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From the Trinidad Guardian Features Section, dated November 30th, 2009:

A big part of the traditional T&T Christmas festive expressions has always been parang groups and or groups of friends and relatives moving from house to house in a village, sharing music, drinks, food, fun and more. So much merriment is derived from that practice of small groups moving from one home to another and another—and then another. Try now to compare and comprehend that experience, to several villagers from different villages, travelling from their various individual locations across the country, and gathering at one central location. Now exercise your imagination further, to envision the widespread variations of food-preparations and music to be concentrated in one place!

That and much more is anticipated when the first-of-its-kind Christmas In The Village event takes place on December 5, at Queen’s Royal College, located at the western end of the Queen’s Park Savannah in Port-of-Spain. The villages of Paramin, Lopinot, Arima, Brasso-Seco, Sangre Grande and Siparia will all congregate at the venue, which will be transformed into an enormous village setting, befitting the concept of the occasion. What’s cooking in the Village? Organisers Village Friends say patrons can excite their taste-buds with pitch-oil pan ham, wild-meat with provision, pastelles, paime, roast beef in mushroom sauce, longtime bread, roasted suckling pig and braised ham. Stuffed chicken breast, festive rice, pigeon peas in coconut milk, sponge cake and black cake are also among the extensive outlay of mouth-watering dishes that will be available for Christmas celebrants in the Village.

If you are already salivating, add some tasty dashes of humorous anecdotes from respected comedian/storyteller/actor Paul Keens-Douglas to that menu. Keens-Douglas will be the Village host. Now mix all the preceding ingredients with the music of parang soca king Scrunter and parang soca innovator Crazy, the Lara Brothers, Los Alumnos de San Juan, Carib Santa Rosa Parang Group, Voces Jovenes, Los Parranderos de UWI, 2009 Panorama champions Silver Stars Steel Orchestra and the St James Tripolians, with DJs Roger Simpson and Crosby Sounds. Funds accrued from the public’s support at this chance-in-a-lifetime event will be utilised for the refurbishing of buildings on the compound of the century-old Queen’s Royal College.

Tickets are available at:

• QRC’s Box Office 622-1671
• Savvy Traders Ltd, 674-9065 or 372-6232
• Crosby’s North & South,
• Flowers 137 Tragarete Road
• Simon’s Music Supplies, St Vincent St, Port-of-Spain
• Kenny’s Sports Centre, and
• Sincerely Yours in Grand Bazaar.

According to Village Friends, general admission to the “village happening”, which starts at 5 pm and goes until midnight, costs TT$150.00.  VIP (Inclusive) guests paying TT$350.00 will be entitled to a dinner plate consisting of three meats and at least four sides, together with six drinks – three premium and three non-premium.

Facebook users can register there attendance at the event page for Christmas in the Village.

The Express’ Garth Wattley writes a fantastic article on ancient rivalries, tradition, and that which binds us together as Royalians. [Link]

Sometimes, what happens on the field is not as significant as what happens off it. That can be true even when a title is at stake. So it was last Wednesday at the Hasely Crawford Stadium at the North Zone final of Coca-Cola InterCol.

They may have had a sense of it, but I’m not at all sure that the jubilant Queen’s Royal College footballers-jumping in a tight huddle on the field after prevailing in kicks from the spot against St Mary’s College-realised just what they caused in both halves of the near-to-packed main stand.

In the blue-and-white CIC section, the pain and disappointment of losing to that team would have been keen and as annoying as being bitten behind the ear by a bloodthirsty mosquito.

In the royal blue section, though, the smiling just didn’t cease, the Scout band played on, and big men for whom school is now but a very distant experience, hugged and embraced each other.

It was quite a scene, this meeting of the tribes.

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The now infamous logo above – which was incidentally prepared well before the 2009 North Zone Intercol final – has been printed on a limited run of t-shirts.

The commemorative “juhzee” with full colour print is available in various sizes at a cost of TT$80.00 while stocks last.

Contact Old Boy Larry Olton at 686-7733 or larryolton (at) hotmail (dot) com for details.

Admin’s Note: Hmmm… Reminds me fondly of another t-shirt that we had many moons ago…

The QRC Class of 1979 enjoyed a lime at Portuguese House on Friday, the Old Boys Association Dinner on Saturday and wrapped up an action-packed weekend with a lime at the College today.

By reports, there was a fantastic turnout and a fine time was had by all. Year groups 1975,1979 and 1980 were well represented. Among others, former Vice Principal Patrick White, and former deans Dr. Michael Anthony Lilla and Roland Samuel were in attendance.

Pictures of today’s activities, provided by Old Boy Rajkumar Teelucksingh, have been uploaded to the QRC Facebook Fan Page.

A message from Aaron Doyle of the QRC OBA to all who supported this year’s dinner and celebration:

The Queen’s Royal College Old Boys’ Association wants to thank you for your support.  The event was a huge success and over 350 past students of QRC, young and old, female and male showed up for a night of toasts, jokes and catching up.

Over $100,000.00 was raised for the QRC Endowment Fund.

With a heavy heart I must report that Robin Bhawanie Class of 2002 and C.M. Thomas Class of 1948 were injured in two separate incidents after the event and we wish them both speedy recoveries.

Please forward your photographs of last night’s dinner to OBADinnerPics[at]QRC[dot]edu so that we can share the event with others. Also message me and share your thoughts on what you thought about the event especially you first timers.

All those interested in joining the Old Boy’s Association contact me at 681-7879.

Thank you
Aaron Doyle
Class of 2001

Pictures of last night’s festivities are up on the QRC Facebook Fan Page.

Your 2009 North Zone Coca-Cola Intercol Champs face southern second-best Naparima College in round one of the national knockout competition.

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In 2009, the QRC Old Boys’ Association celebrates 75 years of existence with the annual dinner at the Chaguaramas Convention Centre.

In 2009, the bells of the clock tower sound the hour again, raising the pores of every Old Boy who last heard them ring many years ago while at school.  It is a fact that many young men of more recent vintage have never known the clock to carry the correct time but twice a day, nor heard it sound the quarters and the hour.

In 2009, the Main Block refurbishment project is complete, and it is said Queen Elizabeth II herself may visit the College commissioned in the name of her forebears.

In 2009, members of the QRC Scout Band of the 1980′s reassembled to sound iron and drum and brass, raising the spirits of the young and not so young.

In 2009, young men in QRC’s blue took to the field at the National Stadium and, under the watchful eyes of their fellows, teachers, parents, assembled alumni and myriad other supporters, with heart and determination brought home the North Zone Coca-Cola Intercol title.

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