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DOUGLAS, EVELYN
Her school days were happy days, and she enjoyed it to the fullest. Although there was no Common Entrance Examination at that time, there were “licks like peas” for those who did not measure up to standard in all forms, discipline, reaching late, dirty nails etc. You read the rules on the wall of the School: “Manners Maketh Man,” “Govern Your Temper,” Clean Your Nails,” “Comb Your Hair.”
After leaving Osmond High School, where she obtained a Grade II Senior Cambridge Certificate within three years, she often bothered Fr. Greave/Greene (sp), head of the Catholic School Board in Port of Spain, who used to tell her, “Get away from me, you pack of Adventists.” She smiled and kept on bothering him, until he eventually appointed her to Todd´s Road R.C. School, an old school where she met Mr. Vernon Alexis. She later met Mr. Alexis in Tobago, where he was Principal of Assumption College the Parish Hall, forerunner of St. Joseph´s Convent, Tobago. They always had a good relationship.
At Todd´s Road R.C. they got a new school, which was blessed by Archbishop Finbar Ryan. It was an enjoyable occasion with the whole community. There she made lasting friends with all teachers. Every Friday evening they had a lime at school. For example, Mr. Gobin from Chaguanas would bring roti and rum, as well as other eats and drinks, and the teachers' room would be lined up with fruits, which they all shared. The teachers from San Juan, Arima and other areas were very friendly and co-operative. Her first experience was beautiful and so she came to love teaching more.
She was sent to Brasso R.C. where she met Mr. Millette, the principal from Port of Spain, some teachers from Tabaquite, Rio Claro, Gran Couva, and again they had a good relationship. They all felt very happy. Parents in the countryside showed their appreciation by always bringing the teachers gifts such as fruits, cock for Xmas, eggs etc.
From 1957 to 1958, she went to Catholic Women´s Training College where she worked with Sr. Anna for a while, Sr. Paul from La Brea, and Sr. Mary De Verteuil, who she later met at St. Joseph Convent, Scarborough. The time she spent at the Catholic Women´s Training College were two of the happiest years of her life. The friends she made there remained her very good friends. They met every Divali Day at various points in Trinidad and Tobago, visited different places of interest, and attended special masses at Mt. St. Benedict. Imagine grandmothers, laughing and joking and playing games. They donated things to her for her charitable work.
On a Whitsuntide weekend they rented a house in Plymouth, Tobago. One day at the beach, she met her future husband, George Stewart. Evelyn and George quickly became friends and pen-pals, and soon were married. With jokes “for so,” he quickly became a favourite with all the girls, including Sr. Paul. “Are we getting bené balls this weekend?” they would ask him.
From Training College she was sent to her alma mater, Tabaquite R.C. School, but she did not stay there long, as she got married to George on the 9th August, 1959. Her husband, George was a Community man who was involved with the Scouts, and he travelled with them to Jamborees in Canada and other countries. He was also involved in cricket, football, and the village council. As a church-going man, he took up collection at church regularly.
Evelyn and George had two children, Mary and Ann, but her house was always full of nieces and nephews, and other families and friends would invade her home for holidays.
Along with her husband, Evelyn spent many happy years working hard in order to leave something for their children. “No time to run around,” she told him! “You see the same boat that brought me here it is still running, so it can take me back”. He would only smile; he was un-replaceable.
By September, 1959 she was sent to Patience Hill R.C: by Fr.Greene/Greave(?) to get “Patience” as he said. She met her principal Mr. Lionel Mitchell, whose wife was related to George, her husband, as well as teachers such as Mrs. James, Warner, Edwards, John, the Yorks etc. Once again, she was in good hands. She made friends with all the succeeding principals, teachers, even the cleaner of the school, and her friendship continued to the end of her days. She worked hard as it was her motto. She co-operated, she loved and was given love from the highest to the lowest.
As fate would have it, there was a vacancy at Scarborough R.C., for Vice-Principal, to which no one applied. On the last day to apply, Mr. John London visited them at Patience Hill R.C. and encouraged Evelyn to apply for the post. He waited while she compiled her application, which he submitted directly to the Ministry of Education. At the beginning of the next term, she was surprised to learn that she was installed at Scarborough R.C. as Vice-Principal. Having forgotten her hasty application, she claimed to have “stood in her shoes, and wondered.”
Needless to say she fitted in as she did everywhere. She kept her cool in every situation as she learnt long ago “One must stoop to conquer.”
In Tobago, she got involved in the Girl Guides Association; the Glen Road Community Centre Handicraft Exhibition; the Birthday Club in Rockly Vale; Prayer Group and the Charismatic Community; Readers Meeting at the Scarborough R.C . Church; P.T.A. Bishops High School and Scarborough Secondary and Scarborough Senior Comprehensive (wherever her children or nephews were); and the Retired Teachers Association Secretary.
As a member of the Trinidad Tobago Teachers Union, she travelled with them to many big cities, like New York, Paris, Rome, Miami, countries like Sweden, Norway, Germany, Switzerland and West Indian islands on a yearly basis. She went on church Pilgrimages to Medjugorie, and Venezuela…
She gave it all up when her husband become sick. Evelyn had many joys and sorrows, but the former out-weighed the latter. No opposition, no trials, no tribulation, no pain, no sorrow, you can´t be a disciple of Jesus Christ; when accepted the burdens become light. She lived by Faith, Praise God!
Her school days were happy days, and she enjoyed it to the fullest. Although there was no Common Entrance Examination at that time, there were “licks like peas” for those who did not measure up to standard in all forms, discipline, reaching late, dirty nails etc. You read the rules on the wall of the School: “Manners Maketh Man,” “Govern Your Temper,” Clean Your Nails,” “Comb Your Hair.”
After leaving Osmond High School, where she obtained a Grade II Senior Cambridge Certificate within three years, she often bothered Fr. Greave/Greene (sp), head of the Catholic School Board in Port of Spain, who used to tell her, “Get away from me, you pack of Adventists.” She smiled and kept on bothering him, until he eventually appointed her to Todd´s Road R.C. School, an old school where she met Mr. Vernon Alexis. She later met Mr. Alexis in Tobago, where he was Principal of Assumption College the Parish Hall, forerunner of St. Joseph´s Convent, Tobago. They always had a good relationship.
At Todd´s Road R.C. they got a new school, which was blessed by Archbishop Finbar Ryan. It was an enjoyable occasion with the whole community. There she made lasting friends with all teachers. Every Friday evening they had a lime at school. For example, Mr. Gobin from Chaguanas would bring roti and rum, as well as other eats and drinks, and the teachers' room would be lined up with fruits, which they all shared. The teachers from San Juan, Arima and other areas were very friendly and co-operative. Her first experience was beautiful and so she came to love teaching more.
She was sent to Brasso R.C. where she met Mr. Millette, the principal from Port of Spain, some teachers from Tabaquite, Rio Claro, Gran Couva, and again they had a good relationship. They all felt very happy. Parents in the countryside showed their appreciation by always bringing the teachers gifts such as fruits, cock for Xmas, eggs etc.
From 1957 to 1958, she went to Catholic Women´s Training College where she worked with Sr. Anna for a while, Sr. Paul from La Brea, and Sr. Mary De Verteuil, who she later met at St. Joseph Convent, Scarborough. The time she spent at the Catholic Women´s Training College were two of the happiest years of her life. The friends she made there remained her very good friends. They met every Divali Day at various points in Trinidad and Tobago, visited different places of interest, and attended special masses at Mt. St. Benedict. Imagine grandmothers, laughing and joking and playing games. They donated things to her for her charitable work.
On a Whitsuntide weekend they rented a house in Plymouth, Tobago. One day at the beach, she met her future husband, George Stewart. Evelyn and George quickly became friends and pen-pals, and soon were married. With jokes “for so,” he quickly became a favourite with all the girls, including Sr. Paul. “Are we getting bené balls this weekend?” they would ask him.
From Training College she was sent to her alma mater, Tabaquite R.C. School, but she did not stay there long, as she got married to George on the 9th August, 1959. Her husband, George was a Community man who was involved with the Scouts, and he travelled with them to Jamborees in Canada and other countries. He was also involved in cricket, football, and the village council. As a church-going man, he took up collection at church regularly.
Evelyn and George had two children, Mary and Ann, but her house was always full of nieces and nephews, and other families and friends would invade her home for holidays.
Along with her husband, Evelyn spent many happy years working hard in order to leave something for their children. “No time to run around,” she told him! “You see the same boat that brought me here it is still running, so it can take me back”. He would only smile; he was un-replaceable.
By September, 1959 she was sent to Patience Hill R.C: by Fr.Greene/Greave(?) to get “Patience” as he said. She met her principal Mr. Lionel Mitchell, whose wife was related to George, her husband, as well as teachers such as Mrs. James, Warner, Edwards, John, the Yorks etc. Once again, she was in good hands. She made friends with all the succeeding principals, teachers, even the cleaner of the school, and her friendship continued to the end of her days. She worked hard as it was her motto. She co-operated, she loved and was given love from the highest to the lowest.
As fate would have it, there was a vacancy at Scarborough R.C., for Vice-Principal, to which no one applied. On the last day to apply, Mr. John London visited them at Patience Hill R.C. and encouraged Evelyn to apply for the post. He waited while she compiled her application, which he submitted directly to the Ministry of Education. At the beginning of the next term, she was surprised to learn that she was installed at Scarborough R.C. as Vice-Principal. Having forgotten her hasty application, she claimed to have “stood in her shoes, and wondered.”
Needless to say she fitted in as she did everywhere. She kept her cool in every situation as she learnt long ago “One must stoop to conquer.”
In Tobago, she got involved in the Girl Guides Association; the Glen Road Community Centre Handicraft Exhibition; the Birthday Club in Rockly Vale; Prayer Group and the Charismatic Community; Readers Meeting at the Scarborough R.C . Church; P.T.A. Bishops High School and Scarborough Secondary and Scarborough Senior Comprehensive (wherever her children or nephews were); and the Retired Teachers Association Secretary.
As a member of the Trinidad Tobago Teachers Union, she travelled with them to many big cities, like New York, Paris, Rome, Miami, countries like Sweden, Norway, Germany, Switzerland and West Indian islands on a yearly basis. She went on church Pilgrimages to Medjugorie, and Venezuela…
She gave it all up when her husband become sick. Evelyn had many joys and sorrows, but the former out-weighed the latter. No opposition, no trials, no tribulation, no pain, no sorrow, you can´t be a disciple of Jesus Christ; when accepted the burdens become light. She lived by Faith, Praise God!