FARNHAM GIRLS’ GRAMMAR SCHOOL: OLD GIRLS’ ASSOCIATION NEWSLETTER NO. 46 2016 www.farnhamians.org/oga AN IMPORTANT LATE ADDITION FROM THE CHAIRMAN I am sorry to have to tell you that our secretary Gill Picken will be resigning from her post at the A.G.M. in September this year. She has been a great asset to the Association and has done a tremendous job sorting out the membership lists, and been the champion organiser of all our recent parties. Her efficiency and enthusiasm know no bounds and she will be sorely missed. This means that from the A.G.M. onwards we will be without a Secretary unless SOMEONE comes forward to take Gill’s place. Without a Secretary, the Association will cease to function and our Lunch, Reunion and A.G.M. cannot happen. We will not be able to circulate the Newsletter as we will not have up to date membership lists. This would make 24th September 2016 our final event which would be extremely sad. We also need more members for the Committee as we have been working with short numbers for some time now. If you would consider either of these opportunities, please contact me (details below). Pat Turner (Atkinson) OFFICERS 2015/16 President: Stella Davies (Bolt), 4 Stuart Close, Farnborough, Hants. GU14 8PW. 01252 544563 Chairman: Pat Turner (Atkinson), 7, Three Stiles Road, Farnham, Surrey. GU9 9DE. 01252 725057 (email [email protected]) Secretary: Gill Baston (Picken), 12 Northbrook Road, Aldershot, Hants.GU11 3HE. 01252 658124 (emails [email protected] and [email protected]) Treasurer: Jane Hurdle (Gates,) 43 Burnt Hill Road, Farnham GU10 4RU Editor: Jill Goddard, 3 Elm Grove, Farnham, Surrey.GU9 0QE. 01252 712762 (Email [email protected]) Committee: Gladys Sheath (Rummery), Claire Burden, Sandra Cranswick (Philpott); Iris Gatfield (Parrott); Jean Spencer (Allen); Jill Permain (Wells) DEATHS Nancy Smith died in Romsey on 26th August 2014. She had left FGGS c.1947. Joan Mansell (Malton) died in 2015. She left FGGS 1948. Margaret Wood (Oglesby) died on 20th June 2015, at Cheverels Care Home, Maiden Newton. MESSAGE FROM THE CHAIRMAN Looking back over the year for the Old Girls Association, the highlight must be the Joint Party with the Old Farnhamians held on 16th May. It was well supported and with the boys to do the heavy work, life was made easier for us. Cyril Trust organized entertainment by the ladies choir “In Accord”, which was very well received. In addition to being an enjoyable event it also made a good profit for the OGA funds. 1 Sadly I have to report the death of David Picken, our Secretary’s husband, on 28th September. He and Gill worked together on so many projects, and her loss is immense. He always supported her in her work for the OGA and was there manning the bar at the joint party in the summer. On behalf of the OGA I send our heartfelt sympathy and our prayers for strength to face her life without him. At our Reunion and AGM, Gladys Rummery (nee Sheath), our Treasurer of many years, gave her final report before handing over the accounts to Jane Gates (nee Hurdle). We are indebted to Gladys for her many years of service (so many that she has lost count) and to Jane for taking on the job. Gladys wrote “I would like to thank the Old Girls Association committee and members for the lovely “Lady in Black” climbing fuchsia, you so kindly gave me for “services rendered” as Treasurer. I have enjoyed my time on the Committee and will certainly miss the challenges sometimes imposed. My grateful thanks to Jane for taking over as Treasurer, as I am certain she will make sure the accounts continue to “stay in the black”. I wish FGGS Old Girls Association a continuing successful future and hope to see you at the next meeting”. Sadly, because of a slow recovery from a stroke, Christine Ayres, nee Pelling, has tendered her resignation from the committee. We are grateful for all the years of faithful service and support which Christine gave us. I would also like to thank all those on the Committee, who give their time (and cooking skills) to keep the OGA going, especially, Jill Goddard our editor. Without them, we would cease to exist. In addition to urging you to keep in touch, especially if you can no longer come to our meetings, please think about what you can do to for the association, the committee could do with your help! During the AGM it was decided that we would have only one event per year and that would be a Reunion lunch followed by the AGM in September. After the A.G.M, Elizabeth Birch (Cassell) (FGGS 1955–62) gave an extremely interesting talk on the Native North Americans, and the effect that education had on their way of life. The OGA has now been invited to join with the boys and Farnham College to support an event on the 5th June to celebrate the 90th Birthday of Queen Elizabeth II (see below for more information). On a personal note, I celebrated my 80th birthday with several parties. One of which was with my twin, Maureen Turner (Bleeker) in Holland, which she gave for her family in a restaurant in the dunes overlooking the sea. The following week she and many of her immediate family travelled to England to join us for dinner at The Princess Royal Hotel in Runfold (which I would recommend) and spend time with my family. John and I also celebrated our Emerald Anniversary. Another highlight was our holiday in Tuscany with our daughter Anne and her family (making a party of 11) in a beautifully appointed villa up in the mountains with a great pool. We took the opportunity to visit Florence, Lucca, Barga, Pisa, and Sienna, and take advantage of the local vineyards. We also attended several Squadron Reunions this year, meeting up with old friends. I still enjoy my singing with the Farnham and Bourne Choral Society at Menin Way, where I see Julia Beeken (Wilson) and her sister Diana Owen, who is our rehearsal pianist. And I am still lucky to be able to play tennis with a group of older members of the tennis club. I trust this year will be kind to you and yours and that you are blessed with good health and heart, and hope to hear from, or see you, at one of the events. Pat Turner (Atkinson) OLD GIRLS’ NEWS Audrey Bailey (Kemp) started at FGGS in January 1939 at West Street School, so attended the opening of the new school in Menin Way. She still has the programme (and rightly wonders how many are left!). Audrey left the school in 1945 and is now 86. In May 1951 she married Les, so this year will have been married for 65 years. They have two daughters and husbands, two granddaughters and husbands, and two great grandsons, both under a year. They retired to Fordingbridge in the New Forest in 1980 and joined rambling groups and dance clubs. They used to enjoy long distance walking, but unfortunately Audrey has macular degeneration and now has limited sight, including for reading and writing. As many of you will know, and as our Chairman mentioned in her message, 2015 was a very sad year for Gill Baston (Picken) as her beloved husband David died in September and life is proving to be very tough. 2015 started off well with celebrations for David’s 70th birthday in January with a few days stay in Sussex and with another short break at Stone, near Stoke on Trent for Gill’s 71st in April – ancestor country for Gill. At the end of April they had their usual two week holiday at their time share in Madeira. 2 Just after they got back they heard that the hotel was bankrupt, all future holidays were cancelled and they had lost their money. Worse was to follow. David became ill in June, suffering from bouts of indigestion, loss of appetite and sudden weight loss. After a lot of nagging, David reluctantly visited the GP and further tests finally confirmed that he was suffering from stomach cancer which had already spread to his liver. Sadly he deteriorated rapidly and he died at St Luke’s Cancer Centre with Gill, and daughters Emma and Julia at his bedside. The funeral on October 7th was overwhelmingly attended with his eulogy read by Gill and David’s parish priest and a moving tribute given by John Hicks, an old family friend. A magnificent sum of £1,200 was raised for Onslow Ward at RSCH in David’s memory. Family news is much happier. Gill’s eldest grandson Scott is his first year at Liverpool University studying popular music, granddaughter Bethany equalled her brother’s record of 10 GCSEs, all grades As and A stars, and is now studying A levels at Reigate College. 10 year old Toby is in his last year at junior school. Julia and Rob have just celebrated their 6th wedding anniversary, and grand dog Dexter is about to have some company. Tara and Tamara, Gill’s two black and white cats, are moving down to Bristol to live with Julia and Rob. They await Dexter’s reaction with interest. Gill has still managed to keep in touch with a number of old girls. She let us now that sadly Sylvia Butler (Hopkins) is also a widow as her husband Ken died in October. Her son Kerin has remarried, an American girl called Dina, and has gone to live with her in the States, where they are very happy.