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Doreen Riddell
Full NameDoreen Riddell
Biography
In November 1959, 26 year old Doreen Riddell landed in Bombay. Riddell was amazed at the size of the city – the apartments and buildings were outstanding in comparison to Auckland. She was taken by taxi to a modern apartment block, where she would be staying temporarily with American missionaries. Due to a workers strike at Sydney Wharf, Riddell’s luggage did not make it to India at the same time that she did, in fact it was six weeks late. Due to this inconvenience, Riddell went to a local market to grab necessities. After 24 hours of travel, she arrived at Delhi Railway Station. The noises and hustle and bustle amazed her. Once Riddell arrived at her destination, Jagadhri, she was greeted by Lorna – a New Zealand nurse, and an Indian couple, under whose guidance Riddell was to work in the villages. Riddell was to be based in Jagadhri for the next 34 years.
Learning Hindustani was an important aspect to Doreen Riddell’s success. She had to travel 500km east, to the city of Allahabad to attend the Winter Missionary Language School. The Missions Committee of the Presbyterian Church of New Zealand had strict policies that new missionaries in India should study language full time for one year, and continue part time study to complete the three year course. Riddell was anxious, as languages was something she struggled with in school, but she had faith. Every day Riddell would participate in four individual sessions with a teacher, and then a further four hours of independent study. Study included learning to write the Hindi alphabet, learn vocabulary, practice reading and conversation. Despite this strict regime, Riddell still had time to relax with the other 25 students from around the globe, playing games, shopping and exploring on the weekends. Riddell joined a student choir of mainly Indian girls, and sung at Christmas functions and even at a large Indian Christian wedding at a Cathedral. Participation in the choir enabled Riddell to get valuable insight into the culture of educated Indian Christian families.
Allahabad was a very holy space for Hindus, the ‘Place of God.’ Huge Mela’s are held at the confluence between the two major rivers: Yamuna and Ganges, every six years. Millions of people attended in 1960, to bathe in the river on the 28th January. Those who did not have a Cholera vaccination, were administered one on the spot. Riddell remembers the constant roar of noise, as people prayed and chanted, and the constant flow of people.
In late August 1965, after an extended period of leave in New Zealand and Australia, Riddell was very eager to take up an assignment to work with village people in the areas surrounding Jagadhri. Due to he first four years of intensive language study, then the following 15 months spent teaching primary school children Hindi, and then a bout of Hepatitis, Riddell had barely scratched the surface on what she wanted to achieve. In a drive to gain independence, New Zealand Churches decided there was no funding for village work, and Indian ministerial colleagues were facing salary cuts. A primary school that was subsidized by New Zealand was to be closed, and in it’s place, a new independent school teaching English. However, it was due to open in two years time. Riddell was upset at the thought of the school getting run down, and attacked by nature and the environment. Riddell was asked if she would like to start the school, teaching in English. She was assured of financial aid for some years, until the school could financially support itself. Riddell accepted, and started to make provisions. She chose the name ‘St. Thomas School’ (not knowing that St. Thomas was credited with introducing Christianity to India, which explains why a number of Church schools there are named after Thomas). Riddell adhered a photograph of the St. Thomas Cross, and decided on the motto ‘With love serve one another.’ Opening day was 2nd May 1966.
Riddell used the buildings from the former school which was slowly closing over the next two years. These buildings have been poorly maintained, and in bad shape. Riddell made sure to get a carpenter to look over the structure of the school – if wood had been eaten by White ants it was replace, the dark green woodwork was painted grey, the walls were white washed, fans installed, and the salvageable furniture of the old school was painted and more furniture was ordered. Riddell purchased playground equipment, and organized transportation to get the students to class.
Another hurdle that Riddell had to overcome was the fact she was teaching English to three, four and five year olds who only knew their mother tongue. Riddell’s previous experiences had been with seven to nine year olds. After visiting an Anglo-Indian boarding school in the hills, Riddell was equipped with a syllabus to teach English to Hindi speaking children and was given contact information to a supplier of course books.
When St. Thomas School opened in 1966, the classroom consisted of five eager students, and one other teacher apart from Doreen. As the school grew, levels needed to be introduced: Nursery, Kindergarten, and Class One. In 1970, the school was four years old, and had approximately 120 students. Each year there was a stage production at Christmas, but Riddell now felt challenged to organize a sports day. Riddell was uncertain how to pull this off, but new it must be inclusive and entertaining. The children were divided into three teams, and everyone had the chance to participate – there were novel and traditional athletic events to suit everyone.
Riddell’s school gained a reputation of a place that any and every child could be educated – no matter the circumstances. The roll took off, and in 1993 had 1600 students from Nursery to Year 12, and was regarded as the best school in the district.
References
Riddell, Doreen. The Indian Stories. 2018. DD14/6-2018/104/1, Presbyterian Research Centre, Knox College, Dunedin.
Biography"With love serve one another"
In November 1959, 26 year old Doreen Riddell landed in Bombay. Riddell was amazed at the size of the city – the apartments and buildings were outstanding in comparison to Auckland. She was taken by taxi to a modern apartment block, where she would be staying temporarily with American missionaries. Due to a workers strike at Sydney Wharf, Riddell’s luggage did not make it to India at the same time that she did, in fact it was six weeks late. Due to this inconvenience, Riddell went to a local market to grab necessities. After 24 hours of travel, she arrived at Delhi Railway Station. The noises and hustle and bustle amazed her. Once Riddell arrived at her destination, Jagadhri, she was greeted by Lorna – a New Zealand nurse, and an Indian couple, under whose guidance Riddell was to work in the villages. Riddell was to be based in Jagadhri for the next 34 years.
Learning Hindustani was an important aspect to Doreen Riddell’s success. She had to travel 500km east, to the city of Allahabad to attend the Winter Missionary Language School. The Missions Committee of the Presbyterian Church of New Zealand had strict policies that new missionaries in India should study language full time for one year, and continue part time study to complete the three year course. Riddell was anxious, as languages was something she struggled with in school, but she had faith. Every day Riddell would participate in four individual sessions with a teacher, and then a further four hours of independent study. Study included learning to write the Hindi alphabet, learn vocabulary, practice reading and conversation. Despite this strict regime, Riddell still had time to relax with the other 25 students from around the globe, playing games, shopping and exploring on the weekends. Riddell joined a student choir of mainly Indian girls, and sung at Christmas functions and even at a large Indian Christian wedding at a Cathedral. Participation in the choir enabled Riddell to get valuable insight into the culture of educated Indian Christian families.
Allahabad was a very holy space for Hindus, the ‘Place of God.’ Huge Mela’s are held at the confluence between the two major rivers: Yamuna and Ganges, every six years. Millions of people attended in 1960, to bathe in the river on the 28th January. Those who did not have a Cholera vaccination, were administered one on the spot. Riddell remembers the constant roar of noise, as people prayed and chanted, and the constant flow of people.
In late August 1965, after an extended period of leave in New Zealand and Australia, Riddell was very eager to take up an assignment to work with village people in the areas surrounding Jagadhri. Due to he first four years of intensive language study, then the following 15 months spent teaching primary school children Hindi, and then a bout of Hepatitis, Riddell had barely scratched the surface on what she wanted to achieve. In a drive to gain independence, New Zealand Churches decided there was no funding for village work, and Indian ministerial colleagues were facing salary cuts. A primary school that was subsidized by New Zealand was to be closed, and in it’s place, a new independent school teaching English. However, it was due to open in two years time. Riddell was upset at the thought of the school getting run down, and attacked by nature and the environment. Riddell was asked if she would like to start the school, teaching in English. She was assured of financial aid for some years, until the school could financially support itself. Riddell accepted, and started to make provisions. She chose the name ‘St. Thomas School’ (not knowing that St. Thomas was credited with introducing Christianity to India, which explains why a number of Church schools there are named after Thomas). Riddell adhered a photograph of the St. Thomas Cross, and decided on the motto ‘With love serve one another.’ Opening day was 2nd May 1966.
Riddell used the buildings from the former school which was slowly closing over the next two years. These buildings have been poorly maintained, and in bad shape. Riddell made sure to get a carpenter to look over the structure of the school – if wood had been eaten by White ants it was replace, the dark green woodwork was painted grey, the walls were white washed, fans installed, and the salvageable furniture of the old school was painted and more furniture was ordered. Riddell purchased playground equipment, and organized transportation to get the students to class.
Another hurdle that Riddell had to overcome was the fact she was teaching English to three, four and five year olds who only knew their mother tongue. Riddell’s previous experiences had been with seven to nine year olds. After visiting an Anglo-Indian boarding school in the hills, Riddell was equipped with a syllabus to teach English to Hindi speaking children and was given contact information to a supplier of course books.
When St. Thomas School opened in 1966, the classroom consisted of five eager students, and one other teacher apart from Doreen. As the school grew, levels needed to be introduced: Nursery, Kindergarten, and Class One. In 1970, the school was four years old, and had approximately 120 students. Each year there was a stage production at Christmas, but Riddell now felt challenged to organize a sports day. Riddell was uncertain how to pull this off, but new it must be inclusive and entertaining. The children were divided into three teams, and everyone had the chance to participate – there were novel and traditional athletic events to suit everyone.
Riddell’s school gained a reputation of a place that any and every child could be educated – no matter the circumstances. The roll took off, and in 1993 had 1600 students from Nursery to Year 12, and was regarded as the best school in the district.
References
Riddell, Doreen. The Indian Stories. 2018. DD14/6-2018/104/1, Presbyterian Research Centre, Knox College, Dunedin.
Images
Doreen Riddell. Presbyterian Research Centre, accessed 29/04/2026, https://pcanzarchives.recollect.co.nz/nodes/view/114330
