This year, Clarence High School in Bengaluru turned 110 and to mark the occasion, four picture postcards were released in July. The postcards feature five people who were instrumental in structuring the framework of the institution.

While one postcard bears the images of Alfred McDonald Redwood and Walter McDonald Redwood who founded Clarence High School in 1914, the others are of former principals Wilfred Wilcox and Arthur CA Flack, and a former KG coordinator Emma Horton.

According to Retd Commodore Prem Reuben (Indian Navy), administrator of the school, the idea stemmed from an attempt to honour, “the stalwarts of the school who have brought us to where we are”. “People tend to forget history, and we felt this was one way to recall our past and get the younger generation enthused about its traditions and heritage,” says Commodore Reuben.

“They did the initial groundwork to set things in place; that was one reason we wanted to honour them.”

One of Clarence High School’s anniversary postcards
| Photo Credit:
Special Arrangement

Commodore Reuben says former principal Wilfred Wilcox came from a school in Ooty and rescued Clarence from shutting down, and in the course of time, improved its facilities and began the high school section. He adds that his team came across several interesting stories and anecdotes during their research pertaining to this commemorative project.

Arthur CA Flackwas principal for almost 40 years and had a strong connect with the children. He used to take pains to teach them himself, says Commodore Reuben, adding that some of his students who are still in the city have wonderful things to say about him. “I am told he walked into a class on substitution and though it was the Hindi period he was able to teach them, despite being a chemistry teacher and an Australian.”

Commodore Reuben adds he heard only good things about Flack during his research, and says, “He was a down-to-earth person who used to ride around on a cycle, moving on to a scooter much later.”

Clarence High School
| Photo Credit:
Special Arrangement

He recalls how Emma Horton was associated with the school until the early ‘90s. “She was iconic and she did a lot of good for the school, especially the kindergarten section. She was a member of the board and management, and Horton KG block is named after her.”

“The idea of these postcards was to spark curiosity among the current generation about the people who laid the foundation of the school,” says Commodore Reuben.

While the cards are available at the postal department, Commodore Reuben says they are encouraging interested parties to collect the cards from school. “The postcards are not being sold. Rather, we hope those who want them will make a donation towards a fee concession for deserving students whose families are struggling financially.”

Each pack comprises four postcards.

Clarence High School is onPottery Road, Richards Town. For details call 080-46334633