Ingrid gives her best to BAHS

Ten years ago, a decision was taken to pay tribute each year to former Hilarians who continuously helped the school and association. This year Ingrid Granderson Wooding was chosen for contributing in anyway she could to the needs of the Old Girls Association and the school.

Past president, Shirley Turpin said: “She gives of her time and resources to both and has always maintained an interest in what was going on and so kept abreast of things.”

Lorraine Granderson, music teacher/choir director at BAHS, presented her cousin with a hamper, and thanked her for all the years of service to the school, particularly in the line of printing. “Over the years she has been very generous in printing of tickets and programmes, and also with suggestions for design or any other area in her field. Very often at no charge. And although her daughters have left the school, Ingrid continues to serve the school wherever and whenever she is called upon to do so.”

Ingrid came to Bishop Anstey High School from Tranquillity Girls Intermediate School in January 1956, in the era of English headmistress Christina Sutherland. While at BAHS she joined the Third Port-of-Spain Girl Guides headed by Dorothy and Elsie Creteau and also the St Hilary’s Singing Club — now called the Bishop Anstey High School Senior Choir — under Joyce Spence. As a choir member she participated in the Biennial Music Festivals and in the school’s production of “Toad of Toad Hall” — a musical which was presented at Queen’s Hall. Privately, the musically-inclined youngster, studied the piano up to Grade 7 under Marjorie Padmore and at the same time played the organ at the Moravian Church which she attended.

While still at school, Ingrid did short working stints during the August vacation at Granderson Bros in Belmont – a printery started in 1945 by her father George Granderson. After leaving school she worked there for several months before going into banking, first at Barclays Bank then at Citibank. She married Henley Wooding in 1974, and spent nine years at home looking after their two daughters Eleanne and Christine, both of whom attended Bishop’s. The Woodings also have a son, Benedict.

In 1990 Ingrid returned to the family’s printing business which developed a reputation, by that time and had spread from the confines of Belmont to Port-of-Spain to the far reaches of the Caribbean community. After the death of her father in 1992, the business was restructured, the equipment upgraded, and Wooding appointed manager of the now incorporated limited liability company — a position which she still holds.

Granderson’s, one of the longest established printing firms in the country, remains a well-respected family company, maintaining its presence in the original neighbourhood, giving quality products and service to all of its loyal customers, a large part of which are schools, churches and voluntary organisations.

Ingrid is a member of the All Saints Church Prayer Group, the Life in the Spirit Team and the Anglican Renewal Movement. She continues to play the organ at the Diego Martin United Church, and although her schedule leaves little time for much else, especially enjoys family gatherings.