1913 - Jacob Laltoo wins a Colonial Scholarship!
At Naparima in 1909, at age 16, Jacob passed the Cambridge Exams for Junior Students with the highest standing (Dr. Coffin, acting principal). In 1910, Jacob passed the corresponding exam for senior students. (Dr. Scrimgeoeur, acting principal).
The principals both felt that Jacob could succeed in the British Colonial Scholarship competition - and that he could best do this at QRC. Upon their recommendation, he was admitted to the senior form at Queen's Royal College in January 1911. He passed the Senior Cambridge examinations with First Class Honours in December 1911 and wrote the same examinations the next year as a scholarship candidate.
In those days, it took months for the examination papers to travel to Cambridge University in England, and be marked.
In June of 1913,
QRC Principal Mr. Burslem was sitting in the shade of one of the huge samaan trees bordering the QRC playing fields, at the school's Annual Sports Day, when he was summoned to the telephone at his house nearby. The newspaper office had called to inform him unofficially that QRC had won two of the three island-wide Colonial Scholarships! The names might be Laltoo and Weatherhead!
As it was Saturday, the suspense prevailed all weekend, until confirmed on Monday morning.
Great was the rejoicing at QRC, at fledgling Naparima College - and at Jacob's remote home in Diamond Village!