Bishop Anstey High School

Women of Worth, Part 2

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PAT BISHOP

M.A., Hon D.Litt. (U.W.I.)

Musician and Artist

Holder of Trinidad & Tobago's highest award -The Trinity Cross - the pursuit of scholarship, culture, the arts (in particular painting and music), and service to her country in fields as diverse as environmental education, Government economic policy and the development of Carnival represents but a small fraction of her pursuits and interests. She directs the Lydian Singers in at least thirty concerts a year and has been conferred with the Hon. D.Litt. (UWI) in 1994. For all this, her hope is to retire as soon as possible to a life of books and reading, painting, playing other people's music privately and meeting a few friends from time to time for some talk over good food and a little wine.

GEMMA WELLESLEY RAMKEESOON

Gemma, former Public Relations Officer and Manager has been a leading Voluntary Social Worker to this Country, the Anglican Church, and its Community. She has been the President of several voluntary Social Welfare Services, such as Auxiliary Child Care T & T, Soroptimist International of POS and T&T Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, Women's Corona Society as well as foundation member to the St John's Ambulance Society, the YWCA, and Caribbean Women's Association, to name a few. Gemma, having given freely of her time for well over forty years, has been awarded in 1950 the OBE by King George VI, in 1953 The Queen's Coronation Medal for Social Services by Queen Elizabeth II, and the Humming Bird Medal (Gold) by this Country in 1986. She has also been honoured by other voluntary organisations.

GILLIAN BISHOP

B.Sc.

Chemist and Jeweller

Gillian is a trained Chemist from the University of the West Indies. Having worked full time as a jeweller since 1972 in T & T, nurtured in the school of the Trinidad Carnival, her earliest work began in costume design, a discipline which she has never abandoned. Consequently she brings to her work in precious stones and metals the disciplines of the scientist together with the eye and the spirit of the Carnival, which remains a crucial source of inspiration and concern. Gillian, with two designers, has established the Signature Collection and has been commissioned to produce pieces for Presidents, and the Most Rev. Desmond Tutu, as well as for our most famous Carnival.

SYBIL ATTECK

Artist and Sculptor

Ms Atteck, on leaving Bishop Anstey, joined the Botanical Department of the Ministry of Agriculture, using her drawing skills to produce botanical renderings, some of which were shown at an exhibition as early as 1930. In 1934, she went to London to study at the Regent Street Polytechnic and continued her studies in the arts in 1942, at the Escuela Bellas Artes, in Lima, Peru, taking up Inca pottery as another aspect of her art. In 1943, Ms Atteck attended the School of Fine Arts, Washington University, St Louis, Missouri, under the tutelage of Max Beckmann, who had a profound effect on her work.

On her return to Trinidad, she mounted her first solo exhibition in Port of Spain and San Fernando. Despite strong criticism, her images and style form the nucleus of Trinidad's first recognisable school which prevailed throughout the 1950's and 60's, influencing among others, Carlisle Chang, Willie Chen, Leo Glasgow and Nina Squires. Today Ms Atteck's works adorn the reception lounge of the Trinidad Hilton and the Malick R.C. Church. In 1975, she was awarded the Chaconia Medal (Gold). Ms Sybil Atteck died in 1975.

HETTIE DE GANNES

F.B.C.O.

Artist, Sculptor - Bronze Caster, and musician

Hettie studied at the Manchester College of Art and University of Manchester Institute of Science & Technology. She has attended Sculptor workshops in the US and Canada, and has exhibited in Brazil, Canada, U.K., U.S. and India. Hettie wishes to pay homage to her parents for having the vision of educating her at Bishop Anstey, and Bishop's for instilling in her the Anstey spirit. The secret of her success? It is simple, it is found in the Bible, "In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths". Hettie has been the recipient of several awards amongst which was the best stamp design for the International Women's Year.