INDIA-L Archives

Archiver > INDIA > 2000-01 > 0947032309


From: Gordon C Inglis <>
Subject: Re: Wolfinden / Doveton Corrie School
Date: Tue, 04 Jan 2000 16:31:49 -0800


Hello Linda and all,

Linda Le Merle wrote:
>
> Does anyone have information about Doveton Corrie School, Madras?
> My family history interest includes Donald William Wolfinden, whose
> profession at the time of his death in 1940 is shown as "Priest,
> Headmaster Doveton Corrie School, Madras".
> Linda Lemerle

Within the last couple of months there have been very informative
general exchanges on list about Doveton, relating to its name,
between Moira Breen and Cathy Day. You will find some references to
Doveton on Cathy's web site. If you missed the discussion on Doveton
you will be able to access the postings from the India-L archives. I
will be doing that myself as I lost the posts reconfiguring my
browser :(

I forget if Moira said Doveton was organized as separate Boys and
Girls schools, (I believe so?) and whether they were geographically
separated in the town. My mother mentions Doveton in her memoirs in
connection with particular events in her association in parish life
with my father, Ronald Cameron Inglis, also a priest and chaplain
from 1936, at the church next door to the school and another in
South George Town, and who knew your Donald WOLFINDEN (she spelt his
name Wolfenden), Principal of the School and also, at that time
Chaplain to General Hospital, Madras.

Doveton Corrie was situated next door to St Mark's Church in North
G. T., Madras. (see other interesting posts in the archives
regarding the change of name from Blacktown to George Town). On this
account the School Hall and grounds played a significant part in the
life of the parish of St Marks. It offers a meaningful perspective
to look at examples of how a facility impacts in a community, beyond
it's primary purpose, in shaping the lives of people.

Besides holding their wedding reception, for the parish, at Doveton
Corrie School Hall, my father was very keen on Religious Drama. My
mother writes:
"We started first with 'The Good Samaritan' which was staged at
Bishop Corries School Hall on 24 Dec 1938 instead of a carol
service. The local lads set to and produced a back cloth for the
stage depicting rocks painted on brown paper and sacking. During the
play, this back cloth descended on the actors because of their
enthusiasm in the robber scene. What was so hilarious was that the
audience, mostly children of Hindu and Parsee backgrounds thought
that was supposed to happen. However we collected Rs5 for the parish
poor. After the fiasco of our first attempt at drama, we decided to
form a Young Men's Guild and Drama Club. This was very successful
and we succeeded in keeping many young people out of mischief and
vagrancy. We used Bishop Corrie School grounds and one very popular
pastime was cycle polo! We also had tenniquoit, badminton, table
tennis etc. The members paid monthly subs of 2 annas, and 8 annas to
join."

Each year following there were other _successful_ productions staged
such as Sedgewick's "Judas which Also" and Sedgwick's "Barabas" (so
successful in fact they were asked to put it on for a wider audience
at the Victoria Public Hall)... but that another story. It was after
this that the girls started a club as a counterpart to the Men's
club.

Linda, By 1940, mum and dad had been working hard without a break
for 4 years and took their first holiday in May and June, at a
cottage in Bangalore. At the same time your Donald Wolfenden and
his wife Mary, with their baby daughter Elspeth were also taking a
holiday in Bangalore. Both Donald and my father were helping out at
All Saint's Church, Bangalore. My father assisted at the Eucharist
and Donald gave a very stirring address at the last service (16th
June 1940) before Donald passed away later that same day. I'll write
you separately on this.

In the meantime warm regards to all,
Gordon



--
============================================================
Genealogy research in India:
-- A l l e n -- A n d e r s o n -- B r o o k m a n --
-- C o f f e e \ C o f f e y -- H a i m e s -- H o r r i c k s --
-- I n g l i s -- J o h n s t o n e -- K i n g --
-- L a u r e n c e \ L a w r e n c e -- L o n g -- S t o k e s --

Gordon C. Inglis

This thread: