Mombasa Goans School Project: a fitting tribute
An Exceptional Couple in My Life
~ Benny and Celia Mascarenhas ~
(It is fitting that Marci Pereira has offered this
historical piece for publication in memory of the late Benny Mascarenhas. Both
Benny and his widow Cecilia were as much as an inspiration as well as an
important driving force for the Mombasa Goan Schools Archival Project).
(By Marci Pereira ~ Project: ‘Archiving Memories of
Mombasa Goan School) (e-mail: mombasagoanschool@gmail.com ~
27 October 2021)
I am deeply saddened to learn that my friend, Benny
Mascarenhas, a younger generation schoolmate, passed away on 24 September
2021. Benny finished school in 1965 and was the founder and lead
guitarist of the renowned Mombasa band: The Shiftars ~ which
to this day, is fondly remembered by many former Mombasa Goans and others they
entertained. I left Kenya in 1963 and did not know of The
Shiftars. Neither did I know of Benny, Cecilia or their families
until taking on this project in 2016. The way we got to
befriend one another, makes curious reading in the context of this school
project. This is my tribute to Benny (and Celia) as a gesture of my
thanks for the unforgettable support they have been to me in this school
project, unlike any other. I must admit, it made me very emotional
in putting this piece together for obvious reasons. However, with
this unexpected sad news I felt driven to record my indelible memories of our
association for the archives. The project would not be complete
without this chapter. It was their belief, encouragement, motivation
and support that partly drove me on in what has been a monumental
exercise. Thought I will share herein, a selection of our early
e-mail exchanges that convey a measure of just how valuable their support has
been to me.
a) How the ‘School Project’ came about
It was in May 2016, that the late John De Souza from Toronto
~ the erstwhile Editor of Goan Voice Canada, contacted
my brother Lazarus, also in Toronto, to enquire if I would be willing to take
on a project on ‘Mombasa Goans’. John was someone who was a
dedicated archivist and writer. He had a vast collection and an
encyclopaedic mind on all matters relating to Goans of East Africa, be it
history, culture, sport, music, news, etc. He was an ex-student
of Dr Ribeiro’s Goan School, Nairobi, and so well connected with
the ‘Who’s Who’ of the Goan expatriate community, I was to find out in the
course of my research.
John’s one key ambition, I got to learn, was to document,
for posterity, the history and story of Goans, like himself, who immigrated to
Canada. He was the driving force in the creation of the “Goan
Archives Canada Committee” based in Toronto, which negotiated with
the “Peel Art Gallery Museum & Archives in Brampton, Ontario”, to
catalogue, store and preserve printed material relating to Goan cultural
heritage. Being ‘the Archivist’ for
the Goan Cultural Archives, John set about organising their
vast collection for the ‘Peel Archives Project’. In the
course of this work, he noticed there was an abundance of historical material
on Nairobi Goans, and in contrast, scarcely anything on Mombasa
Goans. He sought to put that right. That is when he
attempted to recruit myself to help him in that task.
His original request was to cover all aspects
of the Mombasa Goan community: The Goan Institute, Star of the
Sea School, the Goan High School, St Francis Xavier’s Tailors Club, the
Catholic Diocese and anything else relating to the community worthy of
archiving. I found that all-encumbering remit, would be too
demanding for me to handle single-handedly, in the timescale he had in mind and
offered to contain my efforts solely on the ‘Mombasa Goan School’. And
so, the ‘Archiving Memories of Mombasa Goan School Project’ was
conceived on that understanding.
b) A Challenging Baptism
It so happens that I have always harboured a keen interest
in wanting to know all about our school history: how it came into being and its
evolution since its inception. Before taking on the task, I had
assumed that fellow schoolmates were equally imbued about our school history
and I could depend on interesting and revealing inputs from our school
alumni. Could not have been more wrong, as I was to discover later.
I perceived my first big challenge was to reach out to our
school community as widely as possible, wherever they are, and so drafted
guidelines outlining the scope of the project. That letter (Item
1), dated ‘1st June 2016’, first appeared in the Canadian Goan
Voice. Although from feedback, I got to learn that
the message had circulated far and wide, the meagre response alarmed
me. I recall having received just three contacts in that
regard. Obviously, I was disappointed and downhearted.
Item 1 ~ Project Outline Letter
01 June 2016
Dear Friends
Project: Archiving Memories of ‘Mombasa Goan High
School’
The ‘Goan Archives Canada’ Committee –
negotiated with the ‘Peel Art Gallery, Museum & Archives’ in
Brampton, Ontario, to catalogue, store and preserve printed material
relating to Goan cultural heritage. This phase is complete, but
there are “leftover” items and further information, which need to be
processed. ‘Goan Cultural Archives’ is continuing this
work and plans to include in its collection, some background of the places from
which many immigrated. Mombasa is one of these
places. If there are alumni associations, who have compiled this
information, ‘Goan Cultural Archives’ will be willing to
receive a submission.
I believe that the Mombasa Goan High School, has
a rich history and tradition of academic and sporting excellence, worthy of
archiving for the benefit of present and future
generations. This is an appeal to ex-students and former staff
members of the Mombasa Goan High School, to submit records of your
memories, recollections, photographs/pictures, press cuttings, history, etc. to
be centrally stored, in the above-mentioned resource.
Here are a few pointers, as a guide to the sort of material
of interest:
a) School History: When and who
founded the school?
b) Timeline of historical events
c) Outstanding students: Academic
& Sports
d) Noted School Principals & Teachers
e) The School Band
f) School Alumni ~ the world over
g) Reminiscences
h) The school today
i) Photos & Press Cuttings
j) List of Deceased: Staff &
Ex-Students
For further information or queries, do revert to
me. Look forward to hearing from you.
Kind regards
Marci Pereira
c. Enter: ‘Surprising Good Samaritans’
1) Of the three contacts received, one was from
a ‘Cecilia Mascarenhas’ on 6th June, as
per Item 2, introducing herself and drawing my attention
to Benny and his band: The Shiftars. The
courteous and obliging tone of her message lifted my spirits, as you will note
from my reply, also in Item 2. On receiving Celia’s message,
what flashed through my mind was, that as renowned entertainers, The
Shiftars are likely to have a sizeable fanbase – Mombasa folk in the
main, plus many ex-students of the school. Hence, my letter to
Celia, appealing to spread the word round on my behalf.
2) The exchanges in Item 2, were
only the beginning. From what transpired thereafter, I could
not imagine in my wildest dreams. Both Benny/Celia took
it on board to support me to the hilt for reasons I still do not
know. Here we are, not knowing one another and neither having
ever met before. Yet, as will be evident from our exchanges herein,
they voluntarily took me into their confidence and stuck by me, determined to
ensure they did everything they possibly could to help me in the
project. For me that was truly ‘Godsend’.
3) Further to the release of the project
announcement in Item 1, I learnt that Benny/Celia had
received the same e-mail from seven other sources, but nobody knew
or had heard of ‘Marci Pereira’ back
then. Apart from a few classmates, I am little known in our
community. Obviously, Celia was curious to find out
more about myself. Here is her query and my response to it
in Item 2.
Item 2: Opening e-mail exchanges
Hello Marci,
I have been told you are collating info from ex-students of Mombasa Goan
School.
Are you from Mombasa and also an ex-student? The reason
I ask is because my husband and his mates attended the school and also went on
to have a band called The Shiftars. Last year I put
together photos and a story on how they formed the band whilst still young and
in school...and went on to continue to play for the Nyali Beach Hotel and
various Goan socials and weddings too till their departure from Kenya.
Let me know if it will be of interest to you.
Regards
Celia.
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6 Jun 2016,
12:48 |
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Hi Celia
Thank you for your e mail. I finished school in 1958
- a classmate of Flavio Gracias. My Dad worked for the Mombasa Times
and was also well known in the Goan community, for "Pereira's Coconut
Oil". I left Kenya in 1963.
Yes, it is the sort of material you describe, that is most
welcome - accomplishments of former Mombasa Goan School ex-students. I
recall reading a clip about the 'Shiftars' recently and please do forward
whatever material you have on the band and even on their individual
achievements. Hearing from and about ex-students always renders a feel-good
factor among the school community. As you know we are dispersed globally.
You mentioned the Shiftars played at the Nyali Beach
Hotel. I am given to understand that a former Goan School ex-student -
Edmund Silveira - was a long-time resident pianist at the hotel.
Presumably, the band knew him.
I am trying to reach out to as many of our ex-students as
possible. Please do spread the word round to your network of former Mombasa
colleagues. Attached herewith are the following:
1) Project Outline: Archiving Memories of 'Mombasa Goan
School' + My Personal Profile
2) List of Deceased Staff & Ex-Students (I have
started this list from those I know have passed away. Please, can you
update this for me with the names of others, your husband and his friends may
be aware of?)
Thank you so much for getting in touch. I look forward
to hearing from you. Kind regards to you, your husband and all the Mombasa
friends.
Marci Pereira
06 June 2016
Resulting from the communication above, the next thing I
knew, Benny/Celia compiled and circulated the letter dated 18th June
2016, shown below as Item 3, to drum up support for the
project from our ex-student community.
Item 3: Targeted Outreach to Ex-students
From: BennyCelia Mascarenhas
Date: 18 June 2016 Subject:
Hello folks!
I know we have not communicated much in recent times,
only perhaps at Christmas! From: BennyCelia Mascarenhas
Date: 18 June 2016 Subject:
Hello folks!
I know we have not communicated much in recent times, only
perhaps at Christmas!
The reason for writing is that we got about
seven emails from various folks about the Mombasa Goan School project
and assumed that everyone, from the school would have contacted Marci with your
anecdotes and information. Sadly, as you can see, he has barely got
anything.
I do know that when we were trying to contact our
classmates to forge a connection how difficult it was and yet how elated
everyone became when we all connected and had a few reunions so I can truly
understand and appreciate the frustration that Marci is going through.
Likewise, when I was desperately searching for photos of the young Shiftars to
do my book as a tribute to them.
However, I do not want to disclose or send him stuff that
we have on our archives and are writing to you who I know are from Goan
School (esp. as I am not from the school and do not really need a barrage
of stuff thrown at me!) without informing you and letting some of you give
him the information of your class and reunions first, as well as any info on
your teachers and folks that have progressed through the school, nor not
get your permission to do so.
I attach the project document on what it is about, his
previous articles that precipitated this endeavour, his meagre list of teachers
and deceased personnel, and finally his email to me when I enquired more info
from him and how he came to know about me, all for your perusal and as to why I
am poking my nose in!
So, c'mon chaps and gals... you plan reunions, Facebook
pages sharing old photos and anecdotes ...help a fellow Goan school mate
achieve his quest to do this and let me know OK.
Warm regards from a cold damp UK
CEx (with permission of my Boss Benny!! Ahem).
5) There was so much I could read in between the
lines of Item 3. As I suspected, the size of Benny/Celia’s circulation
list was way beyond my expectation. Further, the style of the letter
conveyed to me the camaraderie and rapport they enjoyed with the ex-student
community they were reaching out to. It was obvious too that I was
not alone in being disappointed with the response rate. It is clear
that they too encountered similar disappointments when trying to organise
reunions and in compiling a photo story album in tribute of The
Shiftars. In hindsight, I can now appreciate their empathy for
me in undertaking an exercise of truly challenging proportions. I
have in my records, remarks from respondents to the effect: “Rather you than
me”. From those early days, it occurred to me that Celia was in fact
the ‘PR Agent’ for The Shiftars - and very good at it.
6) On re-reading that letter in Item 3 in
preparing this piece, Celia’s closing statement: “(with permission
of my Boss Benny!! …)” brought tears to my eyes in the
light of the present sad news. As I intimated earlier, they had a
light-hearted, warm touch, in communicating with schoolmates and friends
likewise. I later learnt that Celia, slammed that statement in for a
reason ~ to silence those that questioned why she was getting involved in the
school project when she was not an ex-student of the school. Furthermore,
some took the viewpoint of: ‘Why should you help him if he is getting paid for
it?’. For everyone’s record, I can state categorically, that I
did not get an iota of monetary help, or any help, from the Canadians, in
accomplishing this project. It has been an exercise best described
as: ‘Labour of love’ and will continue to be so to the end.
d. Response from the Ex-Student community?
1) Quite apart from their email contacts, Benny/Celia,
had an extensive social media network through which they further exchanged
greetings, news, views, opinions, photos, videos etc. In
conjunction with their exercise in Item 3, I too was active in
reaching out to our ex-student community. Alongside my e-mail
contacts, I wrote to the Presidents of Goan Overseas
Associations in the UK, USA (New Jersey, San Francisco, Los
Angeles); Australia (Sydney, Melbourne, Perth); Canada (Toronto, Edmonton,
Vancouver), New Zealand, Goa media: (The Herald, Navhind Times, The Goan),
Mombasa Goan Institute and Mombasa Goan Community, requesting
the project guide in Item 1 be brought to the attention of any
former Mombasa Goan School ex-students within their
membership/readership. In addition, the announcement got further
exposure in Goan Voice Canada, Goan Voice UK, Africana Orientalia (now
Namaskar Africana), Goanet and Selma Carvalho’s
Blog.
2) Between Benny/Celia, that
outreach exercise above, and myself, I envisaged that we must have reached out
to at least one thousand ex-students of the Mombasa
Goan School/Sacred Heart School in announcing this school
project. Guess the response rate? Less than
ten!!! Disappointed and down hearted, I reported that to the earlier
mentioned John De Souza, who replied: “Forget them, you should be able to find
information on the web”. That was the best advice I received
because from then, I delved deeply into researching into all matters relating
to the school, determined to carry on, irrespective. Hence, much of
my work is research based and from the results, I am pleased to have taken on
the project in the first place. Anyone engaged in ‘research’
will know what a time-consuming exploit it is. My findings have
satisfied my personal curiosity about the school history and gives me added
satisfaction in sharing them with fellow schoolmates, regardless.
3) Another of my noteworthy experiences was
visiting the late Professor Suresh Amonkar at his home in
Mapusa, Goa, in 2018, in the context of this school project. He was
one of two surviving teachers of the Mombasa Goan School (the
other being Mr Costa Correia in Alberta, Canada) and actually
taught me in the years 1956/1958. I happened to remark to the
Professor how disappointing the ex-student response was in this
project. He was not surprised and turned to me and said: “Marci,
because they speak English does not mean they write English”. Those
words still echo in my ears. He should know. He taught us
English/English Literature.
4) I am no historian, no writer/author, no
journalist, no politician, no researcher – this project was the first exercise
of its kind that I had taken on. Early in the project, Selma
Carvalho had forewarned me that the Goan community has an aversion to
putting pen to paper. She is a historian of East African Goan
heritage and culture, author of four books and a columnist. I now
have my own hard evidence of that forewarning. Thankfully, that
first-hand experience just spurred me on.
e. Continuing Support
1) Support-wise, Benny/Celia committed
themselves wholeheartedly, irrespective of whatever I received from other
sources. They dug deeply into their own collections,
forwarding me whatever they felt would be of help: School related
news, articles, photographs, reunions, exchanges and continued to reach out to
anyone else they thought may be of value to me. This was
the single-most/biggest source of communication I had in the context of the
project. From my current count, our e-mail exchanges number
in excess of three hundred from this source
alone. Understandably, most of these were in the years
2016. It really gave me a measure of just how well connected
they are in the Goan expatriate community. They knew almost
anyone and everyone from Mombasa I named, and more.
2) Some of the photographs received via Benny/Celia were
of ‘Class Reunions’ held either in Canada, Goa or the UK. On
examining the material what occurred to me was that the reunions were organised
by Classes from the mid-sixties: 1964/65/66. It showed a strong bond
and togetherness of these classmates and is pleasing to note is still
continuing to this day - thanks to the easy access brought by social media
platforms. Their interest in their comrades contrasts with those of
earlier generation ex-students who have an aversion to wanting to re-connect
with their schoolmates for some reason.
3) Several photos received are of mini reunions
when classmates visited London, for instance. They quickly organise
get-togethers in their homes, pub or restaurant for old times’
sake. From pictures I received, I was cheered to see our good family
friend from Makadara, Hilary Monteiro and his wife Liseth (both
from the Class of 1965), enjoying themselves in their home in London, at his
birthday celebration gathering of other London-based, and visiting classmates
from abroad. Often, Benny/Celia were the instigators
of such social meetings. That camaraderie conveys a loving warmth of
mates whose friendship began way back in their school days in Mombasa.
f. Introduction to renowned contacts
1) Quite apart from
scouring their personal collection to help me, Benny/Celia went
further to introduce me to some of their renowned and notable
contacts. The list in Item 4 includes some
reputable literary and other names in the Goan diaspora.
Notable contacts:
Cyprian Fernandes: Sydney-based
Journalist/Author/Blogger/Archivist.
● Author of four books
a) Yesterday in Paradise b) Stars Next Door c) Twilight
of the Exiles d) Yesterday at The Nation
Frederick Noronha: Publisher/Editor/Journalist/
Entrepreneur/ Goanet Moderator
Mervyn Maciel: Doyen of London-based Goan Writers. ● Author
of two books a) Bwana Karani b) From Mtoto to Mzee.
Benegal Pereira: Founder of ‘Namaskar Africana’ –
East African Asian Forum.
Co-Author of Publication: “Liberating Minds,
Restoring Kenyan History by Progressive South Asian Kenyans 1884-1965. Harvard
alumnus. Based in New Hampshire, USA
Edmund Silveira: Veteran Mombasa-based virtuoso musician (Ed
Silveira Quartet). Mombasa Goan School Class of 1952.
Dr Jawaharlal Henriques, founder of the St Anthony’s
Hospital in Mapusa, Goa.
Ilham (Elham) Al Busaidi, another schoolmate in Class
1964/65.
Scanning an eye through that list in Item 4 is
further testimony of just how well-connected Benny/Celia are,
quite apart from their vast network of former schoolmates and Mombasa
friends. Mind you, this is just a small selection of names received
of probable sources of help, drawn in here to emphasise that
point. I am immensely thankful for these introductions.
Observations
●Cyprian Fernandes offered some of his
previously released blogs and one that included our illustrious sports
schoolmate: Seraphino Antao.
●Mervyn Maciel proved such a blessing to
me in the context of my research. Early in the project I was
trying to lay my hands on a book entitled: “Goans of Kenya” by Dr
Teresa Albuquerque that was released in
1999. Unfortunately, the publication is out of print and any copies
around are like ‘gold-dust’ now. Despite my best endeavours to
lay my hands on a copy for this research, I failed. In my
quest, I even contacted the distinguished lady herself, who in her e-mail
reply, wished she had a spare copy to give me and extended her good wishes with
the project. Understandably, as the book is now an ‘antiquity’, even
those that had one, would not let their copy out of their sight.
To my good fortune, Mervyn, who was
contacted by Benny/Celia, painstakingly typed
out the full chapter (yes, typed the full chapter) relating to
the ‘Mombasa Goan School’ from the book in his collection, and
forwarded that to me!!! I am hugely thankful to Mervyn/Benny/Celia for
that. I have yet to find, as authentically recorded and detailed
early history of the Mombasa Goan School, as documented
in that book.
●Benegal Pereira used to know our
schoolmate: Dr Klaus De Albuquerque (Class:1962) who had moved
to the USA after schooling in Kenya and has sadly passed away. Benegal kindly
shared some of his exchanges with Klaus on his upbringing in
East Africa. Furthermore, interestingly, Benegal’s father, Eddie
Pereira, was born in Mombasa in the home of Diogo Luis Pereira who
featured in that project chapter entitled: “A Very Influential Mombasa
Goan: Diogo Luis Pereira”. On seeing that chapter, Benegal kindly
shared his father’s Birth Certificate and a Baptism photograph from his family
collection. I got to learn too, that his mother Yvonne
Maillet attended the Star of the Sea School. Also,
with Angelo Faria in his network, he passed the word on, on my
behalf.
●Dr Jawaharlal Henriques, our schoolmate in
Class 1964, obligingly came on board when first approached by Benny/Celia and
immediately contacted fellow schoolmates urging them to offer their support to
the project. He despatched a selection of photographs and supporting
material of his hospital and the Class Reunion held in Goa in
2014. He was the Chairman of the Reunion Organising Committee and I
found out is still a very influential and respected contact in his year-group,
and others.
●Ilham (Elham) Al Busaidi, another
schoolmate in Class 1964/65, is the great-granddaughter of our distinguished
school Founder/Patron: Sir Ali bin Salim. It happened,
when Celia contacted her, she disclosed that there was a
forthcoming book launch in Mombasa entitled: “Sir Ali bin Salim – And
the Making of Mombasa” by Judy Aldrick and extended
an invitation to myself to the launch. Ilham, now based
in Oman, had commissioned that book and I got to learn she is now heading her
family’s philanthropic foundation/trust in her great-grandfathers’ name.
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As I stressed earlier, this is just a small selection of
names I received from Benny/Celia. I found that they
were so well informed on news and developments relating to Mombasa Goans – past
and present. I only had to drop a name and there was a high
probability that they knew of them and if not, they would make enquiries within
their network to obtain the information. A case in point, is
another of our school’s sports legends: Albert Castanha (Class1952). I
found during my research there was scant information available on his
formidable achievements and accomplishments. From my early memory he
was a remarkable and gifted all-round athlete. He picked up
the ‘Victor-Ludorum’ at the annual school sports in his final
year, I recall. Apart from sprints, he excelled in the hurdles, high
jump, long jump, football, hockey, cycling. He was an outstanding
talent. In regard to cycling, I still remember that gleaming,
light-weight racing bike with curved handles he so loved. It was
probably the first of its kind in Mombasa. He was the winner of that
inaugural cycling event that was introduced that year, by Mr Joe
Fernandes, the Sport Master. I had endeavoured to
find out if I could lay my hands on material to do with his school
days. Benny/Celia know members of his
family. We tried.
g. ‘Benny/Celia’: Miscellaneous Findings
1966 ‘Young Love’ courting days in Mombasa [Dominic
Noronha/Celia/Benny/Angela (Benny’s sister) [Tyrone (Celia’s kid
brother)/Victor De Souza (The Shiftars Band Manager)
1) Looking through my collection I came across
this delightful picture of Benny and Celia dating back to
their younger Mombasa days with members of their family and
friends. Apparently, this was taken just before The Shiftars played
at the Mombasa Goan Institute. They look a happy
bunch. Those youthful happy, beaming Goan faces brings back memories
of Mombasa for me.
2) Benny hails from a richly talented
musical family. They are a family of nine siblings gifted with
musical genes it seems. Their father, Joaquim played the
violin. Brother Leslie played the trumpet and moved
to Nairobi playing for various bands there. So too, his
brother Philip, who played for Edmund Silveira. Benny started
off with Conny Kit’s Band before establishing his own
band: The Shiftars. Younger brother Jojo played
the drums for The Shiftars in their later years, when Rudy
Lopes migrated. More about The Shiftars, the
illustrious band, in a separate chapter on the Mombasa Goan
School: Music & Musicians.
3) Benny’s sister, Gracie,
was crowned ‘Miss Mombasa’ – the first Asian - in
1960. Another sister, Sybil, married Mr &
Mrs Henry’s son, Benedict, who was the brother of Mrs
May Soares, who taught me English in 1958. Mrs Henry was
the very first Principal of the Mombasa Goan School in
1932. All in all, a very rich pedigree it appears.
4) Cecilia had a hard but a happy
upbringing. She lost her father, Mr De Souza, in
1955. Her mum Virginia, remarried and yet again, sadly
the father of Celia’s brother, Tyrone – Mr Vaz, passed
away within a short time in 1958!! Imagine a young mother having to
raise two kids single handed. Her mother had a fabulous Soprano voice and used
to sing for weddings, carol singing and at socials in Mombasa and later, when
they moved to the UK. They arrived in the UK in 1969. Benny, moved
soon after I understand. Although her birth name is Cecilia,
I note, her preferred pen name is the shortened: ‘Celia’. In
my family we know three ‘Celias’. When talking about
this ‘Celia’, I refer to her affectionately as ‘Project
Celia’, which is soon understood
Benny & Celia (2015)
5) Benny and Celia married in London
in 1972. They are well known and loved by many in the Goan
community. Both are proud to be associated with the village of
Saligao in Goa. Saligao is that village known to be richly blessed
with academics, writers, journalists, musicians, historians, etc. Benny served
as the President of the Saligao Association in London in 1981.
6) From my research, there were three notable
‘Class’ Reunions: 1964/1965/1966 to celebrate their 50 years at the Sacred
Heart School in 2014/2015/2016. For the 2015 event
held in London, Benny/Celia were the key organisers with their
guest of honour being, former teacher Mr Costa Correia and his
wife Nita, who came over from Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada.
7) It is interesting to note that Mr
Costa Correia, someone I stay connected with, now in his nineties, is the
last surviving teacher of my time. I learnt via this project, that
several of our other teachers migrated to Canada including Dr Neves
Pereira, Mrs May Soares, Mr Miranda, Mr Edmund
Cordeiro, the Furtado brothers, amongst others. A classmate
of Benny’s: the late, Cassian De Cruz (Class 1965), who
was also in Canada, is known to have been one of those ex-students
who made it a point to stay connected with the teachers there, often visiting
them. There are photographs of his visits to these
teachers. His passing was seen as a big loss to the ex-student
community.
h. Finally: Recording My Heartfelt
Gratitude
Truly, there is so much more about the Mombasa Goan
School/Sacred Heart School, that I learnt from my exchanges with Benny/Celia,
including a big collection of pictures, for which I am immensely grateful
for. For this very reason I felt my project would not be complete
without the inclusion of this chapter to record their valuable inputs to me in
the school archives. We have never met or spoken on the
phone. Our exchanges have been exclusively by email which makes it
even more noteworthy. I am one who stays clear of all social
media, for a reason. I am most thankful to them for their time,
dedication and encouragement they offered me despite not having known me or of
me. A truly exceptional couple in my life. I have grown
to love and respect them both. Cherished memories that will always
remain with me.
A BIG THANK YOU DEAR BENNY & CELIA
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