Wesley Hewling veteran educator for 45 years, philosopher, and icon hails from Townhead district in Westmoreland. He is from a family of five brothers and one sister. His father was a carpenter who worked on the sugar estate and his mother a housewife.

Mr. Hewling and Mr.s Evelyn Tugwell, Regional Office West

Mr. Wesley Hewling proudly displays trophies & plaques

He will be celebrating his 84th birthday on September 28, 2002.

He is a graduate of Mico Teachers College, the university of Reading England, the University of Toronto, Canada, and received his early education at Town Head Primary.

He chose teaching as a career because there were not many options at the time. He became a teacher throughthe influence of his own teacher Mr. Sterling. "Teacher through the influence of his own teacher Mr. Sterling. "Teaching was a very noble profession in those days and teachers were well respected, Mr. Hewling recalls.

His first job was a pre-trained teacher at Churchill Elementary, Hanover then Somerton All Age where he met our current Prime Minister, Hon. P.J. Patterson who was a young student then. He then moved on to Orange Hill Primary as Principal. After he got married, he went to Richmond I Hanover where he spent seven years. He left in 1951 and went to Adelphi All Age and spent seven years. Mr. Hewling could easily be described as the seven-year man as he often spent a period of seven years at each school. He became Principal of Montego Bay Boys All Age which was renamed Corianaldi Avenue Primary after it became a co-educational school.

He relates fondly how he got the school to be changed to a co-educational one. He explained that it was necessary for boys and girls to go to the same school because at that time in Montego Bay, most of the schools were single sex schools and there needed to be a balance between single sex and co-ed ones.

His major disappointment during his entire career was not becoming principal of Montego Bay Senior School, having been given a scholarship from the Ministry of Education to Reading University in England to study administration with the understanding that he would get that position. When he learnt that he would not be appointed to theposition of principal, he sought persmisson from his Professor at the University to go into some primary schools to gain experience and new ideas in that sector.

In 1965 he acted as Education Officer where he displayed his ability as advisor and became a role model to many teachers.

Wesley Hewling is a JTA stalwart! He has been a member of the Association for all his teachin glife and still remains a member. He was President of theJTA I 1969. Professionalism and membership were the main emphases during his presidency. He stressed that al the members of his staff had to be members of their professional organization.Mr. Hewling is a Caribbean man. He was elected Assistant Secretary General of a Caribbean Union of Teachers at a Conference held in Guyana and subsequently served as Secretary General for two terms from 1964-1968.

He also served as a Vice President of the CUT. He noted that he was grateful for the experience gained in the CUT and the places that he was able to visit as a result of his work with that organization.

He is the first Regional officer of the JTA and started working in this a capacity on a part time basis while he was still working as Principal. At the time there was not an established office. After he retired from the teaching profession in 1980, he was offered the position of Regional Officer, West.

How different is the JTA now from what it was then? Mr. Hewling bemoaned the fact teachers do not take membership in the Association as seriously now as it was during his time. He stressed that it was his view that "success as a teacher was largely dependent on the teacher's association with the professional body".

Mr. Hewling belonged to a noble band of JTA stalwarts, namely, Wesley Powell, Edith Dalton-James and W.B.C. Ben Hawthorne.

He described the late Mrs. Dalton James a "firm". She knew what she was about and she was respected by all.

He described Mr. Hawthorne as "Mr. JTA himself." He said these persons were trendsetters and role models and everyone wanted to be like them.

His impressive list of Awards include the Order of Distinction, (OD) 1984; the JTA roll of Honour Award, the Prime Minister's Medal, 1983'Mico Teachers' College Centenary Award, 1986; and the Musgrave Award (bronze), 1988.

His commitment to service went far beyond the classroom and he served and still serves some of these organizations:

• Rotary Club of Montego Bay
• District Grand Officer Friendly Lodge 383
• Chairman of the Board of Governors, Sam Sharpe Teachers College
• Chairman of the Mount Alvernia High School Board
• Member of the Teachers Services Commission for 25 years

He has two daughters and one son. One of his daughters, Dahlia Robinson, is the V.P of the Montego Bay High School. The other is a Nurse and his son is a Gynaecologist.

Wesley Hewling is active in his church and is an ardent member of the Anglican faith. His philosophy is that one should do what one can with one's might.