Wolmerians commemorate founder's last journey

Mayor of Kingston Angela Brown Burke joined trustees, board members and past students of the Wolmer's schools at the Victoria Pier in downtown Kingston recently to welcome the arrival of 30 students and principals of the Wolmer's Boys', Girls' and Preparatory schools. The group was re-enacting the journey from Port Royal to Kingston taken in 1729 by dying founder of the school, John Wolmer.

Wolmer's last will and testament provided for a school to be established in the parish in which he should happen to die. Legend has it that Wolmer was hurriedly taken by his friends across the harbour so that the school would be established in Kingston and not in Port Royal, which at that time was a separate parish.

Chairman of the Wolmer's Trust, Milton Samuda, and board chairman, Pauline Findlay, expressed delight that the annual Founder's Day celebrations of the school helped to highlight the rich history and culture of Kingston to which the school has contributed for some 283 years.

"This year, we are pleased that we are joined in our activities by Her Worship the Mayor, a Wolmerian, as we reflect on the road travelled over nearly three centuries and chart the course for development of our school and our city," Samuda said.

CAPTION: John Wolmer (third left), (Pacino Fearon of Wolmer's Boys' School) is greeted by Mayor of Kingston Angela Brown Burke (second right) on landing at Victoria Pier from Port Royal early on the morning of May 20. Students from the Wolmer's Boys', Girls' and Preparatory schools commemorated the founding of their school by re-enacting the journey across the Kingston Harbour taken by their dying founder John Wolmer in 1729. Others pictured (from left) are: Pauline Findlay, chairman, Wolmer's board of management; Shennon Chang, Wolmer's Girls' School; Nicolas Smith, Wolmer's Boys' School, and Sheriece Duncan, Wolmer's Girls' School. At right is Milton Samuda, chairman of the Wolmer's Trust.