Alumni Newsletter Spring 2021

Beyond THE MANOR

April 2021 – Issue 4

Welcome to Issue 4 of Beyond the Manor, our termly Alumnae newsletter.

As we ease our way towards the warmer months, this edition looks back on a term of glorious winter snow, and all things virtual, from lessons to rehearsals and old girl reunions.

We bring you our interview with Dr Jenny Dewing, who left Manor House in 2006 to pursue studies in cell biology and now researches the causes and treatments of a rare eye disease.

With the Senior Production this year bringing High School Musical back to Manor House, we also caught up with Amy Townsend nee Pigott and Amber Kalejs who starred in the 2008 HSM production to share their memories.

And as restrictions continue to ease, a number of postponed events are being rescheduled, including our Centenary Heritage Picnic which will now take place on Saturday 11 September. Alumnae, current families, and the local community are invited to bring a picnic. enjoy the school grounds and celebrate 100 years of Manor House School. Refreshments will be available along with music and entertainment. We look forward to seeing you then.

All news and contributions should be sent to Sophie Milton at smilton@manorhouseschool.org.

BEYOND THE MANOR

April 2021 – Issue 4

MHOG Q&A DR JENNIFER DEWING When did you join and leave Manor House?

I joined Manor House in 1995 when I was 5 years old. I remember I was very upset at the time that my parents had made me change schools and I remember crying on my first day when my mum dropped me off and the teacher, Mrs Bennett, sat me on her lap and gave me a cuddle. I didn’t look back after that. I left Manor House in 2006 after my GCSEs, almost 11 years after I started, so Manor House really was my childhood.

Where did you spend your Sixth Form and University years? What did you study?

I went to Reigate Grammar School. None of my friends from Manor House were going there so choosing that school over some of the others was daunting, but I remember visiting RGS and thinking that it was the right school for me. After sixth form I went on to study Biology at the University of Southampton.

What was your path to the work you’re doing now?

I chose to study Biology because I had always loved it as a subject at school and I had wanted from a young age to become an ecologist and study animals in the wild. Ironically, at University I hated the ecology lectures and fell in love with cell biology, which led me to do a PhD in stem cell biology at Southampton after my degree. My PhD was looking at making new heart cells to treat patients with damaged hearts.

After completing my PhD in 2016, I continued to work in science at Southampton. My first job was as a researcher studying Alzheimer’s disease in the brain, and since 2018 I have been studying a rare eye disease that causes blindness, with the aim of understanding the molecular biology of the disease so we can find new treatments.

MHOG Q&A

What memories stand out from your Manor House days? (school trips or events, moments with friends or teachers, sport etc..)

There are so many memories from Manor House! Numerous school plays including ‘Oliver!’, ‘Oklahoma’ and ‘The Secret Garden’, Mrs Williams and Mr Pratt were a great team and it was always such an inclusive event and a lot of fun.

The annual ‘House Entertainment’ events also stick in my mind, where Year 10s from each House would be in charge of organising singing, dancing, acting and art pieces involving all Junior and Senior classes. It was a lot of fun to work with girls from all the different year groups to make our ideas come to life.

Other highlights were all the sports we played. I especially remember running through the school grounds during lunch break playing ‘meatballs’ (our version of ‘it’).

“

I fell in love with cell biology, which led me to do a PhD in stem cell biology, looking at making new heart cells to treat patients with damaged hearts.

BEYOND THE MANOR

April 2021 – Issue 4

MHOG Q&A

DR JENNIFER DEWING We were so lucky to have such a beautiful space to run around in. I think overall, my memories of Manor House are mostly of being with my friends and just laughing a lot! The kind of laughing where your belly aches!

Our school year was the first to make a leaving video, which I believe has continued on since! Ours was to George Michael’s song ‘Faith’ (I think it is on YouTube). Making that video was a lot of fun and a memory we can keep forever.

What is a typical day for you now? What are some of the challenges?

I work in the research labs at Southampton University Hospital. I am fortunate that in my current role as a postdoctoral research scientist I am fairly independent. I plan my days and my experiments to accommodate what I feel needs to be done to keep the project moving forward. One day I might be growing cells from the retina in a dish, or extracting DNA to analyse different genes, or staining cells with fluorescent markers, and the next I might be sat at my desk writing up a paper on my work for publication. It is a very dynamic job and I’m certainly never bored!

The last year with COVID-19 has meant that my days haven’t been typical and I have had to prioritise staying at home and writing

“

Being able to step back and look at the big picture and come up with creative ways to answer important scientific questions is, in my mind, what makes a good scientist.

papers and grants for future funding. I would say one of the biggest challenges with science is being able to manage the highs and lows that come with lab experiments. You could spend your whole week preparing for an experiment and then it fails on a Friday afternoon and you have to pick yourself up and try again the next week.

MHOG Q&A

Job stability can also be a challenge in academia, with most positions funded on short-term contracts, so you have to make sure you publish your data so you look competitive when you apply for more funding. The benefits of the job are that you use your brain every day and you get to collaborate with lots of inspiring and intelligent people from all around the world. I am also lucky that I get to work closely with eye doctors and with the local eye charity ‘Gift of Sight’ so I get to meet patients that will directly benefit from the work I do, which is very rewarding.

What roles of responsibility did you hold, if any, whilst at Manor House e.g. sports captain, prefect, form captain, House Captain and how did these roles prepare you for the future?

I was Head Girl in my final year at Manor House back in 2005/6. The deputy head girl and myself would meet the Headmistress, Mrs Morris, before school assembly and escort her to the EGH hall every day, which was a great opportunity to interact with the headmistress and forge a more personal relationship.

The role was a great lesson in delegation. I remember at first thinking I had to do everything myself but actually I had a great team of prefects and house captains around me. I think that is what makes a good leader: to know the strengths and weaknesses of your team and apply them in the right way.

BEYOND THE MANOR

April 2021 – Issue 4

MHOG Q&A

DR JENNIFER DEWING What advice would you give to those planning for a career in your field?

I would say that you don’t have to be a genius at maths or science at school to have a successful science career. What you need is passion for the subject. I remember being told that I wasn’t a ‘natural scientist’ at school - and I wasn’t! I had to work hard to get the grades I got in Science for GCSE. Most people might not associate creativity with a career in science but I have found it to be indispensable in my career. Being able to step back and look at the big picture of what you are investigating and come up with new and creative ways to answer important scientific question is, in my mind, what makes a good scientist.

What travelling have you done?

“

After my GCSEs I travelled around Costa Rica with my mum and sister which was amazing. The following year I went to South Africa to teach English at a school in a township. In 2009 I spent two weeks with my family living as part of a tribe on an island in Fiji - that was a great experience. In 2016 my now husband, Mark, proposed to me on a beach in Bermuda, which was pretty magical. Another perk of being a scientist is you get free trips to conferences around the globe- I went to Boston in 2015 and Vancouver in 2019 with work.

Who has inspired you along the way?

In 2009 I spent two weeks with my family living as part of a tribe on an island in Fiji – that was a great experience

During my school years my big inspiration was Dr Jane Goodall, the primatologist. She was the first woman to go to Africa and study chimpanzees in the wild and first to discover that they also use tools, like humans. Jane made me want to study Biology, and even though I didn’t end up following her into the jungle , I wouldn’t have a science career today if it wasn’t for her! I was lucky enough to meet Jane in 2017 when I went to a special screening of her documentary. I often wear her sponsored t-shirt that says ‘Girls just want to do Science’.

What skills or world view did you develop at MHS that served you well during your sixth form and university years, and beyond?

MHOG Q&A

The positions of responsibility that were offered to me at Manor House gave me a real opportunity for leadership and team work that helped at sixth form, University and in my career. A worldview that was really emphasized at Manor House was ‘treat others how you wish to be treated’. I remember several school assemblies where this was discussed and it has always served me well throughout my life. I think being kind and empathetic to others is the most important ambition we can have.

And lastly… what would your super power be if you could choose one?

This is a tough one. I think I would like to be able to control time. I know it is a cliché of adulthood but time goes by way too fast. I’d like to be able to slow down time when I’m with my family and friends… and maybe speed up time when I’m waiting to see if my experiment has worked or not!

Read more about Jenny’s work here - https://retinauk.org.uk/research/researcher-profiles/dr-jennydewing/?cn-reloaded=1

Memories of Miss Pettigrew and the Shakespeare play with Lower IV every summer in the Dell

BEYOND THE MANOR

April 2021 – Issue 4

MHOG Memories

Margaret Gaskin Murray, Della Panton, Valerie Wilson (nee Gover) & Judy Keats (nee Wheeler).

Class of 1966.

A photo of Spring snowdrops growing in the Dell, shared recently on our Alumnae Facebook page, prompted a lively discussion amongst a number of old girls from the class of 1966, ranging from Gauloises cigarettes, to Miss Pettigrew and finishing with Eric the Swiss ski instructor. With thanks to Margaret, Della, Valerie and Judy.

Della: “[Miss Pettigrew]…was lovely. A bit scary at times, but so kind. Probably the best English teacher ever. I visited her and Miss White in their home in the Isle of Wight in about 1980. They retired there in about 1974.”

Margaret: “I had Miss Pettigrew in Lower IV back in 1962. I was a young Canadian girl, very much out of her depths as I entered Manor House School. The school I had left behind did not have Shakespeare and the like on the English curriculum for 12 year olds! We performed As You Like It in the Dell. I was Audrey , the country wench (and still have the newspaper clippings to attest to my performance!). She was an amazing teacher and has never been forgotten by me. In fact, she left such an indelible impression on me, that many years, nay - decades later, I named a character after her in a trilogy of YA novels that I wrote. In the books, she portrayed a teacher with strong but fair standards, a deep secret about her past, and an unwavering determination to help two of her students in their darkest hours. It is safe to say that I will never forget her and I am embarking on my 70th year. I was glad to hear a bit about her life after teaching.”

Della: “Memories of Miss Pettigrew and the Shakespeare play with Lower IV every summer in the Dell”.

Margaret: “Here is Miss Pettigrew in 1963 on our trip to Switzerland” (photo to the right) Valerie: “I was on that trip too, Champery, ski instructor called Eric who we all fancied!”

Margaret: “Oh yes we did! I remember we had to keep a journal and was mortified to learn that I had called another of our instructors Clod...instead of Claude! It was an amazing trip for me ; my first really without parents although my sister in VI form was there” Judy: “I think I have a photo of Claude somewhere! Somehow we managed to get some cigarettes on that trip, Gauloises, my first and last smoke!”

Miss Pettigrew & girls boarding a Swiss train, 1963.

Chambery 1963

Eric, the ski instructor

BEYOND THE MANOR

April 2021 – Issue 4

MHOG Community Kellie Pryce Porter

MHOG 1990 Kellie was recently interviewed by the Alumnae Office for our Centenary project “Manor House School - Women in Business”. We asked what her super power would be if she could chose just one.

“Definitely the ability to time travel! Tudor England has always held a fascination for me, but as I also grew up in Germany (Munich), the past 100 years of German history holds a particular fascination – from the Weimar Republic through to the current day. Prior to Covid, I worked out of our Berlin office once a month and had the privilege of being able to boast a morning run route that took Checkpoint Charlie, the Bundestag and the Brandenburg Gate. It is one of the first countries that I am desperate to get back to once I can travel.”

Fritha Mason, nee Vincent Mrs Lesley Hulme

French - 1983-2003 Mrs Hulme taught French as well as holding the posts of Head of Modern Languages and Head of Year 7 for many years.

MHOG Community

“Manor House holds a special place in my heart because every girl was encouraged and enabled to make the most of her talents so I found teaching in this environment very satisfying.”

MHOG 1995 Congratulations to Fritha and family on the birth of their daughter in March!

May Mikati. MHOG 1983.

May took part in our Virtual Reunion in February, with Mrs Newman and friends from her class of 1983. “Many of my classmates left Manor House school in 83 at the age of 16.

I left after finishing upper IV with them, when I was still 13, as my family was returning to Lebanon.

“Having started off as a full boarder in form 1, in the middle of the year, aged 9, I then became a weekly boarder in form 2. I skipped most of 3 and lower IV, returning to Manor House for a full year in 79/80, as a day girl.

After finishing high school in Lebanon, I graduated with distinction from the American University of Beirut in 87, and was offered a scholarship to study in Cambridge conditional upon returning to AUB to teach. I managed to pass the MPhil in Linguistics in Cambridge in 88, and have taught English in Lebanon since 89. I’ve been full time with the AUB Department of English since March 91, so exactly 30 years.

A number of us have been in touch for years through Facebook, but for me at least, this was the first live, virtual meeting with my classmates. Since I live mostly between Lebanon and Cyprus, face-toface meetings would not [have been]… as easy.”

BEYOND THE MANOR

April 2021 – Issue 4

MHOG Community Valerie Wilson, nee Gover

MHOG 1966 “I was a pupil from 1959 - 1966 I was a parent of two girls who attended between 1988 and 2001, during which time span I was a Parent Governor for about 5 years.”

Janice Hawkins, nee Torry MHOG 1959.

“I first went [to Manor House School] in 1953 when I was nine. My parents were looking for a friendly place for me - they lived in Belgium at the time. I was there for five years. I remember skipping before breakfast 100 forwards and 100 backwards followed by a run round the hockey pitch - all supervised by Miss Snow, the matron. I also remember walks up to Polesden Lacey virtually every weekend where we rushed to the tuck shop there. Food was always important, delicious gooseberry pie though and fried bread and dripping!

Memories of chocolate blancmange with a very thick skin - not nice!

I still keep up with two girls I met at school, one of whom lives in South Africa and the other near Epsom.”

Mrs Judy Davis

MHOG Community

Physics and IT - 1987 to 2000 I started my career as a Physicist working at the National Physical Laboratory in Teddington. This work became more and more mathematical so I had to learn to use computers which were a very new invention then!! I moved on to teaching others Information Technology and trained to become a qualified teacher to fit in with my school aged children.

I joined Manor House in 1987 just teaching 'O' level to a few 5th formers. This increased to part time introducing the by now popular Computer Studies to Years 1 to 5, (now Years 7 to 11). When the Physics teacher Mrs Hirsh left I became full time, teaching both Physics and IT. I left Manor House to finish an Open University Degree in Maths and went on to teach Maths at a few other schools before taking early retirement so that my husband and I could travel more. I took up lawn bowls which takes up much of my time along with our travelling. I loved my time at Manor House seeing how the pupils progressed, the many outings that I either arranged or took part in. The staff were always a joy to work with and I still am good friends with many of them.

BEYOND THE MANOR

April 2021 – Issue 4

MANOR HOUSE School News Spring Term 2021

Manor House in snow Snow finally settled in Surrey in late January, much to the joy of all Manor House girls. Although the snow didn’t settle for long, the blue sky and white carpet were a winning combination and opportunities for snow games were grasped by members of staff and key worker pupils lucky enough to be onsite.

BEYOND THE MANOR

April 2021 – Issue 4

MANOR HOUSE School News Spring Term 2021 “100 Years, 100 Faces of Manor House School”

Behind the scenes, plans for our Centenary initiative “100 years, 100 Faces of Manor House School” progressed during the Spring term.

The project marks our 100 Year birthday, underpinning our school motto ‘To Love is to Live’ , and celebrates the diversity, interests, achievements and talent of our Manor House community, drawing from past and present pupils, staff and parents. The initiative will run on social media over the course of Summer and Autumn 2021, and be collated into a '100 Year 'wall‘ to be displayed at school.

11th February – United Nations International Girls and Women’s day in Science

This year’s celebration of the day addressed the theme “Women Scientists at the forefront of the fight against COVID-19”, and gathered experts working in fields related to the pandemic from different parts of the world. Throughout the week, Head of Science, Mrs Waterhouse, shared a range of activities and resources with the girls, including staff nominations for their ‘Heroines of Science’ and a ‘Stupendously Silly Student Study’ to show how easy it can be to carry out large scale scientific research. Mrs Waterhouse also shared with the girls the successes of the women who have been instrumental in our fight against COVID-19 as celebrated by UNESCO.

Strava Club In an effort to maintain levels of fitness over lockdown, the Manor House Sports Department set up the Strava Club. The project tracked exercise levels of pupils, parents and staff who signed up, and posted it onto the Manor House School Strava page to create a spirit of healthy competition.

The two clubs created - Manor House School Cycling Club and Manor House School Running Club - saw great sign up levels, proving once again that combining exercise and technology can work wonders!

BEYOND THE MANOR

April 2021 – Issue 4

MANOR HOUSE School News Spring Term 2021 High School Musical – Senior Production Auditions for the senior production of High School Musical started in January, with rehearsals initially held online, and resuming in person as the school community returned onsite in March.

The performances this year will be recorded on 7 and 8 May.

Friends of Manor House Despite recent restrictions, Mrs Laura Forsyth and her Committee maintained an active calendar of events and initiatives during the winter lockdown, including a very well attended Virtual Horse Racing Night in January and a number of successful raffles. Committee member and MOHG Mrs Zoe Triantafillou is seen here masterminding the evening.

Centenary Arch In celebration of 100 years of Manor House School, Bookham , a steel Centenary Arch will be constructed and unveiled on school grounds during the 2021 Autumn Term. This will be a permanent fixture and historical reminder, referencing current families and alumnae who wish to be associated with our history, and remembered by future generations.

The steel arch will incorporate the Manor House centenary dates (1920-2020) and centenary emblem and will include an opportunity to display a limited number of Manor House family names in support of the project. The plaque/s will support up to forty patron names (parent and alumnae) of which twenty are available to alumnae. Each name can be secured for a gift of £100.00. Registrations will be confirmed in the order in which they are received. Please contact smilton@manorhouseschool.org to register your interest.

We look forward to sharing further details with you over the course of this term and marking the end of this Centenary Year with our Centenary Heritage Picnic, now rescheduled for Saturday 11 September 2021.

BEYOND THE MANOR

April 2021 – Issue 4

MHOG Q&A

Amber Kalejs & Amy Townsend High School Musical, Senior Production 2008 When did you join and leave Manor House?

Amber (nee Kalejs) : September 2003 - July 2008 Amy (nee Pigott) : I joined in 2004 (yr7) and left in 2009 (yr11).

Where did you spend your Sixth Form and University years? What did you study?

Amber: I went to sixth form at St. Johns and gained A Levels in English Literature, Psychology and Business Studies. I then went on to Warwick University to study a BSc in Psychology. After this I moved to Yorkshire and did a further Postgraduate degree at Sheffield Hallam University to complete my teaching qualification.

Amy: I left MHS for Godalming College and studied History, English Literature, Sociology and Performing Arts for A Levels. I then went to the University of Bath and studied Sociology achieving a 2:1.

What are your memories of the 2008 High School Musical production?

Amber: I played the role of Gabriella in the 2008 HSM Production and it was one of the happiest memories I have from my time at MHS. I really enjoyed the fact that, at the time, HSM was HUGE and all of us absolutely adored the film. The second film had just been released and we were obsessed with the storyline and the characters. I also developed a really nice friendship with Amy (who played Troy) despite us being in different year groups and we are still friends on social media to this day!

MHOG Q&A

I remember that the ‘kissing scene’ proved to be a challenge, trying to pretend to do it behind a basket ball and not catch the eye of anyone in case we burst out laughing. I also recollect that I wore a white dress for the final scene and people were horrified because, of course, Gabriella wore red! I think the thing I most enjoyed was the fact that I actually managed to play a lead role during my time at MHS. When I started in Year 7, I always wanted to be one of the main characters but never felt good enough. I took part in every single show that took place while I was there and when I reached Year 11 and got the leading role alongside Amy, I couldn’t believe it. It gave me such a huge confidence boost and proved that hard work and lots of singing lessons do actually work!

Amy: Our previous musicals had been Oliver and West Side Story so HSM was a much more modern play which was exciting. I remember the auditions well; I don’t think I had ever sung in front of such a big group of people and I was very nervous. Mrs Williams asked us to stand in a cycle and sing a song from the play.

I was given the role of Troy and was totally shocked to be given one of the lead parts. I was really enjoying drama at the time and was confident acting but

“

HSM was HUGE and all of us absolutely adored the film.

The second film had just been released and we were obsessed with the storyline and the characters.

BEYOND THE MANOR

April 2021 – Issue 4

MHOG Q&A

Amber Kalejs & Amy Townsend High School Musical, Senior Production 2008

What was your path to the work you’re doing now?

Amy (continued): singing was another matter. I am quite tall and had always been the tallest girl in my year at school so I wasn’t surprised that I was given the male lead either!

Rehearsals for MHS productions were always fun; it was great to be with your friends after school doing homework together and just generally having a good time. Although I also remember it being tiring. Amber (who played Gabriella) and I got on really well, she was the year above me but we clicked straight away and that certainly helped as we had to spend a lot of time together rehearsing. Overall, I have amazing memories of that time.

Amber: I always loved school as a child as it provided an amazing escape for me. I thrived when I was in the classroom and I think I’ve always wanted to be able to encourage others to feel the same. After working in many different roles in a school, I finally took the plunge and did my teaching degree and I teach Year 6 in a primary school in Yorkshire now.

Now that I also have my own children (a little boy and a girl on the way!) I just want to carry on encouraging my own children as well as the ones I teach to always dream big, because even though you think you could never do it, you can!

That’s why I think I have always worked with children and within an educational setting as we give children the toolkit to where they want to go in life.

Amy: I left University not really knowing what I wanted to do and ended up joining a Headhunting firm which has led me into my current position. I currently work for a Omnicom Media Group which is a Global Media Agency in their Human Resources team.

What memories stand out from your Manor House days?

MHOG Q&A

Amber: Way too many to count! Some of my favourite moments definitely revolved around music and drama (thank you Mr Pratt and Miss Williams!) and I loved languages, particularly Spanish. I was heartbroken when I was brought down with flu and couldn’t go to Spain on the trip! I always remember Asian Week at school being so fun and full of activities. English was my favourite lesson at school and I wish I could speak to Mrs Boulton again as her Cornish wit and straight-talking ways is something I miss.

One school trip I always remember was going to see ‘The Woman in Black’ as part of Drama GCSE and I couldn’t sleep for a week afterwards- I still can’t bring myself to watch the film!

“

The close-knit nature of the school and the one on one care and attention we got from teachers…it really is like nothing else and you don’t realise how lucky you are at the time.

BEYOND THE MANOR

April 2021 – Issue 4

MHOG Q&A

Amber Kalejs & Amy Townsend High School Musical, Senior Production 2008

Amy: Mostly it is the close-knit nature of the school and the one on one care and attention we got from teachers. It really is like nothing else and you don’t realise how lucky you are at the time. It was also the friendships I created; my two best friends are from MHS and were made in my time there (Harriet Wrazen, nee Kratt and Sophie Perry).

What is a typical day for you now? What are some of the challenges?

Amber: I wake up very early to make sure my little boy is ok and settled with his dad or his grandma before I drive to work. A teaching day is never the same and there are lots of challenges along the way, time keeping, preparation of lessons, ensuring all children can access the learning I am providing as well as behaviour management! However, now that I am expecting again, I am shielding at home and I teach remotely as well as supporting other year groups planning. This can be challenging if you aren’t used to the curriculum for that year group but it is a lot quieter that’s for sure! When I come home, if I’m not working, my family and I usually go out for a nice walk and make as many memories as we can or we spend time decorating our new house trying to make it perfect for our growing family!

Amy: Well the last year hasn’t been ‘typical’ in any sense of the word. My husband and I welcomed our son Harry in October 2019 so most of my maternity leave was spent in lockdown and since returning to work I have been working from our dining room table. The main challenge I have is juggling being a Mum and working four days a week, it is tough to find the balance and I definitely feel guilty when I am not with my son all the time but it is good for both of us and I want to have a career. I am also studying to complete an eighteen month CIPD Level 5 Diploma in Human Resource Management course so once my son is in bed I am then spending time completing that.

Amber and her son

I feel strongly that the phrase ‘women can have it all’ is rubbish, it is a juggle and it isn’t easy and I think we should be vocal about that, but it is all worth it (if that is the path you choose)!

What roles of responsibility did you hold, if any, whilst at Manor House e.g. sports captain, prefect, form captain, House Captain and how did these roles prepare you for the future?

MHOG Q&A

Amber: I took on the role of prefect and form captain while I was at MHS. These taught me the valuable skills of commitment to a role, time keeping and ensuring I was always available should anyone have any concerns or worries they wanted to talk to me about. These are skills I have definitely taken into my career and they paved the way to being successful in my teaching role now.

Amy: I was Head Girl and this role prepared me for the workplace. You have to juggle different opinions and views and you need to be really organised. Moreover, the public speaking duties meant I was more greatly prepared for presenting to clients and stakeholders in my professional role.

What advice would you give to those planning for a career in your field?

Amber: My advice would be to go for it if teaching is something you’re passionate about. If you really want to feel like you are making a difference this would be a good career to choose. Talk to teachers and those who work in

BEYOND THE MANOR

April 2021 – Issue 4

MHOG Q&A

Amber Kalejs & Amy Townsend High School Musical, Senior Production 2008

Amber (continued): schools and glean all the information you can. I always struggled to take criticism but when you start working it’s important to take the feedback you get and learn from it as much as you can, it’s nothing personal! It’s also important to always remember the privileges that we are provided with. Not all people have the same things and I work in a deprived area where it can sometimes be shocking to see and hear some of the things small children have gone through. It’s important to gain a thick skin but remain sensitive to those who need it most. Most importantly, you must find ‘you’ time and switch off from the job.

Amy: There are so many avenues into human resources, and you don’t need to go to University. There are some great apprenticeship schemes which give you a qualification and hands on learning at the same time. Also completing a CIPD course is a good place to start, you don’t need any experience to do some of the lower levels and this will demonstrate to employers that you are keen on entering HRM. Who has inspired you along the way?

Amber: A number of strong women who have overcome adversity and gone on to help others come out the other side. These women range from Malala Yousafzai to Mrs Hinch!

Amy: Lots of people! Mostly strong normal women all from different parts of my life and for different reasons. My mum because she is just fantastic and especially over the last year has been a huge emotional support from a distance. My two best friends who are wonderfully different but inspire me in different ways; Harriet because of her overwhelming kindness and empathy that she shows to everyone and Sophie because of her adventurous spirit and thoughtfulness.

What skills or world view did you develop at MHS that served you well during your sixth form and university years, and beyond?

MHOG Q&A

Amber: A commitment to my studies. I was always encouraged and praised at MHS for being committed to working hard.

Amy: That strong women who come together can do great things.

And lastly… what would your super power be if you could choose one?

Amber: The ability to talk to animals! I’d love to be able to know what my dogs want and when they want it and for them to be able to tell me if anything hurts or they don’t feel well.

Amy: Given our current situation it would be to clear the world of Covid19!

BEYOND THE MANOR

April 2021 – Issue 4

MHOG Virtual Class Reunions Mrs Mendes & the class of 1990 Mrs Newman & the class of 1983

“How on earth did l remember that there were 25 in that class 30 years ago?” was Linda Mendes’s reaction after taking part in one of our Alumnae video coffee mornings in early 2021. “The memory is a strange thing” she concluded after meeting up virtually with the class of 1990, and particularly impressive given that Mrs Mendes was Headmistress and responsible for hundreds of girls at the time.

The year 2020 was an unusual one for our school community, for obvious reasons of course, but also because September 2020 marked 100 years of Manor House School. It should have been a year of collective celebration, with bunting, Pimms on the lawn and carriages at dawn. In a parallel universe we would have been welcoming hundreds of old and new friends, for garden parties, music concerts, an outdoor cinema and a summer Ball, all the while toasting this remarkable school. This is a school that takes hold of you and won’t let go. It’s not uncommon for teachers to stay 25 years, and for large groups of old girls to maintain very strong bonds of friendship despite time and geography.

In the spirit of adapting to the new norm, the Alumnae Office focused its efforts in 2020 on producing its termly “Beyond the Manor” Alumnae Newsletter, responding to the steady flow of old girls enquiries and developing virtual alternatives to postponed Alumnae events. The Autumn term also saw staff seeming to disappear under endless deliveries of Centenary hoodies, as we struggled to keep up with demand.

Turning back to our virtual coffee mornings, it does beg the question why we hadn’t held them before given the benefit to many of our old girls now based abroad. May Mikati took part in the reunion of her class of 1983 with Mrs Sue Newman who taught them biology.

100 Years

Clockwise from top left: Samantha Wadsack, Caroline Porter, May Mikati, Mrs Sue Newman and Emma Lee, nee Turner.

Having left Manor House after the upper IV as herfamily returned to Lebanon and then finishing high school in Lebanon, May graduated with distinction from the American University of Beirut in 87, and was offered a scholarship to study in Cambridge conditional upon returning to AUB to teach. She passed the MPhil in Linguistics in Cambridge in 1988, and has taught English in Lebanon since 89, now over 30 years. Due to the distances in involved, May has had little chance of attending events in person: “A number of us have been in touch for years through Facebook, but for me at least, this was the first live, virtual meeting with my classmates. What struck me most was how little people had changed – whether physically or personality-wise”.

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“What struck me most was how little people had changed – whether physically or personality-wise”.

BEYOND THE MANOR

April 2021 – Issue 4

MHOG Virtual Class Reunions Mrs Mendes & the class of 1990 Mrs Newman & the class of 1983

Mrs Newman, very fondly remembered for her warmth and some unusual Science experiments, had some initial difficulties joining the call and sought out some family help - “….my granddaughter, who was on a Greek beach at the time, successfully led me there. The meeting itself was lovely, and I’d be delighted to do more with other year groups and teachers. I found the chat delightful, and was very interested in everything the old girls had to say. I’m also really looking forward to the postponed centenary picnic”.

Caroline Porter took part in the same call. “Personally, I have not had the chance to return to Manor House since I left it but I have such a huge affection for it and for the time I spent there. It was a unique education with my classmates and dedicated teachers. I am the person I have become thanks to Manor House.

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100 Years

“Personally, I have not had the chance to return to Manor House since I left it but I have such a huge affection for it and for the time I spent there.

Mrs Linda Mendes, Kellie Pryce, Charlotte Broughton, Carla Quirk, Naomi Johannes, Clare Jones, Tina Whittle, Claire Warsop, nee Barnard

I am the person I have become thanks to MHS.

Carla Quirk, who is both an old girl and a parent of two Manor House daughters, and is now the Sales Director for Porky Whites Limited, helped organise the class of 1990 call. “It really affirmed to me today why I feel very passionate about my years of MHS, I hope my daughters will feel the same way in years to come...there is now talk of setting up a (virtual) meeting for a couple of months’ time, to get more people onto the call who just couldn’t make today“. As restrictions begin to ease across England this Spring, virtual connections are very much a part of our future, although we might draw the line at online biology experiments.

This article is also published in Manor House Life Magazine

BEYOND THE MANOR

April 2021 – Issue 4

From the Archives

Manor House School Magazine 1969 The following articles are reproduced from the 1969 Manor House School Magazine.

“Apollo Eleven” “At 3.56 on Monday, July 21st, after a decade of planning and centuries of dreaming, a man walked on the moon.

Although a thousand years hence this step may be forgotten, it symbolises man’s achievement to date and all that he may yet do in the future, with a universe to conquer. As Neil Armstrong said, “One small step for a man but one giant leap for mankind”.

This is the apex of a space programme that started in 1957 and has had its breath-taking moments in plenty, but surely none as tension-ridden as this.

As the astronauts went about their tasks the effects of one-sixth gravity showed, for despite their heavy suits they took large leaps and bounds, and appeared to be moving in slow motion.

A plaque was set up on the moon reading: “Here men from the planet Earth first set foot upon the moon. July 1969 A.D. We came in peace for all mankind.”

The pictures sent back to earth were very good, and it is an amazing miracle of modern technology that we should be able to see people two hundred thousand miles away. This is typical of the great achievement. Even with the resources of a nation behind the space programme, the pace has been fantastic.

This, however, is only the first step in the conquest of the heavens. In fifteen years man should walk on Mars!.

Vicky S, 15 years.”

“Rehearsing for the Play”

From the Archives

““Come on, down to The Dell!” cries someone, “Miss Pettigrew is waiting, take your chairs with you!” It is a lovely day and with great excitement and chatter we scramble out of the French windows in the Lower Fourth classroom. We run past the swimming pool and Miss Pullen is taking a class. How lovely it looks, but we know that we can go swimming later and we run past, thinking of other things.

I arrive in the Dell and they are rehearsing an outlaw scene. “You’re on!” shouts Vicky. “Oh dear!” I say to myself. I run to the stage and discover I have my play book in my hand (play books are never allowed on the stage) so I run to my chair to put it down and get back in time to say my first lines “Whither travel you?” “To Verona” answers Valentine. You’re not speaking clearly, Karen” calls Miss Pettigrew. “Start again!”.

Miss Pettigrew does not have to prompt us very often but sometimes we get into the wrong place and then she says “I say, Ursula, you’re not supposed to stand there are you?”

When we rehearse in The Dell, we have to sit among knats and they seem to enjoy biting us. It is shady down here and Miss Pettigrew moves her chair round and follows the sun as it plays on the grass. Half way through the rehearsal she says: “Shall we have tea now?” “Yes please!” comes the loud reply. So we all go into the needlework room to find Miss Pettigrew has cooked lovely chocolate and orange cakes for us and brought tins of coke.

Then back we go to The Dell or to the gym, to get on with our work. Sometimes Constance brings along her dog George who is going to be Crab in the play. He is very good and it is very funny when Launce sobs loudly and points to him and says “Did not this cruel-hearted cur shed one tear!” while the poor dog is sitting there looking very innocent, not knowing what he’s doing.

And then it is half-past six and we sadly pack up after a lovely afternoon, looking forward to the next day’s rehearsing. Karen W & Rosemary GS, 12 years.”