Where are NDSS Original Scouts Now?
The Founder of 1st NDSS
Father Jerome, a Parish Priest of the Notre Dame de Bon Secours R.C. Church, recognized the need for a Scout Troop within the Parish. He had already witnessed "scouting in action" with the 1st. Presentation Sea Scouts, who had won three consecutive National titles. Secondly, the nearby churches, Methodist, Anglican's and the Presbyterian's had established a name for scouting and those groups were very successful.
In 1961, Father Jerome asked the Presentation senior Scouts to assist with the formation of a scout troop for boys within the Parish. One of the senior venture scouts, who took the lead was Michael Samual, now Principle of the Presentation College, San Fernando.
At one of his confirmation class, Father Jerome extended an invitation to those willing to become scouts to remain after class, and as history would record, that faithful day, fourteen boys responded.
The inaugural meeting was held at the Presbytery on Harris Promenade, San Fernando. The Name of the group was taken from the RC church, and the 1st. Notre Dame Sea Scouts was born. A motto was achieved "Sursum Corda" a latin word which really means "Lift up your Hearts" However, the young boys latin translation was indeed bad, and someone thought it meant "Aim High." This translation was formally adopted to be the NDSS translation of Sursum Corda.
Father Jerome with the members of 1st. NDSS
Later that year, Michael Samuel left the group in order to further his studies. Mr. Clement Yip then became the first warranted Scout Leader.
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