Miss M. Dasgupta

It is with much sadness that we report the demise of Miss M. Dasgupta, who taught English at Dow Hill School from 1966 till her retirement in 1995. Miss Dasgupta passed away in the Woodlands Nursing Home in Calcutta of pneumonia. This obituary was forwarded by her niece Anasuya Roy (nee Dasgupta) with the hope that she would be prayed for by all her ex-students and school colleagues. May her soul rest in peace.

Joan Beniston (Wakefield)

All VADHANS who knew Joan Wakefield as a fellow pupil, and us who knew her as a teacher will be deeply saddened at her demise on January 22nd 2005.  Unfortunately, this was too late for the January Newsletter, and I am crawling with abject apologies for not including it in my June missive. 

Mrs Beniston was not "just another teacher" - she was adored by me and all our entire class.  Not only was she a excellent teacher, but she was also so beautiful and kind, and we were thrilled when Miss Wakefield married such a handsome Prince Charming.  It was a fairy take come true.  We missed her sorely while she was on honeymoon, but it was so romantic and we felt so privileged that she was our Mrs Beniston.   I was in Standard 3 at the time.  I know others will have many memories of her too.  We were always pleased to see Joan at the VADHA  Reunions, sometimes with her mother, Mrs Wakefield .    I know others will have many memories of her.  Meanwhile, our deep condolences go to Merna, her sister, and Bill and Brian, her brothers, and to all her family. Obituary submitted by Grace Pereira

George Watson - R.I.P

George Watson died on the night of Saturday October 2^nd 2004. His grand-daughter had gone to his house to find out why he had not responded to telephone calls nor had he contacted anyone, and found him dead in his bed, where he presumably died either from a heart attack or in his sleep.

George will be missed by a great many. His sister Avis said “he was a rock to our family”. All the Victoria and Dow Hill people who had anything to do with him knew how reliable and helpful he was. For years, in England and Canada, he attended school reunions, in Canada traveling long distances to do so. He was a sort of model Victorian.

Those who were his peers at school remember he played in all school 1^st. elevens, and placed first in the senior boys’ 100 yards sprint. After leaving school he played hockey for the BNR and was with them when they twice won the Beighton Cup. Unknown to most boys at school, George was a champion cyclist and won trophies in Asansol and in other railway towns and in Kolkata. These successes took place during the school winter holidays. He was modest about his athletic activities and in his demeanor generally. His voice was soft and in keeping with his bearing.

George might have kept the best for the last: for five years after his wife Beatrice had a crippling stroke, George nursed her and kept house. The worst of it was watching Beatrice in pain and struggling. After she died he said he could not find motivation in his activities, but he did deliver meals on wheels to seniors and the housebound until his own end came. Obituary submitted by Warren O’Rourke

George Watson (on the right) with

His wife Beatrice and Doug Dubois

George Bishop – R.I.P.

It is with regret that we learned that George Bishop, an old boy of Victoria, has passed away. George had a very distinguished career in the United Nations, and was the author of some interesting and erudite books. George will be missed by his contemporaries. More details will follow in the next VADHA newsletter by Grace Pereira

Denise Coelho R.I.P.

It is with sadness I report the sudden demise of Denise Coelho/Winsome Fink. She suffered a heart attack and was making a good recovery in hospital. She was due to come out on Wednesday July 26th. 2000, but a major attack took her on the 24th. We shall miss her sorely, especially at the Reunions, but we are indeed fortunate to have known her. Denise/Winsome will live on forever through her wonderful book "Orchids and Algebra" about Dow Hill, and her beautiful poems. Our condolences go out to her daughter, sons and grandchildren and we share in their sorrow - Grace Pereira

David Johnstone R.I.P.

It is with much regret that we learned that David Johnstone passed away on Monday 29^th May 2000 in London, England. David was a contemporary of mine in Victoria, where he sat and passed the Senior Cambridge examination in 1957. David will be sadly missed by his many school friends - Aubrey Ballantine

Mavis Young R.I.P.

It is with much regret that we learned that Mavis Young passed away peacefully in her sleep at the Mayflower Retirement Village in Westmeade (Australia) at 11:30 p.m. on Tuesday 17^th August 1999. Mavis was Doris Taylor's mother, and was the Dormitory Matron at Dow Hill while Doris was a schoolgirl at Dow Hill. Doris Taylor's full name was Doris Eve Taylor, and she was known in Dow Hill as Doris. Our condolences go out to Mavis' family.

Les Daring R.I.P.

It is with much regret that we learned that Les Daring sadly passed away on June the 19^th 1999. Les was active on the web, and stayed in touch with e-mails on occasion. Les will be missed by many of his VADHA friends. Our condolences go out to his family.

Theo Canham R.I.P.

It is with much regret that we learned that our oldest member Theo Canham sadly passed away on October the 7^th. 1998 at the age of 97 years. Theo has attended several of our reunions in the past, and will be missed. The memorial service was held on October the 17^th. 1998, and was attended by many of his friends and relatives. VADHA was represented by Joyce Elkin (who is Theo's niece), Warren O'Rourke, Frank Littlewood and Aubrey Ballantine. Our condolences go out to Theo's wife Dolly and his family.

Donald Waleski R.I.P.

It was also with much regret that we learned that Don Waleski passed away August 28th. 1998. Grace Pereira has included part of his eulogy written by his two daughters (see the January 1999 newsletter posted on the web page). Although Don was unable to attend our Toronto reunions due to distance, it is apparent from the eulogy that we were the losers for it. Don set an example through life which does great credit to our school, and makes us all proud to be Victorians. I received a short letter from Angela Waleski (one of Dons daughters) which I would like to share in part with you. Angela wrote:

"Dad always spoke affectionately of his VADHA friends, and we grew up with a steady stream of stories of his days "on the hill". I once told him that I would make it my life's mission to go to India to visit the old school, but he made me promise not to. He said it would cause too much despair to see it in such disrepair, and he wanted to remember it the way it was, and for me to imagine it as he remembered it. What a magical time in history you and Dad were fortunate to share!"