Place of birth: Nassau, The Bahamas
Year of matriculation at St Catharine’s (Catz): 1959
Subject: History
Catz connection:
- He graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in history in 1962.
- He was among the Catz alumni to welcome Professor Donald Portway CBE (Fellow 1918–46, Master 1946–57, Honorary Fellow 1957) to Nassau during his visits to the Caribbean in 1965 and 1967.
- He returned for the St Catharine’s Alumni Society’s annual dinner in both 1969 and 1970 (despite suffering from travel sickness, which was noted in his correspondence with the College).
- He named his youngest daughter Catharine.
Life before Catz:
Gurth was educated in The Bahamas at the Eastern Elementary Schools and the Government High School, the latter appointing him a prefect and school librarian. On leaving school, he started his government career in 1955 (first at the Audit Department, then the Telecommunications Department) while volunteering as a troop leader for the Scouts. After continuing his education at Munro College in Jamaica, he was admitted to Catz with a recommendation from alumnus The Rev’d Michael Eldon (1949, Theology) and the support of a Bahamas Government Memorial Scholarship.
Life after Catz:
After graduating from Catz, Gurth was admitted to Worcester College, Oxford (sister college to Catz), where he completed a postgraduate diploma in Education. His Tutor at Catz wrote to Oxford advising that he was “likely to be the sort of schoolmaster who will be beloved by his pupils”.
On his return to The Bahamas, he taught at the Government High School for several years. He is remembered by a former student for teaching Bahamian history “with considerable panache and commitment” and his “infectious giggle”.
He left teaching to become a senior education officer at the Ministry of Education, where he rose through the ranks to become director of education.
He subsequently served as permanent secretary in the Cabinet Office, and in the Ministries of Development, Education and Economic Affairs.
References:
The Tribune. A life of public service remembered. Available online at https://www.tribune242.com/news/2012/jun/21/a-life-of-public-service-remembered/
Christopher Merrett. Child at the Edge and End of Empire: A Memoir of Nassau in the 1960s. Available online at https://www.fromthethornveld.co.za/child-at-the-edge-and-end-of-empire-a-memoir-of-nassau-in-the-1960s/
Rosemary C. Hanna. Pictorial History & Memories of Nassau's Over-The-Hill. Reproduced at https://www.facebook.com/100041893374681/posts/1433288650241547/
