Kenneth Anthony Gayle: The last of the KC Old Guards
Kenneth Anthony Gayle's Program
By Basil Waite
There has always been a heated debate bordering on friendly rivalry between AD Scott and Kenneth Anthony Gayle as to who was the first of the 49 boys to arrive at Kingston College on that historic Friday morn` of April 17, 1925. It is said that every time that the two lifelong friends ’buck up’ both claimed ‘a me first’. This came to a head during the school’s celebration of its 75th anniversary. On Founders Day, April16, 2000,
Old Boys from all over the world congregated at St. Augustine’s Chapel to witness the launch of Senator Johnson book, The History of Kingston College 1925-1995. Much to Gayle’s chagrin AD Scott was asked to stand up at which time it was announced to standing ovation that he was the oldest ‘Old Boy ‘ alive and to add insult to injury an excerpt from the Senator’s seminal work read thus: Legend says that Ainsworth D. Scott, 13 years old, and of fine frame, was dropped off by his dad before 7am, and promptly fell asleep at the rear of the premises.
It is only a few weeks ago, February 13, 2008 that Kenneth Anthony Gayle passed away at the age of 95. For the first time at the Service of Thanksgiving for the Life of Kenneth Anthony Gayle held on Tuesday, February 26 at the Church of St Margaret’s, Liguanea, it was revealed by the leader of the Hamilton Lodge, of which Gayle was an ardent member of 53 years, that he was the last and prior to his death the oldest surviving member of that 1st batch of intake students when KC opened for class on April 17,1925.
Senator Johnson was amongst the congregation. No doubt he must have taken note of this new revelation for the upcoming update of his KC history book. Many KC old boys including those of the KC Lodge of which Gayle was a founding member in 1992 together with friends and family members, all turned out to pay their last respect. All four of his children, three girls and one boy, shared reminisces of their father. For Dian her dad ‘was my rock and my anchor’; his son KCOB Probyn “Bunny” referred to his father as’ firm and uncompromising to a fault ‘; Michelle said her dad was an excellent communicator, loved life and enjoyed it to the fullest and for Elizabeth she always reminded her children that ‘you cannot chose your parents but you can choose relationship’.
Both Kenneth and his elder brother Ivan were sons of rural teachers and amongst the first batch of 54 boys who registered for class at KC, which commenced Friday, April 17, 1925. They represented the school at cricket and football and attended the Jamaica School of Agriculture where a third brother was to become principal. Ken joined the Civil Service and became the chief livestock officer as well as served with distinction in the Ministry of Agriculture’s Soil Conservation Branch.
At the end of the Thanksgiving Service we all gathered under a tent for refreshments. KCOB professor John Hall informed that 92-year-old Chester Burgess was now the oldest living KC Old Boy. The debate however still raged as who was the first at KC on the Friday morn of 1925. One Old Boy said it may have been Gayle and perhaps poetic justice is been played out a when he recited the proverb The first shall be the last.
Both Kenneth and his elder brother Ivan were sons of rural teachers and amongst the first batch of 54 boys who registered for class at KC, which commenced Friday, April 17, 1925. They represented the school at cricket and football and attended the Jamaica School of Agriculture where a third brother was to become principal. Ken joined the Civil Service and became the chief livestock officer as well as served with distinction in the Ministry of Agriculture’s Soil Conservation Branch.