Malvern, St Elizabeth – In its four years of existence, the Munro College Old Boy’s Association (MCOBA) Hall of Fame usually inducted, on average, about half-a-dozen people at a time.

But this year is different and special.

This year, Munro College is celebrating 160 years, and so to recognise the occasion, on Sunday, October 9, the fifth annual Hall of Fame induction roster was broadened to 16 – one person for each decade of Munro’s existence – seven of them posthumous.

In addition to expanding the numbers for the occasion, the Arthur Williams-led MCOBA has also started to widen the demographic. In contrast to most awardees, so far, being advanced in years, if not posthumous, one inductee this time was relatively young; and this trend is expected to continue.

Finance executive Christian Stokes, known to local track and field historians as a former 100-metre Class 1 champion at “Champs,” and more widely known internationally as part of Jamaica’s first-ever Olympic Bobsleigh team and later president of Jamaica’s Bobsleigh Federation, is the youngest inductee to date.

Other living inductees were: Grace Missionary Church founder, the Rev David Clark; star athlete and media, racehorse and agriculture industries personality, Vin Lumsden; award-winning entrepreneur and Munro stalwart Trevor Armstrong; former Contractor General and former Dean of the Norman Manley Law School Faculty of Law, Derrick McKoy; prominent architect and Munro benefactor, Gladstone Fisher; celebrated cardiology specialist Dr Trevor Robinson; internationally sought-after chartered accountant, Richard Downer; and former star athlete turned internationally acclaimed artist, writer and artist advocate, Errol Lloyd.

At the other end of the spectrum, Hall of Fame member Hugh Hart, international corporate lawyer and former government minister, was on hand to accept the induction of his late father, Clinton Hart. Clinton Hart was a legendary stalwart of Jamaica’s legal fraternity and, like his son, a former star athlete at Munro. Hugh was inducted in 2014, a year after his cousin Tony Hart, and now the Harts are so far the only ‘Munro family’ to have three inductees. The Sangster family has two.

Another point of interest was a memorable example of a shared connection and camaraderie between two of the nation’s most prominent boys’ schools. In attendance at this very blue and gold Munro function was the purple and white presence of the president of the Kingston College Old Boys Association, Patrick Dallas, and a small delegation from KC. The reason? One of the inductees was a Munro Old Boy – the late legend, Douglas Forrest, former KC headmaster and founder of the Kingston College Chapel Choir.

Some feminist history was also made at the St Elizabeth school, which prides itself on producing gentlemen. The Hall of Fame welcomed its first female inductee, late former school matron Edith “Shottie” Wright, who was pivotal in the construction of the picturesque Munro College Chapel, which is now a national heritage building.

The other posthumous inductees were: Munro’s first-ever “day boy,” and former president of the Court of Appeal, Ira Rowe; internationally acclaimed writer, Andrew Salkey; legendary defence attorney, Ian Ramsay, Queen’s Council (QC).

He was Jamaica’s youngest ever QC, and said to be the only one to ever give it up in protest and be awarded again.

Also inducted posthumously was the late renowned opinion journalist and writer Morris Cargill, who also had a hand in creating Tia Maria, Jamaica’s famous coffee liqueur.

Eligible for the Hall of Fame are old boys who have made significant contributions to the school and/or to society at the national or international level, and members of the school’s administration – male or female – who have made significant contributions to the institution.