Happy years, and moments of great pride

At 95, former Wolmer’s Boys’ principal Donald Bogle reflects on his Jamaica years

Donald Bogle at 95 is now happily retired, living in Toronto, Canada. At the height of his professional career in education, he rose to become a Rhodes Scholar, and Jamaica’s first past student to have become principal of Wolmer’s Boys’ School. He was born on Elletson Road in Kingston and attended Blake Preparatory School, winning one of three scholarships to enter Wolmer’s. Back then, the school population consisted of just 300 mostly wealthy boys who paid a pretty penny for a space at the prestigious school.

“I was an extremely shy young lad who did as he was told,” Bogle confessed. “I shone at most sports, especially cricket, always playing second fiddle to Jerry Alexander who later became captain of the West Indies Cricket Team,” he revealed.

After passing the Junior and Senior Cambridge Examinations, he was asked by then principal Mr. J. R. Bunting to stay on after graduation as assistant teacher and sports master, a slot he held for three years until a colonial scholarship took him to The University of the West Indies (UWI) to read for a general arts degree. He enjoyed The UWI experience, making friends with Derek Walcott from St. Lucia who later became the recipient of the Nobel Prize for Literature and Vernon Smith prominent cricketer, attorney and diplomat from Barbados.

After graduation, Bogle taught at Munro College and was principal of Meadowbrook High School before taking over the reins at Wolmer’s Boys’ from 1966 to 1971. When he returned to Heroes Circle as principal, the school had grown from 300 to 700 boys. Significant social changes had occurred in Jamaica during his absence and the then Common Entrance Examination (now PEP) had opened up the school to a more diverse cross-section of students. Some were from homes with weak parental support and Bogle said this void came with disciplinary challenges that required more careful and sympathetic guidance.

“The job at Wolmer’s was perhaps more difficult a task than I had anticipated, but with the help of the then board led by Ramon Alberga and an outstanding staff that included Mrs. Spaulding (wife of parliamentarian Tony Spaulding), Mrs. Tewari (sister of Nobel Prize laureate V. S. Naipaul), plus stalwarts like Mr. Wood, Mr. Smith and Mrs. Chambers, the school remained on an even keel,” Bogle stated proudly. He placed great emphasis on the participation in sports with competitive rivalry to aid character development and the school enjoyed great success in many sporting activities. Ironically, the year after Bogle left, Wolmer’s did a clean sweep of all major sports competitions.

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With changing demographics and changing times, a three-storey building was constructed during his tenure to house the development of industrial arts and metal work. He also introduced business administration as an academic subject. These changes attracted raised eyebrows and accusations that Bogle was trying to turn the regal grammar school where Latin was once celebrated into a comprehensive-type school. Bogle, in true hero style, flatly dismissed the criticisms as his intentions were to only create a more relevant education for Jamaican young men, and to prepare his students for employment. Despite the hurdles, Bogle fondly recalls moments of great pride.

“One of the highlights was welcoming Lord Colin Cowdrey, captain of the MCC (Marylebone Cricket Club) cricket team to assembly as our guest of honour and his inspiring words about the value of sportsmanship and hard work resonated with students and are still remembered,” Bogle shared. “Another highlight was having former prime minister, Mr. Michael Manley, as guest of honour at our prize-giving ceremony. We knew each other quite well from watching test cricket at Sabina Park and despite pockets of resistance to him coming, he left a lasting impression on the students,” he added.

Bogle described the Wolmer’s years as some very happy ones. He said he sometimes regrets having migrated, but many of his family members had already relocated to Canada and he made the difficult decision to join them. He transitioned from education and worked for many years in finance and investment education there. Happily, he visits Jamaica periodically where he enjoys a longstanding friendship over the years with several past students from Wolmer’s who keep in touch. He in fact intends to spend the American Thanksgiving holiday next week in Jamaica.

“I think I speak on behalf of many old boys in saying there is enduring admiration and unwavering respect for all that our beloved Mr. Bogle did for Wolmer’s during his years as principal,”, past student and former Air Jamaica captain, Major (Ret’d) Effiom Whyte told The Gleaner.

Bogle concurred. “I feel tremendously proud when I run into old boys who express gratitude for the solid education that Wolmer’s provided during my tenure as headmaster there,” he said.