I found a few handwritten pieces in the art room by the same person, albeit signed with variations on the name. Much of it is nonsense, but what stands out are the few moments of clarity, one of which is quite heartbreaking. I would love to know more about the person who wrote them.
This one mentions Christ Church High School in Bombay. A search reveals that there still is a Christ Church High School near Byculla Bridge in what is now Mumbai.
The school was founded in 1718 as a private, Anglican, Anglo-Indian school. It moved to the Byculla Bridge site in 1825. Then in 1925, an additional campus in Devlali was opened, with the original site for day pupils and the Devlali campus for boarders.
May 21st is mentioned in another piece, as the author’s birthday.
The spelling of the author’s name on this piece is either:
Frennie, Freinnie, Frenmie or Fremnie.
“love to Salem Percy and Eva they been and they also brought me peanut with cadbury milk”
“I’ve had all my dinner and don’t smoke”
This one, like several others has the text punctuated by values of currency. It’s possible that the “OT” mentioned is occupational therapy, with sessions from 09:30 to 12pm and then 2pm to 4pm.
Could the phrase “no G- - -! - English - only -!” mean no Gujarati? Only English?
The word Penny could be the writers name or it could be another reference to currency/coins.
“in Donne” might be a reference to Donne Ward.
SE5 is the Camberwell are of London - to the north of Dulwich, east of Brixton and west of Peckham.
This note appears to be signed as Harry or Fanny.
“I must not eat food… I must have warm bath… cut toe nails… more money lots more”
It’s signed B Chevroly, which might be a reference to Maurice Chevalier who is mentioned in some more of their writings.
Here are more references to Maurice Chevalier. Chevalier was a French singer who was born in 1888 and died in 1972. He starred in Hollywood movies from 1928 and had several hit songs.
His wikipedia has a detailed biography.
This one appears to be a note to Maurice Chevalier and is signed Freny.
This one is signed Jonny.
Salem, Evie/Eva and Percy are mentioned here, as in a previous note.
This one is particularly sad - asking why Maurice does not write. If the date of 21st May 1983 is the correct date, Maurice Chevalier had been dead over 10 years.
This one is signed what appears to be Freny Bharuchie. Bharuchie could be a reference to the Bharuch district in India, in the state of Gujarat, which ties into the potential reference to Gujarati above. Bharucha is an Indian surname for someone originally from Bharuch.
Freny appears to be a female Indian name.
