The Weekend

Dear Alumni, Guests & Supporters,

 

I would like to take this opportunity to thank all of you for your support for our recent three Thanksgiving events comprising Muslim Prayers on Friday 2nd June at North Brixton Islamic Cultural Centre, 182 Brixton Road, London SW9 and Sunday 4th June’s Thanksgiving Service at All Saints Church, 105 New Cross Road, London SE 14 followed by a reception at Haberdashers Primary School, Hunsdon Road, London SE14 a few minutes’ walk away. As a registered UK Charity with a multi faith membership we came together to thank God for our journey to date as we seek to assist in enhancing the quality of education, services and standards at our beloved tertiary education alma mater.

 

Firstly, special thanks go to Chief Imam Sheikh Feisal Boadi at the North Brixton Islamic Cultural Centre for his permission in allowing a prayerful focus on FBC AA UK activities and to Sheikh Musa for the warm reception accorded to our membership. Sheikh Yusuf’s powerful message/sermon of God’s overall supreme providence on the day resonated with our membership and congregation on the day. Our utmost appreciation goes to the Dabo(h) brothers, Karamoh and Mohammed for their instrumental role in liaising with the Imams and our own Fatu Gassama, Executive Secretary for providing refreshments after the service which was very well received and shared with the congregation.

 

For Sunday’s event thanks go to Father John Francis for his opening remarks on behalf of the All Saints clergy. His historical anecdote regarding the connection between former clergy of All Saints and Fourah Bay College during the 2nd World War was remarkable and definitely to be explored further. Our officiating clergy at Sunday service in the persons of alumnus Rev Ian Luke-Macauley recently instituted and inducted as Vicar of St Peter & St Paul Battersea and alumna, Rev Ethlyn Roy-Johnson, Curate at St Augustine’s Slade Green, Kent who delivered a powerful introductory message of hope and community and a sermon respectively. We also congratulate Reverend Ian on his new appointment and pray for God’s favour and blessing on his new ministry.

 

We appreciate the fact that the Sierra Leone High Commissioner to the UK, His Excellency, Dr Morie Manyeh agreed to be our Grand Distinguished Patron though he had to travel to SL at short notice and was unavoidably able to grace the occasion. Alumnus Lawrence Chapman stepped in at short notice to read the Old Testament Psalm 8 which was highly appreciated . We are also grateful to our Distinguished Alumni Mrs Eva F Richards and Mr James Allie who were approached and gracefully accepted the role though unavoidably absent and our host of patrons.

 

Regarding the reception afterwards, our profound thanks are also accorded to all the members of the Thanksgiving Committee led by our dynamic Vice Chair, Henrietta Harding, which included Cassandra Coker- PR & Comms Lead, Suluku Kalawa - Organising Secretary and Kona Seibure- Administrative Secretary who were all involved in detailed event planning. We acknowledge our site team that helped prepare the hall and organise all the logistics which made the final event successful. The effort put in by the families of executive members was highly commended and I would like to thank the Harding and Musa Families, Zuzella Macauley and Olabisi Labor.

 

Appreciation also goes to our official photographer Lexton Taylor Lewis and technology supplier, Femi Harding of Sierra Gem Media for providing the Zoom service at All Saints during worship. We are also grateful to our Master of Ceremony , Mohammad Dabo for his witty and articulate delivery of the proceedings including a rendition of his former Saturday Shindig voice over at the Sierra Leone Broadcasting Service of yesteryears.Speakers on the day including executive members Henrietta Duni Harding who spoke about her visits to Sierra Leone and asked alumni to consider how they could give back to their alma mater, Cassandra Coker who spoke about our recruitment drive, Madonna Tucker-Coward on the Scholarship Policy Framework, Rowland Gordon who rallied members and supporters for their donations and Emlyn Palmer for a very concise summary of our raison d’etre ie, essence of being. We are also grateful to Frank Musa, newly elected Constitutional &  Governance Lead who manned the drinks bar and as a team player was available to assist throughout the afternoon.

 

Once again, thank you to all alumni, guests and supporters and we do appreciate your contribution in diverse ways to our worthwhile cause.

 

God bless,

Magnus

 

Magnus N Cole

Chair

Fourah Bay College Alumni Association UK

London

England

6th July 2023

 

Fourah Bay College Alumni Association United Kingdom: Registered Charity Number: 1189938 Address: 16 Sarnesfield House, Pencraig Way, London, SE15 1ND; Phone: 07305112274

Email: fbcaauk@outlook.com