Dear Terry,

 

I have read with interest the San Tome web site and you keep asking if anyone would /could contribute. It was Kathy (Clifton) Royale sister of George that said I should put pen to paper so here is my contribution.

 

The Family:

 

My father Ron (Ronald) past away in October 2003 and is dearly missed by all the family, my mother Anne misses him the most I am sure  but is rebuilding her life much to our delight and is happily living in Northamptonshire in the centre of England.

 

My brother Clive is now retired from British Airways where he was a Capitan on 747’s and 777’s and is married to Trisha (Patricia Ratter) – her sister Diane is married and lives in British Columbia. Clive lives about 40 miles south of London. and have 2 lovely children, Robert who is a very successful Private banker looking after Personal wealth management, and Elizabeth who having studied law at Bristol University is how a manager of a leading Legal Publishing House in London teaching senior lawyers and Judges how to use legal IT software. One of her students was Cherie Blair wife of British Prime Minister Tony Blair.

 

Then there is me - Nigel, after school in England I went on like my father to study accountancy (CPA). When I finished my studies I had to decide if I should take a serious dull accounting job or go and play professional rugby in Italy. Well I had 2 great years keeping fit, eating great food and drinking fantastic wines. Oh! I also play rugby and at the same time visiting and getting to know an amazing and beautiful country whilst playing a sport I love.

 

In the end, needs must so I did the next best thing I became an internal audit for AIG in South America and the Caribbean. I was then transferred to Europe Middle East and Africa and while auditing AIG London I met and married Susan, 23 years later we are still happily together. AIG appointed me CFO for their operations in Spain and we spent 10 happy years in Madrid. Since then I have worked for AON and Citibank travelling all over Europe, Middle East and Africa.

 

About 7 years ago we decided to take things easier so I began working for myself helping companies with Mergers and Acquisitions, MIS and Compliance issues. I have never worked so hard and longer without a break than I have over the last few years. We have however, lived in some great places from Frankfurt Germany to Lausanne is Switzerland.

I am currently Regional CFO for the Caspian and Caucuses based in Azerbaijan for a British company. I am visiting countries that I could not spell the name of let alone know where they are (Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan and Georgia).

 

I still follow rugby and travel the world to watch games. Iam sure you agree the older we get the better we played. – World cup in Australia, Wales playing Argentina in BA, and hopefully later this summer the British Lions in New Zealand. While in Azerbaijan coaching the nation team here. Fun but they are not world beater yet!!!

 

Friends

I am writing this as names jump into my head so please excuse me if I miss-spell, miss-name, and even worse forget anyone.

 

Alexandra (Sandie Cheeseman) is married and living just outside Orlando Fl she has a daughter and son who are both doing well, her sister Leslie is also married and lives with her family in Venezuela I believe. (Correction: Leslie lives in Jacksonville, FL - Terry)

    

Penny Clark is married and living in DC. I talked with her just before Xmas when she was in London for the marriage of her son who lives and works in London. Penny also has a married daughter.

 

Tom Wall senior although he and his family lived in Anaco, Tom played golf all the time at STGC. Tom's 2 sons Tom jr. and Stuart played rugby with me in Beaconsfield (just outside London) about 20 years ago.  Tom jr. unfortunately died about 9 years ago of cancer. While Stuart is still the heart and sole of the rugby club.

 

Kathy (Clifton) Royle sister of George is living in Colorado and we keep in touch which is nice and you must blame her for telling me that I should write to you, Terry, and up date you.

 

Where are they now?

 

I was looking at some old photos - I will try and get them on softcopy soon and sent them to you,- but here are a few of the people that I remember from them:

 

Kathy Wartes and Jesus Pazos (playing the quarto at the club)

 

Peggy Macdonald, Judy Mapes, Sue Miller (daughter of Bull), Bobby Letters, Debbie Theriot, and  Pam Morse who kindly sent me a copy of their Staff school Graduation photograph,

 

Well Terry, I am sure that I have bored you and anyone reading this so I shall finish.

 

One last thing, my last year at STSS before I returned to Prep school in England. I do not know if you remember, but I was in the same grade as you but the other class. There were only 2 boys in my class myself and Henning Hansen from Denmark.  My class teacher was Alice Beatendoft (I am sure spelt incorrectly) or as she liked to call herself “Alice from Dallas” a slight difference to the teachers I encountered when I arrived at school in England.

 

I hope and am trying to arrange to get over to this year reunion but it does depend on my work commitments.

 

Keep up the good work

 

Nigel Willsdon

nwillsdon@talk21.com 

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Dear Terry:

I'm Doris Paz, daughter of Dr. Paz, the San Tomé Dentist. Remember him? I suppose everybody knows him he was the only bilingual dentist in all Anzoategui State. He is 80 yrs. old and is doing fine.

Regards,
Doris

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