Hywelian Guild 2013

CONTENTS Beauty and the Beast 22 Review and photos

In the Lost Property Cup- 24 Editorial and apologia 3 board Do you know these girls?

President's letter 4 Events, dear Girls, Events 25 Sally Davis reprises another A photographic round up of re- successful year for School cent happenings Who’s Who and What’s On 6 Wales 101 26 Officers and Committee, Branch Why Wales gets left out of the Secretaries foreign visitor’s itinerary Secretary’s Report 8 Howlers of the past 27 Sue Rayner looks back on the Silly answers from long ago Hywelian year Branch Reports 9 In the Beginning 28 Hywelians meeting up An early HSL pupil’s view What Are They Up To Now? 11 That Crowns Everything 29 Hywelians’ News Coronation memories Hywelian Guild and GDST 17 Birthday Celebrations 30 New initiatives for closer working One hundred and something not out - twice! A Life ... 18 Three Generations 32 Olympic success for Hannah Family connections with HSL Mills ...On the Ocean Wave 19 Obituaries, in memoriam 33 A lifetime’s adventure for Mererid Lives remembered Hunt Leavers’ News 21 Online and on the Web 39 Analysis of last year’s move- ments post HSL

Cover photographs (from top): Noah’s Ark garden, celebratory song First Summer at Hazelwood for Junior School girls Official opening of the new playground at the Junior School, Hazelwood

HYWELIAN GUILD 2013

It was a chance remark that got me deavour in the last magazine and into this mess. All I said was that I we are thrilled to report on pro- knew how to use a particular desk gress in that area. There is, of top publishing package, and the course, the usual collection of pho- next thing I knew, I was sitting in tographs to show you what the the Editorial Chair, wondering school has been up to over the last how to fill half of the first page. year, and some indications of what This is very much a first for me, is to come. and it’s a first for the Hywelian We have always known that How- Guild magazine, too. Many of you ell’s girls get themselves into far- will be reading your magazine flung parts of the world, and we online. This innovative approach are delighted to hear from them has been stimulated by need to about their lives today, and their economise on costs, particularly remembrances of school days. postage, and a desire to appeal to The Editor, of course, is merely the that wider audience which is far one who puts the jigsaw pieces more at home with the computer together. The pieces are provided screen than previous generations. by all those who send in contribu- Readers (whether online or ‘on tions, harry contributors and gener- lap’) need have no fear that the ally make things happen. It is they magazine will be any less interest- that we thank most heartily – with- ing or stimulating. All the impor- out them you would have no maga- tant things are there – progress zine, either on your screen or in reports, family news, and updates your hand. on the progress of former pupils. Lyn Owen There was mention of sporting en-

BE CAREFUL WHAT YOU WISH FOR! When we asked for your news, we quite drastically, for which we apolo- expected a gentle flow of information. gise. However, for those who can, What we got was a (very welcome) you will find the full versions of longer deluge! news and feature items in an online Unfortunately, there are postal restric- appendix. We appreciate that not all tions on the weight of the magazine. of you have (or want!) online access, We have therefore had to prune so perhaps a word with a computer some of your news, in some cases, literate friend or family member ...?

A LETTER FROM THE PRESIDENT

On the morning of 11th November were killed in air raids. Barbara Wil- last , we held an Armistice Assembly liams was training at RAF Cranwell, for the whole school. Later, I accom- soon after leaving school, and Betty panied Year 6 to the Cenotaph in Cooke of Llantrisant died in Llwynypia Llandaff, where some of our girls laid Hospital. a wreath from Howell’s School to commemorate those who had lost 2012 was an especially important their lives in war. Meanwhile, Mrs year for Hywelians: we opened our Gosney, Deputy Principal, conducted Museum on Saturday 28th January. I a short remembrance ceremony in am very grateful to everyone who the Stone Hall, attended by senior attended that event. At the opening, pupils, and during which a wreath Mrs Sully spoke about the creation of was laid. A two minute silence was the Museum and introduced six girls observed by the whole school. (This depicting the school through the will become an annual event.) ages. These ‘living exhibits’ then joined us for the rest of the afternoon! In the Stone Hall, a new plaque com- I must also thank all those Hywelians memorates four Hywelians who died who so kindly donated items for the directly or indirectly as a result of both Museum. The Museum was Mrs World Wars. Gertrude Roskell and Sully’s idea - as soon as she sug- Kate Banks carried out nursing duties gested it I knew it would be a suc- during the First World War: Gertrude cess! Those of you that have seen it in Alexandria, Egypt, and Kate in already will agree how amazing (and West Harptree, Somerset. Gertrude professional!) it is. It is thanks to the died of appendicitis and Kate of blood Parents’ Association, particularly the poisoning as a result of washing ban- Social and Fund Raising group, that dages. In World War II both victims we were able to create the Museum,

Opening the Museum January 2012

and there is a board outside the Mu- nors and the Head Girl and Boy; this seum that acknowledges this. As with year it was again a fascinating eve- the book, Mrs Sully has exceeded our ning. I sat next to Sir Peter Bottomley wildest dreams. I think this is the first MP and we had an interesting debate museum in the history of the Girls on education generally. We have very Day School Trust. strong links with the Drapers and money from Thomas Howell, invested on our behalf and managed by the The new Library, incorporating the Drapers, helps to pay for bursaries Goarin Reading & Research Room and building works in the school. and the Margaret Lewis Memorial Library, is at the very heart of learning at Howell’s. Physically in the centre of Academically, the school goes from the old building, it is a strength to strength, with welcoming environment  the school goes an outstanding set of re- for those with a love of from strength to sults again this summer. reading and learning. At At A-level, nearly a fifth its opening, Mrs Wilks strength  (23%)of entrants explained the process of achieved an A* grade. transforming the Library; one of her Over half (55%) gained A*/A grades librarians, Sophie, spoke passionately and 82% achieved A* to C grades. 12 about the many events and activities students gained all A* grades and 33 associated with the Library. students gained all A* and A, grades

My thanks once again to those of you At GCSE level, 7 girls achieved all who have given so generously to the A*s, and 29 girls achieved all As/A* Annual Fund. I look forward to show- grades. Of the total entries, nearly ing everyone the new outdoor learn- half (47%) gained A*, over three ing spaces in both the Senior School quarters (78%) achieved A* or A and the Junior School. grades and 99% gained A* to C grades. This year, we also launched our Leg- acy Fund. Thanks to a substantial I look forward to welcoming you all to legacy of £48,500 from Rev. Ann Howell’s throughout the year. Sheldon, an alumna of the school, the Sally Davis Junior School playground now has an Principal outdoor classroom and theatre space, which has enhanced our girls’ wellbe- ing as well as developing their problem-solving and creativity skills.

Each year I attend The Drapers’ Edu- cation Dinner with the Chair of Gover-

WHO’S WHO IN 2013

Please note that, as the magazine is also being produced in an online version acces- sible to all, for security reasons we have not printed private addresses and telephone numbers. For those Hywelians wishing to make contact who do not have email access, please contact the Committee via School

OFFICERS AND COMMITTEE

PRINCIPAL AND GUILD PRESIDENT TREASURER Mrs Sally Davis, Mrs Russell (Saskia Blair) Howell’s School, Llandaff, Cardiff [email protected] Tel: 029 2056 2019 ASSISTANT TREASURER DEPUTY PRINCIPAL Ms Kerry McFarland Mrs Michelle Gosney [email protected] Howell’s School, Llandaff, Cardiff AUDITOR EXTRAORDINARY VICE-PRESIDENTS Mrs Evans (Julia Martin) Miss J Turner Llandaff, Cardiff Welshpool, Powys LIAISON OFFICER Mrs J Fitz Mrs Baker (Julia Rhys) Cardiff [email protected]

ICE RESIDENTS V -P EDITOR Mrs Davies (Ena Evans) Mrs Lyn Owen (Carolyn Hawkins) Burry Port, Carmarthenshire [email protected]

Mrs Rawlins (José Parry Thomas) MEMBERSHIP SECRETARY Cowbridge, Vale of Glamorgan Mrs Joyce Shields (Joyce Bingham) Mrs Woodrow (Susan Pearson-Griffiths) [email protected] London COMMITTEE MEMBERS SECRETARY Mrs Sue Rayner (Davies) Ms Kay Powell [email protected] Mrs Calan McGreevy (Davies) Mrs Helen Graham (Moger) ASSISTANT SECRETARY Mrs Sheila McFarland (Hamley) Mrs Smallcombe (Frances Gray) Mrs Catherine Coulson (Johnson) [email protected]

BRANCH SECRETARIES WEST WALES Mrs Coulson (Catherine Johnson) LONDON [email protected] Mrs Paul (Diana Davies) USA—NORTHERN CALIFORNIA [email protected] Mrs Ward (Debbie Buss) BRIDGEND [email protected] Dr Parry (Pat Lennox) [email protected] Mrs Plambeck (Karen Millar) SOUTHERN [email protected] Mrs Evans (Carol Diamond) AUSTRALIA [email protected] Mrs Atkinson (Christine Treeby) SCOTTISH [email protected] Mrs Cox (Jean Nelson) [email protected] Officers and Branch Secretaries serve in a voluntary capacity, with appointment approved at the AGM. There is always a welcome to anyone wishing to serve on the Committee: please contact the Secretary for further details.

FOR THE DIARY SUMMER LUNCH AND AGM 2013 This year’s lunch will be held on the last Please note that there is no Janu- Saturday in June—the 29th. Tickets will ary meeting - the AGM will be be available during May and June from combined with the Summer Lunch. Committee members

FUTURE EVENTS FOR 2013 Wed 20 Feb 1.45 - 3.30 pm Whole School Open Afternoon Fr 8 March Strawberry Tea in aid of Breast Cancer Care Fri 3 May Parents’ Association Ladies’ Luncheon* Tues 7 May 1.45 - 3.30 pm Whole School Open Afternoon Sat 18 May West Wales Branch 40th Birthday* Thur 27 June Parents’ Association Summer Picnic* Sat 29 June Hywelian Summer Lunch* Thur 4 July 6.00 pm Summer Concert Fri 5 July Founder’s Day Assembly and Thomas Howell Breakfast* Dates for the Spring Concert to be confirmed *Hywelians are particularly welcome at these events! 7

DEAR HYWELIANS Watch the website for developments! We began the year with our AGM com- Our Summer Lunch was a great success bined with two very exciting develop- with 58 people attending. Next year, of ments at school, the opening of the refur- course, it will also be the occasion of our bished Library and the Museum in the AGM, and I hope that as many of you as Board Room. More will be found about possible will come now that we have these two developments elsewhere in the moved it to the summer months. magazine. It has been a great year for Hywelian However, we had to have some serious achievements, particularly on the water. discussions about the changes which we Hannah Mills excelled by becoming would have to make to keep the Guild World Champion in the 470 Class with going, and you all re- her sailing partner ceived a letter from me  It has been a great Saskia Clark, and win- outlining those changes. year for Hywelian ning a Silver medal in The principal change the Olympic Games. achievements Mererid Hunt has put all relates to the production on the water  and distribution of the those of us who have Magazine; this is the retired to shame by en- first edition to go online, with limited tering the Clipper Round the World sail- print copies for those who have requested ing race and sailing 40,000 miles round them. We are very grateful to Mrs. Davis the world in all weathers. A few of us for underwriting the cost of the Maga- went to Southampton to welcome her zine, and I am very grateful also to those back after twelve months away, when the Hywelians who responded to my letter boat she was helping to crew, Singapore, with cheques for our funds – thank you came third in the overall race. More all so much. about these achievements elsewhere in the magazine. We are now working much more closely with the school than we have previously, I would like to record my thanks to my with Hywelians being welcomed at all Committee, who have given me much the school concerts and major events. We support through the year, for which I am have had several Vintage Teas preceding very grateful. And we all owe thanks to these events, and I am delighted that Mrs Sally Davis, without whose generous these have been supported by an increas- support it would be difficult for us to ing number of Hywelians. Mrs Vanessa continue. Finally, thanks to Lyn, for of- Yilmaz, the Director of Development and fering to step in as Editor, after Anna Communications, is very keen that Hy- Eckersley, who did such a wonderful job welians are involved in as many activities for us last year, was unable to continue. as possible, and we are hoping to widen I hope I shall have the opportunity of the range of these to attract even more meeting many of you in the coming year. people. By the time this magazine is pub- Sue Rayner lished, we will have had an exciting ven- Secretary ture in association with John Lewis, and we have more ideas in the pipeline. 8

BRANCH REPORTS

For those Hywelians who live away from Cardiff (some a long way away!) the branches offer a way of keeping in touch with Hywelians. Contact details of Branch Secretaries may be found on page 7

SCOTTISH BRANCH WEST WALES BRANCH WE ENJOYED a very happy lunch at the WE'VE HAD two meetings during 2012, Parklands Hotel, Perth on 27 July 2012. both held at Ena Davies' home in Burry Unfortunately, only five members were Port. Each followed the same format; able to attend: Mary Craig (Rayer); Jill buffet lunch, then a formal meeting, Docherty (Puddicombe); Barbara Tren- where news from School and about grove (Harvey); Jean McGregor Members was shared. We were saddened (Coleman) and Jean Cox (Nelson). Mary to learn that Emily Haley (née Meller) was unable to stay for lunch, but we were and Megan Thomas (Miss Walford) had able to catch up on her news. We very passed away; both were stalwart support- much appreciated her travelling from ers of the Branch. They regularly at- Edinburgh to be with us. The date for tended our reunions until a few years ago. next year’s lunch has not yet been settled We extend our sympathies to their re- - it’s hard to suit everyone! There would spective families. certainly be a very warm welcome for Our October gathering was particularly any members joining us for the lunch! lively as we welcomed Sue Rayner Jean Cox (newly appointed Guild Secretary) and Vanessa Yilmaz (HSL Director of Devel- opment) who travelled from Cardiff to SOUTHERN BRANCH bring us up to date with events at School. THIS YEAR we had two meetings at the May 2013 sees the 40th anniversary of Lyndhurst Park Hotel on the edge of the the founding of West Wales Branch, and New Forest, which seems to have become we plan to mark the occasion with a spe- our regular venue for lunch in April and cial event. Our chosen venue can only September. We always have a great deal cater for a limited number, so if you'd to talk about - schooldays, family news, like to attend please contact me by phone what’s going on and so on. Conversation (01639 698 455/07962 530 698) before can be very wide-ranging! We average 31 January13 (if we've reached our limit, six members at our meetings; and are we’ll put you on the 'reserve' list.) keen to add new members to our group; we’d be pleased to welcome anyone Catherine Coulson wishing to join us. The dates of our 2013 meetings are: BRIDGEND Thursday 25th April (12 noon), Unfortunately we have lost three of our Thursday 26th September (12 noon). members in the last year, Margaret Mor- Carol Evans ris (née Phillips, died November 2011);

West Wales Branch members at their meeting at Plas y Mor, October 2012. (L to R) Standing: Virginia Egerton (née Carter); Marianne Rees (Phillips); Cath- erine Coulson (Johnson); Delana Da- vies (Thomas); Siân Steele (Pierce). Seated middle row: Elizabeth Winn Jones; Hazel James (Jones); Barbara James (Lloyd); Ena Davies (Evans); Daphne West (Moore); Mary Jones (Evans). Seated front row: Vanessa Yilmaz (HSL Director of Development; Sue Rayner (Davies)(Guild Secretary).

Kaye Griffiths (née Apjohn, died August by lunch in the Bear Hotel. 2012) and Megan Thomas, a former Pat Parry teacher in HSL who died in October 2012 in her 100th year. Our sympathy goes to LONDON BRANCH all their families. Our two meetings a year are very infor- At members’ request we have again held mal. The tea party at the Drapers’ Hall in April or May is popular because of the three meetings this year, in spite of dwin- th dling numbers. Our Spring meeting with magnificent setting, and on 12 May AGM was held in the Grove Golf Club, about 45 “old girls” met for tea; we were near Porthcawl. 19 members attended for delighted to welcome a large party from lunch. Fourteen members, including two Llandaff. We thoroughly enjoyed guests from HSL, attended our Summer Vanessa Yilmaz’s lively talk which gave Supper at the Fairways Hotel, Porthcawl. us an up-to-the-minute view of what is happening at School. Twenty of us then The other group of women in the dining th room were even more chatty than us so got together on 17 October for lunch at we retired to the bar after the meal where Brown’s Restaurant in Charing Cross Mrs Chyba and Mrs Yilmaz from School Road. It was most enjoyable and even talked about the school’s fundraising had a member there from the States, Elizabeth Pearson Griffiths. The Drapers’ activities etc. At the time of writing, we th are looking forward to our Advent Ser- Hall tea will be on 18 May 2013, which vice and lunch in the Bear Hotel we hope will be well-attended. To en- Cowbridge on November 28th. courage younger members to join us for lunch in October we are thinking of meet- Provisional dates for 2013 are:- ing on a Saturday. The date and a book- Wed. 6th March (lunch) The Grove, S ing form for the Drapers’ Hall tea party Cornelly will be in my New Year letter. Tuesday 11th June (Supper) Fairways Diana Paul Hotel, Porthcawl Wed. 27th November Advent Service in Holy Cross Church, Cowbridge followed 10

WHAT ARE THEY UP TO NOW?

We’re always pleased to hear the latest news from Hywelians, wherever they may be. This year, we’ve had such a bumper crop that we’ve had to prune them quite severely to get them all in!

CLARE ETHERINGTON, now Dr Lyn, left a charity version of Strictly Come School in 1980, works as a full-time Dancing. Reading, entertaining family GP, and was last year elected a Fel- and friends and walking the dog also low of the Royal College of General fill her time. No wonder Shirley rec- Practitioners for services to the pro- ommends retirement and says it’s not fession. One daughter is reading all about watching TV! Classics at Bristol University, and the CAROL GOLTEN was at Howell’s from other is working in research on red 1967-72. Since 1995, she has been squirrels. working as a psychotherapist, after JANE CROAD met up with Joanna Da- 15 years as a PA in a London stock- vies, whom she hadn’t seen since broker company. She works for both she left Howell’s in 1976. She lec- the NHS and the private sector and tures in Cardiff Metropolitan Univer- recently finished training in Cognitive sity and would like to hear from Kris- Behavioural Therapy. Carol’s 17 year tin Litton, Gina Pritchard and Penny old son is hoping to go to university to Jones. study Economics; they both enjoy ADRIENNE CROCKETT is a consultant playing golf. Carol would love to hear psychiatrist in West Yorkshire, re- from anyone ‘who remembers me’ cently appointed Clinical lead in JANE CHESTERFIELD (1970-77) re- Acute Pathway. Her two daughters cently moved to Reading after living are in Swansea and Cardiff universi- in London for 30 years. She would ties, so Adrienne says she will be like to hear from any Hywelians living more often in Cardiff in the future. in the Reading area. KAREN SMITH (née Powell) was in JULIA DAVAGE (née Full) lives in Howell’s from 1972-79. She and her Whitchurch in Cardiff, and in January husband farm in Gloucestershire. 2013, will be returning to teaching. All Meat from her Old Spot pigs and mar- three daughters attend Welsh- ket garden produce are sold locally. language schools. She recently met Her daughters are hoping to study up with Miss Seager (RE) and Mrs Business Management and Biological Gaynor Howard (Music), and is still in Sciences respectively. touch with Sarah Percy (with whom SHIRLEY HARRIS (née Belman) left she was in nursery school!), Sandra School in 1952. Now retired, she vol- Harwood and Julia Farnham. unteers at a London Cultural Centre, REBECCA NICHOLSON (née Shellard) recently joined a choir, plays table was a pupil at Howell’s from 1992-99. tennis and is currently rehearsing for She married Mark in April 2011, and

baby Reuben was born in July 2012. for the largest dairy exporting com- Currently on maternity leave, Re- pany in the world, employing 12,000 becca teaches physics at Hampton people worldwide. She has been able School. to travel extensively with her work, LARA KENNEDY left School in 2007, and the family has just returned from gained a BA in Classics at Bristol, a holiday in Tahiti. She sees Nicola and has recently begun to study for a Thomas (née Jordan) regularly PhD in anthropology at University (“though not often enough”) who lives College, London. Her time at Howell’s two hours’ drive away, and is in touch instilled a fascination with social and with other Hywelians via Facebook. cultural anthropology, and she hopes MARIA MCCARTHY (1974-81) is work- that her work will inspire a greater ing as an author (The Girls’ Guide to relationship between people and their Losing your L Plates; The Girls’ Car environment. Handbook) and journalist and has RUTH POMSON (née Joseph, Howell’s recently written for Glamour, Good 1959-66) is lucky enough to live on Housekeeping and The Sunday Ex- Orkney during the summer months press. She also appeared on BBC and spend the winter months in Cy- Breakfast news talking about pot- prus. Both are rich in archaeology; holes, parking and petrol prices. The Orkney Isles has wonderful scen- KRISTA BIGNALL left School in 1987. ery and local food, while Cyprus of- She has daughters aged 15 and 12, fers a mild winter climate and plenty and has lived in Bristol since 1999. of skiing and walking. Now working part time as a Systems NICOLA EVANS (Mrs Robinson) left Engineer for a software design/ School in 1983, and now lives in manufacturing company in Somerset, Cricklade with her husband and she’d like to hear from anyone who daughter. She qualified as a pharma- remembers her (who isn't already her cist, and worked for a few years in the friend on Facebook!) and any ex- NHS before moving into computing. Howell's girls who live in the Bristol Following the birth of her daughter, area. she was a part-time Teaching Assis- JANET WILLIAMS (née Hustwick) left tant and returned to pharmacy four Howell’s in 1965. She and her hus- years later. She is now a specialist band very much enjoyed their roles pharmacist in Aseptic Services. as Olympic Ambassadors and GILL SEWELL (née Williams) was at Gamesmakers in July. Their son has Howell’s from 1971-78. She and the recently been appointed to a post at family moved to New Zealand in Aberystwyth University, and they are 2006, and live in the beautiful south now hoping to see more of Wales. east of Auckland. Her oldest daughter DEBORAH WILTSHIRE (née Williams) lives in Cardiff, while the second was in School from 1964-71, then daughter is in university in Otago. Her studied languages at Swansea Uni- son and third daughter are at high versity. Having taught for many years school. Gill is the General Manager in north Somerset, she is now semi-

retired and doing supply teaching. “spread around the world”, which has She recently completed a degree in both advantages (opportunities for Applied Art and Design and has stu- travel and holidays) and disadvan- dio space in Weston-super-Mare, tages (missing them and environ- where she frequently exhibits. Deb- mental effects of flying). Liz has re- orah meets up with Carole MacLean cently been editing some family cine (McKenzie) and Teresa Batten film and, for those interested, there is (Dacey), and is in contact with Jane selected footage of Cardiff in bygone Owen (Rhys). All celebrate their 60th times on Youtube (lizanne631) birthdays this year. ANNETTE DALL’OGLIO (née Platts) left SUE PHILLIPS (née Davies) was a Howell’s in 1972. She married her boarder in 1971-72. She is a director partner of 24 years just before he of Crossroads Care in Penarth, with passed away last year. She returned which she became involved when her to work in the Foreign Office and took mother developed Alzheimer’s Dis- voluntary redundancy in September ease. She worked in journalism and 2011 after 31 years’ service. She is public relations before becoming now a full time artist, renting a studio head of Communications for Royal and exhibiting regularly. Her land- Mail. She is in regular contact with scapes are of locations as varied as Valerie Harris (Richards), with whom the Isle of Skye and Provence, she is she shared a dormitory in Bryntaf, looking forward to three weeks in and also with Viv McCergo, Verity Venice, and plans an extended tour Law and Jane Belva Jones. of Provence next summer in a CAROLINE SCHILT (née Gould) and camper van bought with redundancy her husband celebrated their Silver money! Wedding anniversary in August this Annette was reunited with a number year. Among a number of Hywelians of fellow pupils at a recent Summer attending a party were Dorette Barnet lunch and regularly meets up with (Gould), who was Miss Lewis's first them. She has also stayed with Ruth Head Girl, and bridesmaids Fiona Geuter (Vivien Whitehead) and Suzi Hawkins (Ashcroft) and Sue Smith Garcia (Fletcher). Annette says she is (Gould). Caroline says their Hywelian very grateful to them all for the friend- bond is very strong and the group is ship and support she received at a known (affectionately, we hope) by very difficult time. their husbands as, ‘The Coven’! SYLVIA HORNER (née Maskew) was a ELIZABETH PILL was in School from boarder from 1940-47, and remem- 1956-63, and after 22 years teaching bers when Old House was damaged in Further Education, she retrained as by a landmine (the same one that a therapeutic counsellor. Until her destroyed much of the Cathedral). retirement two years ago, she was a She was amused to learn that daugh- college counsellor, working with stu- ter Sue (Brown) used the same furni- dents, and still does some voluntary ture when she was a boarder from work. Children and grandchildren are 1967-70.

Since being widowed a second time deployments in Iraq, Afghanistan and in 2011, Sylvia has busied herself Libya; she spent four months in Af- with gardening, walking, bridge and ghanistan herself in 2009. In August has recently joined a country dancing 2011, she was in charge of the RAF class. She is also delving into family events team which organises where history, a task made easier these the RAF assets (Red Arrows, Battle days by the internet. She also sup- of Britain Memorial Flight and Fal- ports her Bridge Club and church by cons) make their displays throughout making preserves—in spite of an eld- the year. Then, after 33 years’ ser- erly EC ruling that second hand jars vice, she was made redundant in should not be used! September 2011. The family now Daughter Sue came back from Aus- lives in Margate, from where she now tralia in early spring, and they em- runs her own business in Events barked on a return trip from Tromso Management and is organising an to Kirkenes—sadly the northern lights 2013 air show at Manston. Their two did not perform as hoped. Sylvia has daughters are now happily settled in enjoyed a number of National Trust new schools, her horses are enjoying holidays, including to Lundy. She their new stables and Angela and her says she didn’t know why she so husband have time to enjoy walks on much wanted to go there, until she the beach with the dogs. remembered that Mary Jefferson EIRWEN WILLIAMS (née Thomas) left (Knighton) had made the trip some 60 School in 1950, and still meets two years ago, of which Sylvia was envi- Hywelians regularly: Dilys Harris ous. (Hughes) and Rosemary (Bunty) Tho- Sylvia also notes that it is erroneously mas (Parrish), the latter arriving in stated that the old fashioned gymslips school as the other two left. Eirwen is had to be four inches above the also in touch with Judy Horning ground when kneeling. In fact they (Zeidman), Pat Williamson (Price) had to be no more than four inches: and Glenys Lindsey (Rees) - whom the only person who got away with she met at a Summer Lunch after 50 anything shorter was the games stu- years! dent Ann Evans—and hers was JULIA HORTON-POWDRILL (née Hor- “more of a pelmet” says Sylvia. ton) left Howell’s in 1966. She is mar- ANGELA SUTTON, who was in School ried and now lives in Pembrokeshire, from 1972-79 has led an adventurous where she runs her own business life in the RAF as an air traffic control- Wild About Pembrokeshire. She runs ler. This meant postings to a number year-round courses on the numerous of RAF bases in the UK and in Cy- uses of seashore, hedgerow and prus and Germany. Angela was pro- woodland plants in medicines, cos- moted to Squadron Leader and com- metics and food and drink. She is manded her own squadron at RAF also the founder and organiser of the Leuchars from 2003-05—hard work, Really Wild Festival, a fast-growing but very rewarding. She was involved “and wacky” event, held annually in in coordinating Army, Navy and RAF 14

St David’s and is a director of Pem- has just taken part in a performance brokeshire Tourism. Julia also writes of Purcell's Dido and Aeneas with the and is currently working with Pem- Sooke Philharmonic Chorus. brokeshire County Council on their (www.SookePhilharmonicOrchestra) Age-Friendly Communities pro- Catherine remembers taking the role gramme. For more information about of Dido in a School performance (in Julia’s work, see 1948 or 1949) and was saddened to www.wildaboutpembrokeshire.co.uk read of the death of Betty Earwicker and www.reallywildfestival.co.uk who sang Belinda. Catherine thinks CHRISTINE WILLIS (née Best) was a Rhiannon Howell sang Aeneas, and pupil from 1946-56. After school, she often wonders what happened to her studied at university in Geneva, then fellow singers from School, and to married and came back to live in Car- Margaret Palmer who played (viola?) diff until 1974. The marriage did not in the orchestra. last, and she went to London to do a CAROL TARR (née Harvey) left How- Law degree and then Bar finals. Fol- ell’s in 1958 and writes with news of lowing a short time practising at the both herself and her sister, Barbara Bar, she started her own business, Trengove. After a stroke and mobility Home from Home, specialising in problems requiring a lengthy stay in short-term rentals. The business still Aberdeen Infirmary, Barbara is now thrives and Christine is now semi- able to get out more. Carol herself retired and living back in Llandaff. now lives in Cheshire and tells of an CATHERINE CRAWFORD (née Evans, interesting connection via her hus- Howell’s 1992-99) married her Aus- band with Howell’s Denbigh. His two tralian husband in 2009; their son, great aunts attended HSD as board- Rhys, was born in 2011. After six ers in the late 1800s. From the school years as Deputy Head of a primary records (now in the care of Denbigh school in London, the family is mov- Record Office at Ruthin Gaol), Carol ing to sunny Queensland in Decem- was able to trace their progress ber this year. Catherine says that this through the school. One remained as year, being the 20th anniversary of a Governess, then teacher at the the start of their Howell’s days, sev- grand sum of £10 per quarter! There eral friends organised a get together, was also a letter of complaint to the and had a wonderful time. Headmaster of Ruthin Boys’ School about the attempts of his pupils to CATHERINE FOSTER left School in contact Howell’s girls through the 1949. Catherine spent much time fence. “Nothing changes!” says Carol. singing while at Howell's, and has continued to sing throughout her life VERITY BLEATHMAN (née Goldswor- (though no longer has a top B!). She thy) was in school from 1990-97. She sang in a performance of Gluck's Or- obtained a Pharmacy degree from feo in New York's Carnegie Hall, with Bath University. She married in 2010 her Chamber Choir from Ottawa and in Llandaff Cathedral and is now on the contralto Marilyn Horne and she maternity leave following the birth of a

daughter in February 2012. Office of Nuclear Regulation and a LEON JIM left Howell’s in 2010. He is member of the University of Wales studying for a BA in Geography at Council. She sings in several choirs Plymouth University: this year he is and is involved with a number of his- on placement with Plymouth City tory and heritage groups in Wales. Council as a town planner, and will JOANNA DORSCH was a boarder in complete his studies next year. He Kendall in the early 1970s, and al- intends doing an MSc in town plan- though she did not become a Hy- ning with a view to making it his ca- welian, she has kept in touch with a reer. number of fellow pupils, and would (How nice to hear from one of our like to widen her contact with others. male Hywelians —here must be more SARAH LAWTON (née Marsh-Smith) of you out there. What about it, guys? left school in 1968, and is still working - Ed) as a GP in Leeds. Three of her four LIZ SIBERRY left school in 1975. After children are currently working ‘down working a Civil Servant in London, Liz under’, the fourth has a 17 month old now splits her time between London son who calls Sarah ’Gaga’ - much to and Mid-Wales. She is semi-retired the amusement of friends. Sarah vis- and is a non-executive director of the ited school last year and was amazed that parts of it are still recognisable!

Late Hywelian News: The new Dean of Llandaff Cathedral is to be the Ven- erable Janet Henderson, an Hywelian. Janet is currently Archdeacon of Rich- mond in the diocese of Ripon, and will be installed at Llandaff in March next year.

GETTING TOGETHER AGAIN

A celebratory Party Lunch took place dance, from all parts of Britain, Can- on September 29th 2012 at The Riv- ada, and New Zealand. Victoria Perry ington Restaurant ,Greenwich, for the (Miller) was warmly thanked for her Class of 1962 leavers. Our large table expert planning and organisation of a occupied the whole mezzanine level highly successful event. of the building! We intend holding another celebra- There were twenty of us in atten- tion in five years’ time.

SHELLEY CROCKETT says that she is Ann Brook (Cross) via Facebook, and trying to organise a reunion of those pass on the information to anyone who left School in 1981, possibly at else you know who might be inter- the Summer Lunch in June 2013. ested. Please get in touch with Shelley or 16

THE HYWELIAN GUILD AND THE GDST Sue Rayner, Secretary to the Guild, explains how closer links are being built between the GDST, Howell’s School, and Guild members.

When I became Secretary of the Guild in  Participation in the Open Day in No- January, I discovered that the GDST in- vember, where we have revived the vites all those in my position to attend an tradition of competition between Hy- annual conference. I found it really useful welians and current students (table to meet my counterparts, hear what simi- tennis and netball this autumn) lar problems some of us have, and to get  An enjoyable evening shopping at ideas for the future. It is clear that suc- John Lewis with wine and canapés cessful guilds/associations work very and a goodie bag closely with their schools. In this respect I have been greatly assisted by the ap- Vanessa and her assistant Hannah Rob- pointment of Mrs. Vanessa Yilmaz as erts are also giving Joyce Shields Director of Development and Communi- (Membership Secretary) and me database cations, We have been working closely access, so that we can let Hywelians throughout the year increasing the num- know both about future events at HSL, ber of School events which Hywelians and when the magazine is placed on the can attend. This year, Hywelians have website – something Joyce and I could enjoyed: not do from our personal computers. The more eMail addresses we have, the more  The Senior School concert in the we can keep you informed! If you are Spring happy to be added to this database, please  The Summer concert (with Vintage let Joyce or me know. Tea) Vanessa is also developing some exciting  A spectacular production of Beauty contacts which we hope will lead to yet and the Beast this autumn more interesting events for next year.

AT OUR SPORTS DESK

In the Hywelians vs School table tennis challenge, the result was a 5-5 draw. If you are interested in taking part in Hywelians won the netball competi- next year’s events, please contact tion 21-14. There’s obviously life in Julia Baker at School. Volunteers are Hywelians yet! Look out for some always welcome - we need to keep new challenges in the future. those youngsters in check! (It’s a pity the Welsh side didn’t do quite so well that day ... Ed)

A LIFE ... Hannah Mills was a pupil at Howell’s from 1999-2006. Now 24, Hannah’s achievements in her career have put her—well, on the crest of a wave!

As an extremely talented and commit- female, from over 50 countries, and is ted sailor, Hannah was in the Olympic the only British girl to have won the sailing squad representing Team GB Optimist Girls’ World Championship. in the 2012 Olympic Games. Hannah Moving from Optimist to 470 class, had the honour of being she won Junior World the first Welsh athlete to and European crowns be selected for the with Katrina Hughes. Games. Needless to say, Han- As an indication of her nah and Saskia’s silver talent, Hannah and Olympic medal is the Saskia Clark, her sailing crowning glory of a ca- partner, won silver in reer—so far! only their second com- Sally Davis, Principal of petitive event at Hyères. Howell’s School com- Several successes fol- mented: "Hannah is a lowed and only six dedicated and deter- months after getting to- mined young woman, gether, they won silver at who has done remarka- the Olympic test event in bly well since moving up Weymouth and Portland. to senior level and into Hannah showed obvious the 470 class. It is a talent when, at only eight years of fantastic achievement for Hannah to age, she started sailing at Llanishen have competed in the 2012 London Reservoir, Cardiff. Coached by Alan Olympics and everyone at Howell’s is Williams, Centre Manager at Plas very proud of her Olympic Silver Menai on the Menai Strait and the Medal." Welsh Optimist Coach at the time, Hannah said: "It was really exciting she won a string of tittles over the and a tremendous honour to have next seven years. Hannah pro- competed in The 2012 Olympics. The gressed through various sailing hard work and determination resulted squads, becoming the first girl to win in our achieving a Silver Medal and a string of British Optimist titles and for now, I am very proud of the the National Championships on home achievement” waters in Pwllheli, competing against both boys and girls in 2002. At the 2003 World Championships in Gran Canaria, Hannah was placed (With acknowledgements to fifth out of 250 competitors, male and First Eleven Ind Magazine) 18

...ON THE OCEAN WAVE! Mererid Hunt (Margaret John) tells of her once-in-a-lifetime experience taking part in a round the world yacht race. [Mererid’s full account can be found on the School website]

My adventure started in October 2009, luck: we sped through at 9 knots! As the when I was interviewed (and accepted) temperature rose and we approached the for the 18 months’ training programme, a Equator, those who had not ‘crossed the mixture of practical (on the water) and line’ before made their obeisance and theory (in the classroom) training. I was offerings to King Neptune. Thirty three to be part of the interna- days after leaving South- tional crew of Singapore— ampton, we crossed the eleven nationalities, ten ...ordinary people finish line at Rio in third crew doing the whole cir- can do something place—not bad considering cuit and another 41 joining extraordinary the problems we had had and leaving at various with rigging and sails. points. The race would con- Leg two was from Rio to sist of a series of legs, within which were Cape Town. With changes to our crew the races themselves. This was the eighth we headed out into the South Atlantic and biennial race, founded by Sir Robin Knox Southern Ocean, to finish on 29 Septem- -Johnson. When he realised that more ber 2011 under the shadow of Table people had Mountain. The albatross which flew into climbed our rigging certainly would have had a Everest severe headache at least! than had sailed Our third leg would take us from Cape around the Town to Western Australia, and took us world, he 29 days, arriving in early November. This established leg was regarded as the most challenging, this event and so it proved, as we changed course to Mererid at the start of her journey to ‘enable avoid an iceberg and had to contend with ordinary people to do something extraor- damaged sails. Although we managed to dinary.’ repair two of them, the third, the size of a tennis court, required the floor of Gerald- Thus it was that at 16.30 hours on 31 July ton sports centre for its repair. 2011, the cannon of the Royal Yacht Club fired and ten vessels were escorted Leg four was from Geraldton to New down Southampton Water to the starting Zealand, then we were to race from New point at Cowes I.o.W. After a short sprint Zealand to the Gold Coast. Unfortu- to Madeira, it was into the first race— nately, we suffered steering failure and finishing line, Rio de Janeiro—with noth- were forced to put in to Melbourne. The ing before us but the open Atlantic. We local yacht club managed to repair the had hoped to swim in the open sea when problem, and we enjoyed a roast lamb we reached the Doldrums, but no such dinner generously supplied by relatives of 19

our crew. Because of our We then retired to the delay, we dropped out of Yacht Club for drinks and that particular race, but on nibbles. Then down to the next run, came fourth. earth again, as we Destination Gold Coast, shopped in local super- where the boats were markets! As a bonus, lifted out of the water, crew from various vessels hulls were cleaned and took a train trip to Bei- new anti-fouling paint Singapore’s billowing spinnaker jing, where we did the applied. (Blue, so we whole sightseeing thing - looked like Smurfs for a few days after- Tiananmen Square, the Forbidden City, wards!) part of the Great Wall and the Olympic From Gold Coast, we were off to Singa- Park. (I confess to having got lost for 45 pore, with race eight scheduled from Sin- minutes, thus missing out on the Imperial gapore to Quindao, China. With special Gardens!) In all, our trip to Beijing (train dispensation, I had brought with me a fare, accommodation, entry fees and Christmas cake and mince pies, which we food) cost us the grand total of around shared on Christmas Day. Roast turkey, £142. stuffing, broccoli and roast veg. followed The Quindao to San Francisco leg started by steamed Christmas pudding and white in March in snow, and for the next 29 sauce, made a very memorable Christmas days everything - the boat, us, our clothes meal. - was damp as we experienced high We re-crossed the Equator in January winds and big seas. We lost overboard 2011 (with another ceremony for new (and rescued) a crew member early one first-timers). During our journey through morning. We noted the date of 20 March Indonesia, we experienced tropical twice as we crossed the International storms and high humidity, manoeuvred Date Line, and in spite of ‘surfing’ a pa- through fishing fleets and oil rigs and cific roller, our speed of 27.5 knots was kept our eyes open for pirates. In our not enough to win us that race, and we home port (Singapore), we enjoyed a came second. Chinese New Year celebration and, of The next race was from Panama to New course, had to partake of a Singapore York. We had some time before negotiat- Sling in the Long Bar of ing the Panama Canal, Raffles Hotel! so spent the days in At Quindao, we were maintenance, swimming met by a plethora of and playing bridge. It uniforms - dignitaries, took 51 hours to traverse police, navy, army, im- the Canal; one vessel migration etc, before had seaworthiness prob- processing along a red lems so we took the carpet and being pre- chance to visit two World Heritage sites: sented with bouquets Singapore and New York meet. and other adornments. Fort San Lorenzo and

Portobello - the latter after its capture by to be our only win - marked by a yellow the British in 1749 inspiring place names pennant proudly flying from the rigging! in London and elsewhere. Our passage up The final race was from Holland, across the east coast to New York was marked the North Sea, through the Straits of Do- by wind and squalls, but we eventually ver and the Channel to the Solent. Our arrived in new York on 27 May. second place in this race was sufficient to On our passage from New York to Hali- give us third place in the overall event. fax, NS, we were aided by the Gulf The fleet assembled in V-formation to be Stream, and then the Labrador Current, escorted up the Solent to the marina strong east to west currents, made itself where we would disembark. The flotilla felt. At Halifax, we were able to enjoy a would be led by Suhaili, the boat in bit of sightseeing before the next race. which Sir Robin Knox-Johnson achieved As we left Halifax at the start of race 13 the first non-stop solo circumnavigation (unlucky?) I was seasick for the first in 1968-69. We motored into the marina time. We passed within 45 in reverse order to receive nautical miles of the Ti- our prize and stand proudly tanic, then passed the on the podium. Then, after Grand Banks off New- the experience of a life- foundland. We had a fast time, it was time for reun- crossing, thanks to the pre- ion with family and vailing westerlies, and friends. What were my crossed the race line in thoughts at this point? Derry/Londonderry in sec- The final approach If I had the wherewithal, ond place. From Ireland to I’d do it all again! Holland, the next race was (Singapore, centre)

LEAVERS 2012  London is the most popular destina- Rather than just list the university inten- tion (16), followed by Cardiff (9) and tions of those leaving in the summer of Birmingham (7). West country uni- 2012, we thought we’d take a slightly versities also proved popular (21), and different approach. Of the 84 pupils head- other destinations will welcome one ing for university: or two students.  The number of males (8) and females  Science courses (which include medi- (7) remaining in Wales was more or cine) attracted more or less the same less equal; number of males( 26) and females  Over four fifths of pupils (68) opted (24), while the arts are dominated by for English universities, with twice as females (25, males 10). many girls(42) as boys (26) (although, Gap years will be taken by a couple of of course, there are at the moment male students and by rather more fe- more girls than boys in HSL); males. Some of those listed as going to  One intrepid female is heading north university have deferred entry to next of the border to Scotland. year.

WHAT A PERFORMANCE!

WHAT DO YOU GET if you muster to- felt they were those individuals, not just gether several main characters, a chorus, part-playing. Interestingly, only a few of a canteen full of cutlery and a large or- them are thinking of the stage as a career: chestra? The answer is a superb produc- I can’t help thinking that’s the theatre’s tion of that well-known fairy tale, Beauty loss. The chorus members of all ages and the Beast. were well-drilled and obviously enjoying The capacity audience was entranced by themselves immensely – which is what the sheer joie de vivre of the it’s all about, really. Knives, spoons, School’s latest musical ven- forks, glasses and plates were all there ture, from the opening over- in a profusion of silver and ture to the finale. It was all blue—and what an there: colour, sound and inspiration to put huge talent. Thomas Howell’s mark on the back of the Like all good fairy sto- plates! ries, the plot is simple. Pretty girl rebuffs un- While we were delighted suitable suitor, who by what we were seeing takes revenge. Pretty onstage, what was going on girl ends up in en- behind the scenes was just as chanted castle important. Scenery, lighting where nothing is and special effects were splen- quite what is did, thanks to the very hard seems, held captive by work of the back stage crew. ugly character. Repulsion grows And the music! Such a rich sound into love and – well the rest is predict- from an orchestra full of very tal- able. Walt Disney’s cartoon version, on ented pupils. All that preparation which this production is based, is familiar and rehearsal had really paid off, and to us all. What made this performance so congratulations are very much in order exciting was that the cast was made up for everyone involved in this wonderful real people, and the music, singing and performance. dialogue were there with you in the thea- I think back to my days in Howell’s, tre (otherwise known as the sports hall). when performances of Shakespeare, It would be invidious to pick out individ- Goldsmith et al were as much as we ual principals of the cast for their per- could manage in the Great Hall. As I sat formance – they were all supremely con- in the Sports Hall that evening, I couldn’t fident in their singing and acting. I was help but wish I’d had the kind of opportu- impressed by the way they had got under nity offered to Howell’s pupils today. the skins of their characters, so that you CMO

SCENE AND HEARD - PHOTOS FROM BEAUTY AND THE BEAST

Beauty and the Beast - the final scene ...

... and the final chorus line-up

INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY

Howell’s was host to an event to mark this special day on 18 March 2012. Hywelians (including Calan McGreevy and Sue Rayner) were invited to have tea with the girls. Next year’s event will be a Strawberry Tea on 8th March 2013.

FROM THE LOST PROPERTY CUPBOARD

Name that girl! WHILE RESEARCHING the Howell’s history book, Janet Sully came across some photographs which seemed to feature one individual. One is of a group of girls gardening in the borders of School Field with Miss Taylor. The individual in question is behind the wheelbarrow. The other is of boarders in their dormitory, and the same girl is the one standing by the open drawer. Janet says that she spoke to one lady at a School function, but didn’t make a note of the name. Janet would be very grateful if anyone can identify this person, along with the date (she thinks it might have been the early 1950s). It would be a bonus if we could find out who were some The photograph above was found in of the others in the photographs! Can you a copy of the Hywelian Magazine for help us out? January 1952, sent to the school. Unfortunately, we have been unable to reunite the photograph with the sender. If you know who might have sent the magazine, or indeed, who the subject of the photograph might be, please contact either Janet Sully at School, or the Secretary, Sue Rayner.

DO YOU HAVE a boarder’s brown tweed suit and yellow blouse? Is there a blue, square- or V-necked games tunic lurking at the bottom of a cupboard? The School Museum has some gaps in its uniform collection and would be very grateful indeed for any donations of these particular items. Janet Sully or Sue Rayner would be delighted to hear from you.

EVENTS, DEAR GIRLS, EVENTS

Elizabeth Bayliffe (née Goarin) in front of the plaque to her father, after whom part of the new Library is named, following her generous donation to the Annual Fund

A selection of uniform items in the Howell’s museum (the individual on the right is not a museum piece!)

More uniforms at the opening of the Library and Museum

WALES 101 (Nicola) Jean Paterson (Nicola Kearns Beattie) left HSL in 1953. She recently won a competition, and will be writing for The Denver Post. Hers is a slightly tongue-in-cheek account of why Americans go to Ireland, but bypass Wales. Say ‘Celtic’ and you think of Ireland take a tour into the Rhondda Valleys with its magnificent scenery and mar- — think How Green Was My Valley. keting skills. We all love the Irish: The history is recent and terrible: rob- every American President looks for a ber barons and coal, exploitation and bit of Irish in his ancestry. They make extreme poverty. Or listen to a Male up fairy stories, and we believe them. Voice Choir which puts all that history From years of abuse, famine and aw- to work in song. Much of Cardiff, like ful weather, they have built on their Denver, was built with the profits of identity with wondrous dancing and mines and railways. Drive to the singing, golf courses and Blarney Gower: coves and small secret Stones, whisky and dark Guinness— beaches, and the long strand of a marketing man’s Rhossili. dream. The history is recent Keep driving west to Wales is a small Celtic and terrible ... listen to St. David’s and into country, large in the a Male Voice choir ancient Wales. Solid Welsh mind, but no- and vast, the fifth cen- where else, it seems. which puts all that his- tury cathedral at St Comparatively few tory to work in song David’s was built in a people go there: dell, away from the maybe I shouldn’t be a one man mar- eyes of marauding Vikings. You’re on keting band for my mysterious little the Pembrokeshire coast: walk for country. Perhaps I should leave it in days and feel better: cliffs and medie- the mists of time with its standing val harbours, farms and fishing. Bed stones and fortress-like castles. and Breakfast with the Welsh Welsh. So where is Wales? How can I place They will feed you and talk your ears it for you? From Liverpool, going off; they love Americans. west, you’ll drive into some of the In mid Wales you can watch clever most beautiful country in the world. border collies gather hundreds of Snowdon, the highest mountain in sheep( the best sheepdogs in the England and Wales, is surrounded by world), and find your way to the lakes and waterfalls. The Isle of An- Penderyn a single malt whisky distill- glesey has a little known, but mighty ery. (Ireland only has blends!) In June Beaumaris castle, and a wild coast drive to the Vale of Llangollen where line to walk and wonder at. From Lon- they hold an international Eistedd- don you drive west, about one hun- fod—an amateur dance and song dred and fifty miles, or fly to the air- festival—every year. Competitors port just outside Cardiff, the capital (Continued on page 27) city of Wales. Once there, you can 26

HOWLERS OF THE PAST How many of us remember the days of the General Knowledge paper? Perhaps the best part was the subsequent reporting of those inventive answers commonly known as ‘Howlers’. They are nothing new, as this item from the school magazine of 1912-13 shows: “The papers were much better done this year, though we were sorry to see fewer entries than usual. The following are some of the amusing howlers which re- lieved the tedium of correcting: Aeroplane to see how soon a man may kill himself Chef d’oeuvre poached egg; breast of a dove; chef sauce Clinical thermometer one on the incline Tannhauser by Homer Coup l’oeil many eyes S.O.S. Society of Sailors; Society of Sons; Surgical Operations Society Llandaf to London 1000 miles M.S.S. Municipal Secondary School Lord Ninian Stuart The Conservative Member for England Dieu et mon droit God save our King Tête á tête two on the same level” One should also note that, according to those who sat that paper so long ago, an egg weighs one pound, Shakespeare painted the frescoes in the Great Hall, an umbrella has 60 spokes, and to remove an insect from the ear, one should sponge it and drink water. The ingenuity of a Howell’s girl under stress should never be underestimated!

(Continued from page 26) come from central Europe, and every- And as the Welsh sing to the Welsh where else. Nearby are Swallow Falls Americans who left Wales, as I did. and Beddgelert. Eat your picnic at “We’ll keep a welcome in the hillsides, Blaenau Ffestiniog and watch a dem- We’ll keep a welcome in the vales, onstration of slate splitting. Enjoy This land you knew, will still be singing, wonderful spring lamb in scattered When you come home again to Victorian towns and spas and be pre- Wales.” pared to try and understand Welsh: That means everyone. the language is growing along with our identity.

IN THE BEGINNING ... A 19th Century Hywelian, Margaret Hair, who was at HSL in the very early days, recollects her schooldays. You asked me for some recollections was ours. Miss Ewing was a woman of my school life at “The College” as it of varied and up-to-date knowledge. was fondly known in the early days. I Reading lessons in the first class entered as a pay boarder in February were frequently taken from the lead- 1865; a case of smallpox in the doing and general articles in The Times. mestic staff had delayed the com- Among dissipations, the annual mencement of term by a fortnight. I flower show at Cardiff ranked as a remained at Llandaff until June 1873, great event. In Whit week, Llandaff and in September of that year was Fair was held, and regularly preached married. Now, after 40 years, I can against in the Cathedral, for the say that if I had to choose an educa- booths where refreshments etc., were tion for my grand-daughters, it would sold were in part fixed against the be modelled on that given me by the walls of the burying ground. gentlewomen I hold in the highest Bishop Ollivant, Dean Williams, and affection and esteem, Miss Baldwin Archdeacons Crawley and Blosse and Miss Ewing. My school life had figured largely in our school life. The its ups and downs, but on the whole boundaries of the little city were cir- was a happy one; compared with cumscribed and its inhabitants what I hear of its curriculum today, it formed a most select coterie. Jonah would prove very dull. Roberts in the early days of his fame Things have changed since 1865, visited relatives on Llandaff Green, particularly the system of teaching, and the then Marquis of Bute some- but the solid groundwork of knowl- times attended service at the Cathe- edge given us in those days is not dral, before he came of age and re- surpassed in these more advanced turned to Rome. Lord Tredegar, now times, at least to my way of thinking. dead, was a great favourite at prize- Casting my memory back, what ap- givings. Many of those who shared peals to me most is the high standard with me the advantages of those days of honour Miss Baldwin inculcated in are lying dead or have made their her pupils. A strict regard for truth, homes in other lands. “The Thoughts respect for our parents, and that of youth are long, long thoughts” and “spirit of the heart” which is the basis I have wearied you, I fear! Some day of all true living, were her constant I shall be glad to visit the old school. themes: where she failed, the fault

CAN YOU HELP? Janet Sully is keen to acquire copies of the School (not the Hywelian) magazine for 1974-5 and 1975-6. If you are willing to part with them, please contact the Guild Secretary, Sue Rayner.

THAT CROWNS EVERYTHING...

Barbara (née Mealing, then Lloyd Hughes, now Forte) shares her memories of a momentous occasion. Around the middle of May this year, them in the palm of my hand, when, my niece was in a school Staff room acting as the Archbishop, I raised the discussion of the approaching Golden imaginary heavy crown above my Jubilee celebrations. “It’s a pity the head and the whole of the first row children’s mothers and grandmothers did the same! My 45 minutes were are too young to remember anything soon over and off I went. about the Coronation; we need some- The next day the BBC phoned me to one old“. “I know someone old,” said say that someone had heard me – my niece (49) ”My Aunt Barbara is not the Director General, surely? 84!” Well, no, but could I appear on BBC I was living in London at Wales on Monday morn- the time of the Coronation: I knew I had ing? Well, in for a penny in like many of my age I have them in the palm for a pound! Oh, no an excellent recall of of my hand money involved: I want to things from long ago, al- keep my amateur status! though not so good with They would ask me ques- short term memory. Thus it was to a tions and I would answer. Monday school 14 miles from where I live (one morning came and I was given a of the few in which I had not been a voice level test and told I would be Supply Teacher!) that I was to go and first on. I wondered what the ques- talk about the Coronation. I envis- tions would be and, more worryingly, aged a small group of 12 children what my answers might be. Jamie sitting around my knees – yes, I could Owen’s voice said, “And now we manage that. The Head met me and have Mrs Barbara Forte—Barbara took me, not to a small classroom, tells us all about it.” No questions that but to the Hall where the whole I could hang an answer on. My school was gathered—more than 250 Mother’s words“ Never say you can’t, pupils! “About 45 minutes,” she said, say you’ll try!” came to my aid, as did as she and her staff began to leave! HSL’s “Keep to the left and no talk- Fear – and belated sense - came to ing” altered to “Keep on talking!” me. “Teachers, Health and Safety! And the questions? There was only Would some of you please stay, - one: “What was the atmosphere bring your coffee if you like“. I like?“ My answer? launched into my story. The children “It was so tangible you felt you seemed enthralled – except for the wanted to cut off a piece and take one at the back who’ll always make it home with you!” trouble: fixing him with an icy stare, I said, coldly “Is there anything wrong, Not bad for an 84 year old with short dear?“ and all went well. I knew I had term memory loss! 29

ONE HUNDRED AND SOMETHING NOT OUT

MRS MORFYDD MORGAN was born on the Headmaster of the Boys’ School. th 11 April, 1907, one of eight children; Mrs Morgan thought Miss Trotter formi- also still living are her sister Dot, aged dable. She disliked the food at school but 94, and a brother, 92, who lives in Dinas thought that what was on offer reflected Powys. Her father had a grocery business the effect of food rationing in the war, in Fishguard and made deliveries to the and remembers eating margarine and surrounding villages, using boats if the boiled parsnips. The girls were, though, roads were impassable. Mrs Morgan given a nice piece of cake at about 11 came to Howell’s for the sixth form from o’clock. Mrs Morgan remembers wearing Fishguard Grammar School, having done the navy gymslip, and having to run well in her School Certificate. Having around the school field become from a large and close fore breakfast and playing -knit family, she was very lacrosse. She boarded in the homesick, and said that the school (before there were other girls at Howell’s al- any boarding houses) and ready had their own friend- had her own room. She ship groups, and she felt an used to finish her home- outsider. At Christmas, she work secretly under the developed chicken-pox and bedclothes, by torchlight, refused to go back to How- because she had not had ell’s the next term, going time to complete it in the instead to a local College. allocated two hours. At Howell’s Mrs Morgan Mrs Morgan still lives on made one good friend: Beti her own in Penylan, Car- Rees, who went on to estab- diff, and does her own lish the first Welsh and uni- washing and cooking. A versity bookshop in Cardiff. friend of her daughter’s Mrs Morgan also remem- Morfydd Morgan visits her regularly. Al- bers Megan Anthony, though quite deaf, her eye- whose father was the head- (née Llewelyn), aged 103¾ sight is very good indeed, master of the village Pri- and her mind is razor-sharp. mary School which Mrs She had a hip replacement at 97 and is Morgan attended. Mrs Morgan was par- well known at the Sainsbury’s store in ticularly friendly with Megan’s sister Colchester Avenue. She hopes to visit Dilys, and recalls that Megan later be- Howell’s in the spring. came a chemistry mistress at Howell’s, (Janet Sully visited Mrs Morgan on Fri- then went on to become Headmistress at th Carmarthen Girls’ School and married day 16 January 2011.)

..AND ANOTHER ONE!

JANE BARRATT, daughter of another she says she has to thank Hitler for long-lived Hywelian, writes: bringing my father into her life! At the "My mother, (MARGARET) GABRIEL end of the war, while still in the army, WILLIAMS (Mrs Gay Davies), became she spent time teaching the WRAC a boarder at Howell’s School at the girls home skills in preparation for age of 12, leaving a village where civilian life. After leaving the army, my later, her family were to own the first parents married and Mum became a car and their full time housewife and mother to my phone number sister and me. was St. Athan She has been a keen and active 1. member of the WI and local church, My mother serving on various committees, and joined Oak- she has had varied interests over the lands House years including gardening, painting, which was run bee-keeping and baking. by a much Now known as Gay Davies, my wid- loved Miss owed mother still lives on her own in Bellamy. the same family home. With two Mrs Gabriel Davies on Mum’s striking daughters, five the occasion of her memory was a living grand- 100th birthday two lap run children, and around the two (soon to be hockey pitch every morning before three) great they were allowed any breakfast! grandchildren, (See also the previous page.) She she has plenty loved Cookery and Botany but hated to interest her.” French; she didn't appreciate always At her birthday being called "so dull" by her French celebration, teacher! Mrs Davies After leaving school, my mother stud- was delighted ied Nutrition at Cardiff University. At to be reunited Mrs Davies with sister the outbreak of war she joined the with her Annie Paterson WRAC as a private before rising younger sister, who flew from Canada through the ranks to become an offi- especially for the party. Annie Pater- cer. As Captain Williams she ran an son (a youngster of 90 years, and anti-aircraft battery and was responsi- known as Clair) is also a former How- ble for the shooting down of German ell’s girl aircraft. It was during this time that

THREE GENERATIONS Saskia Blair (Mrs Russell) recounts the memories of three generations of Hy- welians. Among my earliest memories of Hy- youngsters reading this) in her mac as welians are the table tennis matches there was no roof after a fire. Her father against the Old Girls (as they were as to used to meet her by the School Field rail- us) - demon table tennis players who of- ings on Cardiff Road and surreptitiously ten thrashed us keen sports girls. What I pass her bars of chocolate which she most looked forward to was team teas would hide in her blue big knickers which I think were made by Hywelians (maroon bags in my day) so that they and were reminiscent of a Hogwarts tea would go unnoticed as she sneaked into party, with loads of cakes and mountains her dorm and hid them in her trunk. of sandwiches. These were a feast for a My Mum (Tina) was a boarder in Hazel- starving, sporty teenager: all that was wood, (now part of the lower school) missing was lashings of ginger beer! from 1958-64. She went on to Swiss fin- I used to visit School as a Hywelian with ishing school in Chateau D’Or. As my mother. We used to see old school boarders, they were allowed to go into photos in which Granny would stare at us Cardiff on Saturdays, but imagine the across the Stone Hall. Now I have gradu- embarrassment in the 60s of having to ated to that wall with my mother and wear brown tweed suits, yellow blouses grandmother. I have tried to persuade my and brown felt hats. She says she was sister Camila to join the Hywelians. She only allowed to wash her hair once a says it is too painful and doesn’t feel week, but funnily enough she used to slip ready to come back to school yet. She in the bath most nights! She also tells of thinks she had it hard—what does she sitting in front of one plate of congealing know! As a child I listened to stories of food for two days, not allowed to leave my grandmother Valerie Redmond (née the table until the plate was cleared. Horrocks) and my mother Christine Blair For me things were easier. I do remember (née Redmond) who were both boarders. being told to eat my liver by Mrs Lloyd, I don’t think Camila knows the half of it! but hiding it in the back of my mouth My grandmother was a boarder in The before dashing to the toilet to spit it out . Rise between 1931 and about 1938. Val I also remember the sixth formers stand- loved school, and, like me, lived for ing outside the door making sure we had sports lessons and lunchtime games. our hats and gloves on if we had our These had to be endured by my less macs on, with scarves tucked in neatly. sporty friends in turn, as lunchtime games There were also stories of locals phoning were compulsory , along with two games School to say that they had seen girls on lessons and a gym or swimming lesson the bus without their hats. This meant every week. certain detention on a Saturday morning! Val recounted stories of having to walk Such fond memories across several gen- though BDR (Big Dining Room for the erations.

IN MEMORIAM

It is always sad to report the passing of Hywelian Guild members. We send our condolences to their families and friends.

Margaret Morris (née Phillips) Dorothy Hughes (Everett) Barbara Forte writes: Dorothy’s niece Carol McKenzie (MacLean) is a Hywelian herself, and Margaret came to Howell’s in 1938. She says that her aunt was thrilled when Carol obtained a degree in Sociology and was a began her Howell’s career in 1964, and respected lecturer at Bridgend College. bought Carol her leather satchel. She was also a school governor in Car- diff. Margaret was a faithful member of Dorothy came to Howell’s as a boarder, the Bridgend Branch of the Hywelians and throughout her life, she talked about and regularly attended meetings. She the happy times she had spent there and worked as a counsellor for the Samaritans the escapades of herself and her fellow for many years and had a life-long inter- boarders. One of her teachers (Miss Tick- est in politics. She will be sadly missed ner) even taught me Latin in the 1960s. by all her friends. The only thing she did not like was breakfast. Mrs M E (Beti) Jones Beti Jones was Deputy Chairman of Gov- After school, Dorothy worked in the Civil ernors for a while in the 80s and used to Service. She married John during the war preside over the Junior Prize-giving in and they lived most of their life in Car- the days when separate Prize Days for diff. They had no children but did have Junior and Senior girls were held in the grandchildren! My own mother died Great Hall. when my eldest child was almost two and Dorothy took over as surrogate Grand- Penny Meyer Polins, herself a former mother to my three children. She lived a Howell’s pupil, writes that Beti was Rt full and active life until her health dete- Hon Lord Mayor of Cardiff 1989-90. She riorated. She regularly attended Hywelian had also a very wide involvement with a meetings and was an active Church mem- number of organisations and charities; ber. She died in the University Hospital Penny remembers that Beti was also her of Wales on 30 December 2010, follow- Guide Captain. She had suffered with ing a stroke. dementia for a number of years. Dr Hilary Clark Thomas Mrs Georgina Templeton (née Powell) Elizabeth Dowsett writes of the death of Kate Templeton reports with sadness the Dr Clark, former Head of Geography at death of her mother, who died on 7 Octo- Howell’s and mother of Charlotte, a for- ber this year at the age of 99. She had mer pupil. Hilary had been for the last suffered ill health for a number of years. few years the environmental coordinator Of the three Powell sisters who attended for PONT Mbale Link, an initiative be- Howell’s, only Mrs Betty Jane Johnson tween Rhondda Cynon Taf and Uganda, now remains alive. and founded PONT’s environmental

work group. She went on to develop the Nest Owen UN Territorial Approaches to Climate Nest, who died on 15 February Change (TACC) pilot project, helping 2012, aged 80, was a former Ugandan communities to adapt to the im- member of staff at Howell’s. She pacts of climate change. Hilary was Visit- was the widow of George, mother ing Professor at the University of Glamor- of Elenid and Damien, and gan and a climate change consultant to the grandmother of Andreas and Ioan. Welsh Government. Mrs Beryl Silkstone (Osborne) Elizabeth (Beth) James (née Jones) Suddenly on 26 April 2012, wife of Daughter Jennifer Stamp tells us that Beth the late Henry, mother of Anthony died on 10 April 2012, aged 88, at Llan- and Lynne. Grandmother of five dough Hospital, after several years’ ill and great grandmother to three. health. She attended Howell’s between Beryl left school in 1944. 1935 and 1940. She trained at the Rachel Macmillan College, London, and subse- Joan Francombe (Rhys) quently taught at primary schools in Lon- Died peacefully, aged 93. Widow don, Barry, Penarth and Mid Glamorgan. of Phil and mother of Sue. A keen bridge player, Beth was a member Grandmother to Beth and Alex and of Rhiwbina Bridge Club for many years. great grandmother of three. Margaret B Nicholas (née Burnell) Dr Elizabeth (Betty) Havard Margaret’s son James was kind enough to Died at her home in St Nicholas, forward his mother’s Howell’s-related aged 83 years. Wife of Cyril and memorabilia to us. The following informa- mother of Peter, Robin and Timo- tion is taken from the Scranton thy, grandmother of seven. Betty (Pennsylvania) Times of 20 December was a retired GP and former Dep- 2011. uty Chair of Cardiff Magistracy. Margaret and Donald were married for 55 years until Donald's death in 2002. She was a devoted mother and grandmother, ards), who boarded from 1967-72. Viv and took great pride in her Welsh heritage. joined the Army after school and trav- She was much involved in local organisa- elled widely before moving to Woking tions and charities and was a keen golfer, and working as a Probation Officer. She being a member of, among others, Royal and her husband retired to Cornwall to Porthcawl GC. Margaret and Donald trav- be near their daughter. Her death came elled widely, including Antarctica, China, after some months’ suffering from vas- Egypt and of course Great Britain. She cular dementia. was survived by her son, granddaughter Lydia Shaxton (née Richards) and cousins. Lydia was born in Peterston-super-Ely Mrs Vivienne Hayes (née Hill) in 1927, into a musical family, an inheri- Viv attended Howell’s as a Scholarship tance which lasted throughout her life. daygirl from 1944-49; she was followed She studied harp and singing at the by her daughter Valerie Harris (née Rich- Royal Northern College of Music in

Manchester, then moved to teach music She wanted to make sport her career, but in Sussex, where she married Bruce in the war thwarated her ambitions. Her 1953. father was reluctant to let her attend col- They emigrated to South Australia in lege in Southampton, which was then 1956 and lived there for the next 32 being bombed by the Germans. Instead years. Lydia worked occasionally with she volunteered for the Women’s Land the South Australian (now Adelaide) Army and spent the rest of the war deliv- Symphony Orchestra and also appeared ering pit props to mines in the South on television and sang penillion with fel- Wales valleys, driving buses taking low countryman Huw Jones. She also POWs to farms to work, and working on worked with blind children, putting on the farms with the other Land Girls. After performances such as Joseph and the the war she joined the family business Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat, in with her father, until she married. In re- which each child had a specially- tirement, she kept up her love of sport by composed part. At home and among joining her local bowls club and swim- friends, she encouraged part singing, and ming. earned the title ‘Bossy Boots’. Granddaughter Victoria was at HSL from Her own children became professional 1985-94 musicians: Juliet a violinist and Rhydian Catherine Morgan a cellist. Lydia also taught and her star Mrs. Powell) pupil was Alice Giles, a prominent Aus- Catherine (known as tralian harpist. Alice wrote, Minnie Morgan in “I have always felt how lucky I was to school) was a pupil, have that absolutely perfect beginning, member of staff, full of the joys of music and freedom with Vice-Chairman of the harp, with no fear, just love” the Guild and founder of the Bristol Diana Green (Mrs Morgan) Branch of the Hy- Lesley Phillips (Mrs Morgan) was at welians. She had a school from 1959-66. She writes: lively mind and vis- Catherine Powell on her 90th birthday My mother, Diana, sadly passed away in ited School in 2010 February 2012 in her 90th year. Diana to tell current pupils about her life in won a boarding scholarship to HSL and Howell’s. Her daughter Judith is a Hy- joined her sister Pat in Hazelwood house welian. Catherine died in Llandough in the late 1930’s. She was very keen on Hospital at the age of 96 on 5 October sport and appears in many old team pho- 2012 . Liz Jenkins was Catherine’s god- tos, especially hockey and cricket. When daughter and writes: the school swimming pool was built, she “We all have such good memories of her and her sister Pat were among the first to when she was on form, and it was fortui- swim in it! My mother was at school tous that she was able to provide those when World War II started, and remem- interesting insights into her life at How- bered the headmistress (Miss Trotter, I ell’s.” believe) announcing it in the school hall.

JEAN, BARONESS MCFARLANE OF LLANDAFF. 1926-2012

Annette Hickling, Jean’s niece writes to give the news of her aunt’s death. The following appreciation of Jean’s life is taken from an obituary in The Guardian:

JEAN MCFARLANE was born in Cardiff, mission; National President of the Girls’ and following her years at Howell’s Brigade, and member of the General School, she trained at St Bartholomew’s Synod of the Church of England. She was Hospital, London. She returned to Cardiff also a Vice-President of St Ann’s Hos- and worked as a health visitor for some pice in Cheshire and sat on four select six years. In the early 60s, Jean took the committees during her time in the Lords. post of Education Officer at the Royal Her obituarist, Jean Clark, recalls her College of Nursing (RCN) in London; own debt to Jean McFarlane: and from 1967-69, she led the Study of Nursing Care. She became Professor of “She took me under her wing, listened Nursing and Head of Department at Man- patiently to my sometimes wild ideas, chester University, where she remained supported me when those ideas got me until her retirement in 1988. In 1979, she into trouble, and encouraged me to was made a life peer and took the title of pursue them. ... I am proud to be one Baroness McFarlane of Llandaff. of her ‘babies’” She was involved in several other organi- Jean’s sister, Mary McFarlane (Mrs sations and interests. These included: the Donaldson) was also a Howell’s pupil. Royal Commission on the NHS; Fellow She died in 2011 at the age of 95. of RCN and first Chair of RCN Congress; A memorial service for Jean’s life was The Commonwealth War Graves Com- held on 3 December 2012 in Manchester.

GWEN NICHOLAS (MRS JARVIS) 1910-2011

Gwen’s son Peter wrote of his mother’s long and interesting life. The following is taken from Peter’s account.

GWEN NICHOLAS was a boarder at How- year, just as Russian tanks rumbled into ell’s School. From there, she won a the streets. They were expelled on a Ger- scholarship to University of Wales, Aber- man train. Their exploit was banner head- ystwyth, where she obtained a first in lines in the local press and they were Botany and was awarded the Gold Medal much in demand to give talks about their for her year. Along with her husband, experience. Geoff, she taught in Llanfyllin, Powys After Geoff’s death, Gwen moved to and in Brigg, Lincolnshire. Shrewsbury to be near her brother and While in Howell’s, Gwen had written to a even in her late eighties, was still travel- young man in Prague, a correspondence ling widely - taking a submarine trip on which was to last more than 40 years; in the Great Barrier Reef and riding an ele- 1968, her pen friend came to visit. Gwen phant in Chiang Mai - “a lot more com- and Geoff made a return visit later that fortable than riding a camel!”

MARGEURITE (“MARGOT”) DESMOND, NÉE MILNER.

Janet Sully interviewed Margot Desmond for the Howell’s history book, published in 2010, and writes of a lady with remarkable memories of her school days.

Margot died in hospital on 2nd March written for the 150th anniversary in 2010. 2012, just two days before her Margot had quite extraordi- 102nd birthday, after having a nary memories of the staff fall in the residential home in who taught her and remem- Barry where she lived. She bered exactly where her old was one of three Hywelians school friends lived. She who celebrated their centen- enjoyed her 100th birthday ary in 2010, the other two party in March 2010, look- having predeceased her. ing immaculate as always, Margot was at school at the and was delighted to receive end of Miss Kendall's time a card from the Queen. and at the beginning of Miss Margot Desmond on the Janet says she was honoured Trotter's headship. Margot occasion of her 100th to be invited to attend her married a doctor; they had no birthday 100th birthday party (having children. Margot was visited met her when she went to regularly by Hywelian Dr Anne Bryan, interview her for the book) and also went née Williams, and it was Anne who con- to her funeral in Barry. The photograph tacted school in 2009 and said that alongside of a proud Margot with her Margot, a proud Hywelian, was keen to card from the Queen appeared in the share her memories of her schooldays. book - she had her birthday just in time These were duly included in the book on for it to be included! the history of Howell's School which was

MEGAN THOMAS (MISS WALFORD)

MEGAN THOMAS taught maths at How- on 5 October 2012, in her 100th year. ell’s, along with other subjects. During Megan Thomas had been a faithful mem- her time on the staff, there were so many ber of the West Wales branch of the Hy- Thomases that staff were often known welian Guild for many years, and branch under other names, hence Miss Walford. members will miss her presence greatly. She died in Morriston Hospital, Swansea,

IRENE ELIZABETH DAVID, BEM, was the senior officer in Wales until her re- born on 26 October 1918, and died on 18 tirement. She left Howell’s around 1937. October 2012, writes Kay Powell. She She had lived in Plasturton Avenue and worked at Bletchley Park during the war, Cathedral Road, Cardiff, and was living then remained in the WRNS, becoming in a nursing home in Howell's Crescent. 37

ANNE (ELLIE) EVANS (NÉE BRAY) briefly in publishing and, in 1966, married Huw Evans, an economist, whom The following tribute is taken from Amy she had known in Cardiff. Because of his Wack’s obituary of Anne, which ap- work, they had spells living in Hong peared in The Guardian on 22 November. Kong, Brussels and Washington DC. Although Anne was not a Hywelian, we Anne and Huw had two sons, Richard know there are those who will be inter- and Lewis. ested in her life. While in Britain, Anne worked as an Anne Evans, who wrote poetry under the English teacher, including at James Al- pen name Ellie Evans, has died, aged 70. len's Girls’ School in Dulwich, London, After a life mostly dedicated to others, where she was head of the English de- this vivid, sharp, funny woman developed partment. The many tributes from former her literary talents over the last decade or pupils emphasise her energy and inspira- so. After her poems began to appear in tion, kindness and humour. Anne had a magazines, she was approached directly strong social conscience – she was a Jus- in 2009 by the independent publisher tice of the Peace and a Samaritan, and Seren, where I am poetry editor, to put undertook charity work, including help- together a collection of her work. This ing Powys Young Carers and the Red was published last year under the title Cross. The Ivy Hides the Fig-Ripe Duchess. After her marriage ended in 2000, Anne Having first come across her striking made a new start, moving to Llangattock poems when they were submitted for a in Powys, mid-Wales. She took a Mas- competition, I was delighted, when I fi- ter's degree in creative writing at Bath nally met Anne, to discover a character as Spa University, and followed it up with a lively as her work. PhD. At a writing workshop in Greece in The daughter of Betty and Percy Bray, 2006 she happened to meet an old boy- Anne grew up in Cardiff with a younger friend from her Oxford days, the writer brother, Rob. She went to Howell's Roger Green, and they rekindled their School, Llandaff and in 1960 went on to romance. She is survived by Roger and St Hugh's College, Oxford, to study Eng- her sons. lish. After university, Anne worked

It is inevitable that there is a large number of death notices and obituaries in a publi- cation like this. It is therefore very cheering to be able to report some new arrivals!

Sue Thomas (a former Editor of the Congratulations, too, to Calan (Davies) Magazine) has informed us of the birth of and Malcolm McGreevy on the arrival on a grandson, Alexander Stuart Leeke, born 25 November of Feliciano, a son for De- 9 April 2012, a son for Kirsty (née Tho- lyth (McGreevy)and Paul, and a brother mas, HSL 1992-99) and Matthew. Our for Ana Heulwen, born 6 March 2011 heartiest congratulations go to the family.

We are always happy to feature website addresses of Hy- Online welians who wish to advertise business/career/service. We charge a fee of £20, which goes towards the cost of printing Services the magazine. Please contact Joyce Shields for details: [email protected]

Jayne Barr (née Loxley-Hughes) Elinor Wynne Lloyd Jayne thoroughly enjoys working with Elinor’s love of all things Greek grew people to improve their businesses. from a visit to Greece made at the Her website is well worth a visit, to age of 12 with her parents, Dilys and gain an idea of how she works with Wynne Lloyd. Her shop is very near clients: to the British Museum, and is called www.creative-consulting.co.uk (what else?) It’s All Greek To Me. www.itsallgreek.co.uk Saskia Russell (née Blair) Saskia has a physiotherapy practice in Cardiff. For more information, please visit her website at: www.saskiablair.co.uk

REMINDER! If you would like a hard copy of next year’s Magazine, please remember to send a stamped addressed C5-sized envelope to Joyce Shields, the Guild’s Membership Secre- tary, by the end of September 2013.

AND FINALLY... the 150th Anniversary of the School’s founding, and is lavishly illustrated with Copies of Janet Sully’s fascinating his- photographs. tory of Howell’s School are still available—one would make a lovely gift for a To obtain your copy, please contact the former pupil who perhaps is not a Hy- School office on 029 2056 2019 or email: welian. The book was published in 2010, [email protected]

SPONSORS 2013

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Appendix Note

If you have read this year’s Hywelian Magazine, you will be aware that many of the items had to be reduced in size, some very considerably, so that we could get everything in. In this Appendix, you will find some of the longer articles in their original form - although they have been ed- ited for grammatical and typographical errors.

Lyn Owen, Editor OBITUARIES GWEN NICHOLAS (MRS JARVIS)

Peter Jarvis, a Cambridge lecturer and writer, was a very devoted son to Gwen, and sent this in about his mother. It was delivered by Peter at Gwen’s funeral service.

Gwen Nicholas (Mrs Jarvis) Left School 1928. feat for Peter, when he was seriously contem- Died at the age of 101 in December 2011. plating a career change to medicine. Unfortu- A little bit of history to start. nately, although they had dissected frogs and plants in the kitchen, they hadn’t done a fish – Mum was born in 1910 in Port Talbot, South which of course came up in the exam. Wales, the third of seven children. Her father died when she was nine, and the family strug- On the social side, I’m not sure our parents real- gled to send Mum to board at Howell’s School ised quite what a disadvantage it was to us to in Llandaff. At school she struck up a corre- have them teaching at the schools where we spondence with a penfriend in Prague, of which studied. Famously, mum said to a class of teen- more later. A very bright young lady, she got a age Convent girls that you could train plants to State Scholarship to the University of Wales at grow up a wall or a fence, and equally you could Aberystwyth and graduated with first class hon- train animal parts to grow in a different direction ours in Botany and the Gold Medal for her year. if you taped them up. The example she gave It was here, through her membership of the Col- was Peter's ears - they were sticky-out ears in lege netball team, she met Geoff my father on the beginning and she trained them with adhe- sporting awaydays to other UoW colleges. Dad sive tape to be more mannerly! Needless to say was in the tennis team. They also shared a pas- Peter heard about this to his mortification at the sion for ballroom dancing. They lost touch after ballroom dancing sessions, attended also by University as they both began their teaching said teenage girls! careers, Mum at Bromsgrove and Dad at Llan- Mum and Dad lived in the same house for fyllyn, near Oswestry. Eventually, after a roman- nearly 50 years, bought it in the mid 1960’s as tic chance meeting on a train, they got married sitting tenants, and installed such luxuries as in a Welsh Chapel in Port Talbot in August 1939 central heating, to replace the coal fires and the and Mum moved to teach, also in Llanfyllyn, Jack Frost on the inside of the bedroom win- where Geoff was living with his elder brother dows! It could be cold in Lincolnshire – we used Tom. to remark that there wasn’t a tree between us They decided to move to Brigg, in Lincolnshire and Siberia. When I was a toddler Mum had me where they could both teach at secondary level. in bed with her during the day to keep warm They were able to furnish the newly-built, rented through the terrible winter of 1947. house when Dad won a modest amount of Of course as teachers with sporting and Scout- money on the Pools. They had furniture hand- ing extracurricular activities, term time was a made in London, and Nick still has some of blur of work and marking. Summer holidays these elegant 1930’s pieces in his house. were the times we three brothers most remem- During the war Mum took over Dad’s lessons at ber as happy family times. In the early days we Brigg Grammar School whilst he was away fire- went by train back to South Wales, and to Chip- fighting in Grimsby. The school was very conge- ping Campden to visit grandmas and relatives. nial and other teachers became our godparents. In later years after we had acquired a car, we Times continued to be tough for many years tried our luck in Cornwall and Devon. One occa- after the war. Mum and Dad were very kind to sion sticks in Nick’s memory – having driven young teachers who came to the school – espe- overnight in the car – of having breakfast fried cially Jack Moore and David Jones together up on a camping stove out of the boot of the with the headmaster’s daughter Betty Daugh- car, as the sun rose through the early morning ton. David Jones was a lodger for a time, and mist on the top of Bodmin Moor. We got more Nick remembers being banned from the front adventurous - our first foray into Europe was to room as Dave courted his glamorous Italian girl- drive down through France to Rosas on the friend. We were expected to get on with our Costa Brava – a spot Peter had reccied as a education on our own, but Mum did step in to student on a scientific diving trip. That was com- help Steve with his Biology A-level, when it was bined with a tour of the Loire valley chateaux obvious, a month before the exam that he had- and Chartres on the way back. n’t learnt anything. She repeated this coaching Just as Nick, the youngest, was about to leave home, so our parents’ adventures really began. When Nick asked what that was like she said ‘a Originally they were going to Australia, but at lot more comfortable than riding a camel!’ the last minute they turned it into a round the She continued to surprise us when she insisted world trip. They went to Rome, Athens, Cairo she wanted to come to the Greek Islands at the and Bangkok and then to Australia where we same time as we were going on a flotilla sailing had relatives in all the major cities, as well as holiday. She stayed at the Sunsail watersports Pete working north of Perth, and Steve doing an centre with Anne, her carer. She was really elective in the Western Australian outback. happy to be parked on the verandah overlook- Then to Fiji, and back home through Los Ange- ing the activity on the beach, with a good book. les and New York. What a trip! And all recorded Anne, a keen walker, meanwhile explored the by Dad on Kodachrome slides. whole area on foot. The highlight of the holiday Then in 1968 Mum’s school penfriend in was the beach barbeque on an uninhabited is- Czechoslovakia, Karel Straka – they had contin- land. To get there, both she and Anne had to be ued to correspond throughout those 40 turbu- carried onto a yacht - by Antipodean hunks. She lent years - came to England for a visit in the dined out on that story for quite a while. She Prague Spring. They had never met before, so and Anne went back the next year, on their this was an emotional meeting. Nick had the own! privilege of showing him round Cambridge Uni- Her final holiday was with Nick in 2006 to the versity where he was studying at the time. Mum Scilly Isles, where they stayed at the luxurious and Dad bravely did a return visit to Prague in Island Hotel on Tresco. They flew by helicopter August that year, even as the picture darkened from Penzance which was quite an experience, – and of course got caught up in the Russian and, in gloriously warm September weather invasion, with tanks on the streets – they were toured the island on a golf buggy, visiting the eventually expelled by train over the German exotic Abbey gardens, and watching seals by frontier. There were banner headlines in the Lin- boat. They also visited Wells Cathedral on the colnshire Times, and they were much in de- return journey, and she was able to tell the mand thereafter giving illustrated talks of their verger that she had last visited in 1926 – 80 experiences. years before. After her move to Shrewsbury at the age of 85 Sadly Mum then had to endure the conse- Mum sold her car (phew!) and set to establish- quences of a tragic hospital accident, that left ing a new and independent life for herself and Dad in a coma for over a year until his death– a made a whole new set of friends. All of us broth- trial she dealt with, with great devotion and dig- ers are very grateful for the welcome this town nity, holding his hand every day. gave to our mother and for the loving care she Eventually she linked up with her younger received here towards the end of her life. brother Haydn moving in 1995 from Brigg to So there we have it – a life full of warmth, hu- Shrewsbury to be near him and Peter’s family. manity and hard work that reflects the history of Haydn was an inveterate traveller. They went the 20th century – lived to the full with a great back to Australia several times over the years, zest for life. She found it easy to make friends the last time when Mum must have been in her wherever she was living, and many of you are late eighties. This time she went in a submarine here now. We shall miss her greatly. to view the glory that is the Barrier Reef, and rode an elephant on a side trip to Chiang Mai. JEAN, BARONESS MCFARLANE OF LLANDAFF

The following account is an obituary written by June Clark (Lady McFarlane’s niece) which appeared in The Guardian of 24 May 2012. Web links have been retained so that readers may follow them up if they wish.

Jean McFarlane, Lady McFarlane of Llandaff, who eration of professors of nursing. has died aged 86, was one of nursing's great pio- Over and above the massive task of co-ordinating neers. Her work on what has come to be called the the programme and supporting the students, Jean's nursing process is now an integral part of every particular contribution was her book The Proper nursing curriculum and every nurse's practice. In Study of the Nurse (1970), which was both a synthe- 1974 she was appointed England's first professor of sis of the first six studies and an argument for nurses nursing, at Manchester University, where she devel- to undertake research into their own practice and to oped a degree course and established the country's develop the academic discipline of nursing. first professorial nursing unit. She was also responsi- In 1969 Jean handed over the project to become the ble for England's first nursing research programme RCN's director of education, then perceived as the (the Study of Nursing Care), and was mentor to leading post in nursing education in the UK. But fol- many of those who became the nurse leaders of the lowing an internal reorganisation, she resigned – and next generation. was immediately snapped up by Manchester Univer- Although most of her career was spent in England, sity. She remained there, as professor of nursing Jean was born in Cardiff, the youngest of five chil- and head of department, until her retirement in 1988. dren, and her pride in her Welsh roots was reflected She was able not only to initiate some of the most in the title she took when she was made a life peer in exciting developments in nursing – the first degree in 1979. She went to Howell's school, Llandaff, and nursing, the first professorial nursing unit, the first after initial nurse training at St Bartholomew's hospi- joint appointments for nurses between a university tal, London, returned to Wales to train and then work and a hospital, the development of "grand theory" in as a health visitor in Cardiff. The perspectives on nursing, the introduction of the systematic problem- healthcare afforded by her six years' health-visiting solving approach known as "the nursing process" – experience strongly influenced the nursing degree but also to act as support and mentor to many who that she established later at Manchester – a four- were struggling in a still-hostile environment. year programme which prepared nurses to work both My personal debt to Jean is immense. I was a rebel- in hospitals and in community settings, as either dis- lious and arrogant young student nurse, and she trict nurses or health visitors. took me under her wing, listened patiently to my In the early 1960s, when Jean qualified as a nurse sometimes wild ideas, supported me when those tutor and took a post as education officer at the ideas got me into trouble and encouraged me to pur- Royal College of Nursing in London, the idea that sue them. Later, she guided and encouraged nurses might benefit from a university education and my research and academic career. I am proud to even undertake research was greeted with incredu- have been one of her "babies". lity, both inside and outside the profession. At the Jean's influence extended far beyond Manchester. RCN, she became one of a small group of educators Between 1976 and 1979 she served as a member of who formed the Association for Integrated and De- the royal commission on the NHS. She was one of gree Courses in Nursing and began to try to over- the first fellows of the RCN, and the first chair of the come these prejudices. In the absence of any univer- RCN representative body (now called RCN con- sity programmes in nursing, Jean took a BSc in soci- gress). In the House of Lords, she was a member of ology at Bedford College, London, and a master's in four select committees. She served on the Common- manpower studies at Birkbeck College. wealth War Graves Commission and was national Then, in 1967, on the initiative of Marjorie Simpson, president of the Girls' Brigade. She was a committed a former colleague at the RCN then working at the Christian, a staunch member of her local church, and Ministry of Health with a specific responsibility to de- between 1990 and 1994 a member of the General velop research in nursing, came an invitation to lead Synod of the Church of England. She took particular the Study of Nursing Care. The enterprise was con- interest in the hospice movement, and was until ceived as a series of linked individual projects on 2008 vice-president of St Ann's hospice in Heald various aspects of nursing, in which students would Green, Cheshire. also learn research methodology and gain academic • Jean Kennedy McFarlane, Lady McFarlane of Llan- qualifications. In the culture of the time, the initiative daff, nurse, born 1 April 1926; died 13 May 2012 was revolutionary, and the results were equally star- tling. Some of the studies, produced over a number of years, are today seen as classics, and from the first cohort of six students later came the new gen- LYDIA SHAXTON (NEE RICHARDS) Musician Born 22 May 1927,Peterston-super-Ely, S Wales Died 12 February 2012, Surrey, England

LYDIA was born on Pwll-y-myn Farm in South nickname Bossy Boots. Wales and spent her early years on a dairy farm. She helped with the harpists at the annual Music The family was Baptist and attended Croes-y-Parc Camps in Adelaide and at the National Music Camp chapel, where she began playing the organ as a girl. when it was held in Adelaide. Aside from music, her other great love at the time But her real efforts as a musician were reserved for was riding her pony Jazz, which won several prizes the blind children of Townsend House. Lydia and her in the show ring. pupils were well known for annual performances of Both Lydia's parents had a passionate love of music productions such as Joseph and the Amazing Tech- and this Lydia inherited, passed on and shared with nicolor Dreamcoat, and she would compose musi- members of her family, friends and the public during cals to involve each child. Some of those children her lifetime. She studied the harp and singing at the continued to higher musical studies. Royal Northern College of Music in Manchester and Her own children, Juliet and Rhydian, became pro- her first job as a music teacher took her to Elsted in fessional musicians; Juliet now a violist with the Zu- Sussex, where she met Bruce Shaxson. They mar- rich Opera Orchestra and Rhydian a cellist at the ried in 1953. Royal Opera House, Covent Garden. She taught The young couple, with their first child, emigrated to harp privately, and her star pupil was the prominent South Australia (SA) in 1956. For the next 32 years Australian harpist Alice Giles. they lived in SA. Bruce worked as a district sales "I have always felt how lucky I was to have that ab- manager for Shell, and they lived in Adelaide, Berri solutely perfect beginning, full of the joys of music and Whyalla, before settling once more in Adelaide. and freedom with the harp, with no fear, just love As a harpist, Lydia found occasional work with the and the flow of energy for it all," wrote Giles. South Australian - now Adelaide - Symphony Or- In 1988 the Shaxsons returned to the UK to be chestra. She also appeared on television in recitals closer to their families. Lydia had enriched many and singing Penillion (Welsh poetry) with fellow harp- lives in SA through her musicianship, generosity and ist and countryman Huw Jones, whom she knew great sense of humour. She died of complications from college. At home and with friends she was end- following heart surgery. She is survived by her hus- lessly creative with music, having all the children band, children and four grandchildren. sing parts together. It no doubt helped her earn her NEWS ANGELA SUTTON

I left Howells in July 1979 and joined the RAF in Au- again – this time to Ramstein in Germany (2005-07): gust - I was very keen and what a fantastic job it what a fantastic tour, half an hour from France, some turned out to be! I completed my basic training and great German neighbours who have become lifelong then became the youngest ever qualified Air Traffic friends and all the perks of working on an American Controller in the RAF. Airbase (tax free shopping here we come!) My first tour was at RAF Benson near Oxford where From there we were posted back to England to the Queen’s Flight were stationed so I was flown all Northwood in NW London to the Headquarters which over the world by some gorgeous pilots. I moved in coordinates the RAF, Army and Navy in any deploy- 1981 to RAF Cottesmore near Oakham in Rutland ment. I was heavily involved in Iraq, Afghanistan and where I met my first husband. When I became preg- Libya (2007-11). I spent 4 months in Afghanistan in nant with my son William, the RAF were going to ask 2009 which was extremely rewarding although I was- me to leave (no such thing as maternity leave in the n’t expecting to get mortared quite so much. I also RAF in those days), so I bought a Riding School and had the awful task of repatriating all the men and Livery Yard so that I could turn my hobby into a liv- women who died during that dreadful summer. ing. This was not a good move financially and I de- In Aug 2011 I was posted to RAF Northolt where I cided to re-enter the RAF in 1986. was in charge of the RAF Air Events Team. That I was posted to RAF Wyton (1986-88) and then on to meant that we organised where all the RAF assets RAF Cranwell where I had a tour in air control (1988- (Red Arrows, Battle of Britain Memorial Flight, The 90), but also taught young men and women how to Falcons etc) would display during the season. Unfor- become RAF officers (1990-92). I was subsequently tunately I was told on 1 Sep 2011 that I was to be posted to RAF Waddington (1992-95) and spent made redundant. What a blow after 33 years of Ser- some time in Budapest controlling the Airborne Early vice. Warning airCraft over the Baltics. I didn’t know what I was going to do (My son was a I was divorced in 1993 and in 1996 moved near Flight Lieutenant trainee pilot weeks away from Maidenhead and became a controller at the London qualifying and he was made redundant too!) I lost my Air Traffic Control Centre where I ended up as the military housing, the boarding school allowance and Emergency Controller for all airborne emergencies in my husband was to lose his job as we couldn’t afford English and Welsh airspace. to stay in London. Luckily enough we had bought a I met my second husband at Waddington (in the house in Margate a few years before ,thinking that Amateur Dramatic Society -he was Abanazer and I we would eventually retire there. was Aladdin in a pantomime!) We had a little girl Our retirement plans were brought forward and here Samantha in 1998, and then we were packing again. I am today starting up my own business in Events This time, we all moved to Cyprus for two and a half Management. I have just landed the job of organis- years for lots of sun, sea and brandy sours. Whilst ing the airshow for 2013 at our local airfield we were in Cyprus my husband left the RAF and (Manston) and am looking for a few more jobs like became a house husband to look after both our that and I’ll be happy. The girls are settled in their beautiful little girls (Amber was born in 2002). I was new schools, my horses are enjoying their new sta- then promoted to Squadron Leader and given my bles and my husband and I are taking some time out own squadron to command in Scotland at RAF to enjoy walking on the beach with the dogs!! If any- Leuchars near Dundee (2003-05). one needs an Event or Project Manager please take To command your own squadron is the culmination a look at www.asenterprises.co.uk! of all the hard work as an air traffic controller and it was hard work but so rewarding. Then we were off CAROL EVANS (DIAMOND)

Unfortunately, Carol’s news was omitted from the Magazine proper, for which we are very sorry indeed. We hope that its inclusion here will go some way to making up for our oversight.

2012 has proved to be quite an exhilarating year with home, we visited our daughters in Gravesend and much to celebrate. 2011 ended with a party to mark Cardiff, my husband's birthplace, Tewkesbury, as David, my husband's, eightieth birthday. For the four- well as Llandovery and Llangammarch Wells. Unfor- teenth year running, in January we departed for a tunately he has recently had to spend a few days in three month stay in South Africa. We travel widely in hospital with a heart problem but he is now on the Natal and Eastern and Western Cape and spent our road to recovery and whilst our next visit to South time in some splendid hotels. As a result of our nu- Africa is in doubt but we must be optimistic about it. merous visits, we now have many friends there. In Last month, we jointly had a book published - D-Day South Africa, we also celebrated my seventy-ninth Beaches - An Illustrated Companion. David wrote birthday and fifty-fifth wedding anniversary. Whilst at the book and I was responsible for the photography.

JANE CROAD

I had a fantastic experience after I wrote a few words I used to see Kristin Litton a quite regularly but I unfor the Hywelian Magazine in 2010. I gave a brief derstand she is now flying around the world following synopsis of what I had done in the 34 years since her son who plays cricket! If she sees this, I hope leaving Howells, which I managed in very few lines. I she gets in touch. Gina Pritchard and Penny Jones asked if anyone had any contact with two great were also good fun and it would be great to catch up friends I made at Howells - Joanna Davies and Ruth with them too. Humphries - who I haven’t seen since I left. I am still lecturing at Cardiff Metropolitan University Joanna contacted me by e-mail after being alerted and have two daughters, Liz and Iz - one is in by her sister, who in turn heard about Jane’s entr Howells and loves it. from a Great Aunt who was an Hywelian. I am in contact with Ena Evans of Bury Port. She We met up with our families in West Wales in 2011 was in Howell’s in the war years and is a fascinating and it was fantastic to meet her. We chatted non- and incredibly energetic person. She hosts many of stop for about two hours: it was so lovely to see her the West Wales Hywelian reunions, which Liz (my after so long. daughter) and I have attended. Liz was so thrilled We haven’t seen each other since, but I am deter- when Ena gave her a book she had been given as a mined to keep in contact and to meet her again prize for Welsh in 1942, when she was in Upper IV soon. It really was a very special time seeing a dear A. It is great that different generations from Howell’s friend again, remembering some fun times we had at can relate so well. Howell’s, and catching up on what we had done It was interesting as well that Ena was presented since, including husbands, jobs and children. What with that prize in 1942 by Miss Lewis. The latter was was so special is that we talked as though I had just still Headmistress when I left in 1976 - still maintain- seen her days before, feeling so relaxed and coming a great level of interest and enthusiasm, and fortable in the company of a school friend. It was a making sure that we girls and our ‘folks’, as she re- fantastic experience, but it did remind me how time ferred to our families, were in no doubt as what we flies and that making time to keep in contact with SHOULD be doing! special people is so important. FEATURES MERERID HUNT

Mererid’s epic adventure is recounted here in her own words. Her account will be fascinating for everyone, but particularly for those who sail, as they will know what hazards she faced on this trip.

On Sunday 31st July 10 identical stripped-down 68ft continued to carry us south and in the shadow of masthead cutters paraded down Southampton Wa- Sugar Loaf Mountain we crossed the line in third ter, escorted by the helicopter carrier HMS Illustri- place, 33 days after leaving Southampton - well de- ous, and an armada of spectator boats, as they served we felt, following a Heath-Robinson repair to made their way to Cowes, for the start of the 2011- our steering and major damage to one of our Spin- 2012 Round the World Clipper Race, founded by Sir nakers. Pushing trolleys around Makro felt like “the Robin Knox-Johnson when he realised more people morning after the night before” as we explored the had climbed Everest than had circumnavigated the shelves and modified the menus to accommodate globe. It’s the longest race (and the only one organ- availability. Whilst my team and I did this, another ised for amateurs) at 41,000 nautical miles (nm) over team was patching the sail together with sticky Da- 12 months, when the boats gain points over 8 legs, cron strips, ready for me to spend the next two days 15 races, scoring gates, ocean sprints. machining them securely in place. Meanwhile the We lined up, and at 16.30 hrs the cannon of the food team packed everything into waterproof bags Royal Yacht Club fired and we crossed the historic (one for each day to the next port) and stored them starting line to set off on the eighth edition of a bien- securely under our bunks, odd and even on opposite nial event, an opportunity for “ordinary people to do sides, working from bow to stern so the boat re- something extraordinary”. mained balanced as they were consumed. I was aboard Singapore (sponsored for the fourth Leg 2 Rio to Cape Town 3,400nm. 10 September time by The Keppel Corporation) but my adventure We said farewell to three of our crew, welcomed had started with an interview at Clipper Headquar- three new “leggers” on board and headed out into st the South Atlantic, then the fringes of the Southern ters, Gosport (31 October 2009) when I was ac- th cepted for the programme of training – 4 weeks on Ocean to the finish line on 29 in Table Bay under the water (the English Channel) and a week of the- the shadow of Table Mountain. (An albatross flew ory in the class-room – spaced-out through 2010, into a shroud and went away with at least a head- culminating in the final week’s training in June 2011 ache and may even have died later). with our Skipper and some of my fellow crew mem- Leg 3 Cape Town to Geraldton, Western Australia, bers. We met for the first time in Southampton at 4,800nm, 29 days 5th Oct-2nd Nov. Crew Allocation (30th April 2011) when the 10 skip- Again there was a change in crew as three left and pers were announced and read out their crew lists four joined. This was looked upon by many as one of (aboard Singapore from 11 nationalities, 10 would be the biggest challenges of the race. We mainly fol- going all the way around, and 41members would lowed lat 41º but at 43ºS Qingdao saw an iceberg, complete various legs) before we moved off into so a fleet warning was issued and all bulkhead doors meeting rooms to get to know each other. In the af- had to be closed until moving further north approach- ternoon we boarded our respective boats for public- ing the finish. At one point all three spinnakers were ity photos. in need of repair so I dropped out of the watch sys- Leg 1 was a short sprint to Madeira 1,340nm fol- tem (09.00-21.00x4hrs and 21.00-09.00x3hrs) and lowed by Race 2 to Rio de Janeiro 3,850nm. was “pedal to the metal” patching and machining We headed east out of the Solent into the English until two were fit to fly again. It took two days, spread Channel towards Ushant (NW corner of France) then out in the high school sports hall in Geraldton to re- crossed the Bay of Biscay to Cape Finisterre (NW pair the last one as it was the size of a tennis court. corner of Spain) approx half-way for this first race Leg 4 Geraldton to Tauranga, New Zealand, with nothing now but the open North Atlantic Ocean 3,600nm. 6-26 Nov and Race 6 Tauranga to Gold between us and the finish line. We acknowledged Coast, Eastern Australia, 1,370nm. 4-13 Dec. Singapore Day, 8th August, and two days later had a Four leggers left and we said hello to four new faces 72hr “pit stop” for victuallers, chief engineers and but race 5 didn’t go according to plan. The steering crew to buy anything they had forgotten, before gave way again but this time there was no onboard heading further south and steadily increasing tem- solution and no part to be found in the stores the peratures as we closed in on the Equator. The much fleet carried, so Clipper HQ had to make arrange- anticipated swim alongside the boats, becalmed in ments for us to put into Queenscliffe, Melbourne. the Doldrums, didn’t materialise for us as we sped The local yacht club effected a speedy repair and we through at 9 knots! Those of us who hadn’t “crossed retired ashore to a roast leg of lamb dinner, courtesy the line” before visited the “Court of King Nep- of Kate and Penny, mother and sister of our first tune” (courtesy of our social organiser and skipper) mate, Will. We left the next day, 17th Nov, on the and tossed a peace offering overboard as we en- morning tide but were so far behind we had to drop tered the Southern Hemisphere. The trade winds out of the race and make our solitary way around the north of NZ, while the fleet rounded the South Island. cape, lined with red velvet and with their name and After a restful stopover it was a short, high speed dragon embroidered in red. The fleet received a dash across the Tasman and Coral Seas. Gold white rabbit fur hat and a red wool scarf with a me- Coast, having won every leg so far, was beaten by dallion shape embroidered in gold coloured thread. six minutes into their home port by Visit Finland, and After the speeches of welcome we were again es- with confidence restored, we came a creditable corted to the quayside yachting clubhouse for drinks fourth. The boats (each sponsored by a corporation, and nibbles. Re-victualling was at Metro (aka Makro) city etc) were lifted out of the water, hulls cleaned and Carrefour before 16 of us from several boats and re-coated with blue anti-fouling paint. There went by express train to Beijing for two nights. were quite a few “smurfs” wandering around for the We walked through Tiananmen square and the For- next few days until the vivid paint wore off. My hus- bidden City, but I missed the Imperial Garden as I band travelled out at the end of term arriving on 19th got separated from the party and was lost for 45 min- but our time together was short as the race re- utes before being re-united. The following day we started on Christmas Eve. We said farewell to three stopped off at a jade factory on the way to Jonyong crew who had been with us from the start and wel- Gate to walk along part of the Great Wall, then vis- coming seven leggers in place of four who left. ited a cloisonné factory and a government tea gar- Leg 5 Gold Coast to Singapore 4,500nm 24th Dec- th den before wandering around part of the Olympic 28 Jan. and Race 8 Singapore to Qingdao, China, City Park as it was lit up for the night. The train fare, 2,578nm 4-22 Feb. entry fees, two nights’ B and B cost just £142 – the On Christmas Day I was off watch on “mother duty” train tickets even had our passport numbers printed with an Australian from the other watch, and at 17.00 on them!. We were back in time for the Race Dinner hrs, for the daily meeting of the crew with the skip- and Entertainment hosted by the local Communist per, we served mince pies and Christmas cake, Party dignitaries, each skipper receiving a decanter which I had made before leaving home and had be of the local “fire-water”. Members of the fleet were given special dispensation to import into Australia. each presented with, and wore, a garland of orchids. The cake had then travelled to Perth, with a crew Leg 6 Qingdao to San Francisco 5,680nm, 4-31 member who had come to meet us, been iced by his March. wife and then brought on board when he had re- We woke to light snow, re-assembled at the stage joined the crew; fittingly he was now sharing mother and paraded to our boats behind a flag bearer (the duty with me. We made apricot and walnut stuffing, snow having been brushed off the red carpet). roasted a boned breast of turkey, boiled broccoli but Seven leggers had left for home and four new mem- cheated with boxes of frozen roasted root vegetables bers had joined us. now well thawed out!. I made white sauce with rum (the boats are normally dry) and we steamed a We slipped lines and headed to the start line. Be- rather large Christmas pudding, made for us by cause of poor visibility, starting was called off 20 Kate. After dinner I went on watch whilst Bill slept minutes before the due time, so we motored and did until his turn. a “Le Mans” style start at sea the following day. As it was the hurricane season we avoided the Tor- Driving rain, high winds (up to 55 knots), big seas, res Strait and went around Papua New Guinea, re- the boat covered in condensation and everything crossing the equator on 5th January, with another aboard being damp (including us), was to be the Neptune ceremony for the latest first-timers. We norm for the next 29 days as we crossed the largest sailed through the Celebes and Sulu Seas between ocean in the world. Each day and week blurred into Malaysia and the Philippines and experienced high the next. We were not allowed above lat 42º be- humidity and tropical storms, manoeuvred through cause of worse conditions and during my 03-06 hrs fleets of fishing vessels and drilling rigs lit up like watch on 9 March, the bowman was washed over- Christmas trees, and received a warning of pirates board. Fortunately his life-line held and he was before putting into our home port. During this stop- quickly pulled back on board. We crossed the Inter- th th over we re-victualled at Carre-our, took part in a national Date Line on 20 March, the 17 day of the th “salad toss” for Chinese New Year and drank a Sin- race, so the following day was also 20 March! gapore Sling in the Long Bar at Raffles Hotel, where On 26 March, the helm surfed down a “Pacific roller” the tradition is to toss the empty monkey nut shells and recorded 27.5 knots but even this didn’t break on the floor. the race record. Three days later, we came in in sec- Then it was off again into the South and East China ond place, looking forward to drying out and warming seas, and into the plummeting temperatures of the up - we’d had only three hours of sunshine in the Yellow sea to the home of the sailing events for the entire grey crossing - but not complaining, as we 2008 Olympics. Each boat was met by a sea of uni- were aware that one fleet member had been air-lifted forms: immigration, police, navy, army etc before to hospital in Japan and that the US coast guard disembarking onto a red carpet. A child presented evacuated another. each of us with a bouquet of white roses, carnations My husband again flew out at the end of term so we and gypsophila, tied up with white satin ribbon, took spent Easter in Yosemite and then explored San your left elbow and escorted you to the stage. Each Francisco. skipper was presented with a gold coloured satin Two of the leggers stayed on, one from leg 2 re- Leg 8 NY to Halifax, Nova Scotia, 600nm, 7-11 June; joined us and there were four new faces. Race13 Halifax to Derry-Londonderry, Northern Ire- Leg 7 San Francisco to Panama, 3,329nm, 14 April- land, 2,350nm,15-29 June; Race 14 to Den Helder, North Holland, 800nm, 7-12 July; Race 15 Den 6 May; Race 11 Panama to New York, 2,100nm, 13- 27 May. Helder to the Solent 260nm, 19-21 July; Ocean Vil- lage marina, Southampton 22 July. The Golden Gate Bridge was the start line and it soon became very rough as we turned parallel with two leggers stayed with us, one rejoined after the the coast, but within a few days it was calm and first half and five joined, fresh for this final leg. We warm as we sped south. Will, First Mate, and Bill led headed north, with a helping push from the Gulf a commemoration for ANZAC day on 25th and Bill Stream, before the Labrador Current, flowing east to had made ANZAC biscuits on mother watch the day west, made itself felt. Then it was north-east, parallel before. By 30 April there was no wind and the race to the coast into Halifax. Seven of us shared the hire was called, so four new watches were devised as we of a vehicle and spent a long day visiting Peggy’s motored towards the marina near Panama City, al- Cove, Mahone Bay and Lunenburg, a World Heri- most a week away. tage site. We did general maintenance and cleaning, swam Leaving Halifax I was sea-sick for the first time as we alongside some afternoons and Chantal ran a bridge entered the North Atlantic. The Titanic sank 700nm school to pass the time. An ex-president was buried east of Halifax and our boat passed only 45nm from on 7 May, so out of respect it was a “dry” day every- the site. The Grand Banks, off Newfoundland, took where. On 10th a pilot came on board at 08.30hrs us close to the Flemish Cap (“The Perfect Storm”). and we finally began the12 hour transit of the Pa- We had a fast crossing thanks to the prevailing west- nama Canal, 51 miles in convoy, rising up through erly winds and crossed the line in second place be- the locks to Gatun freshwater lake, then down the fore we motored from Greencastle down Lough locks to Colon. The Canal is run by the Canal Com- Foyle into the city marina. pany and only their personnel handle the traffic; all From Ireland we headed north around the British revenue goes into the state coffers, so Panamanians Isles, down the North Sea and south-east to Den pay very little income tax. Helder. Through the last night we could see the The fleet was delayed when one of the boats failed lights of Visit Finland the other side of the gas rigs, its sea-trial after repair, so a few of us from Singa- but we held them off to cross the line first - our only pore took the opportunity to visit two World Heritage yellow pennant. sites - the ruins of Fort San Lorenzo and the old city Gold Coast and Visit Finland were already too far of Portobelo. Drake was buried off the coast in1596 ahead in first and second places respectively to be and it was captured by the British fleet in 1739, giv- caught, but the final sprint back across the North ing rise to the use of the name in London and else Sea, through the Strait of Dover and down The Eng- where in the 13 Colonies. We left in the evening, lish Channel to the Solent would decide overall third heading north into the Caribbean Sea and had a “Le place, and Singapore achieved this by coming home Mans” style start 24 hours later. We went through second. the Jamaica Channel, the Windward Passage sepa- The fleet passed Calshot Spit in single file, then as- rating Cuba and Haiti, then the Caicos Passage out sembled in a double V formation off Hamble Point to into the Atlantic Ocean. Variable winds, squalls and be led by Suhaili”to the parade finish off Netley. Su- thunderstorms were the order of the day up to the haili is the 32 foot Bermudan ketch sailed by Sir Ambrose Channel and the finish line, before motor- Robin Knox-Johnston in the first non-stop solo navi- ing into Liberty Landing marina, New Jersey in time gation in 1968-69, and she took part in the Avenue for Memorial Day. of Sail for the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee. We then Later in the week the fleet motored over to North motored into the marina in reverse order for the prize Cove marina, near Ground Zero, in anticipation of giving reception and podium before being re-united the send off from Manhattan. Again I was able to with our loved-ones on the quayside after the experi- explore with my husband during his half-term visit. ence of a lifetime. If I had the money I would do it all again!