The Lawrence Royal Military School SANAWAR

My Sanawar Guestbook

Dear Guest,

The proprietary Guestbook feature on Rootsweb user sites has been withdrawn for security reasons. The Guestbook page itself, and the familiar form method for submitting visitor feedback and comments are therefore no longer available. However, previous guestbook entries pertaining to this site have been retrieved, and are appended below for your information and/or interest. If you would like to leave me a message or comment, I must now ask that you please email me directly by clicking on the CONTACT link in the navigation bar at the top of the page. Unless you specifically request otherwise, your comments and details will be added to the list below.

Thanks for visiting.


Name:  Heather Delanghe
Date:  2022-01-12
Your House and Year from-to (if applic):  N/A
Your location:  Canmore, Alberta, Canada
Comments: 
I just learned that my father was a student at Lawrence Military School from 1939-1947, when he was repatriated with his family to the UK. His name was Terence Ketskemety. He was a Band Prefect in his last years there. He passed away several years ago, and I recently found his school documentation in his safety deposit box upon the passing of my mother. I was wondering if you had any recollection of him during his time there as you were attendees at the same time. I would love to know what House he was in, and if you had any anecdotes or memory of him at all. I know this is indeed a "shot in the dark" but, well, nothing ventured nothing gained!

Heather Ketskemety Delanghe.


Name:  Richard Kelly (son of Denzil C Kelly)
Date:  2021-06-09
Your House and Year from-to (if applic):  Dad was there in 1930s/40s?
Your location:  Wimbledon, England
Comments: 
Thankyou so much for creating this website, it is a gem. The first photo I looked at I saw my Dad enjoying the 1950 reunion, I couldn't believe I'd found him on the internet. I then went on to find numerous photos of my auntie Patsy Kelly and my uncle Les "Tinker" Kelly. I know nothing of my fathers childhood, so although it's a long shot, if anyone can help please don't hesitate to email me.
Best wishes

Richard


Name:  Jack Harper
Date:  2017-06-18
Your House and Year from-to (if applic):  Nicholson 1940-1944
Your location:  Proserpine, Queensland, Australia
Comments: 
Sanawar - Derek - Thanks for the memories

Why is it so, that a hand's breadth span of years in a long life,
Should haunt us more than other cherished long dead times?
Drawn ever back and back to the idyll of pine-clad hills;
To the sigh and perfume of conifer.

Jack.


Name:  elaine griffiths-roberts
Date:  2017-01-11
Your House and Year from-to (if applic):  N/A.
Your location:  Georgia usa
Comments: 
i found your site informative. i am looking for Mary Louisa Daly Atkinson, whose husband Rev Augustus William Atkinson was involved with the school. Louisa died Aug 23 1924 and is buried at cemetery there. have a great week
Elaine Griffiths-Roberts


Name:  Chris Robinson
Date:  2016-01-10
Your House and Year from-to (if applic):  Havelock & Roberts 46 - 48
Comments:  Westcliff on Sea, Essex
Comments: 
Great to catch up with this wonderful archive. Preparing to send a few additions and alterations while the memory survives,
Shabash Boddington Sahib !


Name:  Gayatri Cariappa Gupta
Date:  2015-04-01.
Your House anf Year from-to (if applic):  Vindhya Girls, 1986-1990
Your location:  New Delhi
Comments: 
Thank you so much for compiling this tribute to Sanawar ! I loved looking at the pictures and YES so much of it is exactly as it is today. Brought back wonderful memories and a deep longing to be there again . My time at Sanawar was the best and i cherish it most :)...
Thank you once again for all the effort put into this amazing chronicle.
Warm Regards....


Name:  Sanjaya Varma
Date:  2015-03-12
Your House anf Year from-to (if applic): : Vindhya 1956 - 64
Your location:  Noida 201303, National Capital Region of Delhi, India
Comments: 
Dear Derek,
Our Batch has recently celebrated our 50 Years Golden Jubilee at Founders 2014.
A total of 31 Batch mates had physically participated from a "passing Out" batch of 57. Four of these came down from UK ! Along with two others, I had decided to try and capture our celebrations in a publication titled "Book of Memories - Class of '64". I hope to have this printed for private distribution to our classmates by early April next month. I will try and send you a pdf copy of the final book and hope you will have the time to go through it.
Brinda Roy (OS N - 75-80), whom you know, I believe, gave me the link to your site. The LRMS Album is a treasure house of nostalgia. I MUST compliment you on the truly herculean effort this must have required. As a fellow OS, THANK YOU Derek for keeping S'na alive ! I have taken the liberty to use some of those lovely pictures in the Book and have acknowledged this. I hope it is OK ? I am passing this link to many other OS and asking them to visit your truly wonderful web site.
On a lighter note, there were 5 of us brothers and sisters who went through S'na and our Sister was also the Head Girl. I have enough S'na blood in my veins and make it a point to visit those hills at least 2-3 times a year and stay at the Kasauli Club , of which I am a Member. My wife never ceases to wonder why I never "grow up" from being a 16 year old !!!
I hope you are in good health and would love to hear from you at your convenience.
Regards and NEVER GIVE IN,
Sanjaya
PS: I visited Ghora Gali about 7 years ago as well (:


Name:  Bob Moore
Date:  2015-02-19
Your House anf Year from-to (if applic):  N/A.
Your location:  Denver, Colorado USA
Comments: 
Someday the world will know that education is a gold mine to be treated with care and explored by all people on the planet.


Name:  Tony Manders
Date:  2014-12-17
Your House and Year from-to (if applic):  Pd. circa 1943/46
Your location:  Torquay, Devon. Uk
Comments: 
Dear Derek,
I sent you an email a few years ago when I first discovered your marvelous web site.
Looking through the photographs again, I realised that all three of us siblings are there, I think.
My elder brother, Michael, is in number181; my elder sister, Brenda, appears in the second row down 4th from the right in photo number 53 ; my face is, I believe the 5th one from the right in the front row of photo number 107.
We are all 'Manders' of course, so I hope this helps filling in some names.
Regards
Tony


Name:  Sanjiv Stokes
Date:  2014-11-11
Your House and Year from-to (if applic):  Siwalik 1957-67
Your location:  Los Altos, California, USA
Comments: 
Wonderful photographs....they bring back many warm and fond memories of a very special place. Thank you Mr. Boddington, for putting it together with so much care.
Regards.


Name:  Anuradha Bhatt
Date:  2014-08-25
Your House and Year from-to (if applic):  Nilagiri House GD 1984
Your location:  Warwick, UK
Comments: 
Dear Derek, (I hope I may call you that)

Thank you for compiling such a lovely collection of pictures of Sanawar through the ages. It brought back many memories and a 'will' to go back and revisit the school again, especially as I've been living in the UK for the last 19 years.
I've read your emails on Sanawar net as well and wanted to ask if you knew who the oldest surviving Sanawarian is?
Also, as you were in school around the time of partition, would you mind sharing your story and reminisings of the time? It would be lovely to hear a first hand account of life on the hilltop and after. It would be interesting to hear about the types of children who came to s'na to study, their families, occupations, etc. basically, their story.
Just curious sir, to know more about those who walked the halls in Sanawar before I did! What they did and how life turned out for them.
If I'm being impertinent, I apologise. I didn't intend to be any trouble.
With kind regards

Anuradha Varma (nee Bhatt) NGD1984


Name:  Bijal Patel
Date:  2014-08-04
Your House anf Year from-to (if applic):  Nilagiri 1980-1989 (early leaver 1987)
Your location:  Pune
Comments: 
Excellent effort. Some of these photos really do bring back the memories.

Thanks Derek


Name:  samir arora
Date:  2014-08-01
Your House and Year from-to (if applic):  Siwalik, 81-88
Your location:  Amritsar, punjab, India
Comments: 
A wonderful effort sir, enjoyed every part of it. You may enjoy taking a brief look at my facebook group that i started only recently. The address is
https://www.facebook.com/groups/lssparents/
I created it because other similar pages are not actively moderated and hence are cluttered with spam. The vision i am building on is to have a page which will blend in the interest of the present school and parents as well as the old sanawarians . Talk of traditions as well stuff like better parenting etc. In other words, a well rounded approach with a view to creating an better overall experience.
Best Regards to you , Sir, Never Give In!


Name:  Alan Lane
Date:  2014-07-31
Your House anf Year from-to (if applic):  N/A
Your location:  Great Yarmouth, Norfolk, United Kingdom
Comments: 
Although I am not a Sanawarian, I am most interested in the history of the school as my mother (Isobel Elizabeth Hodson) my aunt (Olive Maud Hodson) and my uncle (Harold Hodson) were all at Sanawar in the 1930s. I had looked at the photos hoping that I might catch a glimpse of my mother, aunt or uncle but I don't think that era is covered in the photos. Sadly all three have long passed away. Harold Hodson is mentioed on the Roll of Honour at the school. I had met some ex-pupils of Sanawar at the annual BACSA meeting in London and met one person who knew all three of the Hodson children. Unfortunately, I do not have any photos of their time at Sanawar although I think that I have a photo of Harold Hodson in the school boxing team from before the second world war. Harold Hodson is buried in the CWGC cemetery just outside of Cairo, Egypt. Their father was killed in Mesopatamia (Iraq) and is buried in the CWGC cemetery in Kut. Their mother died at Lucknow railway station in 1920 and is buried in the Trans-Gogra cemetery in Lucknow.
Maybe, just maybe, someone might have a school photo taken at the time they were there.
Well done for putting the details that you have on the web - most appreciated.
With very best regards
Alan Lane


Name:  Aditi Chaudhary
Date:  2014-03-25
Your House and Year from-to (if applic):  Himalaya (HGD) 2010
Your location:  Melbourne
Comments: 
Dear Derek,

I have no words for this beautiful website, which you have created. It gives a deep look into the history of school and shows how many traditions are still part of it.
I can just keep on looking at all the photos again and again and feel great and proud that I have been part of this institute.
Thanks for the job very well done!!


Name:  Eileen Evenette
Date:  2013-05-07
Your House anf Year from-to (if applic):  N/A
Your location:  UK.
Comments: 
my grandfather George Evenette - his younger brother was a ward of L.M.A in 1915 - he died in school that year - his grave must be in the cemetery - ARTHUR GERALD EVENETTE


Name:  Ms. Sachdev Kaur Grewal
Date:  2013-04-04
Your House and Year from-to (if applic):  Vindhya House, 1960 to 1964
Your location:  Kasauli, India
Comments: 
Dear Derek,

I have only just managed to see all your hard work once again, and needless to say IT IS JUST GREAT. I AM SO PROUD OF YOU.
I am sure every Sanawarian that visits your site will be thrilled.
Regard, Sachdev Bala.


Name:  walter owen
Date:  2013-02-17
Your House anf Year from-to (if applic):  outram 1947
Your location:  Cairns. Aust:
Comments: 
Wonderful job, Derek and Co:

My sister Stella Owen forwarded this to me, and i am still enjoying going through the pics.
Outram prefect in my time was Jones, however i remember Bony Glover as he was a mate of my brother Dennys, whom was also aSanawarian. Many thanks for the BIG effort in putting all this together.
wo


Name:  Raymond Jones
Date:  2013-01-23
Your House and Year from-to (if applic):  Nicholson 42-46 Haveloch 39-41
Your location:  Brisbane Australia
Comments: 
Thank you, brought back a lot of fond memories.
Regards,
Ray Jones.


Name:  Maj Gen (Retd) Kul Prakash Deswal
Date:  2013-01-20
Your House anf Year from-to (if applic):  Siwalik 1948 to 1956
Your location:  Noida, India
Comments: 
Hi Derek,
Wonderful to see the photographs of Sanawar. Still have very fond memories of the school especially when it was in the transient stage after Independence.
Regards
Deswal K.P.


Name:  Peter McNay
Date:  2013-01-17
Your House anf Year from-to (if applic):  Lawrence '39 - '45
Your location:  Canberra Aust
Comments: 
Thanks for all the good work Derek. Most interesting.
Kind regards...
Peter


Name:  Peter John Wickens
Date:  2012-11-01
Your House anf Year from-to (if applic):  N/A.
Your location:  Adelaide,Australia
Comments: 
Great site ! My father went to the school in 1925 along with his brothers,Errol and Clifford.
I was born in Roor-Kee as was my brother Norman.We lived in Laksar Junction where my grandfather was something big on the railways.
would love to here from anyone who has anecdotal knowledge of those times.


Name:  Beryl Smith (nee Rice)
Date:  2012-09-25
Your House anf Year from-to (if applic):  Havelock then Lawrence House 1941-47
Your location:  Felpham, Bognor Regis
Comments: 
Have just spent a couple of hours looking through your photos and have really enjoyed them. I am sure I will looking through the photos time and again. Many thanks. Bill Hyde told me about the website. I did meet you very briefly at the Sna lunch in May. Perhaps you will be there next year?
Regards
Beryl


Name:  Amarjit S Butalia (nick name Butch)
Date:  2012-07-22
Your House anf Year from-to (if applic):  Himalaya, 1956 to 1959 (4 Years)
Your location:  Noida (Co - located with New Delhi, India)
Comments: 
Hi Bods (if I may call you that),
Nice to know that some one of your vintage from School is active on the net. I would like to keep in touch with you. What are your interests? Could you tell me somethings of the School during your times.
Cheers,
Butch


Name:  (John) Peter Priest
Date:  2012-04-13
Your House anf Year from-to (if applic):  Outram & Nicholson, '40 - '45
Your location:  Alberta, Canada
Comments: 
Best wishes to you, Boddo. Thanks for a look at a fine collection pictures. I spent a happy couple of hours with them.


Name:  LILA KAK - BHAN
Date:  2012-04-11
Your House anf Year from-to (if applic):  Siwalik 1953 - 58
Your location:  USA
Comments: 
I was delighted to see your wonderful pictures. Thank you for sharing them with so many O.S.
Lila


Name:  Derek Herincx
Date:  2012-03-12
Comments:  1917 onwards
Your location:  London U.K
Comments: 
I had a relative, Douglas George Waugh, who attended the Lawrence Royal Military School Sanawar from about 1917 onwards. He was taught Polo at school and loved the game playing in many Empire countries there after.
Returning to India in WW2 he fought in Slim's advance into Burma as a Full Colonel in the Indian Corps of Pioneers.
Does anyone know what the Spartan Club at the school was please?

Thank you for a very informative site and wonderful photographs.


Name:  Allan MacDougall
Date:  2012-02-20
Your House and Year from-to (if applic):  Outram 1944
Your location:  Outram/Havelock building
Comments: 
Hi there,
I attended Sanawar in 1944 as an eight year old child and am trying to recall the names of the four senior houses.As far as I can remember they were Lawrence, Roberts Clive and one other which I can't recall and hoped that you would be able to tell me.
Thank you, Allan MacDougall.


Name:  Ranjit Rawlley
Date:  2011-12-18
Your House and Year from-to (if applic):  1983 Vindhya
Your location:  Charlotte NC
Comments: 
Never Give in..


Name:  David Williams
Date:  2011-12-10
Your House anf Year from-to (if applic):  Hodson 1939-1947
Your location:  Sydney NSW Australia
Comments: 
This is a unique and wonderful collection of historical photos and a priceless record of Sanawar's glorious past. Congratulations Derek, you have done Sanawar proud!


Name:  Tony Manders
Date:  2011-11-28
Your House and Year from-to (if applic):  PD circa 1943
Your location:  Torquay Devon
Comments: 
I was only in PD.
My brother Mickey was in Hodson and my sister Brenda was in Nicholson.
I still have vivid memories of the very happy time I spent in Sanawar.
Very proud of my big sister and my brother and his doing the "Hodson run"


Name:  jugbirinder gill (Jugga)
Date:  2011-11-28
Your House anf Year from-to (if applic):  Nilagiri-1963-1972
Your location:  Edmonton, Alberta-Canada
Comments: 
Exceptional reflection into our history. A picture is really worth a thousand words. What a thread which links us all together. This is why we are "The Best School of All"


Name:  Thomas Boddington
Date:  2011-11-24
Your House anf Year from-to (if applic):  1942 to 1946 Outram, Havelock, and Roberts
Your location:  Weymouth, Dorset UK
Comments: 
Well, Derek, I don't have to tell you who I am do I? This is a great Site, and a great idea of yours hope word gets around and lots more Old Sanawarians get in touch. Good Luck with it!


Name:  Gagan Virmani
Date:  2011-11-24
Your House anf Year from-to (if applic): 
Your location:  India
Comments: 
This is a collection to be preserved


Name:  Krishnan Subramanian
Date:  2011-11-22
Your House anf Year from-to (if applic):  Vindhya 1973
Your location:  Mclean Virginia USA
Comments: 
A treasure trove of beautiful photographs Thank you so much for sharing this with us. You are our pride and history and I cherish being part of this wonderful institution. Sanawar is a beautiful noteworthy legacy left by the British in India, and I am surprised as to how little has changed in a generation. Never Give In


Name:  Arun Mahajan
Date:  2011-11-22
Your House and Year from-to (if applic):  Nilgiri (Roberts, of old) 1954 to 1963
Your location:  New Delhi, India
Comments: 
Sanawar refuses to let us grow old! Who wants to,anyway!Memories of a wonderful childhood spent on the hilltop came flooding back while going through your album.Thank you.
Warm regards.


Name:  John (Bony) Glover
Date:  2011-11-21
Your House anf Year from-to (if applic):  Nicholson 1943-1946. Prefect Outram 1946
Your location:  Templestowe, Victoria 3106 Australia
Comments: 
What a great range of Sanawar History. I will separately sent some info about names, but Jim Walker And Dave Williams from the OSA, Australia could let you have more names, as will John Dixon, who forwarded your email to me.
Regards Bony.


Name:  Harminder Jit SinghSawhney
Date:  2011-11-21
Your House anf Year from-to (if applic):  Himalaya, 1965
Your location:  Muscat(Oman)
Comments: 
Visit UK very often. Attended the last get together in London in May 2011.
All the best.
"Never Give In"

Harminder Sawhney( Nee Khalsa )


Name:  sanjay sikri
Date:  2011-11-20
Your House and Year from-to (if applic):  Himalya 1976
Your location:  India
Comments: 
nice to connect


Name:  James Big Walker
Date:  2011-11-20
Your House anf Year from-to (if applic):  Hodson 1939 - 1947
Your location:  Brisbane, QLD, Australia
Comments: 
G'Day Derek, I remember you very well if you are Big Boddington. I can tell you there are many around of your vintage, you are not alone! I am in contact with John Shellcott (at Ghora Gali, your time) and Gordon (Gay) both from Roberts and in the UK. In OZ there are the Sparrows and Bellamys, but no contact there.Please get in touch through email it will be great to exchange news. I am back about a month from a trip to School organized by Gordon; fellow trippers included 0.9em Ron Bailey and Massingham. All the best Jim Walker. Got John Dixon to send this for me.


Name:  John Dixon
Date:  2011-11-20
Your House and Year from-to (if applic):  Nicholson 1935 - 1944
Your location:  Sydney Australia
Comments: 
Hi Derek - saw your email and have had a quick look at your web site, which is great. Will pass your details on to interested OS on my emailing list. I called Jim Walker with whom I am in constant contact and will sign him into your guest book. He is computer-less using the library to keep up his emails. Relying on me for Sanawarnet. I made a hash of your contacting me on Skype for which I am sorry. Keep in touch. Ap ke dost John


Name:  sulaiman ansari
Date:  2011-11-20
Your House anf Year from-to (if applic):  siwalik 82
Your location:  singapore
Comments: 
absolutely fantastic! thank you for capturing sna'r in all its majesty...


Name:  Partha Biswas
Date:  2011-11-20
Your House anf Year from-to (if applic):  Vindhya House Boys, 1958-64
Your location:  Pinner, Middlesex, UK
Comments: 
Brings back wonderful memories of childhood. Many of the buildings of your era were still being used in the same way during the time I spent at Sanawar, although there have been many change of use since. Thank you for your taking the time in compiling the 'Album' and making it available to so many of us who are on 'Sanawarnet' and possibly beyond through referrals. Best regards Partha Biswas, VBD 1964


Name:  Sanjiv K Singh
Date:  2011-11-20
Your House and Year from-to (if applic):  Class of 1973, Siwalik House.
Your location:  New Delhi
Comments: 
Will forward your details to my non OS friend to forward to his OS mother.
Do keep in touch, I am in New Delhi.
Regards,
Sanjiv K Singh
SBD 1973


Name:  Sukhmani Bianca Pratap Singh
Date:  2011-11-20
Your House and Year from-to (if applic):  1998 Himalaya
Your location:  London, UK
Comments: 
Amazing to see your album...the school has hardly changed even after all these years.
Kind Regards,
Bianca Singh


Name:  Derek Boddington
Date:  2011-09-21
Your House and Year from-to (if applic):  Havelock and Roberts 1942-1947
Your location:  Blandford Forum, Dorset, England
Comments: 
Bodders was here... this is a test entry