|
ALUMNI UK REUNION FEBRUARY 2005 |
||
|
|
|
|
|
|
||
|
A colourful, vibrant and jovial crowd assembled at the Café Spice Namaste restaurant near Tower Hill in central London on Saturday, 26th February 2005, for the annual Hebron reunion. The venue is London’s most famous Indian restaurant and the site of the 2004 gathering. Last year some 130 people attended the formal launch of the Alumni Association and this year over 170 were in attendance! They came from as far afield as India (the Principal, Alastair Reid, and Alumni Secretary, Ian McCabe), Germany, France, Scotland and Ireland. Our host, Karan Bilimoria, managed to squeeze in the reunion before jetting off to the USA to give a series of talks. He welcomed the guests and encouraged us all to foster Indian / British trade and cultural links. We are tremendously grateful to Karan and the restaurant for their generosity and welcome.
At this year’s reunion we remembered especially the amalgamation of Hebron High School (Coonoor) and Lushington Boys’ School (Ooty) some 30 years ago. This is to be marked in August in Ooty when we hope to welcome back former staff and students for a time of celebration. At the reunion pictures were shown of recent facilities’ improvements as well as the proposals for the future. Ideas were sought for a project to commemorate the amalgamation (and co-education). The main proposals were the refurbishment of the Silverdale co-ed Dorm, a craft centre for the Junior School and improvements to the Swimming Pool. The latter seemed to have most support: we would like to provide some way of heating the pool and also to build changing facilities. We would welcome further feed-back and ideas from alumni – please contact the Alumni Secretary. We would also value any financial support people can give: more details will follow in due course.
In the main discussion concern was expressed that with tighter security at Lushington it might no longer be possible for the boys to sneak out to Selborne at night! (True co-education it was argued). Appreciation was given for long serving staff who are leaving Hebron this year (the Longfields and Ruby Mangaldoss). The Principal reported on the growth of student numbers (a ceiling of c.370 has now been reached) and the continuing academic and sporting successes. We also recorded, with gratitude, the protection God gave to the SU Avalanche campsite (at this event last year it was threatened by a forest fire) and prayers were offered for Pari’s family following this student’s recent death after a long struggle with leukaemia. A special message from the Barclays was read out and the challenge taken up to sing ‘Deo Supremo’ (we managed one verse). This was then followed by Dorothy Wagland (and others from the Lushy days) lustily singing a quite disreputable song about the old school! Ian McCabe reported on the Alumni database with a request for updated details and we heard from the Sheiling Trust about gift aid schemes. ‘Among Worlds’ magazine for TCKs was advertised and it was good to hear about progress made with the Hebron cookbook and a booklet recording the flora of the Lushington campus. An appeal was made for stories from former staff about their ‘re-entry’.
It was very heartening to see such a super gathering of people across many year groups, both staff and students. One recently returned staff / parent couple remarked how it enabled them to feel normal for the first time since returning from India! Prospective staff were in attendance and they were able to feel something of the unique Hebron family ethos. The full attendance list appears below and there are photos taken at the event, too. The reunion finished with many retiring to a nearby restaurant to continue their reminiscing and with everyone saying how much they had enjoyed the occasion. The Jeffery family did their best to sell memorabilia and Tim Archer (Hebron Link UK) was even heard to exclaim happily that the centenary produce had at last been sold (until a trunk full of T-shirts was discovered)! The Streatfeilds were there in force and managed to advertise the Sheiling Trust and Hebron material really well. We would just conclude by urging former students, parents, staff and IGs who have yet to join the Association to do so as soon as possible (see the website for details) and for all to join in the co-education celebrations in August 2005 whether in person in Ooty or by sending in their memories and observations. A new-look Alumni magazine will be launched to mark this occasion.
Deo Supremo!
Alastair Reid and Ian McCabe Those who attended: Catherine Allkins and friend Tim Archer Grace Ayling Victoria Hois Alexander Skanda Balasubramaniam Douglas Bennett Mrs. Bennett Alison Beresford Maureen Biddiscombe Karan Bilimoria Paul Breeze Aubrey and Janet Cardy Faith Cherian Edwin and Michaeline Chomen Janet and Robert Collier Rosemary Coltart Helen Cross Gwenda Culmer Satesh Dadlani Emma Dalzell Hannah Rupert and Elaine Darling Jonathan and Sharen Devaraj Mark Devaraj Stephen and Beth Devaraj Robert Dickinson Bryony Dickinson Heather Dunlop Charles Durman Jackie Durman Esther Dwight Jonathan Fernandes Tom Finn Emma Fletcher Myra Fromow (was Challen) Joy Gilbert Peter and Marjorie Gowers Carol Graham Anna Green AnjaliGuptara Andrew and Jo Hamilton Lucy Hart, Emer, Tilly Leonard Headworth Graham and Sue Hicks, Thomas and Amy Ayesha Hulugalle Rebecca Jacob and family Peter Jeffery Marjorie Kelly Joelle Kenny Kalki Koechlin Sally and Alan Learmonth Martin Leadley Paul Mahato Liz Main James Mears Ian McCabe Karen McCririck and Mark Hewis Paul McKnight Olly Nejedly Steve Nicholls John and Carolyn Nunn and familyPoppy and Jez Nunn Richard and Wilma Oliver Sandra Page Rohit Paul Gina Parmar Gary Parmar Patrick Philllips Brian and Barbara Pim Smith Kathy Pinsent and Dad Ryan Pinto Sam Powney Ananda and Arjuna Rabindranath M Khalil Rahman (Klick) and family Vikram Ravi Paul and Sue Read and Natalie, Bethany and Michael Alastair Reid Alix Reid and Tom Stockwell Helen Reid Leah Robb Mark and Alex Ronalds Sabas Ridhi Sain Heidi Sand Anand Singh John and Annekathi Skirrow Peter Skirrow Paul Smith and Robbie Anne Streatfeild Christopher Streatfeild Peter and Elaine Streatfeild and Fremlyn and Emily Robert (Bobby) Streatfeild Ana Svoboda Jamie Talayerkhan Andrew and Sunita Talks Cherie Tanner Paul and David Taylor Magda Tewes Amy Thomas Rita and Paul Thomas Ian Thomson Andreas Timm Rob Timm Elizabeth Toon Sarah Tyman and family Dorothy Wagland Pauline Walters Shalom & Tri Wangrangsimukul Grace Watkinson John Webb and Renee Hanna Melinda and Graham Wheeler (nee Webb) Henry White Oliver and Jamie Whittle Adrian Wilkinson
|
|
return
to top return to homepage |