Foreword :

     The Past Students Association (PSA) of Stanes Anglo-Indian Higher Secondary School has a rich legacy of Past Students who cherish their alma mater and pay gratitude to the school. Stanites always remember their old school, wherever they may be. They are very proud to belong to the Stanite family. In order to pay rich tribute to the school, nay the second home, that has nourished them, the old boys of Stanes, have an association for the Past Students, with world wide membership, -the Past Students Association of Stanes AIHSS, Coimbatore. Belonging to the PSA is the best way to keep in touch with the school and it's activities and progress as well as the other past students and the rest of the Stanite family.

     The Association is being run in Coimbatore from the School, and is a full fledged organization headed by a President, who is ably assisted by the Secretary, Treasurer and the team of Office Bearers. Any person who has studied in Stanes can become a member of the Past Students Association. Many members have distinguished themselves in various fields, and have been the diamonds in the Stanite family crown. The PSA has a rich past with many eminent personalities having headed the PSA.

History Of PSA :

The following is a letter by Mr. B. R Bhote, Former -Hon. Secretary & Treasurer, that was taken from the PSA release of 1969, and which deals with the formative days of the Past Students Association.

PAST STUDENTS ASSOCIATION
Stanes High School, Coimbatore
A brief history of the association and its activities
By B.R.Bhote
Hon.Secretary & Treasurer

     For the benefit of all students and well wishers of the stanes high school, Coimbatore, i give below a short history of the above association and the various activities:

there is no record to show when the past students association of stanes high school, Coimbatore was actually founded.

However, in the month of September, 1938 a small band of faithful and loyal past students like Mr.H.C.Wiggns, Mr.G.V.Roge, Mr.H.Myers, Mr.H.O.Fowler (late Rev.H.O.Fowler) and a few others whose names are not recorded (our apologies to them) met to reorganize the defunct "old boys association". They renamed this of "The Past Students Association" of Stanes European School Coimbatore. In 1951 the name was again changed to "The Past Students Association", Stanes High School, Coimbatore ,

Objects:
the objects of this association have been
1) to bring into closer contact all past students of the school and thus continue the bond of friendship and fellowship started at school
2) to encourage loyalty to the school
3) to help raise an endowment fund worthy of the school and its founder, and
4) to promote such objects of mutual interest

Membership:
the membership is open to all past students, teachers and well wishers of the school. The membership fee at the time was Rs.3/- minimum, plus 8 annas towards the cost of the school magazine. This fee was subsequently raised in 1951 to rs.6/- per annum. Those members subscribing a sum of rs.25/- were eligible to become "life members" of the association. This was amended in 1951 and raised to rs.50/-.

The first general body meeting of the past students association met in September 1938. Mr.H.C.Wiggns was elected as its first president with Mr.G.V.Roge as vice president and mr.h.o.fowler as the hon. Secretary and treasurer.

The condition of the school in 1940-41 and again from 1945 to 1950 was very unsatisfactory both financially and from the number of pupils having dwindled. The boarding house after an existence of nearly 85 years had to be closed down for a short period of 2 years from 1947 till the end of 1949. This was because of lack of boarders. Some of the land had also to be sold for financial reasons.

While this was the sad state of affairs it fell upon the old 'stanites' to come to the aid of the school. For this purpose a few members and well wishers formed a sub committee under this association with the object of reviving the old boarding house and to see that it ran on more economic lines. An appeal was made to all the past students to help by persuading their friends and relatives to send their children to our school. Also two members were sent to the main Anglo-Indian centers for the necessary propaganda work. We are glad to report that in 1950 the boarding house had been reopened with 24 boarders, steady progress thereafter has since been maintained both in the boarding and in school strength.

Special mention must be made here of Mr.H.O.Fowler who undertook the major role for the propaganda work. In 1950, after he took charge as the principal of the school, things brightened up and the school is on the upgrade. Our thanks are due to his sincere efforts, as also to the alma mater through whose grace the school has recovered completely and turned the corner. While this progress has been gratifying no one ever visualized the rapid growth of the school, the rush for the seats, refusal of admissions and a long waiting list, which has been in vogue for the past few years.

With regard to the affairs of the past students association i have to state that from a small beginning of members and starting the endowment fund from scratch we have steadily built up the association to a sound financial position. With regard to the membership however the progress has not been marked, except for 81 life members now on the rolls and few ordinary members. The membership drive has not at all been encouraging. May we appeal to all past students to become members.

Past students will be interested to know that many years back we had an old student by the name of Mr.C.H.Simpson. After leaving school he kept constant contact with the school with the result that when our endowment fund in those days was a mere rs.200/-. Mr. Simpson since Capt. Simpson, on an appeal from the then secretary Mr.H.Myers, declared that he would raise the sum by rs.300/- if our fund was raised by others to rs.700/-. In 1943 this promise was fulfilled and at the same time he offered to donate a further Rs.3,000/- if we could raise this fund to Rs.7,000/- for a number of years we were unable to raise the sum, but in 1952 with the help and drive of our members we were able to reach the figure of Rs.7,000/- and Capt. Simpson was approached again after a lapse of almost ten years and reminded of his promise. We have a great pleasure in stating that without any hesitation Capt. Simpson sent us a cheque for Rs.3,000/-
Simpson scholarship fund:
In recognition and appreciation of the services rendered by Capt. Simpson we decided after due consolidation with him, to utilize the rs.3,000/- towards "Simpson scholarship fund" to be utilized for the most deserving Anglo-Indian boy or girl of the school, preferably in poor circumstances and who lost his or her father in war service. If however there is no candidate conforming to the above description the scholarship was given to any other child who is really needy and deserving and an Anglo-Indian. The principal of the school was requested to recommend to the committee such of the names deserving of this scholarship. The sum of Rs.3,000/- was invested in 4% defense bonds and it was decided to limit the scholarship to rs.100/- per year from out of the interest.

Mr.H.O.Fowler who was the first Hon. Secretary and the treasurer of the revived past students association had to lay down this office as he had to leave station. Mr. H. Myers took over this responsible post from December 1940 and continued till September 1950. The post of Hon, Secretary and Treasurer was then divided. Mr. B..R.Bhote took over charge of secretary ship and Mr. Myers continued to be the Hon. Treasurer till he died on 21st October 1958 at the ripe old age of 81.

Mr. H. Myers was a devout Christian and truly devoted himself to the betterment of the school. His long service of 18yrs as an office bearer was very much appreciated. The treasurership having fallen vacant it was unanimously resolved to request Mr. B. R. Bhote to take up this post in addition. The secretary and treasurer was once again a combined post and Mr.Bhote still continues to hold that office.
we would at this juncture be failing in our duty if we did not pay a tribute to our worthy past student president Mr.H.C.Wiggns. Many of the present generation of students would not know about the school and this association and it is for their benefit that this article has been written. Mr. Wiggins was the son of Mr. Christian Wiggins. The latter was one of the first four students when the school was founded by Sir Robert Stanes in 1862. Mr. Christian Wiggins  was then only 12 years of age. The Wiggins family have been so intimately connected with the school-the fourth generation is still studying in the school that it is difficult for one to visualize stanes school without the Wiggins family. We wonder if such a record of four generations exists in any other school.

Now coming again to Mr.H.C.Wiggns and his association as the President of the Past Students Association. One may state that he was every inch a gentleman. He devoted himself to the welfare and prosperity of the school, besides being the secretary to the governing body of the school right from 1938, except for a short break of two years he has been the president till he died on 8th December 1961 at the good old age of 81 yrs. During the course of his long association Mr.Wiggns guided the affairs with love and devotion. He was responsible for its growth and for the solidity of the past students association.

Having established the endowment fund with the desire and the spirit to increase this to a sizeable amount the past students association had to seek other avenues for its activities.

In 1948 at the general body meeting it was felt that for the past students association to have a voice in the management of the school an annually elected past student should be represented on the board of governors of the school. Ever since then the past students association has had a hand in shaping important issues connected with the school.

Dalby memorial scholarship fund :
At our meeting held on 23rd September 1949 it was proposed that a scholarship be started forthwith to commemorate our old and most revered teacher- Mr. B. C. Dalby who passed away in 1949. Most of you old boys and girls who have studied under him would have had the benefit of his teaching, the human approach that he had with his students and the high and noble traditions with which he built up our characters. To such a wonderful man we the past students thought it fit to pay our respects and homage in the shape of instituting the "Dalby Memorial Scholarship".

This was started with a view to help the poor boys and girls of our past students who cannot afford to pay for the education or boarding fees of their children. Past students at the meeting spontaneously contributed their mite towards starting this fund. In that year we collected about Rs.380/-. An appeal was sent out to all past students and well wishers made a sporting offer in the subsequent general body meeting held in 1950 Miss Trutwin  said - that if there was a good response from the past students association during the next six months she would double the amount collected at the end of the period, this offer, I am glad to state was taken up very seriously by the past students and at the end of the six months we had collected as our share a sum of Rs.2,233.70. Miss.Trutwin promptly paid us a like sum and we are glad to state that we have now a sum of about Rs.5,000/- towards this fund. Our sincere thanks are due to her and to the initiative and drive of our secretary and the few old boys who helped to swell the funds. We have invested the sum of Rs.4,500/- in 4% defense bonds since December 1952. To enable more boys and girls being helped from the fund we have to make a special appeal to all the past students to contribute their mite to this noble cause and commemorate the cherished memory of our beloved master.

Another aspect of our activity has been in the sports field. Through the participation of some of our young and energetic past students we were able to win for the school the aggregate cup both in the 18th and 19th Olympic sports held in coimbatore in 1951-52 under the auspices of the Coimbatore athletic association. Four of our past students were selected on behalf of the madras provincial Olympics to compete in the all India Olympics. One of the past students has been selected as an all India coach for athletics. In hockey and cricket our past students have represented the Madras state.

The past students association also awards a prize every year to the pupil who stands first in the middle school examination. Since the middle school examination has been discontinued the prize is now given to the school captain.

On the demise of our beloved principal Mr.E.E.Berry,  Mr.Ellis one of our active members now our president has decided to donate two medals every year for the best sportsman or woman in the school for the year in the memory of Mr.Berry who was responsible for the wonderful progress of the school during his tenure as principal.

Coming to the recent years the need was felt way back in 1955-56 to start a fund for the coming centenary of the school which we celebrated in 1962. Our past president Mr. Wiggins appealed to past students for donations and suggested the following ways of building it up over the coming five years;

1) donations of at least Rs.100/- each to mark the centenary

2) donations of Rs.10/- and multiples there of leading up the 10 rungs of the centenary ladder.

3) subscription of Re.1/- per month, covering a period of 50 months from now on. This was surely within the means of all of us and if every past student responded regularly in this modest way, we could realize a substantial amount before 50 months were over.

we have to admit that the response for this fund has not at all been encouraging though we have collected Rs.1,287/96 till end of august 1962 by way of only Re.1/- per month collection from a few loyal band of past students.

The centenary was celebrated on a grand scale and lasted for three days. The whole school and compound was illuminated and presented a picturesque scene as from a fairy land. Speeches were made by eminent politicians and educationists and extolled the significant part played in the development of the school. The past students took a prominent part in its celebrations and brought out an attractive centenary souvenir from the proceeds of which it was able to contribute towards the building of the school library block at a cost of Rs.30,000/-. The P.S.A  are now to equip this with furniture and equipment for a modern school library towards which they are bringing out very shortly a PSA  directory of coimbatore depicting the history of coimbatore and touching upon the industrial development, education, social organization. In fact it will be a reference book very useful to those who want to know of the progress made in coimbatore.

The PSA  are also building up a fund for the teachers of the school and especially to those who have retired so that they can be helped with monetary aid in appreciation of their past services. The present Tamil Nadu volley ball championship for women is conducted by the psa for that very purpose and we hope that by staging this we will be able to create a fund worthy for the teachers.

We are sure that with all the activities mentioned above the need for a more dynamic drive by old students is necessary to step up funds and have more members.

We welcome ideas for strengthening this association so that it is worthy of our alma mater. If we are united we can achieve great things. For the dear old school and for the glory of the God. How then can we as a body be of any material use to our alma mater if the old boys and girls are apathetic and keep aloof? The flourishing condition of similar associations of other schools and colleges and the keen interest displayed by their old boys make one wonder what is lacking in us, we who are proud to be called as "Stanites" the name that stands for sincerity, integrity and Christian love, are we to be behind other institutions in this respect.

We have taken the best from the old school and the least we can give back is a warm corner in our hearts and an occasional opening of the purse by way of subscriptions and donations.

" Let Us Then Be Up And Doing,
With a Heart For Any Fate;
Still Achieving, Still Pursuing,
Learn To Labour - ere Too Late"

" To God Be The Glory"