On 26 February 2026, sadly Denzil Prince passed away. This concluded the connection of the Prince family with Lawrence School, Lovedale a connection that went back over 8 decades.
I am appending below his obituary written by Pranay Gupta a Paulite (Old Boy of St. Paul’s School, Darjeeling).
‘DAVP’: Mr. Denzil Arthur Vernon Prince
25th August 1935 — 8th February 2026
Paulites worldwide mourn the passing of a legend — a true ‘Prince’ of SPS.
May the Lord grant you eternal rest, dear Sir.
Paulites: There are some lives that cannot be measured in years, titles, or accomplishments, but in the hearts they touch and the brilliant light they leave behind — such as only a great teacher can. Mr. Denzil Prince was one such rare and remarkable soul: utterly decent, brilliant, gentle, gracious, and unforgettable.
Sir passed peacefully, in God’s grace, just as he had lived — with quiet dignity. His passing has left a silence deeply felt across generations. Truly, an era has passed, yet his shining spirit and example remain forever enshrined in our hearts.
Born to an English father in the British Army and an Indian mother, Sir and his siblings were educated at The Lawrence School, Lovedale — the institution that would both begin and complete his life’s journey.
His musical gifts were recognised early, and he was sent to the Military School of Music in Panchgani, where discipline, precision, and devotion shaped his extraordinary, multi-faceted talents.
He returned to Lovedale as a young music teacher, beginning a life not merely of profession, but of calling — the noble calling of shaping young lives through music, discipline, and example.
In 1976, he joined St. Paul’s as Master of Music — and what followed was one of the most distinguished and cherished chapters in the life of the School. On the mist-kissed slopes of Jalapahar, with Kanchenjunga standing in silent majesty, Sir’s music became part of the very spirit of SPS.
His brass band — disciplined, stirring, and magnificent — was the pride and envy of the Darjeeling hills. Many boys who never believed they could play a note discovered, under his patient and gentle guidance, that they could indeed make music. His compositions for Gym Displays were a delight, filled with rhythm, imagination, and joy. Speech Days and March Pasts under his baton were not mere ceremonies, but moments of upliftment where hearts swelled with pride and belonging.
Mr. Prince was a man of thorough decency and great heart, with a kind word for everyone — from the youngest student to the senior-most master, from parents and colleagues to the domestic staff who formed the quiet backbone of school life. No one was beyond his warmth. He made people feel seen, respected, and valued.
To our Batch of 1993, he will always remain the beloved Master of Havelock House. There was a time when Havelock had long gone without a House Song, and boys from other Houses would teasingly call out, “Havelock, Havelock, sing your song!” Within a week, Sir composed a beautiful new song — inventive, uplifting, and full of good cheer — restoring our pride and giving Havelock its voice. It was so very typical of him: turning embarrassment into confidence, and silence into music.
A truly multifaceted man, his talents seemed to know no bounds. A gifted multi-instrumentalist, he moved with equal ease through Western classical music, Indian music, and everything in between — even popular music — always with grace, mastery, and joy. Always impeccably turned out, with a gentle smile and a posture every sixth former could envy, Sir inspired without ever raising his voice.
He led quietly, served faithfully, did the Lord’s work with a smile, and taught not only music, but life itself — discipline, kindness, dignity, and humility.
Beside him stood Mrs. Prince, beloved Matron and later Catering-in-Charge at SPS, who cared for boys with a mother’s warmth. Her passing a few years ago was deeply felt, and together they remain forever woven into the living memory of the School.
After St. Paul’s, Sir continued his noble calling at Kodaikanal International School, where the serenity of the hills suited his gentle spirit. At the affectionate urging of Mr. Bhatnagar, former Senior Master of SPS, who held him in great regard, he later taught at the Indian School in Oman, touching yet another generation with his quiet excellence.
In time, his beloved alma mater, Lawrence School Lovedale, called him home, and life came beautifully full circle — the boy returned to where it had all begun.
In his later years, he made his home in Kodaikanal before passing peacefully in Bangalore, cared for with kindness, dignity, and compassion. His ashes are to be laid to rest in Kodaikanal — a fitting homecoming to the hills he so loved.
Mr. Prince is survived by two siblings, his daughter Mrs. Anita Roy (educator at St. Paul’s), beloved wife of the late Mr. Pratap Roy, and his grandchildren — Michelle in Bangalore and Philip in the United States.
Yet, in truth, Sir’s family is far greater. Across St. Paul’s, Lawrence Lovedale, Kodaikanal, and the Middle East, the common voice of his students is the same — Sir was one of a kind. A true treasure. A rare gem. His light continues to shine brightly in the hearts of all who were fortunate enough to know him.
Across continents, Paulites and their families mourn, even as they give thanks to the Lord for his peaceful passing. Messages pour in. Memories awaken. Gratitude outweighs sorrow.
For Sir was goodness without display, authority without harshness, excellence without pride, and kindness without limit — a true gentleman, rare and irreplaceable.
We do not only mourn him. We celebrate him. And we carry him forward.
Mr. Prince lives on — in memory, in music, in discipline, and in the countless lives he shaped with quiet grace.
God rest his noble soul.
“And the music plays on, where earthly notes fall silent…”
Pranay Gupta
Hv ’93
Note: I have said the Prince connection went back 8 decades. It may even be 9 decades. Below is a page from the report sent in 1933 by Lawrence School Lovedale to the British Army. The Assistant Chaplain is Rev. M.V. Prince and Organist Mrs Prince. However, I speculate. There was certainly a Brodie Prince recorded as being born in Lovedale in 1933.
B