GHS launches stamp issue

The history of the Girls’ High School (GHS) was stamped and sewn into being as the GHS centenary celebrations continued this week with a launch of the centenary stamp issue and the handing over of two quilts to the National Public Library.{{more}}

The launching ceremony, was held at the National Public Library’s Conference Room on Wednesday, May 4.

Rene Baptiste, who conceptualised the stamp issue, revealed that it was not easy to come up with 10 stamps that would capture the history of the GHS.

“Something that will mark the uniqueness and legacy of the Girls’ High School,” she stated.

She added that through research with assistance by her sister, Dr. Rosalind Ambrose, she identified persons, places and achievements that made GHS special.

Many ‘firsts’ were highlighted during the presentation of the stamp issue, which included Peggy Ince Hull as Captain of the first West Indies Netball team, the Girls High School steel band’s victory in the Steel Pan competition of 2010 as well as the success of past student,Colette Charles, who was the first GHS student to write and pass 12 Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) subjects.

Also included in the stamp issue are members of the GHS alumni, including Beryl Baptiste MBE, the first female Director of Audit in the Commonwealth; Betty Boyea-King, Most Outstanding Alumna of the Diplomatic Service of the US Government at the United Nations and other International Organisations; Dame Monica Dacon, Deputy Governor General; past headmistresses Laura Smith Moffett and Susan Dougan as well as Norma Keizer and current Headmistress Andrea Bowman. The Grimble Hall, which is now a protected National Heritage Building is also a part of the stamp issue. The stamps are valued between one and three dollars.

Teacher of the GHS Margaret Henry-Lewis stated that the students of the school did its first quilt, made up of tie-dyed patches as a gift to former Headmistress Norma Kiezer when she had retired from the institution. Henry- Lewis added that another quilt was done for AIDS awareness.

The quilts, Henry Lewis stated were done by past and present students of the GHS with one quilt done by Form 2 Connell students. Henry-Lewis said that the quilts feature the girls’ feelings toward their Alma Mater.

The two quilts adorn the walls of the Reference room at the National Public Library.