The grandson of one of Fiji’s prominent businessmen and politicians, Sir Hugh Ragg, visited Xavier College in Ba this week to hand over a prized family heirloom.
Richard Chalmers, 84, visited the school built on a portion of his grandfather’s land more than 70 years ago.
“The last time I was here, there was a very big bure where the office is now,” Mr Chalmers said.
“I was about two years old when I started coming here, and I remember some mornings when he (Sir Hugh) would wake us up and take us to the nearby river for a swim.
“I have so many wonderful memories here with my grandfather, and it is quite a special moment for me to come back with my family and visit some of the old places my grandfather used to bring us to.”
Mr Chalmers said the prized heirloom was a silver cup presented to Sir Hugh by the Ba Amateur Turf Club when his horse Khartoum won the 1920 President’s Cup Race.
“This trophy has remained a cherished family heirloom, entrusted to me by my grandfather.
“I decided to return the cup to the college as a permanent memorial to him.”
He said Sir Hugh generously donated the land on which Xavier College was now located to the Catholic Church in the 1940s.
“In recognition of this foundational gift, the return of the trophy symbolises both gratitude and remembrance of his vision and contribution to education in Fiji.”
Xavier College principal Jalendra Prasad said this was the first time any of Sir Hugh’s direct descendants had reached out to the school.
“It is always a special thing to celebrate a piece of our school’s history,” Mr Prasad said.
“We are very grateful to Mr Chalmers and his family for reaching out to the school and for donating this very special family heirloom to us and to a place where, without their grandfather’s generosity, we would not have existed.”
Sir Hugh was born in Suva in 1882. He was educated at Marist Brothers School and worked as a businessman for most of his life, setting up his own firm, HH Ragg and Co.
In his mid-50s, he bought a hotel in Lautoka and established the Northern Hotels company. Through this company, he established hotels in Ba, Nadi, Rakiraki, and Sigatoka with his son David Ragg.
Their Korolevu Beach Hotel, built in 1953, was the first resort in Fiji.
