RootsChat.Com
Research in Other Countries => Other Countries => Topic started by: macintosh on Monday 26 July 10 15:04 BST (UK)
-
I have found a one page of a letter in the pages of a book I have just bought, The letter is from a schoolgirl who was a pupil at the Victoria School, Kurseong which I think is/was in West Bengal, the letter is dated 1.12.1949 and postmarked North Point Darjeeling 20th March 1950 which is franked with a stamp of Geo vi with crown and 2 annas postage.
It is only one page of a longer letter and is addressed to Rodney Bile, Gaynor Estate, Bath Road. Asonsol.
Inside the letter is a small black and white photo o f 5 young girls aged 15 to 18 who look Indian or Eurasian, on the back of the pic it says "To darling Rodney all my love Dorothy - Taken at the zoo 1st. July 1949"
Apparantly she was studying for a J.C. ?
Anyone out there connected to the letter/pic is welcome to have them
James
-
Hi James,
You are correct about Kurseong being in West Bengal. It's a stopping point on the Darjeeling Himalayan Railway, approx midway between Siliguri/New Japaiguri, where the train starts, and Darjeeling. Interesting that there's a 3 month gap between writing and sending the letter. The fact that it's posted at North Point, Darjeeling could mean she left Victoria School and moved to Loreto Convent in Darjeeling which is close to North Point. It's possible tha "Rodney" was a pupil at one of the many public schools in Darjeeling although I think you can rule out St.Paul's as I act as Administrator for their Alumni board and haven't come across the name amongst the former pupils.
Both schools have Alumni Associations which you could contact - the links are below.
http://www.loreto.in/darj-convent/index.htm
http://www.vsdh.org/vsdh.html (There's a drop-down menu on the right of the page which should lead you to the OVA (Old Victorians Assoc.) and from there you contact the Assoc webmaster!)
Happy hunting!
Tony
Added I should have realised - the zoo is near North Point - that's why the letter is posted there!
-
I have relations who owned Gaynor Estate, I will ask them if they know anything.
-
The letter may be interesting anyway does it mention any other names?
-
Hi Queen Bess, The letter is one page of others and dated 1.1 49 and interestingly begins "Hiya Rod" I was surprised at the term "Hiya" for 1949. I always associated that with the late 50s early 60s.
The envelope is tiny 11cm x 9cm and has a 2 anna stamp with George VI and postmarked North Point Darjeeling, 20th April 1950, There are no other names in the text.
The small photo shows five young ladies of Indian or Eurasian appearance, on the back of the pic it says To Darling Rodney All my love Dorothy, taken at the zoo on July 1st, 1949.
I am happy to send these on to any one in the pic or anyone associated with the school.
Regards
James
-
Hi James
I've just sent an email to Dorothy's old school alumni association in the hope that we can solve this mystery. Will keep you posted.
Tony
-
I've sent a message to my family in India to ask them about this as Gaynor Gardens is a family home, so they should hopefully know.
Thanks
Liz
-
Thanks everyone,
James
-
Hi James
I've had a reply from the Alumni website. Is it possible to send me a scanned copy of the photo that I can pass on to them? I'll send a PM with my email address.
Tony
-
Just a quick update.
The picture is now on it's way to various alumni who were at the school circa 1949 in the hope that someone recognises the girls in the photo. It would be fantastic if we could reunite the pic with either Dorothy or her family!
Tony
-
Thanks Tony,
FYI the photo/letter was found in Thirsk in North Yorkshire.
Regards
James
-
The mystery deepens!
I've just received the following reply from the Victoria and Dow Hill Schools Alumni site;-
Tony, I have now heard back from my contacts and I'm sorry to say that
they do not recognise any of the girls. They were both in attendance at
the school at that time and were about the same ages as the ladies in
the photo. In fact they say there were no Dorothy's in the senior school
at that time. One of them has suggested that they may have been in
attendance at Mount Herman school in Darjeeling. Unfortunately we don't
seem to have any past contacts with pupils who attended Mount Hermon.
So a question for James! Does Dorothy claim to be at Victoria School, or is the letter itself written on Victoria School paper. If the answer to either is "yes" then there is a problem! Victoria School was a boys school! The other school, Dow Hill, was the girls school.
I can try to make contact with the Mt Hermon Alumni if we want to solve this puzzle - and I must admit it has got to me!!
Has QueenBess had any joy yet from her contact in Asansol re Rodney Bile?
Tony
-
Tony,
Let me write the text of the one page of a longer letter, although the pages of the letter that would identify the writer are missing, because the pic was in the folded page inside the envelope rightly or wrongly I assumed the letter had been written by Dorothy,
Here goes............................... Victoria School
Kurseong
Dow Hill P.O.
D. r. H Rly.
1/12/49
Hiya Rod,
I guess you must have thought that I had forgotten you, anyway I never forgot so soon.
Before I go any further allow me to wish you many happy returns of the day for the 20th. Oh! sorry I forgot, the 18th isn't it?
Well Rod I am still here and am sitting for my J.C. I have passed in every one up to
The one page finishes here, it is written on light blue lined note paper, size 7" x 4" with no official letter heading.
With hindsight there are differences in the writing on the back of the pic and the writing in the letter.
If you wish to pm me with an address I will gladly forward it to you, I realise that it is not always prudent to give an address.
Regards
James
-
Hi James,
It's certainly intriguing! I would love to solve this, (imagine your past catching up with you!) but it looks as though it will be a long term search.
I'm happy to take it over if you are agreeable. I still have a lot of contacts in the area through the various Alumni Associations. I'll PM you with my details
Tony
-
Hi James,
An update. Received the items in todays post, thanks.
Looking at the letter and the envelope, it's as though it was written by two different people! The letter and note on the picture are similar in writing style, but with differences as you pointed out, but the envelope is altogether a more adult script. I'm also wondering if the addressee is Rodney Bill, as opposed to Bile? Maybe QueenBess can clear that one up for us when she gets a response from her contacts in Asansol.
Having had no luck with the Victoria and Dow Hill School Alumni Assoc. I've also written to Mt Hermon Assoc. in the hope that someone there may recognise one of the girls in the picture. Disappointingly non-response at the moment!
Will keep you posted
Tony
-
Thanks, maybe I should have scanned the envelope too, hope you have some success from your contacts.
James
-
Hello ,I'm new here and was trying to find out some more information about my fathers family.
I was wondering if there is/was any connection to the Gaynor's estate in Asonsol .
My father George Richard Gaynor (deceased ) was born in Mumbai in 1934 .His father
David Patrick Gaynor was born in 1911 I think in India. He married Dorothy Clarke (from England) but they lived in Mumbai .I don't know if he had any brothers or sisters.
My father moved to England when young and I only met my grandad once when I was a baby as I was born in England. There seems to be quite a lot of Gaynor's but hard to find out a lot of information of Gaynor's in India. I didn't know if Queenbess (if she is still on here )would be able to possibly to check with her contact at the Gaynor,s estate to see if my grandad has any connection to it.