THE SHSK SOCIETY Old Girls’ Newsletter 2017-18

From St Helen’s to Downing Street – our time at Number 10

Martha Varney MBE (2002 leaver) and Kate Shouesmith MBE (2006 leaver) Introductions From the Headmistress

Dear SHSK Society members, I hope you will notice a slight change in the with university-based regional gatherings educational partnership work we do with look of our annual publication for alumnae. and sector-specific networking events being local state schools, as well as to support my What remains unchanged is the wealth of added to the more familiar set of celebratory own and the Governors’ ambition to open up experiences and testimony that is captured reunions and visits to the School. In addition, more bursaries for able girls whose families within its pages. There are accounts of your experiences are an extraordinarily would otherwise struggle to meet the fees. professional excitement and frustration, and powerful resource for current students as they If you were a St Helen’s student who came of personal joy and sad loss – a rich tapestry look ahead to navigating through studies, because of a bursary, or if you would like to of accounts which we are very grateful to work and life. We are very grateful to the many support our work on bursaries in some way, former students for choosing to share with us. former students who have supported the we would love to hear from you. Alumnae events have provided some of the careers and mentoring service and we hope Enjoy catching up on the news and I do real high points for me in the last twelve that more of you will want to get involved; all hope that you continue to feel pride in your months, whether in the two professional the details are on the School website. involvement with a School that goes from networking events, seeing the Kate Scheme The year ahead will be a busy one for strength to strength. take off or being witness to the love and alumnae services. A new online platform will support that continues to shine through in aim to make interaction with School and friendships started at St Helen’s. fellow alumnae more straightforward for you We are continuing to develop our and the St Helen and St Katharine Foundation Rebecca Dougall programme of events for alumnae, is being re-launched to incorporate all the Headmistress

2 From the Alumnae Office

Welcome to the latest edition of the SHSK Society Old Girls’ Newsletter. It is hard to believe that I have only been at St Helen and St Katharine for a year. When I look back at 2017 and through the pages of this newsletter, it is clear that we really have filled a great deal into our alumnae calendar. I have been lucky enough to meet many of you at the networking events and reunions, which you can read more about on page 16. Listening to the experiences and career journeys of Amy Lawrence, Kate Shouesmith, Martha Varney and Molly Liddell who feature in this issue, it is their recollections of how St Helen’s instilled a confidence in their abilities and encouraged them to follow their interests that stand out. I have also been overwhelmed at the level of support and willingness amongst alumnae to come back to school and reinforce that encouragement to current students. We are very fortunate to have such an engaged and enthusiastic alumnae community and I am looking forward to meeting many more of you at events in 2018 and beyond. You can find out about all our upcoming events for Old Girls on page 46.

Staying in touch with you We love to be in touch with St Helen’s Old Girls, former staff and former parents and want to continue to provide opportunities for you to read friends’ news, reconnect and network with other alumnae, visit the School, or even give back to the School in whichever way suits you. As data protection regulations are due to tighten from May 2018, we would like to take this opportunity to ensure that we communicate with you in accordance with your preferences. You can let us know how you would like to hear from us by joining our new online networking platform for alumnae and former staff at https://shsksociety.org.uk, where you will also be able to reconnect with old friends and access a range of features. All the benefits of joining are explained on page 47. All personal data is held and used in accordance with our Data Protection Policy which you can read on the school website, www.shsk.org.uk. To request a hard copy, please contact the Alumnae Office. Faye Anderton Alumnae Services Manager E: [email protected] T: 01235 520173

Contents

Introductions Archives From the Headmistress 2 Welcome 20 From the Alumnae Office 3 School pets 20 Memories of a boarder 21 Feature stories Farewell Mr Ireland…again! 22 From St Helen’s to Downing Street 4 Making a difference in media 6 Congratulations 24 Let me Google that 8 Old Girls’ news 26 School life In memoriam 43 St Kate’s Day 10 The St Helen and St Katharine Foundation 12 What’s on Old Girls’ Association Charitable Trust 13 Old Girls’ events 2018 46 A-Level results and leavers’ destinations 14 Staying in touch 47 Old Girls’ events 2017 Stronger by connecting 16 SHSK Society Reunion 2017 18 Old Girls’ Lax Match 2017 19

Old Girls’ Newsletter 2017-18 3 Feature story

Martha Varney MBE (2002 leaver) and Kate Shouesmith MBE (2006 leaver)

From St Helen’s to Downing Street

Downing Street political team. Martha front row, first Our time at Number 10 from the left, Kate standing, second from the right.

Since leaving St Helen and St Katharine, alumnae Martha Varney and Kate Shouesmith have worked in government as special advisers to David Cameron between 2010 and 2016. They both now work in strategic communications.

Martha, Kate, tell us a bit about the various Kate – I started my political career at with businesses and charities on behalf roles you’ve undertaken in government and Conservative Headquarters running events of the PM. Since leaving Number 10 I have what you’re doing now. with the Prime Minister (PM) and other senior joined an international PR agency where government figures. When I first moved over I am responsible for advising companies Martha – We’ve both had quite varied roles in to Number 10 I worked as a political assistant, and charities how to engage better government. I started as a policy and media drafting correspondence and running events with government. adviser to the Minister for Government Policy, for the PM, before taking over Martha’s job Oliver Letwin, before moving to Downing working for his Chiefs of Staff. Following that I Do you have any particular memories or Street to work with the Prime Minister’s spent a year working for Samantha Cameron, funny stories from your time at St Helen and Chiefs of Staff. I then joined the Events and managing her work with charities and other St Katharine? organisations, as well as the official duties Visits team, becoming Head of Operations, Kate – Setting up the first ever St Helen’s that come with being married to the PM. responsible for the Prime Minister’s speaking football team with Mr Ireland (and actually In 2015, and in preparation for the general engagements and public appearances winning a few games!) and seeing the election, I joined the Events and Visits team fantastic new theatre open with Ms Watt. around the world. Since leaving Number to plan and accompany the PM on all the 10 in 2016, I’ve moved into consultancy, visits he made around the country. Following Martha – I’ll always remember Mr Ireland providing advice to businesses, charities and the election I was made Deputy Head of making double maths at the end of the individuals looking to raise their profile. External Relations, managing relationships day bearable!

4 What influenced your choice of university Martha – Returning to Number 10 after subject? Did your subjects help you in the 2015 General Election – I’d resigned your career? from government a few months before to Kate – I studied Politics, Philosophy and coordinate the planning of election visits. Economics (PPE) which, with hindsight, is It was an amazing feeling walking through the quintessential politician’s subject. I had the famous black door again. And of course, absolutely no intention of pursuing a career like Kate, taking my family to the Palace to in politics while I was at university, I just receive an MBE from the Duke of Cambridge thought it seemed like the most interesting was something I’ll never forget. subject. It has proved useful in that it is quite You met Barack Obama in 2014, what was a serious academic subject, but gave me that like? absolutely no practical knowledge for the job Kate receiving A proud Martha at Number 10! Martha – Such an amazing privilege. He’s her MBE with her MBE definitely someone who has a real presence Martha – I also read PPE (though dropped in the room which is very rare; I think he’s one the ‘E’ after a year as, despite Mr Ireland’s best of the great statesmen of our generation. Director of Operations and Press Secretary efforts, maths never was my strong point). Like were all women and it was really inspiring to Kate I didn’t have any intention of going into a Kate – Michelle Obama is also one of the look up to that group and learn from them. career in politics, I just couldn’t decide which warmest, loveliest, most impressive people subject to focus on and thought PPE was a I met. Martha – Politics is still a male-dominated good combination of all my A-level subjects. industry and sometimes it’s difficult to get What were the challenges of working in As Kate said it’s quite a common degree for your voice heard but it’s slowly changing. government? How did you deal with them? people working in politics but there’s no one There are some fantastic female Members subject you need – some of our colleagues Martha – For me the biggest challenges were of Parliament (MPs) on both sides of the studied languages, some sciences and some the long hours and the frequent travel away Chamber who are really shaking things up for didn’t go to university at all. from home – I often found myself on my the better. We just need more of them. own in a country Did your time at St Helen’s prepare you for What was your I couldn’t speak your career? career path after …taking my family to the the language of university? Palace to receive an MBE from frantically trying to Kate – I think one of the reasons Martha and I were kept on in Number 10 was because Martha – I did an arrange a visit for the Duke of Cambridge was we were so willing to multitask and get stuck internship with the following day. into every issue – whether it was escorting Oliver Letwin, then something I’ll never forget. Also the pressures of Barack Obama round Number 10, or staying Shadow Chancellor, a 24/7 news cycle, late to ensure every Christmas card was in between my where everything sent correctly. St Helen’s taught me to be second and third year of university. My first you do is scrutinised, is very intense. But you an all-rounder and encouraged me to do day was the Budget and I remember cutting just have to step back, breathe and think of everything I was interested in rather than my finger trying frantically to get staples the bigger picture. narrowing my focus. out of the one advance copy we had been Kate – As Martha says, the long hours were given so I could photocopy it. I realised pretty hard and you become pretty unreliable as a Martha – St Helen’s encouraged real team- quickly that this wasn’t a career for the faint- friend/girlfriend/daughter because you never work – whether on the lacrosse pitch or in hearted! When I graduated in 2005 I went quite know what’s going to happen next. It the drama barn – and that’s so important back to work for Oliver as his Parliamentary is also pretty gruelling to be held personally for working in politics. It also taught me to Researcher full time. He’s an incredibly accountable for every government policy, challenge myself and never give up. intelligent figure and I learnt so much from even if you don’t necessarily agree with it. Do you have any advice for current pupils or him about how to structure an argument and young alumnae who may be considering a appreciate different points of view. Are there any particular challenges for career in government? women in government and how can they Kate – Initially I thought I wanted to work in be overcome? Martha – A lot of people start by doing an fashion, so I persuaded Paul Smith to take internship with their local MP which is a really Kate – One of the best things about working me on as an intern in my second university interesting way to get a flavour for the job. If in Number 10 for David Cameron was that summer and then got a job at Condé Nast you’re not up for working for a particular MP he had a fantastic team of women working Publications after I graduated. Although or political party, the civil service is another for him at all levels. His Deputy Chief of Staff, the parties were fabulous, it just wasn’t as great route in – you can go through the interesting as I had hoped (and I wasn’t as graduate fast-stream or apply for specific patient as I should have been), so following entry-level roles and work your way up. You the 2010 general election I thought politics have to be prepared to work hard but it can looked much more exciting and started be so rewarding. applying for political jobs. Kate – Work hard and be nice – that’s What has been the proudest moment of your basically all Martha and I did and it took us career so far? pretty far! People like having nice people around, so make sure you’re one of those. You Kate – Being chosen by the PM to meet Her also have to really believe in the person or Majesty the Queen in 2012 was unbelievably cause you are working for, so research them exciting, and a really surreal moment. And Martha meeting properly before accepting any job. taking my family to Buckingham Palace to Barack Obama in 2014. receive an MBE was very special.

Old Girls’ Newsletter 2017-18 5 Feature story

Amy Lawrence (2000 leaver) Making a difference in media

Amy Lawrence is Joint Head of Digital Amy, tell us about the job you do? I’ve been working for the Investment at MediaCom. This summer largest media agency in the she was featured in a joint Sunday Times UK, MediaCom, since 2010. As Joint Head of Digital Investment and Management Today article focusing I oversee an annual spend of on ‘35 women under 35’ which profiled £200m across some of the world’s biggest advertisers, from Coca the roles of a group of bold, ambitious Cola to Tesco. Day to day I manage and dedicated professional females. our relationships with digital suppliers from Google to TripAdvisor and run a team of 30+ people who are responsible for the buying of We caught up with Amy to find out digital and print media space. We have various trading heads running relationships with different media and I am currently the only female more about her memories of St Helen’s in that team as well as the only one also managing people. I also sit on and just how she has achieved so much the company’s board. in her career already. What were the highlights of your time at St Helen and St Katharine – do you have any strong memories? Too many to count – the best thing about St Helen’s was the ability to be involved in so many different activities – I was musical so have lots of memories of being in 1st Orchestra, Chapel Choir and the musicals we did with Abingdon School. Going to Edinburgh Festival with Sweeney Todd was definitely a highlight, as was singing in St Mark’s – in Venice! I’ve always been a chatterbox and have some fond memories of putting Radley boys in their place at debating dinners as well… I am hesitant to mention teachers by name because I know I’d forget someone but I’d have to mention Dr Secker who was my form teacher for three years and somehow managed to convince me to do maths for A-level, and Mrs Bennett without whose enthusiasm I’d never have been a Classicist. There were so many characters – I’ll never forget Mrs Bell bringing in a cowpat so that we could make methane… I should also mention Mrs Townsend who told me that everyone should live in London at some point in their life which is still one of the best pieces of advice I’ve ever had.

After a gap year you went on to read Classics at Durham, how did that come about? I studied Classics at Hatfield College, Durham, and then did an MA in Comparative Literature at King’s College, London. I originally wanted to read English but despite early resistance (after selecting Latin for GCSE I distinctly remember saying to one of my disbelieving friends that “it’s not like I’m going to do it for A-level”), I had always loved the mix of logic and literature that comes with Latin. I had no idea what I wanted to do after university so I chose to study something I enjoyed in a place I loved and my time at Durham was so much fun.

6 Making a difference in media

What was your career path after university? Are you aware of any particular challenges for women working I decided that I’d been studying for long enough but still wasn’t in the media? sure what I wanted to do. I thought advertising sounded interesting I’ve always found media to be a very welcoming industry for women, and ended up looking for jobs on the IPA (Institute of Practitioners so it would be advice I’d give to any women – be confident, don’t be in Advertising) website. I saw something called a media planner afraid to ask questions and get involved. Be nice but don’t be afraid to advertised, looked it up, thought that that sounded like something I stand your ground. could do, and ended up with a graduate job at a small independent agency who were responsible for planning and buying digital media. Did your time at St Helen’s prepare you for a career? It was a happy accident that I fell into something which would later be Absolutely. Not so much in the things that I learnt (although there is a at the heart of so much of our daily lives! lot of GCSE maths that comes in handy!) but in the way it encouraged Reading the Management Today ‘35 under 35’ article, it’s clear that me to be confident in my abilities and to grasp all the opportunities you’ve already achieved so much at such a young age. Where do you on offer. My time at St Helen’s was formative in so many ways. go from here? And finally Amy, do you have any advice for current students or young Having read many of the other profiles, I felt so humbled to be in the alumnae who may be considering a career in media? list; there are so many incredible women in there. I’ve never been Go for it, the industry is fascinating and so much fun and there are so good at knowing exactly what comes next but I think that’s exciting. many avenues you can take. It isn’t necessary to study media to get I’ve always wanted to write a book so maybe I’ll do that, but for now I’ll into it, just be passionate about it and show yourself to be enthusiastic stay at MediaCom as there is a lot going on there! and hard-working. Quite a few companies offer internships as well as You also do a lot of charity work – how do you find the time and what exec schemes (we call it that at MediaCom because you don’t have motivates you? to be a graduate to get a place), so apply for those. Try to talk to as many people as you can so you can fit it all together – and feel free to After not really being a sporty type at school (hard when you have contact me if you want to chat about it! incredible people like Hatti Dean in your year!), I took up running about 10 years ago. I decided to enter some races and thought that raising money was the only way I’d stay motivated! Then, when I was 28, I developed alopecia areata which is a really horrendous thing for anyone to go through. After a really bad time with it I wanted to get involved and raise money. Currently there’s no cure and it’s not really understood fully – and whilst it isn’t painful physically, it has such a strong impact on sufferers. I ran the British 10k for Alopecia UK last year and raised over £1,100 for them which makes such a difference.

What makes you proud about your work? I’ve always been interested in people so I’ve done a bit of mentoring Amy donning her work, which I really enjoy – and being a good manager to my team is Prefect boater really important to me. back in 1999 I’m a people person – I just like to have a chat – so developing relationships with people throughout my career that have helped me get where I am is something I am particularly proud of. It costs nothing to be polite and that’s got me a long way. Our professional networking event for alumnae working in media There must be challenges of working in your profession! How do you and the creative industries will take place on Friday 11 May 2018. deal with them? Like many careers, it’s hard work and it’s fast-paced. There are times when it’s very stressful and I am juggling many different things, but To read more about Amy and others in the ‘35 Women Under we are not saving lives – my other half is a teacher so I just tell myself 35’ article visit www.managementtoday.co.uk/35under35 that he’s probably had the worse day!

Old Girls’ Newsletter 2017-18 7 Feature story

Molly Liddell (2016 leaver)

“Let me Google that” A year after St Helen and St Katharine, a year of Google

Molly Liddell tells us about her year-long apprenticeship with the global internet giant

I think I should start this article by answering the most common question I get asked when I say to anyone I have worked for a year at Google: ‘Is there a slide?’ Answer: ‘Yes!’ But not in my office unfortunately (there was a ball pit though!). The second most common question I am asked is, ‘How did you get the job?’ I simply applied and went through the required steps. Admittedly this process was slightly more complicated than it sounds. It involved sending in my CV and cover letter, multiple interviews with different employees, team building activities and putting together a proposal that we presented to 30 Google employees who were assessing us. It was a tense time. I want to take a couple of steps back and discuss why I decided to try for an apprenticeship at Google. At the end of my seven years at St Helen’s, I wanted to go into the working world straight away. I took my time looking at apprenticeships within the marketing industry and exploring different options. I eventually came across Arch Apprentices’ website, who coordinate apprenticeships for companies such as The Guardian, Facebook and Google. I was immediately drawn to the idea of an apprenticeship at Google (I mean, have you seen ‘The Internship’? Who wouldn’t be!). However, I doubted my abilities and applied because the worst that could happen would be that I wouldn’t get in. I did not believe that I would actually be able to pass all of the rounds and win the place. I received the news that I had gained a place on the apprenticeship scheme while sitting alone in my car in my pyjamas outside a McDonald’s after a night out in Oxford. I got some strange looks from people as I excitedly

8 cheered after getting off the phone. A Although this was an extremely fun year, it celebratory McFlurry was definitely necessary. was also a huge challenge. I was thrown into My role at Google involved working in the the working world of waking up at 6.30am, programmatic advertising sector of the getting on the train and being home at business called DoubleClick Ad Exchange. 7pm. I had to adhere to strict deadlines and Learning all of the new terminology and there was a lot at stake if I were to make any theory as to how programmatic advertising big mistakes. I can’t say that every second worked was one of the biggest challenges of everyday was enjoyable. However, the I faced. However, I was lucky enough to be tough days made the great days even better. part of an incredible team of kind and patient For example, working on the project I was people who showed me the ropes and due to present in Munich had taken weeks gave me much more responsibility than just of preparation and constantly hitting brick making cups of tea and coffee. By the end walls in some form or another, whether of my year at Google I was answering media it was miscommunication with someone briefs from the ‘Big Six’ advertising agencies, working in America, or people saying that whilst also managing relationships with my one of our ideas wasn’t possible. However, own clients’ spending with Google. when we managed to overcome this, the sense of reward was huge. This has raised Professionally my ambition to developing myself break through glass and my career was By the end of my year at ceilings and go for a massive highlight, Google I was answering whatever I want to but that wasn’t all. media briefs from the big 6 achieve in life. I had heard about I believe that you ‘The Google Stone’, advertising agencies, whilst can go and work in but little did I know also managing relationships the most wonderful that this was not with my own clients’ spending place with the most some magical rock wonderful perks, situation, but the with Google. but if you are not weight I was going surrounded by to put on from supportive, kind eating the full cooked breakfast, lunch and and fun people you can’t be truly happy. bottomless snacks they provided in the office My manager ensured that I was supported every day. but also encouraged me to move away I was also incredibly lucky to have the from my comfort zone and become more chance to travel to Stockholm and Munich independent in my work. I cannot thank with my team to collaborate with our EMEA Hannah and my team in London enough for (Europe, Middle East and Asia) wide team. everything they did for me. The way these trips are usually structured You may cringe whilst reading this last involves one day spent sharing best practice paragraph, but please read it because it’s so and hearing about the direction of the important! When I was a child people said business and another day spent team to me that I could be whatever I wanted, building and spending time together. The a singer, doctor, hairdresser, anything. As I first offsite I went to was in Munich and got older I started to believe them less and the team building activity was travelling less. Applying to work for somewhere like up a mountain in Zugspitze. The location Google felt like shooting for the stars. After was stunning and it felt crazy that this time having spent a year there, being surrounded last year I was probably in a geography by inspiring and innovative people, I now Jumping for joy – Molly’s time with lesson talking about plate tectonics! The Google took her across Europe believe more strongly than ever that you can second offsite meeting was held in beautiful do anything you set your mind to. All it takes Stockholm. This was towards the end of my is some grit and determination. I am now time at Google; I had been working on a in my first year at Exeter University studying project with a colleague in France and we Management and Marketing with a view to presented this in Stockholm. This was by gain more of a theoretical knowledge which far my proudest moment of the year. Little I can apply to a job in the future. Although I 19-year-old me was going to be presenting decided to go to university in the end, I now to a room full of people who were far more understand what kind of level of work ethic advanced in their career than me and yet I and intelligence I need to be at in order to was presenting something to them which get back to a place at Google. I will grab had the potential to make their business any opportunity I am given, but also create much more efficient. I don’t think I can quite express how wonderful the feeling was. opportunities for myself to get to where I Other highlights I have to briefly mention need to be. I know that I am the only person standing in my way of doing what I love. include the Google Christmas party, pasta Working at the Stand making classes and helping out at the Stand Some final words – work hard, have confidence Up to Cancer event Up to Cancer event to name just a few! in yourself, and do what you love.

Old Girls’ Newsletter 2017-18 9 School life

Celebrating St Kate’s Day around the world

St Kate’s Day, one of the From the Old Girls Facebook School’s oldest and best-loved Page: In which year did the traditions, is a landmark day in 2p race begin? Caroline White Might have been in the St Helen and St Katharine 1988? We did a ship shape for the year. The whole day is given 400th anniversary of the Armada. Like • Reply • 23 November at 11:11 over to fun, fundraising and Lucy Dalby I think it started in 1984 festivities and is such an during my first year and was the idea important part of St Helen’s life of Miss Gilliver. 1st was just a straight line and it developed from there? that alumnae from all over the Like • Reply • 23 November at 11:20

world continue to join in once Caroline White Concentration: the 2p race Yes Lucy I think you their school days are long over. could be right. Like • Reply • 23 November at 11:21 This year was no exception and hundreds of alumnae from over 30 countries across Elaine Thornett Just straight lines six continents raised a KitKat to the current then. But definitely in our first year, students and reminisced over their own 1984! memories of St Kate’s Day. They watched – Like • Reply • 23 November at 13:21 and took part in – livestreaming of events Heather Nash Definitely had it when such as the 2p race, the St Helen’s vs I was there and I left in 1980! May Abingdon Lacrosse match (won of course have been in the last year though :) by St Helen’s, 4-1) and the singing of the St Like • Reply • 23 November at 15:18 Helen’s school hymn in the Eucharist service. Sophia Bird I started school there in Various messages were left and online 1985, and it was a couple of years in, discussions took place on the Old Girls’ I seem to remember – plus only 2ps Facebook page amongst alumnae who allowed not 5ps! Determination: the St Helen’s wanted to be part of the event. We tried to Like • Reply • 23 November at 17:15 vs Abingdon lax match establish exactly when the 2p race began, which began some virtual head scratching. Sylvia Klemz Penelope Galloway started it in either the late 80s or early 90s. I left in 85 and we didn’t do it then. Celebration: lots of laughter! Like • Reply • 23 November at 17:32

Heather Nash Definitely did it when I was there in 1980 Like • Reply • 23 November at 19:54

Sylvia Klemz Maybe it lapsed for a few years, or maybe I was doing something else at that point in the day! Like • Reply • 23 November at 21:14

Philip de la Haye I remember it happening when I was there…I think? 1982-1989 Like • Reply • 23 November at 17:45

Suzannah Landray Yes I remember it too – I started in 1983 left 89. Like • Reply • 23 November at 17:45

10 International KitKats! 1. Lucy Matthews, Martha Stone, Hannah Brown and Katie Pearson – Bath 2. Jo Muller, Tiffany Taylor, Louisa Grove-White and Ciara Richards – Bath 3. Saskia Hill – Edinburgh 4. Eleanor Watts – Oxford 5. Sophia Bird – Jersey 6. Elaine Whitehead – Perth, Australia 7. Lizzie Findley – Swansea 8. Liv Crowcombe, Freya Wooding, Clare Pearson, Claire Watters, Fiona Bunn, Emma Baghurst and Florence Wiggins signed a roof tile from Queen’s College Cambridge. 9. Timi Afolami, Emma Tollet and Abi Johnson-Watts – Bristol 10. Frances Crowcombe and friends – Durham 11. Elizabeth Mallins, Julia Howarth and family – Shiplake 12. Caoimhe Walsh – Dubai 13. Fi Spencer – Indonesia 14. Ellie Graham, Amie McLellan, Isobel Jones, Carly McIntosh, and Alex Mitchell – Birmingham 15. Alice Matthews, Lydia Uden, Milly Belcher, Emma Shearer and Joanne 1. Ridgley – London 3.

Based in different time zones across the 4. world, Old Girls were quickly joining the conversation online and by mid-afternoon 6. Alumnae Services Manager Faye Anderton announced, ‘This is overwhelming! We’ve pretty much got the whole globe covered with HelKats. From Canada to California, Cuba to Cape Town, from Hong Kong to The Falklands, Minnesota to Uganda, New Zealand to New York, Chile to Sweden, 2. 5. Malaysia to Dubai, Virginia to Germany, Paris to Perth, Jersey to the Isle of Skye, The 10. Netherlands to Turkey, Spain to Pakistan and more in between!’ In Jersey, meteorologist and Old Girl Sophia Bird gave a special St Kate’s Day weather forecast in her TV studio. Alumnae all over the world and at universities across the UK 7. 8. 9. gathered together to share a communal KitKat and send in photos. 12. These comments on social media sum the day up:

Clare Arrowsmith HelKats take on the world! Now just think about all the jobs we hold down and the influence we have in our places in the world. Incredible! Thank you St 11. 13. Helen’s for setting us up for life! Like • Reply • 23 November at 11:11 15. Caroline White Love it. I remember it so well! Like • Reply • 23 November at 11:20

Joanna Green Seems like yesterday! Like • Reply • 23 November at 11:21 14.

Old Girls’ Newsletter 2017-18 11 School life

fantastic fundraising events. This year we have supported Asylum Welcome, an Oxford-based charity made up mostly of volunteers. Asylum Welcome help look after every unaccompanied child who arrives in Oxfordshire. Services for refugees include a food bank, teaching English, providing advice and practical help and visiting detainees in Campsfield House Immigration Removal Centre. Asylum Welcome also support refugee voices nationally and work closely with lawyers to support access to rights. Our links with the school charity of the year have an important educational aspect as well. John Fenning, the charity’s Syrian Re-settlement Co-ordinator, visited St Helen’s on World Refugee Day and the charity representatives visited Asylum Welcome’s office to see first-hand what it takes to run a charity.

Asylum welcome receive their cheque from the charity representatives and Parents’ Association The St Helen and St Katharine Foundation

A school collaborating with its community Girls do Physics Girls do Physics is a new partnership between St Helen’s and our closest neighbour, Larkmead School, aimed at inspiring girls St Helen and St Katharine is extremely do, but we are keen to expand on it and to continue studying physics at GCSE and fortunate to have fantastic facilities for engage with others outside the School in an A-level. A group of 30 Year 9 students from teaching and learning, with a huge range increasingly purposeful way. Larkmead are coming to St Helen’s for and depth of areas of study for our students. five ‘Girls do Physics’ sessions during this So what impact does this have beyond the Opening up St Helen’s to a broader academic year, making use of the fantastic School boundaries? St Helen’s at its heart range of able girls facilities in the Science Centre. The focus of is, after all, an educational charity. Our near At St Helen’s we provide a first-class each session is different but always active neighbours include secondary schools, education but exclusivity is not in our ethos, and hands-on, with a new teacher in the primary schools and numerous groups and nor in our history; indeed many Old Girls Physics Department involved each time. organisations serving diverse members of our came to St Helen’s thanks to Direct Grant The students have a chance to delve deeper local community, whether they be toddler and Assisted Places Schemes. We believe into a fascinating range of physics topics, groups or activities for older people. that coming to St Helen’s is a privilege which including astrophysics, medical physics, We believe we have a responsibility to should not be limited to a family’s ability to engineering and careers and aptitude. For our community to share what we have, afford the school fees. The Foundation funds the first Girls do Physics session we were to partner with nearby schools and work two full bursaries, but we cannot do more really pleased to welcome back Old Girls Alex together with community groups. without the generosity of our friends. A key Mitchell, Lulu Walter, Louisa Grove-White, Exciting opportunities to support our aim for the School now is to be ambitious community include sharing our resources about raising funds so that able girls can Old girls with Year 9 students and teachers’ expertise to benefit others, come to St Helen’s regardless of family from Larkmead collaborating on projects with other schools, circumstance. or offering to host events. Of course the benefits our students gain from relating 2017 Charity of the Year: more closely with their local community are Asylum Welcome huge. They begin to understand the part As a school we raise a phenomenal amount they can play, even as young people, in the for the school charity every year. Particularly environment in which they live. key to making this happen is the team of You can read about just a few of the many Lower Sixth charity representatives led ways St Helen’s looks beyond its borders here. by biology teacher Kirsty Homann, and We are immensely proud of what we already the Parents’ Association, who organise

12 Susannah Lea, Francesca Ramsey and Jessica Bowie who passed their enthusiasm for physics onto the Larkmead students. From the Old Girls’ Association

Nasio Trust visit to Kenya Charitable Trust Seven Lower Sixth students volunteered to work with the Nasio Trust for two weeks in The Old Girls’ Association Charitable Trust is responsible for awarding grants to Old Girls, the Musanda district of Western Kenya. This former staff and current pupils. In 2017 the Trust awarded four grants ranging in size from rural agricultural area is home to a significant £150 to £200 and we would now like to invite applications for 2018. number of adults and children living with Grants will normally be a small sum, in the region of £150/£200 and applications should or subject to the effects of HIV. The Trust is be submitted by Thursday 29 March 2018. Unfortunately late applications will not be working within the community to develop accepted. The trustees, Pauline Dodd (Murdock), Sophie Kolczak (Green), Hilary Groves and promote a sustainable way of life for (Welch), Kirstyn Rutter and Julia James (Allen), will meet in April to consider them. young children, orphans and families who find themselves with little or no income and Applicants should state why they wish to apply for a grant, how much money they subsequently no access to education. are seeking and how any money would be spent. Supporting documentation may be included with applications. Applicants will be expected to demonstrate the educational Working with a social worker, Jane benefits they and/or others will gain from being awarded a grant. The trustees are not Munyendo, the group provided assistance to able to award grants as donations to other charities, however worthy. Anyone wanting local farmers, teachers, families in need and more information about the remit of the Trust should contact the Alumnae Office at: local businesses, set up by Nasio, that offer [email protected]. employment to guardians of the children the Trust supports. Trustees are under no obligation to support all applications and may decide to offer a grant smaller than the amount applied for. All applications will be considered on their Throughout their visit the group saw poverty own merit and not all grants will necessarily be of the same financial value. Applicants are in its rawest form, meeting families living in encouraged to apply for grants even if their proposed project has still to be confirmed as extreme conditions and seeing how working grants may be awarded subject to certain conditions. as a community and aiming for sustainability can benefit everyone. If you feel you would like to apply for a grant please send your application, which should arrive no later than Thursday 29 March 2018, to The SHSKOGA Trust, Alumnae Office, St Helen and St Katharine, Faringdon Road, Abingdon, Oxon OX14 1BE.

Heather Conder (2015 leaver) ‘Sunday in the Park with George’ I was fortunate enough to be given a grant from the Old Girls Association Charitable Trust to help fund my summer with the National Youth Music Theatre (NYMT). I took part in NYMT’s production of Sondheim and Lapine’s ‘Sunday in the Park with George’, directed by Hannah Chissick, which ran for six performances at The Other Palace in London’s West End. I have been very invested in musical theatre ever since my St Helen’s days, so being given the opportunity to work with so many industry professionals in a professional theatre was very exciting. ‘Sunday in the Park with George’ is one of my favourite musicals; it is a musical modelled on George Seurat’s pointillist artwork, ‘A Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte’, and the production explores the different characters in the painting and the life of the artist. The first act is set is 1884 Paris in the lifetime of Georges Seurat, whereas the second act propels us to 1980s New York where Seurat’s great grandson is experiencing similar troubles in his artistic and social worlds. It is a very challenging work, both musically and thematically, exploring the tensions of love, art and the nature of the human condition. I played one of the characters in the painting during Act One and the photographer at the New York art gallery in 1980s Act Two, two very different roles straddling a time frame of 100 years. This allowed me to develop two completely different idioms, whether stillness and etiquette in the painting for the spine-tingling Act One finale of ‘Sunday’, or exuberance and sharp choreographed movements for the 17-part sequence of ‘Putting it Together’ in the second act. Singing this challenging music with such a talented company was an honour, and I will never forget the intensity of the full-company numbers, complete with incredible lighting by Mike Robertson, clever choreography by Sam Spencer-Lane and beautiful period costumes. ‘Sunday in the Park with George’ is such a complex and interesting work that I have also Tell us your memories and stories of decided to write my dissertation on Sondheim’s treatment of pointillism in relation to community service or helping a charity when the music of the production. I gained valuable insight into the intricacies of Sondheim’s you were at St Helen’s – writing by working so intimately with the show, something I previously did not email Faye on [email protected] or appreciate, and I feel lucky to have been able to take part in such a rarely performed and post on Facebook at ‘Dawn St Helen’s’: beautiful work. www.facebook.com/ogsthelens

Old Girls’ Newsletter 2017-18 13 School life

A-level results Class of 2017

Thursday 17 August saw a morning of celebration for another excellent set of A-level results. 93% of students have achieved A*-B grades with well over a third obtaining straight A* which is a significant increase on last year. 73% of grades obtained were A*-A, with 54% of girls receiving three or more A* or A grades. For three students, A-levels had not been the only goal they had been striving towards over the last two years. They have all represented Great Britain in their respective sports during their sixth form studies, Rebecca Bell in dressage, Hanna Brant in sailing and Fiona Bunn in orienteering. With nine A* and three A grades between them, they secured places to study English at the University of Oxford, Medicine at Cardiff University and Natural Sciences at the University of Cambridge respectively. ‘A-level success is just the start of an exciting journey and it is our privilege to ensure that our students have every opportunity open to them when they leave us and have the confidence to pursue academic and development routes which match their talents and aspirations’ stated Headmistress, Rebecca Dougall. Fellow student Clare Pearson could also be proud of her success with a set of A*/As to add to her achievements as a rower; she is now sculling her way to Cambridge to study Medicine. St Helen’s is thrilled with its ongoing success in promoting girls’ involvement in STEM subjects, a success that is easily apparent in the high number of students going on to study STEM subjects at university. St Helen’s is certainly triumphing in this field if A-level results are any indication, with 80% of grades achieved in STEM subjects at A*-A and a high number of students choosing STEM subjects to pursue at university.

14 Amongst them is former Head Girl, Hatty Ruck whose excellent results of A* A* A* Destination of leavers A* secured her a place at the University of Total (2017 entry including 2016 post A-level results and deferred entry 2018) – 98 Oxford to read Engineering. Hatty was the St Helen’s team leader as they partook in the University Subject Year University Subject Year successful Engineering Education Scheme, Bath...... Business Administration Exeter...... English & Modern Languages...... 2017 with placement...... 2017 part of the Engineering Development Exeter...... History...... 2017 Bath...... Chemistry...... 2017 Trust. The team worked with the Culham Exeter...... International Relations...... 2017 Bath...... Economics...... 2017 Centre for Fusion Energy on Acrylic J plate Exeter...... Law with European Study...... 2017 Birmingham...... Law...... 2017 Exeter...... Liberal Arts...... 2017 flow rate testing, mentored by Steve Hall Birmingham...... Medicine...... 2017 Exeter...... Modern Languages...... 2017 and apprentice engineers. Also taking part Birmingham...... Medicine...... 2017 Exeter...... Management with Marketing in the scheme was fellow student Eloise Birmingham...... Political Science (with International Study)...... 2017 Fraser-Paterson who now reads Aerospace & International Relations...... 2017 Exeter...... Physics with Astrophysics...... 2017 Engineering in Bristol. Bournemouth...... Business Studies...... 2017 Glasgow...... Geography...... 2017 Bournemouth...... Social Work...... 2017 Another student, Emma Baghurst, who was Imperial College Bristol...... Biochemistry with Molecular London...... Materials Science...... 2017 one of the 10 girls who joined St Helen’s in Biology & Biotechnology...... 2017 Keele...... Physiotherapy...... 2017 the Lower Sixth from other schools two years Bristol...... Biomedical Sciences...... 2017 Leeds...... Geography...... 2017 ago, assured her dream of reading Medicine Bristol...... Biomedical Sciences...... 2017 Leeds...... Italian & Spanish...... 2017 at the University of Cambridge with her Bristol...... Biomedical Sciences...... 2017 Leeds...... Mathematics...... 2017 clutch of A*s. Bristol...... English...... 2017 Leeds...... Medicine...... 2017 ‘We are very proud of all our students’ Bristol...... English...... 2017 Leeds...... Politics...... 2017 achievements here at St Helen’s, this year’s Bristol...... Geography...... 2017 London (SOAS)...... Social Anthropology...... 2017 Bristol...... German & Spanish...... 2017 results have been phenomenal. We wish all Manchester...... Modern Language & Business Bristol...... Politics & French...... 2018 Management...... 2017 our students the very best in their future Bristol...... Politics & German...... 2017 Manchester...... Modern Languages & Business careers and look forward to welcoming Bristol...... Veterinary Science...... 2017 Management (Italian)...... 2017 them back as mentors to set an example Bristol West NCH ...... Art History & Ethics...... 2017 for the next generation of girls’, concluded of England...... Aerospace Engineering...... 2017 Newcastle...... Biomedical Sciences...... 2017 Rebecca Dougall. Buckingham...... Business Management...... 2017 Newcastle...... Geography...... 2017 Cambridge Newcastle...... Medicine...... 2017 (Christ’s)...... Geography...... 2017 Newcastle...... Sport & Exercise Science...... 2017 Cambridge Nottingham...... Geography...... 2017 (Christ’s)...... Music...... 2017 Nottingham...... Veterinary Medicine...... 2017 Cambridge (Fitzwilliam)...... Medicine...... 2017 Nottingham...... Veterinary Medicine...... 2017 Cambridge Oxford (Exeter)...... English Language & Literature...... 2018 (Gonville & Caius).....Economics...... 2017 Oxford (Lincoln).....Engineering...... 2017 Cambridge Oxford (Queens’)...... Natural Sciences...... 2017 (St Edmund Hall)....Chemistry...... 2017 Cambridge Oxford Brookes...... Early Childhood Studies...... 2017 (Selwyn)...... Medicine...... 2017 Oxford Brookes...... Art & Design Foundation Course...... 2017 Cambridge Plymouth...... Architecture...... 2017 (St Catharine’s)...... English...... 2017 Plymouth Marjon..Speech Language Sciences...... 2017 Cambridge READ (Reading)...... Acting (1yr Foundation)...... 2017 (Trinity)...... Engineering...... 2017 Royal College Cardiff...... Medical Pharmacology...... 2017 of Music...... BMus Trombone...... 2017 Cardiff...... Medicine...... 2017 Sheffield...... Combined Honours...... 2017 Cardiff...... Medicine...... 2017 Southampton...... Fashion Marketing/Management.....2017 Cardiff...... Medicine...... 2017 St Andrews...... History...... 2017 Cardiff...... Medicine...... 2017 Surrey...... Business & Retail Management...... 2017 Cardiff...... Neuroscience...... 2017 Swansea...... Business Management...... 2017 Cardiff...... Occupational Therapy...... 2018 Swansea...... Psychology...... 2017 Cardiff...... Psychology with Professional York...... Law...... 2017 Placement...... 2017 York...... Music...... 2017 Central School of Speech & Drama...... Acting...... 2017 Toronto, Canada.....Life Science...... 2017 Durham...... English Literature...... 2017 Durham...... Geography...... 2017 Other Durham...... Liberal Arts...... 2017 Durham...... Modern Languages & Cultures Deloitte...... BrightStart Higher (with Year Abroad)...... 2017 Apprenticeship Scheme...... 2017 Durham...... Modern Languages & Cultures (with Year Abroad)...... 2017 Durham...... Economics...... 2017 East Anglia...... Drama...... 2017 Edinburgh...... Biomedical Sciences...... 2017 Edinburgh...... English Literature...... 2017 Deferred entry from 2016 to 2017 included in italics...... 8 Edinburgh...... French & Spanish...... 2017 Post results applications from 2016 for 2017...... 17 Edinburgh...... International Business...... 2017 Deferred entry from 2017 to 2018...... 3 Edinburgh...... Law...... 2017 Post results applications 2017 for 2018 cycle...... 10

Old Girls’ Newsletter 2017-18 15 Old Girls’ events 2017

Stronger by connecting

The Kate Scheme and our new series of Professional Networking Events aim to strengthen and support the community of St Helen and St Katharine Old Girls through networking, mentoring opportunities and the chance to give something back. When alumnae become Kate Scheme mentors, come into school to speak to students or supply work experience placements it has immeasurable value for students, who relate to alumnae because of the shared school connection. Your gifts of time and expertise make a real difference to St Helen’s.

SHSK Society Professional ‘No one has yet said stop’ she delivered strong The theme for the evening was ‘Women messages about having self-belief and the in Leadership’ and we were honoured to Networking Events problem of professional perfectionism by welcome Dame Helen Fraser DBE as our At our networking events we have seen which women can feel limited. With regards to guest speaker. alumnae bouncing ideas off each other and career development Judge Cutts advised ‘Take Dame Helen, who joined Penguin as Managing forging new professional and social links. Our the opportunities when they arise, you never Director in 1997 and later became Chief aspiration is that these events grow to provide know if or when they may arise again.’ Executive of the Girls’ Day School Trust, gave even greater opportunities for you. During the question and answer session, a thought-provoking talk in which she shared Legal Sector Networking Event: and throughout the networking evening, some tough truths and gave expert advice on 27 April 2017 the overwhelming consensus was that there women’s careers. SHSK Society members were invited to our has never been a better time to be a female She strongly advised that we encourage young inaugural professional networking event for in the workplace, and that there is great women to be resilient, quoting a Japanese those working in the legal sector. We were evidence of positive change happening in proverb ‘fall down seven times, get up eight.’ most grateful to Old Girl Belinda Bucknall QC the legal profession which is creating many She urged women to be prepared to shout for arranging for us to host the evening within more strong female role models. Alumnae about their achievements, and to embrace the the impressive library of Quadrant Chambers chatted well into the evening, sharing their fear of opportunities and go for them. on Fleet Street, London. workplace experiences. Lastly she stressed the importance of It was fantastic to welcome alumnae from all Women in Leadership Networking Event: authenticity, ’It’s exhausting being someone stages of their professional lives including law 22 September 2017 you’re not; be yourself, and don’t try to ‘be like undergraduate students. The stunning Goodman Library at the a man’ as we are so often advised’. SHSK alumnae, and one of the stars of our Oxford Union was the setting for the second A lively debate took place after the main school film ‘You Can’, Her Honour Judge Cutts in our series of SHSK Society Professional talk with attendees sharing ideas on how to QC, and Resident Judge of Reading Crown Networking Events. After the success of our normalise failure and discourage the constant Court has been practising law for over thirty April law event, invitations were extended quest for perfection. years and has presided over many high profile beyond alumnae to include parents of court cases. In her inspiring keynote address alumnae and those of current students. Informal networking continued throughout what was a fantastic evening. Both alumnae and parents commented how valuable the event We are extremely proud of our Old Girls and the connections had been: they continue to have with our school. Our aim is to strengthen ’It was inspiring to see women from different those connections – to recognise the wealth of life experience generations networking and supporting each and expertise of our Old Girls, to share knowledge and ideas to other at the event‘. ’Thank you for doing it. It’s very hard to find achieve more, faster, and together. places where people – ambitious women – can Rebecca Dougall, Headmistress talk relatively unguardedly. It was very refreshing.’

16 Getting involved in The Kate Scheme careers and higher This new initiative builds on the education at St Helen’s connections our Old Girls have with St Helen’s to help our Sixth Form Jackie Armstrong, students achieve their career aspirations. Head of Higher Education and Careers Harnessing the power of mentoring, the The Careers Department’s activities are ever scheme gives you the chance to shape ger by connecting evolving to ensure we keep abreast of the the careers of the younger generation changing landscape of emerging careers and by sharing your own career stories. It industries. We reflect the School’s ethos and helps students develop an awareness mission to inspire and to champion excellence of different or alternative opportunities for all students in whatever career path they and career paths alongside traditional are pondering. As part of this mission, the professional routes, and to match their Careers Department is putting together a skills, interests and values with the right series of new small scale careers events for jobs. If you have the time and motivation students – to allow them to find out more to share your experience and support, about different sectors and opportunities and guide and encourage girls to explore inspire them as they begin to understand and possibilities and ideas as they make navigate the changing careers landscape. the transition between school, higher Dame Helen Fraser, We cannot achieve all of this without the education and the workplace, we would speaker at the Women in amazing support and enthusiasm we receive love to hear from you. Contact us at Leadership Networking [email protected]. Event last September from our Old Girls. So many of you already volunteer to come and talk to students or support individuals with advice. If you are willing to become involved for the first time, we would love to hear from you. We Our next Professional Networking Event If you would like to share ideas of how we are keen for support for a wide range of takes place on Friday 11 May at County Hall, can expand on these new initiatives or if careers activities: the new sector-specific Westminster Bridge, London, for all involved you can offer a venue for a future event, group discussions, practice work and Higher with the creative and media industries. we would love to hear from you. Please Education interviews, or participation in the contact us at [email protected]. annual Careers Convention.

From top – Old Girls Her Honour Judge Cutts QC I have listed some of the activities below you and Pupil Barrister, Charlotte Bull; Alumnae catching may be interested in being involved with, up at the Legal Sector Networking Event: Barrister but I would love to hear from you if you and Mediator, Sara Benbow and Costs Lawyer, Sue have any ideas of other events you would Nash; Dame Helen Fraser DBE be keen to participate in. Do get in touch at [email protected]. Careers Convention: Friday 16 March 2018 This is our annual joint independent schools Careers Convention we hold with Abingdon School and Our Lady’s Abingdon. I’m very grateful for the support I Representatives from a wide range of sectors received during my time at St Helen’s, and industries come and talk to students and became part of the Kate Scheme in about their career path; get in touch if you order to give back to the school. The would like to be involved. career I’ve chosen – TV production – is Higher Education, Apprenticeships and Gap a highly competitive one where jobs Year Advice Morning: Monday 2 July 2018 are found through networking rather An end of term meeting where Old Girls come than formal applications. I wish I’d had back to school to talk to the current Lower a mentor to turn to when the freelance Sixth about their experiences. This is a really lifestyle seemed too daunting, or when valuable morning for our students to hear I was struggling to work out the best ‘real life’ experiences from Old Girls who are way to write my CV. So I would love to currently studying at university or undertaking be that mentor to someone else, and an apprenticeship/gap year. save them some time working out the Practice Interviews: October and ins and outs of the TV industry! November 2018 Zenia Selby, 2012 leaver We offer a series of practice interviews for our Upper Sixth students to help prepare them for their university interviews and we very much appreciate help from Old Girls with this.

Old Girls’ Newsletter 2017-18 17 Old Girls’ events 2017

Leavers from 1977, 1987, 1992 and 1997 were joined by former staff and partners for our Annual Reunion at St Helen’s on Saturday 10 June. A big ‘gold star’ was awarded to the SHSK Society Annual assembled group of 1997 leavers who arrived with the biggest contingent of 23 Old Girls! The theme of this year’s event was ‘Sport – Then & Now’. Old Girls and former staff Reunion 2017 were treated to displays of sporting success from across the decades with a range of photographs, videos and memorabilia from our archive and from the personal collections of many alumnae themselves (a complete set of 1990s gym kit including giant burgundy knickers!)

I just wanted to send a quick thank you for an enjoyable lunch and afternoon on Saturday. It was good to catch up with a few familiar faces, but even better to see round the School and what has changed over the last 30 years – quite a lot as it turns out!

After welcome drinks and the opportunity to reminisce and meet up with friends, the Headmistress, Rebecca Dougall gave updates on many exciting new developments within the School itself, which included the official opening of our new Sports & Fitness Centre by Dame Katherine Grainger DBE in the spring. Olivier Hubert, the School’s Executive Chef and his team did not disappoint with their gastronomic wizardry and laid on a delicious buffet lunch. Many of the Old Girls actually asked if they could re-join the School just for the lunches! Our Prefect team led by Head Girl Clare Rawlingson ended the day with guided tours of the buildings and facilities. The Director It was a fantastic day. So and Deputy Director of Sport and PE were on hand in the gym to showcase our fantastic lovely to see all the changes fitness facilities. There were some surprising at the School and see old Visiting the fitness suite displays of keenness and agility by some of our more mature former members of staff friends again. which were a sight to behold! We concluded the day with lots of group photos and of course lots of laughter. It’s wonderful to see that the Many thanks to everyone who attended and School has gone from helped to make the day such a success. Our 2018 SHSK Society 10, 20, 25, 30 and strength to strength and it 40 Year Anniversary Reunion takes place on was very amusing to Saturday 9 June 2018 and is open to all those reminisce with former who left in 2008, 1998, 1993, 1988 or 1978. Just like old times – 1992 leavers Invitations to follow soon and you can book classmates. your place at https://shsksociety.org.uk

18 Old Girls’ Lax Match 2017 A fair and honourable draw at the annual Old Girls’ Lax Match

Over 20 recent and not-so-recent leavers wildly on the side-lines running for shelter. joined the current St Helen and St Katharine However the rain did nothing to stop the senior lacrosse squad members on Saturday sheer determination of both sides from 9 September for the annual Old Girls’ trying to claim a victory. Even with one Lax Match. With a mix of those who had St Helen’s current squad member as the only continued playing the sport throughout goalkeeper to be shared amongst the two university and beyond, and those who teams, the match was very closely fought. had barely picked up their lacrosse sticks The final result was an admirable 7-7 draw. since they left, it was always going to be This was followed by a much welcomed hot an interesting match. An early yellow card, lunch and tours of the School where happy issued by Old Girl and experienced lacrosse memories of school days were rekindled. referee Sara Benbow, demonstrated to both Our thanks to the PE Department, Mrs Keogh, players and spectators that this match was Mrs Trumper, Mrs Turner and Miss Millard for going to be taken very seriously. their organisation, energy and enthusiasm on After a very wet match in 2016, Alumnae the day; our senior lacrosse squad for taking Services Manager, Faye Anderton, had spent up this annual challenge and to all those the week promising the Old Girls’ team Old Girls who joined us on the day. that the sun would shine. And it did…for We are looking forward to seeing you again about 15 minutes! A torrential downpour this year! The provisional date for 2018 is in the second half sent some parents Saturday 8 September. and spectators who had been cheering

Thank you so much for such a fabulous day on Saturday! We all thoroughly enjoyed playing a lax match on the school pitches again. Match tea in the refectory was a highlight, as was having a tour of the School. It was lovely to both reminisce fondly about old times, and see the outstanding development of the School. St Helen’s will always be a very special place to us all. Alice Matthews, 2012 leaver

Old Girls’ Newsletter 2017-18 19 Archives Delving in… from the School Archives

We have several exciting new projects We also want to ensure you can see as much ‘Delving in’ will become a regular feature of planned over the coming months to help of the Archive as possible when you come to future newsletters, including nostalgic articles, you access the Archive, one of which will be the School for events. themed collections or simply photos to help to make the collection available online. We In order to boost our display we are always you reminisce about your time at St Helen have already digitised our entire collection grateful for donations of relevant material to and St Katharine. of School Magazines from as early as 1907, enhance the richness of this collection. We We welcome your input into this section and this project is continuing with school want the Archive to tell your story! Should you and would love to hear from you if you photographs. These will be made available have any items from your or a relative’s time would like to include a piece. Contact us at: to view on our new SHSK Society Network: here at St Helen’s, please do get in touch with [email protected] https://shsksociety.org.uk. us, we would love to hear from you.

School pets

St Helen and St Katharine has a long history of school pets and the School has been home to numerous animals including dogs, Giles and cats, guinea pigs and fish. As early as 1909 St Gemma, Helen's had at least one four-legged resident, c1934 as the School Magazine reports: ‘Two great attractions have been added to the School lately…and a pony! Who lives in the Bicycle-house. The pony is very old, (there are wild rumours in the air about its age, not verified because we are told it bites all people who seek to look it in the mouth), and has retired from business and come to us to be cared for. In return, he very obligingly mows Tubby Tubson, 1944 the hockey field and tennis lawn.’ Resident pets have always had amazing names such as Trajan, Dacia, Giles, Sprite, Teasel, 2018 Dominic, Henrietta, Fuzztail and even Tubby Tubson. They have also all had their own unique personalities. Writing in a former Old Girls' magazine Gabrielle Chavasse recalled Nurse Hodge and her cats: Miss Tranter one day took tea on the san verandah with Nurse. Accustomed to regarding the Chaplain as the only male around the premises, she was startled to hear Nurse say with satisfaction: ”Ah, here's Father come to eat his fish on the lawn.” Sprite used to wander around the classrooms during lessons and ‘bark at the noise of feet and banging of doors from the glass- partitioned class rooms if he was in the hall when the bell went’. Thank goodness our current dog, Teasel, is so well behaved!

20 Christine Berry aged 62, 2017

When Christine Berry (1973 leaver) got in touch with the Alumnae Office back in the autumn, the conversation which followed led to some vivid memories of her school life being rekindled. We are delighted to share these memories with you.

Memories of a boarder at St Helen and St Katharine, 1968-1973

I joined St Helen’s as a boarder in 1968 half puddings such as rice pudding and sponge However, in the Sixth Form we moved to way through my secondary schooling and so puddings with thick custard served in large Wantage House down the road to sleep in it was a bit of a shock. metal jugs. My favourite puddings were ‘dead rooms of three or four girls. Sixth Formers The week was highly regimented and man’s leg’ (jam roly poly) and ‘dog biscuits’ were also very occasionally allowed to mix, at structured: get dressed in our green uniform (two thick rounds of shortbread) served with organised and supervised events, with boys (pleated skirt), breakfast, lessons, break, jam and custard, and spotted dick. from Abingdon School, Douai Abbey, Radley or lessons, lunch, lessons, change into grey In the Sixth Form I was appointed to be a The Oratory – a rare and terrifying novelty. uniform (straight skirt) for a short break, prep Prefect – the main benefit being a lovely Looking back from the ripe old age of 62, I (homework), chapel (evensong), supper – in buffet ham salad lunch with crunchy thank St Helen’s for an awful lot – for giving later years, more prep – and finally free time French bread and butter (food again!) in the me a sound education of course but, above then bed. Headmistress‘ office once every half term. all, a love of music and the piano and for Leisure hours during the weekend were We slept in individual cubicles in dorms of helping me to develop my self-sufficiency, long and Sundays were very boring. There around 12 or 14 girls with just a bed, chair independence and confidence. For girls, I think was no TV and reading books was the main and some drawers. I remember the dorms that these latter qualities can only be allowed leisure and ‘escapist’ activity, with most being high in the building since I spent many to develop fully at a single gender school, so, boarders walking around clutching a novel hours after ‘lights out’ reading my favourite although at the time I might have regretted all from the library like a comfort blanket novels balanced on the windowsills and lit by those boyfriends I thought I was missing out at all times. Once we reached the Sixth the light of street lamps in the road outside! on, it was well worth it! Form we were allowed to go out in small groups occasionally and I remember one or two exciting trips on the bus to Oxford on our own to drink coffee at The Queen’s Coffee House. Far right – My SHSK School tie on leaving St Strangely enough, the food was one of my Helen’s (1973) main memories. In particular I remember Right – St Helen’s in chunky half slices of delicious, crunchy fried 1971: 5th Formers bread soaked in hot tinned tomatoes for Christine Berry (centre breakfast, fish and chips for supper with third row from bottom) bananas to follow (Wednesdays), mince with Lindsay Paget- and stews with mashed potato and calorific Cooke (to her left from our perspective), Lesley Scrimgeour (in front of her to the right), Anne Tyler (front of her left) and Sarah Braimbridge (bottom right).

Old Girls’ Newsletter 2017-18 21 Archives

Farewell Mr Ireland…

Mr Ireland on his second leaving day, July 2017

Howard Moore Huge again! congratulations on your extraordinary and I think From the Old Girls probably unbeatable teaching record. A After a previous, and some might say unsuccessful, attempt at Facebook Page SUPREME PROFESSIONAL!!! retirement back in 2010, we finally bade our farewells to the legendary Veronica Foster Wow! Like • Reply Mr Ireland in July 2017 after 42 ½ years of teaching mathematics at An absolute legend! St Helen and St Katharine. Like • Reply Amy Wallace Staggering David joined St Helen’s in January 1975, aged 24, to start his teaching commitment to the Amanda Bonnick I school, and such an career and taught for over 120 terms, surviving four Headmistresses remember Mr Ireland! incredible teacher. and six Heads of Department! He is an outstanding and inspirational Have a great retirement Like • Reply teacher whose contribution and commitment to the School will be and hope your aim with remembered by all those who had the pleasure to work with or be a board rubber is still Hannah Maria Blazewicz taught by him. good! Mr Ireland is why I’m teaching today! Such an David has always been respected and admired as a teacher, and Like • Reply inspiration!!! his contribution to the School community extended beyond the Jade Little Hope Like • Reply classroom as Clive Morris, Director of Studies and former Head of someone bought him Mathematics commented in 2010. ‘David is a man of hidden talents some jelly babies! Enjoy Charlotte Reeves Happy which have come to light while I have worked with him. When I your retirement! Retirement Mr Ireland! I first joined St Helen’s I was certainly not aware that David would be Like • Reply still recall you throwing coaching the St Helen’s football team, writing very moving poetry for chalk!! Lucy Dalby In that use in the Remembrance Day service or writing, producing and acting Like • Reply time he taught me, my in a play at one of the Christmas revues.’ Laura Marie Seeley sister and my daughter – My Current Headmistress Rebecca Dougall summed up, ‘Every school amazing! favourite teacher ever. should have a Mr Ireland – lots don't and St Helen's got lucky with the Like • Reply Happy retirement! original and the best. Generations of mathematicians have so much to Like • Reply Emma Starling What a thank him for – I have spoken to so many alumnae who a) gasped that lovely man. Patience of a Sara Morris he was still teaching here in 2017 b) were so grateful to have worked Mr Ireland! saint teaching me maths! Happy retirement. He with such a kind and wise teacher. Like • Reply must have been about After posting our wishes for a happy retirement on social media, the nine when he taught me Tessa Bell response from our alumnae community was overwhelming. We’ve put Hasn’t aged a in 1977. together just a very small selection of the comments, memories and day! Amazing! Like • Reply messages of thanks and congratulations. Happy retirement Mr Ireland! Like • Reply

22 Krishna Jafa Happy retirement Mr. Ireland. He was most kind and Helen Hall My fondest memory patient with me when I was clearly was the urban myth about him not enjoying my A-levels. He might being (1970’s racing car driver) Jo Manley I think you started the be amused to learn I went on to James Hunt’s cousin. It was same year I did and you were our become a clinical epidemiologist many, many years later he told maths teacher for five years and and use maths and coding every me Mrs Wassell had made it up! you made it my favourite subject! day – and absolutely love it now! Like • Reply Like • Reply Thank you and wishing you a very Ellen Hogan relaxed and happy retirement. Rachel Garfjeld Roberts Happy Wow, you look exactly the same! Have a fantastic Like • Reply retirement Mr Ireland! Thanks for retirement, and know that I am all the jelly babies, teaching me yet another pupil who has used Louise Wong Min Happy about car price depreciation and maths continually, having got retirement Mr Ireland. You were sharing the joy of maths! a maths degree and now being an inspiring maths teacher, St Like • Reply a finance director. You are a Helen’s was so lucky to have you. teacher I will never forget. Like • Reply Helen Hall Mr Ireland – you haven’t Like • Reply changed a bit. We were your very Rebecca Leahy Happy first form (2X in 1975) and you and Heather Nash You started the retirement! Anyone who can get Mrs Townsend transformed me year I was there!! I will never ever me to get an A at GCSE Maths from reluctant student to A-level forget Pythagoras’s Theorem!!!! after years of 0/10 in pretty mastery. I also remember we were a much every mental arithmetic Like • Reply nightmare class and frequently test is a great teacher. Enjoy your jumped out of the windows of retirement! Kara Louise Huge congrats and the old prefab classrooms. :) You Like • Reply well deserved. Fond memories of were incredibly patient!!! Happy his maths lessons. Sure Gemma retirement! Sarah Carter Looking good Haley, Alice Frankum and Amy Like • Reply Shepheard would agree! As a Mr Ireland. Happy retirement Deputy Head now I feel I don’t give Julia Howorth adventures to you. Thanks for Yes! Clearly it’s making me confident enough out enough Jelly Babies! hard to leave St. Helen’s. To be to help my kids with quadratic Like • Reply fair, we didn’t want to leave after equations! seven years so imagine how Penny Creighton A brilliant maths hard it must be after 42! Happy Like • Reply teacher. Made everything crystal Retirement (again) Mr. Ireland.

clear. Enjoy your retirement Like • Reply Mr Ireland! Like • Reply

Mrs Wassell presenting Mr Ireland with his leaving gifts in 2010

Old Girls’ Newsletter 2017-18 23 We would love to share any of your successes – Congratulations let us know what you have been up to! Congratulations! A brief snap shot of some of the amazing things alumnae have achieved over the year.

Cara Ellison presents PhD research to Parliament Cara Ellison (2010 leaver)

Cara presented her PhD research on She said she was inspired to undertake her antibiotic resistance and the risk it poses to research as she is ‘fascinated by the way tiny public health to a team of MPs and experts bacteria and viruses have evolved to invade, in Parliament back in March as part of a hijack and destroy cells’. STEM for Britain competition. Cara created a ‘This interest led me to embark on a PhD poster about her studies, which was judged uncovering new ways in which cells detect alongside other students’ work. She said: invasion by bacteria and viruses,’ she added. ‘I was delighted to be able to present my PhD research to Members of Parliament The annual STEM for BRITAIN competition, (MPs) at the STEM for BRITAIN competition. run by the Parliamentary and Scientific It provides a real opportunity to discuss Committee, aims to give MPs an opportunity with Parliamentarians some of the work that to speak with some of the country’s research institutes such as the MRC Laboratory best young scientists and learn about of Molecular Biology are undertaking and the their research. impact this has on society.’ In order to encourage maximum Cara has now completed her third year as participation by early-career researchers a PhD student at the MRC Laboratory of and MPs the competition is divided into Molecular Biology (LMB) in Cambridge. She five subject areas; Biological and Biomedical got the opportunity to speak in London Science, Chemistry, Physics, Engineering having been shortlisted from hundreds of and Mathematics. The competition currently applicants to appear in Parliament. attracts around 500 entrants, of whom approximately 35% are selected to present Cara intends to continue with her research their work in Parliament. by further exploring the interaction between humans and bacteria. STEM for BRITAIN awards are made on the basis of the very best research work and She said: ‘Initially I expect this to be as a results by an early-stage or early-career postdoctoral researcher at the LMB, and then researcher together with their ability to possibly working for a period aboard, with an communicate their work to a lay audience. aim of eventually leading a research team of my own in years to come.’

Lacrosse focus Four 2015 leavers were reunited to play in the Maddy Willson, Eloise British Universities and Colleges Sport lax semi- Carey, Izzy Ashman and final at Durham University. Frances Crowcombe reported: ‘We didn’t make the final but had Frances Crowcombe a great day and it was great to be playing (2015 leavers) together in our only defeat of the season’. Alumnae Maddy Willson, Eloise Carey, Izzy Ashman and Frances Crowcombe

24 Emily’s research is ‘faultless’! Emily Warren-Smith (2007 leaver)

Emily is a seismologist at GNS Science, New kilometres underground. So I set out to map Emily says the aging pattern shows rocks close Zealand's leading geoscience research the fault at depth,’ says Emily. to the Alpine Fault are being moved up and institute. After studying Earth Sciences at eroded quickly – a few millimetres per year – ‘Just by observing how fast the landscape whereas rocks in Central Otago are much Worcester College, Oxford she moved to New of South Island has been worn away, it is more stable and have been at the surface for Zealand to undertake her PhD at Victoria possible to look deep inside the Earth, which longer but are still moving sideways. University, Wellington. is remarkable. I collected rock samples from Emily’s research recently made the headlines 30 sites across the Southern Alps. Then, in ‘The simple explanation for this pattern is in New Zealand, adding weight to the debate the laboratory, I analysed the crystals in that the fault plane is horizontal in the middle regarding the shape of the South Island's these rocks using a method called fission- of the crust, around 25 kilometres deep Alpine Fault. The Fault has been assumed track thermochronology. By looking at tiny beneath Central Otago, and then as you get to be a near vertical crack, however Emily’s damage trails, the by-products of nuclear closer to the West Coast it curves to become research suggests that the fault curves under fission within the crystals, we were able nearly vertical at the surface. So the rocks the Earth’s crust. to put an age on when that rock was at are essentially on a conveyor belt moving a certain temperature. Because we know sideways and then being exhumed up.’ Her results show that the fault flattens temperatures get hotter deep underground, ‘More research needs to be done to better to become horizontal a few kilometres we can therefore figure out how long ago assess what this finding means for earthquake underground and underlies a wide region of it was at a certain depth in the earth and risk’, says Emily. ‘Our research has told us the central South Island. calculate how fast the rocks have been what the Alpine Fault is doing on very long ‘The surface expression of the Alpine Fault is moving up to the surface over the last few timescales, but we are unsure of its behaviour remarkably clear, but there is some debate million years as the overlying rocks are worn on the scale of hundreds and thousands of about the shape of the fault as it goes several away by erosion.’ years and less.’

Sarah’s leap of faith Sarah Ader (2016 leaver)

2016 leaver Sarah Ader was elated to undertake a charity skydive in September. ‘Well, I actually did it! I can't quite believe that I was freefalling at 125mph from two miles up in the Sarah Glides down over sky! That was definitely one of the best experiences of my life, and I couldn't be more proud Old Sarum Hillfort to have jumped out of a plane for the awesome David Nott Foundation who train surgeons to work in war zones and the aftermaths of natural disasters; this feels especially poignant with the reports of Hurricane Irma rampaging across the Caribbean as I write this. This is a UK-based NGO that delivers specialist training to doctors and other medical professionals around the world, so that they can provide relief in areas affected by conflict and natural disaster. I chose to support the David Nott Foundation because I have been watching the reports coming out of war-torn countries such as Syria with mounting horror, and have been moved to make a contribution to the aid effort. In an interview, David Nott spoke of how, in Syria, healthcare is used as a weapon, arguing that if 'you take out one doctor, you take out the 10,000 people he or she can no longer care for.' By raising money for this worthy cause, they will continue to be able to train surgeons both abroad and in London, adding to the two hundred who have already benefited from the Foundation in the year and a half it has been operational. Sarah’s hope of raising £1,000 was surpassed with a final amount of £1,235. Well done Sarah!

Old Girls’ Newsletter 2017-18 25 Old Girls New’s Old Girls’ News

We have been delighted to receive so many GROUP 14 (1943-46 leavers) wonderful news items for this edition. You can share your news with fellow Old Auriel Goode (Emy) It seems no time since we had the last Girls by contacting Faye Anderton: newsletter! I have still managed to fly to France to my daughter, and travel to Wiltshire to my E: [email protected] youngest, where we managed a visit to the theatre in Bath and to the attractive gardens at T: 01235 546494 Corsham Court. Then, recently, with my eldest daughter, I had four days in Dubrovnik – a www.facebook.com/ogsthelens fascinating city that has recovered amazingly from the Kosovan war. Sadly my husband died SHSK Society network: https://shsksociety.org.uk just before my 90th birthday so the family celebration was a delightful but quiet one, but around the same time a close friend also reached 90 and a group of friends from the church and village gave us a joint tea and sherry party. It is an elderly village and we are by no means the oldest! It is a very supportive village and I thank God for family and friends. Eve Loble (Heinemann)

Giving each year of leavers their own unique Although my wife, of 64 years, suffers from dementia and is confined to a wheelchair, I number was a system established in the very thought that some of her contemporaries early days of the Old Girls’ Association and might like to see a picture of her. This was taken has continued in the same way ever since. It on the occasion of my 91st birthday tea party. It shows Eve with myself and our two children, means that Old Girls are grouped according to Peter and Monica. the academic year in which they would have About a year ago, I moved into a newly built turned 18, thereby keeping early leavers in the McCarthy and Stone assisted facility, which is same group as their peers. If you find you are located just across the road from the care home, not in the correct group please get in touch where Eve has been living for nearly three years. with the Alumnae Office. In spite of her dementia, Eve recognises family and friends and is as helpful as possible to other residents. She has their dirty plates removed when they have finished eating, wipes up any

26 spills with her tissues, etc. She enjoys visits of love and pleasure in music to Sister Mary GROUP 18 (1949 leavers) our children, grandchildren and two great Christine Stott), attend history classes and enjoy grandchildren, aged five and two. chess and scrabble. I really enjoy reading Lines and the newsletter. The little chapel is the same Pat Kutas (Symons) and the front of the school but there were 200 GROUP 15 (1946-48 leavers) Monty and I have been married for 66 years pupils and 150 boarders in the 1940s so it is now and no longer stay away from home. We totally changed now, for the better! recently met up with Anne Rickman and Ann Sheila Allen (Clark) A: 12/151 Denison Street, Hamilton, NSW 2303 Rosemary and Richard Dowler at the good old E: [email protected] Crown and Thistle in Abingdon. Living in a Not much news this year. We had a few days in small village has many compensations for the Isle of Wight in our caravan in that hot spell T: 61 02 49612985 ancients like us. which was very nice. Joe’s vegetable garden has been very prolific this year and we have Shirley Royal (Ratcliff) A: High Newton, 81 Green Street, Milton had lots of plums, greengages and now apples. Not many of my contemporaries left now I’m Malsor, Northampton NN7 3AT My arthritis continues to give trouble. Joe is afraid and my news is rather prosaic. In March E: [email protected] pretty fit, though we both get very tired. The 2017 I had a successful hip replacement but grandchildren are all flourishing. The eldest is in took several months to recover. A kind friend her last year of a degree in French and Hispanic drove me to Norfolk in September and we GROUP 20 (1951-53 leavers) studies at UCL. The other four are all boys, the visited Ruth Walker who, coincidentally, had a eldest has just started a degree in politics at new hip too. She had made a good recovery Barbara Birmingham and the other three are at various and was able to join us on a sunny day for a visit stages of O- and A-levels. I haven’t seen any to Ranworth Church and Broad. The church has Goulder other Old Girls this year. a beautiful late medieval screen and tall tower (which we didn’t climb!) overlooking the water. (Stickland) I recently met Judy Dauncey (née Truman) for Now 83 I am still Judy Dauncey (Truman) managing to lead a very Being on the ‘wrong’ side of 85 I don’t really lunch and I also have seen Janet (née Boulsfield) and Ken Barber at Lower Slaughter. We all miss full life, slightly restricted have any real news! I meet up with Shirley by arthritis. Gardening in Royal (Ratcliff) for lunch occasionally (glad to Brenda Dawlings (Lofts) whose obituary is included in this newsletter. 1/3 acre – with a little say we are both still driving) and keep in touch help – takes up a good deal of time, I lunch out by telephone with Penny Lodge (Robinson). I a lot with friends, and share my life with two am still living in Naphill near High Wycombe energetic Westies. Photography is my other and would welcome any calls from old friends. Margaret Wadham main hobby, plus cross stitch (and now knitting (Hatch) jumpers for friend Tracy’s four toy poodles!). In Jennifer Dunn (Wellington) How absolutely marvellous to get an 89th April Tracy and I were very lucky to have a My sister Betsey Smith (Wellington) died on 31 birthday card from the school! I am a spoilt totally unexpected holiday together – a December 2016 in Florida, but I spoke to her a great grandmother, grandmother, wife, fabulous week in Zimbabwe. Half was spent at few hours before she died. I have been in and mother-in-law. I had a super cake Victoria Falls – which were fantastic it being the Australia for 58 years and have two children, made by my granddaughter who is a end of the rainy season. The second half was Chris who lives and works here in Newcastle and research scientist! The most recent great spent in Hwange National Park, where the Liz who lives in Melbourne with her husband granddaughter is now walking. I did enjoy game was amazing, countryside beautiful, and Mark and three sons. I shall be 90 in February my school days. Art and lacrosse, acting in the people so friendly, and the game drivers so and will celebrate with the family and local plays (just a show off probably!) I spent my knowledgeable. I am very lucky to be going to friends. I am very fortunate in being fit and well working days as a physio and loved every Iceland for a week in November – somewhere I except for arthritis in my hips and a damaged minute. I travelled and lived in Sweden, have never been. knee which stopped my bushwalking 15 years Germany, Africa and now Australia. After A: Burrows House, Passfield Common, ago. I worship at Christ Church Cathedral, spending a happy childhood in the West Liphook, Hants GU30 7RJ Newcastle, on the site of the original slab hut the Indies, I only saw snow for the first time at E: [email protected] convicts and soldiers attended from 1813! I have St Katharine’s Wantage. T: 01428 751401 been a member of U3A since I retired from being a librarian in 1994. I have learnt and given talks to the music appreciation group (I owe my

Old Girls’ Newsletter 2017-18 27 Old Girls’ news

Jill Robinson (Grey) having daughters and grandchildren living preserving in various forms. Throughout the close and they include me in many of their second half of September and most of October activities. I am also able to take part in some I have been taking more rose cuttings to add to things that I have not been able to recently and the 200 bushes already establishing around the this is a good place to be. I hope to get to place. To all my friends, wherever you are, I wish England in the spring and look forward to you well. seeing some old friends. A: Shadrack’s Paddock, Pitcot Lane, Owslebury, Winchester, Hampshire Ann Williams (Barton) SO21 1LR Started the year in hospital with double E: [email protected] pneumonia due to the flu virus having had the vaccine! Just returned from two holidays with Anne Spencer (Constantine) Old SHSK girls, Romania with Heather Fox (Mitchell) and Northern Cyprus with Claire Benedek (Aitken). Having boarded at SHSK from age seven to 18 you never lose your friends!!

GROUP 21 (1954 leavers)

We’ve recently moved. When all the Janet Eason grandchildren left home we were rattling Still enjoy living by the sea and have had some around in a five bedroomed house with a good travels in Europe and further afield. Was Granny flat, an acre of land and unused with Hilary in Canada last year after her hip swimming pool. So we are renting until we can operation which seems to have been a great build next year. The best news of the year has success. She was to come here this spring but been the wedding of number two had to cancel as sadly Bob was ill and died. I am granddaughter and the upcoming wedding in going over again in November to keep up with November of my only grandson… two more the family and hope she will come here next granddaughters to go! year. I gave up my allotment last year and don’t miss it except for having fresh veg, and still do As for my news, our grandchildren range from Fortunately it has been an uneventful year for two days a week behind the counter at local 25 to four years old. Two have jobs post me, no falls or other complications of old age, RVS Centre and am Membership Secretary and university, two are still at university and two are thank goodness, and after heroic surgery last sometimes lead walks for our Ramblers group in Australia; Henry is ten and Alice four. year on my broken ankle I am walking again but which keeps me fit. I am lucky. I talk to Sara I miss the group meeting organised by Joan with a stick. Hawtrey and Barbara Sheldon (Jones) on the Carter but age has caught up on us all. phone from time to time and Hilary keeps in I still find life amusing with plenty to laugh at as I see Jill Mitchell [née Ackling] occasionally and touch with Liz Arkell (Llewellyn Jones) whose illustrated, even though another birthday looms have emails from Jill Morallee [née Pratt] at husband also passed away this year. for this 1950 leaver. My best wishes to you all. irregular intervals. I would love to hear how others in the group are getting on. Shirley Mills (Thomas) We celebrated our diamond wedding Gillian Archibald (Steeds) anniversary in 2017 having been married at Since leaving St Helen’s in 1954 I went on GROUP 22 (1955 leavers) St Ebbe’s Church in Oxford. My husband Robin to nursing and midwifery. I loved being and I celebrated with our five children, spouses, district midwife in Watford for a while. We partners, nine grandchildren and one great decided to come to Australia for ‘no more Gillian Edmonds (Riggott) grandchild. It is quite hard to get us all together than two years’ (we’re still here!) We have lived in Radlett for 43 years. I play these days. We have had lot of health issues this golf at Porters Park Golf Club at least twice year so most of our outings are to hospitals. We a week and enjoy bridge when not are still involved with church activities and U3A Mary Phillips gardening or out walking with husband activities which included a four night visit to (Ratcliffe) Charles. We have three sons, two Buxton in May. A fire alarm at 6am left a sight to This has been a great daughters-in-law and five grandchildren behold over 100 people in various stages of year as our daughter, so have an enjoyable and busy life. Patsy undress! Gardening is becoming more of a Alexandra Elton (née Briers (Peskett) and I keep in touch from struggle but we are trying to get it easier to Phillips) celebrated her time to time. manage. School sounds very different from 50th birthday in May. how it was in the late 40s as one would expect She and her husband of course. It overwhelms me to read of what Neil flew over from Dubai and we enjoyed the girls do these days. Monica Todd (Steeds) several weeks of family gatherings and parties Just in case anyone in the South East is (making further good use of the 240 metres of celebrating their special birthday in 2018, four Hilary Sircom (Eason) bunting made by Alexandra for my 80th score years, and would like to arrange a get- I lost my husband in July and, as I am sure many birthday party last year). We also took a short together, do contact me via the Old Girls office. others have found, it is strange living the single holiday in Devon. Partying apart, Paul and I We live in mid Sussex and in recent years have life again after being part of a couple in a happy have been busy in our six acre garden, had lovely holidays in Croatia, Ireland marriage for 55 years. I am so fortunate in harvesting fruit and vegetables which I enjoy and Tenerife.

28 Peter and I still love gardening, bowling – both I met a wonderful gentleman, a widower, on a Norma Fernside (Bragg) outdoor in the summer and shortmat in the choir trip to The Wye Valley. We are both in I live in Abingdon and have three children, six winter – and I still play in a local orchestra. Four choirs and love singing and this time of the granddaughters ranging from 24 to five years of our grandchildren are in their teens and the year we are doing lots of concerts. I go to a old and a two year old grandson, who is a younger two are in Years six and eight and painting for pleasure art class. I also go crown delightful boy with Downs Syndrome. I keep we’ve just enjoyed some time with them. green bowling, bird watching and going on busy with my family and voluntary work in holidays. We spent a month in Australia visiting My sister Gillian Archibald is in Shepparton, Abingdon, helping at the Baptist church café my sister Jennifer. We love boating on the Victoria, Australia. and raising money for the local hospital. Norfolk Broads but don’t do it enough. We toured Scotland this year and had a wonderful E: [email protected] GROUP 23 (1956 leavers) time (except for the weather). We go away for a few days each month and love it. My son is still working as a locum BMS. My daughter is GROUP 27 (1961 leavers) Jackie Hughes (Edwards) working in the community as a psychiatric nurse. She is recovering from cancer and has Rosamund Anthony (Burn) We have lived here in Aberdeen for the been clear for three years now. Our prayers and These are some suggestions for recent past 40 years! Colin and I celebrated our the wonderful nursing care at the Sheffield alumnae. I was in education for my working life. Golden Wedding Anniversary on hospitals have contributed to her recovery. November 4th. We were married in Hong I have met any number of Governing Bodies as Kong. Colin was in the Army flying E: [email protected] a result of my husband’s work and they all ask if helicopters and I was employed by SSAFA T: 01226 382085 I know of any younger women who might as a Health Visitor working with service become Governors; with particular interest families overseas. My sister Joey and her GROUP 25 (1959 leavers) shown in anyone with a background in Finance, soldier husband were the only family Building and allied trades, Professional members at the wedding. After leaving Development, or Law. Modern young women the Army Colin flew for Bristow Helicopters Dina Birmingham (Cross) have shown spectacularly that they are supporting the oil industry in Nigeria, Abu competent and award-winning. Spare some of Just returned from seeing Penny in her new Dhabi and Aberdeen. We did quite a lot of your precious time as a School Governor. I home on the Isle of Skye. Rained a lot but we travelling in those first ten years. We have promise you, you won’t regret it. It is a did manage to get about and she treated us to two daughters who are both here fascinating job. You meet interesting people, a lovely lunch! Otherwise we are both as well as fortunately. Visiting our families in the and above all you continue to assist the next we can be. Best wishes to everyone. South is always enjoyable but we are generation. If you like this idea of helping the always happy to return to the less frenetic E: [email protected] community, have you considered becoming a North East. We both keep busy and enjoy Magistrate? That’s another extraordinary role. holidays. I send greetings to friends of You don’t need to be a lawyer. It even helps the my year. GROUP 26 (1960 leavers) selection panels if you are not a standard middle-aged, middle-class do-gooder. One of E: [email protected] my previous employers was a Magistrate as Bernice Allport well as a full-time head teacher. A good friend became a Magistrate in her early 30s and did GROUP 24 (1957-58 leavers) (Campbell) very fulfilling work in the Family Courts. You can nominate yourself as a candidate, as my J.P. sister did. Good luck! Gillian E: [email protected] Harries (Reavell) Alison Bye I still see Angela (Hill) Power (Cummings) One of this year’s Margaret Paterson highlights for me was a (Healey) and Di visit to CERN, where the Adams (Betteridge) Higgs boson was quite regularly. We We have now sold our house in Sydney eventually detected, are very lucky to and will be moving to a Seniors Living leading to a Nobel Prize for Peter Higgs. My have our daughter, apartment on a headland overlooking the career in IT was not planned. After a degree in husband and two Tasman Sea (Pacific Ocean) early next year. Modern Languages, I started out in advertising. girls, seven and nine, We’ve visited Janet Hogg (Sargent) in I fell into IT in its very early days because all that living next door. My South Africa and Rosalind Booth was really required (and still is) is an ability to main enjoyment is (Clements). Janet booked us into a game think logically. It has turned out to be a flower arranging, now known as Floral Art! Myself lodge that had a ‘walking amongst the Big wonderful career and I’m still working as a and a friend won our third gold medal at Chelsea Five’ as part of the stay! Janet and Basil still consultant, so IT has seen me through many this year…so maybe time to retire? enjoy the challenge of living in South years and I would thoroughly recommend it for Africa – three power cuts in the week we an exciting and satisfying career. have been here so far! Merle Hazel Sally Orange E: [email protected] (Whitehead) E: [email protected] LinkedIn: Alison Bye After spending 15 years as a widow, I have become one of a couple again. Three years ago

Old Girls’ Newsletter 2017-18 29 Old Girls’ news

Julia Sandison (Swallow) GROUP 30 (1964 leavers) Not many changes in my life – I still keep in Pat Walsh (Thatcher) good contact with Julia Hawtrey, Nikki Yarkoff There does not seem to be much news and Karin Naylor. I manage to see Julia and Diana May this year. I am still kept busy with the Nikki every year but only see Karin if I’m down (Cobban) garden and church activities. We have recently appointed a new Rector who is so in southern France. My life is still taken up with I am content in young I feel I should be his granny! the county and the city archaeology and retirement from history societies, and I also visit countries with college lecturing, I have enjoyed a lovely weekend in a good amount of ancient sites – I visited and in summer Edinburgh including the European Rugby Turkey again in May to see several more of its 2017 even retired Cup final and lots of sightseeing. fantastic sites. I also visited Moscow and St from being on the Granddaughter Abi has settled well at Petersburg last winter and was dazzled – quite school’s Board of secondary school and is enjoying all the literally – by the amount of gold leaf on all the Governors (a task I had much enjoyed), new opportunities. buildings! I am considering a return visit to breaking this link between the Cobban family Tunisia (I went there in 1974) now that it and the school which spanned over six E: [email protected] seems a safer place to visit. I visited Sicily again decades. The photo was taken at School prize T: 01865 735391 in October for a second time but this one was giving when I completed my term as Governor. to follow in the footsteps of Inspector I am kept busy with grandchildren, helping to Montalbano! Good Sicilian food though you run the local Arts Society, book group, and have to really search for it and lovely hot various church and community activities. GROUP 31 (1965 leavers) sunny weather. Some towns are ‘easier’ than Andrew and I enjoyed a Danube cruise last others – if you stay in Ragusa make sure you’re autumn, and I am going to the Holy Land with Elaine Zair (Shipley) in the right bit otherwise you spend all your daughter Olivia in March. I happily keep up Last year Roger and I lost our last remaining time climbing steps and steep hills! with many of my school year, and am always A: 22 Clifton Road, Winchester SO22 5BP thrilled to hear news of them and even better, parents, and as a consequence, we have had a lot more free time. We have made the most of E: [email protected] getting together. this by travelling. We had a wonderful week in T: 01962 867490 A: 265 Swakeleys Road, Ickenham, Middlesex Venice in March, looking at paintings as part of an UB10 8DR art history group, a few days in Edinburgh in June E: [email protected] (cold and wet!) a trip to Ireland in search of T: 01895 234813 ancestors in July, and a journey through the Baltic

Fran Groves Well, the golden milestone has been well and truly celebrated for our SHSK ‘Gang.’ Fifty eventful years put under the microscope at our week-long reunion in the Isle of Wight this September. Mary Griffiths travelled from her home in Australia, Jane Hawkey from Tenerife, Jo Binks from Sweden and Carola Kerr from the Isle of Harris. Less far-flung joining the group were Marilyn Johnstone, Rosie Shephard, Bella Howarth and me, Fran Groves. We were sad that Sheelagh McComb was unable to make the reunion – next time, Sheelagh. So, plenty to chat about, the years just peeled back effortlessly. Too many distinguished careers and life experiences to go into but suffice to say we found common threads providing a fitting testament to the time we spent at St Helen’s. And we all agreed that our deep bonds formed all those years ago were still well and truly intact. We also acknowledged that our dynamic friendship was probably a complete pain for our long-suffering teachers and form-mates! It was a particular pleasure to welcome Jo Binks back into the fold as she was celebrating her birthday. Her Head Girl crown duly dusted down, she had us all participating in exotic Swedish customs. These mainly seemed to involve manhandling large amounts of dough for cinnamon buns which wouldn’t fit in the oven and throwing dice for gifts which we then fought over! Who says gang dynamics fade with time! One unexpected source of entertainment turned out to be my diaries of 1964/5. We laughed into the night reading excerpts which were a revelation both in terms of social comment of those times (Sir Winston Churchill’s death, postage increasing to 4d! Shock horror, hitchhiking everywhere) and insights into our teenage attitudes to all things, mostly it would appear, to parties, music and, inevitably, boys! Oh yes and of course our studies! The Isle of Wight proved a perfect venue for our reunion as, courtesy of the diary, we were able to retrace our youth hostelling pursuits of 1964 – without some of the antics I’m sad to say. But to prove there is still life in the old girls 50+ years on we took enormous pleasure in recreating a particular favourite of ours from all those years ago, the pyramid (see pictures). We are all looking forward to meeting up with our previous form-mates at the school reunion in 2019 when we can establish just what pains we all were. P.S. Stand by for the publication of ‘Diary of a Sixties Chick.’

30 Republics of Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia in Alison Biden (Howkins) GROUP 34 (1968 leavers) August. It was slightly spooky to be able to look Some good news and some bad. The good over the border and realise we were looking at news: my son, Edward, got married at the Russia. Becoming 70 gives one pause, and school beginning of June to a lovely girl from the USA, Joy Peirson days seem a long way away, although very alive in whom he originally met while working in I am presently the memory. This year I have been trying to write Berlin, although they are now both living in embarking on a new a memoir of my childhood, and the two volumes London. We are thrilled to have such an career as an artist. I have of reminiscences about school days (Nuns, Buns addition to our family. Daughter Stephanie had several shows in and Green Uniforms) have been a great help in continues to work in charity law in London, Vancouver and a show nudging the memory, and raising a lot of laughter. where she is making quite a name for herself. in Al Ain in the UAE on I’m sure that current pupils would find it hard to The bad news is that my husband, Mike, was 27 October. I used to believe that we had to learn to write in italic, with struck down with Guillain Barre syndrome in work there and it is where I met my new an Osmiroid pen, and that we had to wear the early April, which has left him disabled. The husband Nick Peacock, a retired English awful ‘green bags.’ I can hardly believe it myself. prognosis is that this is temporary, but the “Bobby”. My children are Brendan, CEO of A: 69 Downs Park, East Bristol BS6 7QG recovery time is estimated to be eighteen Navigate Apparel living and working in Toronto, E: [email protected] months to two years. The impact this has on and Kelsey, new mother of Owen, presently our lives cannot be imagined. I continue to with her husband Lucas in St. John’s enjoy skiing, and my mechanical music interest Newfoundland as he completes his MA, are GROUP 32 (1966 leavers) (I am still President of the Musical Box Society of both thriving. I am looking forward to the 50th Great Britain.) reunion of Old Girls in June as I graduated in 1968. Would love to hear from old friends. Hilary Owen E: [email protected] T: 01962 861350 A: #304 888 Bute St, Vancouver BC, V6E 1Y5 Canada (Rymills) Facebook: Alison Biden I have had another E: [email protected] year enjoying my T: 604 338 9874 retirement, having Facebook: Joy Peirson taken several holidays (including acquiring a taste for cruising), going to some lovely concerts, gardening, Frances Travers-Wakeford (Frankie Powell) keeping up with friends and spending precious I thought it might be fun to share a couple of photos from our boarding days that time with the four grandchildren. I recently unearthed! Chris Bennett (née Williams) and I meet up for I am in regular contact with Vanessa Sluman, Karen Geary and Sarah Graham and Vanessa lunch every month or so and swap family and has helped me to identify some of you in the photos – hope we have got it right! holiday news. After leaving St Helen’s in 1966 I Apologies for any errors! spent three years training to teach at Whitelands College, Putney. Whitelands is now part of I am living in our family home in Llandrindod Wells, mid-Wales. If anyone is in my area Roehampton University. or would like to get in touch please contact me by e-mail. It would be lovely to catch up again! Earlier this year Roehampton generously decided to upgrade our certificates to Honorary The first is of a group of boarders at Wantage House when I believe we were in Lower 5th Bachelor of Education degrees and in May I met and the second is when we were in Upper 6th in 1970, ready to go to the 6th Form dance. up with many of my old college friends at the This photo was taken on the stairs in the main hallway next to the phone box! I’m pretty Royal Festival Hall to receive the certificate. It was sure I have the correct names of all the girls but my apologies if I have made any mistakes! a very special day and we felt valued as teachers, although all retired. I should love to hear from any of our year group. A: 3 Southview Terrace, Princes Road, Cores End, Bourne End, Bucks. SL8 5JB E: [email protected] Facebook: Hilary Owen

GROUP 33 (1967 leavers)

Julie Grant Not a good time to send news as I have a Photo One (L-R) perforated appendix, Ann has pancreatitis and Top Row; Pat Sykes, Marjorie Jones-Davies Doorway; Sue Young Back row; Jo Cox, mother died aged 99! But earlier in the year we Sarah Graham, Jane Hughes, Hilary Binks, Louise Greenwood, Penny Hinton, Karen Geary were well and winning our bowls, now we are Bottom row; Vanessa Sluman, Caz Haliday, Sue Brown, Jane Farmer, Jane Talbot Devon county fours champions. Looking Photo Two (L-R) forward to better health in the New Year! Top Row; Susan Brown, Marjorie Jones-Davies, Sue Young Next Row; Karen Geary, Frankie Powell, Sarah Graham, Jane Talbot Next Row; Jane Farmer, Caz Haliday Bottom Row; Jo Cox, Jane Hughes, Vanessa Sluman

Old Girls’ Newsletter 2017-18 31 Old Girls’ news

GROUP 36 (1970 leavers) Farrell (Prescott), Jan Lockett (Scrimgeour) and Katey Grant (Orme) myself flew out to Barbados where we spent a Life continues to be busy despite having an fantastic ten days spoilt by Cressida Dawson empty nest. Both my sons are working, Chris Suzanna Margiotta (Hellen) who lives there. Champagne, fabulous food and (28) in the City doing ‘something financial’ and This year we have met up with some old trips, a 30’ motor boat at our disposal – what Guy (24) at a Travel Specialist in Cheltenham. school pals. more could six old school friends need! No-one Both have girlfriends but we have no we met could believe we had been friends for In April we stayed with Leigh Farr and her marriages or grandchildren on the horizon – so long! We also meet regularly for lunch in husband Ewen in Sydney Australia. We had that I know about anyway! Alan continues to London and have occasionally been joined by enjoyed a four week cruise around Australia, work in the City as a non-Executive on several Joy Oliver (Lenny) and Jenny Parkin (Lumsden). Tasmania and Papua New Guinea and then had boards and I still occupy myself with a lovely week staying with them. They looked In June we had a wonderful big party in recruitment work and my Magistrate after us very well and it was great to catch up. Abingdon for our mother’s 90th birthday with a commitments. We still enjoy our travels and few old St Helen’s girls present. are fortunate to have the use of Alan’s mother’s In October Sue Banham and Andy Carr came to A: 252 Brighton Road, Lancing, West Sussex Swiss chalet, where we spend a month each stay with us. They enjoyed a sunny day in BN15 8LH summer and some short breaks in the winter Whitby with us and we are planning to stay E: [email protected] for skiing. I have recently started to do research with Sue in Vancouver, Canada in 2019 when on my family history, a massive task and T: 01273960638 we finish a cruise there from Japan. uncovering some really fascinating stuff but Otherwise Frankie and I are keeping well and as M: 07825730292 very time consuming. Facebook: Penny Eaton always very busy. I keep in touch with Bunchy and her lovely family. Jennifer Wilson (Paulin) Joy Oliver (Lenny) E: [email protected] There really isn’t that much news except that I was extremely upset to learn of Pam Ormrod’s T: 01932 342495 (née Newbold) death recently. We still we have enjoyed a fantastic holiday in corresponded in the old fashioned way with Marseilles. The journey is now possible by handwritten letters. I will miss that. Eurostar direct so, for us, with Mike using a GROUP 39 (1973 leavers) wheelchair, it is ideal. We have our oldest We are now the delighted grandparents of three grandsons. Two in England and the latest granddaughter, Georgina, living with us at the one is Arthur here in New Zealand. Any old girls moment. She is in her final year at Birkbeck and Elaine Blaylock (Lee) travelling here would be welcome to visit. is trying to get a part time job and somewhere to live. Life is good and fairly quiet. Unfortunately The last year has been eventful for me as A: 174 Nannestad Line, R D 5 Feilding 4775, our beautiful little dog died so there is a hole in the first of my three sons got married in New Zealand our lives. We are adjusting slowly. London in February. Despite the time of E: [email protected] year the day was bright and sunny for this E: [email protected] T: 64 6 329 2928 special event. My three sons, who all grew up in Canada, are currently working and GROUP 38 (1972 leavers) living in London and exploring their British GROUP 37 (1971 leavers) heritage, hopefully not forever as they are far away! I have recently become the Chair Celia Chapple of a local respite and hospice for medically Gillian Ayres (Skelton) fragile and technologically dependant I retired from my university library job in March children. It is an inspiring place were 2017 and moved to Barnard Castle, County After 11 years in Canberra, we are on the move people improve the quality of the Durham, following the death of my mother. I again. This time to Queensland. We are moving children’s lives. I am also keeping busy have recreated my life ‘up north’, I continue my into our house that has been let for the last few singing in an Acapella choir of 70 women interest in botany by volunteering for North years. Steve is working a lot in Brisbane as well and had a biking holiday in Italy. Pennines AONB Hay Meadows Project; I have as Canberra, it seemed a great time to relocate, joined the local University of the Third Age, and especially after a cold winter! We now have do some singing in a community music group. three grandsons. Our eldest son James and his As most retired people seem to say, it is easy to partner Trish have Oscar who is four years old. Penelope Nadkarni fill your time! Our middle son, Chris and his wife Sabrina have Kobe aged three and Teo aged one. All are a Penny Eaton (Lombard) great delight to us. Our youngest son Jonny and his partner Philip have just acquired a gorgeous puppy , a golden Cavoodle called Chester. The Gold Coast should provide us with plenty of opportunity to body board and sail as well as walk and hopefully a bit of tennis. We were lucky enough to have Nigel and Pauline Dodd (Murdoch) to stay earlier in the year. We spent a lovely time together at Crackenback Another year almost over and it has been Resort in the Snowy Mountains and did some quite eventful. We bought a house in March lovely walks. We also spent some time exploring 2016 with the intention of renovating it. We I have been retired now for nearly a year and am ‘camped’ out in the house for nine months last Canberra, which really is a beautiful place. very much enjoying life. We have been on year staying three to four nights every week, several holidays, both abroad and in our caravan. E: [email protected] then went into rented accommodation three In August, Jenny Willingham (Akass) who lives in Facebook: Gill Ayres days after Christmas. The renovation work Melbourne, Anita Gray (Hitchcock) Helena

32 started January 30th and is now almost many possibilities. Orkney in May for birds and and a course of radiotherapy I am hopefully finished. On Good Friday morning, my archaeology and the Naples region in clear. The year improved when on my 60th husband Chris missed the bottom step of the September for ancient history have been this birthday Peter proposed (after ten years stairs as he was coming downstairs to make year’s delights. Meeting up with old friends is together!) and we were married at me a cup of tea in bed. I never got the tea but a pleasure too and I have recently seen Trish Athelhampton House, Dorset on Friday 4th I got him an ambulance, three paramedics, Powell (née Dawson) and Jacky Gilks (née March 2016. A very happy day surrounded by three days in the JR and he had to have a two Hobbs). Meanwhile, another former St Helen’s family and friends including Fiona Lyle (née hour operation. Just missing the bottom step pupil, a little younger than me, Janine Bailey, is Macaskill) who made the journey south with resulted in severing the Patella from the knee. very active in our church community, having her husband Murray. We had a honeymoon in Ouch! Six months on and he is now driving just researched and presented an exhibition Cyprus and a trip to Skiathos (our annual again and even behaved himself doing his on its 150 years history. Thank you St Helen’s destination) in June. I am retiring in October physio. We continue to provide childcare for planting so many seeds of interest all those after 22 years at the FBA River Laboratory. during school holidays to my grandchildren years ago. and to Chris’s great nephews. We took Matilda and Harry (my grandchildren) to Amsterdam GROUP 42 (1975 leavers) at half term in February and showed them the Jenny Temple (Lee) sights. I have also met up with old school Well the last couple of years have been friends again this year. Pip (Goodeve-Ballard) Jacqueline Burrows fairly momentous for me, so here’s a brief came over from Tasmania so I arranged for catch up. Having left Plymouth University (Smithson) Helen (Prior), Jess (Peyton-Jones) and me to some years ago, I then returned for a meet with her at a National Trust place. A part-time job which also came to an end. great time was had by all. She came again I wasn’t prepared to stop work altogether later in the year and we had a few hours and so went to work in an office as an together in Burford. Helen and I went to the agency nurse recruiter. This was a new Ashmolean to see a fantastic exhibition of Raphael’s drawings. More meetings are in the challenge for me and I had to learn new planning. I am in contact with Lindsey (Paget- skills and use old ones in different ways, Cooke) and now Jill (Price) has found me. I which I enjoyed, leaving only to care for have been to Pennyhooks Farm a few times to my parents full time. The tragedy of see Lydia (Otter) and hope to be able to help Alzheimer’s disease and frail old age in both parents, meant visiting carers were her there as I am now only 25 minutes away. I 2016 was my 60th birthday year – simply would love to be in contact with others from no longer sufficient. However, they eventually went into a care home where shocking, but I did have a few lovely surprises my year group like Fiona (Havers) and Sarah including a holiday in beautiful Venice (Owen). Two years into retirement and like sadly both died, within five weeks of each other, in February and March this year. So crossing a few bridges I’d never crossed most retirees I don’t know how I found the before. We battled our way successfully I have spent a lot of time sorting out and time to work! through Tom’s AS Levels last year and now he’s selling their property which has nearly E: [email protected] firmly entrenched in Year 13, with A-levels completed probate. So now I am looming next May and June and University technically retired, but Peter and I are still visits well in hand. I really loved going to see busy as we have a holiday home in GROUP 41 (1974 leavers) Oxford Brookes: it was called Oxford Madeira. I like to say that we have Polytechnic when I got my first job there after progressed through lots of hard work leaving Abingdon College in 1976 and it has from a ‘homes under the hammer’ project Frances Morris (Milner) certainly changed since then! We bought him to a real ‘place in the sun’. Although in line How time flies. It is now 50 years since I started a small car for his 17th birthday in July and he’s with my poor language skills at school, I at St Helen and St Katharine, cycling to school just passed his test, so no more school runs for haven’t yet mastered Portuguese, but in my felt hat and tweed coat. My twin me, sadly. I remember driving my mum’s car to daughters have just revisited their own have managed to buy and plant lots of school each day and parking outside Sixth schools ten years after leaving and even they veggies. I have also very recently enrolled Form House – no bothering with lots of noticed massive changes in facilities and on an OU master’s course in creative approval forms in those days! Several of us opportunities over that space of time, yet the writing, which is challenging and writing booked a holiday house together for a long nurturing of women to take on the next stage fiction is certainly very different from any weekend in April this year, using the excuse of of life with confidence remains the same. One of my other publications. Alice continues visiting Wonderwool Wales at Builth Wells daughter is a junior doctor, passionate about to work as a civil servant in London and Showground. There was Ceal (Butler), Karen A and E, while the other is a design engineer with her partner Stephen have a home in (Normington), Ali (Morley), Jude (Lay), Ros in F1, not a career that would have been open Croydon, they would really like a dog, not (Paine), Jill (Aram )and me, together with lots to my generation. a child; but their long days and commute of old photos and a few old school magazines, I have retired from teaching and, with the prevent this. So granny-hood isn’t on the quite a few bottles of wine, a hot tub, good passing of my elderly mother at the beginning horizon for me. food and a lot of laughing. Let’s hope we can of the year, am finding that I have more of that A: Flat 6 White Gables, Rawlyn Road, manage to find another date to meet up precious commodity, time. I volunteer at RSPB Chelston, Torquay TQ2 6PQ somewhere not too far in the future. Pulborough Brooks on their very successful M: 07775626136 A: 157 Church Road, Combe Down, Bath education project whilst also creating a more BA2 5JN fruitful and colourful garden, exploring the E: [email protected] beautiful Surrey countryside and practising Stephanie Vallins (Bint) my oboe with more regularity. 2015 was not very good for me health wise. I Being able to visit wonderful places outside found a lump in May which turned out to be school holiday time is a novelty and is opening breast cancer but following two operations

Old Girls’ Newsletter 2017-18 33 Old Girls’ news

Sarah Doran (Shunt) Debbie Ryman (Churcher) GROUP 45 (1978 leavers) It is hard to believe I am almost 60! I am fortunate to have good health and do my best to keep it so with lots of walking and yoga. Tracey Cory (Franklin) Currently planning to walk the Ridgeway next I have just completed a seven-month stint year and hope to do the Camino de Santiago working as HR Manager for a company in too. I am almost at the end of a Counselling Aarhus, Denmark – visit if you have a chance Diploma and volunteer at a residential rehab as it is well worth it, but ideally not during the centre and a Christian counselling centre and winter months as daylight is in short supply. I am involved in my local church including am now looking for another HR role but singing in the choir. Ian has just about finished opportunities around the Ipswich area for the all the work on renovating our little house and kind of company I would like to work for are a Quite a few of the boarders are in regular garden but I am sure I will keep him busy with little thin on the ground. Andy and I will have contact and try to meet up at least once a new projects. Jason continues to live in NZ been married 16 years in November which I year. In October Wendy Turner (Hitchcock) and we will visit this Christmas. Ian’s children appreciate for our age is not that much, but organised a meet at the Duck and Waffle are local and we enjoy time with his four we started late! We’re keen supporters of the which was enjoyed by Di Charters (Badger), grandchildren, and also see my step children RSC and Andy is still playing clarinet with Sue Nash (Jones), Jane Tobin (Goss), Georgie from my first marriage and 21 year old some local orchestras. Other than that, we Dobson Crane (Crane) and Sarah Doran granddaughter, so family also keeps us busy. keep reasonably fit and enjoy the Suffolk (Hunt). The attached photo says it all really! Overall feeling very blessed. countryside with our two dogs. E: [email protected] A: Kia Tau, 17 Reeds Ground, Marlborough, E: [email protected] Wilts SN8 2AW E: [email protected] Claire Nelson (Scrimgeour) GROUP 43 (1976 leavers) M: 07930554237 Facebook: Debbie Ryman Beverley Jordan (Cline) I have always wanted to be a journalist GROUP 44 (1977 leavers) and I was overjoyed when the editor of the local Abingdon paper was at the St Helen’s career convention when I was 15. Pauline Dodd (Murdock) I have had a wonderful first year of retirement Nothing he said would put me off. When with a fantastic month in Australia where we I completed my A-levels (at another visited Gill Ayres (Skelton), snorkelled on the school) I attended the NCTJ course in Barrier Reef, climbed the Sydney Bridge, I have been living in Bristol for the last 25 years Harlow and then worked on an Essex watched an opera and visited Ayres Rock. We with my husband, Ian, and am working in a Group of papers before heading to have also made good use of our motorhome high street law firm doing private client work Sydney, Australia. It’s been a wonderful with three weeks in France as well as many which I love. Having been one of three sisters job. I have cuddled lion cubs, jumped out other shorter trips in the UK. But best of all and three cousins at the school, my niece is of planes, covered Royal visits and met Nigel and I now have two grandchildren now also at St Helen’s. Our main news this year the most amazing people who have told Jacob and Phoebe who we get to spend time has been the wedding of our daughter, Isabel, me their stories. with most weeks. I can honestly say taking who has just started as an F1 (junior doctor) in I have just left work after 40 years in early retirement was the best decision! Birmingham. I still meet up with Louise Dodd newspapers but I am starting a PR role E: [email protected] (Elliott) and Jill Allen (Newman) every year working with not for profit organisations which is lovely. and community groups. It has been a E: [email protected] great career but media has changed a lot in that time. Gillian Smithson After 25 years, I moved from London to On a personal note, my husband David, Bristol in 2016 and have been settling Jo Maisey also a journalist, passed away after a into our house here for the last year. It battle with cancer, nine years ago. Our Having spent several years working away was a big change. I work in London once from home as a consultant in Financial two children, Matt and Hannah, are now a month as freelance HR Advisor to 26 and 24. I am a volunteer with several Compliance, I ‘retired’ in 2010. I then went charities and small business owners, and on to complete a FdSC in Canine charities including the Cancer Council, am building up my local contacts here. I Guide Dogs NSW and a charity called Behaviour and Training. Now I spend keep in regular touch with Hilary most of my time ‘playing’ with dogs and RawImpact which works in Cambodia. I (Lombard) Sue (Wyatt) Marie (German) have also volunteered for the Invictus many weekends away competing and Juliet (Martin), and visit Abingdon at agility. Games when it comes to Sydney most months. Email me if you are in the this year. Bristol area or passing through and you I also have a part-time job at the shop on E: [email protected] have time for coffee. the corner of my road – literally five minutes’ walk from home. I can leave my Facebook: Bev Jordan Journalist E: [email protected] LinkedIn: Bev Jordan brain at home, no pressure, no LinkedIn: Gillian Smithson hassle. Bliss!

34 Helen Masella (Round) consider buying his road haulage company so with friends and family and doing all those he can spend more time playing golf and I am things that get squeezed when you work full- It has been a very busy year. My son Danny still happily dabbling in furniture restoration time including reading, watching films and got engaged in January and is getting married and looking for outlets in the UK to sell the going for a walk! in December. I became a Grandmother on French vintage enamelware that I gather 31st August to Isabelle. Mick had a second hip We are off to the Algarve for a month and during the many pleasurable hours I spend replacement a week later and I am having a then Malaysia and Borneo as well as visiting trawling the French flea markets and cataract and stent operation this Friday, phew! more of the USA. brocantes. Nic and I, who recently celebrated Afterwards it will be full steam ahead for the our 30th wedding anniversary, also frequently Both of our boys are working and Jon got wedding preparations. pop over to our holiday home in the Isle of married just before Christmas 2017. I wasn’t Wight, and this summer were visited by Jo sure how I would fill my time without work… GROUP 46 (1979 leavers) (Manley) and Laura (Pratt). Dawn (Terry) is also but I have…and even managed to give a frequent visitor. The four of us OGs also got blood again! away for a fabulous weekend in Bath last E: [email protected] Suzie McFadzean (Demmer) February and we’ve got a yoga weekend December 2016 saw big changes for John planned for next May! and I when we moved back to the UK after A: [email protected] GROUP 49 (1982 leavers) more than 20 years in Vienna (nothing to do with politics, I remain European!) We have Sue Davie settled in East Devon so we are near my GROUP 48 (1981 leavers) parents in West Dorset…bought a house with After 14 years with the charity Meningitis some land so now have several sheep, Now/Meningitis Trust, I left in April 2016 to move back to Abingdon and become the chickens, George the sheep dog and Colin the Sally Joanna Beazley- cat…got the veggie plot going this year so I primary carer for my Dad. Working at the really am now a country bumpkin spending Long (Newport) charity, initially as Finance Director and then, from 2007, as CEO, was amazing – meeting my life in wellies and fleeces! This move also I am now over half through my part-time inspirational people and knowing we were saw retirement after 26 years in the Pharma PhD at Birkbeck, University of London making a difference to people’s lives. I remain business – really enjoying the freedom and a (seven years in total!). My project is on a very proud Ambassador for the charity and few volunteer roles have already found me. the British artist Dame Laura Knight RA help where I can. Sadly, my Dad reached the John still working, Helena in last year at and her representation of women in the stage where he needed more care than I Durham. Love to hear from all and any – inter-war period. I really enjoy digging could provide and he moved into a care home plenty of spare beds in Devon for those around in museum and gallery archives in Abingdon in July. I then moved into my passing through!! as well as the good excuse to go on trips own new house and am enjoying making it to exhibitions – the most recent being to E: [email protected] my home. I still see Dad a lot but am now also Edinburgh to see the excellent show on T: 01297639709 developing a “portfolio career” as a friend British realist painting in the 20s and 30s. called it, seeking to take on a combination of In January 2018, I also start teaching on paid and volunteer consultancy work. I have GROUP 47 (1980 leavers) the History of Art BA at Birkbeck – another just become a Fitness to Practice panel new challenge post-50! member for the Nursing and Midwifery Alex and Anna have now both left home Council which I know will be interesting and Sarah Elizabeth Jones and live in London. Alex is a creative rewarding, and I hope to also hope get one or strategist for Imagination working on two non-exec Director positions. I am also a (Evans) diverse projects promoting, advertising Trustee for a fantastic charity, 500 Miles, and Living in Wantage with my husband or branding anything from baseball continue to provide pro-bono consultancy to Simon (an Abingdon School boy). We to airlines. charities like Pets as Therapy and the Believe enjoy traveling to Eastern Europe, horse Anna graduated from York in Economics and Achieve Trust. A big advantage of moving racing, rugby and attending to every back to Abingdon is that I see a lot of Nicola whim of our cat Pickle. For the last 15 this year and has just started as a trainee accountant with KPMG. Leeder (née Dyde) who lives in Didcot. She years I have worked as the Undergraduate has been the most amazing friend across Admissions Officer at St. John’s College. Graham and I are now embarking on what has been a very difficult time. I am a very A: The Retreat, 4 Alfred Street, Wantage another house project – this time to proud godmother to Nicki’s two girls who are OX12 8AN downsize in Tunbridge Wells, so we are now in their mid 20s – not sure where the E: [email protected] busy working out designs for what we time has gone but then it is 35 years since I left hope will be our final renovation! St Helen’s! E: [email protected] E: [email protected] Annabel Ostergaard (Mann) Facebook: Sally Beazley-Long LinkedIn: Sue Davie Probably not a great deal has changed since I last submitted news…we’re still living in France but our three children have all left Joanne Pavey (Knill) home. Alex is recruiting for Uber in Amsterdam, So I have finished work (too young to retire!) – Chris is doing his Business Studies Masters at least for the moment. degree in Copenhagen and Cat is studying It was the right time and Dave and I have Hospitality and International Management at really enjoyed some extended travelling, time Oxford Brookes. Nic is hoping someone will

Old Girls’ Newsletter 2017-18 35 Old Girls’ news

Veronica Churchhouse Sandie Mourão (Jones) by 22½ years in two different primary schools, as a governor, parent, Special 2017 was the 30th anniversary of my (Symons) Educational Needs Teaching Assistant and arrival in Portugal and I celebrated with a then Class T.A. Now, however, I have decided party and lots of friends. It was lovely! I am that the time is right to make a change and I still freelance, but work part time at a am determined to make a success of a career university in Lisbon as a lecturer on the as a Proofreader. I already have some MA for primary English teachers. My experience in this, having proofread a novel freelance work takes me all over – doing (the author has asked me to do the next one) work related to English language two dissertations (a Law one and, very education and pre-primary or primary recently, a PhD thesis in Electrical children and their teachers. Highlights this Engineering) in addition to checking year were long-haul trips to Russia, Peru numerous school reports over the last ten and Malaysia. A textbook I wrote for years! I am available for any written material Macmillan Education won an award last and can provide written endorsements, year, so that was exciting! We still share our please contact me via the Old Girls’ Office. lovely home in central Portugal with four The empty nest chapter began for us in cats and three dogs and I’d like to have Facebook: Emma Davis (Selwyn) September 2017 when Benedict started at time to give it a paint over, we’ve lived Harper Adams University. Jemima is currently there 15 years. My two children are well in her final year at Cambridge, and Madeleine grown and flown: my son becoming a GROUP 52 (1985 leavers) graduated from Edinburgh in the summer. She is lawyer in Lisbon and my daughter still now living in Sunderland, on a social work finding herself and travelling. I can’t training scheme with Frontline. I’m still at Rolls- believe we are in our mid 50s, those Royce but Steve left in April 2017 and has Alexandra Elton (Phillips) teenage years were long ago. I wish you all embarked on a second career of non-exec Along with most of my classmates, I well and hope that your lives are happy company directorships. We spend lots of our turned 50 this past year. I am also fit and and healthy. spare time helping to run our local Cub Pack. healthy again, having had several years of E: [email protected] disability following back surgery and E: [email protected] Facebook: sandiemourao nerve damage. Therefore, huge celebrations were in order which started Claire in Dubai, where my husband and I live, Harbour-Lyell and carried on through seven weeks of GROUP 50 (1983 leavers) holiday, mostly in England but including a (Harbour) trip to St Petersburg, Russia. Those of you who knew me in school may remember I have just published a Alexandra Green (Marr) that my Godmother was a Russian Princess book! And what is I am still working as an Information Architect at whose family fled in 1917 just after she more, it should be Milton Park, and have survived a further round was born. Visiting her roots 100 years after useful and of interest to of redundancies at our company. I am still very her birth – and 100 years since the every single one of us! It much involved at St Helen’s church, and this Revolution – was an extraordinary is about career year added vice-chairman of the PCC to my experience and I was really moved. The transitions, and how to manage them. If I can other responsibilities as editor of the parish city was stunning and welcoming and the help any of you individually with coaching magazine and head sacristan. In the summer I whole trip was just wonderful. In addition, through your various transitions in career, or started singing with the City of Oxford Choir, a I had several other celebratory gatherings, others with career and talent management chamber choir with an interesting and varied including meeting HelKats 1985 in your organisation, you only have to get repertoire. My children all passed educational classmates for lunch in Newbury. Whilst in touch! milestones this summer: Nic (23) graduated some had met up over recent years, many A: 11 Rue Sainte Ursule, 31000 Toulouse, France from Cambridge and has started teaching in of us had not seen each other since Leytonstone on the ‘Teach First’ programme; E: [email protected] leaving school and it was great fun to see Peter (17) did well in GCSEs and has started everyone and hear their news. We A-levels at Plymouth College, where he has managed to have group photographs Branwen been joined by Anna (13) who has moved from taken, one included here – left to right Martin (James) Exeter Cathedral School. [our names at school]: Sarah Bolton, Katie I’m just finding my feet E: [email protected] Allison, Amy Micklem, Wendy Hibbitt, me, after the sudden death Sarah Tisdall, Susan Patchett, Elinor Walters of my husband in 2015 GROUP 51 (1984 leavers) and Clare Jenkins. Special times with (while running). I’ve family and friends have really made this a reduced my GP work to 50th birthday to remember! half time and in January 2017 took over as Emma Davis E: [email protected] Medical Director at Cheshire Local Medical Committee, supporting GPs so they can look (Selwyn) after everyone else. I enjoyed meeting up with I have changed careers! Julia Race in September when I attended the To date, my working life excellent British Institute ‘100 Treasures’ course, has consisted of several and I catch up with Victoria Gould regularly. years as a Veterinary E: [email protected] Nurse and (briefly) a Dental Nurse followed

36 Katie/Katherine Sutcliffe Paula Edmiston (Hamilton) a recent lunch celebrating an early birthday for my Mum and Mum is also a St Helen’s Old Girl Time just flies! Both boys are now away, Jamie (Allison) (Bernice Campbell, now Bunny Allport) and it’s (21) and Andrew (19) are at college and uni her 75th birthday alongside my 50th so lots to be Like everyone else in my year, I have hit 50 and respectively and the house is eerily quiet but grateful for. I really enjoy all the contact with can no longer pretend to be anything other amazingly tidy. than middle aged. It’s been a bumper year of school friends on Facebook, it’s wonderful to contact with old pals, only some of which is I’m still working at University of Edinburgh in share news on there as well. I also caught up with explained by birthday celebrations. From College of Medicine and Veterinary Medicine Abingdon School friend James Allison in regular catch ups and long chats with people as Finance Manager for Learning and Teaching, Melbourne in February of this year and regularly who know you so well, kind words in times of a challenging role but a great place to work. Skype with Helen Morton, Fiona Osman, Chloe sadness, to special summer lunches, surprise I did my first half marathon last year and vowed Taylor and Louise Hobkinson. phone calls from an old friend, a long walk in never to do one again – I take my hat off to any A: UNIT 1/ 46 Wride St Maroubra NSW 2035 the rain when we just didn’t run out of things to marathoners out there, how do you do it? So Australia say, to an upcoming 50th picnic party in have only signed up for a 13km run next E: [email protected] Sydney (!), it’s been lovely. I’ve been working at month, a challenge if only a short one. Maybe Facebook: Manda Epton Oxford University Press for a couple of years another half next year? LinkedIn: Manda Epton now. Having been in educational publishing Holidays with Hugh to Stockholm, a beautiful for 20 years now, I think it’s fair to say that I’m city – we loved it, and touring Europe with a hooked. As for family, Stuart is very happy stopover in Switzerland to stay with my brother Carolyn Hardiman running his own business, solving problems and see my nephew before he started his and making things. Will and Oli are now both at military service. Of course we couldn’t drive (Smith) Loughborough, and even have some lectures through Germany without a lap of the Last year Keith and I celebrated our silver together as their respective joint and single Nurburgring: 21km of screeching tyres, wedding, just after my parents’ golden. Our honours courses overlap across first and screaming engine and squealing brakes. No three children, Tomos, James and Alice, second years. It’s not a new thing when they wonder they have a bar on site, next time I’ll continue to make us very proud and still disappear after a long summer at home, but it’s just head straight to the bar and give the lap have us going to various activities from still strange. Annie misses her brothers a miss. rugby to dance to support them. I can’t enormously, although I think she does secretly I’m in contact with Sarah Smith and Louise believe that at the end of this academic enjoy raiding their bedrooms, not having to Hobkinson on Facebook but it would be great year we will have no one at school. I hide her favourite bagels from them, and a little to hear from anyone else. continue to serve as a Governor at the less cricket on TV! school that our children attended and I Facebook: Paula Edmiston A: 28 Thame Road, Brill, Aylesbury, Bucks, have enjoyed being involved in selecting a HP18 9SA new Head. On the 1st September this year I Manda attended my cousin’s wedding, Philippa E: [email protected] Brodie, (St Helen’s Old Girl) and it was a very Epton special day. Please get in touch if you are It’s been a near Andover. GROUP 53 (1986 leavers) challenging couple of years. E: [email protected] My business Rachel Buckingham partner and I went through a Louise Mary Meek (Fellows) rapid growth (Hobkinson) phase in the Our year group will all be hitting the big 5-0 I am still company (Maud this year and I am writing this on the eve of working at N Lil Organic Cotton) and with that came some mine, so a good time for reflection. Certainly Newquay Zoo instability, production and product issues and a having two daughters who are now both where my lot of personal growth too! We are stable now old girls of St Helen’s makes me feel quite husband is and supplying over 600 stores internationally old! This year I completed a two year part the Curator. (and yet only one store in the UK, oh the irony!). time certificate in theological studies, so Loving every We’re enjoying the journey even though it’s had a proper student card and was back to minute. We really hard work. I’m still living in Sydney which is writing undergraduate essays! Good for have recently a dynamic city, constantly changing, I’m taxing the old grey cells and thinking about moved house considering moving up to Queensland in the the important questions of life a little more and now have my father living with us which is next few years for a slower pace of life. I’ve been deeply. Meanwhile the day job at the an interesting experience. Plenty of room for here 26 years and loved it but it is a bit hectic. Last Oxford hospitals continues and on the days visitors! I often see Helen Morton and Fiona year I had a great trip back to UK and caught up when we have enough beds, nursing and Osman (Galloway) and visited Chloe Taylor with lots of school friends for a fun night in theatre staff then I manage to get some (Bean) in France/Switzerland earlier this year. Oxford. It was wonderful to see everyone and I operating done and it is still rewarding. We Please do get in touch if you are ever in Cornwall! dropped in on Annabel Troup’s mother on am hoping it’s not too long before I’m back in UK again. This year I am celebrating the big 5-0 (eek!) A: Boscovean House, 51 St.Thomas Road, her farm in the Isle of Wight in August Newquay, Cornwall TR7 1RR which was lovely. Hope I am as energetic at and I’m having a picnic in a park on the Harbour E: [email protected] her age! Happy birthday to all our year with lots of friends, very excited that Katie reaching the half century! Sutcliffe and Poggy Allison are coming to T: 01637 621185 celebrate with me in Sydney. I’m also enjoying M: 07765 244151 E: [email protected] having my Mum and Step Dad living in Sydney Facebook: Louise Meek Facebook: Rachel Buckingham as they emigrated four years ago, the photo from

Old Girls’ Newsletter 2017-18 37 Old Girls’ news

Fiona Osman small but very sociable community, and as our Sarah-Jane Peez (Welland) French has improved, our circle of friends has All’s well in sunny Cornwall and I regularly see increased. The bad news is, of course, Brexit. Louise Hobkinson and Helen Morton who live When we decided to build the house, we nearby. As our big birthdays approach it would considered many risk factors but the be great to see if any other girls from our year implications of the UK leaving the EU never group would like to mark the occasion in some crossed our minds. I never imagined that I way. You can email me via the Old Girls’ office or might need to apply for French citizenship, but message me on Facebook. My work/life balance that’s now a real possibility. So I’m continuing is still pretty hectic, but with Ollie off to university my French lessons to meet the language test next September and Bella starting her A Levels, (twice-weekly conversation practice with my the twins are now in Year eight and not so neighbour has become an invaluable source of dependent on me. Therefore we are hoping to village gossip!) and getting even more involved have puppies from our lovely black Labrador in community life. I currently hold the record for Oona – we must be mad! Please let me know if the most raffle tickets ever sold at a village you are planning a trip to Cornwall, it would be event, and that’s certain to impress Monsieur lovely to see old friends. Macron, right? E: [email protected] Hi there! We’re all great – still settled in GROUP 56 (1989 leavers) Facebook: Steph Hills Christchurch, NZ, and just about to move to LinkedIn: Stephanie Hills our new home. Our kids are growing up too fast! I wish we could just freeze time for a little bit! Have loved seeing Lizzy, Ruth and Bridget Sally Buchanan (Liddiard) GROUP 58 (1991 leavers) over the last year or so. A year of change for me, after qualifying as a E: [email protected] lecturer and four years of teaching, I hung Facebook: Sarah-Jane Peez up my marking pen this September and Katie Close returned to clinical fulltime. I also left ICU It has been an interesting couple of years, after 15 years in the field, and I am heading which culminated in a move to New York in Elaine Thornett (Slade) for day surgery at the end of this month – 2017. I’ve now settled in West Village and am I can’t actually remember when I last sent in no nights and only occasional Saturdays, beginning to adjust to the Manhattan lifestyle. news to be honest, but not a great deal has hurrah!!! Finally some time for running, It took a while to realise I can see the Friends happened in the last few years. I’m still a self swimming and cycling. Catriona is now 14 ‘building’ from the apartment window as well employed school improvement advisor, still and on the GCSE trail; Angus cycled up as fantastic views of the Empire State and living in Nuneaton and no more kids to add to Mont Ventoux this year with friends (a hefty Chrysler building…I’m not sure I’ll ever get the three I already have! Annie is now in year Tour De France stage!). Looking forward to used to that! ten and preparing for her GCSEs, Billy has just family skiing at Easter and a girlie ski trip for started at secondary school and George is now a long weekend!! in year two. How time flies!! Feel free to look me up on Facebook and get in touch! E: [email protected] Rebecca Maya Dahele In the midst of bringing up two lovely girls, E: [email protected] Maya ten and Elsa seven. Having left work Facebook: Elaine Thornett Michelle Charriere (Key) to have time to be with them in their early years, am contemplating how to spend the I am living locally, in Letcombe Regis, near years ahead now that I have more time on GROUP 59 (1992 leavers) Wantage. I am married to Patrick, a French my hands again. A familiar phase for many I telecommunications consultant, and I work for think…I still do some consulting work for the Science and Technology Facilities Council, the United Nations, where I used to be full in microelectronic design, in the Detector Kate Jakubovics time, and where my husband, Mads, still Systems Division. We have one daughter Estelle, works. But considering a change of who is applying to join St Helen’s. I would love (Catherine Price) direction – and maybe country – after 15 to hear from ‘old girls’, particularly if they have I am just about to finish my second degree years in New York. Interesting place but a (BSc in Habilitation with visually impaired daughters at the school. difficult time to be in America…We spend children), which I have studied part-time E: [email protected] some weeks in the UK every summer, with alongside my job with sight impaired my parents in Norwich, and have fun children in Gateshead. This has been a Stephanie Hills meeting up with Fleur Coxeter and Beccie study in time management, to say the We finally got the keys to our new house in Bitmead and their children when we’re least! We will all be really glad when I get February and moved in soon afterwards. As there. Funny thing this growing up business my life back again in December 2017. and going through all these phases in life, we’re finishing the house ourselves, there’s still a Our children are now 11 (Anna) and eight and trying to work out how to make the lot to do; over the summer we’ve concentrated (Joe). I am not sure how this has happened best of it all…still trying to figure it out! on the garden but as autumn moves into but they are doing really well and don’t tell winter, we’ll be tackling more of the indoor A: [email protected] me they hate me yet, which is always a jobs. The good news is that the house is bonus! sufficiently finished for friends and family to This year, Nick Jakubovics and I have been visit, and it’s been great to introduce them to together for 26 years (married for 15), our local friends and neighbours. We live in a which is a bit freaky!

38 Tessa Hickey I celebrated the dreaded 4-0 birthday with a GROUP 64 (1997 leavers) fabulous dinner at Le Manoir and a lovely (Canning- afternoon tea with family and friends including Cooke) Ali Limia-Dieguez (Smith). As I write I am Laura Alexander (Howard) getting ready for what will hopefully be an Wonderful news that amazing trip to Dubai with Mark and the kids to we have a son!! James complete the celebrations. and I were thrilled to announce the arrival E: [email protected] of George Michael John who was born 26th October 2016. The past year has been the most Ruth Haslam (Dillon) amazing adventure and we’re looking forward I’m working as Registered Nurse in Critical Care to watching him grow up! We also bought our in Nottingham. My children are all teenagers first house in Wiltshire near Pewsey so if any of now and my eldest turns 18 in a couple of weeks! my old classmates are passing do pop in! E: [email protected] A: Crabtree House, Woodborough, Pewsey SN9 5PL E: [email protected] GROUP 63 (1996 leavers) Facebook: Tessa Canning-Cooke Sarah Morris Katie Barber (Scott) Still happily enjoying life as a GP and busy (Moor) mum of two (Emily now six, Lucy age 2017 has been an incredible year, after our son 2017 has been another three). I’m working as a GP Partner in a Sebastian arrived in our lives last November. busy year, I have a new rapidly expanding practice in Didcot where Both Alex and I have been lucky enough to role as Head of Sales the majority of the doctors I work with have take the whole year off work, so we have been Transformation for the children at The Manor or St Helen’s! My two on plenty of family adventures. Renovation UK&I, Caspar started girls are both at The Manor, Emily is work continues on our house, just at a slightly Year three in September and Cressida moved enjoying Year two and Lucy has started in slower pace than previously! up in Nursery. My husband Dan also started a the nursery so who knows if they will follow E: [email protected] new job. We have enjoyed some wonderful my path to St Helen’s. My husband, family holidays in Salcombe, Mallorca and Matthew, is now the Deputy Police and Pamela Harrison Fuerteventura. It was lovely to see the photos Crime Commissioner for the Thames Valley I’m now a mum to two gorgeous foster children from the reunion back in June as I was unable as well as being the leader of Vale of White (brother and sister) who have been living with to attend. Horse District Council so we’re a busy pair! us since June 2015 and are a permanent E: [email protected] We’ve just completed some building works addition to our family. It has been a rollercoaster Facebook: Sarah Morris on our house in West Hanney so are of a journey, however Shawn (aged four) and relieved the dust is finally clearing, now to LinkedIn: Sarah Morris née Moor Claire (aged three) have brightened our lives sort out the great hole in our garden before and taught us to fully appreciate free time and next summer. GROUP 62 (1995 leavers) sleep on the rare occasions we get any. We are A: Orchard View, Church Street, West still living in Orange, New South Wales and Hanney OX12 0LW have set up our own business renovating and E: [email protected] renting out cottages – slightly crazy career Georgina Ellse change but a good one. Please get in touch if Still living in Tunbridge Wells with three you ever want to come and stay or visit daughters (Sissy, 12, Ollie, 11 and Clare Freeman (Reay) cottagesinorange.com for a look! Clementine, three) and husband Will and I was promoted to Head of Sixth Form last year E: [email protected] working in PR in London with her sister and have been very busy redesigning the Sixth Harriet (alumna) and just down the road Form curriculum and offer. I have two children from oldest sister Sonia (also an alumna). who keep me very busy but are a total delight! Georgina Hughes E: [email protected] E: [email protected] (Dalzell Piper) Sophie Louise Kolczak We keep renovating our home (nearly Karen Hartmann (Pell) finished) and are expecting baby number (Green) three in December. Harry and Teddy are in 2017 has been a busy year! Katie had her 13th Year one and Nursery and love it. I run a birthday in July, celebrated with a sleepover We are now living in Oxfordshire, having moved from Somerset earlier this year. It’s lovely being a lifestyle blog http://www.minisandmore. and photoshoot. Thomas is ten in December – co.uk as well as copywriting for some my babies really are growing up fast! We’re still bit closer to family and old friends and it’s been a pleasure to see several old girls recently, brands. It keeps from baby brain living in Wendover, Bucks and I continue to completely overtaking! work for Vocalink heading up the Reward and including Phoebe Otterburn, Octavia Benefits team – however it is all change ahead Mackworth, Charlotte Pinnock, Liz Haine and E: [email protected] as we were recently acquired by Mastercard so Sophie Goddard. I am heavily focussed on the integration activity and wait to see what opportunities 2018 may bring in the newly expanded team. In October

Old Girls’ Newsletter 2017-18 39 Old Girls’ news

GROUP 65 (1998 leavers) touch with some friends from St. Helen’s. Ruth out of bed in the morning! I’m especially Knopp (Williams) remains one of my best passionate about working with mothers who friends, and her daughter is my goddaughter. struggle with guilt and feel as though they Liz Tate I was also really pleased to recently see Tessa have lost a part of themselves in amongst We have been in Perth, Western Australia, for Bell (Anderson) in her current home city of trying to juggle their careers and home life two years now and feel very fortunate indeed. Copenhagen. Contact with Ginga (Lizzie/Beth (and, heaven forbid, find any time for Beautiful beaches ten minutes walk away, Harris) remains elusive, but she will steadfastly themselves) – I’ve been there, done fabulous sunsets and glorious weather nine be one of my favourite ever people following that myself! months of the year. Working as a full time the bonding experience of that infamous I now have three amazing children who forensic psychiatrist in a great team and not school trip to Italy in 1996. Rachael Ellis has stretch me and teach me something new missing the NHS one bit! Esme (seven) and fallen off the face of the earth, but I hope she’s every single day! My daughters are nine and Amelie (eight) are thriving and husband ok. It would be nice to hear from anyone who five, and my son is three – there’s never a dull Martin is (surprisingly) enjoying retirement fancies getting in touch. moment lol! I feel so blessed to live in such a from the police and new role as superdad. Old A: [email protected] beautiful part of the world, with the most girl Emily Hare lives down the road and we incredible family (not forgetting my lovely catch up for a gin or three when we can. GROUP 67 (2000 leavers) husband Paul, who has supported me E: [email protected] through thick and thin, and our two dogs!), doing something that I absolutely adore. GROUP 66 (1999 leavers) Naomi Clayton (Greenough) I’ve recently fallen in love with LinkedIn, so if I thought it was about time I wrote some anyone would like to connect with me on news after leaving school 17 years ago! there, do! (Details from the OG office). Facebook: Sally Graddon Marisa Bell In that time I have studied astrophysics, Having got married in 2014, my husband, trained as a physics teacher, taught for eight Harry, and I finally finished renovations years, got married, studied clinical sciences, Eleanor Conway had a baby and re-trained as a on our new home in Notting Hill late We’ve had amazing opportunities over medical physicist. 2016 and then had a baby boy mid 2017 the past ten years, moving about with so it’s been a busy few years. Rollo was I lived in Exeter, Bath, North Carolina, York, Leo’s job in the Army. We’ve enjoyed born in May and my sister Emily (who London and rural Wiltshire. living in Germany for four years and was three years below me at school) had I have learnt the saxophone, done a few Cyprus for two, and the UK for the a baby girl, Aurelie, ten days later so triathlon, competed in latin and ballroom, remainder. The time has now come to certainly a memorable time for our sailed the straits of Gibraltar, learnt to ski and ‘settle’ and we have decided to buy a family! sing with the Bristol Military Wives Choir. house near Marlborough, so we can A: 30 Kildare Terrace, London W2 5LX stabilise for the children’s schooling etc, I’ve finally settled down to village life in and Leo will continue to work wherever Hullavington with husband James and two they send him. year old Elliott and work at the Bristol Royal Jenny Newman Infirmary. Let me know if you’re in the It will be different moving out of the I always read these newsletters with interest Cotswolds/Bristol for a coffee. military institution and married ‘patch’ and am pleased to hear that so many people that I have become so used to, but we are E: [email protected] are doing well, hitting those life milestones looking forward to settling in to semi- and generally growing up as they should. I permanent village life! don’t own a house, I’m not married and don’t Sally Graddon (Clare) Benjamin is now seven; Thomas is five, have any children. I do have a cat, which I can’t believe that it’s been 19 years since I left and Elizabeth is two – being a full time comes with a certain amount of responsibility, St Helen’s! I thought it was about time I got in mummy and Army wife keeps me busy, and am currently Head of Content Strategy, touch. I’ve been catching up with a few OGs and I am looking at returning to work, as Design and Publishing at University of the Arts over the past few months, and it has been so an Occupational Therapist, when London. I was recognised at Edinburgh lovely to hear about what they have been up Elizabeth starts preschool. Festival following my stint as a contestant on to over years. Channel Five’s ‘Brainteaser’ (several years ago) I still meet up with Rachel, Fran, Lizzie, After spending a really happy sixth form at which resulted in me winning some money Sally and families on a regular basis. Pangbourne College, I trained as a doctor in and moving to Berlin. I stayed there for a few London. I then moved to North Devon (where E: [email protected] years and did all sorts of things, from living in I still live) and was training to be a GP when I a squat, to not getting paid for working in the decided to follow my heart and leave music industry, and vastly improving my medicine when I was pregnant. I had my German. I’ve been fortunate to put on some GROUP 68 (2001 leavers) eldest daughter and fell apart a bit, to be incredibly creative events and club nights honest – I felt as though I’d lost my entire across the world, with all sorts of artists and identity when I left medicine. musicians. In 2013, one of the events I co- Holly Louise organised was invited to host the official party It took a long time and a lot of inner work, but for the UK’s first Trans* Pride in Brighton. Years I eventually realised that my true calling was Watts ago, I was also commissioned to write a twee life coaching. These days, I feel incredibly I’m still living in little book that was subsequently recorded privileged to work with highly successful beautiful Wallingford and narrated by Mark Radcliffe. While in my professionals (including doctors), helping with my gorgeous cat. professional life I’ve also been here, there and them to find balance in their lives, reconnect I have a new partner in everywhere, and met lots of well-known with what is truly important to them and my life. I’m still people (including Kim Kardashian). I do stay in create a life that makes them want to jump working in retail and

40 childminding but looking to move into Hosking (née Woolley), Tiree Atkinson and Oxfordshire to start a job in academic reception work at some stage, preferably in a Cara Cummings, and Ali Harrison. Many of publishing. In 2017, I changed jobs and am Vets. Meet up with old girls Sarah Packman, them I chat with daily thanks to WhatsApp! now working at the Rutherford Appleton Jess Doondeea and Sally Pelling-Deeves as The friendships I made at St Helen’s have truly Laboratory in Harwell coordinating their often as we can. A big ‘hello’ to all old girls. lasted the test of time, and I can’t imagine life relationships with their university and industry E: [email protected] without them. I spent a very fun weekend stakeholders. I live with my boyfriend Ben in M: 07817790760 with Tiree in NYC earlier this year and I’m very Didcot, who has also found a job on the excited for Becca and Liz to come over in Harwell Campus. Since moving back, I’ve November 2017. There have been some discovered many an ex-Helkat running GROUP 70 (2003 leavers) beautiful weddings and babies over the last Abingdon parkrun and went for dinner last few years, and more to come! Hope everyone week with someone I’d not seen since school. else is doing well. Get in touch if you’re still in the area! I even Sarah Grey E: [email protected] work in the same team as another St Helen’s I continue to work for the International old girl (although she is based at CERN), who Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC). I can’t I’d contacted a few years ago after seeing her remember when I last sent an update for the Holly Xuereb (Thame) update in this newsletter. While I was at Birmingham I got hooked on swimming, newsletter, but since I started working with It’s been a busy couple of years for me – I cycling and running, and can now call myself the ICRC in 2013, I’ve worked in Libya, South got married in May 2015 to David and an ‘Ironman’ after finishing both Ironman New Sudan, and the Central African Republic – then we bought our first house together Zealand in 2016 and Ironman UK in 2017. seeing some of the worst, but also the best, of later that year near Cambridge. In Swimming is still not my strong point, but I humanity. I’m now in Geneva working at the November 2016 we welcomed our have represented Great Britain in the 25-29 headquarters for a short period, but go back daughter, Cleo Violet into the world! I age category in long-distance duathlon (run- to South Sudan in early 2018. I’ve happily have been loving maternity leave, it is by bike-run) at European and World managed to find a person to share this way of far the best job I’ve ever done but also championship races, finishing 2016 as world life with – he is waiting for me to join him in the hardest at the same time! I will return champion. Those of you who remember me Juba, where he manages the ICRC health to work in November where I am still from school might find this as a big surprise: it team. I do manage to get back to the UK every working for the NHS in a Child and still shocks me sometimes too! If you fancy now and then and, when I do, I enjoy catching Adolescent Mental Health Service. For keeping up to date, then I write a blog at up with several St Helen’s friends. now I’m just soaking up every moment of rosiedaviesblog.wordpress.com, or maybe E: [email protected] being a Mummy, I can’t believe she is just see you in the park at 9am on a almost a year old already, where does the Saturday morning? time go?! Gemma E: [email protected] Khan E: [email protected] (Miller- GROUP 75 (2008 leavers) Smith) GROUP 73 (2006 leavers) I’ve been a primary school Honor Truong (Rankin) teacher for eight Katie years now and lived in London Nairne for six of them. I got engaged in Since last October March of this year, (2016) I got married and had a baby, so it’s and the wedding been a milestone of a year for me! took place at the end of October! I’m Adam and I are loving bonding with Mia, who currently working full time on the was born in August. We’re cherishing each curatorial team at House of Illustration, a moment, as we all know time flies by! gallery near King’s Cross, but also doing E: [email protected] my own illustration – mostly small commission-based stuff. GROUP 71 (2004 leavers) E: [email protected] Last year I got married on 29th July so last year was a busy one full of organising! Despite Katie Preece GROUP 74 (2007 leavers) marrying a Scouser we are firmly settled in I thought that 13 years after leaving St Helen’s South London for the time being. it was finally time to share some news! After E: [email protected] ten very happy years in London I moved to Rosalind New York in April 2017. I work for an education company called Pearson, working on Davies employee engagement, communication and After graduating from change strategies. I love it, and I love living in the University of New York. I’m in touch with Liz Chapman (née Birmingham with my Wollen), Gina Houston (née Holme), Becca PhD last year, I moved Eighteen, Sophie Griffiths, Eleanor Hall, Kate back down to

Old Girls’ Newsletter 2017-18 41 Old Girls’ news

GROUP 76 (2009 leavers) Leeds Beckett University. I am investigating GROUP 81 (2014 leavers) perceptions of the role of the state and commerce in the healthy eating debate, with Helena Izett particular focus on the role that the media Molly Garmroudi I’ve just completed the Vodafone Global plays in shaping the perceptions. When I I am currently in my final year at university Graduate Scheme and have now started a moved to Leeds in February 2017, I started race studying Art History. I go to the University of permanent role within the organisation. I work walking. In my first six months as a race walker I Manchester and have a passion for art. raced for England in Bratislava, the Czech as a Business Manager in the Internet of Things A: 177 Thame Road, Warborough, Wallingford Republic and in Switzerland – and broke department, and primarily focus on improving OX10 7DH records in the process – becoming the fastest functions and processes internally. If anyone E: [email protected] would like to know more about the Graduate female in British history in their debut 20km M: 07548887558 Scheme – please feel free to contact me. race. I also became British Champion and raced for the British team in the European Cup, and Facebook: Molly Garmroudi E: [email protected] the World Athletics Championships in London. It has been a whirlwind of an experience but I GROUP 77 (2010 leavers) am enjoying the ride and am working hard. Next season brings with it the Commonwealth Games, the World Race Walking cup and the Hannah Findley European Championships – so there is still lots I am engaged to be married to David Allsop, and of training to be done…watch this space! we are in the process of buying a home together E: [email protected] in north Worcestershire. Facebook: Gemma Bridge LinkedIn: Gemma Bridge Georgina Wilkinson I have just recently secured a new flat rental GROUP 80 (2013 leavers) in Putney, South London. I have been living in Swindon for work for the last year and a half now, so it will be great to get my own place in London again. I know a lot of you are based in and around London so please get in touch if you’d like to grab brunch! E: [email protected] M: 07825617791

GROUP 78 (2011 leavers)

Eleanor Barber It was an absolute honour in July to marry my best friend Peter Katriona Donnelly Henry Barber, without I’ve just returned from another summer spent whom I would not have working at a summer camp in Upstate New been able to launch my York! Fourth year at Edinburgh University new business, Cornforth Studios, running artist means a lot of work but this summer has been studios and gallery space in Newbury! one of the best ever. I’ve been Theatre Director E: [email protected] at camp for two years and this summer produced Aladdin and Beauty and the Beast with children from six to 14, coming from all Gemma Bridge over America as well as Turkey, China, Venezuela I left St Helen and St and many other places too. Camp has been the Katharine in 2011. Since greatest experience of my life: I’ve made friends then I have graduated all over the world, tried new sports and from The University of activities and realized how much I am able to Birmingham with a BSc achieve. Coming back from camp is always a in Human Biology and I shock so this year I’m spreading the camp-love, have also graduated from McNeese State and helping new people find a summer camp University, USA, with an MSc in Health they will thrive at. If you’re interested, drop me Promotion and Exercise Physiology. I was in the a Facebook message and you can have the USA on an athletic scholarship. Since returning best summer ever :) to the UK last summer I have started a PhD at Facebook: Katy Donz

42 Our thoughts are with the families and friends of the following In memoriam Old Girls who have passed away.

Sheila Arthur (née Graham), Group 30 – On 8 April 2017 Rosemary Best, Group 36 – On 20 February 2017 Margaret Blades (née Harris), Group 13 – On 15th January 2017 Angela Coulson (née Fuller), Group 20 – On 22 March 2016 Elizabeth (Brenda) Dawlings (née Lofts), Group 15 – On 25 February 2016 Mary Dee, Group C13 – On 24 September 2015 Mary Gardiner (née Faulkner), Group C08 – On 12 January 2017 Joyce Hodinott (née Wickens), Group 13 – On 10 January 2017 Pat Hunt (née Cook), Group 26 – On 6 September 2017 Sheila Langdon, Group 14 – On 27 April 2016 Kathleen Marsh, Teacher of Art – August 2016 Marjorie Osborne (née Read), Group 21 – On 5 March 2017 Betsey Smith (née Wellington), Group 20 – On 31 December 2016 Suzanne Jane Thomson (née Morris), Group 59 – In November 2017 Ottie Uden, Group 81 – On 13 October 2017

Old Girls’ Newsletter 2017-18 43 In memory

Post-war she taught at St. Christopher’s school in Ottie Uden, Hampstead, London and met my father at the Group 81 – On 13 October 2017 Vagabonds social club in Pinner where she played tennis, participated in amateur dramatics and Ottie Uden joined St Helen’s in 2007, where our parents musical revue shows. She continued to teach on a feared she might struggle due to supposedly not being part time basis once children (Tim, David and very academic! It was soon clear however that St Helen’s Robin) arrived. was exactly the right place for Ottie. With her characteristic Dad died roughly 35 years ago leaving a huge hole enthusiasm she got stuck in to everything and anything, in all our lives. Mum, not being someone who let never one to get embarrassed and always with a smile the grass grow under her feet, filled her life with a whatever the outcome. She even attended one of her first plethora of activities. She would roam Market Abingdon discos in an outfit that included a neon tutu and Harborough on Saturdays devouring coffee in aid legwarmers! Ottie quickly made many wonderful friends of countless charities. She baked cakes in copious whom she remained very close to throughout school and quantities particularly at Christmas and she when she went on to university. She not only achieved devised quizzes to raise money for friends of the fantastic academic results, but was a brilliant lacrosse player, local church. She became Chair of the local district a school prefect and at times a rather too loud member of Scout Association, a member of the parole board all her form groups! She also played the violin in multiple music groups, and her favourite at Gartree prison in the days when it was a part of chapel was singing hymns with great gusto even when everyone was feeling a little maximum security prison – she thought nothing sleepy at 8.30 in the morning. Ottie unashamedly loved school, and I can remember of interviewing mass murderers and I rather countless conversations discussing how we didn’t really understand how people could look suspect she wasn’t easily fooled by their claims. back on their school experience with anything but fondness. I think it is fair to say, and maybe She also raised large sums for Macmillan nurses as there is some sisterly bias, but Ottie was an incredibly well-loved, albeit cheeky, member of Chair of the local branch of the charity. the school community, who teachers and pupils alike have so many fond memories of. She loved animals – for many years there were Ottie left St Helen’s in 2014 and went on to study medicine at Bristol University. Similarly to aviaries in the garden – which housed budgies, St Helen’s, Ottie embraced all that Bristol had to offer although she always recalled with finches, quails and canaries. A succession of dogs happy nostalgia her days at St Helen’s. graced the house. I am so saddened to write that my wonderful little sister Ottie passed away in the early hours Mum enjoyed travelling. She and my father of Friday 13th October 2017. She had a suspected viral infection and was admitted to the travelled to the continent for holidays even in the John Radcliffe Hospital. From this time she began to rapidly deteriorate, being transferred to 1950s which I suspect was not the norm for most intensive care. She fought so hard and even the last time we spoke to her she continued to couples. She was over 70 when she bought a make us and all the staff laugh. She was with her family at the end, and she is now at peace. round the world air ticket and visited Singapore, We are hugely grateful to all the staff at the JR ICU who went above and beyond. Australia, New Zealand, Hawaii, and Canada. More For me and I am sure many others, Ottie represented the recently she travelled on her own to Cyprus, to Sri very best of St Helen’s. A bright, conscientious and Lanka, to Reykjavik and spent the last of several exceptional young woman who lit up any room she walked holidays in the West Indies as recently as seven into. I have no doubt she would have continued to be a years ago. credit to the school and all who knew her through her work Tim Blades as a doctor. Thank you for all the kind messages from alumnae and staff, it is hugely comforting to know how Elizabeth (Brenda) Dawlings fond everyone was of Ottie. She will be forever in our hearts. (née Lofts), Lydia Uden Group 15 – On 25 February 2016

Brenda (always known by her second name) sadly Margaret Blades (née Harris), was stationed in the Middle East at that time. At died in February 2016, just days before her 87th Group 13 – On 15th January 2017 the age of two she had crossed the Mediterranean birthday. She was a boarder in St Margaret’s House back to the UK, the family home became Marcham at St Helen and St Katharine with her best friend Extract from the and she attended St Katharine’s Girls School Diana Murray-Shirriff throughout the Second eulogy at the service originally in Wantage and subsequently Abingdon. World War. She enjoyed lacrosse and tennis and of thanksgiving 2 She clearly relished these formative years holding shone at music, playing the piano and viola and February 2017 fond memories of school life; she was delighted to singing in the Chapel choir. She formed a lifelong My mother had an attend an ‘Old Girls’ lunch’ a few years ago and friendship with Miss Mary Shott (later Sister Mary enormously rich life looked forward to regularly hearing about Christine) who was head of music. Just after the encompassing a broad St Helen’s. war, Brenda and I went to the Prom concerts at the spectrum of people and Leaving St Helen’s in 1941 she trained in Bedford as Albert Hall and also when were both students in experiences. Anyone born, as she was, in 1922, a teacher and with war raging out she looked after London. Brenda studied at the Guildhall of Music lived through a period of huge drama and change, a class of primary school age children. The and as a music teacher went to a school technologically, economically, politically and rationing and shortage of all sorts of materials in Penzance. socially; the world became smaller, she witnessed meant that she was loathe to throw anything In 1953 I attended her wedding to Richard a period of moon landings, television and of away – as visitors to her house throughout the Dawlings and in 1956 they moved to Stocking course the Second World War. This shaped her life, years would testify. She recalled the story of how Pelham in Herts with their two young children. in many instances enriching it and of course she would whitewash sheets of newspaper in Elizabeth and Tom; two years later David was born. establishing values that lived with her throughout order that the children had paper to draw on We kept in touch and in 1965 Elizabeth Bowles those 94 years. in 1944. (née Dawlings) became a boarder at St Helen’s. By Mum was born in Alexandria, Egypt because my It was this wartime pragmatism which ensured then Michael and I were living in Garsington not grandfather who was in Maintenance Command that few things obviously rattled her calm exterior. far from Abingdon, so Brenda and Richard

44 sometimes stayed with us when visiting their then in March was diagnosed with her illness. At Blackwell’s, and were an inspiration to all their daughter. Brenda had a large garden and grew our school reunion last year, we went backstage to colleagues and friends.’ wonderful vegetables. She also taught piano and the theatre, as Pat’s passion was Amateur Of course there was the added pleasure of the played the organ in their village church. She was a Dramatics, which she discovered in her thirties. second-hand book department where she spent great supporter of the Old Girls’ Association and She was delighted with the well-equipped theatre many of her lunch hours, happily browsing the revisited the school on many occasions. In 1997 which was non-existent in our school days. She books. Her home library grew rapidly! Anyone she organised a secret lunch party in the Chilterns was an accomplished amateur actress and director who visited her bungalow would know she never for OGs in Group 15. This was to celebrate my 50 among her many other talents. Although our needed any wall paper… there were books from years as Group Secretary and I shall never forget meetings were infrequent over the years, we still floor to ceiling and often on chairs and tables, in her kindness and my amazement when I arrived at became ‘school girls’ when we were together. Pat cupboards and wardrobes as well. She was truly a the event. was a vibrant, unique person who will be greatly Lady of Literature! missed by her family and many friends. Richard died after a long illness in 1994, and Sheila loved being outdoors, particularly in her Brenda’s increasing deafness and progressive Norma Fernside (Bragg) garden growing vegetables and also flowers to rheumatoid arthritis eventually necessitated a give to her visitors. She never liked to be closed in, move to a care home near Bishop’s Stortford Sheila Langdon, her back door was always wide open during where she was wonderfully cared for. Ruth Walker Group 14 – On 27 April 2016 daylight hours come rain or shine as she never felt and I visited her every year and were both able to the cold and was happy for the company of the go to her Thanksgiving Service on 14th March Sheila was born in Appleton at the home of her local cats who called regularly. Sheila loved animals 2016 at Stocking Pelham, a lovely sunny day, and grandparents. Her mother trained at a college in and was a generous supporter of several animal coincidentally my birthday. Bristol as a schoolteacher and her father was an welfare charities. Shirley Royal (née Ratcliff) excellent violinist. Sadly her mother died when Sheila was only two months old so she remained Over the years her warm, kind, gentle and with her grandparents for the rest of their lives. generous nature drew people to her and her Mary Dee, extended family came to include friends in Group C13 – On 24 September 2015 Amongst Sheila’s treasured letters there is a poignant, handwritten one from her father, which Appleton; school friends such as Joan Stagg from the St Helen’s days For three extremely happy years Mary was a must have pained him to write, in which he gave boarder at St Katharine’s School in Wantage custody of Sheila to her grandparents. Then a It is true to say that none of Sheila’s qualities (c1932-5) a period she recalled warmly, treasuring second tragedy struck the family when he too diminished as she approached her 90s although the lifelong friendships made. She would talk of died suddenly of scarlet fever. So, by the age of five later her hearing and mobility were compromised, how she and her school friends had dreamed of Sheila had lost both parents. This had a lasting limitations a previously independent Sheila found being re-united in their old age, cared for by the influence on her life and helped to develop her very frustrating. She never wanted to be a burden Sisters of Wantage. Her education ended early strong sense of the importance of ’family’. to anyone and was deeply appreciative of all that when she was required to return home as a carer Sheila grew up in a secure and loving home, her grandparents had sacrificed to give her a to her widowed mother. All from the Shipton though it had its challenges, as her grandfather loving home and the best of educations. Her under Wychwood area, Mary was bridesmaid at was Headmaster of Appleton School and her simple but rock solid faith in God and her trust that my parents’ wedding and remained a dear grandmother, a gifted needle woman with he would faithfully sustain her throughout her life, family friend. exacting standards. were an example to us all. She was a good friend and in her own selfless sincere way, a true light She was ordained as a Deaconess in 1964 and Sheila was fortunate to gain a place at St. Helen’s, shining in our world. worked in numerous parishes. From 1972-81 she Abingdon where she blossomed and excelled in Janet Thompson was a popular diocesan worker in Cumnor, Oxon. Geography; History; Languages and English On her retirement a quarter peal of bells was rung Literature. She wrote several articles of a high Suzanne Jane Thomson (née Morris), in thanksgiving for her service. Mary moved to quality for the school magazine and as a Bournemouth in 1989 as did my own family, by consequence of her great love of poetry and a true Group 59 – Suzi sadly passed away chance. She was a sociable, warm character with a delight in the complexity of the English language, peacefully in November 2017. delightfully wry humour and memorable chuckle. wrote many pieces of her own. Born in April 1974, Suzi joined St Helen and St For as long as she was able, she continued to play At seventeen, Sheila trained as a secretary and Katharine in 1986 and enjoyed many happy years an active role in her local church, All Saints, worked in Oxford until the outbreak of World War studying, having fun, playing lacrosse and Southbourne, founding a choir, arranging outings II. As her contribution to the war effort she joined swimming – we have had so many wonderful and preaching at short notice. Her funeral at All the Ministry of Food and Fisheries until 1945. Then, messages from her friends at St Helen’s in the past Saints Church was well attended, many elderly to her great joy she was offered a position in the few weeks, which have been most comforting to friends and former parishioners travelling long offices of the bookshop, Blackwells, editing read. Moving onto Royal Holloway University, she distances to pay their respects and with her former documents and material for journals, ultimately achieved a 2.1 in French and Italian Literature and choir members and the retired organist they being responsible for the ordering and distribution then moved to London with her soon-to-be helped raise the roof with their singing in of the latter to many places of learning throughout husband Mike and started her career at Informa. thanksgiving for her life. It was very moving. the world. By hard work and natural ability she She swiftly climbed the ranks and became a Written by Judy Parsons (née Treweeke) became second in command in the Periodicals Conference Director, travelling the world and even Division, the indispensable right hand woman to walking the red carpet at the Cannes Film Festival! Pat Hunt (née Cook), her bosses Fred Stephens and John Merriman. She Returning to Oxford in 2004, she joined UKAEA, Group 26 – On 6 September 2017 was much respected by everyone with whom she worked especially by the Gaffer, Sir Basil Blackwell however her depression from which she had been suffering for a number of years gradually became Last year, a news update was published in the who took Sheila and another Appleton employee, worse, culminating in her being unable to work. magazine from Pat Hunt (née Cook), who was my Christine Harris to and from Oxford every day. Here Her husband and family did all that they could, but best friend from our school days. Sadly, I have to is a quote from Toby Blackwell, Sir Basil’s son. sadly the marriage ended in 2006. inform you that Pat died in September after a short ‘Sheila was one of those wonderful British ladies, battle with Sarcoma. Pat and her husband, Lawrie, who by their character and country wisdom, were Despite her short life she achieved a great deal. Her moved back to England in January this year and invaluable in building up private companies like whole family are very proud of her and she will be sorely missed.

Old Girls’ Newsletter 2017-18 45 What’s on

Old Girls’ events 2018-19

We are excited to offer a growing and varied events programme for the St Helen and St Katharine alumnae community. These are your events, so we welcome your feedback or ideas. If you can help facilitate a networking event at your workplace, please do get in touch with us at [email protected]

Trinity term 2018 Lent term 2019

Friday 11 May 2018 Saturday 16 March 2019 Professional Networking Event for those working in the SHSK Society Golden Anniversary Reunion creative industries A warm welcome back to St Helen and St Katharine if you left 6pm, County Hall, Westminster Bridge, London school in 1969 or earlier. Register now at https://shsksociety.org.uk

Saturday 9 June 2018 Trinity term 2019 SHSK Society 10, 20, 25, 30 and 40 Year Anniversary Reunion Saturday 8 June 2019 We warmly welcome back all those who left St Helen’s in 2008, SHSK Society 10, 20, 25, 30 and 40 Year Anniversary Reunion 1998, 1993, 1988 or 1978 Open to all those who left in 2009, 1999, 1994, 1989 or 1979

Michaelmas term 2018 We send invitations to events by email or post. To view the latest events or book your place visit https://shsksociety.org.uk or email the Saturday 8 September 2018 Alumnae Office at [email protected]. Old Girls’ Annual Lax Match

September 2018 Professional Networking Event for those working in healthcare and medicine Venue to be confirmed

46 Staying in touch We are delighted to announce the launch of our new online networking platform for St Helen and St Katharine alumnae and former staff, https://shsksociety.org.uk

By joining you will be able to:

• Reconnect with old friends from school • Expand your professional links through the St Helen’s alumnae community • Share and celebrate your news • Gain exclusive access to school magazines and photos from your time at St Helen’s • Register for reunions and networking events • Hear the latest news from other alumnae • Check your details are up to date

Join our network at https://shsksociety.org.uk Follow us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/ogsthelens Visit our website at www.shsk.org.uk Contact the Alumnae Office at [email protected] or 01235 520173

Old Girls’ Newsletter 2017-18 47 St Helen and St Katharine Faringdon Road, Abingdon, OX14 1BE 01235 520173 [email protected] www.shsk.org.uk Company No: 1710695 Registered Charity No: 286892