The Rhodes Trust joins Jamaica in mourning the passing of Eric Anthony Abrahams, Rhodes Scholar for Jamaica for 1962.

After attending Jamaica College and the then University College of the West Indies, Tony was awarded the Rhodes Scholarship and read Jurisprudence at St Peter's College, Oxford.

At Oxford, he had the distinction of being elected president of the prestigious Oxford Union. An extract from the Daily Mail of October 8, 1964 (headed 'Oxford's Coloured President') carries an interesting tale:

'The new academic year at Oxford has started with a rumpus over the colour prejudice of landladies.

By coincidence, the new president of the Oxford Union - and one of the finest debaters the university has seen for many years - is a coloured undergraduate, Eric Abrahams from the West Indies.

He is 24 and already has a formidable list of achievements behind him. At 17 he was captain of his school cricket team and ran the quarter-mile in 51.7. Olympic gold medallist Herb McKenley tipped him as a future world-beater.

Then he was injured and gave up sport altogether.

At the University of the West Indies, he turned to debating and politics and became chairman of the debating society.

He won medals and awards during a debating tour of America and a Rhodes Scholarship followed.

Insightful, brilliant mind

Racial discrimination in Oxford? "It exists," he says. "You just wonder when you are helping an old lady on to a bus whether she's embarrassed by your helping her ... ."

Next summer, he goes to the Bar and then home to politics, with a strong tipping as a future prime minister. Oxford old ladies boarding buses, please note.'

Upon his return to Jamaica, Tony served as president of the Rhodes Scholars Association of Jamaica and devoted himself to public service, for which he has been deservingly lauded.

Tony had one of the most insightful and brilliant minds Jamaica has produced. His love for his country and its people was sterling.

The Rhodes community across the world mourns his passing and prays for comfort for his family.

PETER S. GOLDSON

Jamaica & Caribbean Secretary

to the Rhodes Trust