Bishop Otter College Guild Newsletter 201 7

Painting by request, the first item purchased by the college “Autum Stream” by Ivon Hitchens is reproduced on the front cover

Guild Newsletter 2017 | 1 Welcome to the Bishop Otter College Guild Newsletter 2017

Next time you visit Bishop Otter campus, you may like to visit the newly restored stained glass windows which have recently been installed in the new extension of the Chapel of the Ascension. Originally situated in the Old Chapel, they were removed and discarded when the Old Chapel was turned into a laboratory in 1962. When the building was decommissioned as a library and turned into a sport science library, the windows were found under the floorboards. On further investigation, some were also found in the basement of University House. The windows, which would have been in the East Window above the altar, were made by Charles Eamer Kempe, a renowned 19th century stained glass artist whose work, inspired by early Renaissance style, is distinguished by its detailed face drawings and shimmering greens. Kempe designed the windows to look at their most splendid on a bright sunny day with the sun illuminating them from behind. These windows are the last to be completed as part of a four-year project which began with the restoration of the three windows installed in Cloisters in 2011. The restoration has been sensitively fulfilled by Horsham-based stained glass artisan Cliff Durrant. A grant of £25,000 from the Bishop Otter Trust made the restoration project possible.

2 | Guild Newsletter 2017 Bishop Otter College Guild

President Professor Clive Behagg

Vice-Presidents Dr Colin Greaves Professor Philip E D Robinson

Honorary Secretary Mr Marten Lougee 11 Meadow Close Cononley, Keighley West Yorkshire BD20 8LZ 01535 636487 (mob) 07813 393381 [email protected]

Honorary Treasurer Mr John Fletcher 6 Colley Rise Lyddington Oakham Rutland LE15 9LL 01572 821213

IT Support and Editor of Newsletter Mrs Rose Savage 14 Crouch Cross Lane Boxgrove Chichester PO18 OEH 01243 773336 [email protected]

Membership Secretary Mrs Hilary Chapman 60 Connaught Road Cromer Norfolk NR27 OBZ 01263 513711

From the Editor

Well, another year gone by! I hope you enjoy the magazine again. I have much pleasure in putting it all together and the Marketing Team at the University do a wonderful job of preparing it for printing and getting it printed. They also choose the cover photo and I am sure you will all agree that the one on last year’s cover was absolutely stunning! So different to any we have had before.

Please keep your articles and photos coming in – they are appreciated all round the world by over 600 members. The closing date for next year’s contributions will be Monday 22nd January 2018.

Guild Newsletter 2017 | 3 Committee Meeting

All Year Representatives able to get to the Reunion are invited to the Committee Business Meeting at 9.30 a.m. in room H149.

Year Representatives

1944-46 Mrs Cynthia Aird, 1 Rosevine Road, West Wimbledon, London SW20 8RB 1947-49 Mrs Sue Pickering, 5 Berehurst, Borovere Lane, Alton, Hampshire GU34 1PA 1948-50 Mrs Pat Life, 78 Elmstead Gardens, Worcester Park, Surrey KT4 7BE 1949-51 Mrs Josephine Sztyber, 8 Crofton, Lion Lane, Haslemere, Surrey GU27 1JE 1950-52 Miss June Blitz, 19 Marjoram Crescent, Cowplain, Portsmouth, Hampshire PO8 9BD 1951-53 Revd Barbara Watson Hammond, 28 Church Path, Emsworth, Hampshire PO10 7DP 1952-54 Mrs Trixie Barnden, 48 Folders Lane, Burgess Hill, West Sussex RH15 0DX 1953-55 Mrs Pamela Cahill, 50 Ridgeway, Hayes, Bromley, Kent BR2 7DE 1954-56 Miss Rosslyn Stenning, 7 Hurst Gardens, Hurstpierpoint, West Sussex, BN6 9ST 1955-57 Mrs Valerie Gabriel, Flat 1, 6 Dittons Road, Eastbourne, East Sussex BN21 1DN 1956-58 Mrs Lorna Edwards, 26 Queen’s Drive, Nuttall, Nottingham, Nottinghamshire NG16 1EG 1957-59 Mrs Pauline Moss, 3 Lathallan Drive, Polmont, Falkirk, Stirlingshire FK2 0PD 1958-60 Miss Muriel Warburton, 37a Oaklands Avenue, Weybridge, Surrey KT13 9SS 1959-61 Mrs Anne Walters, 1 Wayte Court, Ruddington, Nottinghamshire NG11 6NL 1960-63 Mrs Maureen Evershed-Martin, Mile End Cottage, Cherlton Fitzpaine, Crediton, Devon EX17 4JU 1961-64 Mrs Carolyn Keyzor, 15 Seaview Court, 43 Marine Parade East, Lee-on-the-Solent, Hampshire PO13 9BA 1962-65 Mr Marten Lougee, 11 Meadow Close, Cononley, Keighley, West Yorkshire BD20 8LZ 1963-66 Mr Roy Salmon, 36 Lombard Street, Lidlington, Bedfordshire MK43 0RP 1964-67 Mr Bob Norris, Exotter, 7 Ethelbert Road, Rochester, Kent ME1 3EU 1965-68 Mrs Jo Bird, Swansong, 70 Glade Road, Marlow, Buckinghamshire SL7 1DH 1966-69 Mr and Mrs Peter and Rose Scott, 23 Beamish Way, Maple Farm, Winslow, Buckinghamshire MK18 3EU 1970+ Mrs H Chapman, 60 Connaught Road, Cromer Norfolk NR27 0BZ 1980+ Mrs P Cahill, 50 Ridgeway, Hayes, Bromley, Kent BR2 7DE

Mrs Hilary Chapman acts as Membership Secretary, so it is helpful if you could let her know of changes of address or any deaths, so as to keep records up to date. If you have lost touch with former friends, drop Hilary a note and hopefully she will be able to put you in touch again.

From the Guild Secretary Dear Fellow Otters

Welcome to the Guild newsletter 2017 and thanks go, yet again, to Rose for all her hard work and to Hannah, the University conference manager. The rate for B&B will remain the same but there may be an increase in the price of the meals. There are NO events at Goodwood and it will be the same formula for the weekend.

1. The Friday evening meal has been a great success and it will be repeated this year on Friday 7th July at 7.00 p.m. You will need to book this with College on your booking form. There will, however, be a minimum number of 20 people required for this to take place but that number has been easily reached since it started in 2013. You will be informed by the middle of June if it is not taking place so you can make alternative arrangements. After dinner some people will meet in college around 8.30 p.m. in the old music room for a drink. Don’t forget your own drink and something to drink it out of if possible!! 2. On Saturday 8th July the timetable will be: 9.30 a.m. Business meeting especially for year reps and interested members 10.30 a.m. Guild Service 11.15 a.m. Coffee break 11.45 a.m. General meeting and news 1.15 p.m. Lunch The rest of day can be spent looking at exhibits etc around our old college, look at the changes and, most of all, enjoy meeting with friends.

4 | Guild Newsletter 2017 3. Sunday 9th July. 9.30 a.m. Holy Communion (said) 10.30 a.m. Trundle Walk (around 12.15/12.30 p.m. at the top)

The Guild is a team effort with Colin, Hilary, Rose, John, Barbara, Hannah and me – the University is very co- operative in so many ways. At our Guild Meeting on 9th July 2016 I did inform the gathering that I would be stepping down as Guild Secretary on Saturday 14 July 2018 at the end of the event. Even though I appealed, nobody has come forward to take over the position. There is still time to volunteer!!!!! We welcome Professor Catherine Harper from the University of Portsmouth as the new Deputy Vice Chancellor (replacing Dr Sarah Gilroy), and Professor Jane Longmore from the University of Southampton-Solent will replace Vice Chancellor Professor Clive Behagg who leaves on 1st May 2017. We wish Clive well as he has always supported the Guild and I hope that the new Vice Chancellor may be similar as she has an interest in history. This really will be the last official walk up Trundle Hill and Bob and I hope that as many people as possible will turn out for the event. This is living history and a very old tradition. For those who can only do the very last part, you are most welcome. Some people did this in 2015. The event did not happen in 2016 as only three people turned up including the two leaders! Whatever the number this year it will happen even if it has snowed. (Remember those days?) Best wishes to you all (sounds a bit like the Queen’s speech) and I hope that you can make it – if you cannot your year will think about you. Sadly we are not getting any younger and age is taking its toll. Sincere regards as ever, you are a great lot.

Marten Lougee

Bishop Otter Guild Minutes of the Business Meeting of the Guild Committee held on Saturday 9th July 2016 at 9.30 a.m. in the Cloisters

Welcome: Dr C Greaves, Chairman and Vice-President of the Guild, welcomed 11 other representatives. Apologies: Apologies were received from Hilary Chapman (membership secretary), Jo Sztyber (rep for 1949-51), Trixie Barnden (rep for 1952-54), Audrey Colam (rep for 1947-49) and Carolyn Keyzor (rep for 1961-64). Minutes of the Last Meeting: The minutes of the last Business Meeting, held on Saturday 11th July 2015, were circulated, accepted and signed. Matters Arising: There were no matters arising. Treasurer’s Report: John Fletcher, Guild treasurer, presented the accounts, which appeared in the Guild Newsletter in March 2016. He thanked the University for collecting the money and Hilary Chapman for checking them. The Accounts were approved. He thanked Roger and Diana Revell (1962-1965) for their generous donation towards a shield which will go on the new building near the main entrance. (See page 8 of the Guild Newsletter 2016.) John was thanked for continuing to do such a good job. Chapel Collection: The Chapel collection was discussed. Half always goes toward Chapel funds, the other half to a local charity, usually to do with younger people in the area. It was agreed that the money should go to the Chestnut Tree Children’s Hospice, Worthing Future of the Guild: The Guild Secretary informed all the Committee that he would be stepping down at the end of the Guild meeting on Saturday 14th July 2018. He would have achieved his aim which was to allow years 1961-64, 1962-65, 1963-66, 1964-67 and 1965-68 to celebrate their 50 years from finishing College life. He stressed that this would not be the end of the Guild BUT he had saved it when nobody else volunteered before and he hoped that someone would step forward!!! Roy Salmon (rep 1963/66) asked if anybody could come to the meeting Guild Officers will be holding in March 2017 and he was assured that this was possible. It was noted that Angela Anson (1990), a retired member of staff might know other staff. Date of the Next Reunion: The next reunion would be 7th, 8th, 9th July 2017 and this was agreed. Any Other Business: Hilary Chapman was thanked, in her absence, for all her hard work. The Committee realise the mobility problems she has makes it hard for her to get to Chichester. Delia King (a previous treasurer) had died. Rose was thanked for actually having to pack the magazines this year. Her daughter, Mary, was good enough to take a day off work to give her a hand.

The meeting closed at 10.05 a.m.

Guild Newsletter 2017 | 5 Bishop Otter Guild Minutes of the General Meeting of the Guild Committee held on Saturday 9th July 2016 at 9.30 a.m. in the Cloisters

Attendance: Representatives were present from the following years; 1947-49, 1; 1949-51, 3; 1951-53, 1; 1952-54, 1; 1953-55, 9+ 1954-56, 9; 1956-58, 4; 1955-57, 13; 1959-61, 3; 1960-63, 3; 1961-64, 7; 1962-65, 13; 1963-64, 1; 1963-66, 21; 1964-67, 1; Guests, 15. Just over 70 people attended this meeting with over 100 for lunch.

1. Dr. Colin Greaves, Vice-President and Guild Chairman welcomed everybody.

2. As the Vice-Chancellor, Prof Clive Behagg, had another engagement (the Opera), and needed to leave early he spoke first. Firstly he mentioned that he was retiring at the beginning of May. He had started at Bognor Regis and would be 67 when he finished. He had given his whole life to Bognor and Chichester. He mentioned the Bishop Otter College Collection which was on view at the University and at the Pallant Art Gallery to which the Guild had given a donation. The Chapel roof was still leaking as it was not the best design, but he hoped that it would be sorted, however £200,000 was required for a new roof. People had remarked about the petunias around College which were magnificent, they had all been grown from seed. There is extreme competition for students these days and the University had to offer a high quality product. The Bognor facilities will be excellent and new dedicated space is essential for History and Social Studies – classrooms for the future. The music block would open in September 2016 and the new block near the entrance to the BOC Campus in January 2017 where the BOC Shield will be placed. He finished by saying that it had been a great pleasure every year to speak to the Guild and that he would miss it. Dr Greaves presented a gift voucher to the Vice-Chancellor for £50 because he had been so supportive to the Guild over the years. 3. Apologies: Audrey Colam rep 1947-1949, Jo Sztyber, rep 1949-1951, Trixie Barndon rep 1952-1954, Hilary Chapman 1953-1955, Sandy Stansfield 1961-1964, Carolyn Keyzor rep 1961-1964, Mary Payne 1961-1964, Terry Turner 1961-1964, Sue Petri 1962-1965, Mike Riggs 1962-1965, Janet Bayly 1962-1965, Alan Palmer 1962-1965, Godfrey and Maureen Hurst 1962-1965, Janet Carter, University Archivist. 4. Minutes of the last Guild Meeting: Minutes of the meeting on 11th July 2015 were circulated, approved and signed. 5. Matters Arising: There were no matters arising from the minutes. 6. Treasurer’s Report: The Treasurer and the Guild Secretary’s reports can be read in the Business Meeting minutes as can the dates of the 2017 meeting, the Chapel Collection and the Membership Secretary’s absence (Items 5,6,7,8,9) 7. All other items are covered in the Business Report (please read all those minutes).

Any Other Business: The Trundle Walk did not actually take place (mentioned in the Guild Secretary’s letter). The Guild Secretary had a limited number of University products for sale. N.B. 2017 will be the last time this will happen. Dates of next meetings: The next reunion will be held on 7th to 9th July, 2017. Dr Colin Greaves thanked everybody for attending. He wished them well and hoped they would enjoy the rest of the day and especially the art collection displays.

6 | Guild Newsletter 2017 Notes for the Reunion Weekend 7th to 9th July 2017

Please note that the booking form only covers accommodation for the Bishop Otter Guild Reunion weekend dates. Any additional nights are subject to availability and can be booked directly on 01243 812120 or email [email protected]

Please complete the booking form which is enclosed separately with the Newsletter.

The Accommodation Office is open between 8 a.m. and 10 p.m. during the Reunion weekend.

Notes on the weekend Please be aware that there will be some building works taking place around campus over the weekend of the reunion and certain areas may be cordoned off. The conference reception is open over the weekend from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. Please telephone 01243 812120 if you are going to be delayed.

1. Residential Room Allocation and Check-In: Room keys can be collected from the Accommodation Office, located in Amberley Hall. Check-in is between 3 and 10 p.m. on the day of your arrival. If you are likely to arrive after 10 p.m. please let the University know on 01243 793477 and they will make the necessary arrangements. Please note on the booking form if there is anybody that you would like to be allocated near and the University will endeavour to do this where possible.

2. Meal Tickets: Vouchers for your meals will be sent out with the confirmation of reservation and receipt for payment. Please ensure that you bring these with you as they cannot be replaced.

3. Check-Out: Rooms will need to be vacated and keys returned by 10 a.m. on your departure day. Please speak to the Accommodation Office if you require your luggage to be stored.

4. Car Parking Restrictions: Parking space is limited on campus and cannot be guaranteed. Parking permits will be required for those staying overnight and for Friday. Parking is free during the day on Saturday and Sunday. Please put the permit clearly on display in your car on arrival.

5. Times of Meals (All served in Otters Restaurant): Breakfast will be served between 7.30 and 9.00 a.m. (Included in the Bed and Breakfast Rate) Friday – Welcome Dinner will be at 7 p.m. – To be booked in advance Saturday – Morning Coffee and Biscuits – Cash service Saturday – Reunion Luncheon at 1.15 p.m. – To be booked in advance Saturday – Afternoon Tea and Biscuits – Cash service If any day visitors would like to join residents for a full-breakfast you can book in advance at the rate of £9.50 (including VAT). Please call the conference office on 01243 812120. There will be tea and coffee making facilitates in all en-suite bedrooms for those staying overnight.

6. Bed and Breakfast Prices: Single En-suite Rooms are £38.70 per person, per night. Price includes tea and coffee making facilities, wi-fi, parking permit and breakfast.

7. Telephone number for emergencies: The Accommodation number 01243 793477 is a 24hr number which is diverted to Security outside office hours.

Guild Newsletter 2017 | 7 FINANCIAL REPORT From John Fletcher, Treasurer

BISHOP OTTER COLLEGE GUILD Income and Expenditure Account for Year Ending 31st December 2016

INCOME EXPENDITURE

2015 Balances at 1/1/15 2016 2015 2016 0.00 Cash 0.00 25.05 Year Rep’s Exp. 26.83 3345.19 Current Account 6915.50 50.80 Secretaries’ Exp. 60.50 932.06 Deposit Account 0.00 0.00 Membership Sec. Exp. 0.00 90.00 Treasurer’s Exp. 90.00 4277.25 6915.50 165.85 177.33

510.00 Subs & donations 132.00 0.00 Newsletters 0.00 2500.00 BOC shield don BOC Shield don 2500.00

Reunion July 2015 Reunion July 2015 333.00 Receipt 276.00 500.00 Clive Behagg don 50.00 220.00 BOC Chapel 190.00 440.00 Chapel Offering 380.00 220.00 Chosen Charity 190.00 773.00 656.00 39.00 Guest dinners 0.00 Service sheets 979.00 430.00

BANK INTEREST Balances at 31/12/16 0.10 Deposit Accounts 0.00 0.00 Cash 0.00 6915.50 Current Account 4596.17 0.10 0.00 0.00 Deposit Accounts 6915.50 4596.17

8060.35 TOTALS 7703.50 8060.35 7703.50

Checked & found correct H Chapman

8 | Guild Newsletter 2017 From the Vice-Chancellor Dear Guild Members,

As you will know, this is my last communication with you prior to my retirement on 1st May this year. I regret that I will not be meeting you at your annual conference this year but I know that you will understand, probably more than any other members of the University community, the excitement I feel at the prospect of retirement. Thank you so much for the card and token that Marten presented to me at last year’s meeting – I was very touched. The University continues to thrive despite the extreme turbulence caused by the Higher Education and Research Bill making its way through Parliament. This year the Sunday Times/Times Good University Guide awarded Chichester the title ‘University of the Year for Student Retention 2017’. It is an award that we won in 2014 and I was thrilled that we were able to repeat this success. For me, retention and completion rates are just a way of measuring how well staff and students are working together to achieve their respective goals. Leading the sector in retention means that the students’ success gives the University’s national recognition. We have also enjoyed international recognition. In January we heard that we have been awarded a place in the accredited list of training providers for the State Administration for Foreign Experts Affairs (SAFEA) for the People’s Republic of China. This is China’s official doorway into Western expertise and the list is exclusive and difficult to get onto (it is a lot easier to get onto their black list). Only 14 institutions were admitted this year, with Chichester being the only UK university to be included. This is in recognition of the fact that over the last 30 years we have trained school teachers from every province in China and this training is considered to be excellent. It is an area of our work that we hope to grow in the future. The University of Chichester Academy Trust continues to develop well, with nine schools (eight Primary and one Secondary) having joined and another three going through the process. In November last we were notified that our sponsorship of Mill Chase Academy in Hampshire (our only Secondary) had enabled the school to move from Ofsted ‘Special Measures’ (when we took it over) to ‘Good’ in just three years. So, despite Government hostility to University-based teacher education, we have demonstrated that, through the tutors in our Institute of Education and our Academy Trust, the University can work well in the new education landscape, adding value to the schools for which we have responsibility. From January 2017 teaching will take place in the new Academic Building, which will greet you as you step off College Lane onto our Campus this July. It is the first bespoke general classroom accommodation (rather than dedicated space) built on the Bishop Otter Campus since the early 1960s (and the opening of H144 and H149). On entering the building, the first thing you will see in the entrance will be the shield of the Bishop Otter College Coat of Arms (funded by the generosity of Guild members Roger and Diana Revell). This will be a permanent reminder for us of the University’s legacy from the College which is so dear to your own hearts. I think it is a splendid building and I hope you like it. I know that I will miss meeting with you each year. The Guild has always represented for me the history of the College as a precursor to the University. Our heritage, from Bishop Otter College, of a community ethos built around the passion that staff have for their subjects and the engagement that students bring to their studies, has been so important in enabling the University to steer its path through all the changes that have happened in Higher Education in recent years. We have learned a lot from you and I wish you all the best for the future.

Best wishes,

Professor Clive Behagg Vice-Chancellor

Guild Newsletter 2017 | 9 Making the Bishop Otter Art Collection Janet Carter, Special Collections Manager and Archivist, University of Chichester.

Firstly, a big thank you to the Guild for supporting our summer exhibition 2016 ‘The Bishop Otter Art Collection: a Celebration’ held in the Otter Gallery, which this year also included a collaborative show with Pallant House Gallery. Many of you I know visited both shows at the annual reunion in July. The exhibition, curated by Dr Gill Clarke MBE who is our Visiting Professor, was a great success. Gill also put together a new book for the show, giving a unique view on the works in the collection and the influential people who made the Bishop Otter Art Collection. At various times throughout the exhibition, the Otter Gallery was delighted that Gill was able to deliver a number of themed talks, which I know that many you enjoyed at the reunion. The photo on the right shows Miss Murray. This fantastic exhibition did much to raise awareness of the Bishop Otter Permanent Collection, and resulted in lots of interest and new connections. One such result was the possibility to make a short documentary based on the Permanent Collection which would give focus on the two women who inspired art at Bishop Otter College, namely Miss Murray and Miss McCririck. The approach for a film; technical direction; and production had been initially proposed to Gill Clarke, by visitor Sylvie Collier. Sylvie, a Sussex-based freelance producer and director of documentaries, had previously worked with the BBC, ITV, Sky and other broadcasting companies. Sylvie’s approach came from hearing the story of the College and its art collection at one of Gill’s talks. At an initial meeting between Sylvie and Gill Clarke it was felt that three short interviews be carried out with people who, in some part, had a good connection to the Permanent Collection, had known Miss Murray and Miss McCririck and would be willing to take part and who, because of time constraints on production, lived locally. The photo on the left shows Sheila McCrirrick in 1950 taken from Bishop Otter Year Group Photograph. The three people who agreed to participate in the production will be familiar to many readers of the newsletter. Mary Haynes was a student from 1958-1960, and who had chosen to take art under the watchful eye of Sheila McCririck. Mary was a talented student who during her time at College produced a sculpture entitled ‘My People’ that was accepted into the Permanent Art Collection. Our second interviewee was Guild Officer, Barbara Hammond, who was at Bishop Otter College between 1952 and 1954 and whose collection of photographs we hold in our Bishop Otter Archives. Barbara holds fond memories of Miss Murray and the Permanent Art Collection, displayed in its infancy throughout the College rooms and corridors. Our final interviewee was former staff member Jock Johnson, who worked for Bishop Otter College from 1970, and who gave an insight into the development of the Permanent Collection and who was involved with its later development. The photo on the right shows ‘My People’ by Mary Haynes. On a cold and frosty morning in November Gill Clarke, Sylvie and I left Chichester and set out to film at the home of Mary Haynes from which I will let Mary take up the story... “With only a week’s notice, it was very exciting when this happy film crew arrived and suddenly with skill and care, transformed my front room into a studio with lights, cameras and microphones. Sylvie, highly talented, took immense trouble over detail, and she with Gill, made it easy by subtle remarks and suggestions for me to outline vivid memories and appreciation of all that I felt Miss Murray and Sheila McCririck did for Bishop Otter and for me. It was so smoothly conducted and so absorbing that, for my one appearance as ‘star’, I found that I had forgotten to comb my hair! It was a joy to see once again ‘My People’ , in storage since the 1960s, and have so much satisfaction and enjoyment of those days brought back to me. Thank you to Sylvie, Janet and Gill for giving me so memorable and exciting a day!” The photo on the left shows Sculpture Students in 1953 – Bishop Otter College (do you recognise either of the two students?). Two further visits, firstly to Jock Johnston and then Barbara Hammond took place a week later. At each home, we set up the lighting and sound equipment and then Sylvie and Gill put the interviewees at rest with their surroundings. Further recording then took place in the Otter Gallery and around the university campus, archival images were selected and edited into the film. Three weeks after completing the filming, the recording entitled ‘Making the Bishop Otter Art Collection’ was ready for viewing. What an experience and many thanks to Sylvie for all her hard work and skilful editing. The recording will be available in the forthcoming exhibition entitled Women Artists: Power and Presence at the Otter Gallery from the 18th February until the 9th April 2017 and we hope to show the film to those of you returning for the reunion in July 2017. For any archive enquiries please contact: Janet Carter – Special Collections Manager, University of Chichester. email: [email protected]

10 | Guild Newsletter 2017 Reflections on the exhibition The Bishop Otter Art Collection: A Celebration

Dr Gill Clarke, Guest Curator and Visiting Professor at the University’s Otter Gallery reflects on the joint exhibition held at the Otter Gallery and Pallant House Gallery of The Bishop Otter Art Collection from June - October 2016. Working with the Bishop Otter Collection has been both a privilege and a pleasure. As I have learnt more about the Collection from research and talking with Guild members my admiration and respect for Sheila McCririck’s (Head of Art, Bishop Otter College 1949-77) ability to select key works of art from little known artists who have gone on to become some of the most important figures in twentieth century British art increases. The fact that the University is now the proud custodian of such a fine collection of nationally significant artwork in varied mediums is the direct result of her unerring selecting eye and the tenacious support of the Principal ‘Betty’ Murray (1948-70). But don’t just take my word for it; the Visitor’s Book at both Pallant House and the Otter Gallery was full of glowing comments about the Collection made by visitors from across the UK and as far away as Australia and Canada. The press coverage was good too and I was invited to show HRH Princess Alexandra around the Collection with Sally Mather, former student and member of the arts staff and Sarah Gilroy, the University’s Deputy Vice Chancellor, which was on display at Pallant House. The following are typical of nearly two hundred comments left across the two galleries: (Photo right – Princess Alexandra with Sally Mather at Pallant House Gallery)

• Amazing foresight shown by the College. Look forward to the University’s collection in the future. • So good to see so much of the collected work on display here & at Pallant House. Great to see it and have it described for us – what a gem unknown to lots of people. • Stunning collection. Wonderfully presented – what a gem.

Former students remembered the Collection with much affection writing: • Amazing to have wandered past this while here as a student 1962-65 • Student 1965-69 - Vice President SU - … I loved my time here and now have a passion for Art! This is just fantastic… • Lovely to see all these old friends once again!

These ‘old friends’ were graced over the Reunion Weekend by former art student from 1949-51 Pam Robinson (née Rock) who, at the request of myself as curator agreed to create a ‘special’ flower arrangement to sit in front of Autumn Stream by Ivon Hitchens (1893-1979). No mean task but one that Pam had performed some 66 years earlier! The previous practice paid off and the simple and minimalist modern arrangement blended in perfectly with what was the first painting to enter the Collection in 1950 for the princely sum of £50. In closing I should like to again record the thanks of the Otter Gallery and the University for the generous donation from the Guild towards the running of what has been one of the most successful and popular exhibitions. This summer you may wish to revisit the Otter Gallery to see the exhibition Coastal Connections which also features work from the Bishop Otter Collection and other collections and explores artists’ connections to the coastal landscape and how this is reflected in their work. Special Book Offer to Guild Members – If any Guild members would like a copy of the illustrated history of The Bishop Otter Art Collection there are still some copies available at the special price of £10 inclusive of postage and packing. Please contact Julie Peachey via email: [email protected] for further details or telephone the Otter Gallery: 01243 816098.

Guild Newsletter 2017 | 11 A Letter from Cornwall Jean Nankervis (Fowler Wright 1954 -1956) Thank you for my copy of the Guild Newsletter in March 2016 which sat on my kitchen table for a few days with its stunning cover. It was good to see Joyce Fry and her friends in it as she was my college mother. I left BOC sixty years ago so what have I done since then? First I taught at Walton on Thames and then Addlestone in Surrey. There was just a curtain between my class and the head teacher’s. One day a small boy fell off his chair and was on the wrong side of the curtain. The young fidget was moved to the other side of the room. (Photo right: Jean serving up a joint of their own beef c.1987.) Next I joined the British Forces Education Service Overseas and taught in Germany before marrying a Cornish farmer. As soon as my four children were old enough to go to school I gave up the bed and breakfast trade in favour of part time teaching. In the 1980s I travelled in the school holidays and came back to teach the children about Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Canada, Thailand and the United States. I gave talks to WIs in this country and made friends around the world talking about ‘What Your Ancestors Left Behind’. (Photo left: At the pantomime BBQ after playing Britannia in the 1995 production of Robinson Crusoe.) In the 1990s my husband died and my children began to get married. My oldest and youngest children have jobs too complicated for me to understand. My two middle children run the farm with me. I was out on the farm every day but with the turn of the century our workload increased with the birth of two grandchildren. I have five other grandchildren and most of them come home for Christmas. Every year we are ten for ten days and everyone helps. Now I spend most of my time in the farm office and the paperwork gets more complicated every year. If I send a cow to market it takes longer to do the paper work than to load the cow on the lorry. In Euro speak there is no such colour as ‘brown’, my cows are either red or dun. We have a hundred beef cows which calve in the spring and we sell the calves in the autumn. They all have passports and a 13-digit number in both ears with a check digit in the middle. I have learnt to cope with red tape and to be SO polite when I am asked, ‘What sex is your bull?’ ‘Do you move the rocks in your fields?’ ‘Yes, we bring them in for the winter’. The TB test for our cattle in February this year was at half term and the grandchildren were old enough to help. We feed our helpers on both days so ten of us sit down to lunch. I do the record keeping as each cow goes through the cattle crush which is a cold job in the winter. TB is a problem and we need two clear tests at sixty day intervals before we can trade again on the open market. I like writing and historical research. I was a founder member of the Cornwall Association of Local Historians and the Penwith Local History Group. If anyone is interested they have websites. My latest topic is Women in Wills 1600- 1750 and what their husbands said about them. As a result of my journey around the world I was made a Cornish Bard in 1999. It would be nice to know if any other Old Otter is a Cornish Bard. Reminiscences Jim and Jenny Barrett (Neale) (1964-1967) 1964-1967, so long...! In 2014 Bob Norris got in touch to say it was 50 years since we’d started at college, he’d like a contribution for the Guild Newsletter; submissions were low; there’d only been two for our year; he wanted something urgently. I thought I couldn’t do this; we’d only moved in to our new house a month previously and I was boarding the loft and had a dozen other jobs to do; and Jenny was away most of the week looking after various grandchildren, so no good looking for a contribution from her. Jenny said I need only write a brief note saying we’d now retired, had seven grandchildren and intended to return to dancing (ballroom, swing, rock n‘ roll) when we got the chance. But Bob’s request had me reminiscing. It was also 50 years since I spied Jenny. I was too shy to ask her out until the second term when we went to see Albert Finney in ‘Tom Jones’ at the Bognor Regis Odeon. Jenny was a friend of Jo Killpack at the time, blonde and brunette together. In our dance class it was Jo who got the prize for her evocation of an ascending heron. Other of Jenny’s friends were Vi Martin, Judy Openshaw and Carola Jackman. And I’d just been listening to ‘our old mate’, Bryan Matthews and ‘Sounds of the Sixties, familiar tunes that I first heard rock the Old Common Room, so, yes, it was 50 years, after all... I wrote something, but it was too late for inclusion, so I shelved it until now, 53 years since I first trudged up College Lane, my few belongings in my Dad’s old brown, cardboard case. I wore a tie and my only jacket, a hairy,

12 | Guild Newsletter 2017 Harris Tweed, uncomfortably sticky in the September heat. Nevertheless, I was happy not to work for the foreseeable future; I’d been working since I’d left school at 16: bottle washer, clerk, shop assistant, waiter, local government clerk and van driver – bored and depressed in all my jobs. When I turned into the drive of the College everything seemed so much brighter. What a welcome! There were a number of lovely girls sitting on the bank, like Eliot’s ‘roses out of sunlight’, and Anne, one of the scrumptious apples from Orchard – adopted me and became my ‘college mum’. Kindly Mrs Bennett provided me thereafter with all my frame required in terms of breakfast, dinner, lunch and tea, as well as coffee and buns mid morning, except at week-ends when I had to join the scrum for a tin of either baked beans or spaghetti, both in tomato sauce. New Hall was noisy. My comfortable cell, furnished with Parker Knoll, was by the back door, which slammed too early every morning. There were lots of people in and out of my room, Bob Norris was trying to tune a guitar, David Jones throwing a ball in the air with one hand and trying, unsuccessfully, to catch it with his other, Red Patten declaiming from a poem about a spider with which he cohabited, Keith Parker threw a snowball and smashed my window, Barry Jenkinson, normally reclusive, puffing his pipe then, ever philosophical, he opined, “This place is a hot-house, Jim”, Mac Bowes smoking too, a so, so sophisticated, black Sobranie. Rod Harris had a smile for everybody, as always, Nigel Holland stood in a tantric pose, staring fixedly at a glass of water that he was later destined to walk upon, Tony Kneebone was in a state of gloom because he’d left Cornwall for the first time, Jim Buxton, a strange greenish colour, zig-zagged, uncertainly, through the door, slid down the wall and passed out, Gerry Abery, genial bursar, having conscientiously returned Miss Murray from chapel, contributed a bucket of his very alcoholic, homemade, rhubarb wine - he liked being given a lift back from The Hope in my column change Velox, ”This is a pash wagon, Jim”. Only Pam Bailey serenely held chaos at bay as she served coffee in the finest tradition of the college. Godfrey Hurst was the rep and was holding forth, against the general tide of things, about the rules: “Doors locked at ten p.m. unless you have a key and your names in the book.” As you do with all rules, we had already worked out ways to flout them. Oh, New Hall, noisy by day, restless by night: late back and locked out, we quaked to hear Mr Morgan, moonlit, leaning out the window of the staff flat, sternly, “If you’re sufficiently capable of getting in through that window, gentlemen, do so quickly - and for God’s sake, do it quietly!” Was it the next day our entire year walked up the Trundle? At our 2014 re-union there were only myself, Jenny, Jean Turnock and Marten Lougee. But then, on that first walk in 1964 I remember Mick Sproule and Liz Kent, Liz in amazing, figure hugging trousers. I am still not sure whether we men were walking with Liz to view the Trundle or walking up the Trundle to view Liz. Driven by exuberance, some of us went up again the following morning to watch the sunrise. During the first year I was type-cast as the simple soldier in Peter West‘s production of ‘The Caucasian Chalk Circle’ whilst Derek Fulford pushed the character of Azdak to the limit by spitting all over us. The college had a syllabus that was advanced, experimental almost. We sampled different disciplines before choosing our main subject. I thought about Art, perhaps because Cheryl Collett had helped me enjoy the module so much, but I preferred English, having been wooed by Miss Hiller who liked my piece in her creative writing module: “You must continue to write after you leave college” which I have done, though nothing ‘literary’. Angie Pick and Margaret (unaccountably called ‘granny’) Rutter were good friends. I was delighted to meet Margaret years later at a reunion arranged by Jean Turnock. At the same event I chatted with Roger Plackett and Carol Griffin, whom I’d hardly spoken to at college, and found myself wishing I’d known them better. I had a discussion that meant a lot to me with Caroline Lockwood. But I am jumping around in time, so… I was in clover, being allowed to read books all day interspersed with the odd stimulating tutorial with Roger Iredale and Miss Hiller. There was so much else to get involved in. I wish I’d gone down to the coffee bar more often and also that I’d joined in with The G & S Society. In the second year I did a lot of potting with Norah Braden who remembered me until the end of her long life as the “longy-bongy chap who put out the fire in the kiln shed”. We were friends until she died at the age of 99; ”Though youth and age don’t mix, child”. Teaching practice always came as an unwelcome interruption. To be honest, I never rated myself much as a teacher of children and I gave it up fairly soon. Instead, I became a psychologist and used ‘T-groups’ in which we had participated in our third year, within corporations. In that third year I was one of the authors of ‘Microscope’, in which I attempted to deflect suspicions of my involvement by poking scorn at the play I’d directed, ‘Exit the King’, which was, in fact, successful, helped in no small measure by a talented lot including Simon Hebditch, Keith Parker, Andie Lewry, Sue Cooke, Lesley Holdsworth and Chris Hellyer. I have beaten myself up all these years for not having cast Carola Jackman, an unrealised acting talent. There was so much going on: girls from the Wing made up beautiful modern dances; a bicycle appeared on top of the college spire; Gavin Wrigley and I constructed a giant Coca Cola sign that was to be fixed to the top of the Trundle radio mast had not a citizen taken photographic evidence of us and threatened to report it to the police; Mike Woolley did a clever exposé of our compulsory, ridiculously ill- fitting PE outfits; Martin Kail and his group appeared outside the refectory during supper with water, mops, buckets and in sombre earnest proceeded to clean the windows, appearing behind the top table on ladders – it was the funniest thing I ever saw. And there was always someone with whom one could have coffee. Perhaps because I had been a lonely child I have always felt reassured when in some form of institution, so didn’t want it all to end; I wasn’t keen to teach so stayed on for a fourth year. I moved into a flat in East Street, which had

Guild Newsletter 2017 | 13 been found for me by a friend who used the same pub. I shared with Paul Jenkins and Frank Tarrant. Jean Turnock also stayed on in digs. The year after that I stayed in my flat when I taught at Oak Park Boys’. I was joined by Mike Woolley who, I believe may still be there. In my final year I appreciated Laurie Cureton’s tutoring. He had a critical talent for tweaking the tappets of my prose. But the extra year really was an add on; I have since taken two further degrees, but neither match the interest, rigour and quality of lecturing as those three years of our Teaching Certificate. We all deserve to have been awarded BAs. Bishop Otter College had a Christian ethos. I was so lucky to be made welcome in its benign embrace for I was, and still am, an atheist. Vera Howard, a Christian, and I talked through the night about faith when we were both sick in the ‘san’. I wrote a piece for a production in the Chapel, which was intended to debate dramatically faith issues. Flatteringly, Gina Tyley said she liked it, but otherwise I only went to the Chapel to admire the Lurcat. I was idealistic about education. I soon realized that it’s all in the hands of our political masters. Recently, there’s been a move to bring back grammar schools but I experienced, at first hand, how difficult it can be for those who ‘fail’ the 11+ or similar selection process. It appals me that educational changes are made apparently without reference to research in education and psychology: why does the academic syllabus start earlier and earlier – what happened to Piaget? Why not have maximum sized classes of 18 – that would level by increasing the opportunities for all our children. Now, that really would be a political vision, Mrs May! I left the profession, but I still get worked up about education, as you can tell, so, in a sense, I’m still at BOC. After college I taught at Oak Park School and Jenny at Sheephatch where Janice Funell was also working. They have remained friends ever since. Jan and Mike Woolley both came to our wedding. They both also stayed with us in Portugal where we worked for the British Council. Then I was employed as a stage hand before teaching again whilst studying psychology, and Jenny also taught before we started our family. Later, Jenny studied horticulture and also became a psychotherapist. We have four children and, as of last January, nine grandchildren. Dare you ask if we are busy? Well, not so much time for dancing these days, though we get some kind of exercise by a quick walk up to the supermarket. Nowadays I enjoy meeting people of our generation and finding out how they cope. It’s sad to recall those who are already dead, I remember them so lively, bright and talented. We all have our stories. Sometimes it’s about pension, increasingly it’s about health and often it’s about grandchildren whose future we worry about. So, we grumble a bit, and recall the old and, perhaps, more innocent times. Bob’s request for a quick piece has given me no time to mention all the names that influenced, affected me and gave me so much fun. I’d love to hear from you ([email protected]).

A Letter from Ian Hayler (1965-1968) I have just been re-reading this year’s Bishop Otter Guild Newsletter and thought some of our contemporaries may be interested to learn what has been happening in the Hayler household over the last forty-seven years. (Was it really more than half a century ago that I first went to Bishop Otter?!) When I left college in 1968 I was already engaged to Christine Phillips (1966-1969) and we had decided to marry in 1970 after I had taught for two years and Christine for one. So I went back home to live with my parents in Hastings having been appointed as assistant teacher (as we were designated then) at a challenging school on the outskirts of Bexhill-on-Sea. Although some of the children were difficult I loved it and soon learnt the craft of dealing with awkward and sometimes threatening parents (at least for most of the time!) Christine and I were married in August 1970 and moved to Crawley. We had no money and couldn’t afford a house so decided to apply for jobs in the new towns as housing was allocated to “key workers”. I was successful in obtaining a teaching post there but Christine, who had taught for a year in South Norwood and like me had spent a year back home living with her parents in Battersea, was appointed to a post in one of the other new towns. Not a good prospect to be living in different towns after we were married! Therefore, she carried on working in South Norwood, commuting from Crawley each day for a term until she obtained a job in Horley. I loved the school I was in. It was a time of so much freedom with no National Curriculum, OFSTED, SATs, Health & Safety and all the other restrictions which are universal these days. In 1972 we became a middle school (8-12) and things became even better. The PTA bought us a minibus and I was able to take groups of children out throughout the summer (owing to a very supportive and enlightened head teacher) all over the local area. I also arranged an archaeological dig, educational flights from Gatwick and all sorts of musical activities without any pressure from above. The children learnt because they wanted to and needed to if they were going to be able to produce results they were proud of; and that achievement was important to them especially when their parents came in to see what they had been doing. After seven happy years I went to a small village school nearby as deputy head. There, things were very different and I was unable to continue with the sorts of activities that my previous pupils had enjoyed (although the children were lovely) and so it was with huge relief that I left after three years to become deputy of a large middle school in Surrey. Here, things returned to how they had been before and I was soon arranging the same sorts of activities as I had done in Crawley plus a couple of week-long trips to the canals in the

14 | Guild Newsletter 2017 Midlands. After eight years the wonderful head I worked for retired and I became acting head for two terms before leaving to take up a headship of my own in a rural middle school south of Dorking. My school was in the middle of nowhere! It was originally a secondary building dating from just before the war and was situated in seventeen acres of parkland. The children came from a twelve square mile area and were nearly all bussed in so only tended to see each other at school. Relationships between them were always affected by their home locations as some lived on fairly isolated farms and quite often they had to be taught how to react properly to each other. So it was a challenging environment in which to teach. Meanwhile, Christine had given up teaching when our daughters were born then, when the younger one was only just four, was asked by the head of our local school if she would take up a permanent position there (having done the odd day’s supply) as long as a place could be found for our daughter in the reception class. So Christine accepted the post and eventually went up through the ranks to become deputy head. In 1989 she became head of a small village school which, ironically, was one of five rural establishments that fed into my middle school! Everything was fine until the local authority decided to change the age of transfer back to the old system. This meant that, of the five infant schools in my group two were closed and two amalgamated leaving Christine’s as before but minus a year group. That would have been fine but for one thing; they decided to change my school from a middle to a primary meaning that I now had a new infant department, and with local management of schools funding followed the pupils. As most of the children from Christine’s school’s were coming to me at the age of seven and the fact that her school was only a few minutes’ drive away from mine there was always the temptation for parents to decide to send their infants to me in the first place thus avoiding a change of schools at the end of three years. From then on we were in competition with each other. You couldn’t make up the story if you chose! Discussing school matters at home became a thing of the past as we daren’t let each other know of our latest plans to attract pupils! Eventually, Christine returned to a Crawley school as head teacher there and the secrecy ended. Education was changing. In the spring of 1995 I received the dreaded letter informing me that OFSTED would be inspecting my school in the autumn of the following year. Nearly eighteen months to worry about it. Fortunately, it went fairly well but it took its toll on me and the staff. In the summer of 1997 I gradually developed chest pains and shortness of breath. Having undergone many investigations, that Christmas I was told that I had a rare heart condition brought on by the stress of the job and was to stop teaching immediately; the end of my career. By then I had one granddaughter and another on the way. (I have the full set; two sisters, two daughters, two granddaughters and a female cat!). So I was called upon to help with the child minding even looking after the younger granddaughter from when she was five weeks old! Christine carried on teaching then became a “school improvement partner” and eventually retired five years ago. Apart from child minding, I went for an audition with a local band as pianist/keyboard player and stayed with them for ten years playing in the Crawley and Horsham area and other venues from Surrey to the Sussex coast. My younger daughter and family moved to Bexhill in 2006 and Christine and I came to Uckfield a year later to be nearer them. The grandchildren are now grown up with the elder working as a beautician and the younger at college! Where has that time gone? I continue to spend a great deal of time on music mostly as a soloist playing several concerts a year and working with a local church band once a month for one of the services. Christine is a school governor and loves her garden and allotment. We are still in touch with some of the other Bishop Otterites (see News of ex-Otters). If anybody wishes to contact me I’d love to hear from them. My email address is: [email protected]

And finally – 50 years ago (from the Guild Newsletter 1967) During 1966 the College said “goodbye” to three members of staff; Miss Braden and Miss Heard, who had each spent 20 years imparting their outstanding skills in pottery and bookbinding, and Miss Jenkin, for 25 years the key figure in the college’s advance in Education and who was remembered with affection and gratitude by many old students as the ever-sympathetic supervisor of school practice. Also a further three members of staff had all moved on to other posts; Mr Shone, who was the Chaplain, Miss Atkinson and Miss Leedham Green from the Physical Education department. Three members of the administrative staff moved on to enlarge their experience elsewhere; Miss Brown who was the Secretary-Registrar for eight years, Miss Hamilton the Caterer and Miss Stevens, Matron. That year Mr Cureton and Mr Paynter were away working for higher degrees at Sussex and York Universities and Mr Morgan completing his research for his M.Ed (Southampton). Miss Hiller would be away for the next term enjoying a period of private study. ( Extracted from the Principal’s letter 1967 ) “From the outset of this academic year we have tried to forge links outwards and be prepared to strengthen and change inwards, as far as possible in so short a time. To begin, we invited both Bognor College of Education and Chichester College of Further Education to join us in planning and financing dances and social events. At first the response was disappointing, but over the months we have worked closer together, culminating in an Arts Festival. This was held in early December at our College, and was open for three days, with all kinds of displays, recitals, modern dance, plays, satires and even a fashion show.” ( Taken from the letter from the Student Union President, Andrew J Vessey )

Guild Newsletter 2017 | 15 News of ex-Otters (see also the Obituaries)

1947-1949 Audrey Colam (Mould) lived in Dover until her death in February (See Obituaries). She was year rep for very many years Betty Kimbell (Christopher) still lives in Chichester and will be 90 by the time the next magazine goes out. She has trouble with her eyesight but lives alone and manages very well. Pam Connell (Bush) was 90 in April but news of her death came in December 2016 (See Obituaries). Eileen (Hocking) came from Cornwall. She and Chris roomed together. Apparently Eileen is not that well and her husband has full time carers but she now lives in Wales and shares a house with her daughter. Susan Pickering (Stockford) Sue lives in Alton and is now fit and well although she has had a period of inactivity due to a hip replacement which dislocated three times, then she kicked a bucket while gardening which resulted in a serious flesh wound and shortly after the recovery from that, broke her patella which meant six weeks in a long leg cast; recovery was speeded by doing all the physio in the swimming pool. That’s now over and she’s back to swimming almost daily. She has just given up abseiling because although she still drives, it is always difficult to park at the venue. She speaks with Betty Kimbell (Christopher) quite frequently and also to Valerie Tipple (Collins) and they generally manage to meet up once a year. This year the reunion is seen as a must – the 70th anniversary of going to BOC. All three of them are as well as can be expected as they are in the upper 80s now! Sue also runs a book club and plays bridge regularly. Her husband died in November 2014. They had been married 57 years. Sue remembers that when she went up to college in 1947 there were five in her year who still had blue ration books which meant they were under 18! In her first job there was one girl in the 6th Form older than herself. Valerie Tipple (Collins) is also well and running her own home and garden. Her family is growing so she spends time visiting them in different parts of the country. She is still in touch with Joan (Morgan). She is planning to come to the reunion in July. Diana Jones (Savage) writes “I am in touch occasionally with Joan Hamriding (Jones) and Celia Hayes (Mason). They are both widows leading independent lives but with health issues.” Although all three were interested in attending the 2017 reunion (70 years since they first joined the college) the length of their journeys is the real problem. Diana herself cannot contemplate attending as her husband of 63 years is suffering from Parkinson’s so planning ahead is hard. Diana also sent news of others of her year. Sheila Prike (Johnston/Bower) died in 2010 of multiple myeloma. Aggie Smith (Green) died in 2010 as a result of a stroke. Betty Thomas (Lewington) is now in residential care. Mary Arrowsmith stopped communicating in 2012. Barbara Haynes (Brown) – no reply since 2014. Brenda Richards (Heath) chose to stop communicating in 2014. Diana, Joan and Celia wish everyone a great weekend in July 2017. Barbara Gomm (Freeland) is in contact with Ro Howes (Brookes) who told Barbara the sad news that her friend from college days, Nancy (Vokes) , died earlier this year. For their first year of college life they shared an attic bedroom at Pallant. Barbara also said “Talking of other college folk, when chatting with Audrey Colum about two years ago, she told me that her special friend (was it Doreen Bycroft ?) had also died”. Margaret Hayden (Barker) wrote saying how much she enjoys coming to the reunions [Margaret is a regular, but usually the only one from her year] “although what I am able to do with a walking aid limits my mobility. I stay in the University accommodation on the Friday night and dine with those who have travelled there. It is good to meet up with so many Otters! This year I hope that some of my year, 1947-1949, will come – 70 years since we began! Our rep died last year and Sue has been appointed so I am looking forward to it. Even with mobility problems I enjoy a social life, theatre, film, lunch club, National Trust, church and family.

1948-1950 Pat Life (Heath) was fortunate enough to have a wonderful holiday in Copenhagen as her daughter, Vivien, came to the end of her time as British Ambassador. It was a very happy family holiday, and they all made the most of visiting new places and old favourites. Vivien is now back home, dealing with post-Brexit trade. Pat is still in her choirs. A spell in hospital trying to improve leg circulation was only partially successful. Her older grandchildren are now seeking employment after graduating, but short-term contracts seem the order of the day. Sheila Barnes (Shaw) has a walking problem and needs a knee replacement but as she is not in too much pain she has decided to leave well alone. Diana Jones (Woodall) sent Christmas greetings saying that she is fine and still keeping busy.

1949-1951 Stella Knight (Wickens) had a wonderful time with Ken, her husband, celebrating their Diamond wedding anniversary with a superb Hilton Hotel dinner and then a Thanksgiving service and tea at their parish church, where the bells were rung.

16 | Guild Newsletter 2017 Jean Ward (Porteous) Her eldest grandson is now a doctor – a GP. Pauline Tinley (Osbourne) A garden scratch in July caused a leg infection which is healing very slowly. Margaret Streete (Emsley) and her husband, Eric, have had another busy year, with two visits to Cornwall and another exciting trip to California. Joan Archer (Cholerton) had a fall and is now recovering from a fractured hip – but being well looked after by her daughter.

1951-1953 Joy Ash missed sending news last year because she was so busy singing with a choir just before Christmas, but has written now to say that life is still as busy as usual. She goes away often with the U3A, and visits friends in different parts of the country. She has spent Christmas for the last 25 years with her College friend in Goring- by-Sea and enjoys the ‘family experience’. Joy has now given up her voluntary classroom teaching, but keeps her hand in, working with the children at a Quaker Meeting. She is still in touch with Mary Mountain , who taught Gardening on the Staff at College, and says Mary will be 100 years old next year. Jill Potts (Davies) included a sad note with her Christmas greetings, to say her husband died in November. Janet Bradfield (Dixon) writes with surprise how quickly the years fly by. She is sure she gets more than one birthday each year! She says she can still walk the half-mile to her town centre, with the help of a purple stick! Ella Hutt was able to enjoy a visit to London city last May, and three parties with family and friends. In October her friend, Ellina, visited from Israel, so she was able to brush up on her Russian speaking. Doreen Stafford (Rigby) still hopes to make the reunion one day, even though she is now dependent on a walking frame. She is still in touch with Pam Moss who is now in a home, Margaret Tyler who still plays tennis, and Barbara Carpenter . She is delighted about her new lady Bishop in Wales. Hazel Allinson (Marquand), Paule Andrews (Johnston) and Dolores Emptage (Andreazzi) sent Christmas Greetings to all. Barbara Hammond (Thrush) had a busy year which started with two teaching courses, one in the parish on the development of the writing of the Scriptures (with power-point help from Brian), and the other on the Pentateuch for the Portsmouth Pathway scheme which prepares candidates for Ordination and Readership. Relaxation came with an exciting holiday in northern Italy, in Venice where “our shooting sticks were the envy of many, for they helped us climb the many bridges, and provided much needed rests without having to buy expensive cups of coffee every half hour. We visited Juliet’s balcony in Verona, and Sirmione on Lake Garda, before travelling to Ravenna. We arrived on Corpus Christi, so enjoyed being part of the celebrations which have been held in their churches ever since they were built in the 5th cent by the Visigoths. We were wowed to see their ancient mosaics, full of gold and gleaming brightly. Our favourite was the portrayal of the young-looking wise men running on foot to offer their gifts (see photo above) – and then we found the same motif carved on a 5th century sarcophagus.”

1952-1954 With thanks to the following Otters for keeping in touch. Trixie Barnden (Hibbert) has had a busy year celebrating 18th, 80th and 90th birthdays and two weddings, all in different parts of the UK. They did manage to squeeze in two weeks island hopping by boat in the Canary Islands and are looking forward to another busy year with a holiday in Madeira in February and in April a visit to the lower fiords in Norway followed by, hopefully, a quiet time bowling and gardening during the rest of the year. Shirley Crompton (Notley) writes “I am less and less mobile but carry on as best I can. Would you believe it I am still going in to school every fortnight and with my team we present ‘Open the Book’ during assembly time. We dramatise the story, have costumes and props, sing to a guitar and use a computer to put relevant pictures on screen, plus our logo and words for the song etc. I still get involved with fund raising in the village, having organised a Pudding Evening, cream teas at the village Spring Show and the Christmas Fayre, making cakes, cookies and preserves. I still keep in touch with Jean Strong and Margaret Gardner (Jones) who visited in July with her son.” Margaret Harris (Hogsden) enjoys reading the BOC Newsletter. She met up with Lorna Hooper (Garton) for lunch at Bosham and corresponds with Margaret Heathcote (Birch) . She has just had cataract surgery on both eyes so only needs glasses for reading. She spent a week’s holiday in Eastbourne and a week in Sidmouth.

Guild Newsletter 2017 | 17 Jenny Holdstock (Davies) met up with Lorna (Garton) f or lunch in June. Christmas will be the last one spent in Hungerford as she is moving to Dorchester to be near her daughter who farms just ten minutes (by car) away from the apartment she is buying. Lorna Hooper (Garton) met Jenny Holdstock (Davies) for lunch in Hungerford on a fine day in June and had lunch and a chat with Margaret Harris (Hogsden) at The Millstream in Bosham. Her usual short breaks have been spent in the UK visiting Torquay, Newquay and Bournemouth. She continues her activities in the U3A and the garden keeps her busy too. Enid Whiteman (Gulland) has spent a very quiet year due to being hound bound. Their dog has lost the use of its back legs which are now supported with a wheeled gadget. Margaret Heathcote (Birch) and Frank visited for a few enjoyable days and they talked a great deal about the old days at BOC. Mary Williams (Burrell) has been fortunate to get to see some plays in Chichester Theatre and was surprised to notice the main Post Office was closed. She keeps in touch with Amy Beesley who has been very ill this past year. Ann Wood (Clarke) writes “My life is still bound up with family, dogs and horses plus travel when I can afford it. We no longer compete with our driving ponies. We competed for about thirty years doing three-day driving trials and competed for GB three times in the “Worlds” with our pony pair. Looking back I don`t know how I managed to fit in a teaching career. I did retire at 60 and Granny-nannied for my middle daughter, which worked well as we have a shared property and she ran her business from home at the time. I now have two young grandsons living three minutes down the road and two of our retired ponies, a mini Shetland and Sebs, an 11- hand ride/drive, here which I care for daily, plus chickens and dogs so keep pretty active. We have just acquired a new carriage so the driving looks like carrying on to a new generation. We had a great Christmas here with all the family — my three daughters and husbands, six grandchildren and myself. I look forward to a happy busy 2017 and wish the same for you.” Greetings also from: Eileen Canterbury (Allen), Elaine Du Lieu, Shirley Glaysher (who has moved nearer the town centre in Horsham), Margaret Heathcote (Birch), Kathleen Smith (Sevier) and Angela Bellinasso (Chard) who lives in Italy.

1953-1955 Beryl Sharp (Pasquale) enjoyed holidays with her local National Trust group. Kathleen Allcorn (Young) has had to cope with rural transport, as she had an accident with her car (she fell asleep, but the air bags did their job). She still does Scottish dancing twice a week. Pat Wilkins (Bertie) feels like a bionic woman having had four joint operations. She finds walking difficult. Daphne Leech (Crockford) is an active member of the WI and still very creative, painting and making hand-made jewellery. Dot Borden (Emptage) has written two books, one of which has been published. Meg Franklin (Cameron) says that sadly her Parkinson’s is getting worse and “you know there is no cure”. She has had two holidays in a hotel in Dawlish which specialises for guests with disabilities. The photograph above is of the members of this year who attended the 2016 reunion. Pam Cahill (Thorpe) has had one knee operation and is very deaf in group situations. Joan Reedman (Rippengal) is still an active member of the Sussex Weavers and Spinners Guild. Margaret Harris (Rayner) enjoyed a small ship cruise in the Norwegian fiords, followed by a mill-pond like North Sea, so barbecue on deck! Jean Barnett (Hail) goes to visit her third son, Tim, in Australia this year. He is going to be Media Manager for the Commonwealth Games in 2018, the same job he did at the London Olympics. She will also meet up with her second son and family who are Australian citizens. Elizabeth Ward (Smith) has had her first great grandchild, the wedding of one grandchild and another granddaughter graduated. Doreen Davis (Johns) spent several months on board a canal boat around the rivers Maine and Saône and also went to Elsamere, Kenya, in November. Hilary Chapman (Robinson) finds walking difficult so lives in her house at ground level. Rural transport is bad around Cromer.

18 | Guild Newsletter 2017 Ann Francis (Skurry) Her health is causing problems, as osteoporosis of the spine makes her balance bad and she has had a knee operation as well. Pauline Strauss (Abercrombie) says that life revolves around her disabled son who, even with carers, cannot be left overnight. Joyce West (Fry) is possibly our most active member? She runs a weekly keep-fit class, walks the dog daily and helps on Saturday evenings with fish and chip suppers at the local Town Hall. Carol Dapp (Forster) is a very active member of the local U3A which has done well to keep the library open in Bampton. Margaret Hawker (Passmore) had a second hip operation which was very successful so is back to playing golf. Billie Llewelyn (Le Huray) has also had knee and foot operations so may be moving to the centre of Cirencester. She is still working. Janet Camus (Stewart) has become a member of the Bishop Otter Guild after 62 years! She lives in sheltered accommodation in the Borders and has mobility problems. The photo on the right was taken at Hawick Town Hall of Janet collecting an award for the best painting of the anniversary of Flodden Field. Shirley Hall (Chapman) damaged her good shoulder after a fall. John, her husband, has become her carer. Barbara Molony (Staples) manages to keep the farm going with help from neighbours and friends, so has had holidays away too. Mary Smith (Warne) decided to give up her car. Sadly no more reunions, but then she does not have to drive on the A34! She is also an active member of a U3A play-reading group which meets at her house. She visited Saskatchewan to meet up with family in the summer.

1955-1957 Val Gabriel (Duckett ) writes “I couldn’t get to the Reunion due to lack of trains. This year is 60 years since we left and so, hopefully, some of us will be able to meet at College, though we know some are too far away or too immobile. Those there will think of all our friends.” Jill Fudge (Bryant) , Ann Hawke (Booth), Chris Tweed (Hague) and Liz Care (Aston) were at the 2016 reunion and plan to be at this year’s along with Val. Sylvia Davis-Munro (Kelway-Pope) meets Marjorie Nutland (Valencia) about twice a month. Sylvia belongs to a choir which sings every week and she goes to a Film Club once a month. Val Edmunds (Field) meets Eileen Parsons regularly. Eileen is a great support to her. Val still enjoys doing Home Tutoring. Mary Wardrop (Wheeler) went to Nashville, Tennessee, for a conference and then to Oregon to visit her son, David, and family. Her daughter, Alison, who was a midwife, is now a Baptist minister. Marion Lovell up in the Borders, hears from Mavis Haggar (Fernée), Janet Marden (Lockley) and Eileen Broad. Chris Tweed sees Margaret Purser (Seymour) and Marion Whear (Clark) and is in touch with Janet Case. Marion sees Pam (Brooks) . Shirley Born (Waites) and Graham go to their villa in Southern France four times a year. Their granddaughter, Isabella, lives quite near them in Essex. Shirley hopes to be at the reunion and Sylvia and, hopefully, Marjorie and Viv (Mitchell). Kay Harcourt (Horsley) meets Shirley and Viv in London. Kay’s son, Robert, and his family now live in Maryland. Their sons are at the Naval Academy School. Anita Lanham (Sweetman) retired from teaching 20 years ago. She goes to an over 50s’ exercise class, is writing her life history and belongs to a reading group – mainly ex-headteachers. She and Paul spend a lot of time in their house in Brittany and spend about a month a year in Spain. They have two granddaughters in their 20s, one at Cardiff University and the other at Drama school in London. Their son has two boys still at school. Their daughter teaches in Winchester. She hears from Margaret Child (Wilks) and sometimes from Margaret Winslow (Beighton)

1956-1958 Lorna Edwards (Ogley) sent accounts of the two reunions their year had in 2016. The first one took place in May and Lorna writes “I was invited as a ‘mystery guest’ to join a group of ex-students at Bishop Otter for a day in London. The reunion, organised by Ruth Cook (Green) and Mary French (Carr) , would be at Kensington Palace where we would have lunch and then look round the house and gardens. We met at Kensington underground where a couple of us did not recognise each other – but then we hadn’t met for 60 years so maybe not surprising? The six of us walked to the Palace in torrential rain but even holding umbrellas did not stop us talking. We had a lovely lunch in the Orangery where we were really able to talk. Margaret Campbell had

Guild Newsletter 2017 | 19 travelled from Cheshire and I hadn’t seen her for 60 years. We had done weaving together so had many reminiscences of those days. Brenda (Collier) was someone else I hadn’t seen since leaving college. Mary had been to our year reunions and I also kept in touch with her so there was not so much catching up to do. Audrey Falla (Martin) , who lives in Guernsey, had stayed with Ruth in Somerset, and had also been to a reunion with Ruth some years ago and I had visited her and her husband when we were on holiday in Guernsey. Of the six, four of us (Mary, Audrey, Margaret and myself) had lived in Mount Dormitory in our first year and we remembered how basic it was with seven of us in the dorm, one bathroom, three washbasins behind a curtain for privacy, and walls which did not reach the ceiling. They were called ‘the Hobles’. However, this meant that you could lie in bed at night having a conversation with five of the others. Mary and Judy Osborne were in a proper room with walls that went up to the ceiling! Our minute wardrobes were out in the corridor. However, since none of us owned many clothes these were more than adequate. Fortunately after lunch the rain had stopped so we were able to have a brief look at the gardens on our way to the House. We enjoyed the house immensely as there was an exhibition of Royal dresses owned by the Queen, Princess Margaret and Princess Diana, and another exhibition about Queen Victoria. After a cup of tea we dispersed to catch our trains. For me, I had an extra treat. My grandson, who is a medic at Imperial College, had suggested we should meet so I had an hour with him which made a perfect end to our day.” The second reunion was the College reunion in July. Lorna writes “Sixty years after starting at Bishop Otter College in September 1956, twelve of us met for a nostalgic reunion. We had met at various other reunions over the years but this one seemed to awaken more memories of the start of our lives at college. All agreed that we were very naive and not at all worldly-wise compared with today’s students. Most of us had come from small all girls’ schools and college seemed to be a continuation of our former lives. We also all agreed that although the facilities at the University are now absolutely fantastic we were the lucky ones to be there when we were. However, the values, opportunities and friendships are common to everyone who has been fortunate enough to have been a student at Chichester. The whole day was perfect and hearing from Professor Clive Behagg as to how well the university is placed in various educational “lists” made us all immensely proud. After an excellent lunch and lots of talking (I heard things about Pallant residents which were unbelievable!) we were free to look around. The art exhibition was excellent and brought back so many memories. For most of us it was the first time we had seen modern art and the Patrick Heron paintings on the corridor walls were certainly something new. I wondered how much security there was in college in 1956. Surely with all the art now things must be very different? The overriding memory of our day was, as always, how easily we all fell into conversations with each other and how strong the bonds of friendship are. May this always last. We are planning to meet again in 2018 so here’s to an even bigger reunion then. It was lovely to see Hilary Heger (Travers) after so many years. She and her husband, Rob, live in Portugal where they run a school. Hilary and Yvonne Kellaway (Wilkins) stayed in college on Friday then, after the reunion Hilary, Yvonne and husbands joined Sally Thompson and myself for a meal. I had stayed with Sally in Southampton where we seemed to talk forever and eat an awful lot of food. Good times! Yvonne Kellaway (Wilkins) and husband, Tony, were spending Christmas in Australia, visiting their daughter, Sarah, and family. They still lead a busy and active life which is how they like it. Audrey Falla (Martin) was looking forward to a leisurely cruise to the Caribbean and Central America with her husband, Ken, after Christmas. Karl St Vincent (Hefford) is enjoying her seven grandchildren aged from 19 to three. She is also enjoying being able to drive again locally since May as they now own a hybrid automatic car. However, Karl had a minor stroke just before Christmas but is doing well now, with no lasting effects. Karl has heard that Moira Donchin (Graham) has not been well. Sylvia Dadd (Claydon) , like many of us, has various aches and pains but she says with the aid of glucosamine and exercises they are under control. Her exercises are done whilst heating the milk for morning coffee! Daughter Karen has retired from teaching and visits her parents once a week to help the ‘old folk’. Ruth Cook (Green) was expecting to have a busy family Christmas entertaining their children and grandchildren at their home. One family with 10-year old twins, followed by the other with sons aged 12, 15 and 17 plus two dogs. Anita Whale (Fay) is now renting a small house in Southsea near her daughter, Karen. If she likes the area she will then buy there. She is still trying to minimalize. I suspect many of us know the feeling! She is also fostering a dog until he is rehomed in the New Year. She spent a lovely summer afternoon with Bridget Bodewin (Durman) in September when Bridget was on a visit from Canada, and says she hasn’t changed at all. Sally Thompson had met up for meal and a chat in Romsey with Yvonne Kellaway and her husband, Tony. She had managed to contact Moira Donchin (Graham) and was hoping to meet her when she visits a friend in Lancashire and she has also been in touch with Bobbie Head. Esme Waters (Jones) is enjoying life at her new home at Winterton-on-Sea near Great Yarmouth, and would love to see any old friends if they are in the area. Barbara Dougherty (Jones) has had some of her activities curtailed this year as she is waiting for a hip replacement – hopefully in January or February 2017. However, she still enjoys singing with the choir, a Words

20 | Guild Newsletter 2017 Club and the Retired Teachers’ Group. They have also spent time at their house in Devon and enjoyed visiting their grandchildren. They had a lovely couple of days in Cambridge where Jamie is studying Maths at Jesus College. They are also now step-great-grandparents. Caroline Mercer (Boon) and husband, Mike, have finally retired but still have to find a smaller house in which to settle. She had cataracts removed in the autumn but is still busy with WI, fund raising for the Hospice, Fellowship lunches and Cancer Research. She enjoyed her usual January holiday in the Maldives but sadly the 2017 one will be her last. Evelyn Farquhar (Davison) was sorry she couldn’t be with us at our 60th reunion in July but she assures me she was there in spirit. She has been reliving student memories now that her grand-daughter is at Birmingham University. Her osteo-arthritis limits what she is able to do but is quick to remind medics that “she wasn’t always like this” and tells them of the sports she used to play. No holiday this year – maybe next year. Her family were joining Gordon and her for Christmas. Jill Thompson unfortunately was not able to join us for our reunion owing to her health problems. Doddie had stayed with her overnight on her way to the reunion and was also going to visit her just before Christmas. Lorna phoned Jill after the reunion and gave her all the news and also again just before Doddie’s Christmas visit. Despite being virtually housebound she always sounds so positive. She copes with the help of a daily visit from carers, friends and neighbours and meal deliveries. She was spending Christmas day with friends. Bridget Bodewin (Durman) says they had an incredibly long hot summer, beginning in May, but when she and Karl sailed for a couple of weeks with friends it was wet and windy. In spite of the weather they went where they had planned and had fun. Their usual camping trip in the spring, after school testing, was, as always, a success. They later travelled in British Columbia taking in the glut of fruit, picking masses of blueberries – everything ripened very early – and bought lots of peaches and tomatoes. Wanting to try something new they took their first cruise, a Viking river cruise from Budapest to Amsterdam. It was wonderful to meet Karl’s cousin, Hermann Josef and family along the way. They said they would recommend the cruise – fewer than 200 passengers, excellent accommodation, food and organisation, wonderful staff and everyone very helpful and pleasant. From there they had two weeks in England with family and friends. She found the three-day reunion with the Otter crowd well worthwhile. Roll on the next! When they got home they found that squirrels had taken up residence in their chimney with vast amounts of pine. The chimney is now squirrel proof as Bridget and Karl enjoy a real fire. All the family are well and happy and their granddaughters were looking forward to a weekend of skiing once school had finished and then they were all off to Hawaii after Christmas, when Karl and Bridget would be looking after the “grand-dog”. Mary French (Carr) had a heart attack on 25th November, but unfortunately picked up a bug so was in hospital for nine days. At last she was able to have two stents fitted and allowed home the following day. She is now on the mend and is so grateful for all the wonderful care she received. Her daughter was going to cook Christmas dinner for her and Tony. Hilary Heger (Travers) writes “I have had many years of teaching in various countries, starting with Nigeria, a move that was only supposed to be for one year but which ended up by being fifteen and included a Dutch husband and two sons. It was there that I became Head of my first International School. I then moved to Germany and then to Indonesia. In 1990 we moved to Portugal and, once again, I started teaching a small group of six children in the large company house. The small group gradually grew and in several years we had over a hundred children and 15 qualified staff. In 1995 we were joined by my oldest son and his wife and together we decided that we needed a purpose-built school, so in 2010 the International Preparatory School moved into new premises just outside Lisbon. We have over thirty-five nationalities aged from three years to twelve. We have 40 Staff members and 200 children. Our Web site is www.ipsschool.org. I retired several years ago and the school is now in the capable hands of my son and daughter-in-law.”

1958-1960 Jean Del Re (Battin) says that “This year has been quite busy with several small trips around Italy from Turin to Rome, many visiting friends, and a lovely cruise in the Baltic Sea from Denmark, Sweden, St. Petersburg, Estonia, Poland etc. When I was in England I managed to visit Buckingham Palace and the Mews. I got quite emotional when I saw the Coronation Coach and the Queen’s coronation dress. I remember so well Coronation Day. I was very lucky to have seen the parade from the top of Admiralty Arch. (I wish I could remember what I did as clearly – old age?) Living in the centre of Italy we were heavily affected by the earthquakes. Living on the coast, I only felt the big ones. The building shook quite a bit but there was no damage. Inland the damage is devastating. Many little towns have been literally wiped out. Those poor people have lost everything. All the hotels and “holiday villages” are full of people that have been able to leave the area. Of course being an agricultural area, many farmers and farm workers have had to stay on to look after the animals. They are living in really rough conditions – containers, tin huts, caravans, mobile homes etc. The earthquakes are still rumbling around. Over 250,000 buildings have been classified as unfit for use (including our house in the country). Fortunately nobody was in the house. I managed to see Careth and Jenny Capstick (Biles) while I was in England)”

Guild Newsletter 2017 | 21 Paddy Holmes (Appleyard) In early February 2016 Paddy contacted Muriel with her news. Unfortunately she missed the deadline for the 2016 Newsletter. At that time she had just returned from Italy. She has moved from Menton in France to the Portofino Peninsula at Genoa. She tells me that she goes out to her property for eight weeks at a time, four times a year, returning to England between times. Then she catches up with friends and family who live in Britain. Her step-daughter and family live in New Zealand and now that their children are grown up, they are able to come to the UK more often for visits. Paddy says her Italian will become more fluent as there are no English people living near her in Italy. That means she has to use her Italian to shop etc She travels to the Anglican Church in Genoa on a Wednesday from time to time – her flat is about 15 miles south of Genoa. The rest of the time she attends services at the RC Church. She tells Muriel that Avril Wesley and her husband live on the Wirral and she is in touch with them. Cynthia Keener wrote in her Christmas card that she would be spending Christmas with friends and family. Margaret Kinneburgh has had several health problems in 2016, but on writing in May was at long last feeling better. After her trip to England, carting luggage around, she was left with a painful shoulder causing her to use her left arm much more. Earlier in the year a trip to the optician to check on a developing cataract revealed more than she had bargained for. A couple of abnormalities were noted, which led to a visit to the GP and, from there, a CT scan and an MRI followed by an appointment with a neurosurgeon. Happily there was no brain tumour. Later it was found that she had an arachnoid cyst (between the layers of membrane surrounding the brain). However it is unlikely to cause any problems and could have been there all her life. Margaret has now had both cataract operations making her vision much clearer and brighter. For months prior to that, she had had abdominal problems, which have been found to have been an intolerance to certain foods. For seven weeks, she was on a strict diet. She is now on the Fodmap diet and she misses much of the food she used to eat especially fruit and vegetables. She is thankful that she feels so much better and has been able to resume walking as she did previously. Last year she came to England for six weeks, mainly to celebrate her 80th birthday. There were two celebrations – one in London at a Turkish restaurant, under old railway arches in Waterloo, in the company of cousins and two old school friends. A week and a half later, whilst in Dorset, she enjoyed a second birthday meal with her sister, brother and his wife, two daughters and their husbands at a country hotel. Prior to this, whilst still in London, her brother came up and gave her a tour around Deptford and Bermondsey, where they had lived pre-war and where most of her relatives came from – their old home had been bombed and no longer existed. Much had changed, but the nursery school they had attended was still flourishing. When war broke out, they were evacuated with sixty other small children to Surrey, which was how they came to live there ultimately. Whilst in Dorset, they went to Glastonbury with her brother and visited the Abbey Ruins, climbed the Tor and went to the village of Tolpuddle and the Martyrs’ Museum. Fred was keen to walk parts of the Cornish Coastal Path so he went west whilst Margaret went east, with her sister Janet, to her home in Sweden where she spent a week. Janet lives in the south west of Sweden, but has a flat, with her partner, in the city of Lund, where he works in the University. On returning to England, Margaret joined Fred at the Lizard for a final walk to Kynance Cove. They came back on a lovely sunny day. In August, they went on a railway trip across the Island of Java, spending two nights each at several cities. A second holiday a month later took them for a second visit to China which included an eight- day cruise up the Yangtze River. The best part of the cruise was at the end where they entered the three gorges. There was a vast dam project to see but the gorges beyond that provided the best scenery. After the cruise they visited the Panda research centre at Xian, and the terracotta soldiers, and then went on to Beijing and the Great Wall of China – a different section to that which they saw on their previous visit. She ends by sending best wishes to everyone. Susan Machell (Green) Last year Susan and her husband, John, celebrated their Golden Wedding. She says they still live in the same house, having had it extended twice. After leaving college, she taught Infants for a while, then had her son and daughter. After that she worked in Nursery Schools. Now she helps with a Church toddlers’ group and encourages mothers to join in with singing. Sadly, she is severely deaf and suffers with tinnitus, so singing has become difficult for her. For 17 years, she loved singing in a small choir that entertained old people in homes and also in clubs for the blind. She has joined Bromley U3A and is really enjoying it. She and her husband have five wonderful granddaughters. Their son is now on his third career and is working as a barrister at chambers in London. Their daughter is a popular classroom assistant at a local primary school. Careth Paternoster (Osborne) reports that she and her husband have enjoyed plenty of music. Also she says that the Music School, at long last, has a new concert hall and plenty of space for smaller groups. They spent a lovely autumn weekend in Cambridge at Michael’s college and met up with friends of all ages. Joy Wallwin (King) writes “following last year’s two knee operations, I’ve been able to get around much more easily. Even driving is easier, especially using the clutch pedal. I’m trying to visit the parts of the UK that I haven’t seen before: this year I’ve enjoyed the cathedrals and museums of Liverpool, the ballroom in the Blackpool Tower, the National Memorial Arboretum at Alrewas, various NT properties, and I’m about to visit Windsor Castle. This summer, having had a few days with my elder son and his family, who live in NE Scotland,

22 | Guild Newsletter 2017 I went on a coach tour of the beautiful Galway area. I was very taken with the splendour of the mountainous regions, all very different from each other. Our BOC days seem to be a very long time ago, don’t they? I’m still in touch with Careth Paternoster (Osborne) and Val Moore , and I will be visiting Yvonne Pitt (Harris) just before Christmas. We only live a few miles away from each other.” Muriel Warburton (Badham) writes “Brian and I have had a quiet year, as Brian has slowly regained his health. We have continued to play Mahjong and Bridge with friends. We have also met up with cousins from Worthing on several occasions. We have stayed at Oxford where we joined a large group for a Benefactors’ Lunch at Trinity College. This is where Brian was a Chemistry scholar back in the fifties! The highlight of the year was when our son, Nick, and his partner, Emma, drove us to see our granddaughter, Rebecca, dance in a show at Swindon. She continues to spend many hours practicing as she hopes to become a ballerina. I continue to work in the garden, but now mainly plant up pots. I have a large number of bulbs, which are coming through the soil, so Spring won’t be too far away now!” Jackie Weddell (Lovell) says “I have had a few new health difficulties all to do with my insulin dependency for so long but still managing to get involved in a multitude of things, mostly to do with running the Salisbury Methodist church and circuit. At present I am stewarding a crib Festival which I have organized for the first time. I still sing in a choir, although no longer as a first soprano – mostly alto. I also run a hand bell ringing group for children. Mary Short (Hooper) lives in the New Forest about 15 miles from me. We see each other quite often. She was in the year ahead of us. I have no knowledge of anyone else in our year except I receive a card at Christmas from Valerie Baxter.”

1959-1961 Pat Barrett (Cox) is still keeping active. She helps out at her local Community Hospital with the trolley shop and is vice-chair of the League of Friends. She enjoyed several coach holidays in 2016 to Wales and Scotland and a two week break on the Isle of Arran with relatives. She has spoken recently with Thelma Jack , who is convalescent at a nursing home in Selsey until she has fully recovered from heart surgery. Thelma, we all send our good wishes. Sue Clark (Curtis) joined Joan Connelly (Stephen) and Anne Walters (Sansom) at the reunion in July. It was great to meet up again and we hope to see more of you in 2017. Joan Connelly (Stephen) writes; “My husband, Colin, died in May 2016 and I miss him very much. He was such a strong personality and was well respected and loved in church life; in the scientific circles he worked in; and, above all, in his family. His funeral was a wonderful celebration of his life and achievements. A collection was raised to further the work that was always at the forefront of his thinking and efforts - that of increasing awareness among young people and in schools and colleges that Science and Faith are not diametrically opposed but rather that they enhance each other. The children (four of them plus spouses) and the grandchildren (nine) all contributed to making it a day to remember with songs and poetry and readings - and people are still asking me for copies of our son, Dan’s, moving (and truthful!) tribute to his father. After the sheer hard work and trauma of caring for him during those last few months I was pretty exhausted both physically and emotionally but the family and friends rallied round brilliantly and I’m now back on an even keel and able to function normally. I’m still on the PCC of our church and on the Deanery Synod and I’m a Governor of my old school – St Joseph’s in Cranleigh. I’ve also joined the Wintershall Choir which is run by Rachel, one of my daughters – she tells me that those of us who are good enough will be singing at some of the big Wintershall plays and events – so get practising Joan!” Vicki Friend (Keeling) says that she has nothing exciting to report. She has been dealing with a non-stop chest cough that has resulted in twice being rushed to urgent care centres. At the moment a steroid inhaler is keeping things under control but leading to weakening of muscles so she has tripped over twice – all good fun! A Spirometry test nurse told her that her lung age was 52 – and she wishes the rest of her was! Nobody tells you how difficult it is to get old! Guess we all agree with that!! Pat Garford (Terry) writes “2016 has been another travelling year. February saw me on an escorted tour to India. It was good to visit Imperial Delhi, Agra and the Taj Mahal, it is so beautiful, and Jaipur again, to revisit some places and to see others. One highlight of the north was a night at Samode Palace; we rode to dinner at the Palace Garden 4 kms away by camel cart in a torch lit procession. The 16 of us then flew to Chennai to explore some of the delights of Southern India. We saw remarkable architecture at the magnificent temples on our way across Tamil Nadu and enjoyed leisurely cruising on the backwaters in Kerala State before flying home from Cochin. The south was more relaxed than the north, it wasn’t as touristy, and I enjoyed the fantastic food with more subtle spices. India is incredible and so colourful and our guides in both the north and the south were exceptional. In April I visited the family in Sydney and was there for my youngest grandson’s 6th birthday. August saw me on another escorted tour entitled Vintage Europe touring Bulgaria, Romania and Moldova. The emphasis was on an intriguing and emerging wine region that is not on the main European tourist route. We also saw some amazing sights, Rila Monastery in Bulgaria was spectacular, Bucharest has beautiful old buildings and I loved the painted monasteries in northern Romania

Guild Newsletter 2017 | 23 and wandering some of the medieval small towns was a delight. There were 16 on the tour; that’s a nice number. We also went to the Black Sea and spent a night beside the River Danube. Visiting Cricova winery in Moldova was a world-class experience where the wine tasting was superb in a remarkable place. My last afternoon and evening in Bucharest was special; I spent the time with Anne Walters (Sansom) son, Philip, who I hadn’t seen since he was seven years old. He is now Head of the British School and I had a tour of school before meeting his wife and family, finishing off with a meal in a traditional Romanian restaurant. I still maintain the garden, go to the Gym, to Rebus and have joined three groups at U3A, so this all keeps me busy. I have ventured into new technology with a Smartphone and learned its finer points at Senior Net. I enjoyed it so much I have bought a tablet now so shall return to Senior Net for more tuition. I look forward to more travel opportunities in 2017.” Jenny Kirkaldy (Shepherd) Activities organised by the Alzheimer’s Society and Social Services take up most of her time now. Tony is having respite care every two months to give her more rest and she remains very positive. They both sang in Chelmsford Cathedral with Brain Choirs from all over Essex and enjoyed the experience. They managed two breaks away in Harrogate and Lowestoft in September as well as days out with their friends and lunch group in June and August. In November, at the Crosslinks Prayer Conference, they both benefited from fellowship with many old friends and colleagues. She is thankful for all the care and support they both receive. Betty Jones (Prince) writes that it could have been a better year for her! She started off recovering from spinal surgery and was progressing well when she had a fall in July and broke her hip. This had to be repaired again in August and she is now mobile once more. John has been caring for her and found time to continue with his cycling! He was the fastest over-70 year old in the Tour de Yorkshire once again. Unfortunately he had a fall from his bike after hitting a pot hole and suffered a deep laceration to his leg. So they have both been laid low this year. They did manage a family skiing holiday but Betty could only spectate. All their grandchildren continue to thrive and do well in their GCSE and A levels. They travelled up to York for a family Christmas and are hoping to find some sunshine in the New Year. Happy and Healthy 2017. Jean Tune (Handsaker) has recently been pronounced fit and well after a course of radiotherapy and hopes for a healthier 2017. The family were together for Christmas and they enjoyed having daughter, Jackie, over from Italy. Together with husband, John, she recently had a short break in Bosham, which was as lovely as ever, and they managed a visit to College and viewed the Otter Gallery. She remembered many of the pictures too! In her second year she lived over in Springfield and the change close to there, that was most noticeable to them, was the size of the car park, which is still being enlarged! In the summer John and Anne Newsham (Clibbon) stayed with them and they are still regularly in touch. News from them next year perhaps!! Anne Walters (Sansom) Thank you to everyone who has sent news or keeps in touch in other ways. It is always good to hear from you. We haven’t yet managed to achieve Delia’s dream position of finding everyone who has escaped the net so please encourage those people, known to you, to participate and send me their details. It would seem that age is creeping up on us all and many have been prevented from enjoying their regular activities this year for a variety of reasons. I do hope that everyone will have a healthier 2017. I have had an extremely busy 2016, voluntary work for the church interspersed with enjoyable trips away. I continue in my post as Lay Chair of Nottingham North Deanery working with 22 churches in some of the poorest areas of Nottingham. This is rewarding but tiring as we always strive to give our poorest communities hope and encouragement. Our three Food Banks are too busy and Christmas has seen us provide extras for our clients, supported by financial gifts from neighbouring church families. On Christmas Eve families on our list were provided with fresh chickens, vegetables, fruit and goodie bags for the children, to ensure that they could all share in the joy of Christmas and have a proper meal. Last year saw a record number of Clergy retirements and we now have 50% of churches without a Priest. A great deal of time is spent worshipping alongside them and supporting the Churchwardens to ensure that there is service cover. Clergy recruitment is difficult as it would appear few have a calling to the North of England. We pray this will change in 2017. I am now working alongside my third Area Dean. One left to become Dean of Bradford Cathedral and Elizabeth departed last March to be the Archdeacon of Chelmsford. We enjoyed a few days discovering places in Essex and attending her Installation. I do wonder if I will ever be able to retire but am seriously looking for a replacement. Having said all that we managed to visit Bucharest three times and Chicago twice to visit the boys and the grandchildren. Philip is now Head of the British School in Bucharest and Adrian continues to teach International Insolvency Law in Chicago besides working on projects for the UN and EU. They are both extremely happy in their chosen careers and we do enjoy our visits and their annual long trips home. Alice’s ballet show in June was as spectacular as ever and we left Chicago with relatives and drove to Michigan State for a stay in Grand Rapids. This is a charming but little known town and was home to President Gerald Ford. The local history museum was interesting and the museum dedicated to Mr Ford reopened, after refurbishment, with a spectacular programme of singing and speeches. The Vice President of the US, Joe Biden, officially cut the tape and we were one of the first people through the doors. We learned a great deal of American history from the displays which was helpful for the end of our trip, which was via Niagara Falls to Washington and a five night stay. Many of the busy places of interest were pre-booked so

24 | Guild Newsletter 2017 we had a helpful itinerary. A guided tour of the Pentagon was followed by a visit to Arlington Cemetery and the grave of JFK. After visiting the grave of the unknown soldier, we decided to walk the path uniting the North and South from there to the Lincoln memorial across the Potomac River. It was over 90 degrees Fahrenheit and we were glad to sit in the shade with President Lincoln towering above us and have a cool, refreshing fresh lemonade. The White House Museum is worth a visit but access to the house is difficult. It now only opens at certain times to US Citizens. It is much easier to book a tour round the Capitol Building and, once inside, we collected tickets to access the Senate and the House of Representatives. The latter was chaotic with Senators voting on several amendments one after another. The view from there to the Potomac River is stunning and we walked the length of the National Mall on the way back to our Hotel. Mid- way the Washington Monument had long queues and many of the Smithsonian Museums were very busy. We did manage to visit the Air and Space Museum another day. It was thoroughly absorbing and merits another trip because we only managed to see a small percentage of the great displays. Returning home we prepared for the family visits (fitting everyone into our house needs careful preparation). We go out for days, swimming or visiting National Trust properties and this year returned to the Peak District staying in Hathersage close to Stanage Edge where all the children young and old practiced their rock climbing techniques. Our second trip to Bucharest was in late August to be available for childminding during school inset days. It is always an exciting experience to look after the boys and some of their friends either at a variety of water parks or swinging on ropes in the Forest. Grandpa loves it! The weather can almost be guaranteed to be warm and sunny too. We have just returned from a wonderful Christmas there including a trip to Cluj, Romania’s second city, the ancient Citadel of Alba Carolina at Alba Iulia, which is the most important Urban Centre in Romania and a spectacular castle at nearby Hunedoara. The boy’s favourite was an ancient salt mine at Salina Turda. On one level there was a ferris wheel, crazy golf and a row of table tennis tables and underneath that a lake with rowing boats for hire. We spent a long time down there. It was 15 degrees and much warmer than outside; the rock formations and stalactites were amazing and nets have been placed on the walls to catch any salt that falls from the walls. Romania has so much to offer and we hope that the family will stay there for the next few years to enable us to explore further. Pat Terry (Garford) is now on Skype and we have had several long conversations this year. It is the next best thing to being together and we cover a lot of ground! I am trying to arrange our summer but presently both sons are coming over again in late June, early July so I might not be able to attend the College reunion. Please continue to keep in touch and don’t forget to let me know of any changes to your address or email etc. Jackie Wright (Farrance) retired seven years ago and moved back to Clevedon from Kingston Seymour, a beautiful village just two miles away. She is doing her second year as a Church Warden there, having done six years previously. Her two sons and a daughter have produced seven beautiful, lively girls between them; her eldest granddaughter got married in June, a wonderful occasion for family and friends. There is a Community Cooperative second hand Bookshop in Clevedon and she does a couple of shifts there. It’s always very busy; four rooms of books and 40,000 more in a warehouse store! Unfortunately she has rheumatoid arthritis but is very lucky to have an excellent GP and Rheumatologist and modern drug treatment makes movement and her life more comfortable. Tai Chi helps too! Heather Owen (Dommett) is involved with village life, grandchildren, sons, and the benefits of retirement. She is learning to get along without Gordon, and doing pretty well at the moment. Her sister and brother-in-law suggested she join them, so she is looking forward to a summer holiday in Sorrento.

1960-1963 John Christophers wrote “In July 2016 Martin and Christine Hill, Jeff Lowe, Russ Collins, his wife Janet and myself went to our first Guild meeting. I hadn’t much looked forward to it as I expected the rumble of wheel chairs, the rattle of old bones and some zimmer rage in the lunch queue. Far from it! There were Otters from every period and the old Otters had not lost their vitality or humour with the passing of time. The catering, too, was a joy. (The photo on the right is John, Russell and Janet.) I was slightly saddened that all the pianos and keyboards were locked up or disabled, but I can’t think why. Can one slide out with a grand piano hidden under one’s coat? Is it a familiar sight to see a grand piano being towed towards the motorway? I think not! I had hoped to play my “Variations on a Theme of Old Macdonald had a Farm” on the Chapel Bechstein but had to settle for tapping it out on the lid. It has been 53 years since I left BOC and I must honestly say that my own life blood took off because of contact with the staff and students of those distant days. If anyone remembers me from then, my thanks.

Guild Newsletter 2017 | 25 1961-1964 Carolyn Keysor (Morgan) writes “How time flies, and it’s time for the annual update once again! I would have liked to send Christmas greetings to those of you on e-mail as usual, and would have achieved it if our computer had not died in the middle of December. Also, we had downsized drastically to a second floor, two-bedroom flat on the seafront at Lee-on-the-Solent, Hampshire, on 7th December, so we were rather busy! We decided to exchange a beautiful garden for wonderful sea views, a seascape that changes constantly and sometimes has the most glorious sunsets. As I write (10th January 2017), I am looking out over the Solent to the Isle of Wight, with the sun sparkling on the rippling sea, with yachts and commercial vessels sailing by and people walking their dogs on the beach. My new address is: Flat 15, Seaview Court, 43 Marine Parade East, Lee-on-the-Solent, Hampshire PO13 9BA. Our phone number remains the same (023 9235 1209), as does our e-mail address – [email protected]. I hope you all have happy memories of an enjoyable Christmas 2016. We went on a 17- day cruise to the Canary Islands over Christmas and New Year (the first we had ever spent away from the family), and had a wonderful time. By the time you read this, it will be springtime and we will be looking forward to the summer. There is not a lot to report this year. It is possible that the 2018 reunion may be the last so would be great to have one last big gathering, like we did in 2014, so see if you would be able to make it one last time. The booking form will be in this edition of the Guild Newsletter. Sadly, we lost Valerie Thomson (Taylor) on 29th January last year. I’m pleased to say that several of our year group went to her funeral in Ashtead in February. To add to contributions in 2015 from David Manuel and KenTutt for our book, ‘Life Experiences of Bishop Otter Students of 1961-64’, in 2016 I have received memoirs from Anne Armstong (Johnson) and Rose Savage (Rosemary Parks) , copies of which I have sent out by e-mail, as well as the first one I had received several years ago from Michael Crompton . I found Anne’s career path most interesting. Anne, known to her friends at College as ‘Noddy’ (they thought she bore some resemblance to Enid Blyton’s character!) says she has always been a ’country bumpkin’ at heart and found life in a town, whilst at College, quite challenging. Not surprisingly, her first job was in a village Church Primary School. After her two sons were born, she became a full-time mum and thought her teaching career was at an end. But fate played a part in defining what was to become an interesting and highly-specialised area of education for Anne. After realising that her younger son was dyslectic when he was 12, and there being no support for him from his school, she decided to educate him at home. She developed a curriculum to suit his needs, and interests in which her son had input, with 20 minute sessions and frequent breaks. Pressure from the authorities to ‘toe the line’ was ignored, but Anne’s principles and methods were vindicated when an inspection found that much progress had been made by her son. Peter eventually got a motor vehicle mechanic apprenticeship and passed all his exams, and is happily in work, in a job he enjoys. This successful experience led to Anne being hired to give lessons to difficult teenage boys in care, many from horrific family backgrounds. Her understanding of these boys and her handling of them and their needs and her success with them, led to her being offered a job at a College of Further Education, where she was involved in Adult Literacy classes, Job Centre courses and various academic and vocational courses, dealing with people who had had problems with their education, disaffected people who felt they were failures and that there was no point in their trying to achieve qualifications. Anne says ‘I like to think that I helped some of them to view themselves and the possibilities open to them in a more positive light’. I found Anne’s account of her career most uplifting, and I hope you do too. Anne’s final thought was ‘Bishop Otter College undoubtedly gave me skills and understanding which has helped me enjoy a worthwhile career and contributed to my own self worth’. Rose followed a completely different path, but used her teacher training to advantage in her career. She married a serviceman, which found her living abroad early on in her teaching career. She taught in a school where most were Service children, which meant a constant change in child population – a challenging scenario for any teacher. Rose eventually settled in Boxgrove and, when her two daughters were both at school, she went back to work in a clerical capacity. Over the years, she honed her computer skills, and finally found the ideal job for herself, employed in the Education Department of County Hall, Chichester, finally working with the Special Educational Needs section. Eventually she was working for several senior officers. Rose says she found the work both diverse and interesting – so much so, that she didn’t retire until she was 65! In retirement, Rose volunteers at the Weald and Downland Museum, having her own specific duties which use her computer wizardry. She also does all the necessary computer compilation work for the annual Guild Newsletter – thank you, Rose. This has been a quiet year for communication, but thank you to those who have kept in touch, especially letting me know changes of home or e-mail addresses. I like to keep in touch with everyone if I can. I would be grateful for new e-mail addresses for Mary Payne (Payling), Hugh Townsend and Anne Cutler (Rice), if anyone else knows them. Thank you. I wish you all good health and an active and interesting 2017.” Ken Tutt writes “However much I try, I now find it difficult to accept the speed of the passing years. I can no longer undertake back flips or run the seven miles over the Sussex Downs. So where am I now on my journey and adventure through life? Firstly I have five grandchildren, all bilingual, with ages ranging from seven to fifteen years. With my wife Judith we have purchased a small apartment in Lichfield so we can be nearer to our

26 | Guild Newsletter 2017 grandchildren. We have not moved from Peterborough. I am still in contact with several ex Otters, enjoy holidays in the winter sun and drive to France to see our family. Life is busy but I will always remember the sound path provided by those College years so long ago.

1962-1965 Marten Lougee thanks his colleagues for their information and he is looking forward to seeing as many as possible in 2017, 55 years since we started college and the very last trundle up the Trundle. He says that that little has changed since he compiled his last piece. His partner’s father, who is 98, has been unwell and so their holidays are limited to a week at a time. Even so, Budapest, the Italian coast, Whitby, Amble, the Lakes and even Chichester have been visited!! Marten visited Jill Holliman (Martin) and had an excellent time in Salisbury visiting old school friends who took him to a function at The Royal Southampton Yacht Club. Time is taken up with walking, the gym, Rotary, theatre and ballet visits and he is helping Northern Rail set up their new “Friends of Stations” organisation. He is amazed at all the things so many old Otters have done and he reads the pieces with interest. Dave and Janet Austin (Curtis) celebrated their golden wedding anniversary in April and took a six-week cruise on the Queen Elizabeth. The ship started in Hong Kong and went to Dubai via Vietnam, Singapore and India. Joe, Lucy’s son, is in his second year at the University of Chichester whilst she is now teaching at Shrewsbury School, Bangkok. Dave and Janet are happily retired in the hot region of France. They live in an 18th-century mill. Dave has been busy converting the mill whilst Janet does the gardening. The house is finished and work starts on the guest house in February. They spent six weeks at the end of the year in Zimbabwe and attended all the end of year functions at the Heritage School, their school. BOC still holds memories of some of the happiest days of their lives. Janet Bailey (Doreen Cliffe) Recently Janet and David met with eight of his colleagues in London. They were celebrating 50 years since they graduated from City University after following a four-year sandwich course in civil engineering. It reminded Janet very much of our BOC 50th anniversary celebrations. The main event of their year was a four-month trip around Australia, the details of which were in the last Guild Newsletter. Ministry continues with its joys and challenges. They have welcomed a new member to their team. He was running a church in part of Graylingwell Hospital, Chichester, for 10 years so straight away they had a lot in common. He is very musical and is starting an all-comers choir in which Janet will get involved, either singing or conducting. Tony Berwick Well! Marten is always on at me to attend the reunions or write an article. Not terribly fond of reunions but I guess I will have to submit one day. For the second request I have lots of stories but I suppose a start would be a potted history... or a potty history if I am nothing to go by. One of my nicknames whilst in paid employment was Barmy Berwick! Don’t think it was derogatory... then on the other hand...! I loved my time at BOC even though I had a few disappointments. Not making the top echelons despite a nerve wracking visit from Miss Murray to a classroom I attended on teaching practice, then there was an unceremonious dumping which came out of the blue and stayed with me for several, well, weeks would be stretching it. Also met my future wife at BOC thanks to a chance meeting with James ‘Buxie’ Buxton at a urinal somewhere in the college!! Still with her after 50 years hard labour so either it worked well or the chains were made of stern stuff. On graduating out of BOC, I joined a secondary school in Broxbourne, Hertfordshire – Baas (pronounced Bays and not as in sheep) and married one half term while I was there. All done in a rush as we had first dibs on what was normally a Church House and had to move quickly. Pauline, my wife, is Cornish and whilst waiting the period of time for the banns to be read in her quaint home village of Tywardreath, a couple of crones were overheard whispering, sotto voce, after looking her up and down, ”I reckon she must have lost it you know!” Then came the amalgamation of Grammar Schools into High Schools. Baas Hill almost adjoined the local Grammar School and we thickies at Baas Hill, with no degrees, were destined for the school leaves or being reassigned as janitors. At the time, I was teaching Maths to the lower school, Chemistry and Physics to the whole school, some CSE Biology and Social Studies or whatever it as called then. On top of that I was hoping to run the school youth club and oil visual aids – epidiascopes and overhead projectors in those days. Social life was slow as all my preparation and marking was done in the evenings. Meanwhile my brother-in-law was swanning it and earning a fortune as a computer programmer (whatever that was!!). Wanting to start a family and knowing my immediate future as a teacher was looking grim, I thought I would give this computer lark a punt. I had only taught for two years and loved it. I can still remember the look on the first formers’ faces when we all set light to nascent hydrogen (Google it!!!). I was lucky and successful and pulled off a post as trainee systems analyst (whatever that was) with an insurance company based in Holborn, Shoe Lane to be exact. I was now able to purchase a property in Welwyn Garden City and our firstborn made an appearance there. Loss of school holidays and the need to commute every day were drawbacks but an immediate increase in salary from £333 per year to £1000 per annum helped to sweeten the pill. So much more but I can feel all your eyes glazing over so will leave it there and write a second chapter if my public want it. Should anyone wish to get in touch directly, would love to hear from you especially those I knew well at BOC!! My Email is [email protected].

Guild Newsletter 2017 | 27 Clive and Linda Bolton (Goodwin) celebrated their golden wedding in 2016 and spent it in Italy. Clive has developed their new garden with raised beds, a pond and twisting paths. A huge shed (get away) is planned across the back. Clive has rejoined the open access forum which maintains rights of way and pathways in the East Riding. Linda has joined the WI which is thriving with 50 members and she is on the committee – no jam or Jerusalem but very interesting speakers. They go to the local branch of the Decorative and Fine Arts Society whilst Linda is pursuing her joy of water colour painting, but she feels that the masterpiece is still a long way off. Graham Brooks had a sudden fall in June and needed a hip replacement. One son works for Save the Children whilst the younger son performed at the Edinburgh Festival, having put William Blake into rap and hip hop. Elaine Burgess (Ashby) and Nigel moved from Chester to Suffolk last year, nearer the family. After great traumas they bought a house in Claire. Being nearer their children and grandchildren has brought happiness all. Jim Buxton and Carol have had a mixed year and 2017 will be even more so as a result of their employer dying in June 2015 and the farm sold in March 2016. The property has been bought by the farmer next door who had been wanting the land for 15 years. However, when they met the new owner they were told that the house and some of the buildings were being sold and Jim and Carol have to find somewhere else to live by May 2017. This was a great shock and they hope that something will turn up. With the uncertainty and bad exchange rate following Brexit they do not know where they will be. They came to attend the Hunt Ball in Preston as Carol’s first son is Master of the Vale of Lune hunt. In 10 days they tried to see as many of the family as possible. 2016 was a strange year for the weather in France. A mild winter followed by an early spring, then the wettest May and June one could imagine. By July it seemed to forget how to rain and the days got hotter and drier. However, salad lunch outside has happened in December. Carol has had two cateracts removed and Jim his annual prostate MOT and arthritis does not help, but he is well. Vivien Evans has been in Pateley Bridge for 10 years. She, Martin (1961-1964) and Wendy Imeson (Evans) have had some enjoyable holidays in Bromyard, Teignmouth, Sussex and back through Shropshire and some times were very special, including College Guild Reunion day and La Ronde (National Trust) at Exmouth. The year has been punctuated with hospital visits for tests and scans and she has been diagnosed with heart failure. This will probably mean a pace maker but that is to be decided. She has had to stop playing with the band. She has led two services at Dacre Top RUC – lovely little church. Pateley Bridge had a cool summer but the pots and tubs appreciated it. Viv knots furry teddies and over £300 has been raised in five competitions. Gillian Feast (Endersby) is away in the wilds of Kenya but returns in March. Mary Freestone (Banfield) and Ian (1963-1966). We celebrated our Golden wedding last year with a variety of events the best being a five-week visit to Southern Africa – visiting old friends from the past and relations in the Western Cape. The high light was three weeks on motorcycles (Mary in the back-up four-wheel drive) from Lusaka, Zambia, through Victoria Falls and the Kazengula Ferry into Botswana and the Chobe Game Park, down through the eastern edge and into South Africa. Thence into Swaziland, down to Durban and on via the Baviaanskloof mountains and the Swartburg Pass (with a few wild swims), through the Franschoek Pass and on to the Cape. Bucket list getting smaller! Barrie and Meg Hayles (Harper-Tarr) Meg’s mother was 101 in July 2016 and there were various celebrations, so no BOC reunion. She was, like her 100th, not too impressed by the occasion. Meg had an operation on her hand (a trapeziotomy) which was, unfortunately, not too successful and she is waiting for two plates and screws to be put in. Sadly the same has to be done to the other hand as well. For both Barry and Meg it has been a bad year healthwise and they did not get away in their van. Hopefully 2017 will be better. Claire Edwards (Henderson) continues to be very active, leading walks in south east Wales, working her allotment and continues as plot secretary encouraging young people. She also produces the monthly church magazine and shares some school holiday times with the grandchildren when all eight visited at Christmas. She enjoyed a wonderful two weeks walking in the Algarve last March and the Anglesey coastal path during 11 sunny days in May/June. This March she should be in Tenerife for two weeks walking with the Cardiff group and walking the Arran coastal path in June. She hopes to join the BOC reunion in July and walk the final official Trundle Walk. Godfrey and Maureen Hurst (Murphy) found 2016 has been special, no hospitalisation for them. Maureen’s replacement shoulder and hip have been successful. She has “Moreton’s Neuroma”, a condition requiring the removal of a nerve from the base of one foot but she developed severe pains in her legs. She hoped to have an injection on 10th December. Godfrey’s knee replacement has functioned well but is now beginning to click a bit. His knuckle joints have worn out as a result of playing the organ for so long. Maureen purchased a “Rollator” which she uses when walking to take the weight off her feet. Godfrey has had to purchase one to keep up!! He still conducts and did the “Last Night of the Proms” at the local pub and a choral session as well. The family prosper and Simon has moved from Assistant Head Teacher to Principal’s Adviser. Martin (1961-1964) and Wendy Imeson (Evans) have not had the best year as in February Martin fell in the garden. Viv (Evans) was there and she was able to help him back into the house. His head, hands and left leg suffered and his leg is still swollen and it has significantly curtailed their movements for the rest of the year. Wendy still goes to play the piano with a friend, whilst knit-knotter happens every Monday. She has made some beautiful hats, scarves and gloves, some being sold at the Methodist Church bazaars. The rest go to a charity

28 | Guild Newsletter 2017 in East Yorkshire for needy folk. Disaster struck on 16th March when entering Ripon when a black Vauxhall, which had been stationery at the end of a side road, drove out into their vehicle. Two off-duty paramedics saw what happened and two police support officers appeared in moments. Martin and Wendy were not mobile again properly until 18th July. Hereford proved interesting, notably Lower Brockhampton which is a medieval manor house and the Elgar Museum which is being taken over by the National Trust. Tim Lord writes “I have just realised that 2017 will be the 55th year since we arrived at Bishop Otter. As I realise that most of the folk must have been born in 1944, they must be at least 73. I am somewhat older as I did not enter until the age of 24. I was liable for National Service but as it was being run down, many were 22 before they were called up even though you could be there within six weeks. I therefore spent a very happy four years at a private school in Horsham and was told that, as I had an ear problem, I would not be called up. A year was spent then getting two extra “O” levels so that I could apply to BOC. I was thus somewhat older and those golden years have remained firmly in my memory ever since. I think one of the greatest benefits from the College was to learn that their thinking was that education should always be child centred and it has been a view that I always tried to keep well to the fore. I was always surprised to find so many teachers who really did not like children. As I now look back on a 25-year career, it is truly wonderful that a good many pupils who learned to play instruments have stayed in touch. In 1966 I organised a band trip to Dieppe for friends and students. This led to seven years of trips to towns in Europe over a period of 35 years. In September 2016 I took a group of six ex-pupils to Dieppe. These were children I had taught in Hastings in the late 1960s and although they are all nearly 60, they are still enjoying playing so it was a memorable weekend as well as being a 50th anniversary tour. Recently I had to have a major ear operation which led to a stroke. I must thus spend much time recovering at home to be able to start taking groups on WW1 battlefield trips at least by May. As I will be 80 in less than 18 months, this may be my last time that I write for the BOC Guild Magazine but I will, of course, always remember that remarkable college and all the friends I made there.” Rosemary Martin (Jones) and Mike had a very busy 2016 including a trip to New Zealand in February, but they did not have time to contact any ex-Otters. Their great news was the engagement of their son, Ben, to his long-term girlfriend, Helena. They went to Kerala in South India in January and stayed with friends in the far north of Sweden at the end of June. October saw them in Brazil to join a ship for a voyage down the Brazilian coast and into the Falkland Islands and Antarctica. Roger Morris writes “Time does fly past – 55 years since we started – unbelievable. My year has flown past. This summer has been spent starting the return of my boat back to the UK. We left Istanbul in early June heading west through the Dardanelles into the clear blue Aegean. The Greek islands were beautiful, with the next bit of excitement being a passage through the Corinth Canal. From Corinth the trip continued west through the Gulf of Corinth to our final stop in Greece, in Kefalonia. Argostoli Harbour was a summer home to some fifty Logger Head Turtles and they happily swam around the boat to give us the once over. The passage from the Greek coast to the Italian coast is about 200 nautical miles – quite a long hop at 5 knots. The memorable bit of this passage was seeing three dead cows floating mid sea! The passage through the straits of Messina passed without us being swallowed up by the whirlpools which the ancients believed existed in the straits. Stromboli was steaming quietly as we sailed passed. Two small island stopovers with long passages between found us making a longer stop in Sardinia. Algero is an interesting old walled port but of more interest to us was the Ryanair flight back to Stansted for a four-week break away from the boat. For the next leg I had a change of crew. A pupil I taught many years ago joined me with his wife. He has now retired! Shows how old we are all getting! This leg of the journey took in Corsica and the south coast of France. It included exceptional sailing weather, beam winds and seven knots for hours on end. Any sailor reading this will appreciate my delight. Sideways is now out of the water for the winter near Marseilles.” Sue Newstead (Shaw) and Kim have had a good year. In January 2016 their sixth grandchild was born and the seventh is due this January. They sailed to Port Davey, often an intrepid voyage, but always the most magnificent remote water venue for bush walking and cruising. Sue did three days a week teaching in the third term and then flew to South Australia to bike ride for 10 days where she caught up with Lynn Oxlad (Edwards) and talked about their good times at BOC. Last Christmas they had a huge family gathering with her sister and niece from the UK. 2016 was one of their best. Grandchildren take time but Sue is happily bush walking, riding and singing. Linda Oxlad (Edwards) and Lindsy have had a relatively quiet year, concentrating on renovations, trips within Australia and getting fitter. August saw them on a walking holiday in Tasmania and they were greeted by Sue Newstead (Shaw) who gave them a tour of the historic city of Hobart. The walking tour, despite being the middle of winter, was marvellous, enjoying amazing rain forests, spectacular national parks, bleak Cradle Mountain and some of the best beaches in the world. Sue and Kim made them a delicious home-cooked meal so that they could recount their adventures. In October Sue went to stay with Linda and Lindsy before and after her cycling holiday in South Australia – two catchups in one year! Gill Page (Birch) and a school friend went from Norwich to Hong Kong by train. It took three and a half weeks and went via Moscow and the Trans-Siberian Railway. They spent an evening at the Bolshoi Theatre where they saw La Traviata. Crossing Siberia was very interesting and they had a day at Lake Baikal with beautiful weather

Guild Newsletter 2017 | 29 and snow on the mountains. The four-day trip into the Gobi desert was good and they fell in love with Bactrian camels. The whole trip was planned on the internet and it all worked! Gill Page (Wiseman) says that life is full and very good. Nativity plays and carols with the barber-shop chorus continues just like other years, along with bird watching and travelling to Valencia, North and South Wales and to Verona for the opera festival. Other trips are planned. Alan Palmer wrote that entering 2017 will be the first year since 1947 that he will have no official connection with education having just retired from the local junior school as the Vice Chair of Governors. His school contact now is merely as a grandparent, two in Saffron Walden and two in Perth, Western Australia. Alan and Maggie continue to enjoy retirement. August and early September were spent in south-west France where their daughter and family join them whilst February is in South Africa so they can return to lighter nights and spring flowers. They are in Irthlingborough in Northamptonshire and they are pleased to see anybody who is in the area or passing by. Sue Petri (Potter) and Alan are hoping that this year they will be able to get fitter and do more walking, especially in the Lakes which they love. Ann Plyming and Lionel enjoyed being back at BOC for last year’s reunion. They were particularly interested to see the college art collection, both in the Resource Centre and the Pallant Gallery. They have managed several holidays in 2016 including one to Greece, led by their son, Philip, which followed the footsteps of St Paul, starting in Kavala in the east and finishing in Athens, visiting both religious and historic sites on the way. They rounded off the year with a cruise on the River Douro in Portugal. Philip will be leaving his church in Claygate to take up the post of Warden of Cranmer Hall, the Theological College at Durham University. This will allow Ann and Lionel to explore more of the northern area. They hope that this year there will be a production at Chichester Festival Theatre’s main theatre for our reunion. Mary Puntis (Jennings) apologised for not sending something for some time. She and Ray still live in the house they built in 1980 at Tuffswell Farm. Their elder son, Richard, lives in Nicaragua overlooking the beach at Son Juan del Sur. Their younger son, Nicholas, is a property developer and is currently building his own home at Lacock, just two miles from them. They are both fit and have had holidays in New Zealand, Australia, South Africa, Egypt and the Nile. They love Italy and the Italian Lakes. To keep fit Mary swims three times a week. She often talks about BOC to friends and family, especially in the winter months when she remembered being very homesick during her first year when we had deep snow and she could not get home until the spring. The Wing ended up playing hockey in the snow with a black ball! Happy and healthy 2017 to everyone. George Redgrave says that all he does is potter about taking photographs, visiting museums and art galleries in London and going to the cinema. His family is much more active including his elder son, Simon, who got married in Barbados. His step-grandson received the Jean Venables medal from the Institute of Civil Engineering, an honour which is awarded to one technician member. David and Jan Richardson (1962-1965) “2016 seemed to fly by even though we had a busy time. It is ten years since we retired and I don’t know how we found the time to go out to work! Both David and I survived the Kaikoura Earthquake. Not a pleasant experience to awake to the whole house shaking for quite a sustained time. Fortunately only very minor damage was done – a few pictures off the wall and one piece of crockery broken. We had to evacuate the house because of possible tsunami dangers. All this happened on my 75th birthday weekend!! We have had a few visitors from the UK staying with us this last year and seeing the Lions are here later this year any rugby enthusiasts following them we would love to see. As a member of the local Civil Defence group it was a good learning opportunity. David celebrated his 75th birthday in November. It was convenient that his birthday fell on a Saturday. Our three daughters flew into Blenheim for the occasion. Last April we celebrated our fiftieth wedding anniversary by going out to lunch at one of the many excellent winery restaurants we have here in Marlborough. We were particularly fortunate to have all our NZ family (three daughters, three sons in law and eight grandchildren) in Marlborough for Christmas. Our grandchildren range in age from ten to twenty eight. We spent a lovely family time in the beautiful Marlborough Sounds. Last year was good for orchard produce, we froze a lot for winter use but our olive crop was poor. We are not sure why. David still enjoys playing bridge and mentoring aspiring rugby referees. I put another tick on my bucket list when, with three tramping friends, I finally made it down to Stewart Island. Its remoteness means it’s still relatively unspoilt and not over populated. We tramped the Rakiura Track, visited Ulva Island and enjoyed the bird life. In NZ a number of bird species are endangered because they are predated by introduced animals such as possums, stoats and rats. Some of the Islands off Stewart Island have been made into predator free sanctuaries and are being used to try and save the most endangered. One of these birds is the kakapo. We wonder if Brexit has made much difference to life in UK. We certainly live in rapidly changing times.” Michael Riggs’ own life is constrained by the needs of his terminally ill wife, whose CBD is slowly and inexorably shutting down her reflexes. He calculated that, based on 24/7, his Attendance Allowance values his caring efforts at 49p per hour. Buying in agency carers cost £250 for 24 hours. Huh! He is managing to fit in a little drawing and painting and he cannot help wondering how his teaching career would have been different if he had done Art Main instead of English. In the end he finished up as a Senior Lecturer in Management and

30 | Guild Newsletter 2017 Statistics, a Fellow of the Royal Statistical Society, then took an MA in Contemporary Arts. Funny old world. Those BOC days were really happy. Mike also commented about Tim Lord and his stroke that occurred during seven hours of surgery on his ear and brain. The procedure aimed to restore his damaged hearing and collapsed side of his face. He is totally deaf in one ear and partially deaf in the other. Rotten luck for a musician. Bob and June (1963-1966) Self (Westmorland) Bob noted that he could not think of an earlier year in his life that had not exhibited quite such a down turn in human nature. He has never been so unsure about the future as he was at Christmas and he wondered, looking back to the mid 1960s, what had happened to that promised land that we had been trained to contribute to following our years at BOC. However 2017 looks promising for them as they are both in good health and Bob is giving up his work for the South Downs Society. Both their gold retrievers have died so they are going to have a year of freedom and then see what happens. It is their golden wedding in August and their daughter, Helen, is getting married. They plan to visit parts of the country they have never visited, even when a Geography teacher, to see what they are really like. Rick (1963-1966) and Juliet Strappini (Affleck) did the Grand Tour of India in 2016, amazing sights including seeing a couple of elephants in a lorry, being transported to a religious celebration. Apparently it is law that elephants do not have to walk more than a certain distance in a day. Rick was served beer from a teapot at an outdoor restaurant that had no licence. January 2017 saw them in Melbourne for two weeks and likewise South Africa. A surprise is that grandchild number eight is on the way so Rick and Juliet will have to stay fit for the future! Rick likes gardening and is still President of Rocquaine Regatta whilst Juliet still plays tennis at St Martin’s Club and sews. Dave and Biddy Smith (Hinton) are busy, especially Biddy, as Dave was 80 on 18th January. Aubrey and Mandy Watson (Adkin) seem not to change. Mandy is still working and Aubrey playing golf. Mandy left her work in Greenwich at the end of September; the extended travelling and strikes on Southern Rail finally beat her after 12 years. However, she is working now for the Diocese of Chichester in a similar role but with just Sussex, with 158 church schools of varying sizes, some in tiny places that Mandy never knew existed tucked away in country villages. Aubrey continues with golf and regained the trophy which is a foot high jolly golfer in c.1950s golfing gear. They are having a family trip to South Africa at Easter and went to the usual place in France, near Toulouse, where Aubrey managed to impale himself on a rusty fence while picking plums – he held the bowl safely throughout the rescue. They are looking forward to our 55th year college reunion and the final hike up the Trundle in July 2017.

1963-1966 Roy Salmon writes “This 50th year has had its unfortunate news of course. Peter French informed us of his wife Pat’s (Rivett) funeral following her valiant battle in recent years He referred to her strengths as a PE Wing student which he felt helped her through this time. Beth Juniper (Salmon) also has had her problems following a stroke and unfortunately no one was able to volunteer transport to bring her to the reunion last summer, so I hope her information given to me that she continues to make sound progress continues and she is able to be there in the future. It was also a great shame that despite Iain Freestone and Bob Andrew’s efforts there was not a west of England September gathering last year (volunteers for 2017 from the west please contact me and/or Iain). As usual I thank many here for their kind words and contacts but also hope that more will be in contact as we plan for future reunions. I will be, for as long as I can, in Chichester for that annual second weekend in July for the guild weekend. For our 50th reunion there were just over 20 registered people booked in for at least part of the weekend and as usual some extras were able to pop in for part of the time. Those of us that were there in time on the Friday were treated to a very enlightening talk about BOC’s art heritage from the editor Gill Clarke of ‘The Bishop Otter Art Collection - A celebration’ (the book that many of us bought that weekend). It was part of the celebration of the 100 years since the birth of the late Head of Art, Sheila McCririck, and even those of us that were far from understanding the value and extent of the collection at the time (like me) when we were at BOC were moved by the event. It was good to see (in a wheel chair) Sheila’s fellow Art lecturer, Sally, at lunch on Saturday. We were amused to hear how Betty Murray and Sheila had managed to acquire very valuable works of Art for very little or no cost to help to ensure that students at BOC from ordinary backgrounds should be able to appreciate good Art. (See Simon Hoad’s letter below). By Supper time on Friday quite a few had gathered and we spent a pleasant evening reminiscing generally. Angela Stodd (Anson) popped in, as she lives locally, and I reminded her that her husband was the one that reunited many of us through his efforts as a lecturer at BOC, in drawing together the database of former students for the 1990 celebration of 150 years of BOC. He and she are still in touch with many of our former lecturers. Much later as usual a core of us collected, much as we used to 50 years ago, but without Male/Female segregation, in one of the small lounge/catering facilities in the student accommodation and chatted about what ever happened to ... that we have lost contact with and the cruises that so many of them had been on or were planning. Saturday brought the usual meetings, lunch and a photo call on the lawn by the Cloisters. A very small group of us stayed and chatted but most went over to the Art exhibition and on to its extension at The Pallant Gallery. The evening gathering this year decided that we had

Guild Newsletter 2017 | 31 all been so well fed that only a few of us ordered a curry whilst the bulk of the group went to see a performance of Mama Mia performed by a group of Italian children staying at BOC. But more importantly again, a hard core of us retired to the lounge to finish the wine etc that we had brought and eat the cake that Keith had once again made. Try to keep in touch and be there when you can.” Simon Hoad says “I was planning to go to the 50th reunion but now I cannot. Our sons are planning a joint birthday celebration on the weekend between me on the 3rd and my wife Mary’s on the 15th so that prevents me from coming to BOC for the reunion 50 years on from our leaving. I’m disappointed as I had planned to put in an appearance with Dave Morte (1961-64), Phil Carter and Ian Ritchie . Ian has written to me this week explaining that he is moving house next week and his wife is waiting for major eye surgery the following week. Phil Carter called in here a year or so back, with his wife, on his way to see his older brother (also BOC) in Norfolk. I stayed with Dave a couple of years ago in Beckenham. We all went racing together at Ascot and had brilliant day out. They all know a bit about horses and, following their collective advice, I came home £4.50 up on the day! All of this has prompted me to track down the list of results we all were sent in the summer of 1966. I had forgotten I still had it. I’ve spent a very happy half hour or so trying to put faces to names. I’ve just realised that I have also kept my reference signed by Miss Murray. For some weird reason it’s dated 12th March 1970, almost 4 years after we left. When I left BOC in 1966, I shared a flat with Steve Trerise , a mature student who left at the same time as us. I had a job in Wokingham but as he had a job in Bracknell (New Town) he was entitled to a subsidised flat. When I changed jobs, I shared another flat with Dave and Phil (see above) and Tony Hunt (63-66). There are very few ex-BOC people I’m in touch with but very occasionally I bump into someone. Ian Munro was one of the most recent, teaching at Saffron Walden County High School with my wife Mary. Please remember me to all you meet who might remember me and give them my email and or postal address. I’d love to hear from old friends. Very best wishes from someone ‘from a rather ordinary home without much cultural background’ - hope you all enjoy the reunion.” Brian Symons writes: “After early retirement/voluntary redundancy in 2000 I did four years of supply work at the school I had left. However, I was able to start my ‘dream new career’ as a volunteer steward at Shakespeare’s Globe and now the indoor Wanamaker Playhouse as well. From 2001 to present, and ongoing it continues to be exciting work. I am still following Crystal Palace (since I was three or four years old), singing with choir since 1977 and my Cruise Holiday total is now 7% and rising! My first job as a 16 year old school leaver was as a shore based staff member of P&O in London and I have never lost my interest in liners/cruise ships. When “Clearing House” sent my papers to Bishop Otter College they did me a great service that led to three great careers.

1964-1967/8 Andrew and Anna Vessey (Gee) write “We continue to live on the edge of a very beautiful Suffolk village, close to the Norfolk border. Much of Andrew’s inspiration comes from the Waveney Valley, with wide skies and old marsh-meadows. However more recently he has begun to develop a more sculptural approach to painting, with work breaking free from a rectangle and including more abstract images.” Both he and Anna are very involved in the life of the area churches, crossing Benefices and Deaneries: Anna being Area Co-ordinator and Branch Leader for the Mothers’ Union and Andrew taking services, covering local clergy who need back up, or who are ill, or just can’t provide the worship each church desires. Their garden could become a full-time job and gives them both enormous pleasure. The diary would not be complete without engaging with all five grand- daughters, having sleep-overs and taking them to the seaside. Their two sons and daughter live reasonably near (Ipswich and London) and all of them have grown into particularly creative careers: Oliver is full-time composer, Damien is an Art Editor for John Lewis and Harriet writes and presents Science Shows for schools. It must be the influence of Bishop Otter! Anna and Andrew can hardly believe it but 2017 will be their Golden Wedding Anniversary, marrying straight from College as they did, before they had earned a penny, and going to Suffolk to begin their teaching careers. But then – time flies when you are enjoying yourself.” Frank Tarrant writes “having retired from headship in Tower Hamlets in December 2005 at the same time as Maggie my wife, we became Tower Hamlets consultants for Education Otherwise, Home Education. An education in itself! It often brought us into conflict with our old mates in sections like ‘appeals’ and ‘admissions.’ We retired completely a year ago and notice the difference in how little paper we use in the printer these days. I pass e-mails to and from the frozen north exchanging views on Spurs and England Rugby with John Patten (1962-65), see Roger Everett (left 1967) and John (left 1967) and Terry Payne (left 1968) and keep in touch with the Stubbingtons (left 1968). Anne (Frogley) and Peter are in England during March of this year talking and touring. Apart from myself they will be meeting up with Martin Kail , who is another long-term contact following our working together for about twenty years. Peter Russell (left 1968) and his wife Sheila are fairly regular contacts. I still see Doreen Gadd (1947-1949). Being the only applicant for her deputy headship back in 1972 and the fact that she was ex-Bishop Otter secured my future. We have also been abroad a lot this year, spending Easter in Malta and taking a midsummer cruise up to the North Cape of Norway.” Bob Norris says “right up to only a few weeks before the Reunion weekend I had thought we wouldn’t be able

32 | Guild Newsletter 2017 to attend it because our choir (of which I’m the librarian) was due to present its Summer Concert on the same weekend. However, the concert’s last minute change to the previous weekend meant that Angela and I could go to Chichester after all (if there were any rooms left). There was no problem so we ended up driving to Petworth House on Friday the 8th July; were in College for the Friday evening dinner and get together; there all day Saturday (when I went to meetings and Angela hit the shops) and then we left on the Sunday morning. I’m particularly glad that I could to go to the Reunion as I was able to see the College collection of art in their new gallery. The pictures and sculptures on display had all been gathered together especially because they’re the works that were around college when we were there. They brought back lots of happy memories for me. I also discovered some sad news. Marten Lougee, the BOC Guild secretary, is going to stand down next year and as he has been so brilliant at keeping the reunion going and as nobody on the committee is in a position (or wants) to take over, it looks as though the days of the Guild may be numbered or, at least, radically altered. It will almost certainly be the very last “traditional” walk up to Trundle next year. And that brings me neatly to my last point. Next year’s reunion (which could possibly be the last one) marks the 50th year of leaving our old college, 1967. There were lots of people at college this year from other year groups (Marten’s own year nearly always fielding a dozen or so members) and I would hope that we might make a proper gathering too next year. At the committee meeting it was decided that the dates for next year would be July 7th, 8th and 9th (barring any untoward last minute changes for whatever reason). Whether it clashes with my choir’s Summer concert or not I shall be there, especially as it will be such an important year for us. I would really love to see you all there so, please, put it into your next year’s diary now and do try to be there. It would be brilliant, too, if you could pass on the dates to any other BOC friends from our year with whom you may keep in touch. Pass it on and let’s have a big gathering next year!

1965-1968/9 Jo Bird (Chalk) (formerly Stuart) has made contact with this group after several years’ silence and the resulting reports have been enjoyable to receive, but sparse. She hopes that many more ex-Otters will be able to attend next year’s Reunion to mark 50 years since most of us left College. Jo is also hoping to contact any past members of the BOC Gilbert and Sullivan Society who remember taking part in the production of “Engaged” in 1966, as there will be a unique opportunity in the summer to see this very rarely performed show at the G & S Festival in Harrogate on Friday, 11th August. Could it be an opportunity for a BOC mini reunion in Yorkshire? Hilary Cunningham (Hunter) wrote, “I was married in 1972 and have two children. Our daughter is in Adelaide with three of our grandchildren and our son is in the Cotswolds with his two boys. Three of these five are keen on acting and music. Must be something to do with the genes! (Hilary was in the G & S Society – Jo.) I spent most of my career with Special Needs children. Firstly, in a Special School and then 15 years working for Solihull LEA assessing children in mainstream, training teachers and running INSET. I also had a few years as an SEN Governor, was a non-Executive Director of Heartlands Hospital Trust, on the visiting panel of a hospital for adults with Special Needs and helped, or hindered, my husband in our Travel business. These days, I’m retired but enjoy being on two Fostering Panels. My mum is 95 and has just gone into care so there is a lot of sorting out to do there. We have a narrowboat and cruise the canals, but the lock gates seem to be getting stiffer – or is it me? We try and get to Adelaide every other year. Happy memories of Bishop Otter. Wish I could do it all again!” Angie Fry (Harvey) was delighted to visit “The Bishop Otter Art Collection; A Celebration” exhibition on 21st July 2016. This was beautifully displayed on two sites – at our old College, now the University site, and at the Pallant House Gallery in the heart of the city. In the evening, Angie managed to hear a lecture at the Gallery given by Professor Gill Clarke who is a trustee of this amazing collection. We were students at the time Miss Murray, our Principal, and Sheila McCririck, our Head of Art, were purchasing these works of art for us to appreciate on the College walls. Angie wishes she could turn the clock back and appreciate them again properly! The staggering coincidence is that she signed the Visitors’ Book at the College venue and the following day received emails from Geoff and Cherry Taylor (Williams) and John and Stella Hendy (Taylor) who signed their names below hers! After the lecture, Angie spoke to some former members of staff and, as a result, Phil Morris , one of our Geography lecturers, made contact with her. On a personal level, Angie keeps in touch with Imogen, daughter of the late Carolyn Pringle-Pattison (Cowie) who died in December 2013. ( Jo and Simon Bird met Angie at Carolyn’s well-attended funeral.) Angie went to her goddaughter, Imogen’s, daughter’s christening in October and was thrilled to see Carolyn’s growing family. Angie sent news that Chris Millyard (Walls) moved from France to Kidderminster, to be nearer her sister, and her newly-married daughter in Devon. Ian and Christine Hayler (Phillips) write “we met up with Gwen Williams , Carole Smart, Maureen Ponton and Jane Halsey (all BOC 1966-1969) in Reading recently where Gwen lives. I am in regular contact with my [Ian’s] old room-mate, Terry Axe (who married Valerie Mills ) Gwen Williams, Maureen Ponton, Jane Halsey and Carole Smart - BOC wing students 1966-1969.” They have lived in Cornwall since their marriage and have three children. Terry retired from his headship very early and spent time building and sailing boats. At the end of 2013 he was ordained and is now a vicar in his local area. Thanks to the internet he and Ian are able to keep up-to-date with

Guild Newsletter 2017 | 33 all the news. He still sees Peter Hunkin and Jerry and Mavis Ahearne . Felicity Hoyle , living in Norfolk, wrote, “I spent a long time teaching all sorts of things, from helicopter pilots, English as a second language, Special Needs, IT (in school and in adult education beginners’ classes) and worked for Traveller Education. About twelve years ago I took early retirement and returned to my first love, which was kindled at Bishop Otter, and I am now a happy potter!” Felicity hopes to travel and stay in her camper van to attend next year’s proposed reunion. John Hendy wrote, “My wife Stella and I retired from teaching in 2006. For many years we both taught at Dulwich College Prep School at Cranbrook in Kent – she latterly as Director of Pastoral Care and Head of Girls and me as Head of Geography. Since late October we have lived here at St. Mary’s Bay in Kent. We have three great grandchildren and nine wonderful grandchildren aged between 18 and two. We see Geoff and Cherry Taylor on a very regular basis and spend holidays with them. We met up with them, Keith Harbrow and Peter and Jenny Cornish (Green) during the summer. A couple of years ago I was giving a talk to the Tunbridge Wells Civic Society and met up again with Janice Funnell (1964-1967) who was in the G & S Society’s production of “Engaged”. Jenny Ince (Leadbetter) looks back on her three years at Bishop Otter with great fondness, especially her first year when she was in South House where she made these lifelong friends – Angela Gill (Phillips) , Sue Plackett (Ellis), Sue Jeffreys (Eickhoff), Terry Payne (Herlihy), Elspeth Yates (McFarlane), and she keeps in touch with Lizzie McQueen (Dawes) who lives in Australia. Every so often this group has a reunion and this year will be a special one to celebrate their 70th birthdays. Chris Ostler (Walls) is enjoying life as Priest-in-Charge of St Barnabas Church in Wellingborough. The photo on the right was sent in by Chris. Anne Stubbington (Frogley) writes from Australia “I left BOC in 1969 which, of course, is a lifetime ago now and I ended up teaching until 2014 which makes it a teaching career of 45 years. I never would have imagined that. Primarily, it was the students who kept it so interesting. Never just a job and never a dull moment. But also, there were many changes of location, subject area and positions of responsibility. I started teaching in London at the nearest comprehensive to the Arsenal football ground which will give you some idea of the baptism of fire I endured but survived and came out stronger. I learnt a lot and a couple of years later moved to Newbury and then to Aldershot. In 1975 we came to Australia and settled in Brisbane. I was in the state system until 1994 when I took a position at Brisbane Girls Grammar School and enjoyed the remaining 20 years of my career there. I was Head of House for most of that time, with responsibility for the welfare of 150 adolescent girls. If anyone remembers Wilfred Bion and Group Dynamics, that all came in very useful as our House system was based on his theories, along with those of Winnicot & Bowlby et al. All good stuff. I also developed a school-wide community service programme and taught English. In all, I had a very interesting and enjoyable career and hope I managed to make a difference along the way. I have been retired for two years now and have just about got used to the idea. We travel a lot and often come back to the UK. English friends often visit and are welcome to stay.” Sue Hyland remembers being in the G&S Society’s production of “Pink Champagne” in either 1967 or 1968. She organised the pink champagne from the supplier. She loves the idea of a 2018 get together, and would be happy to help as she only lives in Bosham. Jo Bird (Chalk) (formerly Stuart) Finally, a few words from me. My 31 years of marriage to David ended with his sudden death at 62. Simon and I later married and I retired from my upper Primary School career in 2005. Our shared interest in G & S has never waned, though our performing and singing days have ceased. I’m now President of our local Operatic Society and am still involved with their excellent modern musicals productions. Last year, I was thrilled to receive a National Operatic and Dramatic Association (NODA) Award for Lifetime Achievement, but it made me feel very old! Whilst we still can, Simon and I love to travel to previously unseen places, so last year’s highlights were holidays in the Isle of Man and Tenerife and this year we hope to cruise the River Rhône and travel on steam trains in North Wales. My son and two daughters have five gorgeous sons between them, so our house is lacking in pink but full of toy cars and Lego. I was privileged to attend the Nativity Plays of the two oldest boys where the seven year-old was a baker in Bethlehem and the five year-old a camel which did brilliant Bee Gees’ dance moves “following the star”! I so admire the patience of Infant Teachers (and all the others!). Joseph is obviously taking after me, as my favourite method of keeping fit is a weekly tap dancing class, a hobby which I started when I was 40 and can thoroughly recommend. Thank you very much for all the contributions this year and hope the word will spread about our proposed special 50th anniversary next summer.

34 | Guild Newsletter 2017 Obituaries ex-students

1947-1949 Freda Aitkenhead (Greatorix) Freda’s death was reported in the last magazine but the editor has since received some memories of her from Sue Pickering, one of her fellow students. “Freda Greatorix was a brilliant actress and very striking to look at. I think we would all remember her as Hamlet and the whole play was dressed in grey and shades of and most clothes were made from army blankets and black out material because no-one had clothing coupons to use for things like stage costumes.” Audrey Colam (Mould) This letter was received from Audrey’s daughters. “It is with great sadness that Deborah and Lisa, Audrey’s daughters, write to you with the news of the death of our beloved Mother. Audrey enjoyed exceptionally good health until about eighteen months ago when it became noticeable that she was slowing down. She still enjoyed watching football, tennis and other sporting events, especially when her team, Liverpool, were on a winning streak! The birth of her two Great Grandchildren, Isla in 2010 and Hamish in 2013, gave her great joy and were an endless source of amusement. She enjoyed a varied social life with family members right up until the end. Meals out and at family gatherings, trips shopping and visiting historic sites or just going to the park with the children were regular outings. Audrey was fortunate to be completely independent, living in her own home, doing all the housework, shopping and religiously keeping her brain active with a daily dose of crossword puzzles and Sudoku. She was admitted to hospital during January with pneumonia after a bout of chest infections and passed away peacefully on 17th February [2016]. Her greatest desire in later life, as is that of all of us, was to remain in her own home and not “lose her marbles”! Both of these wishes were fulfilled.” Joan Foss (Penn) Diane, Joan’s daughter wrote: “Sadly I have to tell you that she [Joan] passed away in June after a short battle with leukaemia. In her last few weeks we reminisced whilst looking through old photos of her time at Bishop Otter and her reunion visits, the last of which I accompanied her on and was delighted to meet you all. Gerry England (Eileen’s husband) and I had our own splinter group of two. Joan had hoped to write her own tribute for inclusion in the newsletter but unfortunately time ran out. I do know that she thoroughly enjoyed her time at Bishop Otter and the friendships she made, most notably with Eileen and Sylvia, who have both passed away. I’ve heard stories of the horse boxes on many occasions. I believe that is where she first encountered Eileen and with whom she stayed in close contact until Eileen’s death last year”. Pam Connell (Bush) Pam had taught before coming to college but before coming to college she had trained as an occupational therapist (a very different training from that given today) but having qualified, absolutely couldn’t stand it. So she became an unqualified teacher to check out that career, liked it and came to BOC. She was the oldest of our year at 21. She trained as an infant school teacher, and really was one of the best teachers you could wish for. She continued teaching throughout her time in Zimbabwe until her retirement. Pam went on a one year exchange to Southern Rhodesia about 1959. She was back in UK after her year, to resign from UK teaching and then back to Southern Rhodesia and signed on there. She had already met Jim, her husband to be, and they were soon married. They lived in Bulawayo all through the troubles of UDI and Ian Smith and the vicissitudes of life caused by Robert Mugabe. She had twin sons and a daughter who are now scattered around the globe – New Zealand, South Africa and one in various gold mines in Africa as well as South Africa. She had seven grand children and one great granddaughter. Pam returned to live in UK in October in 2004 and went to Alton in Hampshire. This was because she had kept in touch with Sue Pickering (Stockford) and Sue was the only person in UK she knew. She and Sue picked up almost where they had left off! When she returned to UK in 2004 she said she had almost forgotten how beautiful UK was and she was happy that she would be able to die in England. She lived in sheltered housing and her life was busy with skittles, outings, residents’ meetings and helping to organise massive jigsaw puzzles, frequent quiz competitions, coffee mornings and bring and buy activities. Last year she had cancer of the mastoid bone. The radio therapy completely cured her but while on it she also lost over two stone in weight very quickly which has resulted in the fact that she was no longer a type two diabetic. Pam died on December 16th 2016 age 90. The death certificate said that the cause of death was “the frailty of old age.” – a pleasing and gentle epitaph perhaps.

1949-1951 Catherine Coombs (Buckwell) died unexpectedly last September after being blown by a sudden gust of wind against a wall and damaging her head. She was one of the first intake of third year students studying Divinity full- time, and did her third year from 1951 to 1952. There she met her husband, Peter, who also came to BOC for the course. They held hands (watched by all students) and married soon after leaving Chichester, to enjoy a long and happy marriage for 64 years. Peter was ordained in 1960, and eventually became an Archdeacon, first of Wandsworth, and then of Reigate in the Southwark diocese, before retiring to Hampshire.

Guild Newsletter 2017 | 35 1951-1953 Cynthia Shuttle died April 2016 after spending the last 16 months of her life in a nursing home in. Mary had been her close friend for very many years.

1954-1956 Audrey Wild (Beckitt) died on 7th March 2015. Hilary Chapman (Robinson) said that Audrey was her “college daughter” but she always remembers that Audrey invited her, in 1956, to help her in the Scripture Union Beach Mission in Cromer. Hilary has spent almost every year since helping with this project.

1958-1960 Daisy Barclay (Hickey) died on 9th November 2016. She was well enough to enjoy celebrating her 100th Birthday on 18th September with family and friends. She died peacefully in her home.

1962-1965 Alan Spearing died on Wednesday 19th October 2016. Alan had Parkinson’s Disease with Lewy Bodies, so his family thought it might be of great value to give his brain to medical research. It is in the hands of the Cambridge Brain Bank, so it is hoped that Alan may contribute to a better understanding of such dreadful diseases. His funeral service and cremation was held on Tuesday 8th November at 11.30am in Norse Road Crematorium, Bedford. Alan was resident in a nursing home for nearly four years. Alan was born in London and his father was in the fire service. The survival rate for fire fighters was lower than some units serving in WW2. One of Alan’s claims to fame was that their local family grocer went on to found the Tesco giant. They moved out of London and enjoyed a Sussex education and always expected to join the army. A couple of years in the Paras after school satisfied this desire and his long-term connection with the army continued through the TA during his time teaching in Bedfordshire, eventually becoming a major in the East Anglia TA. His school time and small stature helped him to be a scrum half and he often talked about continuing this when he decided to train to be a teacher at BOC. Although the accuracy of his second claim to fame could be in doubt, it was that he engaged Eric Clapton to play at BOC when Eric was simply a one-man outfit on the universities and college circuit and as he was expected to provide accommodation Eric slept on his floor. Alan will certainly be remembered as Social President, and when his successor, Roy Salmon, took over the position he was very glad to be able to book ‘The Clayton Squares’ twice, an up and coming ‘Beatles style group’ from Liverpool. He recalls, especially, their long, long rendition of ‘Watermelon Man’ that seemed to go on for many minutes. Other mentions included Alan’s organisation of Ski trips from school, the fact that he became a deputy head but never wanted to be head teacher, the fact that he found it difficult to remember student’s names and therefore called students ‘sunshine’ in his own London accent! His interest in Rugby continued right up to the end through his regular attendance at Bedford Blues rugby club. There was a brief mention of his interests in the local Masonic lodge which he was a member of for many years. Ann Margaret Spilberg (Makin) (27th May 1944 to 8th November 2016). Anny suddenly suffered a massive second stroke on Friday 4th November from which there was no hope of recovery and she died in hospital at Portsmouth late on Tuesday 8th. She received the most exemplary care and the ICU at Queen Alexandra Hospital exhibited a tenderness and compassion far beyond any reasonable expectations. It took a little while to put together the funeral arrangements that Anny and Michael had half-jokingly discussed in previous years but, just as she would have wished there was a celebration of Anny’s life at St Peter’s International Presbyterian Church (formerly the Liss parish church), on Saturday 19th November. This was followed by interment at the immediately adjacent West Liss municipal cemetery. Her husband, Michael, gave a wonderful Eulogy at her funeral in St Peter’s Church, West Liss, on 19th November 2016 and he would like to thank Val Slocombe and Sue Brown and all the other Otters who attended the funeral. Mike has asked me to apologise, on his behalf, to those loyal friends who turned up whom he failed to greet and thank adequately. It would be a complete injustice to Anny if I was to paraphrase what Michael wrote and said at the service – I cannot extract a few lines from such a piece. If you wish to read it all, please contact Michael ([email protected]) who will be very happy to let you have a copy. I can assure you, you will not regret it.

36 | Guild Newsletter 2017 1968-1971 Isabel Moss (Shaw) , Audrey Hunt tells of her friendship with Isabel. “Isabel joined Bishop Otter in 1968 and stated in the notes she handed to her husband in hospital when it was obvious she wasn’t going to get well ‘I then went to Chichester to train for teaching and felt I was very lucky to spend three years at the taxpayers’ expense in such a beautiful college’. I joined at the same time and I feel pretty sure we were in the same tutor group with Mr Vass. She was classed as a ‘mature’ like myself but was living in one of the hostels where she made friends of girls that 10 years’ younger than herself. She was always welcome along with the rest of the matures in the Senior Common room. She studied weaving under Miss Middleton whilst I attempted to be a ‘potter’. Ray states that Isabel was still in touch with a Neil and Margaret Hayday, but I’m afraid I do not know them. We became firm friends and she was always welcome at my home (then in the village of Hunston) where quite a few groups would gather after some strenuous adventure in the first year. We continued our friendship after her move to London and our move into Chichester itself where Isabel worked in Stroud Green Junior School in Finsbury Park and then North Haringey Junior before getting married in 1982 and giving birth to their daughter (who studied at Cambridge and obtained a 1st class degree in mathematics). Christina also obtained her PGCE but did not enjoy teaching and is at present living on a houseboat in Cambridge where she has many friends. Isabel and her husband, Ray, lived most of their married life in Enfield and Isabel did the occasional supply work as well as working with pupils with special needs. She also worked voluntarily at the local church and local contact centre for parents and children from broken relationships. She and Ray moved to Otley in Yorkshire in 2009 and loved their new life, joining many local activities with Isabel again joining a choir. I well remember my (late) husband and I going to see the performance of Iolanthe with Isabel in the chorus. It was a real shock to me on receiving Ray’s phone call on 24th May to state they were withdrawing treatment for Isabel. I had been rather unwell myself and kept meaning to phone her, but left it too late. She died of complications to her Coeliac disease which was not diagnosed until too late in her life. She was told she had probably been born with it, but it hadn’t been picked up!! I do not travel far these days (I am now 83) and was unable to travel to Yorkshire to say my personal farewells to a dear friend. Yes, we didn’t meet up as often as we would have liked, but we kept in touch by phone and e-mail all these years and I shall miss her greatly”.

Guild Newsletter 2017 | 37 Architects drawing of our new Engineering and Digital Technology Park opening in September 2018.

38 | Guild Newsletter 2017 Your community, your University

Support your University With 5300 students and 950 staff, we are one of the smallest modern to improve the student universities in the country but also one Donating could of the most successful. We aim to be a not be easier experience of our socially responsible university that is future alumni. recognised internationally, significant You can donate by: nationally, important regionally and vital locally – not only in teaching and • Our JustGiving page students experience, but also in www.justgiving.com/universityof research, in our diverse communities chichester and in the public, private and voluntary sectors. • Texting CHIC05 and the amount you wish to donate As you will know education is one of to 70070 many areas where expenditure is rising more rapidly than income. Unlike more • Or contacting Ann Harley, established universities, the University Development Manager, of Chichester has no historical on Tel: +44 (0)1243 812175, endowment with which to support its Email: [email protected] community. The Development Fund provides the opportunity for alumni and friends to give to any part of the University. Our main aim is to ensure there are funds available to allow the flexibility to respond to the area of greatest need within the University. Equally important are donations to the specific causes which matter to you, whether related to your subject of study, or your campus. For more information about the Devolopment Fund, take a look at the Alumni web pages on www.chi.ac.uk/alumni.

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