Norman arrived at the Homes one very rainy day in July, 1954. He went on to live and study at the school until 1962.

"I recall my mother taking me up to DGH in July 1954. It was the monsoon season and somewhere along the road from Siliguri a landslide had occurred. We had to get out of our transport and walk across the mud in the heavy rain. To my right and probably 100ft below was the raging Teesta river. I was absolutely terrified of slipping over the side and being washed away. The walk across seemed to take ages. We then got into transport on the other side and continued up to the school. I was handed over to a member of staff and then mother kissed me and said her goodbye and went.

After two weeks or so in the Steele Memorial Hospital, I was taken by a nurse to Edinburgh Cottage. That Christmas I did not go home but spent two weeks in a camp at Rilli. I believe we stayed in old Army tents. That was the only Christmas that I did not go home.

Overall, I enjoyed my years in the cottage doing our chores, playing games such as football and hockey, and also participating in athletics, in which I excelled. I was very good at running the cross country, which we knew as “Harriers”. Gymnastics was another of my favourites.

At school I was a very good student and the early years saw me receive prizes at the end of the academic year. I also had a half-year double promotion to a higher class. I was always in the A stream. I did complete the Modern Schools Final Examination and received my certificate.

In 1962 I left school and joined the Navy of the Indian Armed Forces, where I served for the next 11 years. Towards the end of my time in the Navy I got married. Not long after, my wife, our young son and I left for the UK to start a new life."