Dear Editor,
I was greatly shocked this morning when I read in the newspaper that Mrs Christobel Hughes, the mother of Nigel Hughes, had died as the result of an accident.
I got to know Mrs Hughes in the late 1950s when she came first to Berbice to take over the Domestic Science School in New Amsterdam. She was then Ms Christobel Dean, and took over from Mrs Carew, the mother of Ian Carew who had just retired as headmistress. She attended the New Amsterdam Congregational Church every Sunday and always had a pleasant smile and was courteous ‒ a very good example to young girls such as my sister.
When I came down to Georgetown in 1957 to join the civil service I got to know her family better. Her father was the head of the entire post office, a very popular civil servant.
As a mother she showed great interest in the development of her children. I can recall her attending a debating competition between St Stanislaus College and Queens College, but that time her young son Nigel was a participant.
I know we all have to die at some time, but the tragic circumstances of her death are unfortunate.
I wish to offer my condolences on behalf of myself and family as well as the old folks in New Amsterdam who can recall what I have spoken about, to both the Hughes family as well as the Dean family.
May her soul rest in peace
Yours faithfully,
Jonas M F Coddett