By ANGELA PIDDUCK Monday, July 9 2012

Trinity College, said former student Colonel Anthony Phillip Spencer, Commanding Officer of the Trinidad and Tobago Regiment, and feature speaker at the College’s valedictory service “is the best school in the country.”

The Colonel was addressing the graduating class of 2012 at the Holy Trinity Cathedral in Port-of-Spain, recently.

In her introduction, Janice Richards, Vice Principal of the Anglican College at Moka, Maraval, remembered the soldier as head of the Trinity cadets where he ran a very successful and a very rigid programme. “From the fourth form year, you held the respect of your then principal, the late Mr Courtney Nicholls, as well as the teachers on staff.”

Trinity’s high regard for its alumni is evidenced by the fact that this is where feature speakers come for every school function where one is needed. Col Spencer, who leads the land forces component of the Trinidad and Tobago Defence Force, has not only excelled as a military officer but also in the area of academia, where he obtained a Master of Science in International Relations, and presented papers to international organisations, like the UN,on International Cooperation and Security. While on the other hand the Colonel has been decorated both nationally and internationally.

The graduating Forms 5L and 5R, and the two Upper Six forms, Arts and Science listened attentively as they were told of the need for resilience in their lives, such as the college gave him. And he spoke of his high esteem for the Trinity motto, “Courage and Courtesy,” two important watchwords in his life which he received along with a well rounded education from the Moka college.

In the absence of The Very Reverend Colin Sampson, Dean of the Cathedral, Reverend Titus Ackbarali, said the meditation. The Trinity College Junior Pan Ensemble played for the processional into the church and the recessional. Valedictorian was Joel Caresquero (outgoing head prefect, U6Sci).

Scripture readings were done by Chad Best of Form 5R and Jechiliah Solomon of U6A. While Alison Baisden, the first female Principal of the College moved a vote of thanks.

Trinity College was one of the secondary schools which chose to have a separate graduation evening and so it was on to the ball the following night, at the Cascadia in St Ann’s, where well dressed parents escorted their equally well dressed students, the majority of whom went back to the era of slim-fitting suits, with pastel shirts and matching ties.