This list is not meant to create controversy or to generate endless letters to the editor of this newsletter stating disagreements with my choices; rather it is meant to stir lively conversation and debate among old boys and others who think about these things and to those who cherish the Fortis history.
In his remarkable book the History of Kingston College, historian Anthony Johnson wrote that KC’s Golden Run Period lasted from 1949 to1975. I left school in 1976 (and actually taught there until ’77) so I can say that I experienced the latter part of the Golden Run. My sceptics will claim, unfairly of course, that people like me were responsible for the end of the Golden Run. That’s a little like blaming a few Englishmen for the fall of the British Empire.
My list is simply about the most outstanding personalities at KC during the 70s. And it’s only my opinion. For most categories I tried to name only one person but for some I had to name two or three persons simply because it was difficult or impossible to determine who the best of several outstanding individuals was.
One of my friends suggested that I needed a category entitled, ‘The sexiest female teacher at KC’. First of all I pointed out to him that the word female in that category would be a redundancy and then I argued that a reputable newsletter like this ran the risk of being labelled sexist by our many female readers if I included such a category. However, if the truth be told, as youngsters at KC in the 1970s, we often pontificated on this category while sitting under the Lignum vitae trees on campus. No doubt Douglas Forrest, principal until 1973, thought of this category too. Many of us have heard the true story of the young female teacher who fresh out of university applied for a teaching position at KC. At the interview she impressed Mr. Forrest with her qualifications, vast knowledge and pedagogical skills. After what she thought was a very successful interview she returned home anticipating that he would call her to offer her the job. When the call did not materialize she called Mr. Forrest who calmly informed her that despite her impressive qualifications, vast knowledge and pedagogical skills he could not offer her the job because she was far too sexy for his KC boys, who by inference would thus learn nothing under her tutelage.
Concerning the category of ‘Most Politically Aware’, I recall that on the day after the General Elections in 1976 (I was a teacher then) I was approached by a well known 4th form student who fell in step beside me as I walked to the canteen. He was one of those students from the inner- city with whom I had many discussions over the years. As he fell in step he asked, “Mr Laz, yu vote yesterday?” “No” I replied. “Well,” he said holding out his red index finger, “Mi vote – five time!” After a few seconds, he was apparently waiting for it to sink in, he continued, “Everybady pon fi mi street vote – nuff time!” I was amazed at his honesty and candour and could not help but feel a bit guilty that I, nearly nineteen, had not bothered to get enumerated and to vote, while this mere boy not only voted, but did so five times. As he walked away he said, “Wi afi mek sure sey fi wi man get iin, otherwise dawg nyam wi supper.” Maybe I should include him in my last category.
Now to the List:
Best Students Academically – Carlos Escoffery; Stephen Vasciannie
Best Female Teachers – Joyce Baxter; Opal Branche
Best Male Teachers – Vin McKie; QC Edwards; Peter Maxwell
Best Footballer – Howard Bell
Best Cricketer – Michael Holding
Best Athlete – Trevor ‘TC’ Campbell
Best Swimmer – Partick Chang
Best TT Player – Richard Stephenson
Best Basketballer – Donald Turner; Dennis ‘Cranky’ Thompson
Best Chess Player – Neil Fairclough
Best Lawn Tennis Player – Noel Williams
Most Outstanding Schools Challenge Quiz Team Member – Orrett Campbell
Best Hockey Player – Garth Anderson
Best Musician – Harold Butler
Best Coaches – Frances Coke; Jimmy Richards; Howard Aris; George Thompson
Most Influential Old Boys on Campus – Wally Johnson; Gladwyn Kiddoe; Peter Maxwell
Best Kept Afro – Charles Lodenquai; Franklyn Eaton
Most Politically Aware – Vivian ‘Vivo’ Brown; Maurice ‘X’ Weir; Delano Franklyn; student who told me that he voted five times in the General Elections?
