BOU Magazine 2017 Contents

THE BERGMAN ÖSTERBERG UNION MAGAZINE

2017

CONTENTS

Page

Letter from the Chairman 2 Agenda for the AGM 2017 6 Minutes of the AGM 2016 7 BÖU Executive Committee 2017 19 Awards and Presentations BÖU Physical Education Award 2016 21 Andrus Award 23 Future Forum 25 Madame - a Dartford Icon 26 ‘Greenwich Portraits’ - the ‘Spirit of Dartford’ is alive and well 28 Our Research Madame’s Girls 30 Madame’s Students in South Africa 36 News from Dartford Students Visit to Waveney Bayly 39 News from Australia from Margaret Gill 41 A Reunion in the Year in which most hit 75 42 After Dinner Cornucopia 43 Class of 1976: 40 year Reunion Dinner 46 Obituaries Christine Barrow (1976) 49 Alice Elizabeth (Liz) Cooper (1945) 50 Sheila Margaret Mitchell (Gatheral; 1950) 51 Avril Rosemary Petchey (Bowman; 1954) 52 Ruth Emily Prideaux (Westbrook) 55 From the Archive 59 Support Your Archive 61 Diploma Brooches 62 Registrar’s Report & Subscriptions 64 BÖU Accounts 66 Benefit Fund Accounts 67 The Benefit Fund 68

Letter from the Chairman Dear Friends,

After our event-packed Centenary year in 2015, we thought that 2016 would be quieter, and in some ways it was. However, your Committee have been working very hard throughout the year on our major review of the BÖU, ably led by Dr. Jo Harris, during our three Future Forum meetings in February, July and November. The four strategy groups have been forging forward since then, working on our three and six- month plans. Details of the groups and Forum work are in Jo’s report later in the magazine and we will report progress to you regularly. I should like to thank Jo again for her excellent leadership and organisation during this process and also thank the non-Committee people who have joined one of the four groups to help with the next phase of our work. This year’s magazine also contains a full record of the work and life of the BÖU, as usual.

On Wednesday 30th November, we were delighted to welcome to the Archive, a party from the Japan Women’s College of PE, led by Professor Nanae Yamada. She was joined by Professor Suko and five students who are training to be PE teachers. (Mayuko Ono, Rui Nakashima, Natsuki Ura, Akari Isobe and Miho Kurokawa.) They were excited to be able to look at the excellent displays prepared by Rosemary Moon and the Archive team and to see where their founder Miss Tokuyo Nikaido trained under Madame Ӧsterberg. They also spent time at Avery Hill attending lectures and went to the Mulberry School in Tower Hamlets, London for a day. The acting Head of PE there is Emma Brown, who you may remember received the BÖU PE award in 2012.

Our Japanese visitors enjoying their time in the BÖU Archive

After our November Future Forum meeting, we were delighted to give a card and gift to Hazel Chapman on the occasion of her 90th birthday. Hazel is still helping us; this time with our review of the Constitution!

On Tuesday, 6th December 2016, Marg Kukoyi and I represented the BÖU at the University of Greenwich Carol Service held in the Old Royal Naval College Chapel. We enjoyed the reception beforehand, meeting several of our friends from the University staff, including the Vice Chancellor, Professor David Maguire, Professor Susan Lea, Sarah Cretch and Martyn Stephenson.

We were delighted to hear that the Faculty of Education and Health at Greenwich had just had an OFSTED inspection for the teacher training course. Primary training was awarded Outstanding (1) and Secondary and LLTE was awarded Good (2). The overall ITE grade was a 2. Our friend Professor Chris Philpott was overall in charge and the University was very pleased with the inspection result.

During the course of the year, Jan Grimsey was able to get a few pages of Birgitta Wistrand’s book about Madame Ӧsterberg translated for us. This proved to be a very difficult process and we are not able to pursue it any further at present. Birgitta tells me that there are no plans to have it officially translated into English at present.

Lesley Tipler has already done some talks about the life and work of Madame Ӧsterberg and on 1st June 2017 Lesley and I will be having an audition with the WI with a view to doing more talks in future. We know that some of you get together in different parts of the country during the year. Please let us know if you would be interested in having one of us come and give the talk in your area.

We hope to see as many of you as possible at the reunion in September, when we plan to have another speaker. Jilly and I are planning a 1977-80 year groups’ reunion. I would be grateful if you know anyone who left during those years and who is not a member to let them know about it.

The University of Greenwich are organising a Sports Pitches launch on Wednesday 29th March, to which the Committee and others have been invited. It is on the Avery Hill site, and the creation of the pitches is part of the University’s current focus on trying to get students more involved in physical activities whilst they are at Greenwich. They are all-weather, 3G, multi-sport pitches. The University has set up a

Sports Board to work on initiatives to improve participation and its members include student representatives, alumni and staff from Charlton Athletic and Wasps, with whom the University has strong links.

You may also be interested in going onto the University website, where they are celebrating the 25th year of the University’s existence with a web page dedicated to past students’ reminiscences and photographs. The address is http://blogs.gre.ac.uk/ greenwich125/ and there are some super contributions there. Anything from ex- Dartford students would be most appreciated by the Greenwich alumni team.

It was with great sadness that we heard of the passing of two of our significant alumni in January. Full obituaries will appear in next year’s magazine.

Sheila Norman M.B.E. was on the BÖU Committee for many years, and Chaired the Millennium Sub- Committee in 2000, when we first investigated trying to get Kingsfield listed and were looking into securing the future of the Archive. She was also very influential in the world of swimming, and her M.B.E. was awarded for services to Lifesaving. Her diploma from the International Olympic Committee was for her work as a volunteer. This photograph shows Sheila with an engraved vase celebrating her many years of dedicated service to the BÖU.

You will have seen much about the life of Rachael Heyhoe Flint in the media, and I feel privileged to have been her friend, and also to have been invited to her funeral in Wolverhampton, where I was able to represent the BӦU. She touched so many lives and was a truly inspirational woman, much loved by her family and all her many friends, and she became the face of Women’s cricket, changing its nature forever with her work. She also raised amazing amounts of money for her many charities, was on the Board at Wolves FC and worked on projects in Wolverhampton, such as with the disabled, as well as being on the MCC Committee, President of the Lady Taverners and working in the House of Lords. You will recall that she very generously became our first Patron from 2005 to 2013, despite her many other commitments, and only stepped down because she felt she wasn’t able to contribute to our work, especially as Rachael Heyhoe Flint hits out against Australia at the Oval in 1976 she was also the main carer for her husband Derrick. 4

You may by now have heard that North Kent College are hoping to sell off some of the Dartford site for building land, and use the money to complete the work they began several years ago. Their initial plans show Kingsfield, Tower and Old Wing retained and turned into flats, Madame’s tree (and others) preserved and part of college pitch turned into parkland. Whilst this presents problems in some areas, it does mean that Kingsfield itself will be saved from continuing to disintegrate and being knocked down, and is the best outcome we could possibly hope for. It has proved to be impossible to get Kingsfield listed, or raise the necessary funds to do anything with it ourselves. The future home of the Archive is not so certain, however, and we are in regular talks with the College, Dartford Borough Councillors and the University of Greenwich to see what can be done to ensure the safe housing and protection of our special collection. We will keep you apprised of developments and ask for any help from you if we need it.

With regard to our Honorary Degree request to the University, this is now in the hands of their highest body, the Court. We will inform you of developments by e-mail and letter during the year.

Finally my sincere thanks to all the members of your Committee who give so freely of their time on a voluntary basis to run the BÖU. You will find details of their roles and my thanks in my report to the AGM that follows. I do, however, have the sad task of letting you know that Ken Challinor will be standing down as our President at the AGM in September. As you know he has been a stalwart member of the Committee since he became College Principal and Vice President of the BÖU in 1975, and has been our President since 2012. He is finding it increasingly difficult to travel to meetings and there is no question that at the age of 87 he now deserves a rest! He will keep in touch and continue to support us. We will miss his wise counsel, attention to detail and ability to see the bigger picture, but are delighted that we will still have his friendship. A full account of all he has done for us over the years will appear in the next magazine. We wish him well for his BӦU retirement!

We are now looking forward to an exciting year as we work towards securing a successful future for the BÖU. I wish you all the very best for the remainder of 2017 and I hope you thoroughly enjoy reading this year’s magazine.

Anne Stuart

THE ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING OF THE

BERGMAN ÖSTERBERG UNION Saturday 2nd September 2017 11.00am at Dartford AGENDA

1. Apologies for absence 2. President’s remarks 3. Minutes of the 2016 AGM (to be found in the 2017 magazine, page 7) 4. Matters arising 5. Reports a) Chairman’s report b) Secretary’s report c) Treasurers’ report d) Benefit Fund report e) Registrar’s report f) Archive report 6. Election of Officers of the Executive Committee

The current officers of the Committee are: President K. Challinor Vice Presidents P. Boreham J. Harris Chairman A. Stuart* Secretary J. Ellis Williams Treasurers C. Elliott (also Benefit Fund and Registrar) M. Kukoyi

Committee Members B. Barton (Newsletter Editor) J.Claydon T. Cutler J. Gibbs J. Grimsey (Reunion Organiser) R. Moon (Archivist & Honorary Member of the BÖU)

* Due to retire but willing to stand again.

Nominations for the Committee should be sent to the Secretary by 29th August 2017.

7. New President. The Committee have agreed the nomination of Dr. Jo Harris. A straight vote will follow. 8. Changes to the Constitution. 9. Appointment of Independent Examiner

THERE WILL BE AN OPEN DISCUSSION AFTER THE MEETING 6

THE BERGMAN ÖSTERBERG UNION

MINUTES OF THE A.G.M. HELD ON 3rd SEPTEMBER 2016 AT DARTFORD

PRESENT: The following members, former students and friends were present: A. Stuart, J. Ellis Williams, B. Barton, H. Chapman, C. Elliott, R. Moon, A. Gamwell, N. Izard, P. Boreham, M. Kenney, A. Brown, G. Seabrook Smith, M. Smith, J. Grimsey, S. Hayes, J. Harris, M. Kukoyi, P. Hargreaves, M.Toogood, G. Metcalfe, F. Holloway, K. Lobb, M. Trimingham, V. Payne, S. Garland, J. Wimble, A. Fisher, J. Brooks, V. Hollins, P. Newnham, P. Creak, C. McFarlane, S. Heaver, A. Morris, J. Soden, J. Dow. APOLOGIES: for absence were received from: K. Challinor, T. Cutler, S. Cutler, J. Claydon, M. Millar, C. Deane, A. Brightwell, C. Haendeler, W. Morris, J. Gibbs C. Martineau, V. Thompson, D. Laurent, J. Haynes, A. Bosely, M.Cowan.

The Chairman, Anne Stuart, welcomed everyone to the AGM.

PRESIDENT’S REMARKS: In the absence of Ken Challinor, Anne Stuart read his remarks. Anne Stuart explained to members that Ken Challinor was very sorry not to be here today but that he is at a family gathering – he is now the ‘patriarch’ of the family. Ken was delighted with last year’s Centenary celebrations and the work of the Committee on the Future Forum discussions, very ably led by Dr. Jo Harris. To echo Margaret Chamberlain, we were all very delighted with the wonderful performances by the GB team in the recent Rio Olympics.

MINUTES OF THE 2015 A.G.M. The minutes were signed as a correct record.

MATTERS ARISING There were no matters arising.

CHAIRMAN’S REPORT It is a great pleasure to welcome you all to the 2016 AGM. It is lovely to see some familiar faces and also some new ones.

Last year’s Centenary celebrations involved your Committee in a tremendous amount of work and we were very pleased that the weekend’s events were such a great success. We received many letters and emails of congratulations and we have cemented our relationships both with our partners in this country, the University of Greenwich and North Kent College, and with our

friends overseas, the Japan Women’s College of PE and the Apelryd School in Sweden.

Following the success of our Centenary celebrations last year, your Committee has been taking time this year to reflect on the purpose and work of the BÖU, as well as continuing with our regular schedule and commitments.

To this end, we have held two Future Forum afternoon meetings following our normal Committee meetings, and will hold a further one in November. We have been considering many issues, not least of which is the problem of our dwindling numbers and consequently how much longer we can continue to run the Union and look after the Archive.

We have been very fortunate that Dr. Jo Harris has facilitated and run the forums as her expertise has been invaluable. She will take questions about the discussions and how you can get involved in the Open Discussion at the end of this meeting. I would also like to congratulate Jo on receiving her award from the afPE, at their annual dinner this year, to honour her for her work ten years ago in dissolving the PEA UK and BALPE and creating the afPE.

During the year, I have been lucky enough to be invited, as your Chairman, to some of the University of Greenwich events by Professor David Maguire, the University Vice Chancellor. I went to the Carol Service in the chapel at Greenwich in December with my partner, and Friend of the BÖU, Sarah Decent. David announced that evening that the University Chancellor, the Rt Honourable the Baroness Scotland of Asthal QC, was to be the next Secretary General of the Commonwealth, a great honour for her and for the University. They had also just been awarded the Queen’s anniversary prize for the world- class research conducted by their Natural Resources Institute into developing sustainable food solutions in some of the world’s poorest countries.

I also went with Peter Boreham to the Greenwich Portraits launch in May, at the Stephen Lawrence Gallery in the Stockwell Street building in Greenwich. The University commissioned award-winning photographer Diane Patrice to take a series of portraits of some of the outstanding alumni and students of the University, representing different decades and different disciplines. We were very honoured that Ann Brightwell, our Olympic gold medal winning Patron, was one of the people featured at the event. We met Baroness Doreen Lawrence and were treated to talks from three prestigious alumni, including Shabina Begum, the family lawyer and human rights activist known for her campaigning to eradicate domestic violence.

On 19th July I attended the Chancellor’s Dinner in the Painted Hall of the Old Royal Naval College. I never tire of being able to sit and eat in such a magnificent building. I was able to talk to many of the people who support us at the University, including the Vice Chancellor, Professor David Maguire, Professors Chris Philpott, Pam Marras and Dr. Linda Burke, as well as Sarah Cretch and Jimena Preciado Lopes from the alumni office. It was Pam Marras who facilitated us getting the HEIF grant that allowed us to run the study day last year, and she was keen to help us in the future. I was also honoured to sit next to Professor Susan Lea, the Deputy Vice Chancellor (Academic) at the University, who was very interested in the BÖU and our work.

Following a conversation I had with Chris Philpott at Christmas, Dr. Jo Harris and I sent a letter in February to David Maguire regarding our request for the University to award us Honorary Degrees. We have not yet had an official reply to our request but I’ve heard from Martyn Stephenson that it has been forwarded to the University Secretary, Louise Nadal, for her to consider it further and explore the practicalities. We will need to persuade Louise that there are no regulatory/legal issues in terms of making these awards and where such an action might leave the University with alumni of other predecessor institutions. We will keep you posted of any developments.

We were delighted to hear that our friend Joan Mills from Kent Netball was made an MBE in the New Year’s Honours list. The award is well-deserved and recognises her services to both Kent and England Netball for many years.

You may remember Birgitta Wistrand, the Swedish feminist, ex-politician and academic, who came to the Centenary celebrations and was one of the speakers at our Study Day this time last year. She has been writing a book about Madame Österberg and this has finally been published. She has sent us some copies and as you can see it looks very interesting. Unfortunately, as none of us can speak Swedish, we are unable to read it! However we are exploring avenues for having some parts of it translated in the future. Birgitta has expressed her thanks to Rosemary and the Archive team for all the help they gave her on her visits, when she did a great deal of research.

You may have read in the newspapers about the death of Ruth Prideaux, née Westbrook, at the end of April. Along with Toni Cutler, Christobel Elliott and other ex-students, I attended her funeral at the beginning of May. Ruth was one of our most successful members, playing cricket for England in the late 1950s, as a wicket-keeper batsman alongside Rachael Heyhoe Flint and others. She went on to become England women’s cricket coach in 1979, leading them to World Cup victory in 1993 and being awarded coach of the year for her 9

successes. She was one of the first coaches to use a sports science approach in an era where she herself was unpaid and there was no funding for the national team. She persuaded her colleagues at the University of Brighton to donate their services for nothing in fields such as psychology, physiotherapy and nutrition. Her pioneering efforts helped lead to the many changes in sports coaching that we see today.

I hope you all enjoyed this year’s excellent magazine! I’ve already received a letter from Councillor Ian Armitt, last year’s Mayor of Dartford, and emails from Sheila Cutler and Win Newnam’s daughter, Liz Collins, about how very good it is. Whilst the magazine Sub-Committee made our various contributions, I should like to put on record particular thanks to Rosemary Moon who put it all together and organised a team to “stuff envelopes” for sending the copies out.

I should also like to thank Rosemary for liaising with the University of Greenwich and Lawrence Jenkins from North Kent College for the delivery of a special item which arrived last week. Rosemary will enlighten you further in her report and will also tell you more about the things that have happened this year.

As you know, we always present the BÖU PE award at the reunion lunch and today we are delighted to be able to welcome one of the two winners for this year, Devon Simpson. He is a mature student whose study was broadly on ADHD and PE and who entered the course directly from a foundation degree. He managed all this during the year when he and his wife had a baby. Their son Joshua will be the youngest person that we think we have ever had to reunion day! Unfortunately the other winner, Monica Rosembaum, is in Portugal and unable to attend today, but we plan to invite her to out next meeting instead.

We are also delighted to be able to welcome our other guests for lunch and tea. The Mayor of Dartford, Councillor John Burrell and Mayoress Eija Burrell, Councillor Ann Allen and Councillor Patsy Thurlow from Dartford Borough Council. Our guest speaker is Michele Verroken, one of our alumni from 1976, who is well known nationally and internationally for her work on anti-doping in sport. We are extremely honoured and lucky to have her here. From the University of Greenwich, we welcome our friends Martyn Stephenson and Jimena Preciado Lopes from the alumni office; from Kent Netball, Cathy Hickey; and our four dedicated Archive volunteers, Rosemary Moon, Alan Gamwell, Gwen and Martin Seabrook Smith. Thirty four members are also with us today and our thanks go to Jan Grimsey for organising the reunion and baking the cake!

Before I close I have been told by North Kent College staff that the college dining room was used for a wedding reception for two ex-students who were on the Sky television programme “Don’t tell the bride”. Apparently the clip is now on YouTube if you are interested in seeing it!

Finally I should like to extend my thanks and those of all our members to your hard working Committee; to Jilly for her sterling work as Secretary and tremendous support to me and other Committee members; to our President Ken Challinor who keeps us on the straight and narrow; to our Vice Presidents Dr. Jo Harris and Peter Boreham; to Christobel Elliott and Marg Kukoyi for the work on our finances. I would particularly like to thank Christobel, who took over the job of Registrar when Jenny Haynes was unwell and has continued to do that on top of all her other work, as Jenny has now stood down from the Committee. Thanks also to Jan Grimsey for organising the reunion and Brenda Barton for editing the newsletter; to Jane Claydon for all her research and expertise; Jackie Gibbs for all her ideas and contributions and last but not least to the dedicated and committed Archive team led by Rosemary Moon. Our regular volunteers are Alan Gamwell, Gwen Seabrook Smith and Christobel Elliott and this year Lesley Tipler and Brenda Barton have also been going along frequently.

I hope that more of you will feel inspired to come and join us at the Future Forum, to join the Committee or to come along to help in the Archive. Rosemary can always find you an interesting and fulfilling job to do!

It only remains for me to thank you all once again for coming and hope that you thoroughly enjoy the rest of the day.

Anne Stuart

SECRETARY’S REPORT With the incredible two years of hard work for the Centenary celebrations behind us, we thought we would have a fallow year…. Not so! Your Committee, under the professional and inspirational guidance of Dr. Jo Harris, has been spending extra time after meetings to review our current position. We have been looking at our strengths and weaknesses and armed with that information, what we can realistically achieve and therefore be able to plan for the future of the BÖU.

Another pleasure for me is to inform members that we have joint winners of the BÖU/PE Award for 2016 - Devon Simpson and Monica Rosembaum

Dr Jackie Farr emailed me that Monica’s study was on the history and development of Paralympic sport in Brazil. Monica’s achievement is all the more remarkable given that she is writing in a 2nd language (her first being Portuguese). Unfortunately Monica cannot be with us today as she is visiting her family in Portugal. Devon is a mature student, direct entry from a Foundation degree whose wife had a baby halfway through the year! His study was broadly on ADHD and PE (title to follow). 11

We shall welcome Devon today to receive his award, together with his family, including baby Joshua, our youngest ever BÖU guest. Devon will speak briefly to members at lunch. An abstract of their study will be included in the next magazine.

We also welcome invited guests - some are constant and faithful supporters of the BÖU.

Significant birthdays – We endeavour to celebrate the 100th birthday of a member. Any special birthdays brought to our attention will be acknowledged. Please get in touch with me if you know of a member who will be celebrating this coming year. I am already aware of a member here today who will be celebrating later in the year!

Diploma Badges We now have two levels of pricing: £125 if the provenance is known, £100 for badges with no known provenance. We have become aware that BÖU diploma badges are being sold at very high prices on the internet and at antique fairs, as Art Deco brooches, often with their origin unknown to the seller.

We endeavour to search for badges and try to obtain them when they become available. However, because of the very high prices being asked, we are having to pay increasingly high amounts to procure them, or they may be lost to the BÖU forever. Consequently, we need to charge more than we have previously when selling badges to members. If you own a Diploma Badge and wish it to be donated to the BÖU, we kindly suggest that you either inform your family, leave a note with the badge, or indicate in your will that you request the badge be donated to the BÖU.

My role as Secretary seems to follow a certain pattern over the year. However, as reported upon last year, promoting Madame’s work is becoming vital, especially as we are sadly losing members every year with a limited supply of new members joining. Our push in the coming year must be to continue to reach out to possible members and we are having success with reaching ex students via Facebook and our BÖU web page. Our BÖU community is our future.

We are all aware that we need to keep Madame’s life and work alive and relevant to new audiences. This will be achieved through opening our arms wide to new friends and contacts and welcoming their help and support.

I wish to thank our Chair, Anne Stuart, they say that when you want a job done, ask a busy person! Well, here is a fine example! I don’t know how she manages 12 to juggle so many responsibilities. Thank goodness she has now retired from teaching - probably busier than ever, but hopefully doing the things she enjoys.

I wish to thank Ken Challinor, our President, for his wise counsel and kind encouragement throughout the year.

The Committee works so hard throughout the year to keep the BÖU going and Committee members are a constant support to each other. I thank them all for being, not only colleagues, but also people I am proud to call my friends.

Jill Ellis Williams.

Anne Stuart thanked Jill for her hard work throughout the year.

TREASURERS’ REPORT The 2015 financial year has come and gone and unsurprisingly it was busier than usual, as you will see, when looking at the 2015 Statement of Accounts, which can be found on page 92 of the 2016 magazine.

Thankfully the books balanced at the end of the year. We were very grateful for the support, financial and otherwise, from the University of Greenwich and North Kent College and for the generosity of sponsors/donors (£1,247) and the many other contributions towards the expenses of the ‘Centenary Weekend’. The subscriptions received in the period September – December, all the generosity mentioned and receipts from other sources, for example £500 from the raffle held at the Centenary Dinner, led to a £785 increase in the General Reserves, rather than a four figure loss, which has been the trend over the last few years. Subscriptions to the BÖU are the main source of income to cover the general running costs; as it stands at the moment we really need many more to keep us going. (See Registrar’s Report).

The Archive Fund continued to grow steadily and was boosted by the Auction of the two diploma badges at the Centenary Dinner; again thanks to all who took part, in particular, the two new proud owners. Thank you to all who made generous donations during the year, some from their ‘Save to Save the Archive’ boxes (keep filling/emptying them), to enable the important work of preserving and developing the Archive. With donations made by some of the 1957 group, the 1957 long college photograph has been framed to conservation standards, as has been (more recently) the 1946 photograph with the Betty Lewis Memorial Fund money; this money was held within the Archive Fund. These photographs are now hanging in the Janet Campbell Room. At the end of the year £63 was donated to the Archive Fund from the sale of the Centenary Mugs; these can be bought when you visit the Archive. 13

Our thanks go to Roger Barton, our Independent Examiner, for his very helpful advice; he, again, kindly waived his fee and was given a token of our appreciation and sent an official letter of thanks.

Lastly we would like to thank the Chairman and the Committee for all their support.

Christobel Elliott & Margaret Kukoyi Anne Stuart thanked both Christobel Elliott and Margaret Kukoyi, for their accounting throughout the year.

BENEFIT FUND REPORT The Benefit Fund Statement of Accounts for 2015 can be found on page 93 of the 2016 magazine.

The total amount paid out from the Benefit Fund was for three grants, two to individual applicants and one to the BÖU in order to increase accessibility of the Archive through the World Wide Web and so increasing ‘public benefit’.

The income from the M & G Investments has fortunately remained much the same over the last few years, slightly increasing each year.

The market value of the investments varied during 2015 and ended up being slightly down on the December 2014 figure and unsurprisingly, the March and June 2016 figures each showed a further drop. As things in the world of finance seem to be rather volatile at the moment we could see further fluctuations in the market value of the investments.

At this present time the Benefit Fund is in a good position for the Trustees to receive some applications for grants and also to continue contributing to the licence fee and support for the Archive website.

Christobel A. Elliott

REGISTRAR’S REPORT At the last A.G.M. Jenny Haynes reported that at that time there were approximately 276 Members; I am afraid I have to report today that we have approximately 176. Of these there are six Honorary and five Associate Members and eight Friends.

The membership is relatively evenly spread across the 50’s, 60’s and 70’s with five from the 40’s and only one from the 80’s - 1986, which was the year the college closed. We really need to recruit more members.

It has been heartening to receive subscriptions from lapsed members, to gain some new ones, as well as to welcome new Friends. There are renewal forms in the Archive for those who wish to join or renew their subscription today. If you know of somebody who is not a member or is a lapsed member, please take a form and persuade them to join.

There were some returned magazines, either because the address was not quite right (apologies for getting some lines crossed when creating the new spreadsheet) or because members had moved or passed away and unfortunately we had not been informed of any changes. We still have one or two to track down, if at all possible.

As you will have read in the magazine, sadly several of our members passed away last year and more this year, the latest, to our knowledge, being Avril Petchey (Bowman; 1954) on 28th July; our thoughts are with their families and friends.

I get the impression that one of the reasons we could have ‘lost’ members over the years, is because they have not received information from us; there could be various reasons for this, but probably one being that we have had the wrong contact details and so have been unable to jog their memories to update us, and eventually they have lost interest.

We would be grateful if members could keep us up to date, not only with news of other members and old students, but also with your and their contact details; many people renewing subscriptions had changed e-mail addresses and some had moved house. If you have, or acquire, an e-mail address, please send it to us; I’m sure you will know that using e-mail to keep in touch and for sending you information about the BÖU activities saves us money.

On behalf of the Committee, I would like to thank you all for your support and for all the kind messages and donations, which came with many of the renewal forms; they were very much appreciated.

Finally I would like to thank Jenny for her work last year and her support, and I wish her well in the future. I also want to thank Rosemary for all her help, support and guidance with the IT aspects of being the Registrar. You could have waited a long time for the magazine if she hadn’t done the label document for me!

Christobel A. Elliott Anne Stuart thanked Christobel for her work in her various roles.

ARCHIVE REPORT As always, many thanks to all the Archive volunteers who help on a regular basis: Brenda Barton, Jane Claydon, Christobel Elliott, Alan Gamwell, Jackie Gibbs, Marg Kukoyi, Rosemary Moon, Gwen Seabrook Smith, Lesley Tipler.

Work continues on a number of projects – the Archive is usually a hive of activity on Wednesdays.

Madame Österberg’s dresser: Technically the dresser is the property of University of Greenwich, but a loan agreement for the dresser has been agreed with the University Archivist and the dresser has been transferred to the BÖU Archive, in time for the reunion. We were very excited to discover a photo in a 1910 album, showing the dresser in place in the dining room, confirming that this dresser is indeed ‘Madame’s dresser’ and she probably commissioned it for the new dining room in 1904.

Public talks: Lesley Tipler gave a talk to the Orpington Stroke Club in April this year and received a donation for the BÖU Archive. Lesley is happy to speak to other groups. Can anyone give us useful contacts? Lesley has made contact with the West Kent Federation of the WI. Lesley and Anne Stuart will audition to become approved WI speakers.

Photograph framing: The 1946 year group photo has been framed to conservation standards. This is particularly important to us as we have recently lost a number of 1946 students.

Website: The website is regularly updated. Recent statistics show over 5,000 visits and almost 42,000 page views since the website started in June 2015. There are over 6,300 BÖU catalogue entries available on our website. An exciting development is the recent addition to the BÖU website of the Kent Netball Archive catalogue.

Research: Jane Claydon is continuing her research and has completed booklets about early students. In the course of her research Jane has uncovered some interesting information about the families of Madame’s first students. Weare very grateful to Jane for continuing her fascinating research and for the booklets she has produced. These can be seen today in the Archive.

Andrus Award: Dartford Historical & Antiquarian Society has chosen the Bergman Österberg Union Archive to be the recipient of the Andrus Award for 2015. The Award is in recognition of the creation and launch of the BÖU website and online catalogue. The Award consists of a Certificate and a cheque for £100.00, which will be presented at the AGM scheduled for Friday 18th November at the Mick Jagger Centre.

We were approached by a design company collaborating with the painter Sir Peter Blake on a wayfinding scheme for Dartford town centre. Part of the scheme involves some panels that Sir Peter is producing of ‘Dartford icons’. We supplied an image of Madame Österberg which has been used on two of the ‘monolith signs’. One is located at the bottom of the stairs from the bus stops in Home Gardens, leading to the piazza outside the railway station and council offices. The other is outside the new Fairfield Sports Centre in Lowfield Street.

English Heritage have added photos of people to the information on their website about Blue Plaques and we were invited to provide a photo of Madame Österberg which is now visible on the page about the Blue Plaque at 1 Broadhurst Gardens, Hampstead.

The Future: We are looking forward to the outcome of the Future Forum workshops and hope that the future will hold many opportunities for the Archive’s excellent resources to be publicised more widely.

The Archive is continually developing and the best report is allowing the Archive to speak for itself, so please spend as much time with us today as you can manage.

Rosemary Moon Anne Stuart thanked Rosemary and the Archive Team for all their hard work.

The adoption of reports was proposed by Sue Hayes and seconded by Jan Grimsey and unanimously carried.

ELECTION OF OFFICERS of the EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE APPOINTMENT OF INDEPENDENT EXAMINER

 Our Treasurers, Christobel Elliott and Margaret Kukoyi agreed to continue for one last cycle of 3 years.  Committee members were willing to stand.  Rosemary Moon and Jane Claydon to be made full Committee members instead of co-opted members.  Our constitution is to be revised. Jill Ellis Williams proposed that the Committee be duly elected and this was seconded by Brenda Barton and unanimously accepted.

Roger Barton is happy to continue as our Independent Examiner and is very generous to give his time. Anne Stuart thanked Roger for his work.

The formal part of the meeting was now closed with thanks to the Secretary, Jill Ellis Williams. Anne Stuart thanked everyone for attending and Jill thanked Anne for taking the Chair.

Open Discussion.

Anne Stuart presented Amazon gift vouchers to the Archive team volunteers - Rosemary, Alan, Christobel and Gwen. Anne said that she couldn’t thank them enough for all their hard work on behalf of the BÖU.

Jo Harris gave an introduction to the Future Forum - ‘A strategic approach to the future’. We have had 3 meetings this year doing a SWOT analysis and felt that we do have real threats out there. The strategic groups are as follows: 1. Constitution - it is not fit for purpose 2. Alliances - Dartford Borough Council/University of Greenwich/ North Kent College 3. Funding 4. Marketing

Sue Jack and Gill Metcalfe both felt that we needed to look at charitable status. Jo then explained that the Committee meetings from 2017 will have very strategic aims for going forward. The meeting on 5th November will take it forward and will set out work for the next 5 years. Letters will go out to welcome any members to join the groups.

Anne Stuart thanked Jo Harris for leading and coordinating the Future Forum.

Hazel Chapman addressed members and thanked the Committee and the Archive team explaining that there is so much work done behind the scenes. She also told members that she checks that the Hampstead plaque is still in place.

Anne Stuart again thanked everyone for attending.

BERGMAN ÖSTERBERG UNION EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE 2017

Officers President Ken Challinor 2 Netherwood Close, Hastings, East Sussex, TN34 2RE. 01424 751741

Vice-Presidents Peter Boreham 2 Sackville Avenue, Hayes, Bromley, Kent, BR2 7JT. 020 8462 2228 [email protected]

Dr. Jo Harris 7 London Lane, Wymeswold, Loughborough, Leics., LE12 6UB. 01509 881934 [email protected]

Chairman Anne Stuart 4 Copperpenny Drive, Hempstead, Gillingham, Kent, ME7 3DT. 01634 366248 [email protected]

Hon. Secretary Jill Ellis Williams Hedge End, Old High Road, Yoxford, Suffolk, IP17 3HL. 01728 668704 [email protected]

Hon.Treasurer Christobel Elliott Benefit Fund Administrator 8 Ingatestone Road, Registrar Woodford Green, Essex, IG8 9AL. 020 8504 4387 [email protected]

Hon. Treasurer Margaret Kukoyi 49 Dene Drive, New Barn, Longfield, Kent, DA3 7JR. 01474 704027 [email protected]

Committee Members

Brenda Barton Jane Claydon (Research) (Newsletter Editor) Monypenny House, Burbank, 107 Darenth Road, 3 Seagate, Dartford, Kingsbarns, Kent, DA1 1NJ. Fife, KY16 8SR. 01322 225984 01334 880235 [email protected] [email protected]

Toni Cutler Jackie Gibbs 1 Greyladies Gardens, 12 Foxwood Grove, Wat Tyler Road, Rushmore Hill, London, SE10 8AU. Pratts Bottom, 020 3489 4928 Orpington, [email protected] Kent, BR6 7HA 01689 862061/07850 223552 [email protected]

Jan Grimsey (Reunion Organiser) Rosemary Moon (Archivist & 30 Coleridge Close, Honorary Member of the BÖU) Hitchin, 56 Darrick Wood Road, Herts, SG4 0QX. Orpington, 01462 642248 Kent, BR6 8AW. [email protected] 01689 890716/07960 793991 [email protected]

Awards and Presentations

Bergman Österberg Union Physical Education Award 2016

The award went to the student with the best independent study who is going into teaching. We had joint winners: Monica Rosembaum and Devon Simpson.

Monica’s study was on the History and Development of Paralympic Sport in Brazil. Monica’s achievement is all the more remarkable given that she is writing in a second language (her first being Portuguese). Unfortunately Monica could not join us on reunion day, as she was visiting her family in Portugal, but we presented her award at the Committee meeting in November. Monica is not starting her teacher training until 2017 and is getting experience this year ina school in Canada Wharf, London.

Devon Simpson is a mature student, direct entry from a Foundation course at North Kent College. His wife had a baby halfway through the year. Devon’s study was on ADHD in the UK Mainstream Classroom: Physical Education Teacher Perspective.

Devon is starting as an unqualified teacher initially and doing his training on the job via School Direct. We presented his award at our September reunion.

We congratulate both winners and wish them all the best for their future careers in teaching.

Devon photo

Awards and Presentations

ADHD IN THE UK MAINSTREAM CLASSROOM: PHYSICAL EDUCATION TEACHER PERSPECTIVE Devon John Simpson, BA (Hons) Physical Education and Sport 2016 Abstract "This preliminary study investigates the responses of educators whilst assessing and reviewing literature in order to gain an insight into the mainstream education setup, which ADHD diagnosed secondary school aged children receive within the classroom. Within the first section of the study, previous literature and sources are reviewed and the contents suggest that the British mainstream schooling system may be failing to provide a sound and fair setup for many ADHD students to academically succeed. The second and third sections use quantitative (2nd) & qualitative data (3rd) to provide an insight into Physical Education teacher perspective using a questionnaire and focus group method. Results suggest a mixture of opinion as to whether physical activity can be used as a beneficial intervention in improving classroom behaviour. Data also highlighted a definite lack of teacher training in managing ADHD behaviours alongside many common misconceptions about the condition. Observation also proved the difficulties mainstream schools face in providing a positive working environment for the students."

THE ROAD TO RIO 2016 – A CASE STUDY ABOUT THE DEVELOPMENT OF DISABILITY SPORT IN BRAZIL FROM ITS INCEPTION TO THE PRESENT Monica Marinho Rosembaum BA (Hons) Physical Education & Sport 2016 Abstract “The purpose of this case study is to describe the development of disability sport in Brazil as the country prepares to launch the Games of the XXXI Olympiad – the first ever Olympic and Paralympic Games to be held in South America. Initially, this study presents a short synopsis of the historical development of organised sports for disabled people. Subsequently it explores the reasons behind Brazil’s continuous improvement in national policies and how this has impacted on disability sport in the country over the years, backed by public investment into disability sport alongside with a change in media coverage that brought more attention to disability sport in the country. This improvement led Brazil to currently be in the ninth position in the Paralympics. Despite the many controversies that have shadowed the upcoming Rio 2016 such as the delays in the venues’ construction, poor ticket sales or the water pollution at Guanabara Bay, there is a bright future for disability sport in Brazil with an increase in funding and with the creation of new infrastructures such as the Brazilian Paralympic Centre that could take Brazilian disability sport to a new level.”

Awards and Presentations

The Dartford Historical & Antiquarian Society Andrus Award

It was my privilege to represent the BӦU Archive at the AGM of the Dartford Historical & Antiquarian Society (DHAS) to receive the Andrus Award 2015, which they had awarded to the BӦU Archive. The AGM took place at the Mick Jagger Centre in Dartford, on Friday 18th November 2016.

Rosemary Moon, our chief Archivist and leader of the Archive’s team, unfortunately was not able to attend due to a prior engagement. It was because of her loyal, dedicated and hard work that the BӦU Archive was considered a worthy recipient of the Andrus Award.

We had been nominated for the Award by Gwen & Martin Seabrook Smith, both members of the Archive team and also members of the DHAS. They nominated us for creating a website in 2015 as part of the celebrations marking the Centenary of Madame’s death and her legacy. This enables world wide access to the Archive database and provides an opportunity for the legacy of the BӦU to be perpetuated long after the current membership of the BӦU ceases to exist.

Dr. Mike Still, Chairman of the Dartford Historical & Antiquarian Society, presented the Andrus Award, which consisted of a generous cheque for the BÖU Archive and a beautifully framed certificate, which has been placed on Madame’s dresser in the Archive.

Following the presentation, Lesley Tipler spoke to those present about Madame Österberg and her College, illustrating her talk with a Powerpoint presentation of photographs from the BÖU Archive.

Margaret Kukoyi & Dr. Mike Still

FRANCIS SEDLEY ANDRUS, L.V.O., M.A.

Sedley Andrus died on 9 November 2009 aged 94. The son of Brigadier General Andrus, he was educated at Wellington College, St Peter’s Hall (now College), Oxford, where he was awarded a B.A. in history in 1938.

From 1926 to 1952 the family home was Hartley Court and then Scadbury Manor, Southfleet, when he became Lord of the Manor of Scadbury. In 1938 he became assistant to Alfred Butler, Windsor Herald of Arms, taking up his post again at the College of Arms after the war, now as assistant to Richmond Herald. In 1970 he was appointed Bluemantle Pursuivant, one of four such Heralds. In 1972 he became Lancaster Herald of Arms, one of the six Heralds. Finally, on retirement, he became the first Beaumont Herald Extraordinary.

During his 40-year career at the College of Arms he undertook considerable genealogical research and produced working documents on how to compile a pedigree and how to grant arms. He transcribed and translated old documents from Latin and produced Coats of Arms for clients. In his retirement he continued this work from home as well as extracting material from publications for the College.

He had ceremonial duties, wearing a Tabard at the State Opening of Parliament and the Annual Garter Service at Windsor Castle. For these services, in 1982, he was made a Licentiate of the Victorian Order by the Queen. He was present at the Queen’s Coronation in 1953. He was a Council member of the Kent Archaeological Society from 1979 to 1984; and President of the Dartford Historical and Antiquarian Society (DHAS) from 1974 to 1999. From 1969 he lived with his younger sister in Longfield.

Sedley is remembered as a kind, courteous and friendly gentleman. In the village he was regularly seen on his daily walks, which were a lengthy process as he would stop and chat to all he met.

Margaret Kukoyi (Welch; 1963)

Future Forum Report

The ‘Future Forum’ initiative was started during 2016 to develop a strategy to provide a secure and successful future for the BÖU. Three half-day Future Forum meetings took place during 2016, the first two involving members of the BÖU Executive and the third welcoming additional members who expressed an interest in being involved. Jo Harris led these meetings and used a ‘SWOT’ (strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, threats) style analysis to guide the development of a strategic approach to the future.

The first meeting in February 2016 focused on identifying key strengths and weaknesses of the BÖU and also opportunities for and threats to its existence and work. The second meeting in July 2016 involved reviewing the key strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats discussed in the first meeting and then developing strategies to maximise the strengths, minimise the weaknesses and to provide protection from threats through strategic action and making the most of available opportunities.

The outcomes of the July meeting were an agreed consensus on key strengths, weaknesses and threats and the creation of four strategy groups to focus on taking up agreed opportunities, as follows:

1. Constitution:to re-focus organisational structure to effect future desired outcomes and create an inclusive membership base. 2. Alliances: to secure a long-term guaranteed future for the BÖU through strengthening alliances with, for example, the University of Greenwich, North Kent College and Dartford Borough Council. 3. Funding: to seek and secure internal and external funding. 4. Marketing: to promote/market the BÖU/Archive/ alumni achievements to similar interest groups worldwide and to foster joint working relationships with organisations with similar interests.

The third meeting in November 2016 involved establishing membership of the four strategy groups which is as follows:

Constitution: Jill Ellis (Chair), Margaret Angus, Hazel Chapman, Lynn Key, Ken Challinor, Jan Grimsey, and Val Payne. Alliances: Anne Stuart (Chair), Toni Cutler, Peter Boreham, Rosemary Moon, Margaret Kukoyi, Migs Trimingham and Penny Hargreaves. Funding: Jackie Gibbs (Chair), Sue Hayes and Michele Verokken. Marketing: Jane Claydon (Chair), Christobel Elliott, Brenda Barton, Joan Mills, Lesley Tipler and Cathy Hickey.

During the meeting, each strategy group considered the following: precise objectives; outcomes/success indicators; timelines; actions to achieve the intended outcomes; and working arrangements (e.g. face-to-face meetings, -e mail contact). This led to the production of plans outlining actions for the following time periods: 3 and 6 months, and 1, 3 years and 5 years.

It was agreed at the meeting that the chairs of the four strategy groups will report back at each BÖU Committee meeting during 2017 and the work of the groups will be reviewed annually.

It was also agreed that the Chair and Secretary of the BÖU (plus Jo Harris) will oversee the work of the groups to ensure communication, collaboration and coherence.

The groups are now busy ‘actioning’ their 3 and 6 month plans and we hope to reap the rewards of a renewed focus to provide a secure and successful future for the BÖU.

Jo Harris (Maunsell; 1976)

Madame - a Dartford Icon

In common with many UK towns and cities, Dartford Council recently decided to enhance the town centre with new wayfinding signs. The most significant of these are twelve so-called ‘monoliths’ which are strategically placed in and around the High Street. Each monolith is double–sided with up-to-date maps of the town centre and directions to important buildings.

However, unlike those in other towns, they also display pictures and information about eminent Dartford people, or ‘Dartford icons’ as the Council have named them. Dartford Council appointed Allpointswest, a design company who worked alongside Dartford-born artist Sir Peter Blake to create an attractive and colourful design scheme for the project. Sir Peter Blake is perhaps best known as co-creator of the sleeve design for the Beatles' album Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band but is also known for his distinctive and colourful geometric designs some of which now adorn our waymarkers.

You can imagine how pleased we felt when the Archive was approached early last year to provide a picture of Madame Österberg for the project. This we duly did and now her face appears on two monoliths along with a short biographical note. One has been placed outside the newly refurbished Fairfield Leisure Centre, and the other in Home Gardens at the foot of the steps leading up to the station. On the opposite face of each of these is Dartford-born football manager and coach Malcolm Allison.

Other icons include Mick Jagger & Keith Richards (of course!), Anne of Cleves who lived in the Manor House, Dartford from 1553 to 1557, the Cornish engineer Richard Trevithick who is buried in Dartford, a number of local entrepre- neurs and business people and Sir Peter Blake himself. It is good to know that Madame and her legacy are commemorated in such an accessible way in Dartford.

Gwen Seabrook Smith

‘Greenwich Portraits’ the ‘Spirit of Dartford’ is alive and well

One of the hallmarks of early 21st century life is the ‘cult of celebrity’ and our increasing enthusiasm to mark and commemorate the achievements of people who have made an outstanding contribution to their particular field. Halls, walls and walks of fame have become a focus for the veneration of the world’s high achievers whether in the realms of sport, art, film, or music.

Ingrained British ‘reserve’ has perhaps inhibited us in the past from publicly celebrating our own ‘celebrities’ and high achievers - especially in the world of academia. This situation is changing apace.

Individual colleges and universities are becoming more pro-active in promoting their ‘success stories’. Success breeds success. It also attracts funding and sponsorship. Students increasingly want to be identified with colleges and universities that have a proven track record of outstanding achievement. Madame’s Dartford College was, of course, a precursor for this type of renowned success-orientated institution with a reputation for excellence!

The University of Greenwich is naturally very proud of its 190,000 alumni in more than 160 different countries, some of whom are now household ‘names’. In May 2016, the University of Greenwich organised a photographic exhibition at its new Stockwell Street, Greenwich site to showcase some of its most illustrious alumni.

Professor David Maguire (University Vice Chancellor) and Sarah Cretch (Acting Head of Alumni and Development) had the inspirational idea of commissioning award-winning photographer Diane Patrice to prepare a stunning set of portraits of alumni taken at different localities in and around Greenwich.

The outstanding alumni featured in the commissioned portraits represented different decades and different academic disciplines; all of the alumni featured had excelled in their own particular way.

Our very own BÖU alumna Patron, Ann Brightwell MBE, Olympic Gold and Silver Medal winner at Tokyo in 1964 was featured prominently in the exhibition. One could certainly not miss the giant size portrait of Ann in the exhibition entrance gallery! Ann was photographed in front of the union flag proudly wearing her Gold Olympic medal. Ann had, of course, obtained her Certificate in Education from the university’s predecessor, Dartford College of Physical Education. Each of the portraits displayed in the exhibition was accompanied by a short narrative about the person featured. Of her time at Dartford, Ann commented:

“We had a fantastic selection of lecturers, at the top of their field. It was very demanding and tiring but we lapped it up. Most students excelled at one particular sport; to find others who were so good at their sport kept us all on our toes and made us work harder. I had to do my athletics training at the end of the day, after lectures. It made me stronger.”

Unfortunately, Ann was unable to attend the actual launch of ‘Greenwich Portraits’ but Anne Stuart, our illustrious Chair, and I were able to represent the BÖU at the opening event.

Ann Brightwell our Patron would have been bemused to see that her achievements were celebrated alongside a diverse range of other alumni, including Jamie Adenuga (UK Grime Artist and Producer); Jason Turner (Director Deutsche Bank); Baroness Lawrence of Clarendon OBE (Equality Campaigner and Life Peer); Sir Charles Kao KBE (Father of Fibre Optics); and Shabina Begum (Family Lawyer and international human rights activist) – to name but a few!

We were delighted to have the opportunity to publicise the work of the BÖU to some of the assembled throng and enjoyed the non-Olympic ‘sport’ of chasing canapés! The exhibition launch was well organised and very enjoyable.

The main focus of the evening was to listen to a series of short talks given by some of the inspirational alumni present. These individuals had been given the opportunity, by the university, to embark on studies which completely transformed their lives, and later - acted as the catalyst for transforming the lives of many other people.

Some of the speakers were people who might easily have been ‘written off’ as failures as youngsters but had been given the chance, by the university, to study. The university saw the potential in them, and in all cases, that potential was fully realised.

We got the impression that the University of Greenwich is a very caring and encouraging institution that has the best interests of its students at heart.

The ‘back stories’ that the speakers presented were truly inspirational. Here were seemingly very ordinary people who, through education and perseverance, had gone on to do the most extraordinary special things that were making a significant positive impact on our world. Many of the speakers were also ‘giving back’ to the educational community by sharing their skills, experience, enthusiasm and work placement opportunities with the present generation of university students.

The ‘Spirit of Dartford’, engendered and passed on by Madame Österberg to successive generations of Dartford students, has no doubt transformed the lives and opportunities of many pupils and PE students across the world. That ‘Spirit of Dartford’ is still very much alive within the University of Greenwich, albeit in a slightly different context.

We can be proud that the present and future generations of Greenwich students are being equipped and encouraged to be ‘world changers’, and to seize the opportunities that education can provide. The BÖU is delighted that links with the University of Greenwich are strong and are constantly being strengthened. Our thanks go to Professor David Maguire, Sarah Cretch, Jimena Preciado Lopez and Martyn Stephenson for organising and masterminding this celebratory exhibition and for inviting the BÖU to be represented in (and at) this very special event. A fully illustrated catalogue to the ‘Greenwich Portraits’ exhibition has been deposited in the BÖU Archive.

Peter Boreham

OUR RESEARCH

Madame’s Girls

The material for this article has been taken from booklets written by Jane Claydon and available in the BÖU Archive.

 Madame’s first students 1885- 1895. ©Jane Claydon  Dartford 1895- 1900. ©Jane Claydon  Madame Bergman Österberg’s Students: A list of students ready between 1901 – 1906. ©Jane Claydon  Madame Bergman Österberg’s Students: An incomplete list of students ready between 1907-1910. ©Jane Claydon  Madame Bergman Österberg’s Students: A list of students ready between 1911- 1914 ©Jane Claydon

Undertaking research about Madame’s students has been a fascinating project. I started with her first students at Hampstead in 1885 and I am progressing towards her final student intake in 1914. The amount of information available about each student varies greatly. The census returns have been very useful as has ancestry.com. Not all students decided to join the BÖU, let alone send information for inclusion in the annual BÖU magazine, first published in 1917.

Madame’s Student Record Book was started in 1900 but information about the students entering between 1907 and 1911 is missing. I enjoyed following up these students as I had to firstly acquire their names from team lists and Madame’s Registers and then guess at their first names, before entering information into ancestry.com as, of course, only initials were used at that time. Who would have come up with Millie Rohilla Moon, but I found her by chance. The 1901 and 1911 Census returns were very helpful. When I found a strong possibility and the occupation was listed as teacher of Swedish gymnastics I felt I was home and dry. I had limited success with some students and particularly with those coming from Scotland and Ireland. They were particularly difficult to identify.

I was struck by the number of students who entered college after their father’s death. Presumably they found themselves needing to embark on a career. A number were also the daughters of Quakers, or of Congregational, Wesleyan and Church of Scotland Ministers. Quaker schools such as The Mount, York and Polam Hall in Darlington encouraged games for girls at an early stage as did schools such as Milton Mount College, founded in Gravesend for the daughters of Congregational Ministers and the Ministers’ Daughters’ College in Edinburgh. I was interested to see that Ethel Louise Squire (1899) who was teaching at Milton Mount College, prior to 1908, sent three girls to Dartford in the early 1900s. A good number of students went off to teach in South Africa or Australia. Some of the early students chose to concentrate on massage and start their own businesses, sometimes joining up with another old student. Others taught in schools which no longer exist or were absorbed into other schools decades ago.

I have used for this article material which has not been highlighted in previous articles or on the BÖU website. Frances S. P. Partridge Jackson (1892) was born in 1873 in Wroxham, Norfolk. MBÖ’s Report 1893 stated: Teaching at Bryn Mawr School, Baltimore for one year. (Bryn Mawr School was established as the feeder for Bryn Mawr College in Philadelphia. The two institutions are frequently confused. MBÖ recorded in her 1893 report p 29:

Bryn Mawr School near Baltimore has introduced the Swedish System of gymnastics, and boasts a perfectly fitted up gymnasium.

MBÖ’s Report 1895 stated Frances was in private practice in London and teaching fencing. MBÖ’s Report 1896-98 stated: Frances was working in Redhill, Reigate, Haywards Heath and Brighton. Frances was interested in anthropometrical measurements. The 1898 Old Students and their posts indicated Frances was in private practice in Putney.

The Journal of Education 1894 published an advertisement: Miss F. Partridge- Jackson, late Director of Gymnastics at Bryn Mawr School, Hampstead Physical Training College Certificate. Certificated teacher of Sloyd is prepared to accept Engagements in Schools and Colleges. Subjects: Swedish Gymnastics, Fencing, Sloyd, Wood-carving, Swimming, Cricket and Tennis etc. Patients visited for Medical Gymnastics and Massage. London address Great Russell Street, WC.

Hannah Beakbane (1895) was born on 13th December 1876 at Penketh, Lancashire. Her home address was The Heath, Stourport. The Census 1891 recorded she was a pupil at Sidcot School, aged 14. MBÖ’s report 1898 stated: Teaching at Brighthelmston, Birkdale Park, and Southport. In 1920 Hannah sailed to Australia. Her occupation was listed as Gym. Teacher. She returned in 1922 and died in 1943 in Buckinghamshire. The children were all given an education at the Mount in York, Ackworth, or Sidcot. Henry Hall's Quakerism led him to believe and practice, that education was to develop all the faculties and potential of the person. When the five girls completed their training, they all had ability to earn their own living. One was a qualified nurse,two held diplomas in physical training from Dartford College, and another was a nursery and junior school teacher. See – https://www.facebook.com/STOURPORTPAST/posts/885909918127862

Hannah’s sister, Mary Edith Beakbane, born in 1881 completed her course at Dartford in 1902. (Jonathan May, in his book, page 136, has assumed the two Beakbane sisters were one student. There was no student known as H.M.E. Beakbane who left college in 1895.)

Ethel Louise Squire (1899) was born in 1877 in Ealing. Her father was a pianoforte manufacturer, employing 60 men and boys. In 1901 the Census recorded she was teaching at Milton Mount College which, at that time, was in Gravesend. By 1908 she was teaching at St George’s High School, Edinburgh.

Florence Philippa Bailhache (Mrs H.H. Courtney) (1900) was born in 1879 St. Helier, Jersey. Her father was a corn merchant employing 20 men. The Census in 1901 stated she was teaching at Southfield School, in Dorchester. In 1904 she married Harold Hugh Courtney who was a court dressmaker/milliner and Florence became a ladies tailor and dressmaker. Florence died in Ealing in 1953.

Florence Maria Wyld (1904) was born on 25th July 1878 in Westbury, Wiltshire. Her father was a clergyman. She was educated at Godolphin School and St Hugh’s, Oxford. By 1913 Florence’s address was Chaderghat, Hyderabad, and Deccan. Godolphin School records show she was Principal of Mahbubia Girls’

School, Hyderabad, Deccan, India from 1909 to 1919 and wrote her memoirs titled My India—The India of 65 years ago. She was later Joint-Principal of Boston House, and Eastbourne. She died in 1974.

Dorothea Denise Cowles (Mrs Charles Cowles Voysey) (1905) was born in 1883. She attended Saint Felix School, Southwold. She married Charles Voysey, a well known architect, in 1912. He was the son of C.F.A. Voysey, the Arts and Craft movement furniture/textiles/wallpaper designer. Dorothea died in Hendon in 1980.

Sybil Mary Beatrice Hoare (1906) was born in 1884. Her father was a banker with his private family bank, C. Hoare and Company. Sybil had a governess until she was fourteen. In 1901 Sybil was attending St Winifred’s School in Eastbourne. College records indicate she then attended Wycombe Abbey School. Ancestry.com suggests that Sybil’s mother, Beatrice Holme Sumner, was the daughter of the family who lived at Hatchlands Park. Beatrice met Sybil’s father, Charles Hoare, when she was fifteen on the hunting field. Beatrice had an affair with him, became his mistress and had two children with him, Sybil and also a son. This was considered scandalous behaviour at the time. Beatrice did not marry Charles Hoare but married Charles Fry, a well known cricketer, in 1898. While at college Sybil was one of the few students who had played lacrosse at school and was therefore able to help introduce the game to the other students in her year. The 1908 Register states that Sybil was teaching at Heathfield School, Ascot. She was also there in 1911 and 1913. She died in 1975. The story of Sybil’s parents is of interest:

Charles Hoare and Beatrice Sumner are both mentioned in Nautical Training Ships: an illustrated History, Phil Carradice. They were both involved with the founding of training ship T.S. Mercury in 1885. The aim was to rescue poor boys and train them for naval service. Charles was dismissed from his role as a senior partner of the Bank in 1888 as a result of his absence from work to engage in sporting pursuits. Charles was an accomplished sportsman and excelled at cricket, tennis and riding. Beatrice received an OBE, in 1918, for her work. The book explains the family circumstances in more detail. It records how Charles was taken to court as a result of his two illegitimate children, he was almost imprisoned. http://her-stories.co.uk/indomitable-beatie-beatrice-fry-1862-1946/ https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/hatchlands-park/features/the-scandalous- beatie-sumner-at-hatchlands-park

Evelyn Mary Trethowan (Mrs Oram) (1910) was born in Salisbury, Wiltshire on 25th March 1891. Her father was a solicitor. Evelyn was teaching at Queen Margaret’s, Scarborough in 1911 and 1913. Miss Trethowan is mentioned in the Old Scarborians Magazine Summer Times available on line. Volume 58 - November 2009. The Magazine reproduces an account, written by Winifred Holtby, then a pupil at Queen Margaret’s School aged 16, of the girls’ flight from school on 16th December 1914 when Scarborough was bombarded: Miss Trethowan ran behind, helping stragglers, encouraging, laughing and being just the brick she is. It was an awful responsibility but she bore it capitally. We crossed the line into Seamer valley. Along the road was a stream of refugees…

Dorothy Eileen Davies (Mrs Frank Bayly) (1911) was born in 1891 in Penarth, Glamorgan. Her father was a journalist. She attended Hutchesons’ High School. Her first post was at the High School for Girls in Glasgow and she was still teaching there in 1913. Waveney, Dorothy’s daughter, provided the following information about her Mother’s college friends: While she was a pupil at Bedales, Waveney’s Mother went to watch her perform on some special occasion. Dorothy was placed in a seat next to Isabel Grier (also 1911) who also had a daughter at Bedales, although they did not realise the connection until that moment. Waveney remembered meeting some of the other 1911 students: Gertie Nicol, who played lacrosse for Scotland in 1914, Georgina Hutton, who she called Ena, from Glasgow, Dorothy Perkin and Lorna Bowser, who Waveney said did not marry.

M.C. (Margaret Cecilia) Blower, listed as right half on a 1911-1912 team list, was a member of staff, not a student, known at college as Peggy Blower. She was born in Clapham. She is listed on the 1911 Census as a student of Natural Sciences at Girton College. The Girton College Register 1868—1948 on page 190 gives these details: Margaret Cecilia Blower was born on 14th June 1899. She was the daughter of John Henry Blower, Professor of Singing at the Royal College of Music and was educated at Clapham High School and then Girton from 1908 – 1911. She was a lecturer in Physiology and Biology at Madame Österberg’s Physical Training College, Dartford between 1911 and 1914. She married Frederick Thomas Saville on 29th August 1914.

Lizzie Maria Elliott (1913) was born in Kyneton, Victoria in 1887 and was twenty five when she arrived at college. Her address was Melbourne, Australia. She had been educated in Melbourne and she paid her own account. The 1913 Register indicates she had been appointed to teach at the Presbyterian Ladies College, East Melbourne, Australia. Immigration records show after completing her course Lizzie returned to Australia, arriving in Melbourne on 26th January 1914. 34

Dorothy Mabel Hanson (1913) was born in Liverpool on 7th February 1891. Her father was a chemist and a ‘druggist’. She attended Liverpool High School and in 1913 she is recorded as teaching at the Girls’ High School, Southend. In the BÖU Report 1915-1917, Dorothy M. Hanson is listed as Assistant Lecturer in Anatomy and Remedial Exercise at college. By 1922 she appears to have qualified as a doctor and, in 1930, was recorded as the Medical Officer to the college. An entry on ancestry.com states she was teaching at Bergman Österberg’s Physical Training College at the time of her death on 21st March 1936.

Irene Cynthia Le Mesurier (Mrs Lisle Marles Humphreys, later Lady Peacock) (1913) was born in Kensington in 1892. Her mother died in 1903 and her father, Thomas Augustus Le Mesurier, a retired Army Officer and author died in 1906. It is likely she was a member of the Guernsey based family of Le Mesuriers. Irene married twice, for the first time in 1915 but she divorced Mr Humphreys and married again in 1927. Irene’s second husband was Sir Walter Peacock, a Liberal Party politician and barrister. He worked for the Prince of Wales, later King Edward VIII. Irene is described as a Royal Biographer and cookery writer. She published a book for children about Princess Elizabeth and Prince Charles called The Story of HRH Princess Elizabeth: As Told, Mainly for Children in 1949, Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II Her Life in Service as Princess Elizabeth in 1959 and H.R.H. Prince Charles in 1952. This seems surprising if she was a divorcee. She was also author of An Authoritative Account, The Adventure of Cooking, Cooking is Exciting and Beating Austerity in the Kitchen. There are six portraits of her in the National Portrait Gallery. Irene died in 1975.

Agnes May Dickson (Mrs Cameron) (1914) was born in Kippen in about 1894. Her father was the Revd. John Gavin Dickson and the family originally lived at The Manse, Kippen in Perthshire. Her father’s vocation is presumably how May came to attend the Ministers’ Daughters’ College, Edinburgh. May was entered for college on the Ready 1913 list and then seems to have deferred as she then appears on the Ready 1914 list. May played lacrosse for Scotland in the very first international lacrosse matches in 1913 and again in 1914. She continued to play in 1917 when her address was recorded as Wakefield High School for Girls.

This information gives an indication of the path some of Madame’s girls took after completing their training. The student’s family background, in some cases, indicated their future direction, but many seemed interested in travel and went off to work in different parts of the Empire. Others married and had interesting lives supporting their husbands’ work and interests which was usual in that era.

OUR RESEARCH Madame’s students in South Africa: 1893 and beyond Some of Madame’s students continued her pioneering work in various parts of the Empire and South Africa was a particularly popular destination. A number of her students had been born in South Africa but they did not necessarily return there to live and work. I have not included them in this account, merely the students who went to South Africa to teach or to undertake massage or remedial work. The information listed here is not definitive; more information about these students is likely to be available in the BÖU Archive.

Vida Sturge (1893) was educated at Sidcot School and was the first of Madame’s students to go out to South Africa to teach. Vida was appointed to The Collegiate School in Port Elizabeth in 1893. She returned to the UK in 1896 and in 1898 she was in private practice, working at the Swedish Gymnasium, in Sheffield. The Census in 1901 recorded she was a gymnastics teacher at St Peter’s Memorial Home, which was connected to Sheffield High School. By 1911 Vida was undertaking Parish Mission work in Birmingham and eventually she became a nun.

Georgina Ada Rees (Mrs Robert Henry Struben) (1903) was born in about 1882. She was taught by a governess for seven years, attended Bedford High School for four years, followed by one year in Germany. She was invited to teach at Wynberg Girls’ School in South Africa, in 1908. A comment in the Student’s Record Book suggested she wished to return to South Africa. The History of Wynberg School online states:

Wynberg was the first girls' school in South Africa to have a fully qualified Physical Education teacher, Miss Dolly Rees who studied in London. A gymnasium was erected in 1900, and a hockey field was laid out.… Activities at school were hockey, cricket and tennis.

Caroline Gwendoline Mullings (1904) was in September 1883 in Cirencester. Her father was a solicitor. She was educated at home and then spent four years at Godolphin. The 1908 Register states she was teaching at Wimbledon High School, as does the 1911 census. Caroline sailed to South Africa on 3rd August 1912 and was teaching at St Michael’s Home, Bloemfontein, South Africa in 1913. (The BÖU Magazine 1936 stated she had taught at the Rustenburg Girls’ High School, in Rondebosch since 1914.)

Anna Farnie (or Fannie) Smith Ranken (Mrs Thomas Maynard Parkinson) (1905) was born in Edinburgh and was the younger sister of Elizabeth Ranken (1903). Anna was teaching at Roedean School, Johannesburg, South Africa in 1908.

Jessie Willis (1906) younger sister of Mary (1902) was born in Lancashire in about 1885. After working with other medical gymnasts in Cambridge, Jessie went to teach at The Wesleyan High School, Grahamstown, South Africa in 1913.

Muriel A.B. Moir (1908) was born in St Andrews in 1887. After completing her training at college she taught at Bentley Priory, Wycombe Abbey and, during World War I, at Fry’s Chocolate Factory in Bristol. In 1921 Muriel accepted a three year contract to teach in the Government High School, Wynberg, Cape Town, South Africa and she remained there until she retired in 1942. Muriel was instrumental in the development of women’s cricket in South Africa and became the premier hockey umpire in South Africa.

Ida L. Stewart (1908) was born in South Africa in 1879. Her father was a medical and a religious missionary and Head of a Mission, called Lovedale, in South Africa. It was 700 miles north east of Cape Town. He started a medical school and developed the founding scheme for the South African Native College, now the University of Fort Hare. He died before Ida completed her training. Dr James Stewart joined the mission in 1867 having previously, between 1861-63 and partly in the company of David Livingstone, explored the Zambezi regions. Ida was appointed to teach at Wynberg Girls’ School in South Africa in 1909. She joined Georgina Ada Rees (1903) teaching drill and games. Ida left in 1916 to undertake massage work at the Wynberg Military Hospital.

Margaret Millicent Lawrence (Mrs Harris) (1910) was born in New Zealand in 1889. She was a niece of the Lawrence family who founded Roedean. Her father, Henry Lakin Lawrence, was the eldest son. He was a mining engineer and worked in various parts of the world, including South Africa. In 1898 Margaret was a bridesmaid at the wedding of Christabel Lawrence (Hampstead 1887) to Leslie Cope Cornford. By 1901, Margaret was a pupil at Roedean and, after completing her college course, she returned to teach at the school. In 1912, she left to take up a post at Roedean, Johannesburg. Margaret married in 1917 and later lived in Benoni, in the Transvaal.

Winifred Henson (Mrs Yell) (1910). In 1913 she was teaching at the High School for Girls, Kimberley, S.A. Winifred was Captain of the South African Women’s Hockey Touring Team in 1929 and jointly published a book about hockey with Miss H.E. Millen. She had strong links with the Pretoria High School where she taught between 1920-22 and 1940-45. In 1964 she was President of the Northern Transvaal Women’s Hockey Association. Winifred was a keen Old Student and, in 1978, said she was still interested in hockey.

Gladys O. Campell (Mrs John Hepburn) (1911) was brought up in South Africa. Her father was Sir Marshall Campbell, a pioneer of the sugar industry in Natal. After college she taught at St Leonards and then returned to South Africa. She married in December 1918. Her sister Killie and brother William set up The Killie Campbell Collection of Africana, a museum of South African artefacts, housed at Muckleneuk, the family home in Durban.

Doris Faraday Brewtnall (1911) was orphaned aged thirteen. Her father, Edward Frederick Brewtnall, was an eminent Victorian artist. After qualifying Doris taught at Wolverhampton High School and in 1913 she was teaching at the High School for Girls, Dudley. She went to South Africa in 1916 to take up a post as Games Mistress at St Cyprians’ School, Cape Town.

Winifred Margaret Pullen Burry (1911) was born in 1886 in Liphook, Hampshire. Her father was a surgeon. She left England in 1915 and went to Durban. She returned to the UK from Durban in January 1916 and went back to South Africa in February 1916. Her name was listed on the UK Physiotherapy and Masseuse Register 1920-22 and her residence was given as South Africa. A later professional list dated 1920-1935 suggested she was a Medical Gymnast.

Elfrida Wilhelmina Louise Dircks (1912) was born in South African Cape Colony in 1883. She was a German citizen and her father was a merchant. In 1913 Elfrida was listed on Madame’s Register as teaching at the Collegiate School for Girls in Port Elizabeth, South Africa. By 1917, Elfrida’s name appears on a UK Physiotherapy and Masseuse Register. Her training appears to have been provided by a Dr Mary Coghill-Hawkes. Elfrida gained a Medical Electrical Certificate in July 1917 and became an ISTM Certificate holder. In September 1917 she left Plymouth to return to South Africa.

Notes: An internet search states: The Swedish Institute was founded in 1904 by Dr Mary Coghill-Hawkes. It was the first such school in Britain, giving a training based on that of Dr Avredsen’s school in Stockholm. The Institute awarded its own certificates and entered students for the ISTM examinations.

It seems that even in South Africa Madame’s students worked in the same schools, sometimes together or perhaps inheriting a post from another student. Wynberg seemed to be a popular school as was Roedean, Johannesburg and The Collegiate School in Port Elizabeth.

NEWS FROM DARTFORD STUDENTS

Visit to Waveney Bayly, daughter of Dorothy E. Davies (1911)

In June 2016 Gill Aitkenhead and Jane Claydon went to Kilmacolm, to visit Waveney, the daughter of one of Madame’s students, Dorothy Davies (Mrs Bayly) who left college in 1911. Dorothy was a very faithful old student who contributed news to the BÖU Magazine.

Waveney was extremely welcoming. She chooses to propel herself around her flat on a seat with wheels, as opposed to a wheel chair, and she manages to do this very efficiently.

Jane took some photographs of students who had been at college with Waveney’s mother and we enjoyed looking at the rather impractical hairstyles. Waveney was able to tell me something about some of her Mother’s college friends. Apparently, while she was a pupil at Bedales, Waveney’s Mother went to watch her perform on some special occasion. Dorothy was placed in a seat next to Isabel Grier (also 1911) who also had a daughter at Bedales, although they did not realise the connection until that moment.

Waveney remembered meeting some of the other 1911 students: Gertie Nicol, who played lacrosse for Scotland in 1914, Georgina Hutton, whom she called Ena, from Glasgow, Dorothy Perkin and Lorna Bowser, who Waveney said did not marry. Waveney also talked about Ada Reid, one of Madame’s students who left college in 1901.

Ada is mentioned in a biography about Jean Milligan: Dance with your soul1. Jean was the founder of the Scottish Country Dance Society, and Ada had taught her gymnastics at Glasgow High School. It was clear that Dorothy had known Ada well as Waveney referred to her as Aunt Ada. Gill and I were amused that Waveney informed us that Ada had boyfriends, even though she did not marry and we were also told that Gill was arranging the flowers we took to Waveney, in a vase that had been a gift from Ada.

Then Ann McGarva (Ross; 1952) arrived on a mobility scooter. Gill quickly assumed the role of hostess and soon organised tea and shortbread for us all. It was quite difficult to have a conversation which included all four of us, so I sat on the floor and chatted to Ann, while Gill talked to Waveney about the various families in the area they knew in common. Ann told me she went to St Columba’s School, Kilmacolm, where all the gymnastics and games staff had been trained at Dartford and continued to be for a very long time.

Ann commented that her father did not feel Dunfermline College was the best college and his daughter had to go to the best one (Jean Milligan’s father had made a very similar statement in 19052). Ann recalled they also considered Anstey, as her father had business interests in Birmingham, but definitely not Chelsea, because it was considered a Church of England College. Ann indicated that between 1950–1952 most students at college had attended independent schools.

She also said that her set had to do gym in their bra and pants for the whole of their first term. She commented that everyone was thin, as it was not long after the war and no one was big.

Ann was asked if she had a BÖU brooch but she said in her era you had to buy one and she opted not to do so. Waveney said her mother’s brooch had been passed to Sheila Cutler (this is kept in the BÖU Archive collection).

We were interested to learn that Dorothy Davies (Mrs Bayly) had kept in touch with members of her set and that Waveney grew up knowing these friends and hearing many stories about college and Madame. Ann confirmed the accepted fact that, from early times, Dartford students came from schools where they had been taught by Dartford trained staff and in turn their pupils went as students to Dartford College.

1.Dance with your soul. A biography of Jean Milligan. MacFadyen & Adams. Published by the RSCD Society 1983. See pages 21 to 25. 2.Ibid page 21

Gill Aitkenhead (1972) and Jane Claydon (1968)

L-R Waveney Bayly Gill Aitkenhead Ann McGarva

News from Australia from Margaret Gill (Gaitskell; 1951)

I cannot believe that Christmas has come and gone once again! Where did the year go to? After almost 60 years in Australia, I am used to a warm, or sometimes, hot Christmas but we mostly stick to the traditional meal and I make the plum puddings and the brandy sauce. I love receiving cards and letters and enjoy looking at the cards displayed on a wall and I can think about who has sent them.

Once the New Year has begun, with it's fireworks and the annual showing of the Edinburh Tattoo on T.V., much of the news is about the many sporting activities that are being played here. Cricket Test matches against Pakistan; local state cricket; the cricket "Big Bash" league, men and women; and the start of the tennis season with the world's stars arriving for preliminary tournaments preparing them for the Australian Open here in Melbourne. That's when the hot weather usually starts and I really don't know how they perform at times.

I get around, but not as quickly as I would like to do. We still belong to Probus and go on their day trips and holidays. We are in the Church Choir and the Carol concert was well received. We will have a new choir director starting in February. January is holiday month for schools so nothing much starts until everyone comes back from holidays. Our four families are each off in different directions within Australia. Going overseas is much easier than it was but distance is still a big factor. Our eldest son went to a conference in the U.S.A. in November. His partner went to a conference in Shanghai and that is where our 10 year-old granddaughter went on a school exchange [they didn't meet]. Harrison, 16, went to Germany for a month in November. Our eldest grandson has settled into a plumbing apprenticeship after much uncertainty about what he wanted to do. His sister starts her fourth year teaching degree. Lachlan has a very good H.S.C. result and is waiting to start Electrical Engineering.

We will be going on a short holiday later this month to the High Plains with a small touring bus company. Then later we'll meet up with the family at the Ski lodge for some walks before the snow arrives.

I hear from Sheila [Gell] who now is on the internet. Betty [Lycett] sent a card and letter. A card from Jennifer [Rowlett]. Nothing from Catherine {Martineau] since she sent some lovely postcards of Dartmoor and the ponies in the villages. No news of Ann Tilley. I knew she was moving last year so tried her mobile but the message was returned. She was always in touch with Cynthia [Bickers]. I also had a letter from Pat [Townsend] who was my Grandjunior and who now lives in Queensland.

I think that that is more than enough from me. Regards to all the Committee, who keep the wheels turning. 41

A Reunion In The Year In Which Most Hit 75!

On a sunny summer Saturday, 18th June 2016, 30 ex-students of Dartford CPE (1959-1962) met in a Warwickshire garden.

Having travelled from Cornwall, Northumberland and places in between in the UK, and with 2 from Canada, there was much catching up to do. Starting with coffee and biscuits at 11 most were assembled by lunch at 1.30. A Welsh contingent had been flummoxed by the weekend working on the M40, but were with us in time for the main course. Luckily they were staying overnight in the village so were able to catch up later. A number were not able to be present due to other commitments, continental travel, Golden Weddings, grandchildren’s parties and ill health. Some had sent a brief resume of what they were doing in their lives now and with anecdotes on the day a fuller resume with photos was put together and e-mailed or sent hard copy to everyone in the group who are still in touch.

Most left after tea but a hard core enjoyed a sundowner round the chiminea till quite late evening.

A thoroughly good day

Anna Grinonneau (Cartland; 1962 ) Hostess

After Dinner Cornucopia

Dear Dartford Colleagues,

Christobel suggested that I might like to put together some stories which I was privileged to deliver when asked to be the after dinner speaker at the BÖU Centenary Dinner last year. When I say “asked” you will all appreciate that when Toni Cutler phones first, followed very speedily by Anne Stuart, then there can only be one reply. And that can only be in the affirmative!

And so, as I was always taught at Dartford to make notes, stick to them and then file them away for the future, the following comes to you with my apologies to those of you who were and are undoubtedly better Dartford students than I was or ever will be. But I did enjoy the experience!

After hearing such a wonderful introduction from Ken Challinor, the only person who would expect me to stand up would be my mother!

I make a lot of speeches and they can’t all be different I’m afraid – inevitably I repeat myself. Much of what I am about to say now I used in a speech recently at Wormwood Scrubs and Holloway prisons – so I do apologise if any of you have heard it before!

Our first lecture was swimming when we were asked to swim a width of each stroke. As my name started with an A, I was first to be asked to swim butterfly. Well, I had never seen butterfly let alone swum it, and after a brief conversation with my fellow students, in I went, swam a width of said stroke and emerged triumphant, I thought, at the other end. Miss Macintyre looked at me and said in her soft Scottish accent – “that was very nice Miss Aitkenhead, but usually we expect you to swim on top of the water, not on the bottom of the pool”. So, something had been lost in communication between my colleagues and I!

I was the fill in reserve for college matches – when the other 92 in our year were unavailable. I was actually the secret weapon, as no one, including me, knew what I was going to do next! But to be fair, I excelled at running on with the oranges at halftime and I painted a mean hockey ball!

Dartford was the first time that I had ever played cricket and I remember being told to stand at a spot which I was told was called “silly mid off”. I muttered softly, I thought, under my breath “more like stupid mid off”, only to be heard by Toni Cutler whose glare could have melted my Acme Thunderer metal whistle!

And I almost hesitate to tell you about lacrosse, but suffice to say that, probably the only time I had the ball in my net, by the time I heard the referee blow the whistle to stand, I was half way down Oakfield Lane and heading towards town. AND IN ATHLETICS I NEVER EVEN GOT ATHLETES FOOT!

In gymnastics we were taught the intricacies of both the trampette and the beating board. I chose the trampette to launch myself over the box – the look on the faces of the lecturing staff had to be seen to be believed and if the wallbars had not been there I would probably still be going! And I still consider myself lucky that they did not teach us rhythmic gymnastics and horizontal bars and beam!

Dance was a nightmare for both me and my lecturers. I so well remember being told to be a leaf floating down from a tree in Autumn. I mean, look at this figure – and after I had performed what I thought was a pretty good Autumn Leaf exposé, Mary Thomas looked at me, as only she could, and said, “ A leaf Miss Aitkenhead, not the entire branch!”

Now, you might all be wondering how on earth Dartford lowered their standards enough to allow me to gain my teaching certificate – well, so am I – but miracles do happen and I stand before you today as proof of that.

I remember in my brief teaching experience I used to be acquainted with the young criminal element in school in Edinburgh. We weren’t told about this were we? I was quite friendly with the local Justice of the Peace who told me that one of the youngsters was asked for his date of birth – “July 15th” he replied. “What year” he was asked. “Every year” he replied!

In the same court another who was being tried for a motoring offence was asked “what gear were you in at the moment of impact”? He thought about this for a moment before replying – “Gucci sweatshirt and Reebok trainers”.

Another was asked – “length of residence at present address”? The reply – “about 20 metres not counting the garage”

And the youngster who walked in to the court with one shoelace undone, when asked why, replied “well it says on the inside Taiwan”! You now know why I joined the Wrens!

As a young and newly qualified teacher and still on the BÖU Committee, I well remember Sue Hayes and Toni Cutler taking me out for a meal before I got back on the train. I sat nervously in the Italian restaurant and looked at both the dishes and the prices, taking my time, not wanting to pick the most expensive thing on the menu.

Eventually Toni said, “Gill, please have whatever you would like.” So I looked again and said, “I would like the pageone” (pronounced pageeonee). Toni just looked at me and said, “Gill, that says page one”.

I was teaching some youngsters to tie their shoe laces and noticed that one had put his shoes on the wrong feet and I told him so. He looked up at me with a raised brow and said – “Miss, don’t kid me, they’re the only feet I got”!

Similarly, I said, “If anyone has to go to the bathroom, just hold up your hand”. A little voice from the back of the room asked, “How will that help?”

Now, in true Dartford tradition I joined an aerobics club for seniors – I bent, twisted, gyrated, jumped up and down and perspired for an hour. But by the time I got my leotard on the class was over.

However, I have discovered the way to prevent sagging – just eat until the wrinkles fill out!

Do you remember the days when the PE Department were expected to cover when other teachers were absent? Well, I had to take a biology class for 6 year olds when a little girl asked, “What is the difference between boys and girls?” I thought about this for a moment and finally said, “Well, what has your brother got that you haven’t?” The answer came back – “LEGO”!

I spent 24 years in the Royal Navy but don’t worry, I am not going to give you a blow by blow account, this time, but suffice to say that I loved every moment of it and I owe everything to Mary Duggan, whose suggestion it was, backed up I suspect by a good reference, that I join.

Gill Aitkenhead (1972) M.B.E., Vice Lord-Lieutenant of Dunbartonshire

Class of 1976: 40 Year Reunion Dinner: 4th September 2016

It all started over a year ago as Sue Dalton (Hamer), Jo Harris (Maunsell), Felicity Holloway and Karen Lobb (Holmes) debated the rapidly approaching anniversary of leaving Dartford College 40 years ago. ‘Why don’t we try and get together as many of our year group as possible?’ said Jo. ‘Then let’s have a party’ said Sue. ‘Where would we have it?’ said Flick. ‘When would we have it?’ said Karen. And so Jo Harris and Sue Dalton began months of planning and preparation.

Jo is Vice President of the BÖU, so she found out when the next BÖU AGM was going to be and it was agreed that we would hold our 40 year reunion on that weekend to encourage more people to attend the AGM and hopefully recruit a few more ex-students to the BÖU. Jo had kept her original year group list and had added phone numbers and postal/e-mail addresses from various sources over the years, and used this to begin the process of contacting people and compiling a comprehensive database for our year group. Sue began researching suitable hotels around Dartford which could accommodate at least 50 of us, with enough space in a function room, at a reasonable price.

Many of our year group attended and enjoyed the BÖU AGM/Reunion event at Dartford on Saturday 4th September 2016 which included a well-received presentation on ‘Anti-Doping in Sport’ by our very own Michele Verroken. They were a little sad to see the dilapidated state of some of the older buildings such as Kingsfield but enthusiastically shared memories of happier times in those bastions of social education and visited the impressive BÖU Archive, where many of us are on photographic display.

The Campanile Hotel near Dartford Bridge proved to be an excellent choice for the reunion dinner in the evening. The staff were very accommodating and the three course meal was excellent. Over 40 of our year group attended the dinner and two of our lecturers were also able to join us, Terry Jones (PE) and David Cobb (Geography). We were also delighted that Anne Stuart (the Chair of the BÖU) and Jill Ellis (the Secretary of the BÖU) could attend as our guests, in gratitude of all that they do to keep the BÖU running successfully. Some other guests were unable to attend and sent encouraging messages – these included Toni Cutler, Sally Hands (Dewhurst), Doug Springate and Ken Challinor.

So many faces, some not seen for 40 years - and we still recognised each other, just about! Some groups of people have been getting together over the years, so

46 they re-connected with other groups. So many stories to tell: marriage, divorce, children, grandchildren. Who was still teaching PE? Who had retired? Who had a complete change of career? Where have we all lived? What a night! We had a ball of an evening, enjoying: singing our year song; Alex Miller clog dancing to Flick Holloway’s violin playing; Ruth Brooks reciting a poem; the 4th year BEd Students singing their year song; Sue Adeney (Jack) our President repeating her leaving speech from all those years ago; and Jill Palmer performing a prolonged handstand in her Dartford swimming costume, not once but twice! So much talking, listening, laughing, energy, excitement, noise! Many, many photos were taken that night and many have since been passed around social media.

We all entered Dartford 43 years ago, fresh faced students from widely different backgrounds and from all over the UK. Most of us came straight from school and were eager to learn how to be good, enthusiastic PE teachers. We all had different strengths and abilities; some were already on county or national paths in their chosen sport. We were a year group of about 120 and bonded immediately, whether you were lucky enough to go direct into a hall of residence or used the basement for the first term. Many friendships were formed early on and have continued since.

Looking back at old college photos, we thought: Did we really wear that? Did we really look like that? We remembered: lecturers and lectures; Doris (the tea lady); doughnuts; our black key fobs (who still has theirs?); Allerloo Bar and discos; games shed duty; moving into Martina and Duggan (we were the first year group to move into both the new blocks in our first and third years respectively); Madame’s tree (and dressing it with toilet rolls!); wearing our green cloaks to go carol singing around Oakfield Lane; walking backwards up the basement stairs after the first few weeks at Dartford (so many muscles we didn’t know we had!). Is that why the locals called it the ‘Muscle Factory’?

We reminisced over: our College interviews (why did we have to sing?); trying to cycle across Dartford Heath after a good night in Allerloo Bar; learning to swim in the old swimming pool and gaining our Bronze Medallions in the new swimming pool; lacrosse being a new experience for many (and the trials being, for some, a very forgettable experience!); the Biology field trip to Devon; wearing those grey knickers for athletics (would this be allowed today?); the silly walks day; Camp and Bowles Outdoor Pursuits Centre (how were we chosen?); the coach trips to Woolwich and the boats out on the Thames with the young navy recruits; hiding

friends and family until a decent time on weekend mornings. Guests out by 12.00 midnight? Maybe, unless there was a fire alarm of course! We also remembered: teaching practices; Special Theory essays; Basic Course exam results being thrown across the floor in Allerloo in disgust and being told we were the worst year group! And which ‘criminals’ climbed into Mary Thomas’s room to get our final results? But were we really that bad? Look at what we have all achieved throughout the years. We like to think that Madame would be proud of us and that the spirit of Dartford remains within us all!

Amongst all our reminiscing that evening, we made time to reflect on the sad passing of a few of our year group: Sue Edwards, Karen Money and Chris Barrow. We also raised a glass to those who could not make it to the reunion. There is no doubt that we all had a brilliant, unforgettable evening. ‘Why did we leave it so long’ said some, ‘Maybe we should get together in five years’ time?’ said others.

Who knows?

Sue Dalton (Hamer; 1976) and Jo Harris (Maunsell; 1976)

OBITUARIES Christine Barrow 1954-2016 (Dartford College 1973-76) Chris was born in Cardiff, the youngest of three children, and went to Whitchurch High School, where she excelled at sport, particularly hockey, at representative level. At Dartford, Chris also played hockey for the college teams including the 1st XI, and cricket’s first team. She studied art as her main subject. She was initially in Group A but her friendships were many and across the whole year. Her first post on leaving college was in Thornbury, Gloucestershire which was followed up by schools in Bristol and then in Wales at a special school near Newport, Woodlands High, following her BEd in Special Education.

A highly valued and respected teacher, Chris took a keen interest in the lives of the special needs children she taught, and was instrumental in resolving a number of particular issues that were facing some of the children. That some of them attended her funeral with their parents was testament to the esteem in which she was held. It was whilst teaching at this school that Chris found she had breast cancer, and her honesty and bravery earned her a cup for courage, normally given to the school pupils. Chris called it her ‘cancer cup’ which was typical of her black humour.

She played sport throughout her life. Redlands Hockey Club, Avon and Gloucester- shire County teams, Welsh Indoor Hockey Squad. She ran half marathons and later took up rowing at Llandaff Rowing Club, and acquired two horses and many dogs over the years. Chris’s rowing four were not the most successful but they were the most enthusiastic group of middle aged ladies to be seen at regattas, particularly during Chris’s chemotherapy, where not only did she resort to wearing a bandanna but so did the whole team and cox. After her death the club named a boat after her and her 90-year-old mother attended the ceremony. As well as being treasurer for the Welsh Association for People with Learning Difficulties for 20 years, Chris was involved in her local community groups and with her dogs would visit dementia patients under the Dogs as Therapy scheme.

Chris had no lifelong partner, but she shared her love with her many friends and family, her students and colleagues, her neighbours and complete strangers, in fact all were like family. The number who attended her funeral in Cardiff meant it had to be switched from her home church to a larger place to accommodate everyone. Her illness never stopped her from being as busy and energetic as ever until the last few months. Typically she was willing to take part in a drugs test but just before Christmas 2015 she self-admitted to hospital. On New Year’s day 2016 Chris passed away with her mother and brothers by her bedside.

I was privileged and proud to have Chris as my closest friend of 40 years from our first meeting at Dartford College of Education. Sue Adeney (Jack; 1973-77) 49

Alice Elizabeth (Liz) Cooper (1945) 8th August 1923 - 3rd March 2016

Liz was educated at home until she was seven when she went to Gidea Park School; she then finished her education at Romford High School. She was a student at Dartford from 1942 - 1945; this meant that all of her three years training was spent at Newquay, where the college was evacuated during the war. When she was at college she was a member of the Gymnastics Demonstration Team and represented Dartford in the 1st Lacrosse X11 and the 3rd Tennis Team. She was also a regular umpire for the Hockey teams and wrote reports of the matches. On completion of the three year course in 1945 she was awarded the College Diploma in Scientific Physical Education.

Liz was a very loyal member of the BÖU, invariably present at Reunions. She kept in touch with many of her Year and had the addresses of all of them. She was instrumental in organising Year Reunions, one of which was in Newquay in 1995, and collated the Year news for the Magazine.

When she qualified she had teaching posts in Norwich and Leamington Spa. Her potential was recognised quickly, as she was then head-hunted to join the staff of Coventry Teacher Training College.

After Coventry, Liz joined the WRAF as a Physical Training Officer and she stayed in this post for six years. The Physical Training in the Air Force for women at that time followed the men's programme. Liz had an innovative approach, introducing activities more suitable for women, e.g. ball games, badminton and swimming. She also organised inter-service matches for women in the ranks.

Liz joined the staff of Chelsea College of Physical Education in 1961, becoming a Principal Lecturer in 1969. Her expertise enabled her to make a great contribution to Psycho-Social Studies of Human Movement, Athletics, Gymnastics, Swimming and Diving; she also ran technical courses in the latter two areas. She was on the B.Ed Sub-Committee, the Teaching Staff Development Committee, and the Post- Graduate Movement Studies Committee. Liz was also the Chelsea representative at many National and International conferences. She represented the British Council in Hong Kong and Malaya and was an Inspector for the Central Council for Physical Recreation in the Far East, Jamaica and Trinidad.

Chelsea was incorporated into the East Sussex College of Higher Education in 1976 and Liz continued to lecture there under the new organisation, but retired in 1979 when the institution became under the aegis of the University of Brighton.

Liz was committed to her large family and was a much revered Aunt. She is remembered by them as an intelligent, vibrant and colourful person and her peers talk of her as inspirational, exciting and a generous teacher and friend.

Liz was a great role model for an active life, practising what she preached; in any weather and until her late seventies she participated in mountain walking and, in summer, swam in the sea daily until she was 85. She was also very interested in foreign travel and in the arts.

Liz was a strong, motivated and motivating career woman who inspired thousands of students from all over the world and influenced many others who were taught by these students.

Members of the BÖU were present at her funeral.

Toni Cutler With thanks to Ida Webb, Liz Cooper's niece, another Liz Cooper, and Christobel Elliott (for information from the BÖU Archive).

Sheila Margaret Mitchell (Gatheral; 1950)

Sheila was born in Glasgow, in 1929, and was educated at Queen Margaret’s School, Scarborough. However, the school was evacuated, during World War 2, to Castle Howard, in North Yorkshire. Sheila enjoyed, very much, the adaptation of Evelyn Waugh’s Brideshead Revisited as she was able to picture herself at school, in the same buildings, where the filming had taken place.

Sheila was a good games player and played lacrosse for Scotland in 1948-49. After completing her training she returned to teach at Queen Margaret’s, by then established at Escrick Park, York. In 1958 Sheila was appointed as Head of the PE Department at St Leonards School in St Andrews. She married Bob in 1961 whom she had met playing badminton in St Andrews, but she continued in post for a further year.

Sheila had two daughters, Shona and Pam and five grandchildren. She was very family orientated but retained her interest in sport and enjoyed watching cricket, rugby and tennis. Sheila had been delighted to have met Andy Murray, quite recently, while staying at his hotel in Dunblane.

Sheila died on 18th November 2016 after a short illness.

Jane Claydon (1968)

Avril Rosemary Petchey (Bowman; 1954) 22nd April 1933 – 28th July 2016

On the 31st August family, with many friends and acquaintances, gathered at High Beech Church in Epping Forest to celebrate the life of Avril and remember her as a vibrant, all-action personality who gave much to so many people.

Avril Rosemary Bowman was born in Kensington and had two elder brothers, Jim and Donald. Like so many other children at the start of World War 2, she was evacuated in 1940 to Durham, her father’s home town, in the north east of England. After the war, Avril returned to the South where she was to spend the rest of her life, although never lost her affection for Durham, where she had many relatives.

Avril is remembered as someone who was a fully committed competitor in which- ever sport she was involved. This even extended to Christmas parties at Tycehurst Hill, Loughton, where normally sedate games could end up with blood being spilt!

Avril had an extraordinary talent for all sports and even found time to act as cox to the England rowing eight in the European Championships in Czechoslovakia in the early 1960’s. However, she was never happier than when she was chasing a ball around a tennis court. No ball was ever considered irretrievable and on many occasions the effort would end up in personal injury e.g. the time she ended up in hospital, after colliding with a barrier on an indoor tennis court and came off second best!

Avril trained at Dartford College of Physical Education from 1951 – 1954, where she represented the college in the first Hockey XI and first Tennis VI for all three years. In her first year she also played in the Beginners Lacrosse XII. Her first post was at S.E. Essex Technical School in Barking, followed by a post at Brondesbury and Kilburn High School and later one as Head of Department at Walthamstow High School for Girls, E17. She combined her work responsibilities with her tennis career and apart from winning numerous local titles, she played regularly for the Essex County team over a period of 15 years. On retiring from county tennis as a player, she then became Essex ladies captain for 10 years, culminating in Essex winning Group 1 at Eastbourne for the first time in 93 years. Perhaps a true reflection of her status as a player is her achievement in reaching the final qualifying round for Wimbledon on three consecutive occasions.

1965 marked the beginning of a long and happy marriage to Rod lasting beyond 50 years. During that time they produced two children, Caroline and Mark, who both, unsurprisingly, became outstanding tennis players. Mark went on to represent Britain at Davis Cup level and Caroline reached a high standard at County level. Another outstanding achievement was to win the national Mother and Daughter event with Caroline and then play in the Mother and Daughter World Championships in the late eighties. As some people will know, Avril often suffered from nerves on court in her later years and tribute must be paid to Caroline for talking her mother through these matches. Perhaps also, Avril’s unique invention of a new stroke, the double handed, half volley backhand lob, did much to confuse and amaze opponents from other counties!

Avril did a tremendous amount of work for veterans tennis in Great Britain; Valerie Willoughby, Secretary of Senior Tennis GB was unable to be present and sent the following tribute to be read out:-

“Avril joined the Council of the Veterans Lawn Tennis Association (VLTA) of Great Britain in the mid – 90’s and served as Affiliations Secretary from 1996 to 2002. She was also a member of the Competitions Committee with a particular interest in the Inter-County Championships.

“When she retired from the Council, Avril was presented with the LTA’s Meritorious Service Award, which she received at a dinner held in her honour at the Queens Club. She was a very good tennis player and was selected to represent Great Britain on four occasions, mostly in the Alice Marble Cup, for Women’s 60’s in England, California, Austria and Australia. I remember sharing a room with her in California and we had a great time! Avril was the British Grass Court doubles champion with June Pearce three times from 1996 to 1998”

Peter Bretherton, Chairman of the VLTA also asked for his tribute, below, to be read out on the 31st:

“I remember Council Sub-Committee meetings at our flat at Tower Bridge, when a group of us had some lively discussions as we grappled with the reorganisation of the Inter-County Championships. Avril’s vast knowledge of County tennis was most useful and she had well informed views which she argued with some vigour. She was good contributor and, whilst making her case shortly, but well, she was able to take on board other views and accepted the final decision, even if it was not her own personal choice”

No summary of Avril’s life, however, would be complete without mention of her service to The Connaught Club, which she joined in 1958, having developed her game initially at the North Ilford Club.

These are some of the memories of Avril’s time at Connaught:-

Avril the player who in 1961 was singles champion of both the Club and the County and who was a member of the Connaught Ladies team who won the national Club Championships for two consecutive years in 1972 and 1973;

- the Administrator, serving on committees as Ladies Captain for 10 years, Membership Secretary for 35 years, Junior Tournament Secretary for 30 years and Manager of the Club for three years;

- the innovator who started Club Afternoon, which thrives and continues to this day.

- the cabaret artist and her performance with Rod as Flanagan and Allen in 1996. Nobody has heard “Underneath the Arches” sung like that before or since!

Not least however, Avril the baker will be remembered for her cakes, made for Committee meetings and Club Afternoon, these would surely have made her a potential winner of “The Great Bake Off” series.

Avril undertook a multitude of tasks and responsibilities but many members past and present learnt to enjoy the game of tennis and improved their standard as a result of her selfless encouragement and help. She brought brightness into many people’s lives.

The thoughts of all attending the celebration of Avril’s life were very much with Avril’s immediate family, husband Rod, Mark, Caroline and her grandchildren. An opportunity was taken to think of Harri, Caroline’s son and brother to James and Daniel, who sadly passed away last year. As already mentioned Rod and Avril were married for over 50 years and worked together as a team often for the enjoyment and benefit of others. That team may no longer be, but the legacy and memories will forever remain.

Avril achieved so much in her life and slides were shown to awaken memories and remind everybody of the all-action, fun-loving personality, who enriched the lives of so many.

With thanks to Rod and Caroline and also to Graham Murray, friend and Connaught Club member, who gave the eulogy. Some information found in the Archive has been added.

Christobel Elliott (Newey; 1964)

Ruth Emily Prideaux (Westbrook) 12th July 1930 – 8th April 2016 Lecturer at Dartford 1959-1964

Ruth was born in Greenhithe, Kent, to Harold and Emily (née Harryman) who were both primary Headteachers; Harold at Sutton Hone and Emily at the Brent in Dartford. She had three older brothers, Peter, Harold and David and a younger sister Margaret, who survives her.

She attended the County School for Girls, Gravesend, from 1941 to 48 and was evacuated with her older brothers to Norfolk in 1941. Peter and Harold hated the countryside so much, that they cycled back to Gravesend, much to the horror of their parents! She was a lively school girl who loved all sports and had a reputation at school for - un punctuality; a skill she never lost! Her early school reports talk of a lack of interest in her studies and she used to tell stories of hating needlework classes and hiding in a cupboard until the lesson was over. She and a friend also spent their break and lunchtimes trying to outwit the school prefects by staying hidden inside the building. However, Ruth excelled at PE and games, gaining her school colours in gymnastics, hockey and lacrosse and playing in the cricket, hockey, lacrosse and tennis teams. She captained the cricket 1st XI in 1948, and was selected as a reserve for the West Kent Schools hockey team. She also gained her bronze medallion life-saving certificate by practising after school. In the Lower 6th she became a school prefect and in the Upper 6th was appointed West House Captain. By this time her reports talk of her “personality and power” and of her being a valuable member of the school: “We are sorry to lose her”.

In 1995 Ruth was invited back to the then Gravesend Grammar School for Girls in July to open the new sports hall and outdoor courts and run some coaching ses- sions. (The photograph below shows Ruth unveiling the plaque on 7th July with Mrs Helen Skellorn, Chairman of Governors on the left and Mrs Susan Court, Head- mistress on the right.)

Ruth went to Anstey College of Physical Education in 1948 for three years, where her leadership potential was immediately recognised by her peers who made her their year group representative, a post she also held in her second year. In her third year she became Head Student, being appointed the President of the Students’ Council. She was selected for the first teams for cricket, hockey and lacrosse and left with her diploma showing she gained first-class for anatomy and lacrosse.

Her first post was at Wakefield High School for Girls in Yorkshire and it was during her time there that she began to take her cricket more seriously and was selected to play for the Yorkshire 1st XI as a wicket-keeper/batsman. In 1957 she was selected to play for England against New Zealand and Australia. She had to give up her job to embark on a six-month tour with the team, travelling by boat via the Panama Canal to New Zealand and Australia. On the way home they stopped in Sri Lanka before returning through the Suez Canal. She made her test debut at Lancaster Park, Christchurch, taking two catches behind and batting at number 7. By the end of the tour, her top score was 66 against Australia at the Adelaide Oval, and she had been promoted to bat at number 3.

A further tour of South Africa in 1960-61 saw her gain her top score for England of 87 against South Africa at Newlands, Cape Town. She finished her England playing career in the test series against Australia in 1963, when she was also Vice-Captain. Overall Ruth earned 11 test caps, and scored 476 runs at an average of 31.73. An elegant top order batsmen and light on her feet, she was not averse to coming down the wicket to the spinners. Behind the stumps she was a stylish wicket keeper, nimble and tidy, who regularly took wickets with stumpings and catches. Her partnership with the left-arm spinner and England captain Mary Duggan (and DCPE lecturer) was hugely influential in England’s successes at that time.

In 1962 Ruth and Mary Duggan became the first women to attend an MCC coaching course at Lilleshall. The pair passed the advanced certificate with flying colours, much to the chagrin of several men who failed despite being first-class county cricketers. It was at this course that Ruth first met her husband to be, England cricketer Roger Prideaux.

From 1956 to 59 Ruth joined the Physical Education department at Leeds University and then joined the staff of Dartford College of Physical Education from 1959 to 64. Her students included the former England Captain Rachael Heyhoe Flint, Baroness Flint of Wolverhampton and a previous patron of the BÖU. Rachael said, “You’re supposed to be in awe of your lecturers but she was always so kind, caring and approachable. I was hopeless at swimming and have never forgotten her gently advising me to stick to cricket.” Excellent advice as it turned out!

In 1963 she married Roger; they were one of the few couples who had both played test cricket. Their first date in London was going to see Julie Andrews in The Sound of Music. A large part of their honeymoon was spent at the Scarborough Cricket Festival and Ruth’s sense of mischief was evident at her wedding reception when some of her England teammates indulged in an impromptu game of cricket on the lawn using a bread roll for a ball. Setting decorum aside, she quickly joined in.

They had four children from 1965 to 68 but the marriage broke down and was dissolved in 1972. It was testament to her resilience that she successfully raised four children, then under the age of four, and they recall that her mantra was the phrase “mens sana in corpore sano - a sound mind in a sound body”.

In 1972, Ruth moved to Chelsea College of Physical Education, latterly Brighton University, in Eastbourne, where she lectured until her retirement, finishing her career as senior lecturer.

However it was for her off the field role that she will arguably be best remembered. In 1987 she became coach to the England women’s cricket team and the first full-time head coach in 1988. In the five years in the post she did not receive any remuneration, as the sport was truly amateur at that time. She was the first coach to introduce professional backroom staff, all of whom gave their ability and expertise for nothing, charmed by Ruth and the twinkle in her eye. The sports science methods she introduced brought professionalism to the game of women’s cricket and in doing so she created a template for the future, as well as a highly successful squad. Sports psychologists, including Steve Bull, nutritionists, physiotherapists and the use of video cameras for coaching all contributed to the cause. By persuading people to give of their time and expertise she enabled the team to work together, bond together and win together. The players would assemble in Eastbourne with half the squad staying in her house and the rest using sleeping bags on the floor of a farmhouse owned by a friend of the team manager, Norma Izard (Preston; 1954). Debbie Stock, a member of the squad, said Ruth made time to get to know every team member as a cricketer and a person. “She knew what made us tick and although we greeted her introduction of sport scientists with disdain at first, we were soon all on board and embracing anything that would give us the edge over our opponents.”

The culmination of Ruth’s work as coach was when the team won the Women’s World Cup in 1993, beating New Zealand in the final at Lord’s. Later that year Ruth won National Coach of the Year Award and retired from the international arena having laid the foundations for a hugely successful period in the women’s game. Ruth was an unflappable figure with silver hair, twinkling blue eyes and a dry sense of humour; she was immensely popular. She also had a mischievous side

57 which showed itself, for example, when she appeared in the 1982 Chelsea College production of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs to raise funds for the Sports Hall.

After her retirement, she continued to play a passionate and enthusiastic role in Sussex, passing on her knowledge at Eastbourne cricket club and serving on the County cricket committee. Ever mindful of those less fortunate than herself, she completed a special needs diploma and regularly worked alongside a physiotherapist with local children. She continued to swim regularly and took part in golf weekends organised by the Women’s Cricket Association Golf Society, latterly using junior clubs.

In a 2012 interview with the Eastbourne Herald Ruth talked about her life in cricket: “I started playing cricket at school but I also played all the games such as lacrosse and hockey.

I trained in physical education and started taking cricket more seriously when I took up my first teaching post in Yorkshire. I was a wicket-keeper batsman and was put forward for county trials.

I suppose I did quite well and progressed on to England. I made my England debut against Australia at the Oval in 1957. I had a good eye for the ball and batted at number three. I did well enough to keep my place.”

Of the 1957-8 tour to New Zealand and Australia she said: “It was a fantastic trip. We were young, enjoying the cricket and enjoying the feeling of travelling. It was a great time for us. We had a few PE teachers in our team and were a fit side.”

She will be remembered by her family as a fiercely loyal character, by her students as an inspirational teacher and coach for whom people wanted to do well, and by her friends as a supportive, witty and talented woman.

Anne Stuart

Postscript In the summer of 2016, Mayfield Grammar School, Gravesend (formerly the County School for Girls) named one of their Houses “Westbrook” in honour of Ruth and her achievements. In December 2016, Ruth appeared in the Obituary section of the BBC’s Sports Personality of the Year.

From the Archive

The following has been reproduced from: Magazine of the Bergman Österberg Union of Trained Gymnastic Teachers Vol.1. No.1. January, 1917, p.13 & p.14.

********* A GYMNAST’S DEATH Dr. Elizabeth S. Impey, one of the passengers on the ill-fated “Persia”, which was torpedoed in the Mediterranean in December, 1915, was trained at Dartford, 1895-7, and practised as a gymnast for many years in Birmingham before studying medicine. She was educated at home and at the Mount School, York, where she won the Junior Championship in athletic sports in 1893, and the Senior Championship in 1894. At Dartford she played in the College hockey and cricket elevens, and afterwards, for some years, captained the Worcestershire Ladies’ Hockey Team, and several times played for the Midlands.

In 1904 she began studying medicine at the Birmingham University, where she took a leading part in many of the students’ clubs, eventually becoming the first woman President of the Union (1908-9). In June, 1911, E.S. Impey qualified as M.B., Ch.B., and subsequently held hospital posts in Birmingham, Swansea and the London Temperance Hospital. It had for long been her ambition to get work in India, and in November of 1915 she accepted the post of Medical Officer to the Dufferin Hospital for Women, Lahore. Prior to leaving Europe, Dr. Impey had spent six weeks at Chalons-sur-Marne doing maternity and other work amongst the French civilian population. A strong swimmer and adept horsewoman, she was an ideal “outdoor” companion, with a close affinity for country life and sport of every sort. Many are the friends, both men and women, who have to thank her for week-ends of happy relaxation at her home at Longbridge Race, or for thrilling escapades on the Avon, out of which her quickness and fearlessness usually brought them safely. Her abilities were not, however, limited to outdoor interests, for her skill as a cook was only equalled by the fineness of her needlework. Her buoyant, straightforward disposition made light of difficulties, “never say die” being a favourite saying which not inadequately expressed her attitude to life.

News has comparatively recently reached England showing that Dr. Impey was largely instrumental in preventing panic in the saloon, where the passengers were at lunch when the “Persia” was struck. Having secured a life-belt from her cabin she returned to the companion-way, but the ship was by this time listing so heavily that many women were unable to mount to the deck. E.S. Impey’s gymnastic training came to their aid, for she climbed half-way up, and by standing astride and holding the rail with one hand, was able to haul women and children up to the deck. Those thus helped seem to have reached the boats in safety: but

E.S. Impey must have stayed too long in her position on the companion-way, for the people in the boats describe her as coming at last to the ship’s side and “waving cheerfully” before diving “like a practised swimmer”, into the sea. At that instant - less than five minutes after she was struck - the “Persia” sank and E.S. Impey was not seen again.

It is a happy thought that the last few minutes of life were spent in such effectual service for others, and seem to have been entirely free from fear.

______

COLLEGE NEWS IN BRIEF Only one demonstration was given this year, namely that during Re-union week.

Clinique is now held in the College three times a week. There are twenty patients, all of school age.

Teaching has been temporarily given up at Heath Street, Catholics and Westgate. Students are now working in West Hill Girls’, West Hill Boys’, East Hill, White Oaks School, Swanley, and at a new school, Maypole.

Miss Mears, who left us last term, is working at Medicine in Edinburgh. Miss Drummond is taking the Natural Science Tripos at Newnham. New members of the staff are Dr. Barrie Lambert, Miss Volkhovsky, Miss E.R. Clarke, Miss Lucy Smith (temporarily), and Miss A. Spong. Dr. Lambert and Miss Spong visit the College, the former once, the latter twice a week.

There are twenty-eight Seniors this term, and forty-six juniors.

A new playing field, about seven minutes’ walk away, has been rented for the College, and we hope soon to get it into good condition for play.

Splendid new baths and new washbasins have been installed this term. A Ford motor-car has been acquired for taking the students to the more distant schools, bringing the Clinique children, and is also of considerable use for journeys to the station.

Newspaper readings - held by Seniors on Wednesday evenings, by Juniors on Monday evenings. Four or more people are appointed each week to give a summary of the course of events on the various fronts, etc., and of the miscellaneous news of the week.

Support Your Archive!

The Archive is a valuable asset to the BÖU and makes important contributions to the history of education and physical education, women’s history, local history of the Dartford area and family history research. There is so much information available in our collection that once researchers realise what a rich source of information we have they often stay longer than they planned and leave with intentions to return!

The Archive is not a static collection and we are always looking out for suitable material: books, scrap-books, photographs and photograph albums, items of college clothing, games equipment and Diploma Brooches and any other items with a connection to Dartford College and Madame Österberg. We are happy to consider accepting items provided that the owner was Dartford-trained (items from former members of Dartford staff are also welcome).

We are very keen to make contact with students from the 1970’s and 1980’s, as our Archive does not hold enough material on these year groups.

We also welcome Volunteers!! Working in the Archive is rewarding and there is a great sense of camaraderie. So do think about joining us if you live locally. There is always plenty to do!

The Archive is only funded by donations, so if you feel able to offer us a financial donation, however small, it will be put to good use.

Offers to donate material or to help as a volunteer in the Archive should be made in the first instance to Rosemary Moon 01689 890716 [email protected] To make a financial donationplease contact our Treasurer, Christobel Elliott (contact details are on page 20 of this magazine).

Bookmark this page and keep up with the Archive on the internet

bergmanosterbergunion.org.uk

and don’t forget that the BÖU also has a Facebook page Dartford College of Physical Education Alumni

Please ‘like’ our page, post a message and get involved!

Diploma Brooches

At our Executive Committee meeting in November 2016, there was a proposal to change the name of the diploma badge back to diploma brooch. The proposal was unanimously accepted.

In the past, our diploma badge has been known as a ‘brooch’ and Jean Milligan (1907) refers to the MBÖ ‘brooch’ in her letter to Jonathan May, which was printed in the 2016 BÖU magazine (see page 96).

In the 1934 BÖU magazine, the brooch is still being called a 'brooch' and also in the 1977 magazine, where the Secretary, Margaret Claydon, refers to the 1976 magazine and an invitation to purchase ‘MBÖ Silver Brooch’.

We cannot find out when we first started to call the brooch a badge - perhaps that happened because modern pinned-on logos became known as badges.

The definition of a brooch is "a piece of women's ornamental jewellery, having a pin allowing it to be fixed to garments worn on the upper body" and so it seems fitting to return to calling our piece of jewellery the MBÖ diploma brooch.

Please note that we shall refer to it as the ‘diploma brooch’ from now on.

Jill Ellis Williams (1977)

Occasionally diploma brooches are available to buy. They are donated by former students and sold in aid of the BÖU Archive Fund.

We now have two levels of pricing - £125 - if the provenance is known £100 - for brooches with no known provenance

The Executive Committee would like to thank the following:

The family of Winifred Newnam (Geill; 1942) for donating her brooch. Rosemary Moon is the new owner.

Rosaleen McKinney (1957) for donating her brooch. Migs Trimmingham née White (1976) is the new owner.

Noelle Flaherty (1976) is the new owner of a brooch with no provenance.

Many thanks to all donors and recipients, past and present. The proceeds from the sale of brooches are very much appreciated and go directly into the BÖU Archive Fund.

If you would like to become a proud new owner or would like to donate your brooch please contact Jill Ellis Williams on 01728 668704 [email protected]

We have become aware that BÖU diploma brooches are being sold on the internet and at auctions, as Art Deco brooches, at a very inflated price. We endeavour to search for brooches and try to obtain them when they become available. However, because of the very high price being asked, sometimes we are unable to purchase them. This means that they are lost to the BÖU forever. Brooches are also being sold for more than we charge, so a limit of £130 has been set when purchasing from antique fairs/e-bay etc. We hope that, wherever possible, we will be able to make up the difference from the sale.

It is very sad to see our diploma brooches being lost in this way instead of being loved and enjoyed by BÖU members.

If you own a diploma brooch and wish it to be donated to us, we kindly suggest that you either inform your family, leave a note with the brooch, or indicate in your will that you request the brooch to be donated to the BÖU. Jill Ellis Williams (1977) 63

Registrar’s Report & Subscriptions

Membership

In the 2016 magazine Jenny Haynes, our previous Registrar, reported that membership of the BÖU totalled 269.

At the time of writing in December 2016 we have only 211; of these, five are Honorary Members, six Associate Members and eight are Friends, the rest are Ordinary members including all those who are living outside the U.K.

The numbers per decade are as follows:

1940’s: 6 1950’s: 55 1960’s: 57 1970’s: 68 1980 – 86: 2

On the positive side we are pleased to welcome 21 new and/or lapsed members and six new Friends.

We would like to at least double the membership if at all possible; quite possible if each member can encourage a non-member to join, especially if you are still in touch with any ex-Dartford College students or staff.

Subscription

The subscription from January 2016 was £25 for the three year period until 31st December 2018; the cost from 1st January 2017 until 31st December 2018 is £20 or £10 for one year. If you are unable to pay your subscription by cheque and would like to know about bank transfer, please contact Christobel Elliott for details.

Reunions

Reunions are usually the first Saturday in September; members and non-members are very welcome, so if you have not been for a few years how about coming along with a friend or two? As you probably know, most year groups aim to celebrate a significant ‘n’th year of arrival at college or of leaving e.g. 2017 is significant for those of 1947, ’57, ’67, ’77 to celebrate, so all being well there will be gatherings of these years and people who were at college at the same time. Come along and join them.

‘Lost Members’

A small number of members have not renewed membership as they are, unfortunately, suffering from severe health problems.

Also we might have ‘lost’ some members because their contact information has changed (their magazine/newsletter has been returned) and we do not know their new contact details.

Please make sure you keep us informed of any changes to your contact information, not forgetting changes to your e-mail address.

Can anybody give us the addresses or news of these people please?

Kathleen Beckwith (Sherman 1951) Janet Judd (Fish 1941)

Sadly, as you will see from the obituaries, several of our members and ex-students have died in the last two years.

 Catherine Bailey (Paton 1952) magazine returned with a note on the envelope saying she had died.  Heather Van Gennep (Lidstone 1946) magazine returned with a note as above.  Christine Barrow (1976) Jan 2016  Elizabeth Cooper (1945) Mar 2016  Joyce Haslam (Smith; 1946) 2015  Rachael Heyhoe Flint (1960) Jan 2017  Sheila Mitchell (Gatheral; 1950) Nov 2016  Janice Moffat (Blanshard; 1975) 2016  Sheila Norman (Scarfe;1952) Jan 2017  Avril Petchey (Bowman; 1954) July 2016  Ruth Prideaux (Westbrook - Staff) 2016

Please send all membership information and subscriptions to the BÖU Registrar: Christobel Elliott 8 Ingatestone Road, Woodford Green, Essex, IG8 9AL. [email protected]

THE BENEFIT FUND Grants from this fund can be awarded to ex-students and ex-staff of Dartford College of Physical Education. We are in a good position to assist you if you are having difficulties financially or if you know of anybody else having difficulties.

The Charity Commissioners point out that grants can be made for a variety of purposes, some of which are listed below:

a) Weekly allowances for a limited period to meet a particular need. b) Payment of travelling expenses for visiting people in hospitals, convalescent homes or similar places. c) Payment to assist in meeting electricity or gas bills. d) Radio or television sets for the lonely, bedridden or housebound. e) Payment for services such as house decorating, insulation, repairs. f) Special payments to relieve sickness or infirmity. g) Payment towards the cost of adaptations to the homes of the disabled. h) The provision of services such as help in the home, bathing and hair washing, shopping, sitting in and travelling companions. i) The provision of facilities such as arrangements for a period of rest or change of air, not only for the sick but as a temporary relief for those having the care of the sick or disabled.

We have widened the scope of the fund and if there are any ex-students involved with children with special needs, deprived children or other similar groups they could apply for a grant to assist them with this work. The Trustees of the Benefit Fund would discuss any applications and make awards on merit.

Grants for ex-students in financial need would always have first call on the Benefit Fund.

Please write in confidence to apply for yourself or on behalf of another person to:-

The Benefit Fund, c/o Hon Treasurer, Christobel Elliott, 8, Ingatestone Road, Woodford Green, Essex IG8 9AL.

BÖU Magazine 2018 The deadline for receipt of articles for the 2018 magazine is st 31 December 2017 this date will be strictly observed.

Please send all contributions to: [email protected]

Best wishes from Rosemary Moon (Editor) and the Editorial Team: Toni Cutler, Christobel Elliott, Jill Ellis Williams, Anne Stuart.