Troon Old Parish Church

Troon has been associated with Dr Graham’s Homes since 1973 when the Rev John Webster returned after nine years at Dr Graham’s to become minister at Troon Old.  His enthusiasm for Dr Graham’s, which continues today, rapidly spread throughout the town.  John’s ministry then took him to Glasgow but many in Troon, particularly at Barassie Primary School, continued to support Dr Graham’s.  The congregation of Troon Old also sponsor a young girl named Jessica, who is now 13.

In 2006 John Webster asked a number of people to form a committee to organise the visit to Troon by the children’s choir as they were to tour the UK in 2007.

This brought us to Wednesday 25th April 2007 when Troon Old was packed full as many people from all over Ayrshire came to support and enjoy a young, very talented choir which had come from the “Children’s Village” that is Dr Graham’s Homes, high above the Himalayan town of Kalimpong in West Bengal, India.

Some history of Dr Graham’s Homes

In the 1890’s, Dr John Anderson Graham, a missionary of the Church of Scotland visited William Quarrier at Quarriers Homes in Bridge of Weir.  He was so impressed with what he saw that when he returned to India he founded a children’s home and modelled the village on Quarriers, establishing a community of cottage homes for the hundreds of poor and abandoned Anglo-Indian children he saw every day in the tea plantations he visited on his missionary travels.

Since 1900, deprived Anglo-Indian children from the back streets of Calcutta and beyond have found a home, loving care and a sound education at the homes.  Dr Graham, who was appointed as Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland in 1934, originally took just six children into his care – an experiment that began in a rented cottage is today a boarding school where over 800 children are looked after from infancy through to further education.

John Webster

In the 1960’s the Rev John Webster and his family lived and worked at the homes in Kalimpong.  After 9 years he returned to Scotland becoming minister at Troon Old for 17 years before moving to a Church in Glasgow and then “retiring?” to Arran.  However neither he nor his family have ever forgotten Dr.Graham’s and since the 60’s he has worked tirelessly, running over 60 marathons and fund raising in many ways to help support the work of the Homes.

Troon Friends of Kalimpong

Following the concert in April 2007, the Troon Organising Committee was asked if they would consider continuing to fund raise for Dr Graham’s and Troon Friends of Kalimpong was formed.

Fund raising events have included a piano concert, fashion show and coffee mornings and so far helped two young people from Dr Graham’s to go on with further education.

Our thanks go to all who have supported “Troon Friends”.

For more details about Dr Graham’s Homes visit www.drgrahamshomes.co.uk .