20, Merton Hall Gardens,

Wimbledon,

London, SW20 8SN.

0181 715 6549.

Jan 1999

Dear Vadhans and Surfers,

What a year of very high "ups" and very low "downs" 98 was for me. "Can I take it?" I ask myself May 99 be a year of the ups and very few gentle downs for all.

My highest up had to be the birth of our grandson, Owen, on November 2nd, to our younger daughter, Minelle. He is her first born. Of course he is gorgeous! He does happen to be a very good baby, and as Alan does all the donkey work, Minelle doesn't know what the fuss is about ... yet!

Running very closely was our visit to Toronto for the Reunion. For those not on the web, let me quote what Aubrey wrote:

 "The Toronto-based VADHA reunion was held on October 3rd 1998 at the home of Benita and Eric Rozario. This was a  special reunion, as our main guest of honour was no other than Grace Pereira herself. Grace and her husband Dereyck were  on a north American trip, and we were indeed very fortunate to have them visit Ontario and to be with us for the reunion. Those of us who hadn't met Grace all agreed that she is a lovely person who kept our reunion alive with many stories of the hilltop.

 The reunion was attended by Warren and Rose O'Rourke, Joyce Elkin, Frank Littlewood, Don and Jean (nee Watkins) Lockyer, Noreen O'Malley, Charan and Shanti Mathur, Daphne (nee D'Rozario) and Denzil Gonsalves, Benita (nee Dunne)  and Eric Rozario, Madhusree Das Gupta, (nee Sen), Lynette Essery (nee Slacke) Abhijit Prasad (the youngest member, who was visiting Toronto), Aubrey and Clare Ballantine, and of course Grace and Dereyck Pereira and their friends Elaine and Steve Roeder.

 Those who attended were treated to a sumptuous meal of Chicken Makhani, Pork Vindaloo, Pilau Rice, Vegetable Potato chops, and Aloo Ghobi Bhaji. All this was followed with Ras Malai for dessert. Absolutely wonderful. Our thanks go out to Warren for arranging the catering.

Warren welcomed Grace, saying that in the 50's VADHA would have folded but for two volunteer leaders, one of whom was the late Dolly White (nee Ball). Grace's leadership was inspired by Dolly, and Dolly's by Padre Solomon, and Padre's no doubt by Rev. Elliot. Our special thanks go out to those who have carried the torch. Grace's editorship of the VADHA newsletter is marked by her caring and affection. She embraces us and we embrace her.

Jean Lockyer presented Grace with a lovely clock on behalf of our local VADHA branch. Grace presented a beautiful  cut-glass dinner bell gift to the VADHA branch, which rightfully went to Benita and Eric who have been such gracious hosts for the past three years.

 Click on " 1998 Reunions" on the VADHA Web Site

(http://www.orbonline.net/~auballan/vicdow.htm) to view photographs  taken at the reunion".

Now for my version!! I had been so looking forward to it and then it flashed by in an euphoric daze, leaving feelings of sheer pleasure. At my leisure, I have been able to go over and over the time, but I keep saying "why didn't I say .... ? "What did .... say?" etc.! However, no time is ever long enough when enjoyment is at such an exhilarated level. Many who attended had been names and letters to me, and I had to put the faces to these. Thankfully, Rose (O'Rourke) had organized name tabs for my benefit. Rose is the darling I knew she was over the years of letters. Benita (Dunne) our hostess was a shock to me!! A lovely one, but a shock nevertheless. I still can't recognize her physically, but, thank heavens, her sweet nature is unchanged. She is still knee high but slender, gorgeous and nothing like my school pictures. Whatever did you drink Ben? I'd love the recipe! Her husband Eric is a superb pianist and while he played Dereyck could hear a familiar style. On asking we discovered he tutored the brother to our closest friend, when in Cal, and is a friend of the entire family! Ben and Eric have a gorgeous home and were superb hosts, as usual I believe. Ben's mum - Charlie Dunne's sister - is very like her brother in looks. I had a wee chat with her and enjoyed reminiscing. But back to Eric's playing. As is always the case with me, his type of music takes me straight back to DH and the NEED to jive. Over the last 48 years I have not stopped jiving, but this was different - with another DH girl, Madhu, from my own class. We were back in that school hall, totally in unison in style, and steps that are particular to us. Oh Madhu you will never know what it meant to me. Don and Jean Lockyer are friends of our close friends,. Elaine and Steve, with whom we were staying. I didn't chat too much to them as I knew we were to see them for the whole day at Elaine and Steve's for Thanksgiving. This we did, and then caught up on each others lives. So they are another couple who started in DH and VS! Noreen O'Malley is Don's sister and ex DH. Charan Mathur is just like his letters - warm, dignified and so very interesting to talk to. His wife Shanti is a sweetie. Joyce Elkin is a friend of friends of ours here in Wimbledon - I did not know this till she told me! Daphne (D'Rozario) works closely for the Anglo-Indian Association in Canada, and I do plan to join. I do not beat this drum in my missives except where it is relevant, but it does happen to be a subject that is very close to my heart. Aubrey looks so like his aunt. I had no need to took at his name tag and it was good to meet Clare and chat. Abhijit saw Aubrey's web info on us, and came. It was wonderful to have so young a Victorian there - and we do hope he will get more of his generation in touch. I was delighted to hug and hug Lynette when she arrived as I hadn't seen her since 1957, in London. We knew a bloke who told us both the other was nuts about him, not knowing we would ever meet! When we did, we simultaneously said, 'You can have him! Gorgeous as you took, Lyn, you must put some flesh on.... or are my eyes just a vivid shade of green? Elaine just loved being with so many folk from India. She is from Cal. She was really taken with how warm and friendly everyone was to her and Steve. Frank couldn't be mistaken - he's a male version of Peggy and he obviously got the lion's share of size!! His eyes crinkle just the way Peggy's do when he smiles. Don Watson phoned and it was great - he was with us in spirit. The dinner was ACE and we even got doggy bags in true Canadian style, so we relived it the next day. Warren spoke very warmly of our VADHA association - there have been many who have carried the torch between Padre Solomon's inauguration, and me, and each one has done the job purely because he/she cared. Warren, very sweetly, said part of my name is an anagram of 'care'. Yes, I do care, and I'm not ashamed to admit it. But for every ounce of care that I give I get back pounds. So, unlike my financial investments, it's I who reap the rewards. I was so touched by the beautiful clock, I received. It sits in my dining room where I spend most time. Whoever has been over since our return has commented on it. We all took snaps so please may I have copies to keep in the VADHA album, to display at the next Reunion, and most of all, for my own selfish pleasure. Madhu has given me Eva Sengupta's address - like me she still has her autograph book. Eva asks if anyone has news of Doris Taylor. Eva hoped to attend the Reunion in Calcutta - I do hope she did. Jean gave me a photo of the DH guides with herself, Cynthia O'Hara, Dolly and Iris Ball and Joyce Hayling. Perhaps some others will be recognized when it is displayed in June.

Those were the very highs. Now, sadly, for the very lows. My mum has had a few minor strokes and heart attacks, resulting in loss of her short term memory, to some extent. She has been in and out of hospital since May and the family refused to contact me while I was in Canada and the States to tell me how she was. Since our return we realised Mum can no longer live alone, and I am unable to give her the care she needs. Hence, we were very fortunate to get a place for her in the Home where Aunty Dot was. It is a mile from us, and on the next comer from mum's flat. She went in on Dec. 6th and is already very happily settled. It has made such a change to her. There are daily activities- wonderful food; she has a very pleasant large room and people with whom to interact. She was already familiar with the place and personnel, so it has been very easy for her. I think the family and I have found it harder to cope. Perhaps only those who have been through this will understand the traumas. I just have to thank God for the close family Mum and my dad gave me, and my cleverness in choosing such a super husband.

Further lows have been the sadness of others. Denise Coelho (Fink) lost her dear husband. It looks so bald on paper, but Denise knows how deeply she has my sympathies. We shall all miss his cheerfulness at the reunions.

If "God tries those most that he loves best", I can only say He does love Olga Barker (D'Sena) an awful lot. She lost Robert two years ago and now her son has died from a heart attack, within hours of winning squash games against his friends. From letters I have received, Olga, you are in a lot of thoughts and prayers and may this be a little comfort to you.

I had a letter from Angela Waleski, Don's daughter, to tell us of his demise. She enclosed the tribute she and her sister had written for his funeral and a photo of Don. I believe it is all now on the web, through her sending a copy to Aubrey. Don passed away on August 28th. Angela wrote:

 "We loved to hear his endless stories about his Boarding school days in India. I once told him that I was going to make it my  life's quest to revisit his old schools for him, but he made me promise not to. He said that it would be too disheartening, as  they would be in such disrepair now, and not of the same standard. Reading the last VADHA letter he was right. But looking  through some of his pictures taken of him and his chums on 'The Hill' this place still holds such magic and mystique for me and my familv. What lovely memories! Dad did so love his VADHA letters. He kept every one. They were a tremendous  source of enjoyment in his retirement years. You once sent my parents a card made from a picture of the chapel by the old  schools. It was very precious to my dad and he had it framed. I have just this week had it enlarged and reprinted for me and  my sister and had them beautifully framed". She and her mother wish to receive the newsletters. I have the tribute in its  entirety, but cannot reproduce it all. If anyone wishes to have it please send me an extra 50p for locals and LI from abroad as  it is 6 pages in length. However, I will quote the parts that mean most to me:

 "It was so important to Dad to see his girls grow up, get a University education, marry, and have children of their own. He  used to say from the time when we were only little girls: 'I want to bounce my grandchildren on my knee!' Dad's primary  interest was his family. He didn't have many other hobbies throughout his lifetime. He occasionally went duck hunting and  golfing, but other than that he was always home. That was his kick in life, and he was determined not to be robbed of that  despite a terrible family history of heart disease. Dad went on to enjoy 23 more years of a healthy, symptom-free, active life  after his surgery... an amazing accomplishment! We owe our careers to our Dad and Mom. Our education was always of the  utmost importance to Dad. He had leamt this the hard way. After India gained independence, his family lost their plantation  and he was so thankful that his father had insisted that he get a profession. He took a keen interest in our studies, helping us  with our homework, and encouraging us to challenge ourselves to the limit. He used to say to us 'Put your hand to the plow  and don't look back". Another was 'Writing maketh the perfect man' and coached us to write things out on a sheet of paper so  that they could be instilled into our memories. We grew up with a work ethic - we learned at a very early age from him that  hard work was always satisfying, and that we should do it for ourselves, and take pride in it. And he was -so proud of us! He  and my mother would attend every school function in support and always compliment us on our performance. It was these  lessons in early years that carried us through the grueling competition and examinations in University. Angela remembers  coming back to Yellowknife for Christmas after the first semester in Pre-Med. She was so thin and looked so tired. Dad felt  so bad and in his compassionate way said 'Why don't you take the next term off and stay home and start again later?'  Angela's reply without thinking was 'No Dad, I'm not a quitter.' It was automatic. We both graduated in 1983 from the  University of Alberta, and we remember that as being one -of the proudest moments in our father's life. He was just beaming,  and we were thrilled that he was so pleased.

It was our Dad that taught us the Lords Prayer. When we were young he used to say our prayers with us every night. We'd always add our own special ending for that day, but his was always the same. He always prayed for 'long life, good health, prosperity, and happiness'. How glad we are that his prayers were answered! Even after, when we had left home for University and then later started our own families, when we'd come home to visit he would catch us aside and ask 'Do you still say your prayers every night?' It was extremely important to him that we know God in a personal way and follow His teachings, and -he was very open and never embarrassed about saying so. There were times when we would walk into a room and find him kneeling in a comer saying his prayers in a whispering voice, and we would feel awkward that we had intruded in on his private moment, but he didn't mind. He would just continue praying. He was unabashed about his faith and didn't want to hide it. And he didn't hide his feelings either. He loved us and he told us often. He was openly affectionate and loved to kiss us. We were his life and he always made us feel this way. He could give constructive criticism but balance it with many compliments. We remember that when we used to dress up to go out for a special occasion, he would say to us 'Gee -you look like a million bucks!! and we would feel so good. But what we remember most about our Dad was his incredible love for our Mother. As the years went on, he just fell more and more deeply in love with her. He was affectionate and loved to cuddle, and we remember him sneaking up to her to surprise her with a kiss, perhaps in the kitchen while she was cooking. We remember him being so proud of all her accomplishments and telling us so. We remember him telling Mom every single year at Christmas Dinner that this was the BEST dinner that he had ever eaten! He called Mom his 'Rock', she was the centre of his universe. Most of all we remember him saying 'Mom, you're the Best!' It is this same love that he passed on to us, and that now enables us to pass on to our own families, to continue the Circle of Life. Our Dad has not gone, he lives in us, and is part of who we are. We are so much more special human beings for having known him. We love you Dad, and we are proud of you. Thank you for giving us such a long and happy life together.

I think Don's greatest success was his girls, don't you? I wept buckets as Angela could have been speaking of my own Dad. As my parents, and Aunty Dot and Uncle John played tennis with Don, years ago, he has always been a very old friend.

Neville Bird passed way on Dec. 8th, aged 89. Neville was the only "boy" I knew amongst his sisters. I used to tease him about this at the reunions. We shall miss him sorely.

Remember Ananda Mitter attended the last reunion? I was horrified to learn from Amit Bose that he passed away within IO days of returning to India. However, we are very thankful he came and were able to meet him.

Theo Canham, known as Pop, uncle to Joyce Elkin, passed away two days after the Reunion in Toronto. Aubrey's obituary reads:

 "It is with much regret that we learned that our oldest member Theo Canham sadly passed away on October 7th 1998 at the age of 97 years. Theo has attended several of our reunions in the past, and will be missed. The memorial service was held on October 17th 1998 and was attended by many of his friends and relatives. VADHA was represented by Joyce Elkin (who is Theo's niece), Warren ORourke, Frank Littlewood and Aubrey Ballantine. Our condolences go out to Theo's wife Dolly and his family"

I received a lovely long letter from Don Watson - both he and his sister Olga Ankelsaria have beautiful writing. Don confused the official school song with the unofficial one! The official one will be reproduced at the end of this letter. The unofficial one begins "Riding Down from VS, on a Bhutia's tat". Don also sent a list of names of the S.C. class of 43. This includes George Agabeg, Patrick Doyle, Arthur Carapiet, Douglas Dubois, Desmond Gasper, Lancelot Haslem, Frank Littlewood, John Quinlan, Ronald Seymour-Shore, Dudley Traish and himself (the actual "board" on which these names are recorded at VS can be seen on the official VADHA web page under "Photographs - Victoria" ... Aubrey). Don recalls my uncle John Lochner and a boxing match.

"I remember your Uncle John Lochner (Punchy) very well. Besides being our Maths teacher, he was very diplomatic. One year in November after a six-a-side hockey match altercation, between Kenneth DeMoss (one class higher) and yours truly. After second study in 'O dormitory a boxing match was arranged between us. I used to suffer with what we called chilblains, and my earlobes were red and swollen. For two rounds I got a thrashing from Ken, but at the end of the 2nd Round I moved and received a punch on the ear. From then on I could not be stopped and gave out more than I had received in the previous rounds. When the fight was over, Dick Smart (the referee) raised my hand as victor. From the darkness a voice was heard - your Uncle John's. He strode into the centre and raised both our hands in a draw. He then mentioned that if anyone disagreed, the gloves could be put on with him. Ken and I walked back to our dormitory crying and remained friends for the rest of our school days. By the way any news regards Kenneth DeMoss? At this time I would like to acknowledge all the 'guys' that helped me improve in sports throughout my years in Victoria. Dick Smart, Micky Blake, Young Kash Modi, David Greenham and 'Young 'Moulding! Does anyone remember Jhundi Moulding?'

Not only do we remember Reg Moulding, but he attends reunions and is on the list. Alice Wrigley (Hardaker) keeps us in touch with VADHA in Eastern Oz. Their reunion was on September 12th and she writes:

"A small group of Vadhan's gathered at the home of Noelene and Fabian Russell, Noelene being the daughter of Bella Kelly who passed away last year. Fabian was a chandelier restorer and many of his chandeliers were on display in and around the house. We sat outdoors under cover amidst a collection of memorabilia-anything from sign posts to angles, a colourful wonderland. Noelene very proudly showed us her new kitchen which she thoroughly enjoyed working in. A St. Paul's ex student was present, his mother was a former Dow Hill girl and later on went to St. Michael's in Darjeeling. Gordon Cotten loves coming to our reunions as does his wife Pat. Bulbul charmed us all with his songs 'Strangers in the Night' and 'Shadow of your Smile'. His wife Sally was unable to come because of a fall she had the previous day. Noelene and Maureen (known as the Kelly girls) gave us a duet 'Let the Rest of the World Go by, which was their parents' favorite song. Anne (Goddard) Lumsden came for the first time and we were pleased to see her having traveled some distance to attend the reunion. As some of the older members are unable to attend because of disabilities their children still join us, and one was Melanie Scott; her mother being Doreen Culloden. She enjoys our get togethers. Despite the rainy, cloudy day the sharing of memories and scrumptious Indian and Australian cuisine it was an enjoyable reunion.

Those present were:

DHS:

Natalie Noney (Lawrence) Catherine Buckley (Morrison), Ann Goddard (Lumsden), Elaine Halpin (Halifax), Alice Wrigley (Hardaker)

VS:

Pat Doyle, Bulbul Carapiet, Bill Murray, Hugh Rassaby, St.Pauls- Gordon Cotton.

How many can say their teachers were their friends both in school and now? Natalie Noney (Lawrence) used to coach me in History after school hours sitting on the steps below the Art Room and I used to splice her wool, dangling the balls on the bridge over the bell; nowadays we are still doing things for each other and have a close friendship.'

Yes, Natalie is a darling, but it takes two to make a friendship. Alice's photos will be on display at the next reunion in London. It was lovely to hear from Bulbul Carapiet. He gave a lot of family news, as well as his own past history.

 "Puss Puss has moved to the USA from South Harrow, UK to be near his daughter and grandsons. His wife Yvonne Mann  was very briefly at DHS. Brothers, George lives at Chiswick and Arthur is a specialist doctor in Birmingham. My wife  Siranoash (nee Sookias) is an old La Martiniere girl from Calcutta and Lucknow. I have now retired but Siranoash still works.  Carl Bloud used to come and watch every Hockey match I played in at Calcutta's first Division and State games too. Leslie  Claudius, India's Hockey captain for nearly 20 years is a dear friend of mine and spends a great deal of time with me  whenever he is in Sydney. We played together in 1952 when Bengal last won the National Championships".

Hugh and Margaret Rassaby were in London and we were lucky to have them over. However, we chatted so much the time rushed by and we were remiss in not showing them the sights of Wimbledon; Next time!

When the 'Three Musketeers" came over, Clive Antram Bob Avery and Richard Slacke, they brought their better halves and spent a lovely day, for me, here. Marie (Avery) and Valery (Slacke) are well known to me but this was the first time of meeting Judy (Antram) although we have talked on the phone. I am amazed at what lovely women VS boys married (or is it that women recognize the V. S. worth ... Ha!) I enjoyed every minute listening to the three reminiscing as if it was yesterday. We drove to the famous Wimbledon Tennis courts and then to a beautiful Thai Temple near the Common. What we won't dwell on is Bob's navigation skills!! It took him over 2 hours to find us, although he has been before, and a further two hours to get home! We do not live in a maze, I hasten to add. (It is normally a 45 minute drive!!) I had just written this and the phone rang - Oh, believe it or not. He is popping over soon..... or later,!! He and Clive met up in the US just before Christmas while Bob and Marie were on holiday there. Bob will be bringing me an e-mail from Sally Stewart (MacDonald) which brings me to more web news. I quote a letter from John Feltham - the missive may as well be in a foreign language, but Crystal will understand it for typing. "Good news for VADHA. With Aubrey Ballantine and my web sites both covering VS and DH I thought that with the growing interest in email and the WWW that I would set up what I called a ListServ for VADHA. A listserv is somewhat analogous to a Bulletin Board in a club. Anyone can post messages to the BB and anyone walking past can read the messages that are left there. In the case of a Listserve, I have a program called majordomo that automatically sends a message to everyone that is on the List of members. So a member sends a message to the List and within seconds a copy of that message has been sent to everyone on that list, anywhere in the world. It takes only a matter of a few seconds. To join the List, which is already running, send an email to majordomo@mail.ipc.qld.edu.au. Do not write anything in the subject line, but in the body of the messages, write.... subscribe vadha your@email-address. Where your@email.address is ***your*** email address. Within seconds, an answer from majordomo will be received. It will ask the user to return the answer. This is done to ensure that another person does not enrol you in a List that you didn't want to join. After joining, users should send their messages to the Listserv as follows: vadha@.mail.ipc.qld.edu.au. Why have I set this up? I was sent a whole pile of past VADHA Newsletters by John Webster in Perth. It was with sorrow that I read the beginning of all your letters... they contained a list of those who have passed over since the last newsletter. In these days it seems so sad that someone could be long gone before we even knew that they were even sick. This is not to complain at your biannual newsletters, you do a grand job, but it is a fact of life, or is it death that I am talking about? With more and more people getting email accounts these days, it seemed logical that we really should try to speed up things .... we're not getting any younger .... all of us .... are we? Placing your newsletter on the web was an excellent idea. I will put it up on my web page as soon as I receive the next one. It gets around the world really quickly. In fact you may save my postage. I'll ask Aubrey to send me a copy of the next newsletter! That may be one way to save something on the postage bill".

(N.B. newsletter's are readily available from the VADHA web site at http://www.orbonline.net/~auballan/vicdow.htm for anyone to

access/print. Older copies may be requested through me ... Aubrey).

Yes John, it will save on the postage bill, but I need to keep in touch, so selfishly, I shall continue to mail the letters! How did John find us? His first letter came in August.

"Some time ago I scanned in the whole of the VS 1952 Magazine and posted it on a web page. I told several folk about it and heard nothing more. Last week I wrote to Aubrey Ballantine asking him to make a link to my web page form his VADHA page. On my page I had written ... If anyone knows the whereabouts of John Webster would they please contact me. I believe that Sally Stewart (MacDonald) saw that fine and contacted John Webster. He in turn tracked me down in Townsville, North Queensland, Australia, although when he rang me I was down in Brisbane at a teachers' conference. When he did phone me I nearly fell off my chair. I had not spoken to John since last we met in Rangoon in 1954. I wept when I discovered that we had both been living in Perth at the same time .... so sad really. We have spent a long time on the phone talking to each other and about others. ff anyone has access to email my address is john@12c-qld.edu.au. I have to tell you somewhat shamefaced, that I am the Computer Studies Coordinator for Ignatius Park College, a day High School for boys. It is run by .... wait for it..... That old enemy of VS, The Christian Brothers. John did tell me that my nickname at VS was "Watky" ...but I can't remember that. Is there anyone out there that can confirm that? What is the derivation? I have a suggestion for VS and DH folk. If they would like to write a page or two about their activities since leaving school I would be very pleased to place it on the web where everyone can get to read it. All they have to do is send it to me. I can even handle pictures. All pictures will be returned. I notice in your newsletter (collected of the web) that I recognize a few names in the VS list. Lewis and Richard Hardy and Mike Kelly. All four of us were in the same class, there are other names that I am not too sure of just now. If folk want to see the magazine for 1952 it is on the web site at http://ipc.qld.edu.au/~john/vsmag52/magazine-html.

For the benefit of all members who are on the web, Crystal's Email address is: cdavid241@aol.com.

Megan O'Rourke keeps in touch and wrote about Cynthia Lawrence (O'Hara). "Cyn and self were in the same class so I knew a bit about their trysts. Cyn had such pretty hair which I can only describe as pale gold wisps of gentle natural waves. We write "letter" cards every Christmas and about four years ago, I went to Oz and visited with them and a couple of DH girls of my vintage, and discovered that Lawrence still has a lock of her hair, with a photograph of her in school uniform, which he keeps in his wallet. A VADHA romance of historical interest I would say "I'm sure we will all say 'Aaahhh' when we read this. I love it".

Joyce Ley (Hayling) was here in the summer and visited Iris Stevens (Ball). They had a great time reminiscing and, between them, put names to faces in photos. I am hoping to get copies to display at the Reunion, and snaps of them now as well. Listening, you two?!

I was delighted to hear of the successful season Rita (Pinto) and John Graham had with their gite. She wrote: "Two days after we moved into our new home, we had our first guests in the gite, and thereafter we were fully booked for the rest of the summer. From the comments in the Visitors Book, we are pleased to see that all our guests have enjoyed their stay here. We, certainly, have enjoyed having them, and we are already getting bookings for next summer. The friendliness of the French and the large ex-pat community have helped to make this a very happy and enjoyable experience for us. The peace, serenity and beauty of our surroundings and the pace of life confirm our belief that our decision to move here was the right one. "

Sounds fantastic, and well done you two. In the final analysis the success is down to you both.

After the June Reunion I had a lovely letter from David Evennett. Two things he remembered about Clive Murray Smith were: "What a fast sprinter he was. He and O'Driscoll (4 years older than me) were the fastest while I was there and what amazingly bulging calf muscles he had!. He arrived at the school as a master about 1945, when I was 12 years old."

Margaret Clerici has been in touch. Her mother's brothers administered the D.H.Railway and her grandfather invented the Kidney Clip. I love to hear these details.

I had a letter and then a phone call from Sheila Smith (Raymond) who had got the VADHA details from her brother in N.Z. And then I discover, she lives a stone's throw from my niece in Newcastle! They use the same comer shop! I'm hoping Sheila will attend the

June reunion. Those she remembered are Gloria Sadler, Myma Wakefield, Joan Smith, Sylvia Darnell, Peggy Littlewood and Dorothea Meyers. So please get in touch with Sheila and get her to come down. Sheila revisited the school with her daughter in 1983.

I have had information from Peter Paulette - Secretary of the old Sherwoodian Society - about a proposed Millennium Celebration - Multiple "India Schools" Reunion. I quote: "Negotiations are under way for 'lndia Schools' to celebrate the millennium, and approximately 20 "India Schools" have shown an interest in meeting at the Commonwealth Institute. But this prestigious location may incur prohibitive costs, so to give the OSS Coordinator (Peter Scott) some idea of the likely demand for tickets (to be sold in advance at approximately pounds sterling 0 - 15 each) please complete the form below and send it, with a stamped addressed envelope to: Peter Scott, OSS Millennium Coordinator, 112 Melbourne Avenue, Ramsgate, Kent CT12. Tel: 0184 385 1630.

I shall definitely be going. So if anyone else wishes to join me, please let Peter Scott know you will be in the VADHA section. Then write it in capitals in your diary for 2000! Sounds great.

We got a mention in the OSS Newsletter re: our next which is The OSS reunion is the Saturday before ours, and if anyone wishes to attend, do let me know and I'll pass it along or phone Peter yourself on 0 1 8 1 64 76296.

It was Lloyd Crump, you may recall, who put me in touch with the OSS through his wife Frances, an ex All Saints pupil. Lloyd had heard of a book called "The Anglo-Indian Vision" by Gloria Jean Moore, but did not know how to get in touch with her. He learned she was in Melbourne, Oz, so 'phoned his sister-in-law who also lives there. Would you believe it, they live fairly near each other! So I, too, now sport a copy of this book, and Dow Hill is mentioned in the chapter on 'Anglo-Indian education'.

Another book that I have thoroughly enjoyed and would recommend highly is George Bishops 'In Search of Cathay. This details the monumental journey made by Brother Beuto de Goes from Goa to the Gates of China, over the Pamir Mountains and the Gobi Desert". Not only is it a really good travelogue set in Akbar's time, but George's facile ability with language so enriches the text. Let me quote just two examples from the first two pages. The first two sentences are 'A baking sun blazed down from a deep cobalt sky. A mud-brown river meandered languorously to lose itself in the deep aquamarine of the Malabar Sea'. The next is "'he tall slender, palm trees leaned forward to oppose the ferocious wind: their long leaves tossed and flayed in all directions, giving them the appearance of enraged serpents struggling to break loose from their Medusa heads'. I could go on and on. Do you write poetry as well, George? My only criticism is that the printing of pictures lacks clarity. As the publishers are in Gujurat, please apply to George for advice to obtain this book.

Jill Butcher (Adams) (from my class) has made many trips to India with her husband Tony. The last one included a visit to Kumardhubi in Bihar where she and her brothers lived. She wrote:  "After lunch we walked across the road to where I believed our bungalow should be. We attracted a following of children and  adults. On saying that I lived in Kumardhubi years ago, one man asked my father's name and on hearing "Neville Adams" he  promptly said "You must be Jill". The local dhobi had his laundry just outside our compound. This was his son Nandalal who  must be Simon's age. He asked after both my brothers and took me a few yards to an open space which was our beautiful  garden and looking more closely behind all the brambles, boarding and chicken wire was our bungalow. KEW went bankrupt 8 years ago and all the lovely company houses and bungalows have been boarded up (furniture included) until the problem is  resolved. He then told me that Chinchilla (Simon's young ayah, the niece of my ayah) was alive and I burst out crying. I just  could not believe that I would find anyone I knew all those years ago. A few minutes later Chinchilla and I were reunited, a  most emotional meeting for both of us. She is a tiny, old lady with one front tooth. Her son is now an old man and I met her  two grandsons."

A really touching experience, and the kind quite a few of us had on revisiting the country of our birth and schooling.

The last visit to the Hill Top was made by Sally Stewart (MacDonald), John Webster and his sister Shirley. I have Sally's missive to hand.

 "On arrival at the Tourist lodge late evening of the 25th October and while still recovering from the bone-rattling, hair raising  Punkhabari ascent from Bagdogra in the plains, I was called to the phone. It was a great surprise to hear Mss Pradhan's soft  voice offering a welcome. She said, as well, that the school had a reception planned for the following day and that for me a  speech would be in order (oh my heart). Mss Pradhan's gentle tone belies a firm resolve (Suaviter in Modo - Fortiter in Re?)  and she would not allow me to wriggle out of the 'ordeal' ahead. The morning of the 26th, having had a rosy Kanchenjunga  with breakfast, my son John, John Webster and his sister Shirley Hegarty and myself braved another gear-grinding,  hairpin-riddled ride up the hill road. During my holiday in various parts of India, I was becoming perforce, increasingly blasé  when surrendering myself up to taxis of various descriptions as the tenacious drivers manipulated their vehicle with anxious  captive passengers into an already congested mass of assorted buses, trucks, tongas, rickshaws, phut-phuts - not forgetting  the occasional traffic-calming cow. Today our Maruti hurtled along on the absolute precipitous edge of the narrow hill road,  and when our driver had to cede when shimmying past other vehicles, and the wheels on the passenger side teetered on the  verge - I remained fatalistically calm. Where's Breezy Point, and the Post Office and Mrs. Beale's cottage? The sprouting  structures hugging the roadside were unfamiliar and I couldn't place a single landmark and on rounding a bend, Dow hill was  suddenly there! At first sight, an unexpectedly pleasant collection of buildings sprawled attractively over green slopes and  flats, the whole scene enhanced by the presence of the many familiar stands of towering cryptomarias with the main school  building still impressively looming. I had never been exhilaratingly glad to see the 'school of my happy golden days'. In those  days, when you passed through her portals you became an 'inmate' - with a nine month stretch of enforced incarceration  ahead. ('How can you do this to me' was my annual wail at Sealdah station). But, with the passing of time - and hindsight –the  sum total of all that happens to you, adds up to a surprisingly sentimental collection of not unpleasant, memories. Inexplicable. Now, after an absence of forty-three years, my mind races to cope with the flood of new impressions but, the  overriding feeling is of having been caught in a...... timewarp. The intervening years are gone and there are familiar faces  everywhere with Dow Hill crests on their invisible blazers and one is certainly affected by the moment as you try not to focus  on the sad changes so evident. If it were true that, at an 'appointed' time, one is required to 'surface' - this pleasant place  would probably head my list of options. Miss Pradhan whose generous hospitality is becoming legendary, was there to greet  us and that day, we were elevated to the status of VIPs. The entire school body turned out to extend a welcome and the  middle and senior school treated us to a march past and display of rhythmic exercise wonderful in its precision and grace.  My son John who was a staff cadet at Duntroon Military College, was impressed and almost dropped the video camera  planted in his eye, to return the salute! When the inevitable moment arrived and I was required to deliver myself of a speech, it  was not difficult to follow on from the words addressed by Miss Pradhan who alluded to our own sense of loyalty to and  fondness for the school witnessed by the fact that we had traveled 'all the way' from Australia so that we might be there once  again. I declined Miss Pradhan's invitation to tour the classrooms etc. Dow Hill has the look of an old soul in decline and  having been confronted by the sorry state of her facade, I felt disinclined to view her innards. The fact that the school  struggles on is a great credit to the care and persistence of her Principal who has been there for forty-two years and will  continue on into the millennium!). The girls were very smart and presented well and when we sang the school song together, I  felt a distinct and overwhelming empathy. But the words which read '...in splendour grand you'll ever stand...' ring a bit hollow.  It is the continued presence of the staff and students who people the school that give her life and keep '...the echoes long...'  from the school at Kurseong. The National Geographic and other periodicals some of us subscribe to on behalf of the school,  are well received but money is needed - from private sources - since the government of the day seems averse to loosening its  purse strings for the maintenance and running costs of this institution which has, and continues to provide, quality education  for a generation of its own citizens. On the face of it, a short-sighted view for Dow Hill and Victoria have produced people  trained to achieve - in whatever degree - and who stand as an example to justify the tradition which moulded them. Victoria  looks pretty good and has had more renovations and paint (judging from the video I viewed taken by George Watson the year  before). The school was running classes as usual and Mr. Das (Principal) declined our invitation to come down to meet us. A  disappointing turn of events for J-W who missed an opportunity to look around his old school. (It would perhaps, be a good  idea to write to the Principals asking for permission to visit the schools). Lunch at the Head Mistress's bungalow on the hill  was a spread fit for Royalty and we were granted as well, the opportunity to photograph relevant pages from the DH register.  The day was magic. It didn't matter (too much) that I had to 'search' for the Rock of Gibraltar which was all but smothered in  undergrowth - or that the pink and white daisies which graced the banks of the 'jhora' (which ran so prettily under the bridge) are lost in the tangle. The changes are sad but, I glimpsed traces of my childhood at every turn and the ambiance remains -  unique. Good enough to contrive another visit. "

 (excellent missive, Sally .... well done. Some of the photographs of Sally's visit may be viewed on the VADHA web page at

http://www.orbonline.net/~auballan/vicdow.htm ... Aubrey).

[NOTE:  This is now changed. To another URL   John F]

I know the feeling - the Hill Top has a magnetic feeling that draws us back - whatever the changes have wrought. Yet again, Miss Pradhan has opened her arms to past pupils and given of her warmth and generosity. Thank you Rhadika.

Before I end I would like to thank Crystal on behalf of all of you, but mainly myself, for the work she does in getting this to you. She too has just become a grandmother again and her grandson lives behind us. This month she and Donald celebrate their 40^th Wedding Anniversary. I know you join me in congratulating them. As I go to Line Dancing with them, weekly, may I say: "Here's to many more years of seeing you two dancing through life together".

May we all dance through 99.

Love. Grace

ADDRESS LIST –

(New List to be printed in June)

ADDITIONS –

UK

Miss Margaret Clerici

Mrs.Sheila Smith (Raymond)

ABROAD

Australia

Parlane MacFarlane

William Murray

John Feltham. P.O. Box 59 Wulguru Qld. 4811 Australia

Canada

Mrs.Lynette Essery (Slacke)

Angela Waleski

India

Mrs.Eva Das Gupta (Sen Gupta)

Canada

Change: Mr. Don WALESKI to Mrs. Dorothea Waleski

The Victoria Song - Quo Lux Ducit

We will follow the Light where-so-ever it may lead,

Although perils and dangers be rife

The way may be dark, sometimes rugged and steep

But we'll follow His guidance through life.

Chorus

Victoria, Victoria, home of our happy boyhood days,

From you we learn to fight for right

And Triumph over wrongful ills

Victoria!

To battle, then, for God and School

Uphold the standard in our hills

Quo Lux Ducit before our eyes,

We'll follow, with undaunted wills