JM Ray, Former Principal of Tyndale Biscoe School, Srinagar,Kashmir, India
The inner quest to be close to the mountains was one reason, besides the hand of God, which resulted in not just a long stay in Kashmir, but also in shaping the destiny of many young boys. Turning them into examples. John Mead Ray, the former Principal of Tyndale Biscoe School, Srinagar, Kashmir, is one person who can still bring out the spirit of the ‘Biscoe Boys’. This became very evident during his visit in late 2012.
- See more at: http://thecherrytree.in/john-mead-ray/
The inner quest to be close to the mountains was one reason, besides the hand of God, which resulted in not just a long stay in Kashmir, but also in shaping the destiny of many young boys. Turning them into examples. John Mead Ray, the former Principal of Tyndale Biscoe School, Srinagar, Kashmir, is one person who can still bring out the spirit of the ‘Biscoe Boys’. This became very evident during his visit in late 2012.
Last year, during his visit to Kashmir, as usual, he did not disappoint us and remembered his journey to Kashmir. Some extracts from a long conversation of him with Rajesh Prothi (First published on 13th April, 2013 at www.thecherrytree.in).
You continue to be in the minds of all those who have been part of the Tyndale Biscoe School. How did your association with this school and Kashmir happen?
JM Ray: To answer your question, I will have to go much in the past and talk about my fascination with anything to do with mountains. I was in one of the well known schools of Scotland, where both mountaineering and seamanship were a part of the curriculum. I was fascinated by mountaineering and had hoped to experience the Himalayas. Destiny took me to the Lawrence College, Ghora Gali in Pakistan, where I worked as a Senior House Master. My tenure there did not take me to the mountains as I wanted.
During the late 1950s, I came across Dr.Phil Edmonds, a great educationist of his time, who was also Principal of Tyndale Biscoe School between 1945 and 1955, he asked me if this school would interest me. The school attracted me because of its outdoor activities, boating, swimming, social service, mountaineering, besides the challenge which was awaiting me. During the same time I met my wife. She was doctoring in a rural hospital, we got married in 1961 and by August 1962 I was here in Kashmir.
JM Ray: To answer your question, I will have to go much in the past and talk about my fascination with anything to do with mountains. I was in one of the well known schools of Scotland, where both mountaineering and seamanship were a part of the curriculum. I was fascinated by mountaineering and had hoped to experience the Himalayas. Destiny took me to the Lawrence College, Ghora Gali in Pakistan, where I worked as a Senior House Master. My tenure there did not take me to the mountains as I wanted.
During the late 1950s, I came across Dr.Phil Edmonds, a great educationist of his time, who was also Principal of Tyndale Biscoe School between 1945 and 1955, he asked me if this school would interest me. The school attracted me because of its outdoor activities, boating, swimming, social service, mountaineering, besides the challenge which was awaiting me. During the same time I met my wife. She was doctoring in a rural hospital, we got married in 1961 and by August 1962 I was here in Kashmir.
What initial challenges did you face when in Kashmir at School?
JM Ray: Oh! The first which I noticed was that the school was ready for a takeover by some developers, the fences particularly at Lal Chowk side were crumbling. One or two very slight intrusions were there, which we managed because of the reputation of the school and old Biscoe boys, who were in theright official positions. If my memory serves me well , about nine heads of government departments were Biscoe boys.
JM Ray: Oh! The first which I noticed was that the school was ready for a takeover by some developers, the fences particularly at Lal Chowk side were crumbling. One or two very slight intrusions were there, which we managed because of the reputation of the school and old Biscoe boys, who were in theright official positions. If my memory serves me well , about nine heads of government departments were Biscoe boys.
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