Karl or any other Forumites

[Sickko]

Did any of you know Pop Lawrence from Montego Bay Boys Club?

Well he died tonight while at the club where he has been from maybe before I was born. My first real memories were formed while we lived at River Bay Road, just up the road form 'Club' and as long as I can recall Pop was always at Club.

He was a serious central defender in his youth days and was an 'administrator' of the Montego Bay Boys Club for years, basically he and David Earle ran the place on basically nothing, fed and schooled thousands of youths- many who attended high school in MoBay.

Among the people who passed through club, a no one really 'graduate' were the likes of Rex Nettleford, national ballers Michael 'Mango beard' Parkinson and Twinny-bug Anglin, world rated musicians like Paul Kastic who is the musical diector for Shaggy and several other top Reggae artiste.

At least one Phd came out of Club Verley Campbell who went to CC and was called 'Sam Bowl head', played basketball and went on to earn his PHd overseas after getting his firts two degrees at UWI

The music teacher at Herbert Morrison, maybe the top music school in the island -Karl 'Slouchy' Mathews is from Club and so many more right now too numerous to mention.

Pop was a real hero, raising his children along with many other and wa sta club seven days a week, where children go after school to learn music, sports, learn to read and write properly and to develop into human beings who have made serious contributions to Montego Bay, Jamaica and the world.

Man I feel like I have lost one of my own family members and I dread breaking the news to my mother tomorow as she knew him well and always asked about him.

[Karl]

RE: Karl or any other Forumites

I met the gentleman time and time again. You have just given me an insight into the type of person he was.

Walk good, "Pops"!

[TDowl]

RE: Karl or any other Forumites

I never knew that he was still alive, playing for Boys Club also were Garnett Rowe (First Rastaman to play for JA, this goalkeeper was the first person I sawplaying in a big/long shorts) and Billy Griffith, if I am not mistaken Uncle D and Junior Chin, oh well.

Boys club also had a marching band

[Sickko]

RE: Karl or any other Forumites

<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=1 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD><SPAN class=TopStory>'Gone too soon'</SPAN>
<SPAN class=Subheadline>Montego Bay mourns sudden death of 'Pop'</SPAN></TD></TR><TR><TD>PAUL A REID, Observer West writer
Thursday, February 01, 2007
</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=5 width=190 align=left border=0><TBODY><TR><TD></TD></TR><TR><TD><SPAN class=Description>Aston Clinton Lawrence</SPAN></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE><P class=StoryText align=justify>MONTEGO BAY, St James<P class=StoryText align=justify>Montegonians from all walks of life have expressed surprise at the passing of Aston Clinton Lawrence, known to thousands as simply 'Pop'.

The 72-year-old icon of the Montego Bay Boys Club passed away on Monday night while directing activities at the institution on River Bay Road where he has served for the past three decades.

David Earle, who has worked alongside Lawrence for several decades, told the Observer West this week that Lawrence had been complaining of having "gas" since Sunday. Some time after 7:00 pm on Monday, Earle said a young member of the club called him as she thought he was not "looking good".<P class=StoryText align=justify>When they got there, Earle said, they saw him sitting in his customary position on a stool at the club's front door. He appeared to have problems breathing.<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=5 width=180 align=right border=0><TBODY><TR><TD></TD></TR><TR><TD><SPAN class=Description>A young Pop is officially recognised.</SPAN></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE><P class=StoryText align=justify>Earle said an alarm was raised and with the assistance of several members, they got him into a car and rushed him to the Cornwall Regional Hospital where he was pronounced dead.

Earl said Lawrence's passing had created a "huge vacuum" that can never be filled.<P class=StoryText align=justify>Well known gym instructor and philanthropist, Lloyd Young, who was instrumental in the formation of the club told the Observer West, he had known Pop since childhood and was one of the first batch of members who joined the club in 1942.

Young said the club was formed by the late Archdeacon Harrison from the St James Parish Church with the view to creating a place where under-privileged boys from Montego Bay could hone their skills.<P class=StoryText align=justify>Lands were donated by the late Peter Kerr-Jarrett, owner of Barnett Estates, while Charlie Agate, father of Cecil Agate, and Young were directors.

Young said the news of Lawrence's passing was a shock to him, saying 'Ackee-pop' as he called him was hardly ever sick.<P class=StoryText align=justify>Mark Kerr-Jarrett, whose father was one of the founders, said while he never had much direct contact, he remembered his father "spoke very highly of him and all the time said Montego Bay was so lucky to have him because he was so dedicated to the boys and girls.<P class=StoryText align=justify>"Without him, it really wouldn't have worked," he said.
Lawrence was described as an outstanding football player in his time, playing for several teams, including Barracks Old Boys, Chetwood and Black Hawks before joining the Boys Club.<P class=StoryText align=justify>Earle, who played a number of seasons with Lawrence, said he read the game well and several teams were built around him and striker Alphanso 'Kiddie' Hill.

Lawrence is survived by his wife Anita and three children.