About Kingston College
In 1925, Bishop deCarteret announced the establishment of a new secondary school – Kingston College. The announcement indicated that the school would be a private venture, and the Rev. Percival Gibson would be the headmaster.
On March 24, 1925, the registration process for the acquisition of 144 3/4 East Street (the former All Saints Rectory) was completed. The new owners were the Rev. Percival Gibson and his sister, Gwendolyn Gibson (Certificate of Title No. 15940 Registrar of Titles). The total cost of the acquisition was 1,100 Pounds and the Gibson’s used family funds and was able to secure a mortgage for 600 Pounds (No. 14292 Registrar of Titles). The mortgage of 600 Pounds was repaid on June 18, 1927.
Kingston College was declared open on April 16, 1925.
In 1933, Kingston College experienced serious financial difficulties. Bishop Hardie came to the school’s rescue and at the Synod of 1933, he convinced the Synod to take control of Kingston College as a church school. The school received a loan of 5,500 Pounds from the Church to acquire Clovelly Park (which was then owned by the Anglican Church). The school relocated to this new location – 2 North Street, on April 12, 1934.
What is known today as the Kingston College – Clovelly Park Campus, were three separate transactions: In 1933 the school purchased what was left of the Clovelly Park Estate and in 1941 the Kingston Parish Church Rectory was purchased which consisted of the Great House. The Great House was renamed Hardie House in honor of Bishop Hardie. Hardie House was used as the home of the Kingston College Prep School until 1949. The remaining lands were used to construct the chapel – which was opened in 1947, a form room block, and the tennis courts. In the early 60’s the old Cathedral Rectory (where the Douglas Forrest Building now stands and the Science Building) was not a part of the original purchase. The school acquired that property by exchanging with the Catholic Church a property owned by KC on the northern side of North Street. By acquiring this property, KC was now able to use 2A North Street as the school’s address.
In 1937, twelve years after its establishment, Kingston College advanced to the list of first-grade secondary schools.
By the late 50’s the school population was increasing and space was needed. Buildings at 17 South Camp Rd. which was acquired by the school for the erection of new labs and form rooms had to be used to house the sixth forms temporarily.
1963 the school purchased the Melbourne Park Campus from Melbourne Cricket Club. By 1964, first formers and some of the second forms were utilizing the Melbourne Park Campus.
Over the years, numerous form room blocks were constructed at Melbourne Park. The campus now houses all Grades 7 to 9 and some 6th formers. A Mondo track and gym facility were installed at that campus a few years ago.
Since its inception, KC has been founded on some base principles, adopted from the finest ideals, symbols, and historical precepts, and moral underpinning.
The Founders carefully chose its motto Fortis Cadre Cedere Non Potest – The Brave May Fall But Never Yield: the Spartan-like quality of never giving up.
Allied to that, it has as its second motto Mens Sana In Corpore Sano – A Sound Mind In A Healthy Body, which pointed the school to all-round excellence in academics and sports bordered by the building of Christian Young gentlemen, trained to take up leadership roles in the society.
During its history, it has produced academics of the highest quality, with a golden period of capturing the Jamaica scholarship six times, between 1948 and 1957, and it has also had four Rhodes Scholars, starting as early as 1937 with L.L. Murad, Evan Morris in 1949, Delroy Chuck in 1973 and Stephen Vasciannie in 1981. The Jamaica Independence Scholarship was won 6 times between 1962- 1996.
This followed the outstanding period of winning the Manning Cup in 1949 for the first time and the subsequent five years in the 1950’s. The school then proceeded to win the boys’ championship for 14 straight years (1962-1975) to date KC has amassed the most victories with 34.
In 1974, KC won its first School Challenge Quiz and since then has had the most wins with 11 titles.
A very important point in the development of track and field in Jamaica is the advent of Kingston College accepted as the first Jamaican school to the Penn Relays in 1964. There in its first sojourn KC won the 4×100 and placed second in the 4×400; so impressive was KC’s performance that U.S. Olympians at the relays thought it was an All-Jamaica high school team and was surprised to learn that the team was from one high school. Subsequently, the Olympians on coming to Jamaica were more surprised to see the dirt track that they trained on. Since then the door has been opened to many more Jamaican high schools to take part in the relays. KC went on to win the 4×100 for three consecutive years and retired the trophy from 1964-1966.
During this period, the college also produced the finest schoolboy team ever assembled in the annals of schoolboy football in Jamaica. In the years, 1964 and 1965, KC never lost a game and was invited to play against a touring Brazilian age group team in 1964 and received high commendation even though they lost the game.
In 1964 the school won all major trophies: Champs (Track & Field), Sunlight Cup (Cricket), Manning Cup, Olivier Shield, and the Walker Cup (Football) the first and only school to win all the major trophies in the same school year to date.
At the 2023 Boys Championships, KC’s Class 1 athlete Bouwahjgie Nkrumie became the first Jamaican schoolboy to break the 10-second barrier in the 100m by clocking 9.99 seconds.
The school has also produced many Table Tennis championship teams, and champions, and has an enviable record. It has also made its presence felt in basketball, hockey, rugby, lacrosse, and swimming.
KC produced the youngest (age 16) All Jamaican Lawn Tennis Champion for seniors in Richard Russell in 1963. He is the only Jamaican to progress past the first round at all four Grand Slam events – Australian Open, French Open Wimbledon, and the US Open.
KC has won the Sunlight Cup numerous times. In 1980 the school produced its first cricket Triple Champions under the leadership of Coach James “Jimmy” Richards. Many players have represented Jamaica and the West Indies at the junior and senior levels.
Some have distinguished themselves at the highest level of international cricket e.g. J.K. Holt Jr., Collie Smith, Easton McMorris, Michael Holding, and the Samuels brothers, Robert and Marlon.
The first three regional cricket titles won by Jamaica were captained by KCOB’s – Easton McMorris, Shell Shield in 1969, and Marlon Tucker, Red Stripe Cup in 1988 and 1989.
Its place in the arts is also secure, the Kingston College Chapel Choir has maintained international standards since 1947, comparable to similar choirs in England.
Its adventure in Theatre has produced many offerings, including French plays.
The Kingston College Cadet Unit, led by S. W. Issac Henry at its inception has had a long and successful history, a feature of which has been its annual Inspection Day Parade and the choreographed mock battles. It has won several inspection titles and always has had an excellent drum corps. At times, it has supported other schools that don’t have a drum corps by lending its services for their inspection. It has always boasted colorful and brilliant Sgt. Majors. All its officers have been KC-educated students except the current leader Peta Gaye Grant who is a female teacher at the school.
On KC’s 75th Anniversary, the school received the Key To The City of Kinston & St. Andrew in 2000. The award was presented at the Ward Theatre. The Key was presented to then KCOBA-Jamaica President Stratton Palmer.
As the school approaches its 100th Anniversary, it has more than satisfied its goals set by its founders as a rounded institution, leading all others in the various categories, excelling in all its endeavors, and being a trailblazer in all its undertakings.
Kingston College – Never Yielding!
Written by Ronnie G. Chin and Stratton Palmer