ONCE A KINGSLEY GIRL ALWAYS A KINGSLEY GIRL

When alumna Jayne Dale (née Colkin) returned to school for a reunion in November 2021, the memories she shared of her time as a Kingsley Girl and the profound impact her education has had on her life really struck a chord with us. We asked Jayne if we could interview her for 1884 magazine and, to our delight, she said, “Yes!” Here’s her story…

Jayne was a pupil at Kingsley from the mid-60s to late 70s - at a time when there were boarders (housed at The Cedars and Dilke House) and girls wore regulation school shoes and ‘big grey gymnastics pants’. Fortunately the latter didn’t spoil her love of sport; she was an active member of the hockey, netball, rounders and tennis teams, and her passion for sport (as both a participant and a spectator) has stayed with her. “My PE teacher at school was Miss Haddow,” remembers Jayne. “Thanks to her encouragement, I spent three years playing for the Warwickshire U18 hockey team - the final year as Captain. I also played for Lillington Ladies and went on to play for Worcester College, Winchester and, later, Weston-super-Mare.” Jayne’s three daughters are also keen sports women - her youngest, Charlotte, is now a PE teacher and has also worked for England Hockey. The family have enjoyed days out together to Wimbledon, pro-league hockey matches and the 2012 Olympics, and are very much looking forward to the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham this summer. Jayne’s Kingsley journey began in Kindergarten in 1965. Her earliest memories of school include reading ‘Janet and John’ books, drawing and colouring in shapes, handwriting lessons, crafting (including mat weaving), cartons of milk at break times and post-lunch naps on ‘little black mats’ (which the children also sat on during assemblies). “Our teacher, Miss Franklin, always had a coffee and a dark chocolate Club biscuit whilst we drank our milk,” Jayne laughs. “She was a wonderful teacher. Kind but firm - everyone knew the rules. She always had the room set up ready for us in the mornings, and we were never without something to do - as soon as we had finished one activity we were onto the next.” Jayne remembers going home at the end of the day and playing ‘teachers’, pretending to be Miss Franklin and chalking on her bedroom window! “I kept in touch with Miss Franklin for many years until her death,” says Jayne. “Her teaching and her respect for pupils inspired me to want to teach.”

As she progressed into Senior School, Jayne became increasingly creative. “Our art teacher, Miss Davidge, introduced us to lots of different art forms, including book binding, weaving, clay work and calligraphy,” says Jayne. “I was very good at calligraphy. When the ‘Lords Prayer’ and ‘Grace’ became worn and tatty in the school prayer book, I was given the task of replacing them. The book was carried into assembly every day.” Jayne also enjoyed studying Home Economics and Geography. Her memories of Senior School include arranging fresh flowers in the ‘flower lobby’, lining up on the stairs to go into the dining room (now the library), walking to the playing fields and public baths in school hats (felt in winter, straw in summer), passing out during a worm dissection in the science lab, carol services and concerts with Head of Music Mr Jaques (Jayne sang in the choir and played the piano and clarinet), and saying goodbye to Headteacher Miss Jones at the end of term (which always involved a hand shake). “I never did manage to get my ‘posture badge’,” jokes Jayne, “despite trying really hard!” Jayne took part in the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award Scheme - completing her Bronze, Silver and Gold awards - and enjoyed various trips, including to Romania in 1971. “It was the first year that schools were allowed behind the iron curtain,” recalls Jayne. “There were strict rules about what we could and couldn’t photograph.” Jayne stayed at Kingsley for Sixth Form, which was housed on the top corridor of Beauchamp Hall (now home to Year 11) and came with new privileges such as being allowed into town during lunchtimes! She studied English Literature, Art and Geography at A-level and went on to train as a teacher at Worcester College, specialising in Home Economics and PE. Jayne’s teaching career spanned four decades and saw her teach in primary and secondary settings, both locally and further afield. In 1988 she moved to Westonsuper-Mare with her two daughters and her husband who had taken a deputy headship there. Following the birth of their son, Joseph, Jayne became Chair of Governors at her children’s school before taking on a permanent teaching position again. Her final post was at Ashcombe Primary School in Weston-superMare. “Ironically, I spent the last years of my career teaching Reception,” says Jayne, becoming tearful. “I get quite emotional when I think about it; it had been my ambition to teach from the age of five, inspired by the wonderful Miss Franklin, and to end my career teaching children of the same age was remarkable. I always thought about her as I set up the classroom in the mornings.” Jayne wasn’t the first member of her family to benefit from a Kingsley education; her mother was a pupil during the Second World War. These years are poorly documented in the school archives, but Jayne’s mother (who sadly passed away in 2020) spoke of her school days often and with great fondness. “School was one of our favourite topics of conversation,” says Jayne. “It was something we shared that was very special. The school hymn has been played at every family occasion including weddings and, of course, at Mum’s funeral.” Now retired, Jayne lives in Teignmouth with her husband and Golden Retriever. She relocated there to be near to her parents and now cares for her father. She enjoys spending time with her three children and granddaughter, and her hobbies include sewing, cake decorating, badminton and going for runs and walks on the beach. Jayne has always remained in contact with her closest school friend, Elizabeth Guest (née Ball); they were bridesmaids at each other’s weddings. In recent years she has reconnected with other classmates through WhatsApp. “Modern technology has made it so much easier to stay in touch,” says Jayne. “Our WhatsApp group has kept us all going during the pandemic; we’ve lifted each others’ spirits by sharing news and photographs.” Jayne returned to Kingsley with her mother for a number of celebratory events. Her latest visit to the school, without her mother, was an emotional one. “The happy memories as I walked through the door were overwhelming,” says Jayne, “and the tears flowed! It was a day of reminiscing and renewed friendships. As we toured the school and met students and staff, it was evident that the same caring, respectful and happy atmosphere exists. I still felt a part of it, all these years on. Once a Kingsley Girl ALWAYS a Kingsley Girl!”

OPPOSITE PAGE: Jayne at the reunion in November, pictured in the school library and holding a photograph of her class with the inspirational Miss Franklin (2021). TOP: Jayne aged 10 wearing the regulation school shoes and straw hat (1970). BOTTOM: The Upper 5th Hockey Team and Miss Haddow, with Jayne front right (1975).