NEWS UPDATE 2009

Latest:

After posting our 2009 Newsletter to individual OMHSA Members, we were saddened to hear of the death of Gerald Rayner, three years ago, from his son Peter.  He used to attend some of our reunions in the past when they were held at the Cavendish Club.

New Members:

A warm welcome to new life member Daisy Badel (McLaughin).  Her daughter contacted us through the Internet, and they both hope to join us at our next reunion.

We have had several contacts from old school students or their children/grandchildren over the last year.  These are Mahesh Singh, who is practising law in New Delhi, Jean Hurley (Benedict) who was in school in the 1950s with her brothers and who would like to hear from Nilima Raichoudhury; Charles McGilchrist who still resides in the Darjeeling area and who is a teacher; Tony Morgan who said his grandmother, Marvelle Dozey, worked as a secretary at the school and her sister, Phylis Kelman, was a teacher.  Their mother, Zoe Dozey was a math's teacher.  He was pleased to see some old school photographs on the site with Phylis, Zoe and the Kelmans.  He is connected to the Morgenstern family, and would very much like to know where "The Rosary," was located.  He mentioned that the family sold a large portion of land, which became the site for Mount Hermon School, and he would like to know more about this.  We also heard from Trevor Schubert from Australia.  He and his wife  visit Sikkim and the Darjeeling area as often as they can.  Margaret Griffith who lives in New Zealand also wrote in.  She is the daughter of Lilian Nicholls who was in MHS from 1947-53.  She was visiting India and wanted to contact Meera Hemmad, and with the help of Tammy Dalal and Mehna Khare, she was hopefully able to do so.   We also heard from Tracie Thomas.  She is the granddaughter of Ellen (Nellie) Payne who was a student, then a student-teacher in 1936-37.  She still has her grandmother's old autographs album with a lot of entries by other school students of her time, and would love to hear from anyone who remembers writing in the album.  A Melanie Tucker in the USA also contacted us.  She is interested in contacting OMHSA Member, Joy Abrahams (Callow), as she is doing some genealogical research and thinks Joy may be able to help her with.  Laurie Reynolds (MHS 1969-70) also contacted us, and said she would like to hear from anyone who was in school at that time.  Fred Osgood (Ozzy) also recently wrote in.  He would like to contact Benjamin Badal and Daisy Badal.  He says he remembers Daisy as a particularly formidable hockey player and Benji as a friend and protagonist in the 1937-42 period.  Finally, we heard from Nirmal K. Mondol who lives in Washington DC in the US.  He was very anxious to contact Miss Mary Badal and Professor Philipe Sandre who he says he met in Washington DC in 1943. 


Reunion 2008

Our Reunion Lunch at the Bombay Brasserie, London took place on Saturday 26th April 2008.  Although there were only a dozen of us at the gathering, it was a friendly group.  Attendees were: Fazle Khundkar, Ida Smith (Ray), Liz Ellis (Betty Halden), Hazel Craig, Terry Martin, author of the book on the Darjeeling Himalayan Railway "The Iron Sherpa" and his three guests, Fabien Raymondaud, Marilyn Metz and Peter Tiller, who are closely associated with the DH Railway Society.  Joy Broad (Wade) also attended with her daughter, and James Sinclair brought his guest, Jimmy Pyke, who is a regular attendee at our gatherings.  Many of our members had previous engagements, so were unable to attend.  Still, it was nice to get together again for the annual occasion.  The food was up to its usual good standard and drinks at the bar were at special discounted rates.  A few photographs of the occasion are published on the "Look At Them Now" page of the Photo Gallery.

A Reunion After 50 Plus Years:

OMHSA Member Ronen Ghose, who was in MHS in the 1950s, kindly invited Menno Ziessen and Jim Sinclair to meet up with him at Milton Keynes on Saturday 1st November 2008.  Although Jim had not met Ronen, as he was in school before Ronen joined, it was great to see the affection with which Ronen and Menno greeted each other, after a lapse of 50 plus years!  Ronen took us to a posh Indian restaurant for a slap-up meal, then afterwards to his home to meet his wife and his son, Ron, and family.  Menno took his old photograph album with lots of school photographs, (a few of which are reproduced below), and happy memories of old school days were exchanged.  It was a truly memorable occasion, and "Hermonites reunited" was the catchphrase of the day.  And thanks to Ronen for his kind and warm hospitality! 

Please click on images to see them larger and more clearly.

Sad News:

It is with great sadness that we received the  news of the death of Noel Long on the 6th of November 2008.  He passed away peacefully at a hospice after a long and painful illness, with his wife, Jan, and eldest daughter, Sheila, at his side.  He had been a classmate of Menno Ziessen, Barry Morrow, Ronen Ghose and Jim Sinclair, amongst others, back in the 1950s.  His sister, Oreen, kept us informed of his condition and then his final passing.  His wife, Janice, sent in this tribute to his friends and colleagues:

Oreen also sent me these pictures of her school days at Mount Hermon.  She can't remember all the names, so  if you recognise anyone, please contact me so I can add them in.