Combermere School Old Scholars Association U. K.(C. S. O. S. A. U. K.) |
'Combermere School is one of the oldest academic institutions
in the Commonwealth. It's roots go back as far as the 17th
century when public education had not yet become the norm even in
Great Britain itself.' - from Combermere School and the Barbadian
Society.
Combermere School started its life in 1695 as the a Free School
as a result of an endowment of £2000 from the will of Colonel
Henry Drax. It was built on Constitution Hill and was known as
the Drax Parish School, the Colonial Charity School, the
Parochial Charity School, the Free School, the Boys' Central
School and then finally in 1880, Combermere School.
The name….
In 1133, Benedictine monks founded Combermere Abbey in Cheshire,
England. This establishment flourished for over 400 years until
King Henry VII turned out the Benedictines from Combermere Abbey
in the 1540's. Shortly after, the Abbey became the Seat of Sir
George Cotton KT, Vice Chamberlain to the household of Prince
Edward, son of Henry VIII.
On becoming a peer in 1814, Sir Stapleton Cotton, a descendent of
Sir George Cotton, took the title 'Lord Combermere' and in 1817,
Sir Stapleton Cotton became the Governor of Barbados. Sir
Stapleton Cotton became the patron of the Society for The
Promotion of Christian Knowledge, and in 1819, he was the moving
spirit behind the raising of £22,630 to erect a building and
reorganise the old Free School, into the Boy's Central School.
In 1879, the Boy's Central School was reorganised and
reconstituted as a second grade school. One year later, in 1880,
the Boy's Central School was renamed Combermere School in honour
of Lord Combermere its benefactor.
The influences....
One of the greatest influences on Combermere was Major Cecil Noot
who became Headmaster in 1946. His greatest legacy being the
creation of the sixth form for A Level studies, previously only
available at the three first grade schools, Harrison College, The
Lodge and Queens College who catered almost exclusively to the
white elite. This change was only sanctioned after much
opposition and saw the beginning of the end of the traditional
distinction between first and second grade schools in Barbados.
Combermere School went on to win its first Barbados Scholarship
in 1967.
The Old Scholars Associations………
In 1973 the Combermere School Old Boy's Association was revived
by Ezra Alleyne, George Belgrave, Wendell McLean, Glyne Murray
and others. It had initially replaced the Combermere Mutual
Improvement Association in 1934. It became almost defunct in the
late 1960's even though the U.S. branch of the association held a
celebration at the school to mark its 150th anniversary in 1969.
In 1977, acknowledging the school's educational status, the CSOBA
gave way to the Combermere School Old Scholars' Association which
has developed into one of the most dynamic of all such groups of
alumni in Barbados during the past decade. The US Alumni
Celebrate their 50th Anniversary in May 1998, and the UK Alumni,
the youngest Alumni celebrate our 1st Anniversary in April 1998.
Firsts…….
The Combermere Scout troop is the oldest in Barbados and
celebrated its 50th Anniversary in 1962. In 1975 Combermere
School became the first Grammar School in Barbados to become
fully co-educational.
Lives were in the making there…….
Bishop Wilfred Wood, Dean Harold Critchlow, David Thompson former leader of the opposition in Barbados, Karl Broodhagen
taught there since 1949,Musicians Arturo Tappin, Carolann Scantlebury, Terencia
Coward, MADD; Cricketers include: Frank Worrell, Denis
Atkinson, Eric Atkinson, Wesley Hall, ELG Hoad, Patrick Lashley,
George Carew, Mannie Martindale, Rawle Branker, Derek Sealey,
Peter Lashley; Ricky Elcock; Roland Holder; Athletes include: Ralph Holder, Harcourt Wason;
Authors: Frank Collymore and George Lamming.
The flame continues to glow brightly ever.
The C.S.O.S.A.U.K was founded on April 5th 1997, at the Barbados High Commission in London. Currently our membership database is 130 strong and growing. In 1997 we sent accessories for musical instruments to the school, along with the books requested by the school.
Subscription rates are £30 for ordinary members and £15 for retired members and associate members.
Our Objectives include: · Provision of books for Combermere School · Provision of extra curricular items for Combermere School, · Computer Lab assistance, · Providing assistance for Combermerians studying in the U.K which will mainly take the form of information provision, · Producing a regular Newsletter, · Having an AGM as defined by the Constitution, and General Meetings as and when necessary. Complete the membership form here and the subscription form here.
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THE ANTHEM OF THE ASSOCIATION Lives are in the making here Hearts are in the waking here Mighty undertaking here Up and on, up and on. We are arming for the fight Pressing on with all our might Pluming wings for higher flight Up and on, up and on. Chorus Up then! Truest fame lies in high endeavour Play the game, keep the flame burning brightly ever (repeat). Fair before us lies the way Time for work and time for play Fill the measure while we may Up and on, up and on. Life and time will not delay Time is running fast away Life is now - today, today Up and on, up and on. Foes in plenty we shall meet Hearts courageous scorn defeat So we press with eager feet Up and on, up and on. Ever upward to the fight Ever upward to the light Ever true to God and Right Up and on, up and on.
President - Kristina Hinds
Vice President - Vincent Nurse
Secretary - Jonathan Brathwaite
Treasurer - Wesley Weekes
Public Relations Officer - Verona
Sandiford-Murray
Floor Member - Cecil Blackman
Annual General Meeting - held in the Council Chambers of Camden town Hall in April 1998.
Debate entitled Cricket the Year 2000 and Beyond. Panel consisted of Gladstone Small, Hugo Inniss, Vincent Nurse and moderator was Jim Birkett.
The Association participated in the BBC Black Workers Group Annual Softball Tournament and combined with the BBC Mentees won the tournament. Teams participating were the Black Lawyers Association, The London Nigerian Rugby Team. There was a fundraising raffle and all proceeds were donated to the African Caribbean Leukemia Trust in aid of the Daniel Degale bone marrow campaign.
The Annual Dinner and Ball this year was held on Saturday, December 5th at the Kensington Posthouse. Our Guest Speaker was Mr Charles Pilgrim, a former headmaster of Combermere School. Tickets were £35.00 for members and £40.00 for non-members.
Annual General Meeting - held at the Barbados High Commission April 1999.
The Annual Dinner and Ball this year was held on Saturday, December 5th at the Tavistock hotel. Our Guest Speaker was Mr. Patrick Babb a former Student of Combermere School and Virgin Airways pilot.
Annual General Meeting - held at the Barbados High Commission April 2000.
The Association participated in the London Nigerian Rugby Club Fun day at the Lindford Christie Stadium, and hosted the Combermere School Hockey Teams participation in the event.
The Annual Dinner and Ball this year will be on Saturday, November 18th at the Tavistock Hotel. Tickets were £35.00 for members and £40.00 for non-members. Our Guest Speaker was the Honorable Noel Lynch.
The Annual Dinner and Ball was held on Saturday, December 13th at the Tavistock Hotel. Tickets were £35.00 for members and £40.00 for non-members.
In attendance were Lady Combermere (Jill) descendent of Sir Stapleton Cotton and her son Tom Viscount Combermere; Major Noot's son David and his wife.
Our guest speaker was Edwin Pollard OBE - former Combermerian and now High Commissioner for Barbados in London.
Sponsors were -
Cockspur Rum
Mountgay
BIDC
Barbados Tourism Authority
BWIA
Dees Imports
Courts
The CSOSAUK AGM was held on 3rd April 2003 in the Conference Room at the Barbados High Commission.
Quiz Time was held in June.
We hosted the Combermerian delegation to the International Youth Science Forum in August
CSOSAUK Annual Dinner and Ball
- was held on Saturday 23rd
October 2004, Studio Suite, London Hilton Kensington Forum Hotel - Tickets £45
members £50 non-members. Guest Speaker was Colonel H. Deighton Maynard S.C.M;
E.D. Photos from the evening can be viewed here.
Capital Life Photos provided photographic services and all photographs can be
purchased through them from http://www.capitallifephotography.co.uk/events.php.
£102 donated to School Sports Department
£250 donated to the Combermere School Hockey Team
26th February - Social featuring viewing of Colours of Combermere 5 and 10 minute interviews. Entry £2
The CSOSAUK AGM will be held on April 30th at 16:00, at the Barbados High Commission, 1 Great Russell Street, London WC1
May - Family day out and historical tour of Combermere Abbey
CSOSAUK Annual Dinner and Ball - will be held on Saturday 22nd October 2005, Studio Suite, London Hilton Kensington Forum Hotel - Tickets £45 members £50 non-members. Guest Speaker John Holder.
Now, send an email message so we can forward your subscription and membership forms for completion.
Do you know any of these people? Where are they? What are they doing now? Who are they?
Courts Plc
Barbados Investment and Development Corporation
Barbados Tourism Authority
British West Indies Airways Limited
Dees Imports
Mountgay Rum
Cockspur Rum
Bajan Spice
Sackville Travel
Chez Liline
TV HiFi Studio
Endfield Sound & Vision
Black Parents in Education
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copyright
© Verona Sandiford-Murray 1998
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