet.com
For those that would like to contact me here I include my telephones:
Telf.Office: 58 (212) 263.5346, 267.2416, From: 11:00GMT to 22:00GMT
FAX: 58 (212) 261.0829,
Home: 58 (212) 238.4084. From: 00:00 GMT to 04:00 GMT
Cellphone: +58 (0416) 612.5695
Remember that Venezuela’s time is the same as Trinidad’s, -04:00 GMT.

Circular No 193

Newsletter for past alumni of The Abbey School, Mt. St. Benedict, Trinidad and Tobago, W.I. Caracas, 16 July 2005. Circular No. 193
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Dear Friends,

I have been told that some Circulars are missing, can you confirm this information???
This Circular is a continuation to the one sent No. 187.
Glad that Csaba has been a good writer, only need photos in .jpg to make the Circular complete.
So here are the missing emails and at the end, his last email recently received.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
From: Csaba Jakobszen
Sent: Friday, January 23, 2004 12:40 PM

Dear Ladislao,
Sorry for the delay on this.
Please find below the corresponding names to the faces (i.e. the ones I know).
As far as the others go, I'm sending a copy of this to Urbano de Fedak, Azier Atela and Ricardo Figuera, who'll surely be able to complete the picture.

1. (.?) Hopkins (from Tunapuna, was not a boarder.
2. Maillard Howell (called "Bullet" fastest sprinter at that time)
3. Luciano Savorgnan
4. (..?) Gomes
5.
6. Timothy Mew
7. Urbano de Fedak
8.
9. Azier Atela
10. Terence Viera
11. Robert "Skully" Bodington
12. Isaias Farcheg
14. Maroth de Marothy
15. Norman Gabriel
16. Geoffrey Xavier
17.
18. (..?) Bishop
19. Ricardo Figuera
20.
21. Roberto Lipavsky

Un abrazo
Csaba

(don't be too sure that your classmates have a good memory. Ed.)
------------------------------------------------------------------
Dear Csaba,
I am glad that you have been able to correspond with your friends.
I would like you to help me with the class photo, please place names on the faces.
Also send me photos if you still keep any for the bunch.
How about the scouting days. Badges??
I hope we can keep on going thru 2004.
Have a prosperous and healthy new year.
God Bless
Ladislao
-----------------------------------------------------------
From: Csaba Jakobszen
Sent: Tuesday, February 3, 2004 11:04 AM

Dear Ladislao,
We'd be very glad to establish contact with your son Jozsef.
Please tell him to call us at any time. (Tel 96 117 5109).
As far as my "Mount -Record" is concerned, I first wrote Cambridge School Certificate in 1956 and got a 2nd Grade; then, in December 1957, I wrote it again and got a 1st Grade.
Thereafter I studied at Saint Mary's University in Halifax, Nova Scotia and graduated with a B.Sc. with concentration in Physics and Chemistry in 1963.
Thereafter, went for postgraduate studies to the University of Windsor, in Ontario, where I got the Diploma in Management, i.e. the 1st year of the MBA Programme.
With the help of your excellent service, I've just established contact with Ian de Verteuil (better known at Mount as "Bage") whom I hadn't seen for the about 39 years; he had also been to Saint Mary's University and we had been roommates for 2 years there.
Un abrazo
Csaba
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Dear Csaba
I have asked my son Jozsef to contact you; he is in Valencia and is a teacher at the Direct English language school.
Ok, the names shall be recorded and hope someone would fill in the blanks.
I presume that the picture was taken in 1958 of the Form V class?
There has been a doubt as if you graduated in 1957?
I have the 1959 and 1960 class photos so help.
Do you have photos? or memorabilia?
No one wants to write on Fr. Ildefonse.
Who was Fr. Leo??
God Bless
Ladislao
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
From: Csaba Jakobszen
Sent: Monday, February 9, 2004 1:28 PM
Subject: Class 1958 in 1955 maybe

Ladislao,

P.S. Nr. 9 looks like Gerhard Most. send it to him to see if he can recognise the rest of the bunch.

Un abrazo

Csaba
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Dear Ladislao

On this picture I can only recognise some of the participants and they are the following:

1. Christian Goddard
2. Father Agustin OSB
6. ('?) Iwaszkiewicz
13. Juan Marini
14. (') Gomes
20. ( ') Hutton (the yougest one of the 3 Huttons at MSB
21. Pablo Figuera
23. Michael Golding
27. '''looks like Michael Herretra, but I am not sure
28. Geoffrey Ames

Your best bet would be to send the picture to Pablo Figuera or Christian Goddard .
They should be able to identify all the ones present.
Un abrazo
Csaba

(No luck on their memory. Ed.)
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Dear Csaba

Here is another one for you!
To tease your memory and eyes.
Sorry but the photo was scanned at a lower level than I use.
Maybe I can get it resent in the future.
God Bless
Ladislao
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
From: "Csaba Jakobszen"
Subject: Your Circular No. 187 of June 24, 2005
Date: Sun, 7 Aug 2005 20:37:04 +0200

Hello Ladislao,
In a way you are dead right, I did partially catch the contagious laziness of Spain and consequently failed to send you any contribution to your great Circulars which keep so many old MSB boys informed of each other, their whereabouts and activities.

On the other hand, I do have a small (hopefully acceptable) excuse, that I had, during the entire course of last year, a health "nuisance" consisting of a damaged meniscus on the left knee which has, thank God, been successfully solved by an operation in September and a posterior treatment consisting of 10 injections.

Ever since June of last year, I am officially retired, so that I have all the bureaucratic activity which the German authorities require, finally behind me.

In order not to keep ticking the little grey matter which I still have left, I subscribed last September to a language course of Valenciano which I attend twice a week. (Valenciano is the local language of the State of Valencia and it is getting to be more important every day. It is pretty similar to Catalan but not the same. Catalan, Balear and Valenciano are of the same "family" and origin; they belong to the Oxitan Group).

As far as pictures go, I am attaching a not-so-recent family picture taken at my daughter's wedding 3 years ago where (on the left side) my wife and I and my two sons can be seen and then my daughter with her husband and his family.

Right now, we are getting ready for my oldest son's wedding (who stands between my daughter and my wife on this picture) who will be getting married in Budapest, Hungary on September 24th.

I am very happy to let you know that thanks to your Circulars and the MSB webpage I could successfully re-establish good old MSB friendships and just recently, (June 7th- to July 13th) my wife and I made a North American round trip during which we've spent many most enjoyable days with David Ames and his lovely wife in North Carolina as well as with Donald Goddard and his charming wife in Baton Rouge and New Orleans and Christian Goddard and his son in Houston.

We have almost been able to meet Ian de Verteuil with whom I've had a very long and enjoyable telephone conversation and with a little bit of more luck we also would have met Maroth de Marothy in New Bern, North Carolina.

Besides that I am in constant e-mail touch with Urbano de Fedak, Azier Atela, Ricardo Figuera, Pablo Kecskemeti etc., and if all goes well we intend to fly over to Caracas next year to see them personally.

Well, that's all for now and thanks once more for your lasting perseverance to keep this open line of friendship open between all those who share such unforgettable remembrances of the MSB days.
Regards to all
Csaba
----------------------------------------------------------------------
REMEMBER TO PAY YOUR DUE, 50 WORDS PER YEAR, OR SEND A CHECK ANY U.S. BANK to my address:
Ladislao Kertesz
Apartado 69072
Caracas 1062A Venezuela
For those that prefer this way to cooperate with the Circular and the expense that this generates. It is 52 issues per year.
God Bless
Ladislao
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Photo: wedding, photo class 1958
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Look us up at http://www.theabbeyschool.com, an all class msb web site.
Look at www.paxabbey.com for information on the Monastery, Mt St. Benedict.
For those that want to communicate with the web, use, webmaster@theabbeyschool.com
Send information to: Ladislaokertesz@hotmail.com if you would like to be in the circular's mailing list or any old boy that you would like to include. Telf. 0 (212) 263.5346 Caracas.
Use kaviacion@cantv.net or kertesz11@yahoo.com for photos as I leave enough storage space for these.
Please note: you may have missed some of the circulars, if you have not received one every week, do not hesitate to ask for the missing number to idmitch@anguillanet.com
For those that would like to contact me here I include my telephones:
Telf.Office: 58 (212) 263.5346, 267.2416, From: 11:00GMT to 22:00GMT
FAX: 58 (212) 261.0829,
Home: 58 (212) 238.4084. From: 00:00 GMT to 04:00 GMT
Cellphone: +58 (0416) 612.5695
Remember that Venezuela's time is the same as Trinidad's, -04:00 GMT.

Circular No 192

Newsletter for past alumni of The Abbey School, Mt. St. Benedict, Trinidad and Tobago, W.I. Caracas, 9 of July 2005. Circular No. 192
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Dear Friends,

Here we continue with our favourite alumnus, Arthur Knaggs, with his various friends.

Why so many emails from Arthur?? Well, he is kind enough to send me emails for publishing, and he is favourite to the Circular for helping out.

Hope this information is going to inspire others in writing similar stories and recount the wonderful news when they have met a long lost friend.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
From: Art & Val Knaggs
Sent: Friday, February 6, 2004 6:49 PM

Ladislao,

What a superb job you are doing with all the new contacts of "my" era, and it is just marvellous.

I am trying to get some more addresses for you or whoever is keeping count??!!

What I would like is to be able contact Fr. Cuthbert at The Abbey, do you have an e-mail for them.

I am condensing the A>S>A Bulletins and will post soon.

Sincerely,

Art
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
From: "Art & Val Knaggs"
Date: 27 Apr 07:42 (PDT)
To: Baknal@aol.com

Yes Howard, It is I.

So great to hear from you and to know that your Mum is still in there pitching, wish her all the very best from us.

Guess you got my e-mail from the Mount Bulletin and think Ladislao and his crowd are doing an excellent job.

Keep in touch.

Val & I are fine and keeping very well.

What are you up to these days, and where do you hang out?

As Always,

Art
------------------------------------------------------------------------
From: Baknal@aol.com
To: av_knaggs@hotmail.com
Date: Mon, 26 Apr 2004 11:03:43 EDT

Is this the Arthur Knaggs from the old days in St Augustine when you visited Wilson St/ Deane St (Susie Ho-Mum)?...

How are you and where are you?...don't know if you remember me from those days ... I'm in Houston, TX.

Mum will be having her 90th birthday in Orlando, where Bernice is presently living....take care.

All the best,

Howard.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
From: Art & Val Knaggs
Sent: Friday, January 16, 2004 12:47AM
Subject : Thelly

Cecil,

What on Earth are you doing for Heaven's sake?

Haven't had a peep out of you in years, and don't know when we will be coming down to Bimshire.

Heard that Thelly was due to be with you this week, but learnt that that it was postponed and she will be there next week sometime.

Hope you are both fine, frolicking in the new Year, and having a general ball.

Say howdy to Scipio (next door) and the Mount Old Boys are trying to track down all the Old Tyrants that roamed the hills at it's conception, and you and Scipio, as well as Jack, fit the bill, and you are all together, Ladislao is the prime mover, and by copy I am asking him to put you on the mailing list, as they need some old stories from way back.

If you have Scipio's e-mail or any other bajan mount urchin, let us know.

Jack Knaggs can be got through Eve Browne.

Keep smiling, and they will never know when you are in mischief.

Keep me posted on Thelly, and teach her how to use the e-mail, she is a great typer.

As always.

Art
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
From: "Art & Val Knaggs"
Date: 3 Feb 08:26 (PST)
To: tiiz03ak@rave-tt.com
Subject: Mount Old Boys

Keith,

How the heck are you all down in the sun?

We are both fine, enjoying fine health, and having a great time.

What about you?

Retired Yet?

Am trying to get a hold of some Mount Old boys (and their E-mail addresses) but I know Ray De Cambra is Computer Challenged, and lost touch with Anthony Lucky (is he still in the Royal Bank?)

Need to get a hold of someone from Mount, who has e-mail, and has some contacts. If you can help, I would be most grateful.

Give us a bit of an update on your life.

As ever,

Art
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
From: Art & Val Knaggs |
To: ekayne@shaw.ca
Date: 10/12/2004 9:34:10 AM

Hi Earl & Elaine,

We almost got to you two.

Went to Jasper in July and met with Jigger and Ian in Vancouver, but back home travelling again.

How are you all?

Earl are you in touch with the Mount "Old Boys", as Ladislao in Venezuela has taken up the task of continuing the old Mount Outside and the O.A.S.I.S, so drop him a line, and give him any e-mails on old Mounties that you may have.

We are fine, and are on a Years Adventure and will be hovering down to the U.S. mid Oct to mid Dec; then back in N.S. for Christmas, and then to T & T for Jan, Feb & Mar 05.

Drop us a line

As always with love,

Art & Val
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
From: Art & Val Knaggs
Sent: Monday, May 3, 2004 5:25 PM
To: celandaal@hotmail.com

Great hearing from you Anthony, and wondered where you were at.

We will be in Victoria for the month of July, our son Edward plays Rugby for Canada and is stationed there; they are expecting a new baby mid June.

Guess you will be long gone by then.

Would love to keep in touch.

We are fine and buzzing along.

Lovely to hear from you both.

As always

Art & Val
-----------------------------------------------------
From: Anthony Cintra
To: av_knaggs@hotmail.com
Subject: greeting
Sent: Tuesday, April 27, 2004 7:08 PM

Dear Arthur,

My name is Anthony Lucky. Remember?

I saw your address in Ladislao's latest Circular.

My wife, Cintra, and I are currently in Vancouver visiting our eldest daughter and our 20 month granddaughter Isabel.

We had been in Ancaster visiting another daughter and our grandson whose second birthday was 12 April.

We return home via Ancaster and Toronto on 9 May.

It is possible that I may be called to return to Hamburg where I now sit as a judge of the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea to preside in a case.

I trust all is well with you and family and really hope this e-mail reaches.

With best wishes,

Anthony Lucky
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
From: Chris & Gillian Knaggs
Subject: Re: Re. Circular No. 169 The Abbey School MSB
Date: 2/28/2005 7:06:38 AM

Hi Ladislao,

Actually, Arthur Knaggs is in Tobago at present, I do not have an 'e' mail address but he can be contacted at (868) 631 1094 –

Arthur would be around 72 - he is Jack's brother and knows how to contact Jack who is probably about 76!

Gregory is closer to the 60 mark that you mentioned and his telephone is 624 1215.

I hope this assists you in getting the Abbey Boys together.

Someone who you might also want to contact if you haven't done so already is Peter Darwent tel # 632 7378 - his brother is Walter who would have been at mount around the same time as Jack.

Good Luck -
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
From : Art & Val Knaggs
Sent : Saturday, April 30, 2005 1:04 PM

Great Photos, and thanks a million for keeping us all so informed.

Had a great re-union in Barbados with Cecil Ince, Scipio Soodeen and brother Jack Knaggs ( three Original Starters) of "The Mount".

Cecil hosted a dinner and has some photos, so hound him for them, with short write up. Regards,

Arthur "Scroongie" Knaggs
------------------------------------------------------------------------.
From: Art & Val Knaggs
Sent: Sunday, May 22, 2005 7:25 PM
Subject: RE. Circular No. 184, The Abbey School, MSB

Copy should be sent to Alcoholics Anonymous, judging from the array of stimulants displayed.

Really appreciate all the work you are doing to keep the memories flowing.

As always,

Art
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
REMEMBER TO PAY YOUR DUE, 50 WORDS PER YEAR, OR SEND A CHECK preferably from any U.S. Bank, to my mailing address:
Ladislao Kertesz
Apartado 69072
Caracas 1062A Venezuela
For those that prefer this way to cooperate with the Circular and the expense that this generates. It is 52 issues per year.
God Bless
Ladislao
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Photo: Art & Val and Family 1982, Missing the names of the kids.
Arthur and buddies.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Look us up at http://www.theabbeyschool.com, an all class msb web site.
Look at www.paxabbey.com for information on the Monastery, Mt St. Benedict.
For those that want to communicate with the web, use, webmaster@theabbeyschool.com.
Send information to: Ladislaokertesz@hotmail.com if you would like to be in the circular’s mailing list or any old boy that you would like to include. Telf. 0 (212) 263.5346 Caracas.
Use kaviacion@cantv.net or kertesz11@yahoo.com for photos as I leave enough storage space for these.
Please note: you may have missed some of the circulars, if you have not received one every week, do not hesitate to ask for the missing number to idmitch@anguillanet.com
For those that would like to contact me here I include my telephones:
Telf.Office: 58 (212) 263.5346, 267.2416, From: 11:00GMT to 22:00GMT
FAX: 58 (212) 261.0829,
Home: 58 (212) 238.4084. From: 00:00 GMT to 04:00 GMT
Cellphone: +58 (0416) 612.5695
Remember that Venezuela’s time is the same as Trinidad’s, -04:00 GMT.

Circular No 191

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

Caracas, 2 of July 2005. Circular No. 191
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Dear Friends,

This Circular is going to start with the information on two Venezuelan oldboys that I have met, talked or communicated with during the past year.
Those that would like to update their information for the sake of accuracy please send me the latest information.
From now on I shall include those that I know but have not written a resume:
I shall make their resume to the best of my knowledge, I hope that I do not make a mistake.
I would like those that know me here in Venezuela to send in a short recount of their post Mount lives.
Some of them I only know by telephone, but others I met and even for some I have photos.
I am sorry that I do not have photos of all of them but maybe now that I am going to acquire a Cellphone with a camera, who knows, the type of photos I may come up with. watch out John Gioannetti.

---------------------------------------------------------------------
So for the first one here is news on Juan Carlos Golik.
He lives in the State of Merida to the South West of Caracas, in the Venezuelan Andes, near the capital of that State, Merida.
He has a Web page describing the beautiful scenery of his resort houses.
I have included a couple of photos of the housing complex.
I recommend you to look into the Web page as the propaganda has photos and pictures, difficult to reproduce in this Newsletter.

-------------------------------------------------------------------
From : "juan carlos"
Date : Sat, 20 Jul

buenas noches ladislao
lamento como te dije por tefls. no poder darte información sobre mi breve estadía en mount.
En estos momentos estoy en valencia y el lunes estaré en Caracas.
Voy a llamar a Farcheg a ver si nos podemos encontrar en algún lugar y conversar. Estaré en 0414-374-1277
gracias
juan carlos golik

Good night Ladislao,
I am sorry as I said to you by tefls. I am unable to give you information on my brief stay in Mount.
At the moment I am in Valencia and Monday I will be in Caracas.
I am going to call to Farcheg to see if we can find a place and talk.
I will be in 0414-374-1277 thanks

---------------------------------------------------------------.
This is the venture that Carlos has going in the Andes.

"A single photo is worth a thousand words"
Just off the Transandina Road, and only 30 minutes (19 miles) from the heart of Mérida is a setting of majestic tranquility where solid, high quality American style wood cabins join in harmony with the majesty of the Andes.
Re-new and refresh your life. Draw from the tranquil power of our Andes Mountains Paradise.
We offer:
5 Cabins (aprox. 950 sq. feet) for 6 people.
1 Cabin (aprox. 575 sq. feet) for 4 people.
2 small Cabins -studio design (aprox. 290 sq. feet) for 2 people.
Price includes Breakfast and evening Dinner meals-"Comida Casera"- (The same good food as served to the owners)
Recreation Room-ideal for meetings, reading, games (billiards) Direct TV (including premium channels). Bar-B-Q. Swimming pool with natural mountain water from the Paramo. Many Green Areas. Children's Play Park. Excursions to the lagoons, rappel, parapet, etc. And, if you like, "draw" your breakfast milk direct from our prize Holstein milk cows. This beautiful mountain retreat is attended by the owners: Giusi and Juan Carlos. We speak English, Spanish and Italian.
CAMPING IN JULY, AUGUST AND SEPTEMBER
Visit our Photo Album http://www.andesholidays.com/micata/index.html
We like to establish personal communications. Please include your telephone number in your email
E-MAIL: cabanasmicata@hotmail.com
cabanasmicata@cantv.net

Carretera Trasandina. Finca Sky Way
Telefax: 58 (274) 808-1502
(0274) 416-0264 (Telcel Fijo)
Celular: 0414-974-1277 - 0416-474-1046
0414-374-1277

(Carlos, I tried to call you but no contact, please return call. Ed.)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

So I am going to start with my Dentist.
His name is Wbladimiro Diaz, who left Mount in 1973 when the school was closed for boarders. He was in Form III at that time.
He managed to get his Venezuelan High School diploma? at Nuestra Señora de Lourdes in Puerto La Cruz after having to go through the official regulations, spent one year at the Universidad Javeriana in Bogota 1977 and then went to the Universidad of Los Andes for his dentistry degree, graduating in 1986.
Sport Karate do 6th Kyo, archievement: Green red belt.
He spent 16 years in practice with his tutor, Dr. Nelson Canache a famous Dentist here in Venezuela.
I know this story because before I let him look into my mouth. I had him show me his credentials.
His wife Walkiria, and has two daughters, Katherin 10, Ana Patricia 5.
Lives a pleasant leisure life in Puerto La Cruz, although no yacht as yet.
Sport: Having misplaced his green red belt, he took up Aikido for a replacement belt, and has achieved: 6th kyu, although he did not tell me if it comes with a belt
Sometimes he is available for a dinner or two.

You may call him at: Home: 0281 808.0308
Or in a dental emergency at. 0416 684.3967
---------------------------------------------------------------------

PART II, The Refectory, dinner time, by yours truly, the editor.

Now back to my story: Part I was sent out in Circular No. 189.
In those days (from 1955? to 1957 when it was moved next to the bakery) the refectory was in an old wooden building near the main church.
This two-storey building had the kitchen below our eating hall, its level was the same as the church’s parking lot.
We eat in the second floor, which was on the same level as the old church bells and the meteorological station.
Inside the Refectory there was a centre corridor with tables on each side, its floor was wooden planks.
The prefect sat at the wall end of the table and four kids sat on either side of the table.
The 13 tables were set before we arrived.
On each table there were two metal inox jars, one with cocoa and the other with water.
Also there were two bread baskets inox, both with monastery made bread, the bakery was located where today is the loan office of Fr. Cuthbert, one with white square bread sliced in about 12 pieces (generously thick), the other also had square dark bread that sometimes felt like having saw dust.
The water glasses were of glass and we had cups for the cocoa with an accompanying sauce.
The china ware was white and had a thin line maroon line and the symbol of the school.
The eating instruments were inox also.
The table was covered with a plastic mantel.
We sat on a wooden bench that ran the length of the table on either side.
The food was placed in bowls inox and usually consisted of the following :
1st dish: Rice, Potatoes.
2nddish:Vegetables Carrots, beans
3rddish: Meat or fish
4th dish had fruit.

There was brown sugar, salt and butter, sometimes cheese that we deemed to be inedible and taken from a sunken ship, as we said.
A small group of Brothers helped to keep the tables with food, when these ran out.
There was an elevator in the middle that brought up the food from the kitchen when there was additional need, of course the good stuff ran out quickly.
This elevator ran on man power using a thick rope.
The prefect’s pets sat to his left and right and the youngest or less popular kids sat next to the corridor, the furthest position from the prefect, they were the last to get food if any was left!.
This is where I sat during a couple months. First, because I was new and second because I did not know English, the third there was an empty place at the table.
My arrival was not welcomed as the food had to be rationed from 8 portions until then, to a new comer, No.9.
All the kids at the table tried to teach me the name of the edibles but without luck.
So next the prefect tried the rough way, he told Wayne Vincent Brown to get English out of me or there was no food.
I got bounced about but English was not easy.
Finally I got upset and decided call WVB “Topo” which is not offensive in Spanish but for those that only knew English found it puzzling and annoying.
It worked because when WVB got rough, I called out.
The end of this episode I cannot remember but I did not die of hunger and was not hurt except for my pride!!.
They got tired I presume or I began to assimilate English.

While we eat in silence the Priest´s refectory was replenished with an open cart that took the plates from the elevator to the hall that was next to ours, we envied what we saw.
I presume that the kitchen had to serve us first and then the Priests.
This always caused lots of comments and there were many an effort to steal some of the edibles.

For dinner we would leave the study hall in the evening at about 6:00 pm.
When we reached the door of the refectory we had to wait until the priest in charge arrived and once these were opened and we had to walk slowly down the corridor to our table.
We had to wait standing until we said prayer and sat down.
The Prefect had first choice of each plate of food that was passed down; and he had to make sure that everybody got part of the dish that was passed.
There was no authorization to talk, one, because the fight for food would have been loud and second because some kids would only talk and not eat, third, we were next to the priest refectory and there was always a lecture being read while the priest eat.

Wait for PART III

(Forgive my English, it never was good enough for Fr. Bernard. Ed.)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
REMEMBER TO PAY YOUR DUE, 50 WORDS PER YEAR, OR SEND A CHECK preferably from any U.S. Bank, to my address:
Ladislao Kertesz
Apartado 69072
Caracas 1062A Venezuela
For those that prefer this way to cooperate with the Circular and the expense that this generates. It is 52 issues per year.
God Bless
Ladislao
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Photo: salon_estilo vaca, 7, 2004 wbladimiro diaz

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Look us up at http://www.theabbeyschool.com, an all class msb web site.
Look at www.paxabbey.com for information on the Monastery, Mt St. Benedict.
For those that want to communicate with the web, use, webmaster@theabbeyschool.com
Send information to: Ladislaokertesz@hotmail.com if you would like to be in the circular’s mailing list or any old boy that you would like to include. Telf. 0 (212) 263.5346 Caracas.
Use kaviacion@cantv.net or kertesz11@yahoo.com for photos as I leave enough storage space for these.
Please note: you may have missed some of the circulars, if you have not received one every week, do not hesitate to ask for the missing number to idmitch@anguillanet.com
For those that would like to contact me here I include my telephones:
Telf.Office: 58 (212) 263.5346, 267.2416, From: 11:00GMT to 22:00GMT
FAX: 58 (212) 261.0829,
Home: 58 (212) 238.4084. From: 00:00 GMT to 04:00 GMT
Cellphone: +58 (0416) 612.5695
Remember that Venezuela’s time is the same as Trinidad’s, -04:00 GMT.