|
HISTORICAL
NOTES
The
T.O.R. Memorial High School known as Miss Robinson’s School was the
brain
child of Miss Nellie Robinson, a noble and courageous Antiguan who
lived during
the period 1880 to 1972.
Miss
Rob as she was affectionately called had been attending 'Coke
College' an "all
girls" school run by one Miss Hancock. That school had to be
closed. This
school was
situated on St. Mary's Street.
Miss
Rob was to have pursued a Medical Career in England where her
brother worked at the General Post Office. However,
he contracted Typhoid Fever and died and with him died her plans for
a
Medical Career.
At
the age of eighteen (18), Miss Rob started her own school. She began with
her
own brothers and sisters along with children of a few friends, and
so began the
Establishment.
The
T.O.R. Memorial High School was founded in
1898 and named after her brother Thomas Oliver Robinson whose
death changed the course of her early ambitions.
Miss
Nellie Robinson now Dame Nellie Robinson was a fair skinned,
good-looking,
intelligent lady who was never afraid to speak her mind to Bishop,
Governor
or else. She was
a very refined person and somehow retained those good
looks and qualities until her death. She was noted for
tossing her head while
she spoke and walking with a firm stride.
Some
years had passed and Miss Robinson had to go to the U.S.A. for
medical assistance. Miss Aggie Brooks was
left in charge of the school during her absence. While in the U.S.A. she took
a job with the Millers as a Governess. They
became so impressed with her performance and great personality that
they later
cleared her school in Antigua of its debts since they were quite a
wealthy family.
Later Miss Rob returned to Antigua to resume her duties of
Headmistress, which she did with dignity.
The
T.O.R. Memorial School then situated at Newgate Street changed
its
location
to Mrs. Langlais’ home on Redcliffe Street and then to the familiar
site on
High Street, which ceased to be the home of the school in July 2004.
The school is now located in our own buildings at Paynters
Estate.
The
School had a high standard, which was comparable to the Grammar
School and
High School, two church-run schools, belonging to the
Anglicans. These
schools maintained high standards of proficiency. The Grammar School catered
to
boys only and the High School to girls only.
Many
boys who attended the Grammar School had their early beginnings at the T.O.R.
Memorial High School and what is worthy of note is that many entered
colleges in the U.K. without having to take any further
exams.
The
T.O.R. Memorial High School filled the needs of many Antiguans who
in those
colonial times for one reason or another could not gain entry into
the two High
Schools on the Island.
Over
the years, the school became so widely recognized
that children came as ‘Boarders' from the Islands of St. Croix, Montserrat,
Panama, Tortola
and St. Kitts and many other
islands.
Miss
Rob was famous for her dramatic presentations, which were performed
at Bishop
Marther’s Schoolroom.
This school belonged to the Anglican Diocese and was
later taken over by the Ministry of
Education. It was
destroyed by fire some years ago, the spot now houses the
Ministry of Agriculture, Lands, Marine Resources and Agro
Industries.
In
1950 when Miss Rob could no longer head the school, the mantle was
passed on
to Miss Ina Loving who had joined the staff in
the forties. Miss Rob’s birth date December 7th is
commemorated as FOUNDER'S DAY. Every year a
thanksgiving service is
held at St, John's Anglican Cathedral in recognition of her dedicated service to the people
of Antigua.
This
outstanding lady was honoured twice by the British monarchy. In 1935
King
George V honoured her with a medal in commemoration of their
Majesties' Silver
Jubilee, and in 1941 she was awarded the M.B.E. (member of the
British Empire) however, locally, in recognition of her outstanding
contribution to Education
and Culture in Antigua and Barbuda, the Professional Organization
of Women in Antigua (POWA), in
their citations of 2000, named Miss Nellie Robinson "Woman of the
20th Century" and most recently she was awarded
Dame Companion of the
most Exalted Order of National Hero (DNH) for services to Education and henceforth she will
be referred to as Dame Nellie Robinson. Dame Nellie Robinson died on
29th April 1972 at the grand old age of 92. May
her soul rest in peace.
The
school has always been careful not only of the academic developments
of its
pupils,
but also the social and cultural aspects. One of the Hallmarks of the
school is the insistence on strict discipline.
During
the summer of 1993 the T.O.R. held a reunion where many past
students came from far and wide to celebrate. This was held to honor
Ms.
Ina Loving who had given her whole life
to the school. There
was a massive turnout at every function.
Miss
Ina Loving received one of the nation’s highest awards, the Order of
Merit -Gold. This was bestowed upon her
by Governor General Dr.
James Beethoven Carlisle; Miss Ina Loving carried the torch of Headmistress from 1950 - 1993 when
her health failed her to do so. She served with
great skill, determination and courage. Some may have had
doubts about her as the replacement to fill the very large shoes of
the illustrious founder Miss
Nellie Robinson but Miss Loving rose to the challenge and satisfied
the expectation of her severest critics.
However,
Miss Ina Loving searched for a replacement and one of our nation's
best fruits was chosen.
Mrs.
Natalie Hurst nee Francis a former student of
the T.O.R. was selected to carry the mantle of Headmistress
for the school.
In our judgement, there could not have been a better choice or a
finer candidate for the position.
We
are pleased to report that Miss Loving sought the help of a past
student an eminent
lawyer, Mr. Sydney Christian to put the school on a solid
foundation. Mr Christian suggested that the ownership of the
school be put into the
hands of its past students who would form a
Friendly Society headed by a functioning Board of Management. With this plan in
place, the continuity of the T.O.R. would be ensured. To this Mss Loving
agreed whole-heartedly.
Miss
Ina Loving passed quietly into the beyond on December
23rd 1996. The
school boasts of its 109 years having only 4 headmistresses
-
i)
Dame Nellie Robinson
ii)
Miss Ina Loving
iii) Mrs.
Natalie Hurst
iv)
and Mrs. Hyacinth Matthew
The
T.O.R. Memorial School boasts of Past students here in Antigua and
all over the world, among them many persons
who are involved in various professions as well as in high public
office. This school has
always stood for service and its past students have tried to live our
School motto, which is "I Press Toward the Mark."
On
our 25th Anniversary of Independence November
1st 2006, Miss Nellie
Robinson
was posthumously awarded - Dame Companion of the Most Exalted
Order
of National Hero (DNH) for services to Education.
May
God continue to always help us to Press toward the mark.
| 
