QRC OBA

On Tuesday 13th July 2010, the Queen’s Royal College Old Boys’ Association hosted a Special Tribute in the Hall of the recently restored Main Block of the College to honour the memory of the late Dr. J. O’Neil ‘Scottie’ Lewis and the late Ralph Leonard Errol Jones, both of whom passed away recently and who had been inducted into the College’s Hall of Honour in 2003 and 2006 respectively. The Special Tribute was attended by a wide cross section of the QRC old boy fraternity, including honorary member of the Association Mr. Patrick White.

The programme included an Opening Prayer by Pastor Dr. Keith Chin Aleong and a series of reflections on the lives of these two men by persons who had either worked with them or known them personally for many years. Former T&T Ambassador Learie Rousseau, Father Clyde Harvey, Mr. Cecil Bernard, President of the Industrial Court of Trinidad and Tobago and Mr. Roger Geoffrey Lewis provided rare and welcome insights into the life of Scottie Lewis, while Stanley Marshall, Nigel Scott of the Trinidad Theatre Workshop and Winston Riley reflected on several aspects of the life of Errol Jones.

The Association acknowledges with thanks all who attended and contributed to a memorable experience, including the inspirational rendering of two musical pieces by Raymond Edwards. One Old Boy of the College, Peter Farmer, was moved to write:

While sitting in the majestic Hall and listening to Mr. Edwards, I could not help but think that it was an experience each child, at the pre secondary level, should have. I thought that, for a child, such an experience may stimulate within the child’s young and impressionable mind, the aspiration of becoming a student of QRC or another well recognized high school and set for himself or herself that goal and desire to succeed.

The Association is appreciative of the fact that this Special Tribute could have spawned such an impression in the heart and mind of this old boy and perhaps in the hearts and minds of the many others who were present. Other Old Boys who had passed on earlier in the year were also recognized during the service; including Ian Charles Alleyne, Michael Arjune, Roger Edward Beckles, Jesse Blackman, Livingston V. Bodden, Dwayne Bryce, Ian Stafford Howe, Ralph Leonard “Errol” Jones, Kenrick Randolph Lewis, James O’Neil “Scottie” Lewis, Victor Selman and Richard Wallace.

The Special Tribute is the inaugural memorial service which the newly installed leadership team of the QRC Old Boys’ Association expects to become an annual event aimed at reinforcing, for the College and wider population, the great heritage of Queen’s Royal College. The current Board of Directors, which has responsibility for the overall management and policy direction of the Association comprises Mr. Deryck Murray (President), Mr. Kenrick Harrinauth (VP Operations), Mr. Patrick Rabathaly (VP Finance), Mr. Larry Olton (VP Development), Mr. Philip Sealy (Secretary), Mr. Hart Edwards (Immediate Past President) and Mr. Justice Rolston Nelson; while the Executive Management team also includes the College Relations Officer (Mr. Ralph Doyle), Communications Officer (Mr. Aaron Doyle), Fund raising and Special Projects Officer (Mr. Roger Berkeley) and Executive Manager of the Association (Mr. Samuel Davis).

All Old Boys of the College to are invited to contact Mr. Samuel Davis at e-mail qrc_sammsd@hotmail.com, phone number (868) 643-3204 and postal address P.O. Box 52, Port of Spain, Trinidad for information or to further assist the efforts of the Old Boys’ Association which are geared to providing support and assistance to the College, students and the wider national community.

Aaron Doyle
Communications Officer
Queen’s Royal College Old Boys’ Association