Pierre Simon Walter Shyngle was a mentor, teacher and a friend profoundly respected. He was a man of distinguished career and dedicated servant of the nation.
Pierre Shyngle excelled in mathematics during his school days. Surrounded by siblings that were knowledgeable in the practice of Medical and Health motivated him to become a Public Health Superintendent. He became the first trained and certified Gambian Health Educator. He was an outstanding Public Health Lecturer and most distinguished in practical work, Detection and Abatement of Public Health Nuisances and Veterinary Public Health.
P.S.W. Shyngle proudly exhibited these certificates:
- Meat & Other Foods Diploma, London College, 1967
- Royal Society of Public Health West Africa – Dip
- Health Education Dip London
P.S.W. Shyngle also had leisure time to himself. He was an all-rounder individual and distinguished himself in various sports activities e.g. football, cricket. Pierre was a Grandmaster Kite designer and maker. He was famous in flying giant kites, locally known as ‘NOSE’, within Crab Island neighborhood.
Known for his rigor, passion, principles and mentorship Pierre Shyngle paved the way for generations of Gambian Public Health Officers and Veterinary Public Health Officers. Together with Late Dawda Jagne, they established The School of Public Health (SPH) in 1968 at Marina Parade in Banjul occupying a residential quarters of past British colonial administrators.
Mr. Shyngle, as he was respectfully called, was a brother and friend, always joking and laughing with his students. His students adopted calling each other ‘Rattus rattus, Rattus Norvegicus, and Musmusculus’. These are generic and scientific names pronounced in his lecture classes. He was pivotal in arranging periodical joint work with international institutions in research namely the International Development Research Center (IDRC) of Canada. P.S.W. led periodical student exchange visits between SPH and Arhus University in Denmark. Mr. Shyngle was exceptionally good in these subjects: Inspection and Report Writing, Sea Port & Air Port Health and Practical Meat Inspection.
Mr. Shyngle, the highly valued Public Health Lecturer, transitioned from the Medical and Health to the Department of Veterinary Services. He was a resource person in the relocation of the Banjul Abattoir to Abuko Central Abattoir and commenced the training of Gambian Veterinary Public Health Officers, Department of Livestock Services. P.S.W. exhibited a passion for Butchery.
Pierre Simon Walter was a symbol of enthusiastic, energetic and practical professional. He operated a Butchery ‘Njuke Ngozi Butchery’ to practice his reputable knowledge and skills. There he trained some of his dedicated students in Hygienic Food Handling and Meat Retail Cuts (Beef, Pork, Mutton and Poultry). His vision and enthusiasm inspired him to expand his business. In January 1986 he started operating ‘Njuke Ngozi Meat Center and Restaurant’ at ‘Kerr Gorgi Pierre’ in Bakau Newtown. This was an ambitious project well planned and executed. It served as a model hygienic food establishment. On Monday 29 November 1993, President Sir Dawda Kairaba Jawara the 1St President of the Republic of The Gambia visited the center in the midst of several Gambian entrepreneurs.
P.S.W. was a man par excellence and a highly sociable person. He had strong Catholic orientation. He socialized with the people of faith and fostered this relationship by arranging Sunday meals with his friends and international students. His wife, Late Elizabeth Theresa Shyngle (Aunty Elsie) had always joyously attended to P.S.W. and his associates. December 23 was an anticipated day of Shyngle’s wedding anniversary and his friends traditionally gathered at his Fajara residence to celebrate the occasion; these were days never forgotten.
Pierre Shyngle was a Founder Member of the Knights of St. Peter & St. Paul inaugurated in June 1989. His background knowledge in Building Science and Technology enabled his participation in the construction of the Headquarters at Bartil Harding Highway/OIC Highway. He was a passionate and tireless Knight that rose to the position of a Patron Knight. Indeed, he was a Noble Knight who regularly and punctually attended all the meetings and functions until his health started failing him.
Pierre Simon Walter Shyngle was a gentleman, highly principled and a renowned entrepreneur in the food industry. May his services to the Gambia be rewarded in eternity. AMEN.
