“Oft as we can we’ll come back again”

On Friday, the Berkeley Family will be having yet another family reunion. It has been a longstanding tradition that every October we honour our founding fathers of the Berkeley Institute at the event known as Founders Day.

Also to be honoured will be past PE teachers:

WOMEN

Louise Jackson, OBE

Beverley Brock

Rosemary Phillips

Jolene Bean

MEN

Randy Horton, JP

Gerry Swan

Earl Hart

Arnold Manders

This particular Founders Day there will be Green House versus Gold House football and netball games, featuring alumni spanning from the Sixties to the Noughties.

As many know, Berkeley has produced some of the top Bermudian athletes in every sport from football, netball, cricket and athletics. So it comes as no surprise that these sportspersons are part of the Berkeley family who will be participating: Shawn Morris, Damon Wade, Fred “Pinks” Lewis, Arnold Manders, Anthony Manders, David Sabir, Melvin Bean, Peter Furbert, Ralph Bean, Jeff Richardson, Lorenzo Symonds, Shine Hayward, Kenneth Dill, Glen Blakeney, Donna Bean, Florence Sharpe, Tracey Sharieff, Shanelle Lee Lewis, Kathy Lewis Swan, Steven Burgess, Anthony Phillips, Michael Weeks, Michael Looby, Phillip Clarke, Joey Weeks, Kim Tucker, Randolph DeShields, Calvin White, Johnny Nusum, James Paynter, Troy Lewis, Geri Wade, Ellen-Kate Horton.

More than a family reunion, this is an opportunity for multiple generations of Berkeleyites to interact with the present student population. Many of them will be the children and/or grandchildren of older Berkeleyites.

“Here oft you will find us”

There will be those of us who recall spending countless recesses and lunch hours playing one bounce, one touch on the school field(s), or even some of those who spent countless hours watching the ladies practising netball under the overly watchful eye of Rosemary Phillips and/or Catherine Gardiner.

Regardless of whichever years one spent at Berkeley, it is important that we honour those who had the foresight, determination and will to pool their resources and money into creating our school in the year 1896.

“What will become of our island home without our nurture?”

It is because of them that Berkeley became the leading citadel of learning for multiple generations of Bermudians who have gone on to become leaders in every trade, profession and segment of society.

From preachers to plumbers, from teachers to technicians, Berkeleyites have stepped up to the plate set before them by each preceding generation.

So for those of us who are now in a position to give back to our school, Friday is but one of the days in which to do so. Even if it is for one hour that you can come and participate in the festivities, it will be one hour that brings back five years of memories.

If you wish to participate in the activities, contact Mike Swan at mike_swan41@yahoo.com or call 332-0226.

Oh yea, as we are talking Berkeley sports, this will be the perfect time to remind folks of one unchangeable fact. Gold House rules!

Respice Finem.