Trustees of the
KOHIMA Educational Trust

Sylvia May

Sylvia May was born in New Jersey, USA in 1957. Her parents moved to England in 1963. Educated at High Wycombe School for Girls, she decided to pursue a career in the world of books.

Initially Sylvia worked for Hammicks Bookstore in Windsor prior to joining William Collins Publishers as a trainee sales representative in 1977. Staying on at HarperCollins Publishers (as the company is now called), she progressed through various sales roles to arrive at her current position as International Sales Director.

Sylvia travels extensively and has made many visits to India, sometimes for pleasure but also on business.  She first visited India in 1994 with her husband Robert, and has returned on numerous occasions, staying in Kohima several times.

On the occasion of her visit with Robert in 2000, they followed the WWII route of the Queens Own Cameron Highlanders, her father’s regiment. The regiment’s first main engagement in this theatre of war was the Battle of Kohima.

Sylvia May is the daughter of Gordon Graham, Honorary Founder and President of the Kohima Educational Trust. She is proud that her father has inspired many people to share his vision to commemorate those who fought and died in Kohima, and the wonderful Naga people who have done so much for the British in the past. She is now actively working to put something back into the community and promote the work of the Trust in Kohima.