by Marie Gregory, Jamaica Gleaner

July 30, 2000

KINGSTON, Jamaica — The Gleaner’s Outlook of 30 July 2000 introduced Dave Myrie as the new principal of Wolmer’s Boys’ School. Born in Shropshire, England, of Jamaican parents, he had spent most of his working life in London boroughs as a teacher of English and then in special needs, after a master’s in educational management.

He had been senior special-education-needs officer with the London Education Authority when he was offered the Wolmer’s post. Friends in England, the Gleaner recorded, told him he was “crazy to pull up roots.” He said a religious conviction led him to take the job.

Myrie told Marie Gregory that parents, old students, staff, the board and students had to work together, and that he was writing a development plan and a behavioural policy. Sixth-form boys, on first meeting him, asked about discipline “and asked if he had been part of an army.” He is married to Helen; their daughter Stephanie was eight when the family joined him in Kingston.

Source: Jamaica Gleaner, July 30, 2000. Republished for the Wolmer’s Trust community with attribution.

BBC News later interviewed Myrie at Wolmer’s in March 2002.