Contributions to the “Alpha Story”

Well done – and Congratulations to Sandra Richards-Mayo!

Sandra with her father, Victor Richards (as a young man & now a very proud father and grandfather)

Doctoral Candidate Claremont Graduate University 150 E. Tenth Street Claremont, CA 91711, USA Tel: (909) 675-9087 Email: sandra.richards@cgu.edu

Friends and colleagues will recall that Sandra Richards-Mayo had previously requested assistance in her endeavour to carry out a study related to Alpha Boys’ School. You may therefore like to know that Sandra Richards-Mayo has now completed that task, and will be awarded her PhD (Doctorate) at Claremont University, California, on Friday the 12^th of May 2006.

Dr Sandra Richards-Mayo is the devoted daughter and niece of two former Alpha boys (Victor and John Richards). The focus of her doctoral thesis was “educational and vocational training in Jamaica's youth homes”, with a particular focus on the Alpha Boys' School and Home. I have been privileged to have been one of several “old boys” interviewed by her – and like a few others have been available to offer as much support as possible.

I hope that we might be able to encourage Dr Richards-Mayo to consider publishing her work sometime in the future. And whilst offering congratulations to her, her father (and our alumni), and a most understanding and supportive husband, we hope we will see other children and grandchildren of “past boys” taking up the challenge to explore further the role and contributions of Alpha Boys’ and Girls’ Schools to the life and challenges of Jamaica itself. Today, we thank and salute Dr Sandra Richards-Mayo!