I was saddened to learn of the death of my friend and former classmate Ms Carol Hill and I imagine likewise affected were graduates of the former Prospect Secondary School for Girls (PSSG); the Bermuda arts community in general; the Bermuda historical community and Bermudians near and far.

I fondly remember our days at the Berkeley Institute where we were spectacular activists in the school’s ping-pong room. Carol, being tall and lanky and I a southpaw. The real intellectual giants were Earl Seaton, Arnold Francis, Walter Robinson and others. When asked to pay a tribute to Carol, I extracted from my archives a feature that I thought would be fitting. It was published in the Mid-Ocean News in 2008 and went as follows:

Graduates of the former Prospect Secondary School for Girls (PSSG) signally honoured with an Appreciation Tea at the Willowbank Resort, two of their teachers, Miss Carol Hill, the drama and speech specialist, and her sister-in-law, Mrs. Georgine Hill, who had responsibility for art.

It was in reality a belated birthday salutation to Miss Hill who had turned 83 and Mrs. Hill who was 90. Scholar Pat Hall one of the initiators of the event said, ”We just wanted to say an out of the ordinary ‘Thank You’ to our teachers while enjoying good fellowship, good food though not too much, reflecting on some of the things that made our school one of the best in the Island.”

PSSG in the minds of some was not deemed to be as prestigious as other institutions of the day, as it evolved out of the former Girls Institute of Arts and Craft that the late Miss May Francis operated for a generation or two at the Alaska Hall. PSSG lasted just over two decades with a most impressive legacy before the authorities merged it with Prospect Boys Secondary into Devonshire Academy. And the latter also went ‘by the way.’

While expressing her appreciation for being so well feted, Mrs. Georgine Hill told this writer, emphatically that PSSG has a history that needs to be highlighted, And she voiced her pride at seeing PSSG scholars holding positions of responsibility in Government, the Civil Service, in banking and a variety of businesses and enterprises.

Joining Pat Hall in initiating the event were Gilda Furbert who moderated the programme, Judith Hall Bean and Joy Lister Sticca. Responsibility for being the keynote ‘reminiscer’ fell to Joy, which she discharged with good wit and humour.

The two Hill educators were of course seated at the head table. Sharing the spotlight with them were two former colleagues, math teacher Mrs. Marva Phillips and Mrs. Gloria Dismont, craft teacher. Also there was the most recent PSSG graduate to bring reflected honour to the school, legislator Carol Ann Bassett.

Sen. Bassett had the distinction of being the first woman to be elected President of Bermuda’s old Upper House of Parliament, now called The Senate.

Mrs. Sticca spoke of how proud she was having attended PSSG in the 1960s. While in the minds of some it was not deemed to be as prestigious as other schools of the day. However, as I reflect on my years there I think I can speak on behalf of every other student as to how a firm foundation was laid for us by the dedication of our teachers. There were times our behaviour caused them frustration, anxiety, disappointment and a raising of their blood levels.”

She added, “Some of us were not mature enough to value an education, and if it were not for the persistence of our teachers we too would have fallen through the cracks. We came from diverse backgrounds; some were aggressive, a little rough around the edges or shy, like me. But our teachers saw us as ‘diamonds in the rough,’ not as we were then but what we could become.”

“We thought some of their disciplines were rather harsh and old fashioned. After all, anyone over thirty was ancient - as we regarded as ancient- just like now that we are all past thirty we consider ourselves young.”

“We were taught the basics of academics, arts, crafts and life skills to equip us to take a place in society and make valuable contributions. We were taught first to respect ourselves and others; discipline, honour, obedience, dignity, courage and integrity. With those attributes came the pride and privilege of wearing our uniform.

Mrs. Sticca said Mrs. Hill was a gifted artist who took no nonsense. “When she spoke we listened, the girls said she was ‘sophisticated’. I had never heard that word until I came to PSSG.”

Ms. Sticca, the On-Island Communications Coordinator at the Department of Tourism where she worked for 23 years told Miss Carol Hill, “As I think of your articulation, your diction, the phonetics and correct grammar structure, your classes certainly helped me through the years,”

She went on to relate a conversation she overheard in Hamilton. “It went like this, Hey bi, how you dowing? You heard bout Keefee? Went doctor, got pneumonia. I immediately thought of Miss Hill and wished she could have swooped down like Wonder Woman, cape and all, but instead of having a ‘W’ on her chest she would have ‘GG’ for ‘Grammar Girl to the rescue.’

Sen. Bassett was one of the scholars beside Mrs. Sticca who tendered their reminiscences. She gave a touching account of how she was literally falling through the cracks until she transferred from another school to PSSG. Miss Carol Hill was her homeroom teacher, and she related how she studied her every movement and every word.