The Alleyne School in St Andrew remembered one of its brightest and fastest with a memorial send off for the fallen Ronald ‘Concorde’ Thorne minutes before the start of inter house sports at the Isolation Ground.
Thorne who died of a heart attack in the United States last week was the victor Ludorum at the Alleyne School in 1988 and 1989 where he represented Haynes (Red) House. Thorne also captured the national sportsperson award in 1989 before gaining an athletic scholarship to the University of Miami in 1991.
In paying tribute to Thorne, another one of the Alleyne’s illustrious alumni, Monsignor Vincent Blackett remembered himi as an outstanding sportsman who should be highlighted for younger persons to seek to emulate. One of Thorne’s earlier mentors and favourite teacher Margaret Trotman was almost in tears after she received a portrait of her former student and house star from Monsignoir Vincent as well as Beverley Bovell.
Thirty-nine students then released 39 red balloons to symbolize Thorne’s age at death as well as the colour of the house that he had represented so successfully. A memorial display was mounted in the Dale Richards Pavilion where highlights of Thorne’s career were shown.
Thorne was inducted into the Miami University Hall Of Fame in 2006.
