Old Cottonians’ Association United Kingdom
President’s Newsletter

Vijay Bhalaik MRCS FRCS

Dear Old Cottonians

I hope you are all well. Another busy year has passed since the last annual newsletter. I have had the opportunity to meet with Old Cottonians in the UK and India and also attend the BCS 165 Celebrations last October. Whilst there,

I also attended the Board of Governors’ Meeting. There are some challenges to overcome in the next few years and there will be changes in leadership at the school and Church of North India.

Bishop Cotton School:
Mr Simon Weale, Director of Bishop Cotton School, and his wife Rebecca have now finished their term and bid farewell to the school in December 2024. Mr Mathew John has taken over as interim-Headmaster until the new Headmaster is appointed. I have been in touch with him and he tells me that the school is doing well and that he has instituted some changes. He is also working closely with the Board and Old Cottonians’ Association to overcome the current challenges the school faces. We are yet to have our first board meeting and I hope to meet Mathew in the near future. The Bishop of Amritsar, the Right Reverand Samantaroy, has also retired and The Right Reverand Manoj Charan has been appointed the new Bishop of Amritsar.

OCA India:
I have been having regular discussions with OCA India and its Regional Chapters. India and the Regional Chapters are workings together in order to make a vibrant community. success. The current Presidents of the OCA, I wish them every success.

Donations:
The Old Cottonians Association UK welcomes donations towards helping members and students improve philanthropic activities. I would encourage members to contribute to the OCA UK Fund so that it can continue to support these activities. If you would like to make a donation, please contact myself, Puneet or Gursant. These donations help us support members attend our gatherings.

Legacy:
Alumni who wish to create a legacy that lives on and beyond in their memory, again please contact myself, Puneet or Gursant. We have identified a few projects at the school which require substantial funding, e.g. restoration of the Chapel windows, restoration of historic paintings throughout the school and upgrading of the Great Dining Hall. Donations towards these projects will be formally recognised by the school.

Annual Lunch
Last year there was a great gathering at the Bombay Palace for the Annual Lunch and it was good to see some new faces. After the lunch we had an informal gathering at Kuljinder Bahia’s home and I would like to thank Kuljinder and his wife, Donna, for their generous hospitality.

This year’s annual lunch will be on the 28 June at 12 noon at Bombay Palace, 50 Connaught Street, London, W2 2AA.
All Old Cottonians and their partners are invited. The cost is £60 per head. This promises to be a great occasion and I would encourage everyone to attend. Please RSVP to Puneet Singh by emailing puneetsingh932@hotmail.com or calling 07841590990.

Bank details are:
Account Name: Old Cottonians Association UK
Sort Code: 30 93 84
Account Number: 00126972
Bank: Lloyds

This organisation cannot function without your generous support, I look forward to seeing many of you at the lunch. so please endeavour to attend. I am particularly indebted to Gursant Sandhu and Puneet Singh for their unwavering support for the organisation –

Thank you once again gentleman.

Kindest regards,
Vijay Bhalaik

OCA UK Annual Note (2024–25)
By the Treasurer, OCA UK

If there were a school report for OCA UK this past year, it might read:

“Shows great promise, displays good humour, and never misses a good meal.”

We kicked things off in style with our June 2024 annual reunion lunch—a fantastic turnout with 44 guests. Old boys gathered once again to swap stories, share laughs, and, of course, attempt to explain what we actually do to bemused partners. The afternoon brimmed with warmth and nostalgia.

Things truly came alive when we moved to Kuljinder’s place. The energy turned electric as India clinched the T20 World Cup in a nerve-wracking final against South Africa. Few things bond men like shared history—unless it’s cricket. Kuljinder and Donna, ever the perfect hosts: generous, gracious, and entirely unfazed by 25-odd grown men cheering like schoolboys. The Cottonian spirit was unmistakably alive—buoyed by good drink, good company, and a whole lot of reminiscing.

Financially, OCA UK continues to be in a comfortable position—thanks to your steady support and generous donations. It’s what allows us to organise these gatherings in such wonderful venues as the Bombay Palace.

On a personal note, the highlight of my year was attending the 165th Founder’s Day celebrations in Shimla—doubly special as it marked my batch’s 25th anniversary reunion. Over 90% of our class made the journey from all corners of the world. It was, without a doubt, a homecoming in the truest sense.

Shimla stirred memories that were vivid and raw—my first trip in January 1991 for the entrance exam, snowbanks towering along the Mall Road, and the familiar flutter of nerves as we turned left at Khalini Chowk and passed the first school gate. Stepping onto the First Flat brought back a wave of recognition—a sense of the known and the unknown mixing together. The Chapel still offered its silent embrace, filling me with calm and quiet strength, and the Second Flat echoed with the ghost of matches past—us in our blue colours, full of fire.

Of course, some things have changed—improved food (yes, indeed!), mobile phones and WiFi (unimaginable in our day), a relatively new gym, and more indoor courts. But at its heart, BCS remains the same. My classmates—now business leaders, entrepreneurs, thinkers—were once again just boys on that hill, noisy, mischievous, and perhaps a bit more generous with the whisky.

I came back with new memories, deeper friendships, and a renewed love for this remarkable community. The past year has reaffirmed something I’ve always believed: OCA UK is not a social club—it’s a lifeline to who we were, and a celebration of who we’ve become.

Here’s to another year of camaraderie, laughter, and shared legacy.

Overcome Evil With Good.

Puneet Singh

📨Here is the original Newsletter