QRC Link

I have it from a very reliable source that the contract for restoration of the Main Block has been awarded, and work is set to begin in January 2007.

The contract awardee is still to be formally declared, but the name dropped is one with almost two decades of regional experience, including a number of major restoration projects.

It was intimated that there is now some work to do to move the remaining occupants of the building into alternative accommodation. But this is a task that I’m sure will be gladly performed.

The Science Block restoration tender assessment is at an advanced, and award of the contract for that project is expected soon.

It appears that the principal’s rant at this year’s edition of the Old Boys’ Dinner has had a positive net effect.

More details will be provided as they become available.

According to the home page of the QRC Class of ’89 Yahoo! group :

This group is open to all Queen’s Royal College (QRC) old boys, particularly those who graduated from 5th Form in 1989. It’s a forum for us to reunite, network and ‘Ole Talk’ about de good ole days!

The online space has proven over time to be an avenue for Royalians who were from this year group, and those who interacted with them, to re-establish links, both online and offline.

In this group are several Royalians including Stephan Hughes, Duane and David “Frizzie” Hinkson, Sherwin “Poppy” Williams, Shawn St. Rose, Hubert Pierre, Christian “Cumbie” Cumberbatch, Dirk “Espy” Espinoza, Garvin “Sleepy” Nedd, Colin “Bronco” Clarke, Gideon Clasp, Neil “Babbs” Gordon, Frederick “Freddie” Hyland, Christopher “Whitebread” Marshall, Stefan Mahon, Nikolai “Leggy” Legerton, Yinca Simon and myself.

The group’s moderator is Kwesi Ames, also moderator of the Yahoo! group set up for the Washington DC Chapter of Queen’s Royal College, North America, Inc.

Members of the ’84-’89 year group local and abroad, and those who would like to reconnect with these Royalians, are encouraged to join the Yahoo! group at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/qrc-class-of-89/

The annual year-end lime is carded for Saturday 30th December, 2006 at the College Grounds. Invitation is extended to all Royalians, regardless of age and stage.

For further information on the event (although I don’t know what more information or invitation you might need other than that the lime is on and that it is always good), contact Willard McIntyre at willimac33@hotmail.com.

QRC Principal William Carter has shared with Royalians at large photographs of a valedictory function held by the staff in honour of Mrs. Gail Boxill. She has decided this year to proceed on well deserved retirement from a long and illustrious teaching career. A Royalian in her own right, Gail is remembered fondly by many who have had the distinct pleasure and benefit of her tutelage and dedication.

Photos of the dinner, featuring some familiar faces and some new ones, can be viewed at http://picasaweb.google.com/william.reginabjc/GailBoxillValedictoryDinner

I was chatting yesterday with the Principal of my Alma Mater, Queen’s Royal College, about the lamentable state of the school’s physical condition, and of the persons that are required to get things moving so that the long-needed repair can finally be under way. In doing so, we also spoke on the fact that there are several Royalians in the public and private sector who can indeed get things done for the school, including helping to turn the wheels of bureaucracy, who would make themselves and their resources available to the school.

Sadly, there is no consistent means of communicating with the Royalian community and it is possible that when help does arrive, it does so at cross purposes.

There was also the recognised need for messages to be clearly communicated and efforts to assist the College to be transparent, reducing speculation that exists now on various efforts already in train.

One senior Royalian has also been of the view that the College requires a website – for what specific purpose has not been communicated. But it was agreed that a single portal could assist in aggregating several existing online communities of Royalians at various ages and stages.

From this Sunday morning conversation came the decision to begin development of a single portal to which all Royalian sites, online message boards and email groups might be linked. From this portal, news and views of common interest can be disseminated to Royalians at large, including updates on the state of construction and refurbishment at the school, and any other activities and events at the College.

An initial site at Blogger was immediately selected – http://QRClink.blogspot.com – and it will be determined as the site develops whether permanent residence elsewhere will be required.

More later…