2021-NOV-19-1929Hrs
Well the 68 intake of men in Haven included Reynold Davis, now deceased, who sadly fell of the rail along the way. I loved him and was saddened by his misfortune. A fantastic Haven man when he was right. Great sportsman, football, cricket. Tenor in the choir. Had been coached by Wes Hall at Fatima.
I remember when he came in. It was during the holidays..1968...since some of us did not go home for the summer...and he had come in straight from Guyana...where he had responded to a call from Forbes Burnham...for Caribbean youth to come to help clear forest for the new City.....and Reynold came in fresh from that....and I found him to be a fitting haven man ....full of our spirit.....
I think Benji was in Haven too. He and Carlton Layne (Carlo), Fabien Alvarez, Jagessar.....quite worthy additions to the Hall of GENTLEMEN. Our sports capability was enhanced by that 68 intake.
Joe Stevens and Rodney (Acheson) Charles strengthened athletics in Mayfair.
Garth Nicholas strengthened the Villa. A force.
Very worthy men in that 68 intake. We tried to teach them all we knew. But they were quick learners, and you had to get out of their way.
Then there were the girls who came in 68. Who could run.....Pamela George, Sigrid Sandiford......who could sing....Janice, Rita....
This idea of a new year group coming in to be initiated was exciting beyond words.....You are going to be a SECOND YEAR....good lord......what a thrill....
.exciting even now, as I think about it. But there was also the sadness.....that came with the departure.....from the college generally...and from the hostel.....the characters who gave texture to the place.....leaving......Cecile, Nicoline, Ana, Pat Lashley, Ralphie, Andre Stephens (Uhm, Mr Joseph, I was wondering....), Bullock, Darnley...and Sahadeo with the cutlass chasing Ian Paul across Fair Haven square during initiation as the rest of us looked on not knowing what to make of it...
Beck...coming to Fairhaven crying with a cutlass in hand one night....because some Havenite went to Mayfair and inadvertently left the water running in a sink in the washroom and it overlflow....and de water run down the hall and flood one or two rooms...one of them Beck's...now deceased...his shoes and thing floaing......and Beck. (Frederick Beckles -66-68, one of the greats.....Football, Cricket....Choir.....and they call him "(Badjohn Teacher Face) because he could get vex sometimes.....and we see him coming to Fairhaven, from Mayfair....crying because most of his things floating in inadvertent water....and prudence said that we should lock the hostel up....which we did.
Haven men being men of peace, and not stupid either.
Scratchie.
Theodore Lewis 69
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