The sesquicentennial celebrations at our beloved Alma mater was the culmination of 150 tremendous years of BCS that has sent out her sons to all points of the globe. 

The congregation in school saw Old Cottonians arrive in droves for one of the biggest events in our school. For many it was their swan song as they undertook the pilgrimage, feeling the vibrations of our Holy Trinity Chapel; the iconic buildings and the flats where we played and formed the strongest bonds, unbreakable. They met up with their class mates, some after six decades.. 

Amongst the many “Firsts“ such as the First Day Cover released by the Indian Philatelic Bureau to commemorate the milestone, superb coffee table books, the OCA (UK ) chapter met up with a unique distillery in Scotland that produced:

an Exclusive 

Limited edition Highland malt

Scotch 

Whisky 10 years old For 

Bishop Cotton School! 

These bottles must still be preserved, or relished with great nostalgia on a unique school that today stands the test of time .. 

We are a unique association of strangers-who-became-friends-who-became-Cottonians-for-a-lifetime-and-beyond  .. 

..all of life is a dream walking .. .. 

..all of death is coming home …

India today is on the path to stellar heights; the goodness, education and knowledge we received at Bishop Cotton School from 1859 till today is a testament to the contribution of Old Cottonians to all verticals of industry, the armed forces and to charity ..worldwide!

The rapid change in digital communication felt by many is the answer and solution to making ours and other’s  lives better… true …but meeting Cottonians at physical get togethers like the OCA ( UK ) luncheon last Saturday  28th June 2025 in London is still very important.. to come back into the bubble of our great institution for brief and special moments ..completing yet another milestone, another full circle that creates ripples reaching out to our global brotherhood  “our old boys network ..”

In London the other day, I met my brother Old Cottonians; we may have been but a few but here we were ..

World renowned Surgeons

Notary Public, Real Estate conveyancing

Global Fund Managers

Venture Capitalists

Giants in agriculture

Leaders in automotive manufacturing

Real Estate developers

London Magistrates

Telecommunication Leaders

Merchant Marine Stalwarts

Soft Skills & Etiquette Experts

Head Masters of elite schools in the UK

Luxury limousine services …

….defining our strength, resilience and vision as OCs…

“Bishop Cotton School is an institution “ as expressed by young Puneet Singh at the OCA ( UK ) reunion at the Cumberland Hotel in June 2000…

However hard and adverse forces may attempt to change BCS … we will always stand four square throughout our lives to every wind that blows …

“ Long Live the OCA ( UK )”

Thanks to:

Dr Vijay Bhalaik ( Chairman OCA ) UK

Gursant Sandhu:Secretary

Puneet Singh: Treasurer

Captain Vivek Bonnie Bhasin
Old Cottonian
Lefroy 1961-1970
At the OCA ( UK ) Get together Saturday 28th June 2025 at Bombay Palace 

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
[President, OCA UK]

June30th 2025 update

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

UK OCA ANNUAL LUNCH

CALLING ALL OLD COTTONIANS IN THE UK

JOIN US ON SATURDAY 29TH JUNE ’24 at 12 NOON

BOMBAY PALACE, LONDON

REGISTER WITH:

PUNEETSINGH932@HOTMAIL.COM
MOBILE: +44 784 159 0990

Old Cottonians’ Association United Kingdom

President’s Newsletter

Vijay Bhalaik MRCS FRCS

Dear Old Cottonians

I am delighted to take over the reigns of the Old Cottonians’ Association (UK) and hope that I will be

able to do justice to the office. The school is very dear to me and I feel privileged to be representing

the Old Boys in the United Kingdom. Thank you for your support.

I have been off and on attending the Old Cottonians’ lunch for over 30 years. During this time, the

association was brought together by Peter Stringer, Gay Niblett and Kuljinder Bahia. I must thank

Kuljinder for his spirited leadership of the UK chapter. He has very successfully kept the organisation

going and contributed significantly to the school, for which he must be congratulated. Kuljinder has

been supported by Gursant Sandhu who has, as the Secretary of the Association, kept contact with

the membership and Puneet Singh, Treasurer, who has kept the organisation financially afloat. I am

very grateful for their unrelenting contribution.

The last three years have been very challenging for everyone, and the OCA brotherhood was unable

to meet during this difficult time. As a healthcare professional myself, I was in the middle of the

action, but was able to arrange a Zoom meeting with my colleagues during the extreme lockdown in

the UK. Sukhminder Sehmbey, Iqroop Chopra, Raju Singh, Sundar Sidha, Gursant Sandhu and

Kuljinder were a great source of strength in those difficult times.

Since taking over the role of President in October last year, I have had regular meetings with the core

committee of the association, which includes Gursant and Puneet. We have been planning the year

ahead to strengthen the association. The main aim of the association is to support Old Cottonians

in the United Kingdom and liaise with our alma mater. Going forward there are some key areas of

development which we will be working on:

• Updating our membership directory. This will improve our communication with the

membership. I am keen to capture all Old Cottonians in the United Kingdom. My secretary,

Pam Palphreyman, has kindly agreed to support the organisation during my term as President

and has already started to work on this. I would be grateful if you could forward your details

or anyone new in the UK to Pam (pamelapalphreyman@nhs.net) so that the membership

directory can be updated. The organisation will be GDPR compliant, and your details will not

be passed on to anyone outside OCA UK.

• Financial stability of the Old Cottonians’ Association UK. It is important for an organisation to

be financially viable and there are a few models we are working on, and this is an area I am

familiar with due to my role at Health Education England and Charities Trust. We will discuss

this matter at the next AGM in London.

• Develop a framework and touchpoint for old boys in the UK. The thought behind this is that

the association has a link person for every school decade, e.g., 1950-1960 etc. This will

hopefully strengthen the organisation. If this is something that you would be interested in

helping with, then please get in contact. The OCA UK would love to have you onboard.

• Supporting our alma mater. As Old Cottonians, we are very proud of our parent school and

there are many ways we can support it. The OCA UK under Kuljinder supported many projects

at the school and I would hope that this can be strengthened. I am aware that our

membership has very successful businessman/financiers/bankers/doctors and writers. My

plan is to link up with the mentorship programme at the school, so that the headmaster,

Mr Simon Weale can approach you. If you are willing to mentor a young Cottonian, either

during his school time at Bishop Cotton School or after leaving school, please get in touch with

myself or Pam.

• Develop the OCA UK website. This work is ongoing, and we are looking for an enthusiastic

volunteer/volunteers who would be willing to take on the challenge of developing this. The

role would mainly be for content delivery. I am grateful to our last President, Kuljinder, who

is funding the website development. If you have an IT/journalism/content editor background,

please consider getting in touch with myself or Gursant.

• Supporting the Old Cottonians’ Association. I would hope to strengthen the relationship

between the various chapters in India and abroad.

• Annual lunch. We will continue with the tradition of our annual OCA UK lunch on the last

Saturday of June. This falls on the 24 June this year and will be held at Bombay Palace, 50

Connaught Street, London, W2 2AA. All Old Cottonians and their partners are invited, and

the cost will be £50 per head. This is a great social gathering when the younger members of

the Association can network with the senior members. I would encourage everyone to

attend if they are able to. Please RSVP to Puneet (puneetsingh932@hotmail.com or

07841590990).

Sadly, over last few years, we lost many of our older members. I thank Gay Niblett for his assistance

in collating the below information.

Peter Stringer (Lefroy 1941-1947). Peter was the most spirited Old Cottonian I have had the privilege

of meeting. He had great enthusiasm and reminisced his time in school, sharing his experiences with

the members. His leadership kept the association together for the last 20 years. He will be sadly

missed by all.

Dr Humayun Khan (Rivaz 1941-1947) used to regularly visit us from Pakistan. Humayun was one of

the old boys who left school on the 3 June 1947 during the partition of India and later joined the

Pakistan Superior Services. In 1984, he was appointed Pakistan High Commissioner to India.

Sanjiv Talwar (Rivaz 1968-1974). Sanjiv was a brilliant academic student. He topped the Delhi

University in Economics following which he came to the UK and studied chartered accountancy. He

subsequently did a PhD in International Finance, after which he worked in international banking for

many years and then became a very successful independent consultant and finance director of e

booker.com.

John Phillips (Curzon 1939-1944). John was a good sportsman and apparently had an eye for Joyce

Sinker, the Headmaster’s elder daughter, and was a friend when both were back in England. He was

by then a senior member of the Farmers Union in the UK. A stalwart of the OCA(UK)

Bob Myers (Ibbertson 1936-1944) Bob was House Captain of Ibbetson. He was a Prefect and boxed

for the school. He later got a Blue for boxing at Cambridge University. Bob was a great supporter of

OCA UK and regularly invited OCs to his home in Somerset to stay for a couple of nights before the

Annual Lunch, even inviting an Old Sanawarian to his dining table at the same time.

Allan Bapty (Rivaz 1936-1944). Allan was a doctor who did a lot of missionary work looking after

people suffering with leprosy, mainly in Nepal and Africa.

Clive Hardy (Lefroy 1940-1945). Clive was House Captain of Lefroy and an all-round sportsman. He

was a keen supporter of OCA UK

Arthur Jones (Lefroy 1942-1945). Arthur was a keen cricketer and played for BCS. He always attended

the Annual Lunches.

Lance Jones (Lefroy 1935-1939). Lance served in the Indian Police Force and when he returned to

London he was a fervent Arsenal supporter. Despite being rather frail in his last years, he was full of

spirit.

Douglas Reed (Rivaz 1940-1946). Doug (Dhumchu) was House Captain of Rivaz. He was a formidable

long-distance runner and unbeatable marathon performer.

Robert (Bobby) Reed (Rivaz 1940-1946). Bobby was an outstanding sportsman and academic. We

OCs, however, must thank him and his wife, Sheila, and their family for hosting many lunches at their

home. Sheila continues to attend and was present on an overseas trip to the school.

They are in our thoughts and the OCA UK fondly remembers their association with the membership.

I was fortunate last year to meet the Headmaster of Bishop Cottons School, Simon Weale, along with

his charming wife Rebecca, and the schoolboys on their cricket tour to the UK. The OCA UK, under

our President, Kuljinder, hosted the boys and staff during this visit and it was a delight to meet the

boys and watch them play cricket. Some of the old boys were able to follow and attend as the

Cottonians continued their tour. The school will be visiting the UK again this year for a cultural tour.

Again, this would be an ideal opportunity for the OCA UK membership to meet and support the school.

Cottonians plan to visit Strafford-upon-Avon, Rugby, Bath and London during this period. I am hopeful

that the headmaster and his wife will be able to attend the OCA UK lunch on the 24 June. Their

programme is as follows.

18th June – Arrive in London – transfer to Oxford.

19th June – Visit to Stratford Upon Avon and then Rugby School – visit Cotton House and meet the

Rugby archivist who will show us the archives on George Cotton.

20th June – Tour of Oxford and Oxford University – transfer to Bristol

21st June – Sightseeing in Bristol then interaction with pupils and staff at Bristol Grammar School.

22nd June – Morning in Bath with visit to Kingswood School. Evening tea/BBQ at Cotton House,

Marlborough

23rd June – Visit to Harry Potter World

24th June – Sightseeing in London

25th June – Sightseeing in London including production of Comedy of Errors at the Globe

26th June – Sightseeing in London including visit to Westminster School

27th June – Return

The school has appointed a resident teacher in charge of alumni affairs- Deepa Kennedy. She will be

the point of contact with Bishop Cotton School. She can be contacted by emailaluminibishopcotton@

gmail.com. Please contact her for any help required. This is a welcome step

for old cottonians all over the world who can now keep in touch with their alma matar.

I look forward to seeing you all on the 24 June.

Kindest regards, Vijay

All OC’s and their family members are invited to attend OCA (UK) annual lunch, which is to be held on Saturday 24th June 2023 (12 noon onwards) at Bombay Palace, 50 Connaught Street, London W2 2AA.
1. Bombay Palace will charge us £50.00 per person for food. Please therefore pay in advance by telegraphic transfer (preferred method) or by cheque.
Telegraphic Transfer Lloyds TSB Bank Sort Code
Account Number Reference
30 93 84
00126972
Please insert your name (plus number of guests)
Cheque
Please make your cheque payable to OCA (UK) and send it to our treasurer Mr Puneet Singh, Flat 1, 1 Frognal, London NW3 6AL. Please write your name on the reverse of your cheque. OC’s can also contact Puneet on 07841590990 or puneetsingh932@hotmail.com
** Any donations to OCA (UK) would be greatly appreciated.
2. Soft drinks are inclusive. You will need to pay for any drinks (beers, wines, spirits).
3. If you have any questions about the reunion, then please get in touch with Mr Puneet Singh using the details shown above or Mr Gursant Sandhu on 07788716525 or gs@notarypublicgs.co.uk.

Peter Arthur Stringer
18 February 1933 – 10 August 2020.

It is with the greatest sadness that I write to tell you that Peter Stringer died peacefully in hospital early on Monday 10th August. > We pass our deepest sympathies and condolences to all his family and pray for their strength and fortitude in these coming days. We shall miss him terribly.

I really only got to know Peter after coming back to England, though we feature in a photograph of the BCS Choir alongside each other – he is the one with the bow tie askew!

Peter was the beating heart of OCA(UK) during his more than 25 years as Hon. Secretary. His dedication was complete, and Maggie was by his side in support, always.  OCs came from all over the world to call on him, or to stay with him and Maggie when visiting England. They had an Open House for all OC s.  The highlight, prior to the Annual OCA(UK) Lunch in London on the last Saturday in June, was Peter and Maggie’s Lunch, held in their beautiful garden. Now, a treasured memory.
Peter was loved and knew so many OCs and could recount names and incidents across the large spectrum of life and times in BCS and if you wanted to know of or about BCS, or anyone from there, you could always turn to him for an answer.

Peter was also a consummate water colour artist, with beautiful paintings of birds and animals, which he sent out with his Christmas cards. An Exhibition of his work would be a joy to see.

This a cruel loss for his family and for OCs  around the world. But a man is not the Association. It is his work, dedication and enthusiasm, which he leaves behind as his legacy for all Old Cottonians – marked by the motto of the Founder of  BCS, Bishop George Edward Lynch Cotton – Overcome Evil with Good.

Allan Gay Niblett