My literature teacher - God, how proud I am!

By Carl Muller

Jamaica marked Heroes' Night on October 8 last year. Governor General Sir Howard Cooke was there, and everywhere in the island, hearts surged for one tall, lanky man, one Sri Lankan who stood before Sir Howard to receive the insignia, the Order of Distinction.

Call him Elmo de Bruin, or "Bruno" as so many Royalists knew him. Call him Bevil de Bruin, O.D. now. For 37 years, he has been Jamaica's most revered teacher. The island's North Coast Times has described him as "one of the best Mathematics teachers Jamaican classrooms have ever seen has given 37 years of excellence to Cornwall, and thousands of boys will never be the same again".

We Royalists called him "Bruno" and he was friend, mentor and God. How proud I am, for in the fifties he was my English Literature teacher and he gave me (shoved into me, I should say) all the glory and art of language. Humbly, I can say, I am because he is.

He was teaching at Royal even after I left, carrying my own cloud of indiscipline with me, but I also carried away a precious part of him. We have been in touch, of course, but nothing delighted me more than this wonderful news. Our "Bruno" is today a national hero. Jamaica has bowed to him. The outpourings, the sentiments were so many that the North Coast Times brought out a special supplement. This is a sampling.

o Errol Sheppey, Managing Director of Medifar in Montego Bay - Bevil, you're such an example of kindness in so many things that you do - you go out of your way to help others and give them encouragement too - you listen with real understanding and show people you care for them so - you're such an example of kindness - such a wonderful person to know. I will always remain indebted to you.

o Patrick A. Chin of Peat Marwick, Kingston - Congratulations on your inclusion in the list of national honorees and awards in recognition of your long and exemplary service in the field of education. All Cornwallians are proud of your achievements and I am especially grateful to have been touched by your humble spirit, care and guidance over the years. May God bless and help you to continue your good work.

Such a well-loved man. To Jamaica he was affectionately, "Mr. Dibbs" and this is how three partners of an engineering firm in Montego Bay came to say: "Great math teachers produce Engineers for decades. Thank you, Mr. Dibbs."

As at Royal, "Bruno" was an allrounder at Cornwall College. He was always an ardent spokesman and athlete. I am told that he is, in Cornwall, a coach at cricket, hurdles, plays a mean game of tennis, coaches for the triple jump, pole vault, rifle shooting and table tennis.

As a math teacher he is legendary. Writing in the North Coast Times, Horace Chang says, "Bruno" gained for Cornwall College outstanding results in Mathematics and Pure and Applied Maths and because of him, Cornwall remained one of the few schools to offer further Mathematics at "A" Levels.

Some time ago, Brendon Gooneratne told us of our "Bruno's" life at Cornwall. Brendon called him "the saint of Montego Bay" and what else can you call a man who exhausted his salary providing for his needy students? Some could hardly afford a lunch; others had difficulty finding their examination fees. It was "Bruno" who eased their way.

Cornwall is quick to recognize the great disciplinarian too. A teacher, Larry Simpson says: "In 1985, when I first met him, I could not fathom how so simple looking a man could be so stern!" And he recalled: "At an Old Boys reunion in 1996 the comment was that if you went to Cornwall and weren't taught by Mr. Dibbs, you are not a full-fledged Cornwallian."

And yes, he uses the cane. One old boy said: "If the Principal wasn't there and Mr. de Bruin was to do the caning, man, you trembled for it. Nobody wanted to be caned by him." And yet, as all will say, his bark was worse than the bite of his cane. "If you stepped out of line and Mr. De Bruin had to talk to you, you left feeling crushed." Yes, it has always been "learn or depart". That is Royal's motto - "Disce aut Discede" and, would you believe it, Cornwall's motto too. To our "Bruno" it must have been quite like coming home. Another "Royal" where so many "Mullers" needed to have their heads put straight and taught how to step true.

I still remember his springing step, the way he always had the top button of his shirt undone, the easy way he moved and his voice, so controlled even when displeased. Not that he made no show of emotion.

He brought that into his teaching and, to me, it made English Literature so very special.

And now, the race is run and one marvellous man may, for all I know, look over his shoulder and think: "Oh nonsense, it's never over. Not for me." Which is the "Bruno" so many Royalists have known and honoured. He will never say: "I'm done."

God, how proud I am to think that for two years of my life he taught me too. Just two years..... and it has lasted a lifetime.

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