One of the remarkably-preserved historic buildings in Anguilla is the Old Boys’ School in The Valley to which many past highly successful students today owe much respect and gratitude for their early education.
Owned by St. Mary’s Anglican Church, it was one of the early buildings used as a church school and then as a government-administered elementary school, but later on was also occasionally used for other official and community purposes. With the eventual provision of modern school buildings with larger classrooms, however, the Old Boys’ School eventually ceased to function as an educational facility.
The building was virtually closed for an extended period. In 2015 a group of voluntary workers from St. Peter’s Episcopal Church in Fernandina Beach, Florida, carried out a considerable amount of restoration work on the building. They replaced the shingles and a number of compromised floor boards and beams. Further renovation work was recently undertaken by local workmen bringing the building to a habitable state.
The landmark building, which is more than 100 years old, is now principally serving as St. Mary’s Church Hall. The first major use of the beautifully-restored Old Boys’ School was on Mother’s Day, Sunday, May 13. There, a large number of family relatives and congregation members of St. Mary’s Anglican Church, gathered for the annual Mother’s Day Brunch – an event also held at various churches at other locations in Anguilla on Saturday and Sunday, May 12 and 13.
The Mother’s Day Brunch at the new Church Hall was held by the St. Mary’s Chapter of the Brotherhood of St. Andrew. It followed the Mass at St. Mary’s conducted by Rev. Menes Hodge who also did the invocation at the brunch.
The well-decorated Old Boys’ School and Church Hall was filled to capacity with at least three or four long tables stretching east and west, occupying almost the full length of the building. There was adequate space, however, for the very attentive group of male chefs and servers.
One of the features of the event was the honouring of Mrs. Rosalind Pond, a former teacher at the Old Boys’ School. She was honoured for being the oldest mother at the brunch. She is 88 and the mother of one child, Dr. Verlyn Warrington, who resides and works in Washington DC.
The President of the St. Mary’s Chapter of the Brotherhood of St. Andrew is Mr. Arnie S. Hodge (ASH) who welcomed the mothers, their families, and other persons in attendance. Mr. Marcel Fahie, a Sunday School Teacher at St. Mary’s, and a member of the Brotherhood, performed the role of Chairman of the Mother’s Day Brunch.
Mrs. Ernie Hodge-Carty, Deputy President of the St. Mary’s Mothers’ Union, expressed delight with the event and was grateful to those who were in attendance and the many sponsors. Several groups of young people paid tribute in song to their mothers – another highlight of the programme.
