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... in each of the last one hundred years a high-school track and field summit has convened in Kingston ... it's known simply as "Champs", where hype and bluster can rival a hot stage-show or political rally ... the inaugural event was held in 1910 and Wolmer's Boys' School became the first victors ...
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... "age quod agis" reads the inevitable latin school motto emblazoned on the official crest ... it translates to motivate students as "whatever you do, do it well" ...
... props to Bretski for the cris' commemorative artwork ...
... proudly represented by the colours maroon and gold, Wolmer's is a venerable institution ... the oldest high-school in the Caribbean, in fact ... it has served up a roll call of stellar past-students from former Governor General Sir Florizel Glasspole and former Prime Minister Edward Seaga to sporting greats (Jeff Dujon, Ricardo "Bibi" Gardner) and entertainment stars (Belafonte, Sean Paul) ...
... for this history-rich school the latest triumph ranks alongside the 1971 triple-winning footballers who swept all before them ... immortalising themselves in time ... and in the imaginations of all such as I who bore witness ...
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... Wolmer's cannot claim Bolt as an alumnus ... but Julian Forte and Dwayne Extol made names for themselves last week in the cauldron of competition ... the Jamaican sprint factory is in full production, the secret is out, Jamaicans run faaas' ...
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... wins such as these are inspirational to young minds and mi glad bag bus' to the pulse of Wolmerian pride, home an' abroad ... like me, most readers here weren't born when Wolmer's last won Champs in 1956 ... and during the years I attended, '69-'75 if you must know, the victories didn't come in bunches ...
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... both my parents went to Wolmer's, my mother having been schooled on the female side of the actual fence ... my father, the late Dr. John L. Williams, served in the early seventies as President of the Wolmer's Old Boy's Association ... as a student he was said to have been a wily footballer halted only by knee injury and he led a strong Wolmer's Cricket side as skipper ... my thoughts went to him as I know he would have felt his chest fill up and his head swell like the rest of us ...
... it is fairly safe to say the good doctor would not have phrased it quite this way but I can't resist ... ... Wolmaz mi seh!!
Nice article to big us up.
ReplyDeletePls tell me more about your father so I can feature him among our Alumni on our web site for 'all-things-wolmers'
I will also put a link to this article among the Media releases.
John W. '29
http://www.wolmers.info
(Best viewed in Firefox, Chrome or Safari)
Thanks ... and feel free to link up ... I'll gather some info for you ...
ReplyDeleteMy brother reminded me that he ran at Champs the last time Wolmers won. I therefore know I was there, albeit concentrating on Calabar because of my brother as well as someone else's brother.
ReplyDeleteThis time around I have reason to celebrate with Wolmers, as both my sons attended the school.
What nevah happen in a hundred years, happen in a day.
Truley blessed to have great parents Peter, even tho i left Jamaica at a young age i still up to now remember your mom and dad! im sure they are looking down upon you and smiling.
ReplyDelete... thanks Arthur ... we have blessin's aplenty with the parents ... glad to hear your's are both doin' great ... I know my Mom would want everyone to know she's alive and very well ... see archived post "... miss Ivy first son ..."
ReplyDelete