OHHS Class of 91 Reunion looks beyond its inauguration

As expected the event brought back lots of fond memories, feelings of nostalgia constant throughout as old mates, in some cases, were seeing each other for the first time in 33 years.

It was the second of a three-day rendezvous sandwiched by a meet and greet session on the school’s ground Friday and Sunday’s beach link-up at the popular Puerto Seco in St Ann.

An idea berth “over the years” was finally being fulfilled, says Desmond Richards, one of the lead organisers, who noted that the real planning behind the staging of its first reunion was set in motion a year ago.

“All great things have to take planning,” a very pleased Richards tells Old Harbour News. “After a year, here we are. It has been a long journey, but it was worth the wait.”

Richards, who immigrated to the United States of America in 1996, said “It’s nice to see people you haven’t seen in 33 years from I left high school, so it was a very great look.

“To meet them in person and shake their hands and bring up back memories is just great,” he added. “There’s no money you can pay for that. You have to understand that this was a second family for us. Leaving home and going to see the second family every day. One of the guys from the Class of 91 is my son’s godfather, so we have friendship that will last a lifetime.”

Ralph Yates, the head boy at that time, was also present, telling Old Harbour News it was an emotional experience, but one a historic opportunity he could never let passed.

“An event like this I consider to be a very blessed event because we were able to rekindle that friendship and relationship that we created while in high school,” Yates, now a legal analysts in the US, said.

“The feeling I would say is a bit of a mix, meaning very emotional. There is one of the players on the soccer team that we were like close brothers and we haven’t seen each other since graduation, so finally at the meet and greet it was a bit of a tear-jerker and I really felt good that a few members brainstormed this idea and it has been brought to past.”

The graduating class of 1991 bears historic significance. It was the first batch of students to graduate under the then freshly minted high school banner, an upgrade from its secondary status. That they have managed to host a reunion for the first time since leaving the hallowed grounds on 33 South Street is an historic accomplishment and occasion at the same time.

Dr Janice Fearon delivered the keynote address and used the occasion to remind her former batchmates that their current situation is not their final destination as far as pursuing their dreams.

Dr Fearon, the director of center operations, a position that sees her overseeing 17 US federal schools, said: “At the end of day we can all achieve what we want to achieve with resilience, determination that equal success. We have to work towards our goal but we have to be intentional about it.”

School reunion is not a novel idea. In fact such a concept has been around ever since the formal school system was established. Many reunions have outlived its founding members, establishing itself as a major supporting arm of institutions. And that’s precisely the goal of the graduates of 1991, contends Richards after donating $200,000 to their alma mater, which school principal Lynton Weir accepted with gratitude.

“The objective is to donate more money to Old Harbour High School,” Richards stated. “This is the first and a lot of people have been reaching out and saying ‘oh we are so sad that we’ve missed this’.

“Next time we want to triple (the donation) or give more. We want to get sponsors involved, so we can get more to give more to the school.”

Among the many topics being discussed by the group is the establishment of a special fund to assist colleagues in need but the membership will continue to explore the best mechanism to implement such objective.

Richards also informed that it is the intention of the group to open chapters in the US, here in Jamaica and Canada as it seeks to grow and spread its influence for the greater good.