Udhagamandalam :

The Laidlaw Memorial School, popularly known as St George’s Homes, located in a scenic valley in Ketti near Ooty, is set to celebrate its centenary on Thursday. The centenary celebrations will be attended by ?old Georgians’ (as the alumni are called), from all over the world and the festivities will continue for three days, said Michael James, principal of the school.
On the inaugural day a statue of Rev John Breeden, the founder of the school, will be inaugurated. St George’s Homes, essentially a residential school, was founded in 1914 by Rev Breeden to provide boarding and education to the children of the Protestant Europeans and Anglo Indian communities.

As it was liberally endowed by Sir Robert Laidlaw, the school was named after him. The school was started in Kodaikanal and was moved to its present home in 1922.

The centenary celebration of the institution is being organised in association with ?Old Georgeons Association’ which boasts of many famous names including Dr Mammen Chandy, one of the leading haematologists and director of Tata Medical Centre in Kolkata and former president of World Hematology Congress and Noel French, gold medal winner in World Veteran’s hockey championship, held recently in Amsterdam. .

A coffee table book containing photos of the school, ?now and then’ and the surrounding forests and the Nilgiri hills will be brought out during the function.

A new pathway named the?Old Georgian Centenary Pathway’ will also be inaugurated on Thursday.

According to James, Thursday will mark the beginning of the year-long celebrations to mark the 100{+t}{+h} year of the institution. Beginning with only three students, the school now has a strength of 525 students, including 250 girls and is a compulsory boarding institution. Since the school was started specifically for the Anglo-Indian community, even today they are provided free education.

About 76 Anglo-Indian students are presently studying in the school.

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / Home> City> Coimbatore / by Shanthan Thiagarajan, TNN / July 10th, 2014