Patrick Williams served 27 years in the army from 1952-1978. He was first a sergeant in the British Army, then the West Indies branch, and finally, the Jamaica Defence Force. He was awarded the Independence Medal of Honour, given on August 6, 1962, for persons serving in the forces at the time.

"I remember the day, we were all in the Independence Parade. We all received a medal. The feeling was very exciting, lots going on. Of course, I was feeling very happy, great about the whole thing," Williams reminisced. However, when asked about the changes since independence, Williams could not maintain his optimism. "Of course, a few negative things have happened since then. I'd have thought we'd be a republic by now, actually," he mused.

"Like Trinidad and Tobago, which was independent after us, but they've become a republic now and they've gotten much farther." However, he is quick to add, "But still, I think Independence was good for Jamaica." Williams still has a framed copy of the first speech made by the first prime minister of Jamaica, Sir Alexander Bustamante.

Williams is now an active member of the Jamaica Legion, a group that supports and honours those who have previously served in the armed forces.

I was born in 1937. My parents sent me to school at a very early age and my father was stringent pertaining to matters regarding my schoolwork. When he died, I was seven years old. As a result, the demands of the children and household responsibilities were on my mother alone, so in order to ease this pressure I had to stop going to school.

Pressures of life

In 1946, I recommenced my academic career. I went to St Francis School until fourth standard. While there, the pressures of life faced me. My mother's plan to live in the country was a major setback for me. Therefore, I asked her if she could ask her friend if I could stay with her and learn a skill in wood-work. The friend agreed. Although I learnt the skill of woodwork well, I wanted to return to school.

In 1962, my desire prompted me to start a correspondence course with Bennett College of England in building construction, and I received a certificate that same year. I went to Kingston College and took a test in order to enter the evening class programme. However, I failed the test by one mark. I got 492 points. The persons at Kingston College advised me to go to St Andrew Technical School. I went there, took the test and passed. My score was 902 points.

I entered St Andrew Technical High School's evening programme, and from there I went on to VTDI After completing my tenure there, I spent 25 years working as a teacher of industrial arts at the Port Antonio Comprehensive High School, which is now Port Antonio High School.

- Ferris Jackson

Cricket is more than a sport - it is a game which teaches all the essential lessons of life.

For Jamaicans, it is even more so: it was one of the critical elements which provided the basis on which the fledgling nation moved from colonialism to national independence.

National sport

Cricket has been Jamaica's national sport for more than 100 years, and it has been chronicled in millions of words. Younger readers, however, will not remember the days before 1962 when it was the only organised game known to the over 1,000 communities scattered across our 11,000 square kilometres of land.

- Jamaica Journal, Institute of Jamaica

Jamaican-born cricket legend Irvin Iffla was recently granted the Freedom of the City of Stirling award.

The 85-year-old Iffla, who honed his skills and built a magnificent cricketing career in Jamaica during the 1940s and 1960s, went to Scotland in 1951 as a professional at Stirling County Cricket Club.

Within a year he had transformed the club into a title-winning team.

Irvin also played at Stenhousemuir, Ayr, St Modan's and Gargunnock, scoring more than 13,000, runs including 16 centuries and taking more than 1,600 wickets.

- Submitted by Joy Shelton, Albion Heights, Montego Bay