Part of the Soul Train
One-Six-ZERO ( 1 6 0 )
…is no ordinary number
is no simple number
is not that a complicated number
is not a serious number
is not a humorous number.
… it is a number that signifies
something more special than ordinary simpleness complicatedness and seriousness. Possibly with some humour but something more.
The speciality of the number
may be linked to many things,
like an amazing book written by a world renowned story teller that climaxes on the 160th page, it could be a number of days starting the 1st of January until the 9th of June totalling 160
or perhaps the number of steps I once took at the age of 12 from the Lefroy House dorms to the Chapel door.
In the parlance of old english it is 8-score years is it not? I mean the number 160!
But for you and I, ONE SIX ZERO is a definitive milestone.
If I recollect the many milestones in my life I can state I was born 64 years ago, the first stone ! I started schooling at my Alma mater 59 years ago, I passed out from my Alma mater 49 years ago and I attained Command of my own vessel called the “ LONTUE” (named after a river in Chile) at the age of 29; this was 35 years ago and so on.
Ten years ago in October 2009 a very special congregation of souls took place up in the Himalayas … on a spur where stands a handsome set of buildings, a gorgeous Chapel, flats and woods. These souls arrived from every corner of the planet to reignite, remember, reconstruct and push back age boundaries. The souls returned to be young again, to feel young again and use slang and jargon which was part of the traditional way one spoke to each other; with nick names that actually should have been registered and stamped into their passports; these names stuck on like magic glue and for many are sacred. Even their wives and girl friends and mothers call them by these names. Yes those names make these souls unique under one breath under blue skies and the bright sun that drenches this Handsome Beautiful Space.
Yes Ma’am, Yes Sir!
This Handsome Beautiful Space belongs to us souls. It is where our stories started and it is where our stories will continue, never ending ….for there will be other souls who will arrive and understand the magic of our space as they write and weave the myriad patterns from the power of the buildings, The Chapel, the flats and the woods.
And a sense of brotherhood will emerge…
Ten Years later …
On July 28th 2019, our most sacred space would be 160 years since …
….and yet The Buildings, The Chapel , The Flats and The Woods will not burst into song or tremble with joy and shiver with excitement. No no… they will just be where they are looking at those who’ve gone before, to those who are there and those who’ve yet to come…
silently they will stay…perhaps a wind will rustle the leaves of the Grand Oak. the Weeping Willows, the Cedars , the Chestnuts and Pines , and on certain monsoon days the clouds will descend as you brush against them like huge balls of cotton until the rain comes down and cleanses away the pollen; the snow will hunker down over winter and melt away as “our” tears.
…but then Blue Skies and Glorious Sunshine again…
Perhaps this next Saturday 28th July 2019 I will get down on my knees in some quiet place and Thank You all,
Thank our Founder
Bishop Cotton,
Thank Head Master,
Thank my Teachers,
Thank the Bearers,
Thank my Seniors,
Thank My Class of 1970,
Thank My Brother,
Thank My Juniors,
Thank My Parents for sending me to my Alma mater,
and Thank the Handsome Buildings,
The Chapel,
The Flats and
The Woods
that give me that energy, hope and drive to continue my life..
Happy Birthday
Our Bishop Cotton School !!
Our Sacred Space.
We belong to you,
Just as
You belong to Us.
((Whenever I visit this sacred place I always make it point to walk the 160 steps to the Chapel ..
I do sometimes tremble and shiver…
But when I look at The Good Shepherd with his flock ..
I feel a calm descending within my soul, a sense of peace prevails..
until my next time ..))
Vivek Bhasin
Class of 1970
Lefroy 1961-1970
Dear Vivek, I read with profound sadness the passing of John Whitmarsh Knight. I knew him as a friend and colleague in the 80’s. I enjoyed his company and enthusiasms. He was indeed a remarkable human being. I tried to contact him as I recently moved and discovered a book that he had loaned me, I wished to return it! not to be though.
Kind regards,