Dateline Mussoorie: 2021, Convent of Jesus and Mary Hampton Court, Mussoorie celebrates it centenary year.
Founded in 1922 as Hampton Court Preparatory Boys’ School for boys from Class 1- IV, in the years to follow the school turned co-ed on popular demands of local parents who wanted siblings attending the same school. In 1998 the school shut down its boarding. From 1999 onwards, the school started adding one class per year finally getting affiliated to the ICSE Board.
Today, from amongst its contemporaries, Hampton Court alone can boast of being the only school in the hill-station that has a royal monicker, as it takes it name from Hampton Court Palace, located in East Molesey, near London.
Sister Anita Mathew, Principal of the CJM Hampton Court says: “A Holy Mass will be marking the opening of the year long celebrations along with traditional dance, ITBP Band in attendance and Choir singing. A number of events have been ear-marked through the year, ending on 1st March 2022.”
Tinged with nostalgia, Parmod Kapoor who worked as an Office Assistant in 1963 to retire in 2007 as Administrator Officer recalls: “Hampton Court was the finest boarding schools for younger children. The commitment and dedication of the staff and sisters was unparalleled. It had an aura and a positive atmosphere.”
Mrs Anna Dilawar who has been teaching the students Hindi for the past forty four years and counting tells me, “What kept me going was a positive and powerful relationship with everything in Hampton Court the sisters, the teachers and my students. The glow in their eyes and the proud feeling of seeing your students progress.”
Perhaps these lines by the poet S.J. Darcy ring true for the school:
“When Memory, midst scenes of strife or care, Will fondly turn to years and comrades here,
It well may be, Young Student, you will say,
God Bless the School! Our happiest days were there.”
