Centennial celebrations of Admiral RL Pereira organised
On 15th March 2024, St Joseph’s School (North Point), Darjeeling, in collaboration with the Indian Navy, conducted commemorative events on the school campus to continue the centennial celebrations of Admiral RL Pereira, PVSM, AVSM (1923-1993). Admiral Pereira, also known as ‘Ronnie P’, was an alumnus of the school between 1932-37 and rose to become the 9th Chief of the Naval Staff in 1979. The school celebrated the Admiral’s memory by organizing a football tournament and an essay writing competition.
The occasion was marked with great enthusiasm and festivities at the school, and a team of officers from Naval Headquarters joined the celebrations. Cdr Anup Thomas spoke about the life and times of Admiral Pereira, highlighting his contributions and achievements. Cdr Gurbir Singh provided an overview of the rich maritime history of India, highlighting the Navy’s exciting career opportunities to a gathering of over 800 students.
The visiting officers also interacted with the students and faculty members, answering their queries about career avenues in the Indian Navy. To commemorate the occasion, the Indian Navy instituted a ‘Rolling Sports Trophy’ and a scholarship in memory of Admiral RL Pereira. The Navy presented a cheque of Rs 2.5 lakhs to the school for this purpose.
The visiting officers and faculty members also planted a tree in memory of Admiral RL Pereira. Father Stanley Varghese, Principal and Rector of the school, felicitated the visiting Naval officers for their presence and active participation in the commemorative events. Overall, the commemorative event was a grand success and provided a fitting tribute to Admiral RL Pereira’s legacy, inspiring young minds to pursue excellence in their chosen fields.
