About
About Us
& Our Homestay
The Colonel’s Homestay is where you are privileged, and you will be treated like one.
Just 35 km from the Cochin International Airport, the Colonel’s Homestay has an eclectic neighbourhood. It is well connected, being a stone’s throw away from the National Highway-47. Vytilla Mobility Hub, KSRTC Bus Terminal and Ernakulam South Railway Station – all fall within 7 km radius from the Colonel’s Homestay. Once you have reserved your stay at the Colonel’s Homestay well in advance, you can settle down to ambience maintained scrupulously clean. The Bio-Tech plant and incinerator in the premises mop up all dry and wet waste to convert it to fuel. Thus it sets an example for counter parts. While you can unwind and relax in the lap of Nature, breathe clean and pure air filled with aroma of homemade food wafting from the kitchen, be gracious and responsible enough to maintain the decorum. Remember, at The Colonel’s Homestay, we trade in respect. We give and earn respect for each other.
OUR FAMILY
OUR FAMILY
Colonel George Gillroy (Retired) is part of a prestigious movement and has been carrying forward the legacy and training that he secured from the Indian Army to mould Colonel’s Home stay. He was serving the Indian Army from 1973 onwards. Till he retired in 2009, Col. Gillroy had served the nation with pride and brought that class to whatever he did in life. The Colonel’s Homestay stands testimony to this.
Colonel Gillroy started off his journey in life, armed with a Diploma in Electrical (Motor Vehicles) from EME (Electrical and Mechanical Engineer) Centre, Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh. His illustrious career, built up through sincere preparation and hard work, earned him The Indian President’s commission to the rank of Second Lieutenant in 1982.
He added Bachelor’s Degree in Arts and Humanities from the Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi, in 1982; the OPTC(Officers Physical Training Course) from the Army School of Physical Training, Pune (Maharastra) in 1983, the Young Officers Junior Defense Management from Belgaum (Karnataka) in 1984, the Junior Command Defense Management from the College of Combat, Mhow in 1996 and the Corporate and Industrial Security, Safety and Intelligence Management from The Lancer Technologies, Pune (Maharastra) in 2010. This showed the man’s never dying enterprising spirit and unquenchable thirst for knowledge.
During his service years, he has adorned many illustrious and high responsibility positions like:
Head of the Human Resources and Administration of the Dogra Regiment, Indian Army
Joint Director NCC Directorate, Tamil Nadu, Andamans & Pondichery
Head of the Operations of a Strategic Business Unit of the Territorial Army Infantry Battalion in J&K
Head of Training and Development, NCC Group HQ Patiala , Punjab
Head of Administration and Logistic Support of the NCC Group HQ Kollam, Kerala
Vice President, Zila Sainik Board, Ernakulam
Colonel Gillroy’s wide experience has given him insight to cover all aspects related to the establishment of a successful movement of Kerala Tourism. His thorough knowledge of eclectic taste of living and exposure to varied cultures as part of his career came handy and is well reflected in choices and selections made at The Colonel’s Homestay. His vision is to enhance the Natural potential of Kerala Tourism in every possible way.
Staying at The Colonel’s Homestay, all your senses get energized and every moment you are learning something new. It also means sharing the legacy of an illustrious career with Indian Army, in all its nuances. It is like being part of history.
If Colonel Gillroy built the frame for The Colonel’s Homestay, his wife Mary Philomina or Madam Usha, as people call her out of love, is the soul of the place.
Mary Philomina took her graduation in Science from St. Teresa’s Women’s College Ernakulam. She has mastery over many fines arts including painting. Her favorite medium is oil on canvas. She is also an expert in making Stuffed toys, Gardening, Cooking South Indian and Chinese dishes and Tailoring.
Guests at the Colonel’s Homestay will also cherish the new hobby of Madam Usha. i.e. – Ornamental Fish Farming. She started it off as a hobby as the Colonel’s Homestay was taking shape, and presently she is a Certified Trainer in Fish Rearing and Breeding, approved by the Fisheries University. In true spirit of a hobbyist, she teaches those interested how to rear and breed fish as a mode of earning, without investing a single penny.
For all interested tourists, Madam Usha conducts COMPLIMENTARY classes on
South Indian Kerala Cooking.
South Indian Sari wearing.
Classes on Ornamental fish farming.
Interactive session with senior citizens and destitute of Panangad village. Madam Usha ensures that her guests are guided through these art forms during their stay at The Colonel’s Homestay, making the stay an unforgettable experience. Those who have stayed here at least once remember Madam Usha as a perennial source of inspiration and hearth of love and maternal care. The deeply personal communication that visitors maintain with Madam Usha long after they have left The Colonel’s Homestay is a visible proof for this bonding.
Over the years, Madam Usha has taken up various philanthropic projects with the aim of “bringing smile on the countenance of senior citizens.”
The couple has two children, Alexander George and Angel George
Alexander George is commissioned to the Engineer Regiment of the Indian Army, upholding the family legacy. Happily Married Mrs Angela (M’ tech/ MBA) blessed with a daughter Anderya. Also Bagged the Beauty Queen title of Mrs Meerut during their Military tenure at Meerut Cantonment. His vision is to demonstrate to the youth by his own example that “they can achieve anything and everything if they have the desire and will power”.
Angel George took her Bachelor of Dental Science (BDS) at the Rajiv Gandhi Institute of Dental Science, Bangalore. Happily Married to Captain Shane Joshua Pilot Indigo Airlines. Blessed with a son Aiden. She holds the vision of “eradicating poverty wherever she lives through her professional excellence”. She is equally talented as her Mother. A good natural Dancer and Comparer. In her school days won the Best Colgate Smile title. She now desires to try her luck in Modelling.