Dennis Truss introduced our own Dilsher Virk who is half Indian and half Austrian, to talk about the John Martyn Memorial School. John Martyn was a very well-known educator and was Dilsher's stepfather. The school was started by Dilsher's mother after John Martyn's death.
Kurt Hahn, another well known educator (he started the United World Colleges of which Lester B Pearson College of the Pacific is one) helped to start the school after John Martyn's death in 1984.
The school actually started in a tent in 1965 after the land in Dehradun was acquired and blessed by the village priest. At first, the children did not wear uniforms; but, the parents insisted since that is what happens in 'real schools' in India. Initially the education was in Hindi; but, in the last 8 years, the official teaching language has changed to English. David Goodall donated money for the first building and since then a 2nd floor and some outbuildings have been built. The Island of Jersey also donated money to put up solar panels to provide lighting and hot water.
The campus is 'green' since Dilsher's mother was an active environmentalist. In fact, she was killed for her environmental activism.
There is a 'Harbour Side Wall' - a retaining wall paid for by Harbourside Rotary but a technician decided that 'side wall' made more sense.
It is a day school with about 175 students, with approximately 30 graduates per year. In recent years, they have purchased a bus which collects children from further afield.
Dilsher continues to sit on the Board and the school has an excellent academic track record with many of their students (who are poor village children) have gone on to university.
Fewer and fewer people remember John Martyn and they are thinking of changing the name to JMMS.
Maureen Duncan thanked Dilsher and presented him with a cheque from the club to pay for scholarships for 3 students.