Caribbean Times 96th Issue - Monday 13th February 2017

14 c a r i b b e a n t i m e s . a g
Monday 13th February 2017
Pares Secondary sports legends honoured
By Justin Peters
The Pares Secondary
School has a proud history
of producing some of
the greatest sportsmen and
sportswomen in the history
of the island of Antigua and
Barbuda.
Many of these valiant
gladiators have gone unrecognized
and overshadowed
by more recognized legends
such as Sir Vivian Richards
and Sir Andy Roberts, but
their contributions are equally
as important.
They are a testament
to the revelation that our
108-square mile island is
capable of producing professional
players in all areas of
sports, and from educational
institutions such as the Antigua
Grammar School or
Princess Margaret School
that have more commonly
been recognized for producing
sporting greats that have
gained international acclaim.
Framed photos of former
PSS students who attained
greatness in West Indies
Cricket and Volleyball were
jointly donated by Mark
Chambers, a Police officer
from Northern Ireland
and Ralph Bowen, a former
student of Pares Secondary
School and lawyer. The
charitable gesture will ensure
that students who are
now attending the secondary
institution now and for
years to come will be able
to recognize and be motivated
by former students who
like them aspired to join the
regional and international
sporting fraternity.
The photos which will be
hung on a wall just inside’s
the school’s entrance for
all to see, depict John Archibald,
former West Indies
Youth Player, Dave Joseph,
Anthony Martin, Devon
Thomas, Austin Richards
Jr., and Garvin Tongue who
played for the West Indies
Cricket Team as well as
West Indies Volleyball Players,
Karen Joseph and Shennette
Samuel.
The timely donation was
facilitated through the intervention
of Ivor Lawrence,
also a former Pares Secondary
School student who has
coached and played cricket
locally and internationally,
most recently coaching the
NYPD Cricket Team.
Lawrence explained
“One of my philosophy is
to focus on the youths because
they are the future. If
we neglect the youths, we
neglect the country. We must
do everything in our power
to educate and empower
them; that is my objective
and I will continue to play
my part in society. I am very
grateful to my elders who
have taught me well former
Teachers along with my former
coaches Guy Yearwood,
John Archibald, Taddy Arrindell,
Kiethley Maginley,
Hugh Gore and my Brother
Charlesworth Lawrence
who has been a more than a
brother to me.”
Guest speaker Hugh
Gore delivered a powerful
message and implored the
students present to be humble
and take not only school,
but life seriously, recalling
that Sir Vivian Richards was
one of the humblest individuals
he had ever met, despite
being one of the best cricketers
of all time, an attitude
to which he attributes some
of the cricketing legend’s
success.