Anthony McNamara, The School Principal and the Board Chair
By Fatou Sillah
Anthony McNamara, a former teacher at St. Peter’s Senior and Junior Secondary School from 1975 to 1979, paid a courtesy visit to the institution on Wednesday, accompanied by his family. His return marked a nostalgic reunion with the school where he once taught, offering him the opportunity to reconnect with former colleagues and witness the institution’s continued progress.
During the visit, Mr. McNamara toured the school’s facilities and engaged with students and staff. The reception, highlighted by a performance from the school choir, created a warm and welcoming atmosphere for the guests.
Reflecting on his time in The Gambia, Mr. McNamara expressed deep appreciation for the country and its people.“I learned a lot from being in The Gambia. It’s a beautiful country, beautiful people. They often, they often say that you go to East Africa for the animals or the safari, you come to West Africa for the people, that is so true of The Gambia. It’s the people that make the difference, absolutely. So it’s a major achievement for us to come here. I’m so happy to be here, and I’m so heartened by the welcome you have extended to us and the family here today,” He Said.
The Chairman of St. Peter’s Board, Bernard Manneh, warmly welcomed Mr. McNamara and his family, commending the former teacher’s contributions to the school’s legacy and impact on education in The Gambia.
“St Peter’s school is a household name and a powerful house for skill development in the Gambia this we can attribute to the likes of Mr McNamara, who from the beginning realised the need and also devoted their time, energy and efforts towards building and nurturing a school with a difference, a school that will cater for the technical and vocational development needs of this country,” He Said.
In a heartfelt speech, James Bakhoum, representing the class of 1975, reminisced about his cherished moments at St. Peter’s. He expressed deep gratitude to his former teachers, recognizing their pivotal role in shaping his success and that of his classmates, many of whom have gone on to excel in their careers.
“We may have gone through other institutions in the world, but when it comes to our chats, it’s hardly an incident where we don’t speak about the teachers, the fun we had here. I don’t know whether Tony’s family is aware that he was also a sports coach. He was our football coach. So it was such a pleasant place to grow and to learn, and we did. The result, any one of these people here from the class of 75 had made great strides both in personal development, but also in academia, and also in life’s works,” He Said.