Before my visit to Jamaica for a family wedding, I had heard that Oliver - I always call him by his middle name as did most of his relatives - was very ill in a bad way. He was supine in bed and had to be spoon-fed. So, I was glad to see him sitting up at the dinner table eating his lunch of a fricasseed chicken leg, rice and peas and veggies! But, those eyes: just staring and not showing a glimmer of recognition!
Eldon “Shrubs” Forrest and I had visited Oliver at his home in Hope Pastures. We chatted incessantly. and I was deeply sad to see him staring at us with those big, sunken eyes, not saying a word. His nurse, one of two who provided round-the-clock help, assured us that he was aware of our presence and, eventually, recognized us. Indeed, before we left, he signaled to her for us to leave our names, addresses and phone numbers!
When not resting in bed, Oliver sat in a wheelchair watching TV, etc. He enjoyed watching all the sports news. So, it was a shock to me to see this once super all-round athlete so immobilized, inarticulate and helpless!
Although I had been in touch with his beloved niece, Michelle Aquart, daughter of his older brother, Sydney - another KCOB – when I returned to JA in early June, 2008 for another family wedding and was about to arrange a time to visit, the news came over the radio: Oliver had died on Tuesday, July 8, 2008, just two days before my scheduled flight back to Toronto!
You can imagine my feelings of shock, disappointment and a sense of guilt on hearing that tragic news!
Another chapter in the 83 years history of Kingston College had come to a close!
During my return flight to Toronto, my mind was tumbling over recollections of Oliver. Here are some random thoughts about me and George Oliver Thompson:--
Oliver and I sat beside each other from Form 3B to Form 5B and, if my memory serves me right, part of Form 6B, from 1948 to 1951. I started in Form 2C. He was not the brightest student, nor the dullest- just in the middle group. He was usually quiet during class time, but was in the thick of things during break times and group chatter and shenanigans.
My recollections centers around our days in Form 5B onwards
Whilst in Forms 2C to 4B, I, being the dutiful eldest son at home - my older brother had been sent back to China: the War stopped me joining him - usually hurried home after whatever P.T. and extra activities assigned to me. I had to earn my B.S.C (behind shop counter) degree, OR else…
Oliver took to all the sports, like a duck to water. He was showing wonderful hand and eye coordination. (I didn’t know then that that was what the natural ability of his was called.) And he was one hard-working and persistent athlete. I used to watch him train and practice, particularly at the high hurdles with his good friend, Keith Young (see photo). He was a more natural and fluent athlete. I considered Oliver to be a “made” athlete. They continued their training long after the Champs squad had left. Christie, our affable groundsman, once remarked to me, “Dem can really practice so hard. Dem gwine do very well.” – So true!
One incident in Form 2C has stuck in my mind: This character, little Eddie (?) Shoucair, challenging anyone to do what he did, viz, spreading out the fingers of his left hand on the desk then with a compass in his right hand, rapidly stabbing between all fingers, back and forth, without sticking himself! Those who tried to emulate him suffered many a wince and bloody pricks!
The core members of Form 5B had bonded over the years from Form 3B. If I could only recall them when the register was called at the beginning of classes –ATTERBURY, Karl, BINGHAM, Donald, BROWN, Robert, BRONSTORPH, Michael, CAMERON, Ian, DALEY, Dennis, DePASS, Desmond, DePASS, Donovan, FRASER, Felix, GAUNTLETT, Robert, HAY, Owen, HENRY, Robert, HOO, Everard, KIRKPATRICK, Alan, LASHLEY, Cliff, LYNCH, Henry, McDOWELL, Owen, McMORRIS, Easton, MAIR, Raymond, MOO, Charles, MURDOCH, Mickey, PARCHMENT, Keith, PENGELLY, Ian, POCOCK, Densham, REECE, Keith, REID, Arthur, SAUNDERS, Ronald, SCOTT, Arthur, THOMPSON, George, WALTERS, Jerome, WATSON, Melvin, WHITE, Oscar, WONG, Levy….I hope I haven’t forgot anyone of that group. …After some fifty years plus, the memory gets a touch of BIG MISTER “A”!
The most loquacious – and very humorous – of this motley crew was Maxie Johnson (older brother of Wally Johnson, recently ex- Headmaster.) Indeed, it was Maxie who suggested we call ourselves, “The Commonwealth”
Whilst individual classmates aspired and excelled in their own field of endeavour at track and field, cricket, football, tennis, swimming, the Arts and Drama, Physics, Literature, “The Commonwealth” stuck together as a group. At the end of each term, we socialized. Once, Oliver had a party at his home on Richmond Park Ave.—I can’t recall how I reached there: it must have been by my bicycle from Passmore Town. I know Levy Wong rode all the way from West Street in downtown Kingston.
But in anticipation of this party, those of us who couldn’t dance including myself, wanted to learn. So Maxie Johnson got his comely sister, Avril, to give us a few pointers at their home on Connolley Road (not too far from Wolmer’s) --- She told us to use a broomstick as a partner and to move to the music, “Mambo Jambo” whilst turning your ankles/feet to the rhythm! – Now that I have become a fairly good dancer, thanks to my wife and her sisters, I can see how ludicrous Avril’s exercises were!
Avril later got married to Easton Bull McMorris.
At most end of term, many members of “The Commonwealth” journeyed by bicycles or by bus to Hope Gardens. It was more of a picnic:- games, lunch, “shooting the breeze “ One time, we went up to Kintyre and down to the Hope River. There we saw folks washing their clothes. Some young lassies were topless… Oliver, turned to us and said, “Those are real tit tits!” Our laughter could be heard all the way down to Papine!
In hindsight, I think “The Commonwealth” had got a little cocky when they challenged the School to a football game, the Manning Squad versus “The Commonwealth”---but the match did play. “The Commonwealth” won – The exact score, I can’t recall.….Who the members of “The Commonwealth” team were I cannot remember --But Owen Hay, goalkeeper, and Maxie Johnson as backup kept the School at bay!
There was one incident that, on retrospect, was a blot on “The Commonwealth.” – De College had a practice where senior prefects (Sixth Formers) escorted each form to the Chapel every morning. Assigned as our escorts were Eldon”Shrubs” Forrest and Manhertz – his younger brother later was a champion athlete.- That morning, I don’t know what triggered it, but an argument developed. Manhertz was more authoritative, Shrubs, laid back. We physically bumped Manhertz! But the incident was not reported to Priest (the headmaster).
Oliver had a scrap book of pictures of the star athletes of the period gleaned mainly from the popular English magazine, “World Sports.” – just like I used to collect pictures of the movie stars from, “Photoplay.”— He was so proud of his collection. Now I wonder if those athletes may have inspired him.
In 1952, when I realized that I didn’t have the motivation to continue on to university, and my younger brothers were waiting to go to high school, I left De Collage: my parents could not afford for all us to be in high school at the same time.—My brother, Eric, went to Calabar, where he was a star centre forward on their football team..
Our younger brother, Andrew, was the leading goal scorer on our champion Manning and Oliver Shield team of 1957. He also played Sunlight cricket when he was a Colts short-pants player like his good friend, Merrick Miller.
I went on to work for the Govt Lands Department, then on to Barclays Bank, Jamaica Citizens Bank, Island Life Insurance Company, and in Canada, Manulife Insurance Company.
But Oliver stuck with his football all his life! -Typical of this great, quiet man, constant and consistent. He launched many a career, changed many a life without any expectations of reward – just the satisfaction that he had helped another brother! –Oliver, you are de man!
Everard Hoo attended KC from 1947 to 1952. He now resides in Ajax, Ontario. He is one of the editors (and a trustee) of the monthly newsletter www.chinesejamaican.com.
