Masonica 2021
The Alumnae Magazine
Welcome to the 2021 edition of Masonica It has been a real pleasure to bring together alumnae stories from around the world for this edition of Masonica. You will find success stories, discussions of issues that took centre stage in 2020 like Black Lives Matter and climate change, as well as reflections on RMS in the 1940s right through to 2020. I do hope you enjoy the read. In a year when meetings became virtual, we had the opportunity to reinvent our events programme. We were able to run some of our regular events online (including Drill!) which more people than ever could attend. Old girls from all over the country – and indeed from all over the world – joined us for Remembrance Sunday and the Advent Service. Some of these women hadn’t been back to school since they left (in some cases over 50 years ago) and many have written in to say how much they enjoyed seeing the buildings and grounds once more.
Masonica Please email your stories and updates to masonica@rmsforgirls.com RMS for Girls, Rickmansworth Park, Rickmansworth, Hertfordshire WD3 4HF 01923 725772 Editor: Lucia Hull Contributing Editors: Sereen Aley, Jessica Read
You will see from our forthcoming events pages that reunions and events have been tentatively pencilled in the diary with all the necessary caveats. Please do save the dates; we very much hope to see you soon. As always, if you have news to share, whether personal or professional or if you simply want to keep in touch, we would be delighted to hear from you. Lucia Hull, Development Manager
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Front Cover Photograph: Gal Alkalay Design & Production: Gma.eu.com Masonica is produced using Certified FSC carbon-free paper
Contents
Page
Contents
Page
Welcome from the Development Office
2
Class of 2020 destinations
25
Contents
3
From the artroom
26-29
From the Headmaster
4-5
An interview with Clare Freeman
30-31
Events roundup
6-7
From the archives
32-33
Forthcoming events
8-9
Mentoring and membership update
34
The Grace Robinson Memorial Fund
35
News from our Regional co-ordinators
10-11
CATCHING UP WITH OLD GIRLS:
Obituaries
Tamsin Green (Class of 2012)
12-13
Jenny Marsh (Class of 1987)
14-15
Diana MacFadyen (Class of 1947)
16-17
Agnes Abelson (Class of 2016)
18-19
Manayka Walia (Class of 2019)
20-21
Brenda Barnes (Class of 1949)
22-23
Rhiannon Jenkins (Class of 2015)
36-43
24
Masonica 2021 | 3
our school | from the Headmaster
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A message from our Headmaster
A
summary of the year 2020 at The Royal Masonic School? Goodness, where shall I begin? 2020 has been quite the year for everybody, of course, demanding a lot of one and all, and it has certainly been an unprecedented year for anybody involved in education. Who could have predicted a year ago that soon all school buildings in the United Kingdom would close, that all examinations would be cancelled, and that a mass experiment in remote and online learning would soon commence and last for months? The response of the entire community at RMS has been truly exceptional. Everything that you might expect and more. I am moved each time I reflect on all that my colleagues, our pupils, and all RMS families
“
and it asked a lot of our pupils. Academically, they made fabulous progress, applying the independence and resilience that you would expect of an RMS girl to this new context. But what was amazing was the degree to which teachers and pupils worked together to put the ethos of our school online. Beyond the regular timetable we had online concerts, two House Days, over 60 co-curricular clubs, staff and pupils made three online films, there were Sports Days, crazy hair days, recordings of staff songs, pupil-led choirs, a Remembrance Service, online Drill, school podcasts, a Sixth Form ‘Thought for the Day’, and an ‘Early Early Show’ hosted by our two Head Girls, Evie and Miranda (yes, that’s right, two Head Girls are better than one!). Learning online during lockdown is isolating; not meeting your friends every day is perhaps the hardest sacrifice for our pupils. But while we couldn’t connect in person for much of this year, the RMS girls and staff did everything possible to connect with one another virtually and to put the spirit and ethos of our incredible school on to Google Classroom. Most importantly, the school community stayed safe. We all worked hard putting in measures too numerous to mention here and all behaving responsibly with bubble groups, social distancing, hygiene, and lots of ventilation. Windows remained open throughout Michaelmas term and classrooms were so cold by late November that wearing the uniform was suspended so pupils could wear whatever clothes and however many layers best kept them warm. The number of positive cases of COVID has so far remained in single figures at RMS (with the national average for schools over 60 and some schools suffering with hundreds of cases). There is a long way to go and no room for complacency; doing all that we can to keep everybody connected with our community as safe as possible is the highest priority of my colleagues and I.
the switch to online learning happened within a day at RMS
have done to pull together and to make the very best of a demanding situation. It sounds amazing to write it as I think back now, but the switch to online learning happened within a day at RMS, with lessons and learning taking place for our pupils immediately once schools closed. I am myself a parent of two RMS pupils, and the window that online learning provided into the professionalism of our teachers was inspirational. We have of course simultaneously run in-person school for vulnerable pupils and for children of critical workers, and we kept our boarding houses open until all girls were able to safely return home last Easter and through school holidays for those girls who needed it. Even now, in the third lockdown, January 2021, there are almost twodozen overseas boarders being cared for by a dedicated team of RMS staff on The Garth. The pupils cannot safely get home yet, and we would not wish for them to be looked after anywhere but within the RMS family.
I was once told that how you define a professional is the ability to perform at the highest level in the toughest of circumstances, and every RMS colleague, those working in boarding, all teachers and teaching assistants, the medical team, and all of our support staff have been the epitome of this definition of professionalism. The pupils themselves have of course also been incredible. While the technological learning curve may have been greater for a 14-year-old than a 47-year-old (like myself), learning online is nonetheless different
”
I hope that you enjoy reading this issue of Masonica as much as I have done myself. It is wonderful to hear from the class of 1947 and 194 just as it is to hear from students I know well such as Manayka from the class of 2019. Manayka – thank you very much for your reading recommendation; it was a significant and eye-opening experience for me too. I send you all best wishes from everybody here at RMS. The reunions and gatherings we all hoped for in 2020 could not take place, but this time will pass and we hope soon to see you back here with us at your school, The Royal Masonic School for Girls.
Kevin Carson Headmaster
Masonica 2021 | 5
our school | alumnae events in 2020
The Events
Roundup Looking back, it is hard to believe that normal reunion events took place as recently as February 2020. However, since then, we have had some wonderful virtual reunions that have perhaps set a precedent for the future that none of us would have foreseen a year ago. This has allowed us to remain connected throughout this pandemic. That said, we look forward to a time when we can organise in-person events again, whether at RMS or further afield. Since lockdown, we have held a number of virtual events including ‘Drill at Home’, Zoom Reunions and Remembrance Sunday. Pictured to the right are some photos of the highlights.
Charity Drill Over 160 Old Girls, Staff, Former Staff and parents braved Storm Ciara to take part in Charity Drill on Sunday 9 February. Some of our Old Girls travelled from as far away as France and the USA for this special occasion. The afternoon started with a three-hour practice led by an amazing team of Drill Prefects who managed to get the drillers on to their marks in just a few hours. After a Sunday Roast in the Dining Hall, the performers were ready for the show for friends and family – the Great Hall balcony and stage were packed!
Careers Breakfast with the Sixth Form On Thursday 13 February, we welcomed seven Old Girls back to school to talk to the Sixth Form about their careers. We had an amazing range of industries represented including Psychology, Geology, Aerospace, Illustration, Patisserie and Engineering. The Sixth Form arrived early for coffee and croissants and were soon introduced to the Old Girls. Each Old Girl chatted to the pupils in small groups. The girls were able to ask questions and find out more about them and their journeys since leaving RMS. The Sixth Form were thrilled to have met this amazing panel of women and were thoroughly inspired for their futures. A huge thank you to our Old Girls for joining us for this event; Susan Buckle (2003), Emma Cowlam (2005) Alex Kenison (2011), Sharina Nathan (2010), Gayatri Sahay (2009), Megann Whattam (2015) and Pippa Withers (2003).
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Thank you to all those who took part and we look forward to running this event again when COVID-19 is a distant memory…
Drill at Home 5 June 2020
Classes of 1965 – 1972 Virtual Reunion 8 October 2020
Classes of 1973 – 1982 Virtual Reunion 22 October 2020
Remembrance Sunday 8 November 2020 Masonica 2021 | 7
our alumnae community | forthcoming events
Dates for your diary To find out more and register for any of these events please visit: www.rmsforgirls.com/alumnaeevents. We are really looking forward to welcoming everyone back to school as soon as we are able. All of the live events listed here are subject to change according to government guidance on social distancing. To hear all the latest news from RMS and especially updates about events, please make sure we have your up-todate contact details by emailing development@rmsforgirls.com or completing the online form at www.rmsforgirls.com/alumnaedetails.
University Choices Thursday 22 April 2pm – 3.30pm Zoom Our Year 12 students will soon be making important decisions about university destinations. If you are currently at university, on a GAP year or doing an apprenticeship we would love to give them the opportunity to talk to you about your experiences. At a time when the girls haven’t been able to visit universities, your insights are extremely valuable! This will be a virtual event where you will be able to talk to the students in breakout rooms about your course and university. There is no need to prepare anything in advance but if you would like to join please simply register at www.rmsforgirls.com/alumnaeevents and we will send details for how to join in due course.
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Sports Day Saturday 3 July 2pm – 5pm We very much hope we will be able to welcome you to Sports Day this year, with sparkling wine, afternoon tea and the chance to catch up with school friends on the athletics field. Tours of the school with current pupils will also be on offer during the afternoon. Please register if you plan to attend at: www.rmsforgirls.com/alumnaeevents.
Remembrance Sunday Sunday 14 November 9am – 3pm
Recent Leavers’ Barbecue Friday 10 September 5pm – 8pm The Classes of 2016 – 2021 are invited back to school for a relaxed evening in the Rose Garden of Hind House. Drinks, a barbecue, catch-ups with teachers and friends promise a wonderful evening. Please register to attend at www.rmsforgirls.com/alumnaeevents.
Alumnae, their family and friends are invited to Remembrance Sunday, also known as Old Girls Day. All the elements of the day will be in place: tea and coffee on arrival, the Remembrance Service in the Chapel, Drill in the Great Hall, traditional roast lunch in the Dining Hall followed by tours of the school. Tickets must be booked in advance. There is a £15 charge for lunch which includes wine. To register please visit: www.rmsforgirls.com/alumnaeevents.
Museum of Freemasonry Tour Date to be confirmed Museum of Freemasonry, Great Queen Street, London 11am – 3pm The tour of the Museum of Freemasonry, originally planned for Spring 2020, will be rescheduled. We will let all those who have registered know when a date is confirmed. If you haven’t booked but would like to join us for a tour of the museum and to view special items from the archive followed by lunch at a restaurant nearby, please get in touch with the Development Office. Tickets to include lunch and drinks cost £20.
The Advent Service Sunday 28 November 7pm – 9pm Join us at the start of Advent for a special evening back at school. Reverend John Quill will lead this reflective service, which culminates in the school hymn sung by candlelight followed by mulled wine and mince pies. This is the perfect way to kick off the festive season, please do register if you plan to attend at www.rmsforgirls.com/alumnaeevents.
Masonica 2021 | 9
our alumnae community | regional news
NEWS from our Regional Co-ordinators
West of England
Scotland
15 MAY
This will be my first year as the West of England Co-ordinator having taken over from Maggie Williams (Orr – 1975, Zetland). Because of how things are right now I will organise an afternoon tea at my home in Chipping Sodbury on Saturday 15 May 2021 from 1pm to 5pm, tea at 3pm. If you would like to join then please do email on suefitzhugh62@gmail.com. This is my lockdown story; nothing else got done!!! As a result of the desire to have another dog we mated our Cocker Spaniel, Honey, in February with a very handsome apricot poodle. With a 63 - day gestation period her due date was to be around 22 April 2020. Because lockdown was imminent on 27 March I managed to quickly organise a 28 - day scan as I needed to prepare. The scan revealed no puppies... Very disappointing. As lockdown progressed Honey seemed to lose all her desire to do the things she loved. Going for a run, jumping into the Land Rover, chasing the chickens out of the house when the door was open to name but a few. We thought she was very ill with such a drastic change in her behaviour and I remember my husband saying she’s either seriously ill or pregnant! We had an interesting FaceTime vet call where it was thought she may have a virus. She was prescribed antibiotics which did seem to pick her up a bit. She had put on a bit of weight but we assumed too many tidbits, with all at home, and her reluctance to be very energetic. On Saturday 18 April I felt a flutter as I stroked her. On Tuesday 21 April a scan at the vets revealed at least two well - developed puppies and likely more. Due the next day!!!! It was then a mad rush to get some sort of whelping area accomplished. On the evening of Tuesday 28 April 2020, eight little Cockerpoo puppies joined our family and I have learnt that fertilisation of eggs in dogs can take quite a number of days after mating, hence the 28 - day negative scan. Dr Allen didn’t teach us that!!
We have made no arrangements to have a meeting this year yet, however, once we are allowed to travel and eat out again the plan is to arrange something. Last year, we had thought to go to Cromlix, Andy Murray’s hotel in Dunblane, so let’s hope that can be arranged in due course. If you’d like to be notified of the details once they are confirmed, please get in touch with me at: v.leadbeater@yahoo.com. Veronica Leadbeater – 1964, Ruspini
The East Midlands
08 MAY
If you are interested in joining the East Midland Reunion on Saturday 8 May please email me at deb.ellis27@hotmail.co.uk. Deborah Ellis (Jacques) – 1975, Zetland
The South West
10 JUL
2020 has been an interesting year, with reunions and many other events cancelled. Down here in the South West we have been lucky, we have had problems and at times it has been difficult. Normally on a Monday I am off to Killerton House for my volunteering slot. That unfortunately stopped in February for me as I fell whilst walking the dog and fractured my shoulder in two places. Come Lockdown 1, I was already limited in what I could do. However, I quickly discovered I could use my sewing machine and made masks for friends, family and our Church. Did you know there are around two million mask designs out there? Personally I like the dinner plate design!
All the pups thrived, gave us great entertainment and subsequently went to lovely homes. We have kept two!!
I met up with school friends via Zoom which was amazing, especially as I’ve discovered one who lives up the road in Taunton; once the tiers are sorted we’ll meet up. I have missed seeing the Old Girls in Paignton, but I hope to plan a reunion for Saturday 10 July 2021. If you would like to come along then let me know: bejacksonuk@yahoo.co.uk and I can let you know when details are confirmed.
Sue Fitzhugh (Darlington) – 1979, Connaught
Barbara Jackson (Briscoe) – 1970, Zetland
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“
you could say my keeping in touch skills learned as an organiser over the years, have stood me in good stead throughout the past year
”
East Anglia
12 JUN
I guess you could say that over the last 20 years as a regional organiser I have become very used to keeping in touch with ‘my’ old girls; 2020 was no exception. I upped my game though. I keep in touch with about 15 old girls, 11 of whom are my local ones. I sent round robin emails, phoned and wrote, so I was able to keep in touch with them all, in one way or another. I am a volunteer for my local Hospice, and usually have a patient to visit weekly, but as that was no longer possible, I phoned regularly. Sadly my patient died in September, however I continue to support the family. I also have a ‘telephone friend’ through the Hospice, and enjoy weekly chats to her. My parish church also run a ‘Reaching Out’ project, and I am involved with that too, checking on elderly and vulnerable members of the congregation, by phone calls or emails, and occasionally going for a walk with them. So you could say my keeping in touch skills learned as an organiser over the years, have stood me in good stead throughout the past year. It is a privilege to be in contact and hopefully providing much - needed support. We have a provisional date for our 2021 reunion, Saturday 12 June. It will be in Bury St Edmunds. Further details to follow in due course. Please do let me know if you would like to come along, by email at: lesleybishop974@btinternet.com. Lesley Bishop (Paxton) – 1962, Ruspini
The South East
10 JUL
2020… that was the year that was! December 2019 saw me handing in my notice to work and heading off into retirement. Lockdown hit and we joined the nation in clearing out and decorating and then... it dawned on me that I wasn’t suited for a quiet life! So out came the sewing machine, on went the oven and ‘LizzyLou…Makes and Bakes’, was born. I live in the beautiful Weald of Kent and have two of many Town and Farmers’ Markets on my doorstep. In September, I signed up for a regular pitch at each, put on my business hat and set myself up sewing, crafting and baking muffins and cookies. Aprons, Christmas stockings and present sacks, cushion covers, book covers with bookmarks, card hangers, bandanas to suit every pooch, child and adult, and of course masks of every shape, size and colour way have flown through my trusty sewing machine and been sent as far afield as Boston, USA and Australia. Apricot/pecan nut cookies to bacon, cheese and garlic muffins have been baked, packed and sold to the local community with re-orders coming in. When the markets have been permitted to run, it’s been quieter than normal but still with steady footfall. It has been hard work thus far but the time has flown, we have made new friends, laughed until we’ve cried and had fresh air to boot! What will 2021 bring? We don’t know but I am certainly going to make the most of every moment! We have set a date of Saturday 10 July as the Southern Reunion. Put the date in your diary, let me know if you would like to come along and we will send out more details in due course! Email lizzylou@uwclub.net.
The Home Counties
10 JUL
During this very difficult year I have not done too much as my husband was classed as vulnerable, which restricted us from doing things. I have kept myself busy with knitting and gardening and seeing family under restriction guidelines. I hope other people have also kept themselves busy enjoying various activities too.
Liz McLaren (Manger) – 1974, Connaught
Australia
I am organising the Home Counties South Reunion for Saturday 10 July 2021 at 11.45 for a 12.00 start at The Hart Boatyard near Kingston. Please let me know by Friday 11 June 2021 if you are able to join us either by email to monicaddrake@yahoo.co.uk, landline 0208 949 0694 or mobile 07957 374820.
At the moment, in Melbourne, we haven’t got a date for a reunion arranged. We may meet in April but nothing is confirmed as yet.
Monica Drake (Henn) – 1961, Atholl
Wendy Chorley (Morrison) – 1977, Ruspini
If you would like to be notified once a date is confirmed please get in touch with me at wendy.chorley@gmail.com.
Masonica 2021 | 11
catching up with old girls
Tamsin Green Class of 2012
F
ollowing her passion for geography, Tamsin became a meteorologist and weather forecaster. In the process, she has also picked up another career as a radio presenter.
We caught up with her to find out more about her dual career…
I was little in Florida, I was quite scared – my fascination and curiosity probably stemmed from fear. In all honesty, strong winds still scare me a little, even now! However, my passion for Geography truly developed at RMS. My teachers at the time (Miss Williams and Miss Cook) were the main drive behind this and really encouraged me to want to learn and understand more about the world we live in. Looking back at your time at school, what are your main impressions of RMS? It is very difficult to put into words how much my time at RMS impacted my childhood and made me the person that I am today. I used to wake up each day looking forward to school, and that’s something I don’t think many of my friends outside of RMS could say. The teachers were incredibly supportive and helpful, and I made the most amazing group of friends who I am still extremely close with to this day, over eight years after leaving. What did you do when you first left school? When I first left school I went on to the University of Leeds to do a
How did your interest in meteorology start? It sounds cliché, but the weather has always been something I have been fascinated by. I remember being in the midst of a hurricane when
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BSc in Geography. From there, I picked up a few elective modules in weather forecasting, which I really enjoyed, although it was a lot tougher than I’d anticipated! Before graduating I started looking into how I could get into a job as a Weather Forecaster. I spoke to a few potential employers and learnt that I would need a degree in Meteorology. So, I went and obtained a Masters in Meteorology and Climatology from the University of Birmingham. They were extremely helpful in terms of pointing us in the right direction of employers, and that is how I came across MetDesk, the private weather forecasting company in Buckinghamshire I have been working at since 2016. Although, it’s not just weather forecasting I do now.
What other experiences of work experience have been particularly formative or inspiring whether during school or uni?
What has it been like working as a meteorologist at a time when we seem to be seeing record-breaking weather patterns on a regular basis?
Work experience now is one of the most important things; employers always want people with experience, so unfortunately it’s a bit of a vicious circle. At school, work experience is tough because you don’t really know what you want, or what you’re doing, and people generally don’t like to give you too much responsibility. My University work experience was more beneficial, as they had the connections to get me a week’s weather forecasting, and I knew exactly what I wanted at that stage. Even at school though, I think the key is to do a bit more research to find somewhere a little more out of the ordinary, which I wish I’d taken the initiative to do back then. As long as you show your passion and curiosity, there is no reason why companies wouldn’t want to take you on.
Extreme weather events have become far more frequent over recent years, and whilst I’ve only been working as a Meteorologist for around four of them, it has still been enough to see the sheer scale of change occurring. Just as an example of some recent events, early data suggests we have just witnessed the hottest November globally on record, with this year also on track to be the hottest on record. To put this into perspective, parts of the Arctic averaged around 14°C above normal for the month. It’s also been the most active Atlantic hurricane season on record, with some pretty devastatingly strong storms. Whilst it is exciting forecasting and seeing such records break first-hand, it is also hugely concerning to understand why; climate change plays an enormous part. Yes, extreme weather events have always happened, but the intensity and frequency of these events is certainly not a natural cycle.
“
How did your career develop? Given that my Masters was a vocational degree, I was on the path I needed to take to get there, although I know most people don’t necessarily have that luxury, and that’s OK too! In terms of radio presenting, I had a friend who was a producer on TalkRadio whilst I was at University, and he used to occasionally call
I began co-hosting with one of the other presenters and from there ended up getting my own show, now every Monday evening 7-9pm!
me up for quick phone interviews during my studies, to ask about extreme and newsworthy events going on. That continued into my job at MetDesk too, and in the summer of 2018, he asked me to come into the studio for an interview. I was interviewed by Trisha Goddard and Mark Dolan, which was a really exciting experience and I absolutely loved the studio atmosphere. Around a year or so later I was put in touch with someone who was a producer at Vibe 107.6FM – a community radio station in Watford, with regards to going on air more regularly to give the weather forecast. I began co-hosting with one of the other presenters and from there ended up getting my own show, now every Monday evening 7-9pm! I really enjoy mixing things up, and not just having the one career. I love building new connections and meeting new people; working in two different industries has really opened up so many doors to that.
”
How have you found working during the pandemic? Thankfully, the pandemic really didn’t affect my job, and I feel very grateful for that as I know what a tough time it has been, and still is for a lot of people.
I’m classed as an essential worker at MetDesk as we provide forecasts for the transport sector, so my office only closed for around a month or two when we worked from home, but we’ve been back in the office for a while now. As I always say to people, the weather never stops! My hours can be really tough, 12 - hour shifts during both the day and night. So when I had to work from home, it actually made my day-to-day life a lot more manageable! One of the things that really helped during that time was getting out of the house for some fresh air and long walks. I started doing weekly weather forecast videos at the beginning of lockdown for the radio station I work for, which encouraged me to explore new areas to film from around London and Hertfordshire each week. I am still continuing them now and put each video up on my dedicated Instagram page @weathergirldiaries, which took up a lot of spare time! Are there any ways that your time at RMS has impacted what you do now and how you approach your work?
The most challenging thing is adapting to the hours of night shifts, and, without wishing to sound dramatic, making decisions that could have a serious impact on people’s lives. On cold and icy nights, it could be my forecast that councils rely on to decide whether they go and grit the roads or not. One of the most notable events I have worked on so far was in December 2018. It started snowing really heavily overnight, and I have
The opportunities at RMS and the positive influence of some of my teachers instilled a lot of confidence in me. I took up extra-curricular activities such as Model United Nations (MUN), and became the Head of Geography Club, which I think really helped my public speaking skills amongst other things. Now it is part of my job to go across the country
never experienced such a busy night shift with the phones ringing nonstop. I was absolutely exhausted by the end of it but was adamant to get home, even through the snow. Needless to say, I did not, and got stranded on the A41 for four hours. Quite ironic really considering I knew the situation better than anyone!
training various clients on how to interpret our weather forecasts (although this was on Zoom this year) along with speaking live on the radio, which can certainly be a daunting experience. I feel more equipped to deal with these aspects of my job and am extremely grateful to RMS for these skills.
Masonica 2021 | 13
catching up with old girls
Jenny Marsh née Harper
Class of 1987
I
n September 2014 I returned to school as a teacher, having spent seven years there as a pupil in the early 80s. I found the school, in its physical state, to be a very different place to how I remembered it.
The San was now the Junior School, called Cadogan House, the single music practice room corridors had been demolished and replaced by the main reception, and New Mark Hall and the PE department now had a large self-contained sports centre with a sprung floor gym, large sports hall, squash courts, fitness suite and changing rooms located on the Uppers. I think the most dramatic difference between then and now though was that the houses around the Garth were no longer all boarding houses and had different names. When I was a pupil the school was predominantly made up of boarders, although I was one of the first Day Girls to join the school. We were all part of a house and would return to our houses for breaks and after school. We were even given numbers – I was Sussex 47 – which all our clothes were labelled with rather than our names! From east to west around the Garth, the houses were Ruspini, Zetland, Moira, Connaught, Sussex, Alexander, Atholl and Cumberland. Ruspini later became the junior house. There was a healthy competitiveness between the houses in anything from inter-house sports matches, to the Christmas post box competition. For me, my years at school were some of my happiest. I thrived in playing sport, taking part in school productions, Chapel Choir, orchestra, Drill and anything else I could fit in! I always remember in my first term as a pupil, Mr Curtis stopping my Mum’s car as we were leaving at about 9pm and asking where she was taking one of ‘his girls’! He hadn’t realised I was a day girl! I was always referred to as a Day Boarder as I
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mostly only went home to sleep, even returning for pre-breakfast swimming training several times a week! The staff provided an opportunity for girls to find their own path to develop their self-confidence, self-esteem and especially their resilience, through both academics but also in the wide and comprehensive range of extra-curricular activities on offer. No one girl was expected to be the same as the next. Each was encouraged to excel in the area that suited them whilst still being supported to achieve the best they could in all other aspects of school life. The nurturing role that many of the staff showed certainly shaped how I grew as an individual and, I hope, as a teacher myself. After school I followed my passion for sport and teaching, gaining a BEd Hons specialising in PE and Drama. I continued volunteering at Watford Social Centre for the Blind, a charity run by my mum providing a twice weekly support and social club for anyone with a visual impairment in the Watford area. In 2014 I needed to reduce my hours to take over more of the day-to-day admin of running the charity due to my Mum’s ill health and found myself returning to RMS to join the PE department.
The first few weeks felt very strange. Familiar but different! I knew how to find my way around the site easily (much to the relief of fellow new members of staff who tended to follow me!) but found departments to be in different places, girls leaving by bus at 4pm instead of going back to their boarding house, and the youngest pupil being two and a half rather than 11 years old!
“
My role as Chairman of the Trustees consists of organising weekly activities, arranging groups to provide entertainment, outings and keeping in touch with national and regional visual impairment organisations to ensure the support and advice we provide to our members is up to date. As we are self-funded we have to raise all the money needed to run the club ourselves which we do through various means throughout the year. We are very fortunate to own our own premises, which was purpose-built in the early 1950s in central Watford by our founding trustees. As all our helpers selflessly offer their time as volunteers, the funds we raise go directly to running the club and supporting our members. At present we have over 50 regular members who attend one or both of our twice weekly groups.
I still found the ethos of the school to be the same. Polite, enthusiastic, happy pupils everywhere
I still found the ethos of the school to be the same. Polite, enthusiastic, happy pupils everywhere. Girls encouraged to find their own niche and develop new skills. Opportunities to not only thrive in their academic studies but also in sport, music, drama, to name but a few, and ensure they had the chance to leave as a polished, all-round individual. The extra-curricular choices were even more varied than 30 years previously with seemingly endless opportunities to participate in trips and clubs. I was delighted to learn that at the heart of the Michaelmas term was School Drill! It wasn’t long before I was drafted in to help and found it was like riding a bike. As soon as I heard the music my arms went into automatic mode! I spent six years teaching PE at RMS. Six happy years of seeing young girls grow in confidence and turn into young RMS school leavers ready to take on the world with the determination and confidence I remembered from my own school days. Six years of enjoying seeing the power of physical education change pupil’s views on teamwork, improve their self-esteem and give them life-skills to take with them into the next stages of their lives. However, it was becoming increasingly difficult managing my time working and putting the time needed into running the charity, and so I made the hard decision to leave the teaching profession last year to solely volunteer at Watford Social Centre for the Blind.
”
2020 has been a difficult year for us as a charity and especially for our members. Many of them live alone and, with their disability, find social distancing very difficult as they do not have the ability to see where others are. This has led to anxiety about leaving their homes and has been detrimental to their mental health. Since we had to close the club in March, I have been conducting telephone chats with members every week. For those housebound, we have been organising to collect shopping and prescriptions where needed and providing transport to hospital appointments. Luckily we could reopen for a few weeks before the second lockdown in November on a much reduced, socially distanced capacity. We are hopeful that we will be able to return to a near normal situation in 2021 and start to welcome back our members and regular visiting groups. Both Cadogan House choir and senior school choir are a part of these groups and so my link with RMS continues!
Masonica 2021 | 15
catching up with old girls
Diana MacFadyen Class of 1947
née Cummings
A
fter leaving RMS, Diana worked as a housekeeper for an artist based in Oxford. She was allowed to use their art studio alongside her household duties. After seeing her paintings, the artist who owned the house suggested she apply to art school. Diana excelled as an artist. Here she gives a modest rendition of her time at the School and her life’s achievements. I was seven years old when I joined RMS. I went to Weybridge first of all, I was there just before the war and I enjoyed that as a little girl. I moved to Rickmansworth and was in Connaught House, the first one on the Garth in those days (now Hind House). While I was there, the war came and that made everything very difficult. It was quite scary with the air raids, we used to go to bed holding our breath, listening out for the doodlebugs. They were being dropped at night and we used to lie in bed listening to them. We knew that when the droning of a doodlebug stopped, it was going to drop. We were all rather nervous. The staff were very impressive with the way they coped. It was a very worrying time not knowing when a bomb was going to drop. We felt vulnerable and the staff must have felt vulnerable looking after us too. I think they managed extremely well looking after the safety of all these children. The air - raid shelters were awful. We had to go there and it was quite a long way for us to walk as our house was the furthest away. Sleeping on benches in the shelters was very uncomfortable. In the mornings we had to get back to the houses early and get ready for school. It was very cold, but we had to put up with it. We slept so
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poorly in the shelters and it became very disruptive. Eventually they decided we should sleep in the corridors instead, which were less dangerous than our dormitories as they were away from any windows. I remember not being able to go home to my mother in London because of the bombs. On one particular holiday when I wasn’t allowed to go home, a girl who came from Wales got in touch with her family and arranged for me to go to her home for Christmas. It must have been so awful for our parents to be away from us at that special time. I have very fond memories of Prize Day. I learnt the piano with my housemistress, Miss Hudson, and can still play the piano now. On Prize Day there were eight pianos in the Great Hall, and two girls playing a duet on each piano for Drill. I was one of those playing and I remember enjoying that tremendously. It was such fun. After I left school, I made up my mind that I wanted to go to art school; I wanted to go to a particular art school, which was the Slade,
University College London, and decided that if I couldn’t get into the Slade then I wouldn’t go to art school at all and that I would have to do something totally different. So I applied; I travelled up to London with my portfolio and had an interview where I was surrounded by the staff and a professor. It was so scary!
British School of Rome for two years. I got married just after my two years in Rome to someone I met there and settled in London and had children.
“
I decided that if I couldn’t get into the Slade then I wouldn’t go to art school at all
I was absolutely thrilled when I found out that I got in. I was there for four years and I really loved it, it couldn’t have been better, just wonderful. There was a strong history of art at the school and very interesting members of staff. The Euston Road Group were part of the teaching staff, they were really good, very serious but very interesting.
I have had many exhibitions, including at Aldeburgh and would love to exhibit again. I think people are surprised that I can do things for myself at my age but I feel I can cope. I am concerned but not worried during this pandemic – I can manage.
”
Diana’s gift in art has had a big impact on her family. One of her daughters went to art college and continues to work in the art industry. Her grandson who is at High School is taking art classes through the local conservatoire; Diana is absolutely delighted.
I continued painting and later on I got a scholarship to study at the
Masonica 2021 | 17
catching up with old girls
Agnes Abelson Class of 2016
C
ongratulations to Agnes Abelson who was selected for the British Fashion Council’s Graduate Preview in June 2020. Read on to find out about Agnes’ journey since leaving RMS and her internship in Stockholm at the luxury fashion house Acne Studios. I have always been a creative person and enjoyed arts and crafts as a child. When I was 12, my mum sent me to a weekly sewing class at the weekends which is where I learnt how to sew and make clothes. Around that time I started textiles in Year 7 and really enjoyed it, learning new techniques such as silk painting and felt making. I continued to do textiles for GCSE and A Level and would combine the techniques I was learning in textiles with my sewing knowledge. I have such fond memories of my time at RMS. As I was a weekly boarder, I spent a lot of time there so it has been a huge part of my life so far. When I think back on my time at RMS I always remember it being a very well - rounded place where you were supported to excel in whatever you were good at. The opportunities and experiences we were given were amazing, now looking back I realise how lucky I was.
“
Despite enjoying the menswear project, I have always wanted to be a womenswear designer so my final collection was womenswear. As the course covered the whole design process, I learnt a range of skills and discovered that I wanted to become a pattern cutter. I had always enjoyed maths and pattern cutting combines both my love for maths and my creativity. During the university summer holidays, I did internships which enabled me to gain invaluable experience, developing the skills I was learning at university and translating them into working in industry. My internship at Marques’ Almeida was particularly informative as it was a small company, so I was able to see how the designs came to life from sketch to production and then how they were marketed to wholesalers. It was really interesting as it gave me a greater understanding of the industry and life cycle of a collection.
pattern cutting combines my love for maths and my creativity
When I first left school, I deferred my place at university and took a gap year as I wanted to have a bit of a break from education and travel. I worked full time for four months as a waitress and then went solo travelling for eight months to China, Japan, Australia (where I lived and worked for six months), and America, something which I would highly recommend. The experiences I had on my travels were so amazing; exploring new places and meeting new people.
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I then returned to the UK and started my degree in Fashion Design at Nottingham Trent University, from where I have just graduated with First Class Honours and had the best three years of my life. My course covered the whole process from concept development and design, to construction and manufacture to final photoshoots and look books. During the three years we did a range of projects which enabled us to decide whether we wanted to specialise in menswear or womenswear.
”
Last year, every student on my course had to submit their portfolios to tutors who then selected individuals to be put forward to feature on the British Fashion Council’s Graduate Preview. It was really exciting for my work to be chosen and a major confidence boost as the end of my degree was heavily affected by COVID-19.
My main role is creating the sketches which get sent to the factories for production and annotating them with the correct construction methods, which is great for me as I am learning a lot about construction methods for a range of garments from T-shirts to tailored jackets. I have also met some great people and it’s really fun working in such an international office. Living in Sweden over the last six months was a bit weird at first as the COVID-19 restrictions have been very different to the UK; you don’t have to wear a mask anywhere and bars and shops are still open as usual. However, as the cases have risen there have been more restrictions put in place, such as a 10pm curfew and encouragement to work from home if possible. Most people are respectful of the few rules that are in place like the two-metre rule. Looking back on my time at RMS, I know that boarding helped me to be more confident and unafraid to move to new places. I am comfortable being away from home and I didn’t even have a second thought when given the chance to move abroad. I would definitely say that the freedom to experiment and the consistent support from the teachers in the textiles department definitely helped me develop my skills, meaning that I got into university without having to do an art foundation, which in turn got me to where I am now!
Adapting the last few months of my degree to working from home was a big challenge. Fashion design is obviously very much a practical subject and can be hard to do when you don’t have all the resources. In the end I developed my CAD (computer animated design) skills as a result of working at home and probably wouldn’t have got my current internship without that, so it is all swings and roundabouts. Since graduating in June, I have moved to Sweden and am now living in Stockholm on a six-month internship at Acne Studios in the Technical Design Department. I am really enjoying both the work and living in Sweden, it is such a beautiful country, despite the fact it gets dark at 3.30pm! I have learnt so much at work so far and get to take part in fittings and the development of the garments, which is a really interesting process to be involved in.
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catching up with old girls
Manayka Walia Class of 2019
M
anayka Walia left RMS in 2019 and is now studying Sports Science at St Mary’s University. Since March 2019 she has been the Student Champion representing BAME students. In the wake of the death of George Floyd and the Black Lives Matter movement that exploded in 2020, we caught up with her to find out about how she got involved. I was born and raised in Dubai and came to RMS for Sixth Form as a boarder on a Sports Scholarship. After two fantastic years at RMS, I decided to go to St Mary’s University to study Sports Science. I wanted to be at a university where I could make a difference and because St Mary’s was small, it felt like that would be possible. When I visited it felt like a very inclusive place and it turned out to be the first university that accepted me with an unconditional offer too! As part of my course, I have been studying a module on Sociology for Sports Science. In that module there was a lecture on racism in sport. I have always been interested in this subject; for my EPQ (extended project qualification) at RMS I studied the question ‘To what extent does racism exist in the Champions League?’ The module was taken by a lecturer called Michael Hobson, one of the best lecturers in the university. (You can read more about his work here: https://tinyurl.com/y4y5gukc.) At the end of the lecture Michael Hobson said ‘if you want to get involved with this, there is a way; send an email to student engagement’. That was early on in my first year and I was very hesitant. I wasn’t sure I wanted to be that student who looks too keen, doing
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everything, joining everything. I didn’t want to get picked on for doing too much in my first year. I remember writing down the email address and thought I would just wait and see how I felt about it. A few months later, a couple of things had happened in my own family which got me thinking. Initially I felt powerless but then I started to wonder what I could do; I was inspired to follow up on the email. I wrote in to say, ‘I want to help, I want to get involved, I want to do something, I don’t care what it is, can I do something?’ A woman called Elizabeth who is in charge of student engagement across the whole university replied and invited me to meet her for coffee. While we were chatting, she offered me the BAME Student Champion role. It was a new role within the university and she told me that I was the first person to have said anything or emailed her about it. She needed more student representation, especially from ethnic minority students. It is a big responsibility, it is a paid role within the university, but I was excited about what we could do. As part of the role, I had started to plan meetings with lecturers and the Head of HR but just as we were getting things off the ground, lockdown began. I was planning to run debates and awareness days, but of course everything was delayed. Eventually in October, for Black History Month, we did manage to get an Afro-Caribbean catering company to come in to university for the day and give everyone on campus Afro-Caribbean food.
“
I wrote in to say ‘I want to help, I want to get involved, I want to do something, I don’t care what it is, can I do something?’
”
We also spent time during lockdown looking at the inclusion and diversity policies for staff and students across the university and updating them. Over summer, we looked at the university website and updated aspects of it in line with the equality act. It wasn’t just about race and religion, it was about all the protected characteristics. I also updated the school calendar to reflect a wider range of national holidays and festivals. We started off quite well and I am still very optimistic for what we can achieve in spite of the delays caused by COVID-19. Being the BAME Student Champion means I sit in on Zoom calls with around 30 lecturers and senior staff members. I am the only student and feel I shouldn’t know half of the things they are talking about! I listen and then they say ‘Manayka, what do you think about this stuff?’ It is really good to be able to share my point of view. After this academic year when hopefully all the COVID-19 restrictions will have lifted, I will only have a year left to keep working in this role but I am hoping for the best. The university is moving in the right direction and Black History Month in October was a great example of that.
I am also trying to do small things too, for example I am now social secretary for the rugby team I am part of. Together with a friend, I am in charge of the rugby team’s socials. My friend is originally from the Cayman Islands, she is black and together we are the only two ethnic minorities on the team of 25 girls. When we couldn’t have socials because of lockdown and Black Lives Matter was in the news a lot, my friend and I organised a Zoom call with our team to talk about it. We said to the team ‘we know that you all feel uncomfortable talking about race and we don’t want you to feel like that.’ The girls asked a lot of questions, like ‘is this right, is this wrong, can I say this, can I say that?’ It was great to be able to talk about it and question it all; the call went on for about two hours. I talked about my personal experiences too. By the end, you could tell that everyone felt a little bit more comfortable. It wasn’t that elephant in the room. I have tried to do small things like that on a micro scale. If I can start with my rugby team, rather than the whole university, I am happy to do that. One thing I have learned through this whole experience and the Black Lives Matter movement is actually how uneducated I am myself. I thought that because I am an ethnic minority, I knew enough and my experience was enough. I only realised recently there is lots more to learn and I have since read quite a few books and tried to watch more films. I read a book called Why I’m No Longer Talking to White People About Race by Renni Eddo-Lodge. I didn’t know any of it; it has really opened my eyes and I would definitely recommend reading it to anyone who wants to find out more.
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catching up with old girls
Brenda Barnes Class of 1949
née Isitt
B
renda Barnes left RMS in 1949. She was a pupil during the war and has vivid memories of her days at RMS. In 2020 the language of conflict has often been used to talk about the pandemic. We asked Brenda about her thoughts on the parallels between WW2 and Lockdown. Here are a few of her reflections: The Enemy During World War Two we knew the enemy to be Adolf Hitler and his Nazi Party and were able to protect ourselves by always carrying gas masks and identity cards and taking shelter when the Warning Siren sounded. Striking posters with catchy slogans such as ‘Careless Talk Costs Lives’ (illustrated by a hat to keep information under) or ‘Dig for Victory’ (a boot driving a spade into the ground) encouraged us all to smile and play our part. Today the enemy is an unknown virus, lurking everywhere. The different rules for each country within the UK cause confusion.
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The Media In wartime the country was run by a coalition of experienced Conservative, Labour and Liberal politicians with the help of Service Chiefs. Decisions were made before being published in newspapers or announced on the radio, everything passed by censor. Today we all have too much information, largely due to the media, leaking facts, prying with long range cameras and constantly giving us their opinions. Isolation In the early days of wartime, London councils were given the power to requisition empty properties or make use of surplus rooms in occupied houses. Consequently, a family of five Belgian refugees were billeted in our two downstairs rooms, we being confined to the large cosy kitchen. Both being three - generation families, we got on well and enjoyed experiencing each other’s cultures. Today there are over eight million single households in the country, completely isolated during periods of lockdown and causing loneliness. Summer 2020 Happy memories for me will be time spent in the garden, under amazing clear blue skies, due to lack of pollution, the wonderful sound of birdsong replacing the usual motorway buzz and successfully growing salad crops. Welcome family visits, me inside, family outside and lately being able to meet up with friends in the local park, catching up on their news over a cup of coffee. Through the winter, with another lockdown I returned to the old wartime adage ‘Keep Calm and Carry On’.
Brenda is one of a group of Old Girls who penned their memories of their time at RMS during the war. We have put this amazing collection of memories together in Memories of My Schooldays, RMS in the 1940s. Here is an excerpt: ‘In 1940, my mother and I travelled from Dulwich by tram, bus and train and then took a taxi up to new school buildings just six years old, with very impressive iron entrance gates, painted blue and gold. The Lodge Keeper came out and after checking our papers directed us up the long tree lined drive. We entered a vast building to be greeted by Miss Mildred Harrop, Weybridge Head, as the Junior School was now evacuated to Rickmansworth for the duration of World War II. We moved through to the Sanatorium for a full medical check, before meeting the other new girls. The Bruce Twins, Elizabeth and Felicity from Hampstead, clutching bright yellow gas mask cases, and Sheila Nesbitt from Chiswick. As seven year olds, we were the four youngest girls in the school. The air raid siren sounded, so Sister told us to say goodbye to our mothers and hustled us
“
‘…Most nights there were air raids, so we had to leave our beds, put on warm outdoor clothes and walk quickly to the trenches, each house having its own entrance. After hot cocoa and an oatmeal cake we settled down on the narrow twelve inch benches and wrapped in a blanket tried to sleep. Later on, when the raids were not so severe, our beds were moved from the dormitories to the corridors and we only went to the Trenches when the action was overhead. A bomb did drop in the Garth, but luckily, everyone kept safe.
we had to leave our beds, put on warm outdoor clothes and walk quickly to the trenches
down the Trenches. Being petrified at the sight of so many girls in an underground tunnel, I screamed loudly hoping Mummy would hear and rescue me!
”
‘…Heating was minimal, no doubt due to fuel shortages, so we were issued with wool combinations to wear next to our skin and taught to fling our arms around our bodies like windmills if we felt shivery. Food rationing meant a limited menu with no choice, breakfast was either a rasher of streaky bacon, a fish fillet or an egg followed by as much bread as you liked, but only one butter or margarine pat allowed. As a special treat each girl had a chipolata sausage on Sundays.’ To read more excerpts from the book turn to page 32.
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catching up with old girls
Rhiannon Jenkins Class of 2015
O
ne of three sisters who all went to RMS, Rhiannon left the school in 2015 and went on to study Television and Broadcasting at the University of Portsmouth where she achieved a 1st. In September 2020 she started her first job as a primary school teacher and has already been teaching her class of sevenand eight-year-olds how to do Drill. I joined RMS in Year 7 and from the very start, always wanted to be in Drill. I kept trying out to get into the Drill team and eventually got in when I was in Year 9. In my first year I was 2 West, then I went down to 1 East (I was so happy to be on the front row) and in my last year I was in Row 6. One year, both my sisters and I were in the same Drill team which was really special. In Year 13 I was a Drill prefect and that was amazing. I just love what Drill represents and how focussed and dedicated you have to be. When I left RMS I went on to do a degree in television and broadcasting. However, I realised soon after graduating that I really wanted to be a teacher. In 2019 I started my SCITT (School-Centred Initial Teacher Training). As part of the training we were meant to have three placements: my first was with a Year 1 class, the second with Year 4 and I was meant to go back to my Year 1 placement for the summer term. However, when COVID hit we couldn’t go into school at all during that last term. The university I was training with sent us lots of online CPD and training work to do, to try and better our skills, but it was nothing like being in the classroom. During that time I also needed to find a job as a teacher for the next academic year. In the end I interviewed for nine jobs. I didn’t have to teach as part of the interview, it was all just virtual interviews which was really intense. One week I had five interviews with two on one day!
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I started my current job in September 2020. I work in a small school, my class has 15 children and they are a mix of Year 2s and Year 3s. They are a tricky bunch of kids! I had an induction day with my class in the Summer term and on that day I played them a video of Drill; they all wanted to learn it. I got hold of the music and taught it to them. From September up until October half term we practiced twice a week. We just did the arm exercissd but that was plenty for them to learn. I had five rows with three children in each row and they picked it up really quickly, although we did have to simplify it a little bit. It is such a big tradition at RMS and to be able to do it with my own class as a teacher was wonderful. The children were really good and very keen, and it was lovely to see them as enthusiastic as I am about Drill. Seeing them involved and seeing their excitement for it was really satisfying. I couldn’t help but be proud of them. They loved the 1-2-3, 1-2-3, 1-2-3, clap-touch-down bit, and they got the end part really well too – 12345, 54321, 12345 and close. I am hoping that when lockdown is over I can bring them to a Drill performance at RMS. I miss Drill so much and hope to be able to come back to school for Charity Drill when it happens again in the future. Perhaps I’ll bring my class with me next time!
our school | class of 2020 university destinations
Congratulations to the Class of 2020 Name
Institution
Course
Name
Institution
Course
Alexandra
Newcastle University
History
Katherine
University of Bristol
English and History
Anastasia
Loughborough University
Medicinal and Pharmaceutical Chemistry
Katie
Loughborough University
Geography
Ki Shing
King’s College London
Music
Anna
University of Nottingham
History
Kitty
Newcastle University
Fine Art
Anna
Nottingham Trent University
Business Management and Entrepreneurship
Lauren
Queen Mary University
Modern Languages
Law
Louisa
University of Liverpool
Business Management
Lucy
University of Manchester
Pharmacy
Annabel
University of Oxford
Annaliese
Gap Year
Bilgenur
University of East Anglia
Biomedicine
Lucy
University of Plymouth
Dental Surgery
Caitlin
Manchester Met
Biomedical Sciences
Megan
Durham University
History
Caitlyn
University of Warwick
Politics and International Studies
Megan
University of Oxford
History and Spanish
Charlotte
St Mary’s University
Sport and Exercise Science
Meiqi
University of Manchester
Aerospace Engineering
Mia
University of Cambridge
Charlotte
Royal Veterinary College
Veterinary Medicine
Human, Social, and Political Sciences
Ciara
Bournemouth University
Business and Management
Millie
LAMDA
Acting
Daisy
Loughborough University
International Business
Nada
University College London
Management Science
Diya
Aston University, Birmingham
Business and Management
Neneh
University of Nottingham
History
Pippa
Nottingham Trent University
Business Management and Marketing
Pritika
Edge Hill University
Nutrition and Health
Rachel
Queen Mary University
Geography
Rachel
University of Bristol
Engineering Mathematics
Riana-Jade
University of Manchester
Psychology
Robyn
University for the Creative Arts Farnham
Art & Design Foundation
Robyn
University of York
Spanish and Linguistics
Sheren
Architectural Associations School of Architecture
Architecture
Sienna
University of Warwick
Law
Sophie
Nottingham Trent University
Childhood: Learning and Development
Elena
University of Leeds
History
Ellie
Loughborough University
Economics
Emily
University of Reading
Law
Faith
University of Surrey
Civil Engineering
Fiona
Cardiff University
Chemistry with preliminary year
Freya
University of Birmingham
Geography
Georgia
Newcastle University
Medicine and Surgery
Georgina
King’s College London
Computer Science with a year in industry
Hao Fei
University College London
Biochemistry
Helena
Portsmouth
International Relations
Isabella
Gap Year
Isabelle
Coventry University
Criminology and Law
Susanna
American University of Armenia
Isha
Manchester University
Computer Science
Taanvi
University of East Anglia
Philosophy
Tallulah
University of Warwick
Biochemistry with placement year
Tamzin
King’s College London
History
Viktoria
University of Exeter
History
Wai Lam
University College London
Medical Physics
Yasmin
University of York
Physics with Astrophysics
Isobel
Newcastle University
Sociology
Isobel
University of Exeter
Law
Jasmine
Education University, Hong Kong
Jasmine
University of Leeds
Fashion Marketing
Jennifer
University of Cambridge
Medicine
Jessica
University of Nottingham
Veterinary Medicine
Joanna
Oxford Brookes University
International Business Management
Masonica 2021 | 25
our school | from the artroom
Danielle | Year 11
Eliza | Year 9
Michelle | Year 11
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Lara | Year 9
Jess | Year 11
Katie | Year 11
Masonica 2021 | 27
our school | from the artroom
Mia | Year 11
Asmi | Year 11
Jenny | Year 11
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Phoebe | Year 11
Anna | Year 11
Katie | Year 11
Sophia | Year 11
Masonica 2021 | 29
our school | a teacher’s view
An interview with…
Clare Freeman Head of Sixth Form When did you start teaching at RMS?
What were your first impressions of RMS?
I arrived at RMS in January 2005 as a geography teacher. At that time the only other members of the department were Mrs Couldridge, who had been made Director of Studies, and Mrs Simpson, who was part time. Within a year I was promoted to Head of Geography and did that role for a number of years, whilst popping out a couple of babies on the way. I also appointed all of the geography teachers we have today. I did a one-year stint as Head of Year 11 before going on maternity leave and returning as Deputy Head of Sixth Form. A couple of years into that I decided I wanted to focus on the Sixth Form, so gave up Head of Geography and then applied for the Head of Sixth Form post with our newly appointed Head, Mr Carson. This is now my 5th year in the role.
I actually knew the school before I arrived as a university friend lived on site with her dad, who was the chaplain at the time. What was most noticeable to me about the students was how polite they were. After each lesson they would thank me which I found bizarre coming from a school where it was a great lesson if no one threw a chair out of the window. Obviously the grounds are spectacular but it really was the people; pupils and staff whose warm welcome and openness to everyone that really impressed me.
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What is your favourite thing about your role as Head of Sixth Form? That’s easy; the students. And being in lockdown has really made me recognise the importance of that. The Sixth Form students aren’t afraid to chat to teachers; ask for advice, tell you what they think or just chat about the goings - on in the world. My office, being at the centre of Hind House, gives me the chance to cross pathways with so many students each day. I always have my door open so they can just pop in to say hi, or I can pop out and see who is there. I also like being involved in key strategic decisions about the school (basically I am nosey and like to know what is going on), so this role gives me the best of both worlds; time with the students but also in school leadership.
and not face any outbreaks in the Sixth Form made it all worthwhile. It has been tough, but the school community spirit and great teamwork has enabled us to pull through, develop new skills and also work out how we want to move forward. There are lots of things we have been forced to change which have worked so well we may well keep them. What is your favourite RMS school lunch? It varies depending on how I’m feeling… I do like the butternut squash risotto a lot… The puddings are my massive thing; waffles with chocolate sauce, banoffee pie with popcorn, jelly with cream and sweets… I could go on… I am also lucky to have been to a number of dinners with our pupil leadership team and have had some pretty fantastic meals there too.
What has been your proudest moment teaching at RMS? Getting 17 members of the school community (Year 12 students and staff) to run the Great North Run half marathon (top left). This was the first year that PE had come back into the Sixth Form and I wanted to engage them and give them a challenge. Many of the students had never run before (and have sworn they will never run again) and to get them crossing the line after 21km of running was just magical. This was, of course, my frustrating moment as well given that Mr Carson, after limited training, beat me across the line!
I feel really grateful to have worked in such a wonderful environment for so long and to have had the opportunity to work with such incredible colleagues and learn from so many great leaders. Mrs Rose was someone who believed in me but gave me a kick when required; Mr Carson’s unending enthusiasm and ability to listen and say no has helped to challenge my incessant need to change things. I have worked with some amazing students, some of whom have given me sleepless nights and some of whom have given me some great laughs, but each one an individual who has made the school the rich, diverse environment that it is.
What has been your most memorable moment of teaching at RMS? Probably the moment I will remember for the rest of my life was the day before lockdown started. I was sat in Mr Carson’s office the night before with SLT watching as Boris announced the school closures and the cancellation of exams. I sat there thinking that the next day would be the last day of school for my Year 13, whose worlds had just been turned upside down. My Sixth Form team all got on board and we pretty much pulled an all-nighter to see what we could do to make the next day special. The students came in and we had such a wonderful, but very emotional last day together (top right). I think this was the first time I have ever cried in front of a year group. For me it is memorable because it showed the power of the RMS community; staff pulling together and pupils making the most of it despite the situation they found themselves in. A really special day. What was 2020 like for you? It has been a year of realising what is important to me and that I don’t always get it right. RMS has done brilliantly in pulling together online school and I am in awe of the staff who upskilled so quickly, enabling the pupils to continue learning. I honestly never believed we would end up where we did in terms of schools closing and had many a heated discussion with Mr Carson about measures we were putting in place. But I openly admit that he was spot on and managing to get back into school
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our school | from the archives
D
uring the first lockdown in March 2020, RMS wrote to Old Girls who had attended the school during the 1940s. We invited them to send in their memories of RMS along with photographs and memorabilia. In January 2021 Memories of my Schooldays, RMS in the 1940s was published. It captures beautifully what life was like at RMS before, during and after WW2. Thank you so much to everyone who contributed.
A selection of quotes, photographs and bonus features are displayed across these two pages. To read the book you can find it online at https://tinyurl.com/y6gobcq5. If you would like to have your own copy then please do contact the Development Office. We will be putting together a book about RMS in the 1950s next. If you were at school at that time and would like to write down your memories of the School please do send them by email to development@rmsforgirls.com or by post to the school.
Joan Mutch and friends
Guides, 1938
There were rumours that the war was about to end. It was Prize Day and we were going to do School Drill in front of the Committee and visitors. The news was coming through that the announcement of the end of the war was due at any minute. The gardeners were placed by each door in the Great Hall and they each had a walkie talkie; if the news came through that the war had ended they were to signal to Miss Fryer up on the platform and she was going to stop the proceedings and tell us. It wasn’t actually until the next day that it happened, but there was a feeling that it was going to happen at any moment. When the announcement finally came through, we all went mad but we weren’t allowed home. Luckily for me, my mother was allowed to come and visit because she only lived in Watford and that was a great thrill. Sheila Side (Whittington) 1945, Cumberland
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The first year of the war was relatively quiet. We had several air-raid drills where we practised going to the shelters which had been built on the edge of the school grounds – well underground. We had to be very careful with our water supply because they were going to need the water if there were ever any fires in London. So we had a line painted on our baths and we were only allowed three inches of water in our baths, no more. All our windows were blacked out with dark curtains so no light could escape, and if there was ever an air raid then the planes wouldn’t be able to see us. Then, in 1940, we started having air raids in London and although we didn’t experience any over our school, we could hear them because London was only 20 miles away. We could hear the bombs dropping. If we peeped out from underneath the blackout curtains in our dorm (all of our beds were around the edges of the wall of the dorm, and you had a window practically by every bed) we could see the red sky at night and in the morning we could see the black smoke from the bomb damage. Rosemary Matthews (Prosser) 1945, Cumberland
TO THE LAND ARMY by M Calcott, Zetland House (with apologies to Longfellow) Under a spreading chestnut tree A group of land-girls stand; These girls are full of energy, They’re out to dig the land. They’ve faces keen and eager, By wind and sunshine tann’d.
Sheila Side and friends
On days each week (which are not wet) We see them puff and blow; They dig hard for they want to get To victory through the hoe! So, diligently they pull up weeds To let the harvest grow. Their flowing hair in bunches caught Contrasts with jerseys green, Their khaki breeches cause great sport When wearing them they’re seen. And so each day they weed and hoe To make their figures lean.
Assembly
Toiling, rejoicing, labouring, Mud-stained from toe to nose Each morning sees some task begin Each evening sees it close; Something attempted, something done, Has earned a night’s repose!
Each house had 15 children and a staff member from the Weybridge School evacuated to it. The children aged seven to ten had one of the four dormitories, the senior girls were in the other three. We had to keep our garden coats, pixie hoods, gas masks and shoes close to our beds in case the air-raid sirens sounded. The Rickmansworth siren wailed up and down but Croxley Green had an unearthly and quite scary noise. When the sirens sounded at night, we had to dress over our pyjamas and stand in line until we filed downstairs to be escorted to the trenches. We sat on wooden benches with dim overhead lights until we heard the ‘all clear’ and returned to bed. The sirens sometimes sounded at breakfast time and we went to the trenches with our plates. Rules were strict and some areas out of bounds as all pupils had to be accounted for in case of an air raid. We carried our gas masks everywhere at this stage. We followed the course of the war with maps and newspapers but until the bombing raids became intense in the autumn of 1940, it all seemed a long way away. Joan Wingfield (Courtney) 1945, Moira
Girls, 1946
On 3 September 1939, when War was first declared, I was 13 and at home on my summer holidays. I had been at the School for just two years. We had listened to the wireless to hear Neville Chamberlain, the then Prime Minister, announce that we were at war with Germany. I can remember my mother’s reaction, which was one of horror that we should be at war again just over twenty years after the First World War had finished. After a few days my mother received a letter from the School saying we could go back there early where we would be comparatively safe and away from the towns where bombs might be dropped. I was not overjoyed at having my summer holiday curtailed when my mother decided that, since we lived in London, this would be the right thing to do. But after arriving at school, I quickly changed my mind. Not many parents had sent their girls back and we were about to have the time of our lives. Jo Hall (Witt) 1943, Cumberland School in Wartime
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our school | alumnae news
Thank you
Alumunae Mentoring
Thank you to all the Old Girls who have volunteered or taken part supporting pupils, alumnae and the school in 2020.
In 2020, when we were all told to stay at home, many of us looked for new ways to connect with others, and we quickly became adept at meeting virtually through a myriad of apps and websites.
Lockdown forced us to work in new ways and this has opened up so many opportunities to connect. Whether you spoke to students about your career, completed a survey giving advice to pupils about your time at university, took part in the session with Year 13s applying to Oxbridge, helped create the ‘alumnae’s perspective on RMS’ video, or have opted in to take part in our alumnae mentoring scheme, thank you. We have a wonderful, supportive alumnae community and are hugely grateful to you.
With technology our new aide, not to mention the economic challenges that the pandemic has created, this was the perfect opportunity to start the RMS Alumnae mentoring programme. Scores of Old Girls working in a huge range of professions, including the Arts, Science, Finance, Medicine, the Civil Service, Law, Education and many more besides, have opted to take part and offer their support, advice and insights. Old Girls from all over the world have been able to connect, offer advice and support each other.
“
This is such an amazing opportunity to get advice from someone with my dream job!
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We have made some brilliant matches so far and currently have more mentors who would love to help. Whatever career you are considering, whether you are at the early stages or are a career changer, do tell us more about yourself by completing the form at the following link: https://tinyurl.com/y9r5eg98. Wherever you are based, we would love to hear from you and hope that you will make the most of our amazing network of Old Girls.
Recent changes to our Old Girls’ Association Everyone is automatically a member In 2019, everyone who was ever a pupil at RMS for Girls automatically became a member of our alumnae association. In the last 18 months it has been wonderful to reconnect with so many Old Girls of all vintages, many of whom haven’t been in touch with the school since leaving.
email us at development@rmsforgirls.com
or visit our website at rmsforgirls.com/alumnaedetails
If you are in touch with school friends who never became OMGA members, please let them know that RMS would love to hear from them. They can either email us at development@rmsforgirls.com or simply complete the online form by visiting our website at www.rmsforgirls.com/alumnaedetails.
No subscription fees There are now no subscription fees to pay; if you have a standing order set up to pay membership fees to the OMGA, you can cancel it – you will not lose any of the benefits of being a member of the association. However, any standing orders that continue to be added to the OMGA account will be treated as donations to the RMS Bursary Fund unless we hear from you otherwise.
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our school | the Grace Robinson Memorial Fund
Legacy Bequests to the Grace Robinson Memorial Fund Central to the character and ethos of our school is the belief that talented girls should have access to an RMS education regardless of their social background or family’s financial circumstances. Following the handover from the OMGA to the school in 2019, legacy gifts to the Grace Robinson Memorial Fund are now added to the Royal Masonic School for Girls Bursary Fund. These gifts are vital to the school’s ability to offer bursaries to talented, deserving girls who otherwise would be unable to attend RMS. Leaving a legacy in your will is a wonderful way of providing opportunities for the next generation of RMS Girls.
Remembrance Trees
Leaving a gift in your will
In the last five years, RMS has received several generous legacy donations from alumnae and former staff members. To recognise all those who remember the Grace Robinson Memorial Fund in their will, we would like to name a tree in the arboretum in their honour. Previously the Kitchen Garden, the arboretum is a beautiful, immaculately kept area for contemplation within the school. There is an avenue of hornbeam trees running down the centre, leading out to the pond. Individuals who make legacy gifts to the Grace Robinson Memorial Fund will have one of these hornbeams dedicated to their memory with their name, house and years at the School displayed on a plaque at the end of the avenue of trees. Hornbeam trees are particularly remarkable; they are one of the strongest native trees, they can grow up to 30m tall and can live an incredible 300 years!
Legacy bequests are free from inheritance tax and gifts of shares and property are exempt from capital gains tax. Making a will is an important step and it is recommended that you seek independent professional legacy advice. When making a bequest in your will please note that the beneficiary should be The Grace Robinson Memorial Fund, held with the Royal Masonic School for Girls Bursary Fund, registered charity number 1106076.
Thank you Decisions about your will are personal, however if you would like to discuss leaving a legacy gift to the School, please contact the Development Office: Development, RMS for Girls, Rickmansworth Park, Rickmansworth, WD3 4HF, email development@rmsforgirls.com or telephone number 01923 725772. We always recommend that you consult a solicitor before making or changing your will.
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obituaries
Ann Baldacchini, née Dukes (1946) Ann died in May 2019 in the USA. Her daughter Cindy wrote ‘she would have been thrilled to be included in the Old Girls’ magazine’. Ann had been at the School when King George & Queen Elizabeth visited in 1946 and the Queen stopped to ask about her plans upon leaving.
Elizabeth Joyce Blackmore, née Brown (Alexandra 1948) Elizabeth’s daughter Sandie contacted the School to say ‘Our mum sadly passed away aged 88 on Friday 27 March 2020. She talked often about her times at school and it was obvious she was very proud of attending the RMSG.’
During Elizabeth’s time as a pupil, she particularly recalled the visit (above) of King George VI and Queen Elizabeth in 1946. However this was remembered more for the fact that she was in the Sanatorium and unable to be with the rest of the School – ‘She was naturally very disappointed!’ Elizabeth left school in 1948 and secured a clerical post in Cardiff. At a friend’s party a few years later she met Kenneth Blackmore and they married in 1955. Together they raised five children. ‘Mum was known for her cooking skills, although there were a few memorable disasters such as the Christmas cake. She made the icing herself and it was so hard that even Dad couldn’t cut through it. We ended up taking the icing off in one piece like a giant hat and were left with a marzipan covered cake. It was still delicious as she was very good at cakes.’ Elizabeth’s children have picked up many skills from her such as sewing, knitting and being creative. ‘We were always clothed and fed and never bored as we had always been encouraged to use our imaginations and to be busy.’ Elizabeth was always a cheerful person who looked on the bright side of life, listened well, never judged and was always a willing helper of others and, whilst not one for a lot of make-up, ‘a bit of lippy was essential and she would always have it with her to reapply when necessary.’ In the last week of her life, her family reminisced with her about her school days and ‘we are sure that the opportunity to reminisce made her happy.’ Her daughter requested a prayer be said in the Chapel for her as ‘it would mean a lot to us and to her.’
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Marion Pamela Bourner, née Perry (Ruspini 1952) Anne Palmer-Hall contacted the School to inform of the death of Marion Bourner in 2019. Marion joined the School in Form II2 in 1948 from Ordnance County Modern School, Chatham. Her father had died in 1944 very shortly after arriving home from India where Marion and her mother had also lived. He had been a foreman at the Chatham dockyard. Her school record indicates that her performance at school was satisfactory and that she had been a member of the Guides. Perhaps because she joined the School when already 13, her participation was more subdued as there is very little information about her. She left in 1952 and became a clerk with National Benzole Co, Buckingham Gate and then, in 1956, had a post with Thomas de la Rue, Regent St. We are perhaps less familiar with this company but we all know and use something that they developed – the ATM. In 1958, she married Ronald Bourner and she remained a member of OMGA throughout her life without playing an active part in it.
Beryl and Audrey (left) at Weybridge 1936
Beryl Mary Sheila Brand, née Jackson (Atholl 1945) Beryl’s daughter, Elizabeth, contacted the School with some of Beryl’s memories of her time there. She had started at Weybridge in 1936 where she met her friends Audrey Roberts, Daphne Matthews and Moyra Aberdeen. As with so many, friendships formed became lifelong; not just through all their time at school but beyond it for holidays, together in post-school secretarial training at Densons and, in the case of Beryl and Audrey, at the British Embassy in Norway where both of them were employed. It was here that Beryl met her husband. They were married in Oslo and lived there for a number of years during which three children were born between 1954 and 1957. After returning to the UK in 1960 a fourth child was born in London.
Beryl recalled some of her teachers, including Miss Reckless who taught piano: very successfully in the case of Beryl as she attained Grade VII before she left the School and took the 2nd Music prize in 1945. Casting her mind back to that little girl in Atholl, Beryl remembered Prayers after breakfast before classes and that she played tennis in summer and netball and rounders the remainder of the year. In 1961, Beryl and her family emigrated to Australia and lived in South Australia and Darwin (NT) before settling in NSW in the 1970s. From here, Beryl was one of the signatories on a specially designed card sent to the School commemorating the Golden Jubilee of the School at Rickmansworth in 1984. Beryl became a Business Studies teacher (Secretarial & Bookkeeping) before retiring in 1988 (another significant year in the School’s history) as a Head Teacher. This photo was taken on Beryl’s 91st birthday – 1 January 2020, enjoying breakfast and cake with her family. Sadly, a short time after these recollections of life as a pupil came the news that Beryl had died on 7 June 2020 in Figtree, NSW, Australia.
June Beatrice Dixon (Atholl 1954) June became a pupil after her father was killed at sea on HMS Welshman which was capsized and sunk in 1943, 45 miles off Tobruk, Libya. Like so many of the girls who became pupils as a result of their fathers being killed during the war, June probably found some comfort from the friendship in adversity offered by her contemporaries. During her time at the School, a film about it was made in which June appeared in a class being taught. Ten years after she arrived, June left the School to make her way in the world, returning to visit the following year. She maintained her membership of OMGA without being an active member. Her daughter contacted the School earlier this year to announce her mother’s death.
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obituaries
Georgina Barbara Agnes Hands, née Withers (Connaught 2005) Bill & Babs Withers wrote of their daughter that on Monday 18 November 2019, Georgina passed away aged 32, the way she lived her life, with dignity, courage and grace. She was born in Aldershot and from that day on, she brought nothing but happiness and joy into the lives of her family and many others. Georgina was born into a close military family, moving house then school every two years. A calm, easygoing child, she demonstrated an intense love of nature. In her early years, she was transfixed by Attenborough and the Natural History channel, devouring books relating to animals. She had the usual childhood pets of fish, guinea pigs, rabbits and Labradors, and rode horses, happily mucking out stables in the school holidays. She started her 9 years boarding at RMS in 1996 where her sister Philippa was already a pupil. Enjoying extracurricular pursuits like choir and Drill, Georgina also flourished academically, gaining a foundation scholarship. She was awarded several form prizes plus those for Design Technology and all round progress. Science was her forte and she was a gifted artist. Much of her art takes inspiration from the natural world. She was a Prefect, Deputy Head Girl and Head of Boarding. She did occasionally break rules, keeping a secret goldfish hidden in her room. Thanks to RMS, she achieved a string of good grades in GCSE, AS and A levels after which she went up to Leeds and completed a degree in zoology. In her first month at Leeds, she met Greg. After 10 years together, on a trip to Paris, she accepted his proposal of marriage to the delight of all. In June 2017 they had a joyous wedding near Greg’s parents’ home in Marbella. After marriage, they settled in Twickenham with their fox red Labrador puppy Bruce, whom she adored. Georgina graduated in a recession and was therefore unable to enter her
Joan Ethel Henrickson, née Trevelyan (Cumberland 1941) Joan became a new girl at the School at the same time as the School began to occupy its new site at Rickmansworth. However, as she joined aged 9 it is probable that she went to Weybridge first before transferring to Rickmansworth perhaps a couple of years later. Her school record notes her as a girl of fair ability but hampered by deafness. She appears to have been proficient in needlework as she earned grades I to IV and all of them noted as Very Good or Good. Perhaps she had inherited her skill from her father, who had been a tailor before becoming a clothing manufacturer. She left in 1941 with very creditable commercial qualifications. In 1942 while working to support the war effort, she met her future husband, an American army sergeant, and they married in 1945 in Epping. In March 1946, Joan sailed to America to join her husband,
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chosen career. However, she was chosen for a graduate role in the HR department of Autodesk, a career in which she excelled and thrived. Ironically, her degree knowledge of animal behaviour equipped her well for the human zoo of the workplace. A quietly determined achiever, Georgina had not long secured a promotion into a new role at Cisco when she had the shocking diagnosis of bowel cancer in March 2019. Under the care of the Royal Marsden and initially hopeful of cure, unfortunately by July she had multiple sites of spread which advanced relentlessly until she died in R.M. in November. She treated her cancer like a project to be managed, selfless, serene, uncomplaining, and facing each day with the heart of a lion. She remained positive to the end and her passing has been a shock to many. Georgina has left an indelible mark on all lucky enough to have known her. She is survived by her best friend and husband Greg, Labrador Bruce, grieving family and friends and so many more. She will never be forgotten and will be deeply loved forever. Georgina will continue to bring sunshine in the memory of her laugh and comfort in knowing she is free from suffering. We loved the girl with the utmost love of which our souls are capable and she is taken from us. Yet in the agony of our spirit, in surrendering such a treasure, we feel a thousand times richer than if we had never possessed it. (To misquote Wordsworth, who lost his young son.)
Robert Henrickson, in North Carolina. They had one son and, later, two grandchildren and they made their home in Kannapolis, North Carolina where Joan became an American citizen. A tribute online records that ‘Joan enjoyed a good book, spending time with family and friends, watching golf and following her beloved Atlanta Braves’. For those less familiar with American sports, the Braves are a baseball team: just maybe it reminded Joan of her time at school as she was a member of the Rounders team. Joan died, aged 94, on 14 April, 2019. She was the last survivor of her nine siblings and had been predeceased by both her husband and her son. She is buried in Carolina Memorial Park.
Dorothy Mavis Hunt, née Brown (Alexandra 1940)
Barbara Jean Huxtable, née Forrester (Zetland 1943)
‘…for me it is a joy and privilege to take this opportunity to thank the Masonic organisation for all they did for us.’
Barbara was born in 1927, one of two daughters of Thomas Forrester, pharmacist, who died when Barbara was just two years of age. Her older sister Pamela also became a pupil of the School.
It is not often that one can begin a tribute with the words written by the subject herself but Dorothy, on rejoining OMGA aged 92, sent biographical material in 2015. She was one of six children of whom all, barring one, were educated at Masonic schools after their parents died within a week of each other in 1925. The family were kept together by their maternal aunt (‘a truly remarkable woman’) who took in all six children. Their father’s Masonic lodge helped in whatever way it could which included ensuring the children received a good education: ‘My siblings and I received not only a first class education but also a wonderful Christian upbringing.’ Dorothy and sister Kathleen were both pupils of RMSG, ‘cared for by a wonderful team of teachers and matrons.’ During her time at the school, Dorothy earned many prizes – all of which she could recall with great clarity 75 years later! One of them was the Good Conduct Prize which gained her a Singer sewing machine. Lest you should be trying to imagine a girl lugging a sewing machine off the stage and back to her place having been presented it, Dorothy let us into a secret. A key to the machine was always handed to the recipient so that they did not have to carry the machine off the platform and down the hall! However, Dorothy won her prize in 1939 when it had been decided to donate all prize money to the Red Cross. A Freemason in the audience sent money to the Headmistress for ‘the little girl who so valiantly gave up such a wonderful gift as a sewing machine’. Dorothy made good use of her machine all her life (‘my own clothes and the children’s’) until just a few years ago when it was donated to a charity. Dorothy was still living in Rickmansworth at the beginning of the War and she remembered air - raid practices in the underground shelters. ‘I received my commercial training at the school as it was not possible for me to attend Denson’s Secretarial College in London’, and then she left school in 1940 to work at the Royal Bank of Scotland in the City. ‘They were screaming out for women in the Ledger Department to take the place of the men who were being called up for service. I [had] received the Writing Prize and my best subjects were Maths and Arithmetic so I decided to take the place of a man! In those days … there was no mechanization so everything had to be done by hand’. After ten years there, she moved to an importer of flooring materials/monumental marble, eventually becoming the Managing Director’s Secretary. Dorothy’s final employment before retiring was for the Managing Director of the X-ray Department of Philips Medical Systems in Balham. This was the era of Computerised Axial Tomography (CAT scan) and, just as she retired, Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) equipment had just been put on the market.
Barbara first went to Weybridge in September 1934, moving on to the Senior School in 1937 during which time she was a member of the Musical, English and Geographical societies as well as the Choir. In addition, she played piano, gaining her Grade V in the instrument. She was in the cast of Quality Street in about 1938, so music and performing were clearly important to her. Described in her valedictory report as ‘intelligent, personable and very capable’, Barbara left school in 1943 with her Cambridge ‘school cert’ and went, as so many before her, to Denson College in London. However, by 1953 she had changed direction from clerical work and was a stewardess with BOAC flying in 40 – seater Argonauts on round trips to Tokyo in 18 – 21 days. As part of her job, she was on Princess Margaret’s African tour flight and the Duke of Edinburgh’s flight to Africa in 1956. https://www.pprune.org/aviation-history-nostalgia/559718hrh-princess-margaret-east-african-tour-1956-a.html tells us that the royal flight was on the Argonaut ‘Ajax’ commanded by ‘Captain R. E. Hallam, who will have a crew of eight, including three stewards and a stewardess’ and that stewardess, we know from her own recollections, was Barbara. In 1957, she married Edward Huxtable and had two sons, one of whom notified the School of their mother’s death on 16 March 2020, aged 92.
Jeanne Jennings, née Garnsey In May 2020, another of our alumnae died from COVID-19 and underlying health conditions. Jeanne Robina Canberra Jennings, née Garnsey, JP, died aged 93 in a nursing home. She was a ‘passionate advocate for social justice’ and worked tirelessly for many organisations in Lewes.
Sue Jones, née Browne (Atholl-Sussex 1963)
Dorothy moved to Brighton, making many friends particularly in the musical and amateur dramatic field. ‘I inherited the gift of singing from my birth mother and many of my family have been associated with the theatre’ (her father had been a Box Office manager before his untimely death) and she was an active member of the Brighton & Hove Operatic Society.
It is with great regret that we announce the death of Sue Jones (née Browne), Vice-President of OMGA. A full tribute to her will appear next year.
In summing up such a full life, Dorothy said ‘I feel that I have been very blessed’ with ‘12 wonderful Grandchildren and 11 Great Grandchildren.’
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obituaries
Ruth Kay, née Pybus (Cumberland 1948)
Mary Pryor, née Hicks (Atholl 1948)
The Reverend Jennie Cappelman contacted the School to inform of the death of her mother Ruth Kay (née Pybus) who died in April 2020. She had been suffering from Alzheimer’s. Ruth had been a Cumberland girl and left in 1948.
Mary Pryor (née Hicks, Atholl 1948) died on 22 July 2020. She was 90. She and her sister Jenny, who died in 2016, had both been pupils. Lesley Bishop, informing the School, wrote: ‘Mary spent her last few years at a care home in Woodbridge, very happily. I last spoke to her in April, and she was her usual cheery self. Mary had kept in touch with many Old Girls, always writing thank you letters after any reunion she attended, a very Masonic tradition. I will miss her kindness and gentle humour.’
Jane Mills, née Burtenshaw-Bains (Atholl 1940) A former pupil who made generous donations in the later years of her life was Jane Mills, née Burtenshaw-Bain,s who died peacefully at Stanley Wilson Care Home, Saffron Walden on 6 August 2020, aged 92. Sadly, we have been unable to contact her family and the information was passed to us by the home in which she was living at the end of her life.
Mercy Read, née Brown (Alexandra 1943) Mercy died in 2016 but, sadly, the School was not informed until the current residents at her former address contacted us. Subsequent research uncovered her death four years ago and so we belatedly include a tribute to her.
Carol Ann Part, formerly Hollingsworth, née Wensley (Ruspini 1959) Carol’s father, Michael Wensley, married Maud in 1936. He served with the Royal Signals until his death in 1943, leaving his widow in war-torn London with three children, Dudley, Elizabeth and Carol, who were educated at RMIB and RMSG. Initially attending school in Hemel Hempstead, Carol went to Weybridge aged seven. She quickly made friends and many happy memories leading to an appreciation of music, the arts, crafts and architecture giving her lifelong joy. Each child also had a small garden, which inspired Carol’s love for horticulture. Carol and her sister were in Ruspini and immensely proud to be in the house named for the man who began the School in 1788. Detentions were given for many things, but Carol’s were mostly for talking! As she grew up, she learned to use her talkativeness effectively in her career and abundant social life. Graduating from Rickmansworth in 1959 with a set of clothing, Bible, Prayer Book and a £1 note, Carol started working for W.L. Arber Ltd, later becoming a dental nurse. Carol believed that her Masonic education and natural loquaciousness enabled her to join the charitable sector as a fundraiser. She went on to become a charity chief executive, a consultant, and was active voluntarily in the local community as Parish Treasurer, Trustee, District Councillor and as Chairman of the Market Lavington Neighbourhood Plan Steering Group. She married young and had two sons, Andrew and James, by Colin Hollingsworth. They divorced amicably and she later married David Part, with whom she shared a happy life until her death from cancer in August 2020 with her family around her. The funeral was outside and socially distanced, all dressed ‘brightly’ as per her wishes, while the weather held off from the forecast deluge. Carol was buried in a biodegradable casket with the ashes of her beloved Welsh Springer spaniel, Pepys.
A former Head Girl and Gold Medallist, Mercy left school with a string of prizes and accolades: prizes for chemistry, physics (these two subjects twice), prizes for school certificate, RK, geography and biology; several sports prizes were also awarded and, in a cartoon (right) entitled ‘Who’s Who in the 6th Form?’ appearing in Machio in 1942, a suggestion that she also had a good voice. ‘Her voice is soft and gentle’ reads the caption. On leaving school, Mercy attended Bishop Otter Training College and then began teaching in Hampshire. Six years later, Masonica carries the information that she was teaching in a secondary school for girls in Omdurman and had been learning Arabic. By 1953, she was to be found in Sudan where she married Jack Read. They travelled to the West Indies in 1957 to live in Trinidad, returning to the UK by the 1970s. Widowed in 1989, Mercy continued to live in the UK and retained her membership of OMGA, visiting the school in 1992. In 2001, however, she moved to Australia to be nearer her family who had previously emigrated.
Valerie Ridley (Zetland 1968) Lesley Nash (née Corfe) informed the School that Valerie Ridley died in 2020. Valerie had been in Zetland and had left school in 1968.
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Betty Walker, née Gander (Connaught 1940) News was received by the School that former pupil Betty Walker died on 11 March 2020. Betty had become eligible as a pupil after her father, Harry Gander, died in 1927. However, as Betty would only have been four years old when this happened, she would not have become a pupil until 1933. There are very few school references to her but it is recorded that she took part in a play, Quality Street (J M Barrie), which was performed about 1938. In 1940, Betty left school with commercial qualifications and put these to use in a clerical post. In 1942, she had a post in the War Dept Command office and by 1943 was working in the office of the Deputy Commander of Royal Engineers. On 18 November 1942, Betty married Lionel Walker in Tarring-on-Sea and went to live in Worthing. Later Masonica recorded the birth of her two daughters (1943 and 1951). Although she stayed in touch with the School via her OMGA membership, Betty was one of the ‘quiet ones’ who never thought anyone else could possibly be interested in their lives. If only we could convince them we are – before it is too late.
Patricia Effie Wickins (Alexandra 1948) Contacted by her solicitor, the School learned of Patricia’s death in June 2020. Like so many of her contemporaries, Patricia came to the School after the death of her father. In her case, her father died suddenly aged just 37. Patricia was then three years old so she became a pupil at Weybridge in 1939, just after the Second World War was declared. As such, she would have been one of the group known as ‘Weybridge girls’ but actually at Rickmansworth as the Junior School moved to Ricky for the duration. In 1943, Patricia joined the Senior School so remained at Rickmansworth. Five years later she left and took a post with B & S Skinner in London on a salary of £2 10s per week. Later she worked for Norwich Union in Tunbridge Wells and presumably both were in the capacity of clerical work as she left school with qualifications in typing and shorthand. Patricia maintained her contact with the School throughout her life, frequently attending Old Girls’ days. In 2008, she moved into sheltered accommodation in Reading but continued her membership of OMGA. Indeed, having no siblings and after her mother died in 1971, the School became her de facto family, remembered generously in her will.
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obituaries
Elizabeth Ann Thring, née Holton (Alexandra 1962) (Until she went to school she was always known as Libby, transformed to Liz at boarding school and university [left] but seemed equally at home with both truncations.) Born in 1945 in Hertford, the family moved to the Isle of Wight when Libby was six months old. Her father died when she was nine, and Libby and sister Kathy both went to boarding schools in Hertfordshire, making the journey from the Isle of Wight by boat and train at the beginning and end of each term, being met by a ‘universal aunt’ at Waterloo station and transferred across London. Libby left in 1962 with ten O levels and a status as sub-prefect and Ashlar. As the Ashlar had only been introduced in 1960, Libby would have been one of the first recipients, an indication of how her value was perceived by the School. This despite her own self-deprecating comments that she did ‘little worthy of recognition’ at school except accrue record numbers of order marks. Libby was determined and driven to complete goals and had excellent organisational skills which she honed until she could manage multiple projects simultaneously. ‘Liz was always very fashion conscious and would leave the house looking very chic – however long it took. A particular bouffant hair style with lots of back combing seemed to take for ever!’ her sister recalled. Libby graduated from Leeds University with a BSc in Maths and Stats in 1966 and began working in Operational Research with United Steels where John Thring was a graduate apprentice. They married in 1967 and moved to London in 1973 where Libby worked for Thomson Travel, firstly as a planning executive and later as Head of Planning within the rapidly expanding package holiday business. She described this as ‘The best job ever, with lovely people and fantastic perks!’ her family adding that ‘family holidays were spent testing out Thomson’s trips to Rhodes, the Canaries and Madeira.’ In addition, she gained an MSc in Operational Research, Accountancy and Finance from LSE and produced two daughters, one arriving mid-MSc studies. A return to Yorkshire saw Libby undertaking more Operational Research roles and then Senior Auditor roles with British Coal. In 1986 she joined Kirklees Metropolitan Council’s Directorate of Health and Housing, unsurprisingly making big improvements there before becoming the Senior Assistant Director of Recreation at Sheffield City Council. Following her very successful management of the 1991 World Student Games, she was appointed Sheffield’s Director of Recreation and Amenities with a staff of 400. As she said of herself, ‘At school I was well known for my reluctance to participate in sport. I used to lie low at the far end of the upper playing field. When I tell my [school] friends what my job is now they fall about laughing.’ After taking voluntary redundancy, Libby built up a recruitment agency to provide for Chief Executives and Directors to cover gaps and sort out problems. Having created it into a multi-million pound business, she left to join another similar group where she did the same thing again. Despite having allegedly taken early retirement and not content with doing just one job, Libby ended up with several. But it wasn’t all work, as family and friends were an important part of her life. ‘Royal Ascot with friends became a regular fixture’ and John’s vintage car interests brought them a large group of friends touring in vintage vehicles and costumes. And keeping up with school friends was important too. Libby was an excellent cook. Her family declared that ‘Her turkey pie was the culinary highlight of Christmas, enjoyed by everyone …. mince pies always had to be home-made (fruit marinated in alcohol) and her brandy butter usually involved so much brandy that it wouldn’t set without being frozen.’ Her hostess skills were exercised frequently. In 2012, the Jubilee pageant on the Thames was a cause for celebration (right). Libby and John’s apartment overlooked the river and became the venue for a party. As Libby herself wrote: ‘The husband said firmly no more than 16 ... So I put the word out to OMGA committee colleagues … and in no time we were 22.’ The warmth, humour and generosity evident in this statement is typical of Libby and, clearly, watching spectacular events from her home was not new to her. The Holton house on the Isle of Wight was on a hill overlooking the Solent with a view of Portsmouth in the distance. Her sister Kathy wrote: ‘In 1951 … [we watched] the Spithead review fireworks from the garden, as we were allowed to stay up for the occasion while the grown-ups had a party.’ Libby lived her life to the full and on her move to Poole enjoyed finding local groups to join: book club, Italian classes and exercise groups. Her death ‘peacefully in Poole Hospital’ was announced on 2 January 2020. We have lost an amazing person but ‘we can surely take a little inspiration from the way she lived her life to the full. She was a fantastic friend, wife, mother, mother-in-law and colleague.’
Libby with school friends in 2019
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Friend and OMGA committee member Jenny Newton writes… I first met Libby in early 2012 when I responded to her appeal in Masonica for someone to join the OMGA Committee as her Assistant – she had been serving as the Association’s Treasurer since 2008. Following a very sociable ‘interview’, I was duly elected to the Committee at the AGM that March. Over the years she was to become a very good friend who also provided invaluable support when I subsequently took over as the Association’s Secretary. I well remember walking back to the RMS car park on Remembrance Sunday 2013, when Libby confided to a couple of us that her health was deteriorating, her consultant had given her two years and she needed to stand down from the Treasurer role. Six years later, Remembrance Sunday 2019 proved to be the last time that her RMS friends would see her. She was in excellent form with her usual positive outlook – those who knew her were delighted she was able to join us that day. After standing down as Treasurer, Libby stayed on the Committee providing valuable advice and suggestions. In spite of having what she referred to as ‘chemo brain’, she was always willing to help develop thinking on the difficult issues, to scrutinise drafts of Committee papers and provide constructive criticism. On one occasion, she concluded a very helpful telephone conversation by saying that, if I could let her have the next draft later that morning, she would look at it while having her treatment that afternoon. What dedication, so typical of Libby. We will all miss her.
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