Holy Cross College hosted a valedictory function for Roland Ramsumair on February 1. It was a function suited to the person being honoured. Speeches were short and evoked much laughter, students, a past student and the teachers provided musical interludes. Emcee on the occasion was teacher Dwayne Garcia. He has submitted a rather unique account of the retirement function of one of Holy Cross College 's most loved teachers.

Tuesday, January 31

10:00 a.m.

I can't believe that Mr Ramsumair is leaving tomorrow. Will this place be different without him, without the teacher who has become so much more than a teacher? For one thing, he will miss this place, this all-boys Catholic secondary school - Holy Cross College - hidden away in Arima.

Roland Ramsumair with family and friends.

…with Holy Cross students

Roland, principal, Dr Bernard Tappin, and Alison Wong.

As I write this I am looking out at the school grounds, the breezes whispering all around me. The green fields run flat before me, and make a breath-taking plunge to the town below. He cannot help but miss this.

Of course, the students are the ying to this peaceful yang. But he will miss them too. Mr Ramsumair has been a father-figure to them, respected them and treated them as equals. Except this father is leaving.

Will we miss him? It's only 10:05 a.m. – recreation time – and already I can hear him blowing into the staffroom with his “ Holaaaa ”.

I am sure he's starting up some “ole-talk”. Oh yes; there goes the “Ha-Haii!!' raucous laughter. “Hear this, nuh….Oh guuud!”

I wonder if he's having some debate with Fr Alan. Father respects him; Mr Ramsumair has some clear and creative ways of expressing the truths of his faith.

Or is he there with Maria, on some scandalous topic? With them the pendulum of topics swings from the solemn to the outrageous. She will miss him the most. I guess he is what Christ's disciples would have called the “salt of the earth”, a man not bland but full of flavour and life.

Shucks! There's the bell. His valedictory function is tomorrow, and I still haven't figured out what I will say yet…

Wednesday, February 1

3:00 p.m.

Mr Ramsumair's valedictory function was held today, and it went off quite well – if I do say so myself. His family was there: his wife, Marilyn, his son Rishi (who once taught here for a term), his daughter Priya, who is starting a teaching post in Tobago soon, his father David, Monsignor Christian Pereira, his friends and well-wishers – and the students, who were all so warm to him.

I think today was the first time in five years that I heard his full name: Roland Titus Ramsumair; who, over the years, has taught Spanish, Social Studies, English and History; who also teaches Latin and Greek at the seminary at Mount Saint Benedict; who told me that he never felt like not coming to work; and who began coming to work here in September 1975 and retired thirty-one years later.

We came to his valedictory function, not to mourn Roland, but to rejoice with him and thank him. His friends spoke of him in ways that were no surprise to the students who came out of the past of thirty years ago to see him again.

He was a teacher, a father, a friend, a confidant. Every man's man, generous and jolly. He was a model teacher, a model man – though, perhaps not a model. He will always be welcome here at Holy Cross College .

Thursday, February 2

11:40 a.m.

Well, he is gone. I look around the school now. Has anything changed? Yes. I – we all – are a bit sadder today. But to steal someone else's words, it is the sadness you feel on seeing a caged bird fly: we are sad to see it go, because where we are is all the less colourful and lively, but glad to see it moving on to where it should be.

I am looking over the field again; a bird has just flown overhead over the town. I imagine it is Roland. Fly, Roland, soar over new vistas and landscapes. We cannot be selfish. I know you will stop to brighten the days of others along the way.