A New Headmistress for EHS It Is a Great Pleasure to Write a Few Words for Laurel Leaves

O G A O G A The Edgbaston High School for Girls Old Girls’ Association Magazine Laurel Leaves A new Headmistress for EHS It is a great pleasure to write a few words for Laurel Leaves. Since arriving at EHS last term I have been overwhelmed by the warm welcome given to me by pupils past and present, parents and staff. EHS is indeed a very special school which has a warm heart and an all encompassing ethos. In this my first letter to you I thought you might like to know a little about me. As you may be aware I was born in Sutton Coldfield and was Contents educated at Birmingham University. I left Birmingham after completing Chariman’s Message P2 my PhD and returning now is very much like coming home, and in the Lara Fatah in Iraq P4 nicest possible way I feel as if I have been at EHS for a long time. I have following year I was amazed at Welcome New Old Girls P5 two daughters who were educated how many people had Edgbaston at Haberdashers` Monmouth a single connections. Friends and colleagues Art and Design at EHS P6 sex school, my eldest daughter has all seem to have a sister, mother, aunt just started work in Cheltenham as who either went to or taught at the Outstanding Woman a junior doctor and my youngest is school. All speak with much fondness in Business P8 studying medicine at Nottingham and affection of their time at EHS. University. My husband works abroad News from Old Girls P9 in Belgium 4 days a week; he has a I very much look forward to working very sociable career in the brewing with the Old Girls Association and My ‘Leap’ to Cape Town P10 industry! I have joined EHS following have already enjoyed supper with my first headship at Redland High the committee and a working Miss Mullenger’s School for Girls in Bristol. breakfast where Lucy Ladbrooke Retirement P12 gave an excellent talk on Events I was appointed to the post of Management to our current Sixth Obituaries P12 Headmistress in May 2005. In the Form. Two very enjoyable events. 2007 www.edgbastonhigh.bham.sch.uk Chairman’s Message 2006 They say that “bad pennies” have beginning of every school holiday to is planning to be the organiser in a habit of turning up again, well I focus on the three Rs that is of course London. hope you will not feel that about Reading, Radio 4 and Relaxation. It my return as Chairman, taking was therefore fitting that our AGM In September we were delighted over from Diana Harris who has and OGA farewell supper reflected to welcome the new Headmistress, been chairman for two years Miss Mullenger’s love of Italy with Dr. Ruth Weeks, a biochemist, who and is now working away from an Italian theme for the food, completed her degree and doctorate Birmingham. I would like to thank decorations and a musical interlude at Birmingham University so is very Diana very much on behalf of the with singing from members of staff familiar with Edgbaston. We hope Association, she has done a great Anna Stockton, also an Old Girl, she will be very happy at EHS. The deal to move the Association and Declan Kelly accompanied by committee all enjoyed meeting her forward most notably producing Heather Howell. We were delighted informally at a committee dinner in last year’s new look magazine to be able to present Miss Mullenger, the newly refurbished Dirty Duck in with the well known name Laurel with a garden parasol which we Harborne in October. Leaves and increasing the number hope she can enjoy sitting under of recipients of the joint Old Girls on sunny days, sipping a glass of The meetings this year have been and Friends Initiative Award chilled Italian prosecco and varied and interesting. In March the which this year goes to four girls remembering happy times at EHS. charity dinner held in school was who left this year, Megan Woods, in aid of QARANC Fund for Nurses Louise Best, Harriet Borg-Bartolo As Diana mentioned last year the and our guest speaker was Old and Chloe Leadbetter and Sian school has very nobly taken over Girl Caroline Whittaker daughter of Simpson who left the previous the management of our existing another Old Girl Gillian Whittaker. year. data base and is in the process of Caroline had been the Commanding transferring all the data to a new Officer of the Nursing Squadron In the summer the school said a version, our thanks to Rebekah in Field Hospital 202 in Iraq. Her fond farewell to Miss Mullenger Lowe, School Director of Marketing very vivid descriptions of running who has been Headmistress since and Admissions and her assistant a hospital in searing temperatures January 1998. As Headmistress she Annelle Scott. This data base will in the desert illustrated with slides has overseen considerable changes enable us to extract details of reminded us all of the very difficult not only to the buildings with the members who left school at the conditions the armed forces are opening of the magnificent Octagon same time or who live close to each facing. but also to a changed look for the other or to identify family members. girls with a new school uniform This kind of information will make The AGM and Farewell to Miss combining the first school colour it much easier for you and for us to Mullenger was very well attended of navy with green. Miss Mullenger organise year reunions or regional and everyone enjoyed the Italian will also be remembered for her reunions. We are already planning theme from food to entertainment professional drama productions, regional reunions and we are very as already mentioned. At the AGM it her musical interest and ability grateful to Miss Mullenger who has was agreed that the life membership coupled with a love of Italy and for undertaken to initiate the first one should be increased from £35 to £50 her exhortation to the girls at the in Bristol and to Salma Khan who for the next seven years and that Page 2 www.edgbastonhigh.bham.sch.uk from September 2007, £10 would Friends of EHS at the moment still Edgbaston High School be added to the summer term bill of in the planning stages but likely to girls in year 7 continuing each year be a country fair of hand made and Old Girls’ Association until they left in year13 or if they quality goods. Committee 2006-7 left before the end of the sixth form making up the amount to £70 which We do feel there are many ways would then be the life membership the Old Girls can become involved subscription, there would of course in the continuing life of the school President continue to be an opt out clause as and in partnership with the school Dr. Ruth Weeks there has been previously but we do the OGA are looking at ways of hope all girls will join the OGA. developing bursaries to give the Vice Presidents Our autumn meeting was held opportunity for girls to take up a in the Prep Hall and although a place at EHS and benefit from the Miss V. R. Belton (1976-1987) small gathering the occasion was excellent education offered. The Mrs. S. J. Horsman (1987-1997) very much enjoyed by everyone. breakfast meetings started last year Miss E. M. Mullenger (1998-2006) An excellent curry provided by are also a way of Old Girls giving the school domestic bursar, Steve talks on their career paths such as Chairman Watson who has provided delicious the meeting held in October when Anne Howarth (1954-1961) food for all our events this year, got Lucy Ladbrooke a former head girl things off to a hot start and the spoke inspiringly about her work as demonstration of Christmas flower an events manager with Cadburys. Past Chairman decorations by three ladies from Work experience placements have Diana Harris (1961-1977) Eloquent Flowers was most original also been offered by Old Girls but perfectly possible for us all to working in Birmingham. If you have Treasurer try out and quite different from the any ideas please do let us know and Penny Speer (1951-1962) usual traditional ideas. do visit the school web site at www. edgbastonhigh.bham.sch.uk Our next event is a private viewing Secretary with drinks and light refreshments in Finally I would like to thank all Diane Hirst (1947-1961) the Barber Institute of Fine Arts, 6.00 members of the committee for their to 8.00pm on Thursday March 29th. hard work, enthusiasm and support Laurel Leaves The evening is open to all members at events, particularly treasurer and their friends and to EHS parents Penny Speer, secretary Diane Hirst Helen Holmes (1980-1985) through the Friends Association and and Helen Holmes who has compiled to Members of Council. The evening this newsletter. Also a special thank Past Staff Representative will commence with a short talk you to those members retiring Ruth Carter (left 1979) about the paintings with a tour of from the committee, Liz Taylor who the galleries followed by a reception after many years on the committee School Archivist in the foyer. The Barber Institute is including a term as chairman , Sue one of Birmingham’s little known Robinson who has been the staff Stella Pinkess (1946-1960) gems, housing a unique private representative on the committee collection of valuable paintings. We and also to Jill Siddall who remains General Committee do hope you will be able to come to on the committee but has retired Ronnie Shoebotham (1954-1968) this special event.

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