Local and overseas-based alumni of Queen’s College are invited to register to ensure their participation at a grand reunion planned in observance of the school’s 170th anniversary.
The school was established in 1844 as the Queen’s College Grammar School for Boys by Bishop Piercy Austin, Bishop of the Anglican Diocese of the then British Guiana, a press release from the Queen’s College Old Students Association said. The first class was held in August 1844 with an enrolment of 15 students and two tutors, Bishop Austin being the school’s first principal.
Although QC started out as an Anglican Church school its founder’s dream of making it a more broad-based institution led to the growth of the student population that included both Anglicans and many non-Anglicans. With the change in the make-up of the student body, the school became a colonial institution in 1876 and was renamed Queen’s College of British Guiana. The make-up further changed when the school, now run by the Government of Guyana, became co-educational in 1975.
Over the years of its long history QC has produced many outstanding Guyanese who have distinguished themselves in the fields of politics, government, law, foreign affairs, education, medicine, the social and natural sciences and in several other professions. Renowned for its tradition of academic excellence, QC continues to earn top honours every year (both at home and in the Caribbean) at the Caribbean Examinations Council (CSEC and CAPE) exams, the release said.
During the week-long anniversary celebration, several educational and social events including a special general assembly of students, staff and alumni, student workshops, a Quiz Night with students and alumni interacting, an evening of musical entertainment provided by students and alumni and fundraisers (luncheon, dinner and BBQ and Lime) will be held. Tours to Guyana’s interior can also be arranged. Plans are also in train to host the annual business meeting of the international Committee of the local and overseas chapters of the QC Alumni Association.
Alumni and friends may register via any of the following ways: online at http://www.qcguyanaalumny.org or re-quest a soft copy of the form via 2014reunion@qcguyanaalumny.org or resister in person on Sunday October 26. A more detailed programme of activities can be obtained via the same email address.
The 170th anniversary celebrations starts on October 26 and will conclude on November 1.