1. Early Years

In 1938, when I suggested that 1939 would mark the Diamond Jubilee of Victoria School, people were sceptical and wanted proofs. The only evidence I could produce was the following extract from an article which periodically appeared in the Victoria School Record : "Early in 1879,Sir Ashley Eden, the then Lieutenant-Governor of Bengal, knowing that it was difficult, if not wellnigh impossible, for parents in the lower ranks of Government service to send their children to schools in the hills conceived the happy idea of establishing a Government Institution for boys and girls." In the summer of last year, Father Prior met Mrs Davidson, wife of the Divisional Forest Officer at Khulna and elder daughter of Mr. Barnes, Headmaster of Victoria School, 1901 to 1919. Naturally, they talked of Victoria, where one had spent her childhood and the other his Pujah holidays during the last three years. Mrs. Davidson mentioned that her grandmother, Mrs. Pegler, the wife of the first Headmaster (1879 to 1901 ), was still alive and in her 82nd year. Father Prior asked Mrs. Davidson if she would get a message from Mrs. Pegler for the Jubilee souvenir. Mrs. Davidson undertook to do so and we are priviledged to print ) the letter Mrs. Pegler wrote in reply. (see later pages)

This then, was a second proof. However, I recalled the Chinese proverb, "the palest ink is more reliable than the strongest memory," and thought I ought to look for further support from original documents. The history of England is in large measure built up from parochial records and I argued that Parish Churches in India must have also their records. With the kind permission of the Reverend C. P. N. Rowband, I was privileged to have access to the registers and record books of Christ Church, Kurseong, whose priest had charge of the spiritual welfare of the Anglican children of the Government Schools till one was appointed for this purpose in 1929.

After struggling through much material, we at last came upon an old book with the first entry, April 17th, 1877. On the. cover was this characteristic remark by the Reverend Arthur Waite, (whom many old Victorians will remember for his truly Christian life and devoted service to them ) : "I found this first record book on a lower shelf amongst all kinds of papers in the office, literally rescued it from the mouth of the dog in fact, and had it rebound and restored."

I shall now let the book tell its own story, written by the hands of the various Chaplains of Christ Church.

Before August 17th, 1879, there is no mention of any schools. On that date. the Reverend A. H. Eddy, Chaplain of Darjeeling, who had charge also of Christ Church, Kurseong, writes: "Held service at 11 a.m. Good congregation of forty five. Fifteen children came with Mr. and Mrs. Pegler from "Constantia" School, just opened for children of Railway employees."

November 23rd, 1879, (Harvest Festival) : "Congregation not so large as one would have expected, only fifty, including fifteen children from the Railway School. "

"Visited Kurseong, Sunday, February 29th. Visited the Bengal States Rail-

July 26th to September 25th, 1880:" Visited Kurseong weekly between the above dates and took Confirmation class at Constantia." (W. J. Rowland).

Sunday, September 26th, 1880: "I celebrated Holy Communion at 11 O'Clock Service after confirming eleven persons, three being Tea Planters from the District and the rest children from the Railway School." (Edward, Calcutta).

The above extracts, then, confirm Mrs. Pegler's reminiscences and the note from the Victoria School Record of 1907.

The School was originally situated at Constantia (now the residence of the Sub-Divisional Officer. In 1848, when " Hooker made his Himalayan journey, it was the dak bungalow ; in his journal he describes the view towards the Balasan in the West and the Mahanadi in the East).* Also, the School must have been opened between the dated August 3rd and 17th, 1879. When did it move up to Dow Hill ? Let the book answer the question. Most tantalizingly, no mention is made of the actual move, but the Reverend W. J. Rowland writes: "Saturday October 30th, 1880, visited the Government Railway School at Dow Hill," So then the move must have been made in October, 1880, since the last entry about Constantia was made on September 25th.

(*The residence of the Magistrate, In the early days, is now the Manager's bungalow on Castleton Tea Estate. It is still locally known as ' Commissary Sahib ko koti) - (at present i.e. in 1995, it is the transmitting station of the A.I.R., Kurseong)

There were on Dow Hill at that time two buildings of note. One was the "Circuit House," now the residence of the Principal of Dow Hill and even today referred to by the barber and other old servants of the school as "Lat Sahib ko koti." It was here that Lieutenant- Governors and officers used to spend the night on their way to Darjeeling, in the days before the present cart road (begun in 1861 ) was completed. The way to Darjeeling then was by the old "military road" coming up from Punkabari. The "Chimney," and "Chimli" village are other survivals of those times. The "Chimney", I believe, is all that remains of a bakery for the use of troops on their way to Ghoom, where there was a military station in those days.

The other building on Dow Hill was the office of the Eastern Bengal State Railway. This building too, (altered and enlarged) still remains in use as part of Dow Hill School, that which contains the Domestic Science Room and staff quarters. It was to this building that the School migrated and in it were housed the staff as well as the children.

Additional buildings must soon have sprung up, for on the occasion of his visit in 1883 the Bishop of Calcutta writes: "After tiffin, rode up to the Government School at Dow Hill. The Premises are of a very superior class and no expense has been spared. The children looked healthy under Mr. and Mrs. Pegler's care. They have every opportunity of receiving a sound and religious education. Mr. Griffiths (Chaplain) had a nice Confirmation class and after I had inspected the buildings we had Service in which the children heartily took their part." Again, in 1884, the Bishop writes: "Visited the School. Discussed with Mr. Pegler various plans for extending the premises. Everything seemed to be in order. There is clearly need for increased accommodation."

In 1887 the Reverend R. S. Wood came out to India and was posted to Kurseong. I give his impressions as a stimulus to us all: "in afternoon went up to the Government School and addressed them. Was much pleased by the attention paid by the children and their excellent behaviour, and I warmly congratulated Mr. Pegler. I never saw better behaviour at any school service anywhere."

We now come to the next stage in our History, the time when the School ceases to be Co-educational.

February 12th, 1888. "Commencement of a new term at the School, boys only there now, all girls having left. A much better arrangement, though I missed the little girls at the Services." (R. S. Wood).

It is obvious that others also missed the girls, for six years later, August, 1894, the Bishop writes: "On Monday I inspected the buildings at Kempside which is thought might be suitable for a girls' school, the want of which is much felt since the girls' department at Dow Hill closed down."

Kempside is the dilapidated building south of the Wood Hill Hotel, on the Pankabari road, and belonging to the Hatwah Raj. (it was originally Kemp's Hotel and was run by a Mr. Monk, who was at the time owner also of the Clarendon Hotel. For this information I am indebted to the school barber.

Mr. Graham of Springside tells me that a part of his garden is to- day known by the name of Kempside). This site was no doubt found unsuitable, for we read next:

1896. "I inspected the new buildings in course of erection in Dow Hill for the new boys' school which will accommodate 200 boys. It is indeed a matter for satisfaction to think of the excellent provisions which will be made for the class of children which will be received in this school. The accommodation will be all that can be desired and the question of meeting the needs of the children to be received seems to be settled for some years to come." (Edward R., Calcutta).

And again, (May 3rd, 1897 ): "Inspected the new buildings for the Boys' School. Mr. Mrs. Pegler both seemed to look forward to entering upon the new and expanding work before them with interest and enthusiasm undiminished by the passage of many years already spent here by them" (Archdeacon McCarthy).

The next year must have seen the return of the girls, for the Reverend Robert Stuart writes, (July 2nd. 1897 ): "The new Girls' School will shortly be opened. "

1897 was the Diamond Jubilee of Queen Victoria. So "it was decided by Government during the year to identify the new school with the Diamond Jubilee of Her Majesty."

And so ends our story of the beginnings of our two Schools. I wish to take this opportunity of thanking Padre Rowband of Kurseong for his kindness in helping to disinter the past and to recover our early history. Of this early history an integral part is surely the devoted service of Mr. and Mrs. Pegler. By them planted and given the will and the vigour to grow, these Schools, now ministering to the needs of over 300 boys and girls, are the abiding fruit of that devotion. In them, and in the many lives they have moulded, Mr. and Mrs. Pegler have a monument