Aside from producing some outstanding past students, Mt Hope Secondary School also has a colourful history. Celebrating its 40th anniversary this year, alumni fondly remember the good old days of the '70s when students were referred to as "dhal, rice and bhaji," or DRB. The story goes, the school's uniform back then was a yellow bodice, white socks and dark green pants skirt (scooter skirt), thus the label bestowed by students of neighbouring secondary schools in Curepe and Barataria, "dhal, rice and bhaji." In its 40-year history, Mt Hope has been served by five principals, the first being former Queen's Royal College Math teacher Clive Grayson. Preceding current principal Sabrina Rocke have been Anthea Permell, Rohit Dube and Partap Ajodha.
Amongst the school's outstanding past students are entertainer KV Charles; Acting Assistant Superintendent T&T Prisons Gerard Wilson; beauty pageant promoter Lyndon Ross; and, popular disc jockey/promoter Kevin Grayson (Sounds of Kabuki). One of the school's most successful alumnae is architect Colin Basso. Basso was among the first batch of students to enter the school, doing so in 1972. He graduated in 1975 and pursued the rest of his college life at St Joseph College. Upon leaving the College, Basso worked at Royal Bank and National Commercial Bank before finding his love for the profession of Architecture, subsequently studying at the University of Arkansas, in the US, graduating with a Bachelor of Architecture, B Arch. degree in 1988. He worked in New York City as an Architect before returning to Trinidad in 1991.
In 2006, Basso and three other architects formed co-rd Ltd in which he is a Director. He also serves on the Board of Directors of EPL Properties Ltd, a subsidiary of Eastern Credit Union. Basso's company has been responsible for buildings such as Milner Hall at UWI, Carlton Savannah Hotel, and, the Airports Authority Administration Building assigned the responsibility of the proposed new Mt Hope Secondary School, his alma mater, as well as the Marabella Secondary, Five Rivers Secondary and Curepe Secondary schools. To mark their 40th anniversary, the alumni of Mt Hope Secondary School, naming themselves DRB Promotions, are holding a fund-raising reunion party, at the Attic, Saddle Road,?Maraval, on Saturday, October 13, from 9 pm. Alumnus Sounds of Kabuki is one of the DJs providing music for the party.
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Mt Hope Secondary School 1972-2012-40th Anniversary Celebration
Outstanding Past Pupils
KV Charles-Entertainer
Gerard Wilson-Acting Assistant Superintendent T&T Prisons
Joel Brown-CEO Vemco
Lyndon Ross-Promoter of Ms Elegant Beauty Pageant / Ms Pretty Plus / Ms Talented T&T Pageant / Karaoke
Kevin Grayson-Popular DJ and fete promoter ( kabuki)
Winston Matthews-Musician / Sound System business self employed
Kenny Second-Bachelor / Masters Degree in Electrical Engineering-MCSC-CCIE-also taught in City University of New York for 12 Yrs-presently employed at the Ministry of National Security
Carlotta Buxhill-First batch of females in the Fire Service-Sub Officer
Tshai York-Esthetician Self Employed
Colin Basso-Architect, Director –? co-rd Ltd
Committee members
Tshai Yorke
Kenny Second
Elena Navarro
Harold Rennie
Winston Matthews
Cherry Ann Gonzalez
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-Mt Hope Secondary Alumni.
For further information call
-Tshai Yorke (689-6031); Elena Navarro (484-9100): Winston Matthews (489-4609); Kenny Second (769-0119); Cherry ann Gonzalez (388-7894)