Father Khan
The date is late August 1948, and I had just won the coveted County Scholarship to enter Queen’s College, then the most prestigious school in British Guiana. My dad took me to QC, which was located at the eastern end of Brickdam (now the Ministry of Health), and I was issued with my QC Tie, uniform, and books, and was ready to start. However, something happened that changed the course of my life. My dad, who was a recent convert to Catholicism, decided that he wanted me to enter a school at the western end of Brickdam, called St. Stanislaus College, run by some Church organization named the Jesuits. I was dragged reluctantly into the presence of a very pleasant person named Fr. Brian Scannell S.J. who welcomed me, allayed my fears, and assured me that I would get a good education. I naturally was upset and skeptical of his reassurances, but had no choice. My life was then placed on a different course, and I sometimes wonder what would have happened if I had entered QC instead.
Saints was at the time an all boys’ school and comprised a single building, later named the Weld Wing. In front of us was a large open space where we were made to do P.E. under the watchful eye of Stanley Marques and where some of us were subject to the initiation rites of La Bas and other painful rites of passage. My best friends who had great influence on my formation were Carlyle Moore, Oswald de Haan, and Godfrey Persaud. Together, we formed the House and frequented each other’s homes as we studied, played, and prayed together. Sad to say, Godfrey died in September 2001, and we have all moved on with our lives.
The class ahead of mine included Compton Meerabux and Raymond Pancham and, when they left to join the Jesuits in 1954, I followed suit in 1955 after giving up the Rediffusion Open Scholarship in Natural Science. We were all influenced by the exceptional group of men who taught us, especially the Jesuit priests whom we admired a lot. This was the new batch that came to Guyana at the end of the War, young priests who taught us and influenced our lives so tremendously that some of us chose to join either the Jesuits or the Diocesan clergy. A few survived to tell the tale. Mine was one such saga, although my story had a different ending. I was a Jesuit for 25 years, but left the Jesuits in 1980 and relocated to Barbados where I tried to assist in communication between the various Chapters and our Alma Mater in spite of diminishing numbers.
From 1955 to 1972, I was in formation at various Jesuit establishments in England and Guyana. My best friends, during my studies in England, were Fr. Fred Rigby S.J. and Fr. David Lamb S.J, both of whom have since passed away. Fred joined the Jesuits in 1955, and we remained close friends until he was called away in 2001.
After an absence of 9 years, I returned in 1964 for the 2 year Regency at my Alma Mater. I was young, somewhat impetuous, a bit of a revolutionary, and enjoyed both teaching and assisting Fr. T. Lynch S.J. with games at the Sea Wall Grounds. I was issued with a motor cycle, and enjoyed this part of the Jesuit formation. I worked with Fr. Bernard Darke S.J. as his Assistant Scout Master, including the memorable trip to Lethem in August 1965. In 1966, I returned to the UK for Theology and, after Ordination in 1969 in London, I was sent for a year to Saints 1970-1, before returning to UK for the final year, the Tertianship, when I took my Final Vows. This was a year of prayer and reflection before being sent out to work in Guyana. It had been a long course, but I was ready, at the young age of 36, to face the world.
I well remember the decision of my Jesuit Superiors to appoint me as Principal on my return in July 1972. I objected strenuously to their decision that I understudy the outgoing Principal, Fr. John Hopkinson, and replace him later that year. I explained that my ideas were very different from his and I felt that the Grammar School concept, in vogue since Saints was set up in 1866, was inappropriate for Guyana. There were others more qualified that I, whom I would have liked to see appointed, but my Superiors thought otherwise - a Jesuit school must have a Jesuit Principal, they argued.
I was thrust into becoming the first Guyanese to head Saints at a time of considerable political upheaval with a nation in turmoil, after the suspension of the Constitution in 1953, political disturbances in 1963, independence in 1966, and consolidation of political power by the Burnham regime in 1970. Co-education was introduced in 1975, and this resulted in many changes to the curriculum and the quality of education at what was once an all boys’ school.
One beacon of hope was the St. Stanislaus College Association (SSCA) set up by John Fernandes Snr. in 1943, and the agent of change over the years. In 1972, the SSCA elected Rafiq Khan as President, and changes were fast and furious. These are well documented in the 1973 College Magazine in the articles SCHOOL FARM & WORKSHOP: HEADMASTER’S VISION (pages 54-55) and FARM REPORT by Peter Fernandes (Chairman of the Farm Committee). Rafiq set in motion a chain of events that eventually transformed our Alma Mater from a traditional Grammar school to a school with multilateral dimensions, where agricultural education and technical education were introduced, despite the misgivings of many. The Jesuit staff were very supportive of these changes and, in particular, Fr. Robert Barrow S.J. helped steer Saints into a new world and eventually assisted in our replacing QC as the most advanced and prestigious school in Guyana with a Caribbean dimension beyond our widest dreams. Our thrust into the new world of computer science education and provision of modern up-to-date computer laboratories, together with a School Farm that is the envy of other schools, and other innovations in education and administration, gives much room for hope.
In 1980, subsequent to the death of Fr. Bernard Darke S.J. in 1979, and my removal from Saints by the Ministry of Education, I relocated to Barbados. My name was on the “Black List” until Mr. Burnham passed away in 1985, and I returned to Guyana in 1989 on a Barbados Passport. I have made yearly trips to Guyana to help in the setting up of the new Board of Governors (BOG) in 2005 when the Government at last handed over the running of Saints to Alumni and ushered in the wind of change. This is another episode that is being chronicled by the Toronto Chapter, assisted by the websites now being set up by John Sparrock (in USA) and the SSCA.
The St. Stanislaus College Association - Barbados, was founded in 1995. It provides alumni, and former members of staff and friends of Saints, with an opportunity to assist the College, as well as occasions for them to meet at Social Evenings, Family Fun Days, the Feast Day of St. Stanislaus, and other activities that arise from time to time. We have tried to help our Alma Mater, within the constraints of our limited resources. Since its inception, our Chapter has assisted by sending shipments of textbooks, donated by Harrison College, Barbados, where I taught from 1981 until to my retirement in 2001. We also sent equipment for the Saints Scout Troop which shared mutually beneficial activities with the Harrison College Scout Troop of which I was a Scout Leader. We hosted the Saints Scout Troop in 1996, providing foodstuff, transportation etc., and helped in many other ways. A return visit to Guyana by the Harrison College Scout troop in July 1999 was hosted by the Saints Scout Troop, during which the Fr. Darke Shield was awarded for outstanding performance to a Scout who met certain criteria. This Trophy was in memory of Fr. Bernard Darke S.J. whose contribution to Scouting at Saints and to Guyana will long be remembered. This Trophy, as well as replicas for previous years, were donated by the Barbados Chapter which has also funded the wrought iron grill, doors and windows and the extension of the Scout room, etc. The Barbados Chapter also donated a Computer to the Scout Troop and, again in August 2001, hosted the Saints Scout Troop which camped at Harrison College as guests of the Harrison College Scout Troop. A further donation of Sports equipment was made in 2004 to the Scout Troop. The Barbados Chapter also tried to facilitate some form of twinning arrangement between Harrison College and Saints. This remains a goal, but my retirement in 2001 has placed this on the back burner. At the present time, our Chapter has not been active, except for our annual Mass of St. Stanislaus on November 13th and some joint fund raising with the Guyanese Association of Barbados Inc. (GABI) of which I am a Vice President. Some of our members have also been involved in the activities of GABI but our Chapter plans some form of cultural show later this year.
Now, at the age of 71, I cannot move around as before and leave it to the younger generation to continue transforming our Alma Mater, while remaining cognisant of our origins as a Jesuit College since 1866 and the turbulent history of Guyana during the past 101 years. I still hope I can contribute in some small way to the efforts of the SSCA and the BOG, headed by Nigel Hughes and Chris Fernandes respectively, and their excellent team of workers.
Kenneth Khan, class of 1955, SSC 1964-66, 1970-71, 1972-1980