GHS takes over Kingstown in ‘Blue and White’ affair

Victoria Park was a spectacle on Saturday night, where hundreds, if not thousands, of past and present students of the St. Vincent Girls’ High School (GHS) turned out to show appreciation for their Alma Mater at the Blue and White Affair.{{more}}

The large gathering counted down the hours, minutes, then seconds to the school’s 100th anniversary.

The lines of a song, “What more can I say? I wouldn’t be here today, if the old school didn’t pave the way”, seemed to be the prevailing sentiment among those gathered at the Park.

The late night rendezvous, which began with a march from the school’s compound at Richmond Hill to the Victoria Park, drew not only the women who at one time or another made the school’s classrooms their homes away from home, but relatives, friends and well-wishers, as well as persons who had journeyed to Kingstown to witness the launching of Carnival 2011, which took place at the Solidarity Inc. Car Park.

The marchers, decked out in white and/or blue attire, filed to their destination in party style, with the help of a hired sound system, which offered encouragement to the past and present students drawn from all walks of life. They moved along Richmond Hill road to Bay Street until they arrived at the Victoria Park.

Once in the Victoria Park, a rendition of ‘Ave Maria’ by Karen Veira drew all attention to the stage. A celebratory mood filled the atmosphere, as the gathering was taken on a nostalgic trip down memory lane, where they, among other things, took a look at headmistresses, events and school uniforms of the past, as well as heard pan renditions by present and former GHS students.

Current, as well as future concepts of the uniform were also displayed and the school’s present pan side and Bois Bois dancers also entertained the audience.

Past students, and now fashion designers Kimya Glasgow, Josel John, Lonelle Burke, Kavonne Bacchus and Kimon Baptiste, also wowed the crowd with their designs dubbed ‘Une Collection

en Bleu et Blanc’, created especially for the night.

Dance routines by Avenues Dancers, along with La Gracia Dance Group, Arabesque and Renaissance Dance Companies were also features on the night, which also saw the Centennial Choir, led by former Headmistress Jeanne Horne, perform renditions of ‘Aint Nothing Gonna Break my Stride’ and the Centennial Song just before midnight.

The highlight of the night came on the stroke of midnight, when fireworks lit up the night sky, much to the awe and amazement of many who had in some way been participating in a number of activities that led up

to the extra special moment.

The curtains came down on the night’s activities with a celebratory dance by the GHS dancers and performances by special guests, former Carnival Road March Champion Problem Child and Maddzart, the current Road March King.

The Blue and White Affair was the penultimate event of the institution’s buildup to the landmark date.

An ecumenical church service was held the following day at the Kingstown Methodist Church.