OUR HERITAGE – 2006

Anderson Library (1931)

The large and spacious library  made of stone with beautifully carved stone bay windows in 1931  was named “ Anderson Library”  after Sir George Anderson . It is located on the first floor on the east  end of the Irwin Hall.  Anderson    was knighted on 1st Jan 1924 for services rendered in the cause of education in India . In the same year W.J. Litster, an old boy and a Governor of the school and thrice elected as President of the OCA,  was awarded the CIE for honorary work with various charitable  societies.

On Speech Day, October 8, 1927, the Headmaster, Rev. J.R.Peacey (HM 27 – 35) stated “…………..No School ever had better friend than Sir George Anderson, the Director of Public Instruction, Punjab and Lady Anderson”

Andersons liberal contribution to the School cannot be measured in monetary terms. He was  instrumental in organizing and “pushing through” the gas plant for our  science laboratory from the European schools improvement association funds.

Some of the trophies in Athletics, the “Organ Fund” for  the School Chapel, the “Endowment Fund” were areas where Anderson contributed  liberally. He was the single biggest contributor  when in 1936 he quietly  did “his bit” and donated    Rs. 1000/- to the School – a very large  amount for the 1930s. The only sad thought was that this was  in the nature of a farewell gift.

At evensong on Sunday June 4th, 1937 , the Rt. Rev. Lord Bishop of Lahore , Rev. G.D. Barne, CIE, OBE, VD, MA (Oxon),  Member of the Board of Governor (BOG), unveiled and dedicated St. Thomas stained glass window on the left side of the entrance to the school chapel. St. Thomas was a  reputed apostle of India . The Lord Bishop pointed out while unveiling the window such a window can teach a very salutary “lesson in a country where the dignity  of labour is yet not realized.” These three lovely windows in the School Chapel that is, the Founders Window, the Beryl Tobin & St. Thomas, are the work of Martin Traverse of London .

This St. Thomas stained glass window represents one more act of generosity of Sir George Anderson. Rev. G.D. Barne was the 5th Bishop of Lahore form 1932 – 48 and was the Chairman of our BOG, and one house was named Barne House after him  in Bishop Cotton Preparatory School (BCPS) and  adopted the colours Red & White, as Barne was also the Headmaster of Sanawar from 1912 – 32.