Dr Grahams Homes Kalimpong
 
  
  
 
Presidents, Board of Management
 
1901-1902Sir John Woodburn, K.C.S.I.
1902-1903The Hon. J. A. Bourdillon, C.S.I.
1903-1909Sir Andrew Fraser, K.C.S.I.
1909-1911The Hon. W. C. Macpherson, C.S.I.
1911-1912The Hon. F. A. Slacke, C.S.I.
1912-1915Sir William Duke, K.C.I.E.
1915-1917The Hon. P. C. Lyon, C.S.I.
1917-1922Mr. W. R. Gourlay, C.I.E.
1922-1928Sir Alexander Murray, K.T.C.B.
1928-1933Mr. W. L. Travers, C.I.E., M.L.C.
1933-1937Sir Robert Reid
1937-1942Mr. F. W. Robertson, C.I.E., C.S.I.
1942-1946Mr. B. Studd
1946-1947Sir John Burder, K.I.
1947-1948Mr. G. W. G. Liddle
1949-1953Mr. R. J. Clough
1953-1955Mr. P. Banyard
1955-1957Mr. J. F. E. D. A. Willis, O.B.E.
1957-1963Mr. N. S. Coldwell, M.C., O.B.E.
1963-1966Mr. J. V. Jardine-Paterson
1966-1968Mr. A. J. K. Henderson
1968-1971Mr. B. W. M. Clarke
1971-1980Mr. R. H. Wright
1980-1985Mr. K. S. Italia
1985-1987Mr. A. D. Khan, I.C.S.
1988-1995Mr. R. H. Wright, O.B.E.
1995  to 2010Mr. M. J. Robertson
2010 to 2015Lt. Gen J.R.Mukherjee.
2016 to dateDr. Ms. Gillian Hart
 
Secretaries / Bursars/Administrators
 
1908-1946Mr. J. Purdie
1946-1947Col. J. P. MacDonald
1957-1958Mr. Edward Berry
1961Mr. H. N. Prager, F.C.A., B.A.
1961-1967Mr. H. M. Pradhan, M.Sc.
1968-1975Mr. G. W. Maycock
1976-1978Lt. Col. H. R. H. Daniell, M.Ed.
1979-1985Gp. Capt. S. K. Mukerji
1985-1987Lt. Col. C. A. Hoffland
1987Mr. Azaria
1987-1989Lt. Cdr. S. John, M.Sc., M.Ed.
1989-1990Lt. Col. R. J. Nair
1991-1992Mr. B. Cecil, B. Com.
1993-1998Lt. Col. J. S. Dhinsa
1998-2002Maj. P. Seth, B.Tech., B.Sc.
2002  to 2012Mr. D. Foning, M.A.
2012-2014Lt. Col. R.M. Pradhan.
2014-to dateCol. A.K.Gogoi.
 
Headmasters
 
1900-1903Miss Counsel
1903-1932Mr. J. Simpson
1932-1951Mr. J. T. Lloyd, B.A.
1951-1955Mr. R. Muir, M.A.
1955-1958Mr. D. A. Ross, B.Sc., M. Ed
1958-1961Mr. J. R. Minto, M.A., M.Ed.
1961-1971Mr. B. T. Brooks, M.A., T.D.
1971-1977Mr. K. G. Ipe, B.Sc., Dip. Ed.
1977-1986Mr. M. Banerjee, M.A., B.T.
1986-1990Mr. L. Lama, M.A., B.Ed.
1991-1993Mr. F. Freese, M.A., T.T.C., B.Ed.
1993-1994Mr. P. K. M. Roy, M.A., B.Ed.
1995-1996Mr. L. J. Fuller, M.A., T.T.C., B.Ed.
1997-2002Mr. M. S. Calvert, M.A., B.Ed.
2004-2006Mr. R. Monteiro, M.A., B.Ed.
2009  to 2015Mr. S. L. Banerjee, M.Com., ICWA, B.Ed.
2016 to dateMr. Neil Monteiro ,M.A Dip. Edn.
 
Superintendents and Principals
 
1900-1942Rev. Dr. J. A. Graham, M.A., C.I.E., D.D., LL.D 
1942-1944Mr. J. Purdie 
1944-1956The Rev. J. A. Duncan, M.A. 
1957-1961The Rev. E. G. S. Traill, M.C. 
1961-1971Mr. J. R. Minto 
1971-1988Mr. B. T. Brooks, M.A., T.D. 
1988-1996Mr. H. O’Connor, M.A., M.Ed. 
1996-2003Mr. L. J. Fuller, M.A., T.T.C., B.Ed. 
2006-2008Mr. A. Sampayo, M.A., M.Ed. 
2008-2011Mr. P. Gibson 
2011-2013Mrs. H. Peacock 
2013 to 2015Col. P.C. Thapa. 
2016 to 2017Mr. Brian Robbins M.A B.Ed
2017 to dateMr Ganga Raj Tamang Bsc.B.Ed. PGDEE

 

1900Rev. Dr. John Anderson Graham leases 100 acres of land from the Government on the slopes of the Deolo Hills, east of Kalimpong and lays the foundation of St. Andrew’s Colonial Homes in Kalimpong on 24th September, 1900.
1901The first Overseas Committee – the February Scottish Committee – is formed.
1901The first building in the compound – Woodburn Cottage – is inaugurated on 4th November, 1901 by the Lt. Governor of Bengal, Sir John Woodburn.
1901The first India-based Committee – The Cawnpore Committee – is formed.
1902Elliott Cottage, named after Sir Charles Elliott, is inaugurated on 4th November, 1902 by the Lt. Governor of Bengal,  Sir John Woodburn.
1902The Bourdillon School is inaugurated by Mr. A Pedler, Director of Public Instruction, Bengal.
1903Mr. J. Simpson is appointed the first Head Master.
1903Calcutta Cottage is opened by Lady Bourdillon on 30th September, 1903.
1903Sir Charles Allen opens the Christison Farm Steading on 29th October, 1903.
1904The first pupil – Henry Edmunds – passes out from the Homes.
1904Strachan Cottage is inaugurated by Mr. Robert Laidlaw of Whiteaway, Laidlaw & Co. on 12th January, 1904.
1904Sir Andrew Fraser, Lt. Governor of Bengal inaugurates the Waterworks on 5th November, 1904.
1905Thorburn Cottage is inaugurated on 9th June, 1905 by Mr. E. A. Gait.
1905James Patterson Memorial Workshop opens.
1906Jarvie Hall is inaugurated on 24th April, 1906 by Sir L. Hare, officiating Lt. Governor of Bengal.
1906Bene Cottage is inaugurated on 15th June, 1906 by Mr. Earle, Director of Public Instruction for Bengal.
1907The second wing of the Bourdillon School is opened.
1908Mr. James Purdie takes up the position of Secretary of the Homes.
1908Miss L Steel inaugurates the Steel Memorial Hospital and Sanitorium on 4th February, 1908.
1908The Demonstration Farm Building opens in May 1908.
1908The Pugh Gymnasium opens on 31st October, 1908.
1908Fraser Hostel is inaugurated on 31st October, 1908 by Mr. R T Greer.
1910Lucia King Cottage is inaugurated on 24th September, 1910 by the Hon. Mr. F. A. Slacke, President of the Homes.
1912Macgregor Cottage is inaugurated on 15th June, 1912 by Mr. P. C. Lyon.
1912The Memorial Stone of the Queen Mary Block is laid by Lord Carmichael on 5th October, 1912.
1912Scottish Canadian Cottage is inaugurated by Rev. Robert Stevenson on 23rd December, 1912.
1914 – 1918Boys of the Homes fight for the British Empire during the First World War.
1915Edinburgh Cottage is inaugurated by Lord Carmichael, Governor of Bengal on 2nd June, 1915.
1919Katherine Graham, beloved wife of Rev. Dr. John Anderson Graham, passes away on 15th May, 1919.
1921Lord Baden Powell, the founder and leader of the worldwide Scout movement, visits the Homes on 27th February, 1921.
1925The Homes celebrates its Silver Jubilee.
1925The Katherine Graham Memorial Chapel is inaugurated by Lord Lytton, Governor of Bengal on 24th September, 1925.
1927The Homes expands its operations to Calcutta with the opening of the Birkmyre Hostel on 14th January, 1927.
1929A legacy worth Rs.900,000 is donated to the Homes by the estate of Sir Robert Laidlaw, helping the Homes out of financial difficulty.
1930Ahava Guest House is inaugurated in April 1930.
1931The Rev. Dr. John Anderson Graham retires from his mission work in Kalimpong and comes to live in the compound.
1931Rev. Dr. John Anderson Graham is made Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland, and spends a year there fulfilling his various duties before returning to Kalimpong.
1936The Willingdon Farm House and Agricultural Hostel are opened.
1937Rev. Dr. John Anderson Graham undertakes a world tour, visiting OGBs and overseas friends of the Homes.
1939Rev. Dr. John Anderson Graham celebrates the Golden Jubilee of the Homes in Kalimpong.
1939Jubilee House is inaugurated by Rev. Foss Westcott.
1939 – 1945Boys of the Homes fight for the British Empire during the Second World War.
1942
Rev. Dr. John Anderson Graham passes away on 15th May, 1942, exactly 23 years after his beloved wife, Katherine, went to her Maker.
1944Rev. James E. Duncan is appointed Superintendent of the Homes on 5th June, 1944.
1947India gains her Independence from the British Empire – the Tricolour is raised above Jarvie Hall on 15th August, 1947.
1947St. Andrew’s Colonial Homes is re-named Dr. Graham’s Homes on 1st October, 1947 and its constitution is amended to allow 40% non-Anglo-Indian children into the School.
1950The Homes celebrates its Golden Jubilee.
1950A system of sponsorship begins with the East India Charitable Trust partially sponsoring 25 children.
1952Overseas sponsorship of children begins with the Christian Children’s Fund Inc. U.S.A., which takes on partial support of 250 children.
1952Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, Prime Minister of India, visits the Homes on 30th April, 1952.
1957Rev. Ewan Traill becomes the first Principal of the Homes.
1957His Holiness, The Dalai Lama visits the Homes in January 1957.
1958Lady Edwina Mountbatten visits the Homes and is enchanted by the children at Lucia King Cottage.
1961Mr. James R. Minto takes over as Principal from Rev. Ewan Traill.
1961Bhutanese children and Tibetan refugee children are admitted for the first time.
1961The Cambridge Examination system is replaced by the Indian School Certificate (I.S.C.) in December, 1961.
1963The Chinese invade North-East India and the remaining school children are evacuated to Gopalpur, Orissa.
1968Floods wash away the Rilli Bungalow and adversely affect the entire Kalimpong area.
1971Mr. Bernard Brooks takes over as Principal from Mr. James R. Minto.
1971Mr. Robert H. Wright takes over as Chairman and President of the Board of Management.
1972The First International Conference of Overseas Committees and the Board of Management is held in Kalimpong.
1975The Homes celebrates its 75th birthday.
1976The Delhi-based Indian Schools Certificate (10+2) is introduced.
1977The Christian Children’s Fund, U.S.A., discontinues its support of 300 children of the Homes, plunging the School into a financial crisis.
1977The Central Kitchen is opened; meals cease to be cooked and served in Cottages.
1979Mr. K. S. Italia takes over as Chairman.
1987Mr. Robert H. Wright is reappointed as Chairman and President of the Board of Management.
1988Mr. Howard O’Connor takes over as Principal from Bernard Brooks in January 1988.
1988A record forty-day “bandh” is called throughout the District; the Homes is closed for six months from 10th February 1988.
1994The Second International Conference of Overseas Committees and the Board of Management is held in Kalimpong.
1994Mr. Michael J. Robertson takes over as Chairman and President of the Board of Management of the Homes in May 1994.
1995Centenary Cottage is inaugurated.
1998The Third International Conference of Overseas Committees and the Board of Management is held in Kalimpong.
1999The Greenhouse Project – sponsored by the Dr. Graham’s Homes Japan Committee – is established.
2002Mr. David Foning appointed Bursar of the Homes.
2003The Extended Sponsorship Programme is put in place, sponsoring students to pursue college education. Hostel arrangements are made in Kolkata for college-going alumni of the Homes.
2004The Children’s Choir – ‘The Children’s City in Concert’ – performs in Kolkata. This is the start of a series of concerts in Kolkata held in December every year to packed audiences.
2005Murray Cottage inaugurated and the Homes Museum is established.
2006Thorburn Cottage is rebuilt.
2006Children of Dr. Graham’s Homes perform with the Miyazaki – Junior Orchestra in Japan.
2007The Children’s Choir of the Homes undertakes a concert tour of the United Kingdom and Scotland and receives rave reviews.
2007Mr. Monomoy Banerjee, Managing Member and Secretary to the Board, passes away after decades of dedicated service. He was associated with the Homes for 43 years.
2007An International BPO Academy is set up at the Homes to help children acquire skills for careers in the BPO industry.
2008The Fourth International Conference of Overseas Committees and the Board of Management is held in Kolkata in April 2008.