Combermere School

Last updated
Combermere School School Image.jpg
Combermere School

Combermere School is a school in Barbados, notable as one of the oldest schools in the Caribbean, established in 1695. [1] Its alumni include several leading cricketers, David Thompson, sixth prime minister of Barbados and other politicians, several authors and the singer Rihanna. In its first 75 years, the school "provided the Barbadian community with the vast bulk of its business leaders and civil servants" and it is "perhaps the first school anywhere to offer secondary education to black children". [2]

Contents

History

The school was established in 1695 as the Drax Parish School, under the 1682 will of plantation owner Colonel Henry Drax (great-uncle of the Whig politician Henry Drax), who had left 2000 pounds sterling for the establishment and endowment of a "free school or Colledge" "to continue forever". [3] : 52  The executors not having acted in a timely manner, the parish authorities eventually did. The oldest secondary school on Barbados and one of the oldest schools in the Caribbean, [1] it underwent several name changes and relocations before settling within the Parish of St Michael, at Waterford, on the outskirts of the capital of Barbados, Bridgetown, in 1819. [4] [5]

The school, named after a colonial governor of Barbados, Stapleton Cotton, 1st Viscount Combermere, bears tribute to some of the school forefathers through the naming of areas such as the Drax Square, the De Vere Moore Gardens, and the Major Noot Hall. It was the first school to offer secondary education to poorer coloured students on the island. Having started as a co-educational institution, it returned to a mixed approach in the 1970s, eventually reaching a gender ratio of around 50%. [4]

In 1995, Barbados issued a set of postage stamps commemorating the school's 300 years. [6]

In 2016, the school was closed due to environmental concerns. The remediation efforts were slowed by alleged sabotage, but the school eventually reopened in 2017. [7] [8] [9]

Staff and structure

Combermere is led by a principal, assisted by a deputy principal; there are also six year heads for first form through to the upper sixth. There are over 70 staff in total, including a guidance counsellor. [4]

Departments and subjects

The school has 12 departments, each headed by a senior teacher. The departments are: chemistry, mathematics, geography/social studies and environmental science, physics, biology and home economics, English, music and fine arts, physical education, technical and vocational studies, history, foreign languages, and business studies. There are dedicated labs and rooms for chemistry, biology, geography, physics, languages, music, computer science, and food and nutrition. [10] The school has a pavilion equipped with a gym and changing rooms. There are two playing fields, a cricket pitch, shooting range, basketball/netball and tennis/volleyball courts. Also included on the premises are a library and an auditorium — the Major Noot Hall [1] — and it one of the few secondary schools on Barbados, if not the only one, with a meteorological station.

Combermere offers a music programme. It is also home to the Number 3 Cadet Company.

Notable alumni

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Saint Michael, Barbados</span> Parish

The parish of St. Michael is one of eleven parishes of Barbados. It has a land area of 39 km2 (15 sq mi) and is found at the southwest portion of the island. Saint Michael has survived by name as one of the original six parishes created in 1629 by Governor Sir William Tufton.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Frank Worrell</span> West Indian cricketer (1924–1967)

Sir Frank Mortimer Maglinne Worrell, sometimes referred to by his nickname of Tae, was a Barbadian West Indies cricketer and Jamaican senator. A stylish right-handed batsman and useful left-arm seam bowler, he became famous in the 1950s as the second black captain of the West Indies cricket team. Along with Everton Weekes and Clyde Walcott, he formed what was known as "The Three Ws" of the West Indian cricket. He was the first batter to have been involved in two 500-run partnerships and remained the only one until Ravindra Jadeja emulated him in the 2010s.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Everton Weekes</span> West Indian cricketer

Sir Everton DeCourcy Weekes, KCMG, GCM, OBE was a cricketer from Barbados. A right-handed batsman, he was known as one of the hardest hitters in world cricket. Weekes holds the record for the most consecutive Test hundreds, with five. Along with Frank Worrell and Clyde Walcott, he formed what was known as "The Three Ws" of the West Indies cricket team. Weekes played in 48 Test matches for the West Indies cricket team from 1948 to 1958. Weekes occasionally donned the wicketkeeping gloves as well. He continued to play first-class cricket until 1964, surpassing 12,000 first-class runs in his final innings. As a coach he was in charge of the Canadian team at the 1979 Cricket World Cup, and he was also a commentator and international match referee.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Barbados national cricket team</span> Sports team that represents Barbados

The Barbados national cricket team is the national cricket team of Barbados, organised by the Barbados Cricket Association (BCA). Barbados is a member of the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB), which is a member of the International Cricket Council (ICC) in its own right, and Barbadians play internationally for the West Indies cricket team.

Leslie Arthur Walcott was a West Indian cricketer who played for Barbados between 1925–26 and 1935-36 as a batsman, off-spinner and, in 1934-35, wicket-keeper.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Index of Barbados-related articles</span>

The following is an alphabetical list of topics related to the nation of Barbados.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Shamarh Brooks</span> West Indian cricketer

Shamarh Shaqad Joshua Brooks is a Barbadian international cricketer who plays international cricket for West Indies and plays domestic cricket for Barbados. He is a right-handed batsman who occasionally bowls leg-spin and mainly plays as a batsman. He made his international debut for the West Indies in August 2019.

John Wakefield Holder is a Barbadian-born English former first-class cricketer and international cricket umpire. Holder was born in Saint George, Barbados. Following the completion of his education, he emigrated to England in search of work with London Transport. After impressing in club cricket in London, Holder began playing county cricket for Hampshire as a fast-medium bowler, in a first-class county career which lasted from 1968 to 1972. Injury forced Holder to retire from professional cricket, though he later returned to play professionally in the Lancashire League and for Western Province in South Africa. After the conclusion of his playing career, Holder became an umpire at domestic and international level. He would stand as an umpire in both Test and One Day International cricket from 1988 to 2001. Holder retired from umpiring in 2009, having stood in over 400 first-class and List A one-day matches apiece. As of 2021, he remained the only non-white English umpire in nearly 150 years of Test cricket.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kraigg Brathwaite</span> Barbadian cricketer

Kraigg Clairmonte Brathwaite is a Barbadian cricketer who captains the West Indies in Test cricket. He is a right-handed batsman and occasionally bowls off breaks. On 6 November 2011, he became only the second West Indian to score two Test fifties before his 19th birthday when he made 63 (212) against India in Delhi. He has also effectively stood as stand-in-captain in place of Jason Holder in seven test matches before becoming the permanent captain of the test team taking over from Holder. He idolises Shivnarine Chanderpaul and his batting style.

Sports in Barbados are many and varied. The large Barbadian diaspora around the globe and wide-scale availability of International television covered on the local cable service and DirectTV has meant that Barbadians have always been up to date on international trends. Barbadians now follow a wide cross-section of sport from around the world. In recent years, the Barbadian government has implemented a policy of sport-based tourism. Including the hosting of the 2007 Cricket World Cup and various other events locally. Beyond this, the Barbadian calendar has many sporting events throughout the year.

Harrison College is a co-educational grammar school in Bridgetown, Barbados. Founded in 1733, the school takes its name from Thomas Harrison, a Bridgetown merchant, who intended it to serve as "A Public and Free School for the poor and indigent boys of the parish".

Lawrence 'Larry' Roosevelt Worrell is a Barbadian-born English former first-class cricketer.

Spartan Cricket Club is a cricket club in Barbados.

Empire Cricket Club is a cricket club in Barbados. The club plays in Barbados Cricket Association Division 1 championship. The club was formed on 24 May 1914—Empire Day—from which it took its name. The club was formed by a defection of disaffected members of Spartan Cricket Club, when Spartan had refused membership to the "socially inferior" Barbadian cricketer Herman Griffith in 1913.

Wildey Sports and Cultural Club is a cricket club in Barbados. The club competes in the Barbados Cricket Association Elite Division competition, the premier cricket competition in Barbados. The club was established in 1964 for and by employees of Banks Brewery, a leading brewery in Barbados and until 2014 was called Banks Sports and Cultural Club Until 2013, the club played at the Brewery Ground; it now plays at the Samuel Jackman Prescod Institute of Technology at Pine Hill.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Elsie Payne</span>

Dame Elsie Payne was a teacher and following independence she became the first Barbadian-born principal of Queen's College in Bridgetown. She was the first woman to receive a damehood in Barbados, for her long dedication to education and nation.

Charles A. "Charlie" Skeete was a Barbadian economist and diplomat. He served as Barbados' Ambassador to the United States from 1981 to 1983 and Permanent Representative of Barbados to the Organization of American States (OAS) during the 1980s.

Keith Arlington Patrick Sandiford GCM is a Barbadian-born Canadian historian. He has been professor emeritus at the University of Manitoba since 2002.

Keith Albert Sandiford is a Barbadian-born historian. He has taught literature at Louisiana State University since 1986.

Windward Park is a cricket ground in Lucas Street, Barbados.

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Combermere School". Totally Barbados (Education). Retrieved 2022-03-29.
  2. ↑ Sandiford, Keith A. P. (1998). Cricket Nurseries of Colonial Barbados: The Elite Schools, 1865-1966. Press University of the West Indies. p. 106. ISBN   9789766400460.
  3. ↑ A-Z of Barbados Heritage. Sean Carrington, Henry Fraser, John Gilmore, G. Addinton Forde (2nd ed.). Oxford: Macmillan Caribbean. 2003. ISBN   0-333-92068-6. OCLC   53920419.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: others (link)
  4. 1 2 3 "Combermere School (MRD | Secondary Schools)". Government of Barbados (Media Resource Department). Retrieved 2022-03-29.
  5. ↑ Ray, Michael (March 9, 2016). "A point of clarity on location of Combermere". Nation News. Retrieved March 29, 2022.
  6. ↑ "Phildom Philatelly".
  7. ↑ "Problems still at Combermere". 21 March 2017.
  8. ↑ "Jones gives details of Combermere 'sabotage'". 7 February 2017.
  9. ↑ "School to start next week at Combermere". 6 January 2017.
  10. ↑ "More Combermere Drama (Ministry and BSTU's reports differ on environmental situation)". Barbados Advocate . 28 January 2017. Retrieved 29 March 2022. ...the Food and Nutrition Lab, the Art Room, ... the Physics Labs, ... the Media Centre
  11. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "Kraigg Brathwaite: Short balls in the nets was my welcome". Cricinfo. Retrieved 2016-01-03.
  12. ↑ "Growing up stupid: By one who didn't". Red Deer Advocate. 11 June 1980. p. 30.
  13. ↑ "Barbadian X Factor winner and Rihanna went to the same school". Loop News. Retrieved 4 December 2023.
  14. ↑ Best, Tony (2017-12-10). "Economist Charles Skeete passes away". The Daily Nation (Barbados) . Archived from the original on 2017-12-11. Retrieved 2018-01-04.
  15. ↑ Carter, Gercine (9 April 2017). "Bajan's wand ready for next oil spill". NationNews.com. St Michael, Barbados. Retrieved 15 August 2021.
  16. ↑ Sandiford, Keith A. P. (1998). Cricket Nurseries of Colonial Barbados. Press University of the West Indies. p. 136. ISBN   9789766400460.
  17. ↑ "Errol Walton Barrow". Caribbean Elections Biography. Retrieved 2023-01-28.

13°07′00″N59°36′08″W / 13.11667°N 59.60222°W / 13.11667; -59.60222

This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.