Cadets launch books celebrating 100 years

On July 20, the CIC and QRC Cadet Centennial Committee invited the media and special guests to the book launch of Celebrating 100 years of Cadets at Queen’s Royal College and St Mary’s College in the QRC Hall, Maraval Road, St Clair, followed by a reception. The centennial celebration had however already started with an Inter-Faith Church Service at St Mary’s College Chapel and a Reunion Reception in St Mary’s College Centenary Hall.

A book that was two years in the making as individuals, such as, Professor Ian Isidore Smart, Bukka Rennie, Dr Efebo Wilkinson, Lt Col Norris Baden Semper, Nestor Lambert, Cumberbatch, Frank Abdulah, Carol Anne Agard, Raoul Pantin, James Andrews, Dr Wallace Williams and Col Edison Isaac undertook the long and arduous task of editing and proofreading the collection of personal recollections by former cadets from both QRC and CIC, of 100 years of Cadet History in this country.

The book has been finally published by the Joint Committee, supported by The Queen’s Royal College Old Boys’ Association and The St Mary’s College Past Students’ Union, in what is a most beautiful glossy coffee table book with pictures of the two colleges side by side on the cover. Tribute was paid to the late Richard Joseph, a member of the Joint Centennial Committee 2010, who passed away before completion of this most interesting book.

Several former cadets of the two colleges have contributed in many ways but it is really the brainchild of a former St Mary’s Cadet, Nicholas Cumberbatch, Co-ordinating Editor, and Secretary of the QRC and CIC Cadet Centennial Committee, 2010. Cumberbatch left Trinidad to attend university in Winnipeg, Canada, in 1968, and did not return, as he says “regrettably not even for a visit for 37 years…..

“As I settled in, I reflected on things that were familiar to me before I went abroad like the Trinidad and Tobago Cadet Force (TTCF). This organisation had a significant influence on my life. While at St Mary’s College, I was a member of the Cadet Force from 1959 until I left in 1965 at the rank of Sergeant Major. Thereafter I served as an Adult Warrant Officer while employed as a teacher at Belmont Intermediate School.”

The book comprises profiles of former cadets, such as, Archbishop Joseph Everard Harris, retred Anglican Bishop Clive Orminston Abdulah, Col Edison Isaac (Master of Ceremonies at the book launch), Commodore Anthony Franklin TTDF (ret), Brigadier Joseph Theodore TTDF (ret), and Lt Col Kenneth Gittens, HBM and Lt Col Hugh Walke HBM both deceased; decorated military jet pilot and physician with 45 years experience in aviation medicine, Dr Stephen Blizzard, who lives in Ottawa; Percy “Bertie” Farrell, who at QRC, not only served for three to four years in the Cadet Corps but found time to play all sports, major in athletics - 440 and 880 yards, 1 mile, highjump and boxing, and was Troop Leader of the QRC Sea Souts - 32nd Trinidad.

It is impossible to mention the scores of contributors but among them from QRC are Frank Abdulah’s journey from Cadet to Diplomat; Grace Talma’s memories of her late brother Edwy Talma, Wilbur Walrond’s reflections on the late Stephenson (Junior) Sergeant; a former Mayor of Port of Spain, Justice Selwyn Reginald Romilly, one of the youngest judges appointed to the Provincial Court of British Columbia and the first black appointed to any court in BC and the second appointed to any court in Canada; Senator Elton Prescott “From QRC to the Senate”; and one of the foremost Carnival artists of the Caribbean, QRC old boy/cadet Peter Minshall’s “Soldier Boy.”

In the book, Horace Grannum, retired from the Trinidad and Tobago Defence Force with the rank of Major, a member of Cadet Unit at Tranquillity Intermediate School, and one of the first four officers from the Cadet Force to have been recruited locally into the Trinidad and Tobago Regiment, gives a brief history on the contributions made by former members of the Cadet Force on the formation of the Trinidad and Tobago Regiment, formally established about 50 years ago. The ‘pioneers’ will include all officers who were enlisted from the inception of the Regiment and continuing for the first nine months of its formation.

On attaining varying ranks as Commissioned Officers, the 16 pioneers posted to the 1st Battalion, The Trinidad and Tobago Regiment, are Major J.C.H. Serette, 2nd Lieutenants David Dopwell, Norris Baden Semper, D Whiskey, J. Spencer, C.A. Buxo and Ralph. Brown; Lieutenants Edward.Halfhide, George. Goddard, Grannum, Irwin Faustin; Captains A.C ‘Ming’.Johnson, Desmond Luke, Henry Christopher and Ken Mc Comie; and Major S.Edwards.

When one reads the heights to which these former cadets have risen. Cumberbatch makes it clear that “the message is not only about involvement in Cadets but their profiles show that scouts sports and other extra curricular involvement have helped them in their lives as grown men.” The book is available at R.I.K. and Nigel Khan Bookstores at a cost of $250.