VADHA has, at present, about 300 paid members living world wide, and I am the Secretary.

May I begin by introducing myself - Grace Pereira’ (nee Lochner). I was in Dow Hill from 1941 to 1950, leaving for the U.K. after doing the Junior Cambridge examinations. My uncle, John Lochner, known as "Punchy", was the Maths. Master in Victoria from 1940 to 1942s and again from 1947 to 1949. His wife,- Dot (Judy!) taught in Victoria as well. My cousins, Daphne and Adrian Lochner were also in Dow. Hill and Victoria respectively. I started as a day scholar in ‘41, staying with my, Aunt and Uncle in Victoria. As my vision was already suspect, I wore a patch over one eye, and, for the monsoons, the eternal gumboots. These together earned me the nick-name of "Pirate". As I grew the nick-name changed to "Lochie" and by this I am still known to many. From 1942 1 was a boarder.

The then headmistress of Dow Hill, Miss Phyllis Harley, joined the School the year I started and left at the same time as I did - even travelling to the U.K. on the same boat! When she died in London in 1957, the ex-pupils of the two schools who attended her funeral, along with Padre Solomon, decided to meet annually, and VADHA was born. Padre Solomon. and Betty Brown (Copley) were two of the original founding members.

Since then there have been many secretaries who have held the Association together, largely in the U.K., but sending news to those in touch abroad. I attended the very first reunion in 1957, held in Perivale, Middlesex, and have been at most of the subsequent reunions. The venues have varied, but the format has remained basically the same - an afternoon to meet, reminisce, have tea, and listen to news from the secretary.

Enjoyable as the reunions have been and still are, it is the, newsletters that have widened and increased the membership, while at the same time drawing VADHANS closer together. It is these newsletters that have shown how strongly the traditions and ethos of the schools have influenced our childhood years, and the life - long impression they made. My mother, amongst many, swears that Dow Hill girls are "All tarred with the same brush". Seeing the warmth of friendships that have either endured through the years or been made recently, however disparate the age of experiences, I know she is right. Like us all, I am proud of that tar.

When Dolly White (nee Ball), the previous secretary, knew she was dying from cancer - her own admission which typified her courage and integrity, she stated that someone must take over the job. I was willing to try, but had no means of typing or reproducing letters. Dolly’s husband, Des, who had helped her, offered to continue to do this task, and as those who receive the newsletters are aware, not only does he do an excellent job, he is involved in all aspects and is my " computer". I wrote my first newsletter in 1989 and have continued to do so bi-annually, in June, after the reunion, and in January.

Since taking over the secretaryship, I have come.to know the members as people, outside of being Vadhans, and what a great bunch they are! There are a few key members, who Very kindly and most efficiently hold reunions in Eastern and Western* Australia and in Canada. Alice Wrigley (Hardaker) in Sydney, in the Eastern side of Australia, keeps me informed of all the get-togethers, be they in her or Natalie Noney’s (Lawrence) house. She collects subscriptions and sends them as one transaction. Sally Stewart (MacDonald) in Perth, Western Australia, does the same. In Canada, Warren O’Rourke not. only arranges.the annual get-together at a Toronto restaurant, but corresponds with Vadhans world-wide. He is ably assisted by Olive Ross (O’Neill) who collects the subscriptions and posts them to me. The Association manages because of the subscriptions of its members.

The newsletter in June is accompanied by.an up-to-date list of names and addresses of current members. They live all over the globe - U.K., Eire, Germany, Switzerland, Spain, South Africa, India, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, and the U.S.A. The list has not only put members in touch with longlost friends, but also has encouraged people to seek out those living nearby and start new friendships, all built on our common childhood heritage. The old, familiar traditions, one’s own experiences of these and the ‘famous’ names and stories, make for a never-ending source of interest and reminiscences.

I was delighted to visit India in 1987 and 1991, and, of course, made a bee-line for the Hill Top. I was very. fortunate to be able to participate in Assembly on both occasions, with Miss Pradhan, the Headmistress, and Mrs Dyall, the Deputy. I have to admit I cried with the poignancy of memories, of sights and sounds - girls’ singing the school song; the bell; the study Hall where I used to skate myself silly; the dorms; the sharleys; my own admission to school in the register; the beautiful library - I could go on and on. Then the same in Victoria - the hall where I danced and passed notes to the boys; the C of E chapel with its beautiful stained glass window; my Aunt and Uncle’s accommodation;. the flat where the 1947 Independence Day celebrations were held-to name a few.

BUT! Of greater importance was meeting all those in whom the blood of Dow Hill and Victoria flows. Miss Pradhan, Mrs Dyall and Mr Chatterjee (whom I dubbed my Genie), made our visits pure magic. The courtesy and warm interest of the pupils remain in the heart. Our past lives on !

In Calcutta I met Olga Ankelsaria (Watson) and, with her lovely family, she entertained us in style and great warmth.

My visit to Australia in 1992 was further evidence of the riches we have as Vadhans. In Perth, Sally Stewart (MacDonald) organised a get-together for me of some 30 Vadhans and ‘other halves’. The food was amazing as well as the welcome I got. It was the same in Sydney, where I stayed with Natalie Noney. Alice Wrigley and Bella Kelly (Johnstone) visited and we couldn’t stop talking.

Through Amit Bose, I have been put in touch with the Calcutta Association of Victoria and Dow Hill. He informed me that after the Centenary Celebrations organised by Pronob Roy in 1979, the Association was revived again in 1991/2 by himself. I received a copy of the booklet published last year for the annual Dinner/Dance. It was of great interest to many at our June reunion. The articles, both personal and factual, were excellent.

The London Reunion, of VADHA is; held in June, and details can be obtained from me. We have been fortunate in having approximately 100 attending, for the last few years. Many guests from overseas have been warmly welcomed, including Miss Pradhan and Mr Chatterjee.

May I conclude by wishing the Association in Calcutta every joy and success, both for this social occasion and for the future.

Dow Hill and Victoria live on!

Grace Pereira. - 1996