The Bishop Anstey High School East and Trinity East College will host a fund-raising event to assist in the restoration of Hayes Court, one of T&T's Magnificent Seven collection of historic, architectural wonders.
The building, constructed in 1910 by Scottish architect George Brown, bears sentimental value to the Anglican high schools as it was named after Bishop Thomas Hayes, who was the second bishop of the Anglican Diocese of T&T.
The Restoration of Hayes Court Concert comes off on Sunday at the school's auditorium, 1 College Avenue, Trincity.
In a telephone interview with the Bishop Anstey (East) director Paula Daniel, she told the T&T Guardian the diocese requires $24 million to bring back the Queen's Park Savannah building to pristine condition. She said the diocese has been attempting to raise funds on its own for this venture since last year and also created the Hayes Court Restoration Fund. But, the schools' directors felt it was their duty as Anglican schools to assist the diocese in anyway possible.
"We felt we should do something to help. We are also training our children (students) to be socially accountable. Also strategically, sustainability is one of our pillars and we see this as an outreach in our sustainability programme," Daniel said.
When the diocesan office was contacted for an update on the current state of the building and whether any restoration has begun, a representative from the Hayes Court Restoration Committee, which is also spearheading restoration project, said restoration is yet to begin.
She said a dilapidation survey was conducted last year to identify the work that must be done. She stated, the church has access to limited funds and so the drive has just begun to raise the money to begin the project. She said because the work is still in an embryonic stage, there was no telling when the building would be completely restored.
It is with this desire to help raise funds for the project, the retro-themed concert was conceptualised. The event begins at 4.30 pm and is under the patronage of Rev Claude Berkley. At a cost of $125, patrons will not only get meals but they will also get to see some of the best performances from the school's steelband orchestra, choir and jazz band, and the folk dancers of Bishop Anstey/Trinity East.
Daniel said past students as well as parents and special guest artistes make up the evening's entertainment line-up. Some of the special guest artistes will include calypsonian and extempo bard Willard "Relator" Harris, vintage calypsonian David Bereaux and Llewellyn "Short Pants" Mac Intosh performing a talk calypso. Some social commentary will also be available courtesy former national calypso queen winner, Heather Mac Intosh.
For more info, contact: 640-8685 ext 1350.