Alleyne scholars ‘live the motto’

The Bay Street Esplanade experienced more than its customary public holiday activities as the Alleyne School Alumni Association set up a booth to promote and sell paraphernalia and tickets associated with the 2010 reunion Living Our Motto, which started last Sunday and ends this Sunday.Former students from the overseas chapters in England, Canada and the United States, as well as those in Barbados, were arriving and departing with treasured shirts, pens, pins, badges, lanyards, wristbands, school calendars or anniversary magazines.Secretary-treasurer Frederick Watson and PRO Kathy Harper-Hall were kept busy as many vintage old scholars and some more modern models proudly turned up to register for some of the activities being held this week. Among those persons were former primary school principal Calvin Briggs along with Earl Watson and the husband and wife duo of Oliver and Cleopatra Spencer who are from the overseas chapters.Oliver indicated that he and his wife graduated in 1956 and they spent many years in England.Nurse practitioner Marcia Edwards, who is studying for a doctorate in Education in the United States,said that she left the Alleyne at 14 years in fifth form to live in the United Kingdom. She moved to Bermuda before living and teaching in the United States. Both Harper-Hall and Watson stated that the response was excellent to the grand reunion which is held every five years in Barbados. Last year’s reunion was held in Canada and the 2012 reunion will be held in England.“Our meeting on Thursday will determine who out of Canada and the US hold the 2013 and 2014 reunions before the next grand reunion in Barbados in 2015,” Harper-Hall explained.The week started on Sunday with a church service at the Western Light Tabernacle in Oxnards, where past student Lionel Gibson is the pastor. Old scholars Joel Cumberbatch and Monsignor Harcourt Blackett conducted some of the church service.Today the four chapters will meet, and a panel discussion will be held at the Public Workers’ Cooperative Credit Union auditorium, Belmont Road, on the topic Entrepreneurship – Gateway To Economic Freedom.A fun day will be held at the school tomorrow while an awards ceremony and dinner will be held at Barbados Hilton on Saturday night. The week climaxes on Sunday with a 10 p.m. to 2 a.m. cruise on the MV Harbour Master.