Staff Leavers

FAREWELL AND THANK YOU

In July 2020 we said goodbye to three staff who have retired from the RGS after an astounding 56 years of dedicated service to the School between them.

Shirley Perrett, Mathematics (joined 2003), Denise Walsh, Library Assistant (joined 1993) and Stewart Armstrong, Chemistry (joined 2008) have given an enormous amount to the School, in so many different ways, and we wish them a long, well deserved and very happy retirement. Thank you for everything!

Shirley Perrett taught Mathematics for 17 years and was equally appreciated for her phenomenal energy and contribution to extra-curricular activities. She was responsible for the Duke of Edinburgh Award for many years, participated in the RGS expedition to Cambodia, recruited staff relay teams to compete in the South Downs marathon and started a weekly staff running club. She also ran 17 marathons, including an ultramarathon of 38 miles, and is a Guinness Record holder as part of a centipede of 47 people tied together in the London Marathon. Denise Walsh joined the RGS as the Library Assistant just as the Mallison Library moved to its current location at the top of the New Building, and shortly after the library catalogue became computerised. Over the last 27 years she has worked for three Librarians and given great help to countless boys and staff. She has kept a close eye on news about OGs, many of whom will have spent time in the library over the years. For the boys and staff, their abiding memory may be of her meticulous and wonderful costumes and characterisation on World Book Day, be it as Miss Marple or Mrs Durrell to name but two. The total distance in “Get on your Bike” covered across the week by all participants was 4,807 km, that is equivalent to the distance from Guildford to the middle of Africa!