When The Berkeley Institute opens the doors to its new $121 million building on Monday, the school?s supporters will be hoping that the stage has been set for the Island?s future leaders to flourish. Certainly, there can be no question that Berkeley, in its 109-year-history, has produced some of Bermuda?s greatest achievers, from the first black Premier Sir Edward T. Richards to today?s Premier Alex Scott and many of his Cabinet and senior civil servants. In between, there have been other political leaders, including the first black female Premier Dame Pamela Gordon, the first female Progressive Labour Party Leader Dame Lois Browne-Evans and the first PLP Premier Dame Jennifer Smith. In fact, the list of prominent former students is endless and includes those successful in every walk of life in Bermuda. To mark the opening of the new school, asked a handful of Berkeleyites to share memories and thoughts of their alma mater in their own words.

?Looking back on my Berkeley days (1951 to 1956) now, I realise that for me the school was a ?security blanket?. It provided me and black (we were called coloured people at that time) students with an exceptional educational experience and an opportunity at a time when our school system and Bermudian society were both rigidly segregated. Consequently, our teachers and Berkeley had to, and did, instil in us a positive sense of self that made us feel and believe that we were, and are ?somebody?; even as coloured people were being told they were ?second class citizens?.

?I remember my Berkeley days fondly and believe with every fibre of my being that I am who I am, and where I am, because the ?green and gold? gave a little ?coloured? boy hope and a future. Therefore, I conclude by wishing my Berkeley family well and the hope for a bright future. To the next generation of students, teachers, parents and board of governors I say: give your all to Berkeley now and our alma mater will continue to give back to you and our community long after you have left your Berkeley days behind.?

?Although my time spent at Berkeley was brief, I was very much aware of the awesome role played by the institution in the life of Bermuda. In my family it was considered an honour and a family tradition to attend Berkeley Institute.?

?Sweet and simple. The following were the words that were attributed to me in my 1979 graduation year book: ?Nothing is impossible if you have the will to do it?. These words are fitting for the occasion of the opening of the new Berkeley Institute.?

?To today?s students I say you have a golden opportunity to learn in a state-of-the-art facility and in so doing, make yourselves, your families and your country proud. The foresight that was employed by the United Bermuda Party government in the acquisition of the property and the preliminary architectural groundwork for this magnificent structure was very proudly justified by the Progressive Labour Party government in ensuring its construction and ultimate completion.

?My favourite memory during my time at Berkeley would be hard to equal by anyone! As a very chatty form four student, I sat on my desk awaiting the arrival of the biology teacher for the next period, fully engaged in conversation with my class mates, and completely oblivious to the presence of Mr. Erskine Simmons. Suddenly his booming voice penetrated the conversation with ?Miss Gordon, will you please SHUT UP!? Not to be outdone, but feeling totally embarrassed, my instant retort was ?I guess it could be arranged?.

?I was instantly ejected from the class and remained in the proverbial wilderness for a complete term when our Latin teacher, Mrs. Edwina Smith, begged Mr. Simmons on my behalf to allow me back in class. The lessons to be learned were many: a) Never put your back to the door; b) Never talk back to a teacher unless you are prepared for the consequences; c) be clever enough to catch up on missed lessons or work extremely hard trying and d) never be too arrogant or haughty to apologise!?

?The Berkeley Institute was a place where I began my maturity process. Concepts of competitiveness, standards of individual excellence, gentlemanliness and academic excellence were new touchstones that were visited for the first time by me in earnest and revisited throughout my time there. Strong friendships, loves and no hates were made here too. This is my reflection upon the Berkeley Institute of the 1960s and early 70s.?

?My political awareness and knowledge of my ancestors came from my home and church. My political activism however was nurtured at Berkeley with the student revolt in 1970. I did as I was told at that school so I could get out as quickly as possible and the foundation I received there helped me to fly in all other areas because of its motto: Respice finem or keep the end in view. Not much was expected of class 1K but today I see so many who have done so well and that is indeed a tribute to our internal fortitude, the high standards of the teachers and the guts of principal F.S. Furbert and deputy Neville T. Tatem.?

?The Berkeley Institute has numerous memories for me and it was not until I reached certain levels in my career did I really develop a clear appreciation of the values and stability that the Berkeley Institute provided for me. However, if I had to select the most profound message from my experiences at the Berkeley, it would be the school?s Latin motto: respice finem. A simple few words but a far more deeper message here.

?This motto for me means never to become complacent and too satisfied with your individual accomplishments. You should always seek to strive for more and better goals in spite of whatever level you achieve in life. Berkeley has produced some of Bermuda?s finest role models that have been successful in many walks of life. It is because we were fortunate to have been mentored and developed by Bermuda?s finest teachers: Hilda Tucker (history), Eloise Furbert (languages), Merle Brock Swan (English), Mr. Tatem (maths), F. S. Furbert (principal and languages), Mansfield Brock (physics), Charles Lloyd Tucker (art), Eustace Jones (Music), to name a few and the list goes on. I would like to pay a special tribute and deepest appreciation for all of these legendary teachers of the Berkeley and thank them all for their patience and for believing in many of us that someday we would all be somebody and ?our living should not be in vain?.?

?The true dedicated teachers, and you know who you are, made sure that we experienced a well-balanced education in our studies and in life. They expected the best from us and in turn we expected the best from ourselves, each other and the teachers as well. Thank God for each teacher that stands positively tall in our minds. Bravo and congratulations for a job well done.?

?My Berkeley experience was simply a natural part of the journey. Both of my parents were Berkeleyites as well as all but one of my three older siblings. It never crossed my mind that it would be any different for me. I am proud to be called a Berkeleyite. At Berkeley one learned to apply oneself, to simply work hard. The school?s core value was excellence and this became a part of every student whether we realised it or not. The Berkeley of today has not changed despite public perception. The administration remains committed to excellence. I encourage all of Bermuda to support the Berkeley and to support public education. Demand excellence.?

?During the five years that I attended the Berkeley Institute (1971 to 1976) I was always challenged by all of my teachers to strive for success and never rest on my laurels. My teachers had a consistent message: that hard work and application were the price of success. Those valuable lessons were instilled in me from day one and have unquestionably provided me with a solid platform from which I have pursued my professional career over the past 18 years. A few months ago the graduating class of ?76 celebrated its 30 year reunion. It was tremendously gratifying to see so many of my old classmates demonstrating an esprit de corps, and a special bond, which, I am sure, will endure for many years to come.?

?It is far too easy for us all to conceal or simply not want to accept that the Berkeley Institute was established some three decades after Emancipation as a school to provide for the better education of the people - irrespective of gender and race. To be very specific the founding fathers envisioned a school for black boys and white boys, for white girls and black girls. I am immensely proud of the Berkeley legacy and will always be indebted to Mr. Erskine Adderley, of now defunct Adderley Brothers Trucking, who offered me a scholarship to attend the Berkeley. Long live Berkeley for it is more than the physical walls.?

?I am enormously proud of my twenty-five years direct association with the Berkeley Institute, seven years as a student(we completed both O and A Levels at the school at that time) and 18 years as a member of staff, including thirteen years as deputy principal and teacher of English language and literature.

?I shall never forget the words of Mrs. Hilda Tucker, long-serving history teacher and first assistant, when my sister June entered the school in 1962. ?Oh no! Not another Horton!? Mrs. Tucker exclaimed as she buried her head in her hands. Of course, June was sweet and innocent at the time, but clearly her older siblings, Randy, Ellen-Kate and I, had caused Mrs. Tucker more than a little distress at some point! Would you believe that some of my 1 West classmates argue that I was something of a nuisance during my student days? Of course, that is a charge that I refute most vociferously!

?My favourites memories as a student are: Janette Dill Musson (principal of Dellwood Middle School) and Ewen Ratteray (now Anglican Bishop of Bermuda Ewen) embracing during the play Roman Panorama in 1959; Green House victories in the sports arena on sports day; our beautiful girls as they performed during the Spring Festival; outstanding Friday morning speakers (like Langston Hughes); writing O levels in the school gymnasium; Christmas parties; struggling to make sense of physics and chemistry, although biology was always a breeze and endless detentions.

?My years as a teacher/deputy principal were the most rewarding of my life. Room Three was my domain. Through its doors walked some of the finest people I know. What fun we had together as we explored the marvels, intricacies and nuances of language and literature and more importantly, of life! I learned more from my students than they could ever have learned from me, so shall be eternally grateful to them! Favourite students? Hmmmmm?..all of them, of course! May Berkeley?s light continue to shine.?

?More than one, my most poignant memories of Berkeley have coalesced and over time become a collective. I remember that each of my teachers was Bermudian and black and I believed they were absolutely interested in my well being, both educationally, physically and spiritually. The members of the Berkeley faculty conveyed that message in their own carriage, in their personal performances and in the expectations they had of me. Thus, from very early on, I was ingrained with the knowledge that I could be the very best in whatever I chose to do and it has carried me throughout my life. To the Berkeley family, I am pleased to have this opportunity to say thank you.?

?The Berkeley Institute?s school song contains the following lines: ?We are the men of the years to come...what will become of our island home without our nurture?? ?As a student at Berkeley between 1959 and 1965, I never doubted that those lines applied to me. Berkeley inspired me to achieve and afforded me the opportunity to develop leadership skills as a class monitor, a prefect and as sergeant major of the army cadet corps. Berkeley nurtured my love of music, especially of singing, an activity that I enjoy to this day.?

I have many fond memories of Berkeley. We had excellent teachers ? some of whom come to mind are Hilda (Ma) Tucker, Mr. Tilley (French), Eva Hodgson (Geography), Eustace Jones, Mrs. Edwina Smith, Elmira Hunt (Secretarial Studies) and Mr. Dunstan (Spanish). It was the dedication of the teachers and their desire for us to succeed that made Berkeley a truly great institution.

?I remember Berkeley as a well organised school with strict rules under the direction of principal F.S. Furbert and deputy principal T. Neville Tatem. I also remember that my parents paid 15 pounds each term for me to attend the Berkeley Institute before it became an aided school. Some memorable occasions for me: I was put on cleaning and dusting duty during Home Economics classes because I hated to cook and bake - nothing has changed since then. I remember having to stand on the stage to have my skirt measured as we were not allowed to show our knees.

I also remember that we had the best high school choir with awesome singers like Elton Richardson and Velita Fenton. I remember when the Sports Arena on St. John?s Road (now Belco?s facility) used to be our sports field. I remember very clearly the day John F. Kennedy died and we all walked out of school very quietly that day. I also remember the day Little Stevie Wonder visited Berkeley and shook my hand. I also remember how Berkeley dominated Inter-School sports. And I?m a very proud member of Gold House.

?Berkeley has no doubt shaped me into the person that I am today. To me, the school song is quite prophetic ? my favourite verse is: ?We are the men of the years to come/We are the women of the future/What will become of our island home, without our nurture/For we have the brains and the brawn and the blood of those who handed us the torch of life/And we know that we?ll aspire, emulate our worthy sires and be heroes in the strife.? That says it all!?