Wolmer's Hall of Fame
The journey to the inauguration of the Wolmer’s Hall of Fame has been a long one, beginning on 29th June 1729 with the bequest of John Wolmer for the establishment of a Free School in the parish in which he should happen to die.
Conception of Hall of Fame Institution
The three schools that evolved from that foundation, have sustained John Wolmer’s legacy by consistently striving for excellence in all their endeav- ours. Over almost three centuries, the schools have produced countless outstanding persons who have served in major leadership roles both na- tionally and internationally.
In recognition of the stellar contributions by members of the Wolmer’s family, the Wolmer’s Trust articulated one of the goals of the 285th Anniversary celebrations in 2014 as the long overdue launch of the Wolmer’s Hall of Fame. Ambassador Marcia Gilbert-Roberts was invited to chair a committee dedicated to realizing that objective.
Nomination Criteria
With a view to ensuring inclusiveness in the selection of inductees, alumni were invited to submit nominations of person who were deemed worthy of induction into the Hall of Fame.
Nominees were required to have attended Wolmer’s for the majority of their secondary school career and have made outstanding contributions nation- ally and/or internationally; or have excelled in personal achievement; or rendered exemplary service in the field of the arts, business, education, entertainment, entrepreneurship, literature, government, science, sport, public service (including the military and public force) or any other worthy endeavor.
Additionally, it was important that nominees would have been persons who were role models of outstanding character, courage and leadership, innova- tiveness and other attributes that reflect the values enshrined in the school’s motto: AGE QUOD AGIS.
Selection of Inaugural Inductees
With such a rich history of outstanding leadership in so many spheres it was not surprising that the nomination call generated hundreds of nomination from every category of endeavor cited above. It was ultimately decided that the inauguration of the Hall of Fame should focus on the induction of a small group of nominees associated with Wolmer’s in the pre-World War II era, The Trust made a final selection of sixteen persons to be inducted into the Wolmer’s Hall of Fame on the 2nd October 2015.
Hall of Fame Logo
The Trust is especially grateful to alumnus, Mr. Andrew Rousseau and his team at CGR Communications for their commendable work in creating an identity for the Hall of Fame. The Wolmer’s Hall of Fame Logo is proudly displayed in this commemoration magazine.
Future Inductions
The large number of worthy nominations for the Hall of Fame underscored the need for a process of regular inductions in succeeding years, to honour the many outstanding members of the Wolmer’s fraternity and their excep- tional contributions. The Trust has therefore decided that Inductions be in- stituted as a standing act of the commemoration of Founder’s Day on 21st May in the years ahead.
290th Anniversary Inductees
We pay our deepest respects to the two exceptional leaders who will be honoured posthumously, The Ambassador Hon. Dr. Lucille Mathurin Mair, OJ, CD and The Hon. Patrick (Pat) Rousseau, OJ, who are represented this evening by members of their families. We also warmly congratulate the three who are currently with us on their induction into the Wolmer’s Hall of Fame; Mrs. Alma Mock-Yen, O.D, The Hon. Lascelles Chin, OJ, CD and The Hon. Hugh Wynter, OJ, CD.
285th Anniversary Inductees (2015)
Alumna, Sybil Eloise Francis, CD, MBE, Social Worker and University Tutor was enrolled at Wolmer’s in 1924.
The Centenarian had a long and distinguished career as a social welfare officer and as the first tutor in social work at the University of the West indies, playing a leading role in policy development for the social services.
Alumnus, The Most Hon Edward Phillip George Seaga, ON, PC, BA, Hon LLD, Hon DLitt, entered Wolmer’s Boys’School in 1942 following in the footsteps of his father and uncles.
He served with distinction in Jamaica’s parliament for forty-five unbroken years and as Jamaica fifth Prime Minister between 1980 and 1989.
The citation to Mr. Seaga highlighted his outstanding contribution to the modernization of Jamaica’s financial sector, the breadth of his institution building, his leading role in development planning, in human resource development, the promotion of Jamaican culture and heritage as well as sports administration.
Headmaster, Wolmer’s Boys’ School, 1815-1843
Headmistress, Wolmer’s Girls’ School, 1896-1904.
Headmaster, Wolmer’s Boys’ School, 1901 – 1915.
Headmistress, Wolmer’s Girls’ School 1904 – 1927.
Headmaster, Wolmer’s Boys’ School 1920 – 1933.
Wolmer’s Girls’ School, 1927 – 1940.
Wolmer’s Alumna, Educator, Social worker and ornithologist.
Wolmer’s Alumna, Educator and social worker.
Wolmer’s Alumnus, Medical doctor.
Wolmer’s Alumna, Educator and Social Worker.
Wolmer’s Alumna, Educator and Social Worker.
Wolmer’s Alumnus, Sportsman and Sports administrator.
Wolmer’s Alumna, Social activist and author.
Wolmer’s Alumnus, Federal Secretary and Deputy Governor-General of the West Indies Federation.
Wolmer’s Alumnus, Governor General of Jamaica 1973-1991.
290th Anniversary Inductees (2019)
A broadcaster who was a pioneer in the establishment of distance education at the University of the West Indies (UWI). An alumnus of Wolmer’s Girls, she attended the school on a scholarship in the 1940s, graduating at the top of her class in English Literature.
A poet, soloist, choreographer and teacher, she spent the better part of her career at the forefront of the media fraternity in the Caribbean as a pioneer in the field and also lectured at the university where she accomplished so much.
She is the author of My Recollections of Radio and Broadcasting in Jamaica.
A medical doctor who is one of the leading professionals responsible for the development of obstetrics and gynaecology (OB/GYN) in Jamaica. Professor Wynter founded the Advanced Training and Research in Fertility Management Programme at The UWI, Mona in 1979 and served as its director for 24 years. His research, practical expertise and contribution to medical education have significantly reduced Jamaica’s infant death rate and population growth and earned him the 1998 United Nations Population Award.
Upon his return to Jamaica, he commenced his professional career as a lecturer at UWI where he functioned as the head of the OB/GYN department. Professor Wynter founded the Advanced Training and Research in Fertility Management Programme at UWI, Mona in 1979 and served as its director for 24 years. His research, practical expertise and contribution to medical education have significantly reduced Jamaica’s infant death rate and population growth, and earned him the 1998 United Nations Population Award.
He enrolled in Wolmer’s in 1944. While becoming one of Jamaica’s leading lawyers and senior partner at the law firm Myers, Fletcher and Gordon, he also helped form the Caribbean sports network, SportsMax.
As a negotiator, he used his knowledge of the mining industry to help craft the Bauxite Production Levy in the 1970s which resulted in much-improved earnings for Jamaica.
He later served as president of the West Indies Cricket Board between 1996 and 2001, bringing the Cricket World Cup to the Caribbean for the first time. He served on a variety of other company boards which spanned the areas of construction, manufacturing, insurance, finance, entertainment, education and health.
A pioneer in the field of gender studies. An alumnus of Wolmer’s Girls, she attended London University and then the University of the West Indies, achieving a PhD via her publication entitled A Historical Study of Women in Jamaica 1655-1844.
The study was the first to analyse the issue of race and class among Jamaican women during the period of enslavement. It was followed by the article ‘The Rebel Woman in the British West Indies During Slavery’ which put on the platform the resistance efforts of the enslaved black woman.
Mair was instrumental in the establishment of the Centres for Gender and Development Studies across the three campuses of the University of the West Indies.
In her later years she became a full-time diplomat, becoming the first woman to hold the title of underSecretary-General of the United Nations.
The founder and executive chairman of the LASCO Affiliated Companies.
He graduated from Wolmer’s in the 1950s before working at the pharmacy at the University Hospital of the West Indies. As a young man, he started a company to import black pepper from the Far East and peas from Portugal and the United States. After a number of ventures, he became the chairman of Henkel Ltd’s operations in Jamaica. He furthered his entrepreneurial activities in areas such as furniture manufacturing, data processing, car rental, horticulture, insurance brokerage, hair products, soya oil refining, and chicken processing. Chin currently serves as chairman for a number of LASCO companies and has served on boards such as the UWI School of Nursing Advisory Board, the King’s House Foundation, and the Bureau of Standards Council.