Preserving a Legacy of Love, Hope and Familyhood

Dear Respected Donors,

I hope this letter finds you and your families well.

First and foremost, on behalf of SPDGH, I would like to express our deepest gratitude for the generosity, trust, and confidence each of you has shown by contributing towards the proposed renovation of the SMH. Your support reflects the love we all continue to share for Dr. Graham’s Homes and our collective desire to preserve and strengthen its future.

As President of SPDGH, I believe it is my responsibility to keep every donor, supporter, and member of the wider OGB community informed about the progress of this initiative. Many of you have understandably been asking about the status of the project and how the funds entrusted to us will be utilized.

Over the past several months, SPDGH has made sincere efforts to obtain permission from the Board of Management to undertake the renovation of the SMH entirely, at no cost to the Homes. Unfortunately, our proposal was declined by the Chairman of the Board on the grounds that “the school must focus on several priority projects already identified on the official website”. There is no such list of projects on the DGH website. However, SPDGH has seen a list of 12 priority projects, including a proposal for the development of a 70-lakh carpark. This list does not mention the Betty Sherriff Arena, which has been approved by the Board. We repeatedly sought clarification as to why the SMH was not a priority project, but regrettably our letters of 15 December 2025, 18 January 2026, 21 February 2026, and 19 May 2026 did not receive any response.

However, during the most recent Board’s Town Hall on 30 May 2026 a member of the Board confirmed that the SMH would indeed be renovated. We were genuinely delighted to hear this encouraging news, which represents an important step forward for a building that means so much to generations of Grahamites. Following the Town Hall, I wrote to the Board on 15 June 2026 expressing our appreciation for this positive development and reaffirming that SPDGH remains fully prepared to undertake the renovation to a high standard at no cost to the school. Unfortunately, we have not received a response to this letter either.

The Chair of the Board personally witnessed the generosity displayed during the 125th Birthday Celebrations in aid of this project, including money raised at the auction held at the Rillie Picnic Spot, and through sponsorship of the Peace Walk from Darjeeling to Kalimpong undertaken by one of our OGB members Sedhar. These contributions were made in good faith, with the shared hope that the restoration of the SMH would become a reality.
While the lack of progress has understandably been disappointing, I want to reassure every donor that the funds remain secure and continue to be reserved exclusively for the purpose for which they were donated. SPDGH remains fully committed to honouring your trust and ensuring complete transparency and accountability throughout this process.

We remain optimistic that the current Chair will recognize the genuine spirit in which this offer has been made and will grant SPDGH the necessary permissions to begin the renovation. Our objective has always been to preserve an important part of our school and contribute positively to the future of Dr. Graham’s Homes. Of course, we are open to collaborating with others to realize this project.
Thank you once again for your patience, encouragement, and unwavering support. Your kindness continues to inspire us, and we remain hopeful that, together, we will see this project come to fruition.

I will continue to keep you informed of any developments.

With sincere gratitude and warm regards,

Ralph Piper
President – SPDGH