FLODDEN ABINGDON ALUMNI ASSOCIATION

BARBADOS CHAPTER

OUR HISTORY

We present here some of the main aspects of our history for the school as well as the Old Scholars Association. 

 

FAAA The Flodden Abingdon Alumni Association (FAAA), or the past students of  the Barbados Seventh-day Adventist Secondary School, was born out of a desire by past students to foster fellowship among its members. (see objectives  mention in the constitution). Some of the past students who left school between 1966 and 1970 saw a need for an Association that would bring them together to share ideas on how to assist in the future development of the school and to meet the social physical and spiritual needs of both past and present students. Under the guidance of Dr. Bradley Niles, more than 30 students met in late 1978 in the old 5th form and decided to form what is now known as "Flodden Abingdon Alumni Association". After  much deliberation and an Executive Committee was set up headed by Fitzgerald Reid to lead this new organization. The Alumni flourish for a while until 1981 when its President left for the USA. Then nothing much was heard about the Association until 1984 when another group of past students decided to revive the dormant Association. This happened on June 16, 1984 at which time the constitution was instituted. Then came the big revival and get together when in 1985 the N.Y Chapter planned a big home coming. The high light of this visit was a banquet and award ceremony at the old Marine Hotel in Hastings. The banquet was quite a success with over 150 past students and families in attendance along with former teachers and principals, many of whom received awards. The president and vice during this period were  Osmond Brathwaite and Wonder Clarke. During the following years of the 80's and early 90's  the association remain functioning some years stronger than others depending on the leadership.  The FAAA then had its greatest revival under the leadership of Irvin Reid from 1995 to 1999 when a number of programmes were initiated and revised. Such programmes as the quarterly church services which were aim at promoting Christian Education throughout the Seventh-day Adventist churches across the island. This period also saw the launching of Scholarship Programme at the school. This was a programme which paid the school fees and other first term incidental  charges for an Adventist student of the primary school for two years, who had pass for a government school, but desired to go the secondary school. This person however would have to be finically challenged to benefit from this scholarship. Career showcases, which were supported by corporate Barbados, were also a feature of this period. At one such showcase a debating competition was held among third, fourth and fifth form students and at the award ceremony the parliamentary secretary in the Ministry of Education and Culture Ms. Cynthia Forde  was in attendance.  There were also essay competitions among the first and second forms. This period also saw many other activities such as beach barbeques, sponsor walks,  boat cruises on the Bajan Queen; concerts; mother's day programmes; lunches and beach limes. In 1998 the association was invited to visit  with the NY chapter in the USA and a wonderful time was had by those of us who went up. Although offices were selected the Association was relatively dormant between the years 2000 to 2002 and it was during the latter portion of this time that Mr. R. Hinkson took over the leadership and plans started for the 50th anniversary in 2003.  Mr. Reid was reelected as president for the period 2003 to 2004 and saw the association through its first quarterly church service in January and other plans for the year before he resign in April to get married and live in "Turks and Cacaos islands.  The leadership of the association then fell into the hands of the vice president, Mr. Osmond Brathwaite who held the realms  until elections later that year when Mr. Anthony (Admiral) Nelson took over the presidency. Mr. Nelson then when on to lead the association through one of its most active fund raising years. Please see our officer's page for a more comprehensive list of  the officers through the years.

THE SEVENTH DAY ADVENTIST SECONDARY SCHOOL The most far-reaching and ambitious project in Barbados undertaken during the leadership of Pastor Nembhard was the founding of the Seventh-day Adventist high school. On September 21, 1953, the doors of the Barbados Seventh-day Adventist were opened for the first time. This was the culmination of a renewed effort to make Adventist Christian education available to the increasing number of high school age youth in the Churches across Barbados. The high school operated in rented quarters, on the grounds of “Flodden” on Culloden Road, St. Michael now the home of the Barbados National Standard Institute (BNSI). The buildings were big enough to accommodate two hundred and forty (240) students comfortably with some modification, and surrounded by five and a half acres of land that allowed for adequate student recreation. The first principal of the school was Benjamin G.O. French, a talented St. Lucian educator and former inspector of schools in his homeland. Student enrollment during the first school year averaged around one hundred and fifty. During the second year, the student enrollment climbed to two hundred and thirty as confidence in the school’s program grew among Barbadian Adventists. A cadre of well-trained Adventist teachers was selected to help lay the foundation and set plans and objectives for this high school. Mrs. Lucy Kum formerly of the Business Department of Caribbean Training College in Trinidad led out in the early planning and was responsible for selecting the school’s uniform. Other teachers involved in the early plans were Rudolph T. Allen and Ms. Ishbel Bayne, a former Mathematics teacher at the Alexandra School in Speightstown. In January 1961, the Barbados S.D.A Secondary School moved from its rented facilities to its own property at “Abingdon” Dalkeith, Brittons Hill St. Michael. At that time the school’s enrollment averaged about two hundred and fifty student per school year. The principals of the Barbados Secondary School, from its inception to the time of Barbados’ independence, were Benjamin G. O. French, 1953 to 1959; Lionel L. Lawrence 1959-1963; and John R. Hill 1963 to 1966. Ms. Ishbel Bayne assumed leadership of the school during the 1966-1967 school years. Following Ms. Bayne was Mr. Lester Jones, Dr. Norma Niles and now principal Dr. Cecil Cummins. Although it has been difficult, at times, to find willing officers to work for the association, we are appreciative of those officers who have work so diligently for the association throughout the years.

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