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The Genesis of the 76er Movement
Notwithstanding the Barracks Rd-Corinaldi Ave primary schools divide (Girls School & Boys School as they are still called), my subsequent brethren of many years and numerous connections, Hugh 'Hi Fi' Alexander was back in Jamaica after a few years absence, in June of 1999.
We shared the same first to fifth forms at Cornwall College from 1971 to 1976, where somewhere about 3rd form, I was responsible for conjuring up his alias which survives to present day.
We were to meet up again in the Engineering Department at CAST and the College's Farquharson Hall of residence in the late 70s. We both called JTC, come TOJ/ Cable & Wireless employer from the early 80s until he migrated early 90s. Both of us would have been based firstly in Montego Bay and then Kingston with the telecoms company.
I picked him up that June/99 day at his in-laws residence in New Kingston and he immediately declared that he's in need of some real 'hard home food'. I decided then that we would go to the nearby Hot Pot Restaurant which was and is renowned for real Jamaican fare.
I was drinking a concoction called 'brown skin gal', while he was having something stronger. Amidst much banter and catching up, I happened to focus on an advert in the daily newspaper there on the table. The piece announced the 25th Anniversary Reunion of The St Georges College's Class of 74. We looked at this and both quickly agreed that we can and should do this too.
That night the first CC Class of 76 email was sent to incorporate Peter 'Springy' Ridgeway into the idea. There was immediate agreement and shortly thereafter Lloyd Parchment was on board and the nucleus of a planning committee and the reality of the 76er Movement was realized.
Our first 76er Reunion materialized a year later in 2000 in Montego Bay, with over 45 in attendance, 24 years removed from our 5th form graduation in June 1976. The success and nostalgia generated a demand for ongoing reunions to which the planning team obliged. The rest is history still in the making.
Subsequent home based reunions were held in 2006, 2010 and 2013.
Wray Anderson joined the team and was integral to the planning of the 2006 Reunion, highlighted by a celebration of our teachers at a Gala event at Sandals Montego Bay. Barry Morgan slotted in for Wray thereafter.
Our first 'foreign' based reunion was successfully planned and hosted by our 76er brethren in Toronto in July 2014. At the time of writing the 6th Class of 76 Reunion, to be hosted by South Florida 76ers in Nov 2015 was shaping up to be a massive event. There is every anticipation and indication that other locations, including New York and Atlanta, will be hosting future 76er events and that the 76er Movement will live on for a while yet.
CC and 76er For Life
Lawrence 'Larry' McNaughton
Aka 'Dillinger'
October 2015
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