Valete

Mr Nikos Georgiakakis (Mathematics, BH1983-2021) is retiring after 38 years at Charterhouse. He has chosen not to have a valete.

Anyone who has ever been to a school or had the privilege of working in one will know that in every school, there was once a golden age. Despite the lack of eyewitnesses, there is no shortage of accounts of what this golden age was like. In short, it contained none of the worst and only the best bits of the current age, plus other features so attractive that cynics consider them the product of imagination. There is nothing remotely mythical about John Troy (JCT), but in accounts of Charterhouse’s golden age, all beaks were like him.

John has been a fine teacher of Economics, inspiring many of his pupils to read the subject at the world’s best universities, as well as showing the patience to guide others towards grades that they had considered to be beyond their reach. He has also been a soughtafter tutor, encouraging his tutees to make the most of every opportunity. His credibility as a teacher and tutor comes, not just from his subject knowledge and personal skills, but also his ‘real-life’ experience: before teaching at Westminster and King’s Canterbury, he had careers in the Royal Navy (he is a Falklands War veteran) and as a city solicitor. His methods as a tutor, however, have occasionally lacked the probity associated with a legal training and his reputation for adherence to a strict moral code. His Lockite Second Years were ‘incentivised’ to run Pontifex this year with the promise of a trip to the pub. That his tutees fulfilled their part of the contract when pubs were not open, not to mention wearing kit bearing the legend ‘Troy’s boys’, tells us something about their worthy motivation.

Fives and cricket are the two sports which have benefitted most from John’s dedicated attention. Countless hours have been spent enthusiastically introducing boys and girls to the idiosyncrasies of the former. A bumper fives fixture list was planned for LQ 2021 to make up for all the matches missed in OQ. In retrospect, it was perhaps rather too full a list and the post-Christmas lockdown probably spared many sore hands.

Given his experience, John was an obvious fit for the CCF Royal Navy Section. In this, as in every other area of Charterhouse life touched by his enthusiasm, there was an increase in interest. There is no doubt that pupils benefitted from his expertise and the access he was able to gain at naval bases and afloat.

John has been a popular member of Brooke Hall, always willing to share a joke and to help out colleagues who have found themselves in need of another pair of hands. It should be noted that, in return, his colleagues have been remarkably tolerant of his occasionally indecipherable e-mails. John was an early adopter of speech recognition software which, without the required editing, yielded less than perfect results. This does not explain, however, his email seeking help supervising his new waterboarding activity. He meant wakeboarding.

John is a firm believer that Economics should be experienced and, for Carthusian economists, this has been achieved not just through visiting speakers, in person and online, but also an ambitious series of excursions to London (for lectures at LSE and the University of Chicago’s Booth School of Business outpost) and overseas (to Brussels, China, and Vietnam). JCT is responsible for the only risk assessment in the School’s archives which refers to unexploded land mines.

John joined Charterhouse in 2006 to be Head of Economics. This is a subject involving statistics and their interpretation. Here are some figures which speak for themselves: in 2006, there were 87 Carthusian Specialists studying Economics; in 2021, there are 192. Mr Andrew Turner

In March 2008, Charterhouse was fortunate to receive an application from Pablo Funcasta. It was clear that he would be appointed from the moment his application hit the inbox. A CV boasting an Economics degree from Trinity College, Cambridge, honed by a Masters at LSE, and time at the Bank of England had him at the top of any list of applicants for an Economics job. When this was accompanied by an interest in sport and an obvious interest in education, I knew that we had struck gold.

In the ten years we have known each other, my admiration for his passion for Economics and interest in how best to inspire pupils has only increased. My initial fear was that he would not have sufficient patience to deal with the less interested and numerate Carthusians. This proved to be unfounded, as I saw him coming into the department early and staying late to help any boy or girl with a wish to improve. At the same time, he has never lost his desire to push the most able so they might follow in his footsteps to study Economics at the top universities in the world. His hashes have combined a thorough approach to the basics with a constant stream of innovative ideas which have kept the lessons fresh.

As we started the IBDP, it was an obvious step to ask Pablo to run this. He succeeded in producing the best results in the School for the Department. It was equally obvious that he should take over running Economics when the post became vacant. Since then, he has improved the efficiency of the department, employing a collaborative style of leadership which has given everyone a sense of value. His interest in his team is shown by his early morning patrol of the department, greeting us with a cheerful grin and often a useful article from The Economist while making sure we are all ready for the day. This is good in normal times; in a pandemic when some of the dinosaurs were struggling with OneNote and Zoom, it was a lifesaver.

Of course, he proved his potential as a schoolmaster as he became Assistant Housemaster to Steve Hearn who writes:

‘Making Pablo my Assistant was one of the best decisions I made as a Housemaster.

Pablo is an exemplary schoolmaster, able to contribute to every sphere of School life. In House, he was happy to play Tics football, proudly wearing his Barcelona shirt as he played the unforgiving centre back role. Despite trips to see QPR, I could never turn his back to his local team: his dedication to Blackburn Rovers is unshakeable.

Pablo was able to take over the running of the House when I was not there, and I always felt confident that he was in control. He was kind and considerate in this pastoral role, as well as being fully aware that rules need to be followed to ensure the happiness of everyone.

He built good relationships with all the members of the House. They regarded him fondly and he commanded the utmost respect. Pablo joined in with every House social occasion, was happy to take trips out, and understood fully that the House was a second home for the pupils. I could not have asked for a more dedicated tutor and assistant.’

Once he became free from the trials of coaching rowing (his qualification – having relatives in a country that, some time ago, launched the Spanish Armada), Pablo became an excellent football coach (qualification – that same country winning the World Cup in 2010). James Silvester, a fellow coach, writes: ‘Pablo has been an integral part of delivering football to the U15 age group. Indeed, the U15B side was very much his own! Favouring the 4-2-3-1 formation (very much like Barcelona would operate during their tika-taka phase), Pablo would spend time organising drills to get the very best out of the footballers. What’s more, he was very much a leading figure in staff 5-a-side football, whether rampaging forward like Diego Costa or saving shot after shot like David De Gea. He will be greatly missed.’

To finish at the beginning, Charterhouse has indeed been fortunate to have such a wholehearted individual as a member of Brooke Hall for the last 12 years. St Leonards School is equally fortunate to be in Fife (whence Sarah and her family hail) and thus takes Pablo and his family away from us. He leaves friends who hope to visit him and that he will often return to Godalming. Mr John Troy

There are all sorts of words one can use to describe Tasos Aidonis – though only a few are printable. He’s a Tasmanian devil of a man, a (small) bundle of energy, and a fun loving and hugely energetic Housemaster of Bodeites. As his next-door neighbour in Hodgsonites, I can testify to Tasos’s can-do attitude and his deep engagement in the lives of the Bodeite boys. From his famous Burns Night Supper through to his casino nights and London theatre trips, he has always put on a good show for those under his

care. He is constantly on the go around the House and always looking to chivvy, encourage, cajole, and charm the boys to do their very best.

Tasos arrived at Charterhouse in September 2010 after a ten-year stint at Fettes College in Scotland following a very successful four years at Lancaster Royal Grammar School. He had already been Head of Classics, Head of Year, and Head of Sixth Form at Fettes. He says he came to Charterhouse because he “loves boarding” and that affection has been sustained and enhanced in his ten years with us. Alongside leading the Classics department here, he was soon the Assistant Housemaster in Bodeites under James Hazeldine’s tutelage. It was clear from early on he was destined for bigger things. Everything he did in those early days was done with gusto. For instance, he is fondly remembered by many boys as an unskilled but enthusiastic football coach. He would typically join in the practice games (to limited success) and roar the boys on from the side-lines during the matches. What he lacked in tactical awareness, he more than made up for in man management skills. He was no Pep Guardiola but he knew how to get the best out of each boy and build a team spirit.

In September 2016, Tasos started in Bodeites and hasn’t looked back. In his words, “it’s been the best thing ever… I’ve loved it, every single moment”. He has enjoyed the big set piece House events as much as the small, revealing conversations with individual boys. He likes to have a busy House with the boys always on the go and getting stuck in – much in his own mould. Indeed, it may sound odd at first to hear that one of his favourite sights and sounds is “a quiet corridor” because it means the boys are busy (so Tasos thinks, at least!). For him, the House is more important than the School. It is the lifeblood of Charterhouse.

However, Tasos was never content with merely running a boarding house. In the past few years, he has collected job titles and responsibilities as if they are endangered species. He has been Head of the Scholars and Head of the Extended Project Qualification in the Specialists. He has thrown himself into both jobs with his customary zeal. It’s a miracle his wife, Kathryn, has been so patient with him. He rarely seems to stop (other than for the occasional afternoon ‘power nap’). Everyone who meets Tasos likes him – teachers, support staff, parents, and pupils. The queue to get a place in Bodeites is long, with Tasos being the main draw. The boys in Bodeites respect and like him, even in the most difficult of circumstances. They know he will have their backs and support them to the very end.

He says he wants to leave the House with a culture that when one commits to something one sees it through. As he says, “If you’re going to do something, you do it properly”. He hopes he will leave that sort of legacy and his successor, Mr David McCoombes, will benefit from having a unified and committed set of pupils. Of course, he couldn’t have made that sort of impact without a dedicated team of tutors and wonderful matrons. Tasos picks out Elaine Carden (his current matron) as a “force of nature” and a fellow traveller. It is certainly true that they make a dynamic duo – Elaine’s no-nonsense grit balancing Tasos’ maniacal and passionate approach to everything. Elaine says that when the boys misbehave (as they inevitably do) they are usually more upset at the thought of letting Dr Aidonis down than any punishment they might receive. “I think that shows the type of man he is,” says Elaine.

Tasos leaves us here to take up the job of Head of Senior School at Westminster. It’s still a hands-on, pupil-focused role and that will play to Tasos’s strengths. It sounds like he has landed on his feet too, with a lovely apartment overlooking Westminster Abbey. Not bad work, if you can get it.

We wish Tasos the best of luck. He is a one-off and he will be sorely missed. Mr Ian Richards

After nine years as Head of Design & Technology at Charterhouse, Tom Aberneithie has decided to pursue a full time Master’s in Fine Art. Since joining in 2012, Tom has been responsible for introducing greater breadth to Design & Technology education here at the School. With a focus on the wider disciplines in product design, Tom has developed strong curriculum links with Art to enrich the subject and has made contributions to a significant renovation of the John Derry Technical Centre in 2016.

Tom was responsible for organising several overseas Design trips, most memorably to The Bauhaus in Berlin and to supercar museums and factories in Bologna. He has also made strong links between Charterhouse and universities both in the UK and abroad, organising popular evening Design lectures for our pupils.

Tom also involved himself in the cocurricular life of the School, coaching the swimming teams, running Pioneers, and tutoring in Weekites, where he will surely be missed. Over the last nine years, many pupils have been inspired to pursue Product Design and Architecture degrees after studying sixth form DT, and we wish Tom every success for the future with his own creative endeavours. Mr Simon Brian

Simon Brian joined Charterhouse in September 2018 as Deputy Head (Academic), bringing with him extensive experience of academic leadership positions in both independent day and boarding schools. His previous experience of a range of different approaches to the formal curriculum, to innovation (for example, in the form of non-examined electives), and to the use of technology in teaching proved extremely valuable to the powerful impact he has had on taking Charterhouse’s teaching and learning to the next level.

During his tenure, Charterhouse was a leading light in the move away from Pre-U to reformed A-Level exams (a move since followed by many more schools, leading to the collapse of the entire Pre-U system), the extended project qualification (EPQ) was introduced for 1YS, and a system of academic enrichment and workplaceready electives were introduced. Simon’s speed in understanding the DNA of Charterhouse was hugely important in the success of these reforms. Carthusian Specialists are hungry for independent learning, for wider research, for presenting ideas to their peers, and handling a critical audience. Carthusians are keen to study beyond the confines of the exam syllabus, whether that be Archaeology, Biomechanics, or Forensic Science. They also have a keen interest in Business, in Investments, in Leadership, and Entrepreneurship – all things which now form part of the Charterhouse experience for our young learners. Simon’s defining moment at Charterhouse came in March and April 2020 in the weeks after the Government announced the first Covid lockdown and the closing of Schools for an extensive but undefined period. He was the architect of Charterhouse@Home, quickly seeing that the combination of Zoom and One Note was the platform for the most effective delivery of on-line learning, moving quickly to train staff, to lead and reassure them in uncertain times, and to radically alter the timetable from the very start to make sure it was suitable for teenagers working on screens at home. Again, Charterhouse, under Simon’s operational direction, led other schools in this regard, many of whom followed suit in due course.

Simon leaves the Academic Heads of Department forum transformed. The atmosphere of professional collaboration, the sharing of best practice, and the relentless pursuit of excellence as a collective endeavour for academic middle leaders is inspirational to see in action. As one Head of Department commented in their annual review this year, “Simon is the best line manager I have ever had in my career”.

A staunch advocate of the IB, Simon leaves Charterhouse to take over the headship of St Leonards School in St Andrews, a 3-18 coeducational School with an IB-only Sixth Form. We thank him for his enormous contribution to Charterhouse in a relatively short space of time and wish him and his lovely family every success in Scotland. Dr Alex Peterken

Sue joined Charterhouse in September 2007 from Guy’s Hospital, where she worked in the Microbiology Department. She subsequently decided to apply her skills to school laboratories. For the first seven years, she worked in the Chemistry Department and then transferred to the Biology Department, where she could utilise her Microbiology skills.

Sue is going to be missed, as she is an integral part of the technician team and an integral part of the Biology Department. She is patient and will prepare practical equipment at short notice without complaint, even on the occasions when beaks have forgotten to pre-order the materials for their lessons! Sue’s approach is quiet and without fuss. She remains calm and composed even at the most stressful of times, typified by the time when the team was faced with last-minute problems before the final A-Level practical examination. More recently, Sue has been involved in the preparation work for the Biology laboratories’ refurbishment and was a valuable contributor when the new Chemistry laboratories were fitted out in 2018.

Outside of work, Sue has in recent years belonged to Godalming Rock Choir and even took part in a flash mob choral sing on Guildford High Street. She likes to keep fit and was often to be found in the gym after work. She has recently started drawing lessons and hopes to progress to painting classes in retirement having

been inspired by an ex-colleague’s artwork. She is also starting to learn Welsh.

Sue has a keen interest in the environment and animals and hopes to encourage more wildlife to live in her garden. She recently went on a dawn safari in Sussex to observe wildlife and would like to learn more about birdsong, in particular to learn to identify different species.

Sue has added hugely to the success of the Department, and we are certainly going to miss her. We would like to share our best wishes for everything she aims to do in her well-earned retirement. Mr Tim Hingston

They say that some of the best things in life happen by chance, and the truth of that statement would certainly seem to be borne out by Eleanor McIntyre’s long association with Charterhouse. Eleanor, who retires (again!) this year, first taught here in 1977, following a dinner-party conversation in which she let slip that she was a teacher of German, currently taking a career break to look after her children. On such small events do great histories turn. The ears of the Charterhouse Head of Modern Languages, who happened to be present, pricked up; arms were twisted, contracts were signed, and Eleanor soon found herself taking the daily walk from Peperharow Road up Racquets Court Hill to teach a Fourth form German division, to which a Remove History division was soon added. It will come as a surprise to no-one who knows her that she was immediately exerting an influence well beyond the narrowly intellectual: as one of only a small handful of women in Brooke Hall at the time of her arrival, Eleanor was clearly determined to inject some style into the community of slovenly men in which she found herself: a school trip to London to visit a museum (itself a revolutionary idea) went ahead only after all the boys were made to have their hair cut and their uniforms cleaned. The presence in the late 1970s of a powerful blonde so close to home clearly alarmed and confused some of Brooke Hall’s bachelor beaks, one of whom refused to share a hashroom with Eleanor, allegedly fearing that he would walk in one day to find his beloved den decorated in chintz and filled with flowers. How times have changed. Eleanor was soon lured away, first to The Grove School in Hindhead and then to the RGS in Guildford, where she stayed until her first retirement in 2013. Unfortunately for her (though fortunately for many budding linguists), she was immediately persuaded to take on some teaching at Hampton School, and then, a year later, she found herself once again taking the daily walk up Racquets Court Hill, having been asked to bring her expertise back to the Charterhouse Modern Languages Department. Eleanor is known and highly valued for her ability to teach and enthuse pupils in the widest of ability ranges, from those who join the School with no prior experience of a language to those who have a near-native competence, as well as her excellence as a linguist, her energy, and her willingness to share insights gained from her experience. She has also shown exemplary courage and openmindedness in facing the challenges recently confronting all beaks, embracing the use of iPads, OneNote, and Zoom to keep the pupils on track and smiling. She tells me that she has found, in her most recent stint, the small divisions and the contact with pupils of various nationalities interesting and rewarding, and the conviviality of Brooke Hall refreshing and stimulating. While she is saddened by the decline in the number of young learners of languages in the maintained sector, she is keen to remind Carthusians of the edge they enjoy in the world of work by having had the opportunity to learn languages to an advanced level at School. Her humour, thoughtfulness, and commitment to the cause will be much missed not only in the Modern Languages Department but also in the wider School community, where she has lent her support to all sorts of activities, from drama productions and theatre trips to the 50 Mile Walk. She is now looking forward to being able to spend some more time with her family, as well as continuing her work in mental health support and as a governor at Godalming Junior School. I would only advise her to decline any invitations she receives to dinner engagements in the Godalming area, at least in the short term, as, given the designs fate clearly has for her, she would probably, if careless, find herself once again taking the daily walk up Racquets Court Hill to Charterhouse... Mr Peregrine Rand

“You’re an unusually smiley chap, aren’t you?” “Am I? Well yes, I suppose I am!”

This somewhat unusual observation was uttered by one public school chaplain to another. The date was Tuesday 21 June 2014, the venue, the Saunders Room, Charterhouse, and the occasion, a School Chaplains’ Conference. The former’s identity has, thankfully, been forgotten; the person he was addressing was the then Chaplain of Repton School, The Revd Adam Watkinson.

As the host of that year’s conference, I was immediately struck by the rudeness of the initial remark and impressed by the recipient’s disarming response. Little did I imagine that just two years later, Father Adam would return to Charterhouse as Assistant Chaplain and TPE beak.

Adam had been Chaplain at Repton for ten years before arriving in Godalming to be closer to his wife Sue, a Dame at Eton. Adam settled seamlessly into life at Charterhouse and it’s difficult to think of any aspect of School life where his impact and personality has not been felt. Most publicly, I suppose, is in Chapel, where pupils and staff alike enjoyed his Ayckbourn-esque, self-deprecating, and humorous sermons, which always touched something deeper within the lives of the listener. I was always amused when he used to say, “Oh Clive, I’ve just nothing to say”, because, every time, he did.

Within the hashroom, Adam’s unassuming ability was evident. His gentle guidance of the least confident pupil along with academically challenging the most able made all those that were taught by him appreciate how fortunate they were. Adam would always seek new ways to make his teaching both relevant and interesting and would find ‘ways in’ to a topic which would often amuse and delight.

A year into his time at Charterhouse, Adam moved into Fletcherites to take on the role of Resident Assistant Housemaster. The community there gained an enormous amount from Adam’s kind and patient pastoral care, but it was also a community that Adam took solace in being a part of, especially in the time of Sue’s illness. It is a measure of Adam’s character that, on his return to School after a short break following Sue’s death, although he never hid his deep grief from me, he still remained as concerned about his care for others, placing their needs before his own.

Adam’s quiet influence was evident in so many other areas of School life too: holding a stopwatch while entertaining other timekeepers at athletics, getting in the pizzas for the cross-country squad on a Saturday, heading up the Community and Partnerships programme, giving advice to Oxbridge entrants... but perhaps more importantly, having those private conversations with pupils and staff who needed someone kind, understanding, and willing to be with them; someone who would listen.

Adam is a man of deep faith, but he is not one to shout about it. The words of Jesus, “I have set you an example that you should do as I have done to you” (John 13.15), are lived out in Adam’s treatment of others and in his own actions. They say that clergy teams in the Church of England seldom work well together; in this case, they couldn’t be more wrong. We all wish Adam well as he returns to Repton to be their Chaplain. The Revd. Clive Case

Naomi joined Charterhouse in OQ 2018 as Teacher of Design, Engineering & Technology and has taught all year groups from Yearlings to Second Year Specialists. A very capable teacher, Naomi shows a professional ease with young people and her pupils have always trusted and respected her, which has allowed for the flourishing of caring relationships across all the areas of School in which Naomi has contributed.

Naomi has also enthusiastically involved herself in a range of co-curricular activities, notably climbing, and taking on tutoring and evening duties in Sutton. She has also played a key role in promoting staff wellbeing with a number of innovative and inclusive initiatives, such as the Tea Club! We offer our collective thanks to her for all she has contributed to Charterhouse over these years and wish her well for the future. Mr Simon Brian

Mandy joined Charterhouse over three and a half years ago and took up the post of Matron of Chetwynd Hall. She has provided care, guidance, and help to so many girls over her time here and she is a loved and well-respected member of the House.

In the time she has been here, she has assisted with countless essays, read and re-read UCAS statements, and guided the girls through their learning journey. She came from a teaching background and has always offered her intellectual talents as well as her practical ones. Whether bandaging feet after the overnight Endurance Challenge, contacting parents to offer reassurance, helping with House events, or finding literary quotations, Mandy’s role has been varied, bountiful, and appreciated.

The girls refer to her affectionately as ‘Mrs J’ and it is through her humour and her kindness that they have formed many lovely memories, such as singing in the common room and dancing, when it was allowed! Her treats and snacks have always been plentiful and flowing and always there at the right moments, especially when the girls were finding things a challenge. Her late night ‘soft tellings off’ for mischief, noise, and

mayhem when teenage brains couldn’t settle will be remembered fondly, alongside her boundless capacity to listen. A member of the House said, “she always found time for me and always listened, even when I had nothing really to say”.

We appreciate her skill, her devotion, her support, and her kindness and she will be much missed. We wish her well in her new adventures in Devon and know that the loss of her here in Chetwynd is her family’s gain. Mrs Michelle Creer

Cathrina (B 91, née Barker), whilst ‘only’ a part-time beak, has made a huge contribution to the academic side of the school over the last two (unprecedented) years. Her decade of teaching Physical Geography and the Extended Project Qualification at Godalming College made her a natural fit for passing her expertise on to a new generation of Specialists. I have appreciated her genuine care for every pupil (also demonstrated by her tutoring in Daviesites) and consummate subject knowledge. Her professionalism and resilience were very well demonstrated by the ease with which she embraced iPad teaching and Zoom when lockdown struck last March. More remarkably, Cathrina performed her duties without missing a beat whilst project-managing a major renovation of her and Andy’s house in Chiddingfold. This meant that she taught most of her ‘remote’ hashes from a mobile home in her garden, whilst simultaneously home-schooling her two young children. Wow, and bravo, Cathrina! Mr Peter Price As a beak, Cathrina has replicated her old Carthusian days where she was happiest on the lacrosse and cricket pitches. She has contributed to developing the skillset of our girls in lacrosse and has shown real enthusiasm, dedication, and desire to improve their stick work. Unfortunately, Cathrina has only had the opportunity to help develop the girls’ cricket programme in one Quarter due to Covid last year. With the introduction of cricket into the girls’ sport programme, she was the first to sign up, to develop their game and hopefully instil her love for the sport in the girls. She has done just that. The girls have been fantastic, and they value Cathrina’s knowledge of cricket. She will be deeply missed, and we thank her for the help and support she has given over the last two years. Mrs Nicola Edwards

It did not take long for Mingzhu to make friends at Charterhouse. Since her first day, she was eager to get to know all of her colleagues and expand her knowledge of European languages and culture. Mingzhu is an amazing teacher whose patient, supportive, and creative approach to lessons has benefitted Mandarin-learning Carthusians. Her anecdotes and thorough knowledge of her country’s history have inspired both students and colleagues. She has spoiled the Modern Languages Department and pupils with exquisite Chinese dishes and beautiful Chinese handmade cards as well as personalised gifts (does she have Mary Poppins’ bag?). None in the Department can beat the beauty of her displays on Chinese culture and art. Her professionalism and unflappable nature in the past two years have been admirable. When she returns to China this summer, Mingzhu is looking forward to seeing her husband again and all of her colleagues and pupils at her school in China, which she left two years ago. Mingzhu has not just been a great colleague and beak to her pupils, but also a remarkable ambassador for her country and culture. Xiè xie, Mingzhu! Mr Pierre Pillet

Marie-Amance has been French assistant at Charterhouse since September 2019 having joined us following her work at Hull University. She impressed immediately with her lively engagement with pupils, reliability, and resourcefulness. She has given her time generously to both pupils and staff in the department.

Her support of pupils who have prepared Pre-U French orals over the last two years has been outstanding. We have been so impressed with the detail and quality of their work with Marie-Amance. Equally, she has done some fantastic work with IB, A-Level, and IGCSE candidates.

She settled quickly into the wider school community and in the boarding Houses she has worked in (Bodeites and Chetwynd). House staff found MarieAmance to be a delightful addition to the House teams. She has always been calm,

reliable, and sensitive to pupils. House staff appreciated her ability to conduct the House duties/routines but also to remain approachable and connected.

We have been very fortunate to have a French assistant with Marie-Amance’s experience, energy, and ability to get things done efficiently without fuss. She will be greatly missed.

Marie-Amance will be leaving us to pursue her ultimate aim of being a French teacher and to continue her passion for equestrianism. Mr Pierre Pillet

Victoria arrived at Charterhouse in August 2019, joining us from the Portsmouth NHS Trust, immediately making her mark on the team, thanks to her positivity and supportive nature.

Her fundraising skills have been put to excellent use during the last two years, building upon the School’s regular giving, telethon and legacy programmes to good effect. Her creativity will leave a lasting impression on the School, thanks to her launching of our new 1611 giving circle, as a way of both encouraging and recognising the regular support of our donors. The beautiful 1611 Society bookcase which now stands in OHH Reception is a lasting mark of her contribution to School life. professionalism has never wavered and her contribution will be greatly missed.

An outstanding baker and cook, her sweet creations have been something to behold and have kept everyone going during the last two years. We wish her every success as she leaves School to take up a fundraising post at the Royal Surrey Hospital. Mr Chris Hibbs

Sophie joined the Reception Team in September 2019 and was based in Engineer’s Cottage prior to the move to the newly refurbished Reception at Old Headmaster’s House in early 2020. Settling in seamlessly, Sophie provided a bright and warming welcome in Reception and took the time to meet and get to know both Support and Academic staff. During the first lockdown in March 2020, Sophie was committed to supporting Reception and her colleagues, and managed the changes in routine and the challenges that Reception often receives with great sensitivity and effectiveness. Sophie’s other great skill is in her baking, which the residents of OHH will miss! She is a very talented baker, creating delicious brownies from any kind of chocolate confectionery you can name, and, more recently, wonderfully elaborate ‘stack’ and ‘drip’ birthday cakes.

Sophie made the decision not to return to Charterhouse after her short spell of furlough to focus on her children and her baking business. We wish Sophie every success. Mrs Shirley Partridge

Catherine Harrison joined Charterhouse in August 2019 as Matron of Sutton. She considers education a vocation. Teaching from the age of 21 in Senior Schools in South Africa, Catherine established herself at Roedean (SA) from 1995, first as an English teacher, then as House Mistress, Head of Department, and finally Senior Mistress. She completed her Master’s degree while raising her now adult, married daughters. Catherine retired from her position as Head of School at St Teresa’s School in December 2018. Her passion lies in transformation, inclusion, and diversity and, as a devout Christian, Catherine holds on strongly to the tenet of loving thy neighbour as thyself.

Catherine was simply indispensable during the process of setting up Sutton House and was always calm and committed to the girls in her care. She also stepped up to teach English, making herself an invaluable member of the English Department, as well as tutoring in Robinites. She is far, far more than the sum of her parts, and everyone in the Charterhouse community will miss her terribly. Our loss is very definitely St Catherine’s gain as she becomes Housemistress and Teacher of English there. Mrs Jani Lambeth

Charlotte came to Charterhouse in September 2020 as the School’s first Graduate Music Assistant, having graduated with a first-class degree as Organ Scholar at Hertford College, Oxford. Covid has been particularly punishing for young people, especially those moving from one school to another, or from school to college, or college to workplace. Despite missing all the usual joys of university celebrations and the natural cohesion and interaction of working life here, Charlotte has applied her unassailably calm, intelligent, and positive approach to everything she has faced here and, despite the lockdown, has made such an enormous contribution that most people would have failed to achieve in a normal year. She has very capably helped with teaching, coached instrumentalists, sung in Chapel Choir, conducted and been an invaluable coach and accompanist for the School production of Les Misérables, to mention just a few. Her intelligence, perception, diplomacy, and initiative have all shone in the quality of the work she has tackled, and I know that her contribution as a House Assistant has been equally admired. It came as no surprise that the two positions she applied for were both offered to her: a full-time teaching post in an equally prestigious school to ours and one of just two places on the Conducting Course at the Royal Academy of Music. She accepted the latter offer and I am quite sure has a very bright future ahead of her. Mr Mark Shepherd

Izzy joined the Marketing Department at Charterhouse after completing her degree in Business Management from the University of Liverpool. Having already worked as a Marketing Assistant for a year at King’s School, Chester, as part of her studies, Izzy was able to hit the ground running as soon as she arrived. Often, Izzy would quite literally be seen running around campus, eager to capture photos of everything going on, so that they could be shared on our website and social media! As a skilled and highly motivated self-starter, Izzy’s output in her role was vast; she managed the “What’s On” email campaign during lock-down, regularly wrote and posted news stories for the website and social media, designed and produced collateral for the BTT for Les Mis and produced several brochures, including the House Handbook and Sixth Form brochures. Everyone who met Izzy was impressed by her energy, enthusiasm and willingness to get stuck into all of her tasks and projects and we’re grateful to Izzy for everything that she achieved in her time here with us. We wish her all the very best in her new role as Marketing and Learning Events Executive with Hawk Training and are certain she will be a great success. Mrs Cressida Lee

Dayne Massey leaves the Sports Department after two years of service. In his time at Charterhouse, Dayne has been instrumental in the development of the Charterhouse Athlete Programme (CAP) and in the running of the wider sporting side of the School. His energy, organisation, and strong administrative skills in all aspects of School life have been second to none and his assistance in running the Athletics Programme in CQ has been key. He will be heading to Forest School to pursue his career development as a teacher of Physical Education, and we are confident that he will continue to make an impact on the physical wellbeing of young people for years to come.

Georgia will be heading back to Bath University after spending a placement year at Charterhouse as part of her undergraduate degree. Georgia has been a breath of fresh air and her interaction with the pupils, as well as her organisation and diligence in everything she has done, has certainly been noticed by many people. She has demonstrated fantastic potential and her interest in becoming a teacher in the future has been strengthened by her time here. Guy spent the 2020-21 academic year as a Graduate Assistant in the Sports Department. His energy around the students was infectious and he helped to inspire a love of sport in countless Carthusians during his time with us. He will now move to Oundle to further his career in Physical Education, where he will certainly be a big success. He has an exciting future ahead of him.

David will also be returning to university after completing a placement year at Charterhouse. He is a great young coach and our pupils have enjoyed learning from him this year. He has assisted the Sports Department in a variety of different sports, has really thrown himself into everything we have done, and has generally been a superb addition to the team. David is also interested in developing a career in Physical Education and has made a very good start at Bournemouth University.