The First “Pan In School” in the world (Historically)
“Aldwin Albino speaks on
Hello Philbert Atteng : I recently saw your piece about the steelband at Calvary R.C. School, and I'm greatful for your imput; however there are some errors in your report. I am Aldwin Albino who organized the band at the school. Martin is my younger brother. I was posted to Calvary R.C. in August,1965 after graduating from Government Training College. This was the first time that the school year in Trinidad had changed from January to July. Mr.Cyrille was my headteacher, and with his permission as well as the Rosary R.C. Church parish priest I received the green light to approach President George Goddard to obtain pans from Angostura Starlift for the project. The year was 1967, and I was also at that time the music director on Holly Betaudier's program Scouting for Talent, and as fate would have it Angostura also sponsored Scouting for Talent. Thanks again for your helpful research. Aldwin Albino.”
Greetings my friend Aldwin Albino,
Following up on your post, you may very well have been the first to teach Pan in a school setting as a qualified musician and teacher in 1967. However for the record, Pan has been in a particular school in Trinidad since 1950. …. Imagine 1950, … TASPO had not yet left the shores of Trinidad for the tour of England, this would happen in 1951. Pan was still very much in its infancy, the stigma and stereo type image of the Pan and the “Panman” was prevalent. To be associated with the Pan at this time was to be considered a “vagabond”, “hoodlum”, “outcast”, “bad john”, these were some of the attributes, but Trinidad is a place full of surprises,
High on the mountains on the Northern Range of Trinidad is the “Mount St. Benedict” monastery and at one time Abbey School, accessible from the Eastern Main Road of St Augustine /Tunapuna by St. John Road. This road and village in itself is very famous as it once housed several Steelbands three at one time “Flamingoes, Volewykers and Hot Spots”. Flamingoes’ name had once changed to Harmonettes but because of the emergence and prominence of “Solo Harmonites” the band reverted to its former name with the prefix of Gay …”Gay Flamingoes”. Everyone knew that “Gay” had a different meaning back then, evidence of Gay Desperadoes, Gay Philamonics, Gay Hoytonians ..anyways from Gay Flamingoes came Exodus which was also housed in the same St. John Village at one time.
However back on the Mt. St. Benedict is an interesting story. This monastery and school ( Abbey School) was built and run by white priest from Holland in the Roman Catholic religion, The Abbey School was a boarding school and for the most part one might say that it was one of the most affluent schools of that time. There are many interesting people who attended this school I will mention only a few as this is only a build up to the story but …our former Pan Trinbago President Owen Serrette attended this school, The Mighty Trini (calypsonian) attended this school, Trinidad politician Colm Imbert attended this school ..oh yes I also attended this school.
But this story is about another brother who attended this school Dave De Castro aka “The Bandit” and this is his story. My good friend Bandit has written his memoirs and I was fortunate to get copies of a couple of his books. So I will try to post some interesting pictures of his band and I will quote him in his book entitled “Stories” the following is from page 9
“I was now a big boy and had plenty more privileges including smoking. I had the priest
allow us to form a steel band. I got Jules from the famous “All Stars Steel Band” in the city
to make and tune the pans for us and we called ourselves “Mount Mariners Steel Band”. We
played for concerts and played around the school on carnival Monday and Tuesday as we
were not allowed to go into the city for carnival.” (De Castro 2009)
The following is from another page of his book page 12
“My good friend Collin Phillips was sent to Mount St. Benedict college by his parents, to
remove him from his association with a steelband in Belmont. Mr. Phillips was a respectable
man in the community and in those days anyone who was associated with a steelband movement
in the island of Trinidad was no good-low class and was not to be seen in respectable company.
Mr Phillips would not tolerate his son Colin involved in this despicable movement, hanging out
and liming with this class of people. Colin’s argument not to go to Mount St. Benedict (the jail
on the hill as it was known), were to no avail. They registered him and brought him to the college
only to find out at a later date that he had joined my steelband- “The Mount Mariners”, at the college
The irony of it all………… By the way, Mount St. Benedict was the first college to have a
Steelband in 1950 not St. Mary’s College.” (De Castro 2009)
And that is the basic information for the WST membership. Pan was in a school in Trinidad as early as 1950 all because of the diligence, persistence and love for the Pan by a young man David “Bandit” De Castro, who defied all odds at an early stage in the Pan History and in one of the most unusual places where you will expect to find the Pan, a Monastery and school run by priests from Holland. Historically this would put Pan in this school as the first Pan in any school in the world … isn’t that something?. Our historian Dr. Kim Johnson missed this one simply because it was one of the secret hidden treasure stories about the Pan.
In Conclusion I would like to add that “Bandit” (Go figure how he got this name .. LOL) did not end there at the Mt. St. Benedict. He went on to Canada in the mid 1950’s and promoted the Pan and Calypso and travelled all over North America with his band “The Steel Bandits” . He was responsible for giving Emile Straker the idea for the famous “Merry Men” band from Barbados because Emile Straker was a part of his “Steel Bandits”. Bandit was also the first Calypso Monarch in Toronto in 1969, and has continually played “Mas” in Toronto for over the last 25 years.
There is so much more about him, so I am calling on WST management to schedule an interview with this man as he has contributed so much to Pan, Calypso and Mas .. a true Trini to D Bone
Dave De Castro aka “The Bandit”. Incidentally Bandit is also a member of WST.
Submitted by
Salah Wilson
Bandit and The Mount Mariners
Replies
This is interesting. Pan History is my favourite subject because it started with ordinary youths in my country!
Quite an interesting topic and things to make you laugh keep on going on respect to all WST members,,Pan Got To Live ON.
Salah, The Steel Bandits, Is that the same group that Andy Narell played for when he was a young man? Or is that a different group?
No Bede,
The Steel Bandits were based in Montreal and Toronto ...Andy was based in New York with his group
Thanks Salah for that piece of History about the Journey of the PAN.
THE WEB.
Hi Web,
In that same village a lot of prominent players and tuners passed through there including Roberrt and Carl Greenidge, Casavon(Highlanders), Rupert Nathaniel, Kenrick Headley, Bendix, Wallace Austin, Leo Coker,and the list can expand even more .... are you ready with your 2014 calypsoes yet?
TRINIDAD is really a place full of Surprises. I would love to read the Book!!!! Good going Bandit!!
Bertell ,
He does have his book for sale I will contac him
Luv it! History unfolding.
Again it comes to the fore that a prophet is not recognized in his own country ... pan was supported as early as 1950 by people who were not subject to the stigma of society and saw it for what it was worth. Was this not again repeated when pan was first performed in church in the 1960s (was that Fr Seawell?)?
Hi Brian,
I think Fr Seawell was with the Tripoli Crew