OGA News Spring 2016

oganews SPRING 2016

REUNIONS AND NEWS

COMMEMORATION & PRIZEGIVING

DIARY DATES

THE FOUNDERS’ AWARDS

SCHOOL NEWS

chairman’s report OGA OFFICERS 2015/16 PATRONS Rosalind Hayes BA Hons, MA, PGCE, FRGS; Stephanie Kershaw MA, PGCE; Philippa Leggate BA, MEd, PGCE; Elizabeth Mullenger BA, Cert Ed, FRSA; Dr Valerie Payne MSc, ARCS; Peter Pollard; Duseline Stewart MA HONORARY PRESIDENT Patricia (Trish) Woodhouse, BMus HONORARY VICE-PRESIDENTS Libby Anson, Patricia Birchley, Anne Borrowdale, Clare John, Sarah Musgrave, Pauline Newton, June Roundhill, Patricia Wilkinson, Elisabeth Rambridge, Hannah Gill CHAIRMAN Cecily Hewlett (MGC 2002) VICE-CHAIRMAN Penny Smith (Reay, St J&A 1980)

We’ve been thrilled by the increasing involvement of our Old Girls in the careers programme at the School.

We’ve had a number of members returning to School to lead workshops, give talks and exhibit at the careers fair. This is such a valuable resource for the School and we are very grateful for everyone who has been so generous with their time, skills and experience.

Please do get in touch if you would like to be involved in any way.

The annual Summer Reunion on 18th June is fast approaching. This year we will be celebrating 10 years on for 2006 leavers and the 120th anniversary of St James’s School, although of course all Old Girls and Honorary Members are warmly invited to attend. After lunch, there will be tours of the MSJ buildings and de Walden House, the former St James’s School building, as well as sports matches, tea and a special dinner for St James’s Old Girls. My journey to

Malvern will be a little longer this year as I’ll be travelling from Kuala Lumpur.

I hope to see lots of you there; I’ll do my best to bring the sunshine!

Commemoration this year is a particularly special event. It will be held at Worcester Cathedral on 7th July and marks the start of the ten year anniversary celebrations for Malvern St James. All Old Girls and Honorary Members are most welcome to attend. The occasion will also mark the retirement of Trish Woodhouse as Headmistress. She will be sorely missed and the OGA are hugely grateful for all her support over the last six years. We wish her all the best for the future.

Do enjoy the newsletter!

Best wishes, Cecily

HONORARY SOCIAL SECRETARY Patricia Wilkinson (Marsden, MGC 1956)

HEADMISTRESs’S report

EXTERNAL RELATIONS MANAGER Fiona Meredith

I am looking forward to the next big OGA event: the Summer Reunion in June. It will hold special poignancy for me as it will be my last. I announced my retirement to staff and parents last year, and was looking forward to getting to grips with some advanced sailing in La Gomera, where I live, having enjoyed six wonderful years at MSJ. However, as so often, life doesn’t turn out the way you planned it!

In May last year I was approached by a London-based organisation which offered me the Headship of their small, boutique school in Switzerland for girls aged 1319. It was too exciting an opportunity to turn down. And so it is that come September, instead of sailing off into the Atlantic, I shall be packing my bags and briefcase for Geneva!

HONORARY TREASURER Vacant EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE Decade Representatives 1950s Ginny Wigglesworth

(Lawry, MGC 1959) 1960s Margot Jacob

(Coverdale, MGC 1962) 1970s Jane Mason (Coles, MGC 1970) 1980s Vacant 1990s Emma-Jayne Wright (Roberts,

MGC 1992), Alexandra Surman

(Tams, StJ&A 1996) 2000s Daniella Grieveson (MGC 2001) 2010s Laurel Buchanan (MSJ 2010)

Ex Head Girls and OGA Prefects:

Georgiana Kwok (2014), Jenny

Avdoi (2015), Victoria Gawlik (2015) TRUSTEES Anne Borrowdale (Lea, MGC 1970) Charlotte Morrison (Page, MGC 1973) Cecily Hewlett (MGC 2002) Ottoline Scriven (MGC 2004) Fiona Shires (Beckett, L 1983) Rowena Westacott (Evans, StJ’s&A 1980)

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I hope you will all look at the School News section in this magazine to see how very busy life at MSJ is, and how fulfilling for all of our girls. I am particularly excited to have completed two projects which were especially close to my heart, before leaving MSJ. The first is the launch of The Founders’ Awards bursary programme (see p. 38) and the second is the new Alice Dining Room and redevelopment of the Lower Ground Floor.

Our next big capital project will be redeveloping the Library which we are planning to complete for September 2018. We will be launching a fundraising programme to support this.

Dr Rebecca Jones, our Head of Library and Learning Enrichment Co-ordinator, has come up with an amazing proposal which would put our Library facilities and usage ahead of most schools in the UK, and will allow students even more opportunity to develop their independent learning, critical thinking and information literacy skills.

I take from MSJ so many happy memories and so many fulfilled ambitions. I am very pleased to hand the baton on to an excellent successor, Mrs Olivera Raraty, who comes from the prestigious Notting Hill and Ealing High School in London. She has first class form in the girls’ independent sector, and will bring all of her experience to bear in MSJ’s next phase of development.

Trish Woodhouse, Headmistress

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The

ABBEY SCHOOL 1930s

1950s & 1960s

Chris Younger, the daughter of 1930s Abbey student, Mary K.A. Williams, and niece of Mary’s sister Jean, sent in a package for the Archive. A school photo from 1931, an album of pictures from that period and a school magazine was included. Chris writes, “Mary and Jean are now both deceased, but they often talked about the happy time they spent at The Abbey where they made life-long friends.”

Kitty Wilson (Norton Taylor, 1960) writes:

Sir Jeremy Bagge kindly sent in a 1933 school photograph and two school caps as he was spring cleaning family memorabilia. They belonged

“My name is Kitty Wilson (Norton-Taylor) and I was at The Abbey School, Malvern Wells from September 1953 to July 1960.

I was Head Girl during my last year at school. Miss Evershed was Headmistress the whole time I was at The Abbey and Miss Mountain was my housemistress in Graham House. The Abbey’s centenary would have been in 1980 but I believe the amalgamation with St James’s happened shortly before that. I spent all my early years as an Old Girl living overseas as my father was in the Army and in 1961 I married a Royal Marine.

and helped with the amalgamation of The St James’s & The Abbey Old Girls’ Association after the two schools had joined together. I visited the school in West Malvern several times during the 1980s when Miss Mullenger was headmistress and attended various functions. I became joint Chairman of the Association with Judith Drewer for a period of three years.

My year group at school have stayed very much in touch with each other and we have had a succession of reunions, every three to five years, usually meeting either at someone’s home or in London. Our most recent reunion was in May 2015, held at a restaurant in Covent Garden.

Kitty Norton-Taylor’s Reunion

BACK ROW: Mary Layton, Brenda Sisson (Beresford-Smith), Jenny Dalton (Standaloft), Karen Dixon, Georgina Livermore (Porter), Susan Davey MIDDLE ROW LEFT: Jill McIntyre (Mander), Kitty Wilson (Norton-Taylor) MIDDLE ROW RIGHT: Mary-Anne Buckley (Chatterton), Jennifer Ellin (Foster), Elizabeth Cudworth (Collins) FRONT ROW: Jennifer Stone (Wedderspoon), Alison English (Hinchliffe), Janet Bradbury (Bennett), Judith Measures (Sanders)

to Margaret (Margot) (Rhys Davies) and sister Elizabeth Helena (Lena) Bagge (Davies) who both attended The Abbey.

There have been several Abbey Reunions, two of which we were delighted to host at Malvern St James. Thanks to the organisers for taking on the task, and to all who contributed reports and updates of what you’re up to now.

Our postings took us to many interesting countries – Canada, Singapore, America and India – but I managed to keep up with many of my Abbey friends (four of whom were my bridesmaids and two others are godmothers to our daughters) by letter.

When my husband retired we came to live in Kent where our girls were at school, and have remained here ever since. I worked as School Secretary and then as PA to the Headmistress of Benenden School from 1982 to 1990. I joined the committee

Sadly Susan Branfoot (Stanbury) and Judy Dunn (Lunt), who were also with us, had to leave before the group photo was taken.”

Kitty Wilson, 5 The Cramptons, Mill Lane, Sissinghurst, Cranbrook, Kent TN17 2HY Tel: 01580 713983 e.mail: kittywilson@btinternet.com

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THE ABBEY Gill Kyle (Litterick, 1961) writes: “October 10 2015 saw nineteen members of a class who had left The Abbey between 1959-1961 attend their fifth reunion, held at Malvern St James.

We met in the Lawnside Room for drinks, lunch and tea all beautifully overseen by Susan from the catering staff and Fiona Meredith, the OGA Alumnae Liaison. A welcome speech from Trish Woodhouse (Headmistress) included the information that many artefacts from The Abbey were still in the possession of the school, having been retained and passed on from St James’s, most notably the stained glass windows from the Chapel which would be inserted into appropriate places for posterity.

During lunch, Gill, who had been able to contact most of the forty-two members from this form, gave information about some of those who had not been able to attend for various reasons and Fiona Meredith took the opportunity to invite everyone to re-join the OGA.

L-R, BACK ROW: Janet Gill, Katie Abbott, Sandy Bosher, Karen Upsdale, Buff Reid.

THIRD ROW: Jane Love, Carol Hames, Tessa Brooksbank, Penny Garner. 2nd Row: Carol Thompson, Catherine Cadbury, Liz Bagnall, Penny Royde, Susan Jacobs.

FRONT ROW: Gill Kyle, Daphne Van Loenen, Wendy Ferguson, Anne Parsons, Hil Thorneycroft

A table had been laid out with Abbey memorabilia together with a display board with photos and articles from the archives. Some people had brought old Hazelnuts and items of uniform to add to the archive collection and everything was studied, laughed at and commented on. The inevitable conversations never flagged from the moment we arrived until our departure at 4.30.

Malvern St James did not wish us to pay for the use of the room or for the wonderful food which was the same as the girls were having – salmon, quiche, vegetables, fruit salad, lemon posset, tea, coffee and cake (all unheard of in the 1950s!) – so donations towards The Founders’ Awards Bursary Programme and the Founders’ Garden were made raising nearly £235.

Sadly only two weeks after our reunion, Penny Royde (Pauli), named in the group photo, was discovered by her carers to have died in her sleep. Penny had diabetes and had been very ill eighteen months earlier. She had enjoyed the reunion and we were all saddened by her sudden death.”

Jan (“Palmer”) Wood (Fleming, 1967) writes, “It was a beautiful autumn day on 14th October 2015 when eighteen of us met at Malvern St James. There had been approximately 40 of us in our year group and I had been able to track down 29, so amazingly almost 50 years on the old network was alive and well.

It was thanks to Malvern St James’ hospitality that we had met, as it was relatively convenient for us to travel to Malvern, although people from as far as Canada, Scotland and Devon made the journey. We even welcomed an ex-PE teacher, Mrs Hall, to our lunch.

We had taken the precaution of having name labels (by our nicknames!) for identification purposes but these proved to be unnecessary as we all agreed that we hadn’t changed that much, just got a little older! First we had drinks and were

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welcomed by the Headmistress, followed by a delicious lunch. Various photos had been brought by our group and the school also provided memorabilia and pictures, which gave us a good basis for reminiscing. It was a little daunting entering the room to meet people we hadn’t met for so many years, but there were screeches of instant recognition and welcome followed by non-stop chatting.

We ended up sitting in a large circle all laughing and swapping stories, thoroughly enjoying catching up: some people hadn’t met since they had left in 1966.

There was much laughter as we remembered going on Arcticlike runs along the Malvern Hills, freezing cold dormitories and culinary delights such as marmite dreams. It was a world away from present day life but the consensus was that we had gained lifelong friends. There were promises of meeting up again and we were so grateful to the School for their help in facilitating such a memorable day.”

London. She has had a wide variety of jobs following studying Environmental Sciences at Oxford Brookes and subsequently Salford University.

“I am passionate about the natural world and its protection. That sparked an interest in decisionmaking for the natural world, and then guided me to work in the House of Commons. For six years in the late ‘80s I worked for a Prue Seal’s Reunion Shadow Secretary of State (working on environment protection, food and agriculture and even defence!). This experience gave a good grounding for working in public affairs. I worked as a Special Adviser for the Secretary of State at DEFRA for a short spell, and also more recently as Head of Marketing for The Wildlife Trust for eight years. I also worked for a consumer organisation and now work for a body working to look after the interests of transport users. I have been learning Spanish (not having learnt it at school), am a hispanophile and now want to redevelop my interest in art. I enjoy walking and exploring the landscape and have spent time travelling in different parts of the world.”

Jane Morpuss (Dewar, 1970): “I trained in Birmingham at the Queen Elizabeth as L-R, BACK ROW: Angela Legg (now Hall), Caroline Colby (Spiers), Annabel Webber (Saunders), a registered nurse. I then went to Durban, Annabel Hampson South Africa for a holiday and stayed. I met THIRD ROW: Christine Hann (Ringrose), Jennette Bowling (Gaillard), Diana Taylor (Bloor) my future husband while I was nursing his SECOND ROW: Jane Gething (Shepard), Jean Moorcroft (Potter), Jenny Boyse (Hughes), Eleanor unconscious younger brother.

Morgan (Bonnett) I trained as a midwife while Nigel completed FRONT ROW: Judith Brazier (Pearce), Julia Hall (Anstey), Penny Lewis (Metcalf), Janice Fleming his Chartered Accountancy, and we married (Wood), Elizabeth Graham (Beesley) two years later. We had 27 happy years together producing a delightful daughter Kate, now 29. Due to the troubles in South Africa we 1970s emigrated to New Zealand 20 years ago. New Zealand has Prue Seal (1970) organised a Reunion of her year been good to us - over time we have made many friends. group on the Malvern Hills in July 2015. Joining Prue Sadly Nigel died from were Tottie Reynolds, Jane Morpuss (Dewar), Prue cancer 9 years ago.

Barrington, Penny Schilizzi (Ribbeck), Hazel Phillips, Boarding school has Helen J Jones (Anderson), Nicky Merriman, Judy Perfitt made me tough, I have (Hine-Haycock), Josephine Pollard (Jackson), Gabrielle learnt to live for now Cliff-Hodges, Julia Davey (Maling), Cheryl Hollis and look forward. I work (Moore), Caroline Pearson (Willetts), Fenella Acheson, as a part time midwife. and Rosie Southall (Hepworth).

It’s rewarding and keeps my brain stimulated.

The following 1970 Leavers sent in reports to the OGA via I have a full social life, Prue: good friends, play golf, hike, cycle, and live Prue Seal’s Reunion Hazel Phillips (1970): Lives with her husband in S.E. 300 yards from the sea

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at Tauranga. Walking on the beach always makes one appreciate life.

God willing, I will continue to travel annually back to Europe.”

Cheryl Moore (Hollis, 1970): “After studying History at university in Liverpool, I worked in London in insurance and started the professional insurance exams. In 1981 I married Nigel, who is an architect, and then accompanied him on a two year contract in Johannesburg where I completed my professional qualifications. We travelled extensively in southern Africa and also on the way home via India and Egypt.

Nigel joined his father in partnership in Leeds and I continued to work for the same company I had worked for in South Africa as they had an office in Leeds. However, having caught the travel bug we spent every available holiday on various adventures to faraway places. I gave up my insurance career in my late thirties when we built a house (designed by Nigel) in a village outside Harrogate, and since then I have worked locally in various part-time roles. We still live in Spofforth, although eight years ago we moved to another new house (also designed by Nigel!) in a rather more remote location on the outskirts of the village. We’re happily settled here now, but we still enjoy travelling when the opportunities arise.”

Fenella Glover (Acheson, 1970): “Worked at EMI music in London, in the International Sales department, also enjoying the many perks of concerts and meeting musicians.

Studied Gilding, Woodcarving and Restoration at The City & Guilds Art School, London. Married and moved to Herefordshire. Spent some years gilding and restoring many interesting artefacts for clients. Had two children, bred sheep on our smallholding, had a part-time job in quality control as a cider taster at H.P.Bulmers of Hereford.

Then did another degree as a mature student in Contemporary Applied Art at Hereford College of Art. Since then

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have made collections of 2D and 3D work incorporating my original love of gold leaf, which are sold in local galleries and exhibitions. Played in a community folk band and sing in various choirs.”

Caroline Willetts (Pearson, 1970): “I left the Abbey in February 1968 having contracted diabetes. I continued my schooling at the Edgbaston Church of England College until I had finished my O Levels at which point I left school. I did a two year day release course from Birmingham Children’s Hospital at Matthew Boulton Tech College to qualify as a Pharmacy Technician in July 1972. I worked at the Children’s Hospital until 1975, moved briefly to the Corbett Hospital in Stourbridge then to Kidderminster General Hospital and then the Alexandra Hospital in Redditch until retirement in 2014. I met my husband, Howard, in 1975 when we were both competing in car rallies. He became my co-driver and we had a successful time until 1981. We married in 1977 and have two boys. Adam was born in 1984 and is now an architect in London and Tim was born in 1986 and runs his own catering business. Tim is married to Holly and they produced our first grandchild, Grace, two years ago.

I enjoy anything to do with cars and after a reasonably successful rallying ‘career’ which included reaching the final 12 of Ford’s ‘Find a lady rally driver’ competition. I have restored a 1946 Rover 10hp which I maintain and we now enjoy using on events and holidays.”

Julia Maling (Davey, 1970): “Having been fortunate enough to have Russian lessons at The Abbey, I went on to study French and Russian at Manchester University. After graduating I worked in banking for three years and then joined a firm of international traders in the City. My languages were useful throughout – even the Russian! Five years ago I stopped commuting to

London and started a new career(s) locally teaching English as a second language, French to adults and editing business documents relating mainly to French speaking countries. In March I retired and am enjoying the slower pace of life in Bexhill on Sea, involvement in a local charity and more time for friends and family – two adult daughters living in London.”

Gabrielle Cliff-Hodges (1970): “I went to Newcastle University to do a degree in English Language and Literature. I then did a PGCE at Homerton College, Cambridge. I taught in three 11-18 comprehensive schools in Cambridgeshire, in the last as Head of English, before moving into teacher education at Homerton College, Cambridge in 1993, followed by the University of Cambridge Faculty of Education from 2001, where I still work as a Senior Lecturer in Education.”

Rosie Hepworth (Southall, 1970): “Worked with art in various forms, as a restorer of 17th century Dutch pictures in London, then - after moving thirty-three years ago - for Phillips auctioneers and Beaux Arts in Bath. In 1989 opened a gallery with art dealer husband Anthony. Took the gallery to Kensington Church Street in 2009 (for an adventure as daughter was starting at Sussex university!) but now happily back in Bath. Enjoy keeping up friendships with lots of people from The Abbey.”

Penny Ribbeck (Schilizzi, 1970): “Did Computer Sciences at Sussex University but changed to Structural Engineering and have worked as a Structural Engineer ever since with two breaks – one when I married Nick and was forced to have a three year honeymoon on a tropical island (Trinidad, West indies!) with a stamp in my passport saying ‘forbidden to work’ – tough call! The other was a three year break when our unofficial foster son George first lived with us. George came

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for two nights and stayed for six years during which I returned to the consulting engineering practice -www.rhodesandpartners.co.uk where I’ve worked for over twenty years. Four years ago Nick and I and another engineer bought it – had our ups and downs (treble dip and me having cancer in our first year) but now on the up and very busy. Nick also has his own turnaround / interim manager business so he works away a fair bit. Our 25 year old daughter Beth has just started work as a commercial airline pilot in Qatar and we’re looking forward to using the cheap flights to go and see her! We live two minutes from work in Mellor – a lovely Cheshire village right on the edge of the Peak District. Life is very full and happy – involved in local Business Forum and church and other community things.”

Prue Hardwick (Barrington, 1970): “Now living in Bristol, letting out rooms on air bnb, running a café (Shake Wrap and Roll - best wraps in Bristol!) and involved in a bit of community stuff ... four grown children, old dog, and generally pretty content …”

Josephine Jackson (Pollard, 1970): “I went to Bristol after leaving The Abbey and qualified as a physiotherapist.

I then moved to London to work at The Royal Free Hospital, then Queen Mary’s Roehampton, and stayed living and working in the southwest London area ever since. I married in 1983, and in the following years had two children, Sarah and William, and successfully completed a Masters degree. I moved from clinical work to running community health teams in the late 90s and for the last few years I was working, I was responsible for special projects developing new services. In early 2012 I took early retirement as my husband was moved to New York for work, so for the last three years we were living in Manhattan and returned to the UK at the end of last year.”

Prue Seal (1970): “Went to London College of Fashion, after which followed an interesting and varied career in retail. I had three shops in Essex & Hertfordshire during the late 70s and 80s. One lingerie shop, one gift shop and a sandwich bar! In 1991 my Father died, leaving me the family

five years, ending up as a trainee picture expert when they opened a new saleroom in Chester, whilst painting in my spare time. When I had my two children, Sophie and Anna, I gave up working in antiques to concentrate on painting, showing and selling locally and also doing

L-R: Sarah Weller (Coates), Lindsay Umfreville (Wilks), Jenny Moore (Trowe), Jane Reardon Smith (Yapp), Libby Harris (Priest)

Elastic Manufacturing business in Leicestershire, H. Seal & Co Ltd, which I still run today. I have a partner Kevin, and a Highland cow called Daisy.”

Helen Jones (Anderson, 1970): “I left the Abbey after doing A Levels at 16, then took an art foundation course followed by a four year BA Hons in Fine Art at Reading University; upon graduating in 1976 I immediately met my future husband Peter, a Chester solicitor, who I married a year later. We bought an old cottage with huge garden, which we still seem to be doing up 39 years later ... I made hand-painted jewellery for Liberty’s, worked for an antique dealer for a while and then for Sotheby’s for

commercial work for national card companies like The Art Group. I now seem to have veered off into photography. I’ve been selling through a gallery in Wales but hope to organise a website soon.

Less serious work on Instagram as ‘photohels’ if anyone is interested.

My daughters both live nearby in their own houses; one is married with an adorable 8-month old, my beautiful granddaughter Alice, who will no doubt be running me ragged when I have her one day a week from March when Sophie goes back to work at her law firm. Also now spending time looking after my 92 year old mother and have joined the gym for the first time (better late than never), so life is quite busy...”

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made along the way. It was a really good day, every one was buzzing with the delight of meeting up again. There was an immediate connectivity and much shared laughter and memories.

We are planning another reunion in May 2017 (a big 60th birthday party for us all!) around the time of Chelsea Flower Show because Mel Cambridge came all the way from America for this last reunion and wants to tie her next visit in with a long held ambition to go to Chelsea.”

L-R: Jill Crowson (Carding), Patience Trevor (Thompson), Sally Chater (Kidson), Caroline Draycott (Page).

Jill Crowson (Carding, 1971): “We had a mini get-together at my house yesterday. It’s one of several we’ve had since our BIG Reunion in May 2014. Three of us got together in Mallorca last year. Yesterday’s was way less exotic - it was in Wolverhampton! Everyone turned up with something for the meal and we all chattered away for hours - topics included what we’d been up to, who’d had more grandchildren, what our plans are for the coming year - and of course old memories. Anyone who’s thinking of arranging a reunion should

CLASS OF 1975 REUNION (using maiden names) Front: Felicia Saunders, Sue Fairhurst, Gail Cohen, Sarah Collins. 2nd row: Nicky Rigby, Sara-Jane Atkins, Jane Beebee, Sara White, Ann Clayton. Back: Mel Cambridge, Mandy Weaving, Sybella Gilbert, Sarah Caldicott, Charmian Cliff-Hodges, Rozzie Williams, Cynthia Dennis, Ann Hoare, Lorna Brydon, Clare Whitmore, Ali Nicholas, Jane Fraser. Mary Birley and Dotty Lunn are also there but you can only see the top of their heads!

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go ahead and do it. They are great fun and it’s a brilliant way to renew old friendships. We all left The Abbey between 1969 and 1971.”

Ann Tudor (1975) wrote in: “The Abbey year group who sat O levels in the summer of 1973 held a reunion in June 2015. Sara-Jane Arden (Atkins) lives in Colwall and very kindly hosted the event at her lovely house, looking back on the Malvern Hills. Many emails were sent, finding old friends and organising the day which was attended by twenty six of us, with many more contacts

Calling all Abbey Old Girls: we have been asked to help track down a few Old Girls for Reunions. Sadly, we were largely (but not completely!) unsuccessful because many of the records that we hold are long out-ofdate. We’d really like to remedy this – so that we can help with Reunions, and keep people in touch – so please do send in your updated details when you move or change email. Also, if you could pass this message on to other Old Girls you are in touch with, between us, hopefully, we can bring the database up to where it should be.

There is no charge for being added to the database. Most information is sent out in email form, apart from the OGA News which is published annually and posted.

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LAWNSIDE

Anna and Nia

Nia on the main staircase

The old Lawnside building known as The Grove is now the home of Anna and Bernard Taylor and has been renamed Elmslie House. Anna’s daughter, Nia, is in year 6 at MSJ. Anna writes, “They say that when buying a house, that some people just ‘know’ when they have found the right place for them. But what happens when ‘that’ house happens to be an enormous former school, is falling down and needs extensive renovation? Well, you need A Plan...”

THE GROVE “... From the outset, restoring what is now Elmslie House was about more than wanting a family home ideally situated for the school-run. It was also about reclaiming a building of significant importance to Malvern that had fallen into disrepair, and opening it up for the benefit of the community.

Three weeks after taking ownership, this importance was recognised in the form of a Grade II listing. All work that had commenced to tackle the most urgent structural repairs had to stop as we were asked to re-submit our plans, this time for Listed Building Consent.

The basement, once a very large damp store, has now been turned into a self-contained three bed apartment, which is rented out to another family. The ground floor has been sub-divided to create a ‘public’ space, incorporating the one-time billiard room, built

by Dr Weir in 1884, and The Lawnside School stage added onto it in 1923. We believe this room was used for many years as a Library for the school. This space has been transformed over recent months to create a concert venue, now with its own PA and lighting system, and it is used weekly for exercise classes.

We host monthly music gigs, and are starting to hold regular Designer-Maker craft markets. We are also currently in talks to put on various art exhibitions for local artists – and lots more! We

have already been wonderfully entertained by The Jenny Lind Singers, who held a Christmas Concert here featuring both past and present MSJ girls - we hope very much that they will return!

We re-named the house after its architect and first owner, E. W. Elmslie, who also built The Imperial Hotel, now home to MSJ! There are details in both buildings which bear familiar motifs the boot scrapers outside the front door being just one example.

In fact, our house logo is taken from stone carvings found both in and outside the house – and not dissimilar to the design found on the Great Malvern Station ironwork (also designed by Elmslie).

From 1929-39 Lawnside played host to the Malvern Festival which meant artistes such as Edward Elgar and George Bernard Shaw visited – the latter had his portrait painted by Dame Laura Knight here in 1933. And so things have gone full circle, as we are thrilled to say that the house will once again be a part of the annual Malvern Festival in 2016, with a date already booked in for National Poetry Day on October 6th.

We would be delighted to welcome the OGA for any occasion – you can even try out the newest addition – our own bar - and see the results of The Plan for yourselves!

Anna & Bernard Taylor Bethan, Freya & Nia Grainger (Year 6) www.elmsliehouse.co.uk info@elmsliehouse.co.uk

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LAWNSIDE NEWS 1900s and 1910s

1970s On

Mr Dave Weller wrote in about his great aunts, Marjorie and Ruth Parker Gary who started at Lawnside in 1909 and 1910 respectively. Their aunt, Gertrude Harman, was Principal at the time.

Duseline Stewart, Lawnside Headmistress, 1971-2000, writes:

1940s Joy Hunter (Milward,1942) MBE: “I was 90 on September 15 2015 and my children gave a huge lunch party for sixty-five family and lifelong friends which included five Old Lawnsidians (sadly two more had died last spring). They were my sister Rosemary Wells (Milward), Rosemary Willcox (Bates), Heather Waterston (Sansome), Angela MarshSmith (Holgate) and me of course.

I’m still involved in giving talks, interviews for TV and press about working in Churchill’s underground war rooms - life certainly began again for me when I’d turned 80 so worry not about growing older - life can get even better!”

BIRTHDAY JOY From left to right: “Angela, Rosemary Willcox, my sister Rosemary and me, with two other friends on my right.”

Cynthia Castellan (Harris, 1941) “Now prevented from active gardening by Parkinson’s, I derive much enjoyment from the Correspondent’s Group of the Hardy Plant Society.”

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For the first time in several years I have returned to France. My brother hired a Morgan to tour Gascony for a few days and I was elected to go with him for the simple reason that I had not yet had my cataract operation and could therefore be relied on not to call out when he took a corner a bit faster than he ought. It was very exhilarating as the countryside in Spring was lovely, everyone was in admiration over the car, and the cuisine was great, but I became a little tired of foie gras.

Duseline and the Morgan

As you all know, my great interest is gardening and one Sunday in September I had just come in from a session in my gardening outfit when the doorbell rang. There on the doorstep were three Lawnside OGs, Ellie Ecroid (Blanchard), Elisabeth Logan, and Alison Watson (White).

Ellie is nursing in Hereford, Elisabeth is acting and writing for television in California, and Alison is a farmer’s wife in Scotland and a keen gardener. They were very welcome in spite of my dishevelled state and we chatted over their time at school.

If any OGs are in the vicinity, I should be delighted to welcome them.

Love to you all,

Duseline Stewart duselinestewart@gmail.com

Duseline has also supplied the following news from Old Girls: Helen Braggington writes that she is no longer single. She has a new partner, a very tall John. Tabi is taking acting classes in London.

Ollie is at Falmouth University playing a variety of instruments.

She and Tabi went to Edinburgh Festival, Tabi acting and Ollie backstage. Lilla at Truro College is studying for a diploma in dyslexia and photography. A talented trio of daughters! It was great to see Hennie at last year’s Reunion.

Sarah Grace (Alexander) has been busy at school and doing accounts for three small companies. Husband Adrian, recently retired, is kept busy as taxi driver for two teenagers.

Hannah who has been diagnosed with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome was able to sit only one A Level. She is staying on at school to retake her other A Levels. John has had a good cricket season playing for an under 15 league and the school 2nd XI. Sarah Harris (Tyler) has at last daughter and son at the same school, Cranleigh. Her sister Mary Webb’s children have inherited her musical ability. Beatrice and Ella have both gained distinctions, Beatrice for piano and Ella for viola.

And news of former staff … Pam Tromans writes, “To help my limited mobility, I bought a scooter with the idea of pootling to the park, dogs trotting alongside. I had a practice or two but then the wet windy winter arrived. Scooter mumbling gently to itself if ignored in the garage. Dogs and I take the car to some sheltered spot. I find a seat and read while relays of other dogs march past to be sniffed and played with. They still let me mark Cambridge English (Singapore preuniversity essays) as they have to dump so many of the new intake of

oganews spring 2016

examiners. I’ve just remarked one lot where my predecessor was very hazy about full stops. Alas she is teaching somewhere. They need to think about it.”

AND IN OTHER NEWS:

all from the same year as me. Last year we had a lovely weekend together in Hope Cove, Devon, to celebrate our 50th Birthdays. We’d all love to catch up with other Old Lawnsidians and are hoping to arrange a get-together this year.”

1980s Christina Lees-Jones (1985): “I was at Lawnside 1980-85 and had a fantastic time.

My news is that I have become non exec director for J W Lees, the family-run brewer in Manchester which produces beers as well as running hotels, pubs and inns. I have spent twenty two years working as Catering Director and developing food throughout the Managed Estate, starting with two food pubs and developing it to thirty eight and one three rosette restaurant. I still love travelling and have been to Oman and am about to go to Argentina and Antarctica to follow in Shackleton’s footsteps.”

Fiona Shires with Old Lawnsidians

Liz Giles (Atkins) and Kate Oram (Atkins)

1990s Lots of news from The Orchards Cookery School, near Pershore, where Lawnside Old Girls Lucy Richardson (Bomford, 1995) and Isabel Burt (Bomford, 1993) run a growing empire. The Orchards is an approved activity provider for the Residential Project for the Gold Duke of Edinburgh’s Award, and has garnered many awards in the past few years, including Cookery School of the Year 2013, The British Cookery School Awards Winner 2014

and Shortlist for Food and Travel Magazine 2014 Reader Awards. They have recently expanded the cookery school, doubling in size from 24 to 48 students, and have launched a book. They have an event space for hire for special parties, with a bar and dancefloor in a beautiful listed barn.

All about 40 minutes from Malvern.

Lucy came to the MSJ Careers Fair in the Autumn and told Fiona Meredith about a recent Lawnside Reunion she had attended in Malvern in June… “We were all at Lawnside from 1988-95. Helen Gallo came especially from Spain. Katie Leigh organised it as Vicky Henicker had been living in Singapore for years and returned home to live in the UK. We looked at photos, shared stories and had a good walk around Malvern checking out the Winter Gardens, Lawnside etc. It was so lovely to catch up and we plan to do another when we all hit 40.”

Lawnside Reunion 1998-1995 girls Lucy Bomford is third from left

Philly, Fiona and Liz

Fiona Shires (Beckett, 1983) has joined the OGA Committee as a Trustee. We are delighted to welcome her. Fiona writes. “I still keep in close contact with Philly Charlton-Jones (Nicolson), Liz Giles (Atkins) and Kate Oram (Atkins),

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St James’s and St James’s & the Abbey News HEADMISTRESS REPORTS Mrs Ros Hayes (2003 – 2006 and MSJ 2006 – 2010) This has been another exciting year of travel. Mrs Jones, Housemistress at St James’s and Malvern St James, currently spends six months of the year in Johannesburg, South Africa and kindly invited me to stay with her. I flew out to Cape Town in April, where I spent six days visiting Table Mountain, the Cape of Good Hope, the penguin colony at Simon’s Town, Stellenbosch and the winelands and the wonderful botanical gardens at Kirstenbosch. I then boarded The Class of 1994 from Ros’ Archives the Blue Train for the two day journey to Pretoria, crossing the desert landscape of the Karoo and passing spectacular mountain scenery. Johannesburg was a city of contrasts with extreme wealth sitting side-by-side with abject poverty, but the trips to the local safari parks were magical, especially the elephants. Returning the invitation in June, Mrs Jones joined me in Turkey along with Miss Owen and Mrs Shindler. We all had a relaxing time enjoying the sun, food, culture and impressive Lycian ruins.

Besides ex members of staff, I have also caught up with several Old Girls. Once again it was a delight to see so many ex MSJ choir members returning to Malvern at Christmas to sing with the Jenny Lind Singers in order to raise money for Christ Church Roof Fund and the ESO Care Concerts programme. Attending a Governors’ meeting at Carrdus School, I was greeted by Biba Spencer Pratt (Woodall) who was collecting her daughter Holly from the school. In January, I went to Claire Awty’s (Shindler, Head Girl, St James’s, 1994) 40th birthday – where have all those years gone? The photo above shows Claire’s year group, so Happy 40th Birthday to one and all!

Unfortunately, I am away on holiday when the 120 Years of St James’s Celebration Dinner takes place on June 18th. I know many old girls from St James’s plan to be there and I am sad that I shall miss seeing you all – I hope you have a wonderful evening.

Miss Elizabeth Mullenger (1986 - 1997) I was a child of summer, always needing the light and colour that we seemed to have in those far-away days to live life to the full. There wasn’t a great deal of that light during a gloomy 2015, and even Tuscany in early October let me down! We did, however, enjoy a magnificent year for rose-growing and those in the Founders’ Garden were abundant all summer long, although the slugs enjoyed some of the delphinium plants!

During the long winter I completed my family history research and started to write it up. There have been interesting links and sociohistorical background but so far no skeletons in cupboards!

Some of you might remember that after Shakespeare my favourite playwrights are Ibsen and Chekhov. I’m also a great fan of Nordic-noir thrillers, on the page as well as the screen. Last summer I toured the Scandinavian and Baltic cities which were new to me. Earlier in the year my sister and I visited Malta where our father had been based during the war.

I continue to enjoy my contact with MSJ as a governor and OGA Patron.

I am thrilled to see the continuing growth and activities of the OGA and congratulate all involved in this. I have been involved in reunions myself this past year when my own school (one of the great former Direct Grant grammar schools of the North West) held special celebrations and some of my contemporaries decided to meet. We have certainly started something and we are continuing to meet in both Manchester and London, and also enjoy some Joint Dinners with our Boys’ Division counterparts!

Elizabeth Mullenger’s Bolton School Reunion (Elizabeth is front row, centre)

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2016 is a special year for MSJ as it celebrates its 10th Anniversary and enters another era. It is a progressive and nurturing school, as the successes and affection of its many alumnae confirm. Long may it, and the Association, continue to thrive!

oganews spring 2016

St James’s and St James’s & the Abbey News

1950s Ishbel Sholto Douglas (Fraser-Munn, 1954) emailed from New Zealand to say that she has only ten per cent eyesight now and finds it impossible to keep in contact, but her husband reads all the emails and “I do love to hear what’s going on”.

1970s 1970s Belinda Alexander (Francis, 1970) came into MSJ to deliver her ‘Developing SelfConfidence and Social Skills’ course to Years 8, 9 and 10. Belinda is living in Yorkshire and still keeps in touch with St James’s friends.

1998 and have two children, Max born in 2002 and Ella in 2009. We live mostly in London but have a family home in Scotland.”

Maria Wrinch (Lowther, 1988) is mother of a current MSJ pupil, and is living in Hereford. She keeps in touch with Lisa Barrett (Kessels) who was Head Girl for her year and now lives in Pembrokeshire.

1990s 1990s

1980s

Belinda Alexander

Rowena Westacott (Evans), Penny Smith (Reay), Pim Kon (Sathirathaya) and Liz Shillingford, all 1980 Leavers, are planning a Reunion. Pim also keeps up with Adetola Kotoye.

Cristina Livingstone (Princess Cristina Tchkotoua, 1986): “After school I studied the business side of fashion at the American College in London and graduated with a BA. However, my career took me down the telecoms path where I spent many years working as a project manager on various large projects, finally giving it up at the birth of my second child. Now I do part-time work giving support to primary school children. I married Cristina, Max & Ella Sandy Livingstone in

Deborah Thomas and friends

Hanna Neuborn (1993): “Recently relocated from London to live in a small village near Market Harborough in Leicestershire - please get in touch if you are in the local area! Still working in HR for a marketing company in London so have joined the merry commute but it is worth it for the country air!”

Deborah Thomas (1995) was the Guest Speaker at MSJ’s Prizegiving ceremony in the Summer. Deborah, an actress and tutor at the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama, also runs her own presentation skills business, ClassApt. Friends Samantha Vaughan, Gemma Bruce (Knowles), and sister Stephanie were all in attendance.

Hannah Gill (Plant, 1997) emailed to say that she had seen Lisa Clark (Hall, 1997) on television, speaking at the Lib Dem conference in 2015.

Alex Surman (Tams, 1996) very kindly gathered the latest news from her contemporaries at St J’s & A (and one from MGC!): “Baby news first: Victoria Murray had a baby girl about a year ago, and Antonia Maclean

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St James’s and St James’s & the Abbey News

and Camilla Smith each had baby 2000s 2000s girls last year. Catherine Carroll had a second boy in November and Summer 2015 saw a double Katie Oxley-Brown (Reynolds) had celebration for former St James’s a baby boy in April last year. In Head Girl, Diana Hackett, and other news... Katy Wade (Maclean) Deputy Head Girl, Ria Poynton is currently living in Brunei with (both 2002). Ria was first to walk her husband and two boys for an up the aisle on May 18 to marry eighteen month military posting Mr Adam Phelpotts. Diana was a but returning to the UK this coming bridesmaid, and mother of the bride summer. She is unable to work and chief cake-maker was Mrs Lynne over there so has now perfected Poynton, Deputy Housemistress of an excellent tennis game! Victoria MSJ’s Poulton House. The couple Parslow is near Chang Mai, honeymooned in Vietnam.

Thailand, teaching English and studying for a degree during the Diana tied the knot two months later: Thai school holidays.

“On 18th July 2015, I got married Kate Wilcock (Jenkins, MGC ’96) to Dr Daniel Awrey at Newburgh has gained her first headteacher Priory in North Yorkshire. We live in role at Pitmaston Primary school North Oxfordshire, and I am currently one of the largest primary schools working as a trainee librarian whilst in the county – which she started completing an MA in Library and last September. Lucy Clapton Information Studies at UCL. (Sandy) is running the London Marathon. I also met up with Jo Fowler over half term, having not seen each other for 20 years. We introduced our children to each other who are almost exactly the same age. Jo qualified as an architect and has recently moved Ria Poynton and Adam Phelpotts back to the Herefordshire/ Gloucestershire borders. Finally, a My bridesmaid was my niece Isabella, group of St James and the Abbey daughter of my sister Carrie Wessels (’95) girls have recently made (Hackett, St J’s 1997). Carrie and contact again with Kaoru Suzuki her family (Isabella, son Ruan and great excitement as they haven’t husband Anton) are now living and spoken for 20 years!” working in North Yorkshire, after spending several years in South Katy Hylands (1996): “I am currently Africa and Botswana. Carrie and living and working in London as a Anton put their years of expert midwife at Chelsea and Westminster wildlife photography to good use and Hospital. It is very hard but were our photographers on the day! amazingly rewarding; I wouldn’t We had a really wonderful time, and want to do anything else.”

I was delighted that so many of my very best St James’s friends and their families were able to travel up north to share the day with us. In attendance

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were: Laura Arundale (Christensen), with her husband Jonathan and daughter Olive. Laura works for Fuller, Smith and Turner, the company behind Fuller’s brewery, which is where she met husband Jonathan; Clare Gibbons (Nash), with her husband Aidan and son Arthur. Following a stint living and working in Singapore, they are now back in London, enjoying being parents; Ria Phelpotts (Poynton), with her husband Adam. Ria is a talented silversmith and jeweller, and she made both our wedding rings; Kate Townshend (Fredericks), with her husband Ian and children Oscar and Ivy. The family are in the middle of moving back to Worcestershire, after several years living and working in

Diana Hackett and Dan Awrey

Diana and Carrie

St James’s and St James’s & the Abbey News

London. My godmother Liz Prophet (Housemistress at MGC and MSJ) was also in attendance, so the whole day was rather fabulously over-run with Malvern St James’s connections! We are all looking forward to attending the reunion in June.”

Samantha Morris (2002): has a BA Hons degree in Music (Southampton University 2005) and a MA in Music, Culture and Politics from Cardiff University (2006). Samantha has worked in a variety of industries including music, executive recruitment, advertising and health. She is now in her final months of an intense Masters in Integrative Arts Psychotherapy in London. She works in both private and clinical placement settings.

Mariko Kaneko (2004) is working at the British School in Tokyo. She got in touch with the OGA Office to see if she could track down Mrs Owen, Mr Terry, Mrs Lindner and Mrs Fairfax when she visited the UK last summer.

Jennifer Kirby (2006) has been playing Princess Katherine in Henry V at the RSC. Elizabeth Bennett (2006) joined the MSJ musicians for their first tour concert in the English Reformed Church in Amsterdam last summer.

Liz teaches at the international school in Amsterdam.

Emma May White (St J’s, 2006): “I am currently managing the Programme Management Office for Sanctuary Housing, running my own business ‘Acuitas Coaching’, gigging when I get the chance, and raising money for a school in Cambodia for which I am an ambassador. When not working

Emma White

or singing I am normally in the gym strength training or on the hills with the dog!”

Alice Bendall (2006): “After appearing in an all singing-all dancing pantomime, I’m currently choreographing a new musical that

Alice Bendall

will be premiering at the Kings Head Theatre, London, all brand new writing so very exciting! I am then choreographing another show that will be on in May, whilst still auditioning for plays and musicals. (I’ve also just dusted off my tenor saxophone so I can brush up on my technique ahead of some actor-muso auditions!)”

IN MEMORIAM Mrs Audrey Turner at home in Malvern in February 2015. She taught at St James and the Abbey from 1986-1993. Daughter, Alison, writes, “Audrey very much enjoyed the walk up from her home in Croft Bank to the school, and loved teaching there in the twilight of her career. She found the varied cultural backgrounds of the girls most interesting and looking through her belongings she has many cuttings, programmes and photographs from her time there and kept in contact with some staff.

She also has some small gifts from students as thank yous over the years that she had kept, and obviously treasured. We held her funeral at St James Church, West Malvern and she is buried next to our dad, her husband. We held the reception after at the Elim Conference centre which was very fitting.”

Mrs Ruth Leadbeater, formerly Domestic Bursar at St James’ School and Assistant Matron at MGC, in October 2015.

Mrs Jeanne Titley 1932-2015.

Elizabeth Mullenger attended Jeanne’s funeral and writes, “Many Old Girls of St James’s and St James’s and The Abbey will have been sad to learn of Mrs Titley’s death at the end of April.

Messages received from some of her former pupils were read in tribute at her memorial service and expressed their affection, regard and gratitude. She was a pioneer in Special Needs teaching and learning and her work left a lasting and often life-changing impact on her students. Jeanne’s work was one of the great strengths of St James’s and The Abbey.

Katharine Thornhill (later Head Girl) and Mary Ann Knight (1992) recalled how Jeanne pioneered the use of Information Technology with her pupils when this was in its early days. ”I was the first person in school to have a laptop... we were so excited about her computer room. I used to spend hours there editing the school magazine with her help. It was definitely her influence that inspired us both to take History A Level.”

(Katharine went on to read History at Newcastle.)

Emma Rees (1987) wrote: “Some thirty four years ago dyslexia was just a word for people who were thick. I was a shy girl who would not even pick up the phone at home when I arrived at St James’s and The Abbey. Mrs Titley experimented with everything new and inspired a confidence in me that transformed my life. I came out of that shell to achieve a BA in History of Art/Fashion and a post-graduate qualification in art work restoration. I will always feel indebted to her.”

I feel privileged to have known and worked with Jeanne but I think it most appropriate to let her students have the final word. Such accolades as theirs are a precious memorial.”

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1930s 1930s Dalna Hackney (MacMillan) attended MGC between 1932-34 and was Head Girl. Dalna celebrated her 100th birthday in October 2014, and here she holds her card from the Queen.

Dalna Hackney (MacMillan)

Monica Maloney (Wynne, 1932) wrote in to say that she is 101 and is writing her second novel.

1940s 1940s Muriel Day (1948) and Diana McVeagh (1949) both visited in the Summer of 2015.

Betty Watson (1946) kindly sent in various items for the Archive including photos of her time here.

Judy Heslop (Richardson 1948) attended the Northern Reunion (see 1950s decade news) 1950s 1950s Ann Parrack (1950): “Today four of us who joined Lindfield in the Lower IV in 1945, plus one who joined two years later, celebrated our 70th anniversary of friendship! How’s

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that for the success of boarding school cementing friendships? We usually meet on the first Saturday in November, and have done so for some 25 years or more.

The group were Hilary Childs (Gale), Deborah Pittis (Hewes), Muriel Potter (Robinson), Ann Parrack (Talbot), Jillian Brand (Wood) and Valerie Ruskell (Mead, 1952). We come from Essex, Dundee, Isle of Wight, Kent, London area and Gloucestershire.”

things maritime and currently edits a magazine for the National Maritime Museum here in Sydney. We are fortunate that we can both indulge our hobbies as well as frequent visits from our children and grandchildren.

I left Malvern in 1952 to attend The Central School of Speech and Drama in London. Subsequently, after having two daughters, I gained a BA and a few years ago gained a Masters from Sydney University in Creative Writing which ultimately led to my novel. I would love to know of any of my peers who left Malvern at the same time as I did. I congratulate you on the wonderful work you do in producing the OGA magazine. I always look forward to receiving my copy.”

Joanna van Kool (Newman, 1952): “I am a very old OGA member. I live in Australia, having come here in 1956 at the age of twenty one to teach, supposedly for two years, but have lived here ever since. I have been back to Britain many times and my early days in the Cotswolds and at MGC are still vivid memories and undoubtedly shaped my life in every way. Fortunately I am still able to be busy and late last year published my novel ‘The Followers’ which is historical fiction based on the lives of three generations of women forebears. I became fascinated by the knowledge that my great grandmother could neither read nor write, but stubbornly struggled to gain an education of sorts and her own daughter became the third woman to graduate in Medicine from Bristol University. What a long way women have come in a comparatively short time. I am impressed by the Deirdre presents the Loretto School young women of today when tartan Registration Certificate to the I read of their activities in Headmaster of the School. the OGA magazine. Malvern St James offers the kind of broad education that women of a hundred years ago were only Deirdre Kinloch Anderson beginning to be allowed. My book is (Loryman, 1956): As Senior Director available on Amazon and somewhat of Kinloch Anderson Limited, to my surprise has been well received. I renowned for Scottish clothing and am currently writing a totally different textiles, Deirdre Kinloch Anderson kind of novel and also broadcasting takes particular responsibility for the print handicapped. My for dealing with overseas group husband is very involved with all visits and film crews. Kinloch

malvern girls’ college

Anderson Limited also specialises in tartan design and development for companies, societies and other organisations wanting to have their own unique tartan for clothing, accessories or gifts.

reading in Church. She will attend the 2016 Summer Reunion and has fond memories of her time at MGC. She keeps in contact with former MGC staff member, Miss June Roundhill.

1960s 1960s Margaret Wood (1960): “I see Tricia Wilkinson (Marsden) and Barbara Walker (Sutcliffe) regularly, and Penny Avison (Beck), as we are in a horse racing syndicate, along with Liz Ticehurst. I am also in contact with Angela McGeown (Jolly), Mhairi Bone (Cunane), and Freda Keegan (Hassan). I stayed with Liz Lloyd (Evans) in Hereford, after my last visit to Malvern, and am in email contact with Carol Gibbon (Minty) occasionally.”

Northern Reunion

Jill Gladstone (Vernon,1958) wrote in with this picture above following the Northern Reunion gathering at Ann Charlton’s home. Left to right are: Alison Carlisle (Lindsay, MGC 1966), Michael and Ann Charlton (Hunter, L 1957), Geoff and Judy Heslop (Richardson, MGC 1948), Liz Guinness (Cosgrove 1958) and Jill Gladstone.

Charlotte Mather (Hutton-Williams 1959): Charlie is now “back packing granny” on the popular website Country Wives. See http://www.countrywives.co.uk/author/ backpackinggranny/ Ann Payne (Nash, 1956): “The Mid-Wales Group of the OGA is a small group of approximately 8 ‘members’ who have been meeting fairly regularly for the last nine years. They include Suzanna Johnston (Habershon, 1966), Maureen Jones (Evans, 1962), Eira Jones (Greet, 1969), Jennie Vint (Weston, 1956), Penny Eckley (Peirson Jones, 1964), Jessica King (Styles, 1972) and Margaret Underwood (Collis, Bond, 1970). Last year we met for a pub lunch in March, lunch and a garden visit in June, and for coffee in the autumn. We met earlier this year to plan our summer get-together. Anyone who would like to join us would be very welcome and should contact Ann Payne at jandabethania@btinternet.com” Miss Catherine Martineau, PE teacher at MGC between 1953 and 1963, telephoned with her news.

She is now 85, living in Devon, and remains in good health, despite failing sight in one eye which means she can no longer drive. She says her PE Mistress voice, trained to carry above the noise of swimming pools and sports fields, stands her in good stead for

Tishy Bayne (Mackenzie, 1964) filed a report on the annual Norfolk Reunion: “Tishy Bayne and Anne Laubscher (Scott) were delighted to organise the 25th Annual Norfolk Reunion. We decided to stick with the tried and tested formula of The Anchor Inn at Morston, and twenty-one of us had yet another very happy and chatty luncheon there on a gorgeous day last September. Sadly, several of our regulars were not able to come for various reasons, but our stalwart supporter Patricia Wilkinson (Marsden) came all the way from Yorkshire with Margaret Wood and Christine Booth (Sutcliffe). We were also delighted to welcome two ‘youngsters’, Nicky Milner (Jones) and Sam Schmiegelow (Clegg), who were together in Hatfield and both left in 1981, which brought down the average age of the gathering by a considerable amount! They seemed to enjoy themselves and we are hoping that, as well as coming again, they may be able to entice a few of their friends to join us in the future!

Those present were: Christopher and Patricia Bayne (Mackenzie,1964); Christine Booth (Sutcliffe 1954); Alan and Marianne Fry (Newman 1951); Roger and Jill Hargreaves (Smart 1959); Peter and Heather Hornbrook (Christie 1956); Sue Key-Burr (Fyte 1954); Louw and Anne Laubscher (Scott 1953); Nicky Milner (Jones 1981); Jen Murray (Carter 1947); Susan Riddington (Boston 1952); John and Charlotte Ridler (Crossley 1964); Joan Rivers (Turnbull 1954); Sam Schmiegelow (Clegg 1981); Patricia Wilkinson (Marsden 1956); Margaret Wood (1960).

In the hope of encouraging more OGs from Suffolk and Cambridge, we are holding another Reunion Lunch at the Auberge Restaurant, Yaxley, a few miles south of Diss, in March and our next Reunion Lunch at the Anchor Inn, Morston, is on Wednesday, 14th September 2016. Any OG who does not think she is on our list and would like to attend these area reunions can contact Tishy Bayne at Pinewood Lodge, Bawburgh, Norwich NR9 3LT; 01603 742601; pbayne46@gmail.com.”

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UK. Currently house sitting for friends in their house just outside Marbella (Spain) whilst they spend time in their other property in Australia. House sitting seems to suit me and I am looking at where else I can combine visiting and house sitting!

After an operation last year, I can walk without pain and I can finally achieve my ambition of walking part of the El Camino de Santiago de Compostela which I will do at the end of May, with Charlotte Mather (Hutton-Williams, 1959) who was also at MGC albeit a bit before me.

We met nearly twenty seven years ago at a mutual friends’ luncheon party, found out that we had Malvern in common and have been firm friends ever since!

1970s 1970s Norfolk Reunion, Jen Murray, Anne Laubscher & Tishy Bayne

Sue Stubenvoll (Stiff, 1964): “I spent a wonderful time meeting up with Janine Smillie (Bradbury), Lizzie East, Gill (Thompson), Cynthia (Harrington) and others on my way to/from the Orkney Islands last June/July. We remembered Margaret Kimber and Janine found a photo of her. The Scottish Old Girls are immensely welcoming.

In NZ I keep in touch with Tania Sweet (Simpson) – and her wonderful smile. Plans for the earthquake rebuild of my house finally went to Council in 6th January and the Building Permit was issued just 23 days later! A miracle. With luck I hope to have a house again by mid 2017, six and a half years after the main event. We’ve just had another 5.7 aftershock but I was out working on the land and didn’t even feel it!”

Daphne York (Willis, 1965). Daphne wrote in after attending the Summer Reunion in 2015: “Fifty years ago I left MGC … and it was with some trepidation that I and a few others of my year attended the Reunion. We all enjoyed ourselves enormously and seemed to talk, I regret to say, continually! One of us had come from France and there was a bit of catching up to do …Memories of place are both fixed and misleading but when we were able to look out of the windows of one or two of the rooms we had shared, time seemed for a moment to have shifted and the present girls were, in an odd way, contemporaries. I do hope they enjoy themselves as we did and are to return in fifty years as we have done and to see such an impressive and flourishing school.”

Sandie Lenton Forrest (Lenton, 1966): I am still living part of the year in Penang and the rest in Spain and the

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Caroline Postle (Hey, 1970) “I started at Malvern Girls College in 1963, leaving in 1970, going on to Somerville, Oxford.

I spent my first year at MGC at Hatley St George, before I moved to The Benhams, before the 6th form. My one year at Hatley St George had a very profound influence on me.

It was a very special place.

We had very large dormitories, nine girls in mine I think, and sixteen in the one next door as I recall, and each morning we had to take a jug to a tap and bring it back to the dormitory to wash in a wash-stand, and there was a rota for the bathrooms for two baths a week. This was in 1963-1964. There were apple-pie beds where others in the dorm altered your sheets so when you got into the bed you couldn’t get your feet more than half way down.

We had our hair washed by the matron and assistant matron, one used the bath and the other the basin, in the same room, and then we dried our hair by the gas fire. We hated having our hair washed. I preferred the assistant matron because she didn’t pull the hair quite so hard. It was a very rough exercise.

A third of a bottle of milk was still provided free by the state, and this was used each day to make the most amazing creamy rice pudding with a very crispy brown surface, which was always available at the end of lunch.

We had lots of white sliced bread and jam, and had a competition to see which table could eat the most slices.

We queued up before bed for either the cough medicine or

malvern girls’ college

the cold medicine, even if we didn’t need it, because it was good and gave us something to do, and now I understand the medicines contained small amounts of addictive substances, no longer allowed in such concoctions.

We had the most eccentric but amazing drama teacher. She took Shakespeare’s Midsummer Night’s Dream, cut out large passages to reduce its length, and then got us to perform it in midsummer on the lawn in front of our parents, with brilliant direction and costumes. I was Puck, and had huge ears and a leopard skin, and the matron had to scrub the brown makeup off me in the bath afterwards (which was not pleasant).”

Hatley St George and Parkfield were sold due to disrepair, and in their place the College built Hatfield, adjacent to the school. Parkfield still exists as flats; Hatley St George appears to have been pulled down and a modern house built on the plot.

Jane King (1971): “Just finished up two months’ as a volunteer teacher at Cambodian Children’s Fund in Phnom Penh. It was an incredible experience.

We spent two weeks in Edinburgh last summer and got to spend time with Janet Pring (Smith). Still in touch with all my MGC friends. Still running my own charity: www.friendsofcolombianorphans.org”

Ceinwen Lally (1973) kindly sent in a 1937 prospectus for MGC, which has gone into the Archives. Ceinwen’s mother was at MGC between 193844. She writes, “I attended the school from 1966-73 and was one of the first groups to be in Hatfield. I am in contact with a number of the girls who were in Hatfield with me – Cathy Wood (Smith), Caroline Chambers (Sayers), Carina Allsup (McMullan), Rachel – now Lady Southampton (Millet), Felicity Robinson (Rivett), Sarah Vaughan (Harding-Rolls), Bryony Owen (Keen), Mary Riddiford (McAfee) and Helen Davey. We meet up in various combinations – most recently at a fabulous ‘Strictly Sixty’ party for Cathy Wood!”

Felicity Robinson (Rivett, 1973) is a landscape architect / gardener, and attended the MSJ Careers Fair.

She relocated a few years ago to Herefordshire, just over the Hills.

Marian Brebner (Atkinson, 1974): “This email comes with a photo of me in Lincoln, having graduated from Lincoln University with an MA in Medieval Studies in January 2016. I also received the Lincoln Record Society prize for the best dissertation in MAs in both Medieval Studies and also History. My husband, daughters and grandson were all able to attend the graduation. We had a wonderful, if rather chilly, day in Lincoln, followed

Jane King (centre) at the Cambodian Children’s Fund

Marian Brebner

by a celebratory dinner at the George Hotel in Stamford, which my parents were also able to attend.

(My mother being Eileen Atkinson (Sales, Ivydene 1940s)).

Emma Rigoni (Alexander, 1977): “If I was closer I should dearly love to be at the Summer Reunion and see any girls from the 1977 year.

I left Ivydene in 1975 and studied A Levels in Sheffield but kept in touch with one other girl as we both ended up near Melbourne, Australia. We are still very good friends to this day. There have been many exciting changes to MGC since those days and I enjoy hearing snippets of news via the OGA. I hope you have sunny weather and a successful day!”

Claudia Kennedy (1979): “I’ve just moved to Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, to take up the position of Head of Creative Arts at King Abdullah University Science Technology school. Maybe there is someone in the region who’d like to get in touch?

I hope you all have a wonderful time at the Summer Reunion!”

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Helen Pugh (1974): “On September 13th 2015, a few of us met up for a lovely meal in the restaurant at Wisley Gardens during the flower show. The group consisted of me, Liz Greenwood (Mackrill), Diana Smith Billard (Smith), Diana Lewis (Matthews), Chris Findlay (Rees) and Rosie Nye (Painter). We all hope to meet again in London on September 10th to celebrate our 60th birthday year. If any other 1974 leavers wish to come please contact me. You can get my email address from the OGA.”

to see Summerside (currently being converted into four luxury flats) and had had tea with Mrs Ivian Lloyd, her former Housemistress.

Eleanor Knowles (Price, 1981): “Just a quick snippet of news... having dabbled with a part-time home baking business in between being a civil engineer and writer, I’m delighted to say that my first recipe book is now in print. Eleanor’s Home Baking: Simply Delicious Baking Recipes from a Cornwall Kitchen is available as an eBook on Amazon. I hope to bring out more books this year - perhaps even engineeringrelated (!) – I have various others listed on Amazon.

Eleanor Knowles

1974 leavers

Louise Baltesz and 1984 Leavers

wait another year!

We stayed at Nell Tom Cottage in Low Row, near Reeth in Swaledale, North Yorkshire, which together with Laykin Cottage nearby, I have been running as holiday lets. We went walking over the moors, and enjoyed the wonderful scenery, and had lots of time to catch up with news, and make lasting memories.

I spend a lot of time in the Dales, but never tire of the views, especially the ones from our cottages.

1980s 1980s Kay Murdoch (France, 1980) came in to visit us at MSJ with her daughter, Isabel. She lives in Newcastle and keeps in touch with various friends from MGC including Wendy Lapworth.

She also met an Old Girl of St James’s, Sarah Reed-Pitcher, while she was at Warwick University. Kay had been

Kay Murdoch and daughter, Isabel

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If old girls from MGC want to connect with me, I’m on LinkedIn at /EleanorKnowles-20545137 Louise Baltesz (1984): “Our latest reunion included, from left to right, Liz Cooke (Morris), Joannah Adams, Louise Baltesz (Nickerson), Nicki Wakeford (Brocklesby) and George Brown (all 1984 Leavers). Four of us were celebrating our 50th birthdays in the next few months.

The get together was a giant birthday celebration, focusing on Nicky as she turned 50 first. George Brown has to

Louise Baltesz and 1984 Leavers’ 50th celebration

For anyone who would like to book in to celebrate a special reunion, check out www.stayinswaledale.co.uk.”

Sarah Stanley (Wilkinson, 1986): “On Saturday 30th May 2015, Mike and I got married in Yorkshire and I became Mrs Stanley. It was such a happy day and the sun shone too. A number of

malvern girls’ college

Old Girls celebrated with us my mum, Patricia Wilkinson (Marsden), my sister, Elisabeth Allison (Wilkinson), a lovely family friend Barbara Walker (Sutcliffe) and a number of my good friends - Claire Roberts (Bishop), Carol Grosvenor (Thomas), Jo Lane (Nicolson) and Sophie Thomas (Orchard).

Jo Hoskins (Macdonald) was there in spirit as she lives in Australia but I saw her earlier in the year which was just lovely we met up with Claire Roberts, Jo Lane and Ismena Deacon (Rooley) – and had a good old catch up and lots of laughs!”

BEE’S REUNION Sarah Wilkinson with Tricia Wilkinson

Back row: Lucy Dickson (Shone), George MacLeay (Waggett), Fenella Walton (Toosey), Antonia Goodhall (Mason), Camilla Beaumont (Huntington-Whiteley), Susannah Homan (Bourne), Victoria Buckingham (Bloore), Catherine Usher Front: Amanda Brown (Johnson), Louise Spencer (Campion), Nicky Lynskey (Taylor), Sarah Ainsleigh-Jones (Hodgkinson), Annie Austin (Des Forges), Frances Pasteur (Mason), Bee Cullen (Sharkey)

Conference, encouraging them to get involved with politics and shaping their world.

1990s 1990s

Bride Sarah Wilkinson with Mr Mike Stanley

Helena Perceval (Raggett, 1988): “I was a Lindfield girl.

We have been living in Co Sligo, Ireland, for the last 12 years, self-employed running our home, Temple House, as an open historic house, hosting events, weddings, festivals and running a farm. Would love to see any Old Girls if they are ever in Ireland.”

Belinda (Bee) Sharkey (Cullen, 1988) “Fifteen well preserved old girls from the MGC class of ’88 gathered in London at the Met bar in February. Organised to coincide with Nicola Lynskey (Taylor) visiting from Indonesia.

Between us we could boast thirty two children ranging in age from 2 to 16, and a huge variety of careers.”

Victoria Prentis (Boswell, 1989) became MP for Banbury in last May’s General Election. After leaving MGC, she went to Cambridge and London Universities and qualified as a barrister. She practised in the Civil Service for 17 years. Victoria very kindly recorded a message to send to MSJ girls and students from other schools in the area for their Model United Nations

Chantal Lawrence (Murray, 1992) is living in Australia with her husband, and two children. She visited MSJ last Summer and also went to visit former Lindfield Housemistress Mrs Suki Pallett and Suki’s daughter, Jo. Amanda Cleghorn (French, 1994): “I moved to Auckland, New Zealand last year (2014) with my husband and three children. We are looking forward to the summer and I plan to start up my nutrition business again soon. It was lovely to meet up with Annabelle Wooldridge (Smale) who was also living in Auckland when we first arrived and we enjoyed a fun night out with Helen McFarlane who was visiting on business. I have just returned from a wonderful two week visit to the UK, where I caught up with Emma Marfleet (Fray), Flutie Page (Ravenscroft) and Rhiannon Roberts, as well as plotting with Belinda Morrison (Clasen) who travelled from America, to join me in surprising six Old Girls, who had organised an annual reunion weekend. The reactions were priceless, as we surprised (shocked!) Laura Van der Beugel (Smith), Rachel Mostyn (Dobson), Laetitia Clapton (Northmore-Ball), Mary Kwok, Katie Rogerson (Smith) and Jo Pond (Taylor). We were sorry that Henrietta Smith (Pattinson) couldn’t join us, as she has recently moved to Canada. We are all in touch on an almost daily basis via WhatsApp, which has been a lifeline since moving abroad! “

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Emma Padmore (Windham, 2002): Jenny Thomas and Cecily Hewlett attended Emma’s wedding last summer.

Emma Padmore wedding

Amanda Cleghorn and 1994 Leavers

Camilla Finlay (Clews, 1995) responded to our Save the Date email about this year’s Commemoration Service to be held at Worcester Cathedral. She says, “I am the Cathedral Architect of Worcester Cathedral. I will try to be at the service rather than up the scaffolding!” Camilla is a Director of Acanthus Clews Architects.

Lizzie Cook (Carey, 1995) has recently moved to Accra, Ghana, where her husband, a diplomat, has been posted. Lizzie was practising in London as a corporate lawyer, but is currently full-time mother to her young family who she brought along to the Summer Reunion in 2014.

Kate Wilcock (Jenkins, MGC 1996) has gained her first headteacher role at Pitmaston Primary school one of the largest primary schools in Worcestershire – which she started last September.

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2000s 2000s Sarah Stallard (2000) is working as an Independent Financial Adviser. She is looking to organise an Old Girls vs MSJ Lacrosse match in the Autumn 2016 term (Saturday 15 October). If anyone else would like to get involved in this by forming a team or being part of a team, please contact the OGA Office.

Dani Grieveson (2001) came to the Honorary Members Coffee Morning in December. A self-confessed petrol-head, she has been working in TV production and in Events and Marketing in the motor industry. She has returned to Evesham to work in the family business.

Jenny Thomas (2002): Has been in Thailand visiting Pook Nimboonchaj, who has just had her first child.

Eau Freeriks (Vongkiatkachorn, 2002) is expecting a baby in Spring 2016.

Louisa Maynard has recently gone out to Greece to help with Syrian refugees.

Her work was featured in her local newspaper, The Hereford Times.

malvern girls’ college

IN MEMORIAM Mary Arton Baron (Slatter, 1951) in September 2014.

Mary went to the Royal Academy of Music after leaving MGC. In 1973 she married the vicar of West Malvern, the Revd. P. Baron and they subsequently lived in Colwall.

Ursula Bowen (Williams,1949) on April 28 2015 in Oxford. Ursula studied Zoology at St Anne’s Oxford, and went on to teach in schools and colleges, before settling at Oxford Polytechnic as Principal Lecturer in Biology. Her son, Ben, writes, “She instilled many schoolchildren (and adults) with a respect for conservation and ecology through the nature trails she designed at sites such as Chinnor Hill, Coombe Hill, the Warburg Reserve at Bix Bottom, and the Field Studies Centre at Didcot Power Station.”

Margaret Wood (MGC 1960) has informed us of the death of Dr Janet Beynon Elias (Thomas, 1960), following an accident at home in Clapham in April 2014. “Janet started in Hatley St George in 1952, then Mount, School House and Senior. She read Medicine at St Thomas’s, and married John, a surgeon. They had three children, and practised in many places around the globe, including the British Virgin Islands, Seychelles and Saudi Arabia, finally retiring to Clapham Common. Her funeral was attended by myself and five MGC friends. A much loved friend who will be greatly missed.”

Anna Griffin (Rees, 1956) on March 3 2015. Her sister Gillian Rees Johnson (Rees, MGC 1955) says, “Anna died peacefully in France where she has lived for many years, after a long illness, born with great courage.”

Joyce Craufurd-Stuart (Parsons, 1930) on July 29 2015.

Her son, James, writes, “She was very well, and living at home, until a fall three days before she died. The fall precipitated heart failure after two nights in hospital.”

Joan Hill (Coulter, 1944), nicknamed ‘Colt’. Daughter Gail Hill, writes, “She was in Lindfield House. A very good friend of hers (who is my godmother) is Julia Morris – I speak to her still very regularly. In austere times, they seemed to enjoy themselves and make the best of everything.”

Christine Jaeger (1970) wrote of the death of her mother in December 2014, Betty Jaeger (Lind, 1937) and the earlier deaths of Betty’s sisters, former Head Girl Eleanor Meltzer (Lind, 1941) in June 2014 and Helen Hartmann (Lind, 1940) in July 2011.

Vivienne McKenzie (Hore, 1949), on February 28 2015, Old Girl and then Housemistress at MGC, Lawnside and St James’s.

Teresa McMillan Smith, daughter-in-law of of Anne Smith (Taylor, 1938), wrote in to inform us of Anne’s death on September 9, 2015. Anne attended MGC with her sister Wendy, and Teresa says “They loved it. Their parents remained in India for long stretches, so MGC was their home and family for many years. In 1947, Anne met her husband and they emigrated to Canada.

Anne enjoyed the email updates and newsletters from the OGA up until her passing on September 9, 2015”.

Gaynor Farmer (Smith, MGC 1960) informs us of the death of her mother, Joan Smith (Barlow, 1934), who died in May 2015. Joan was in Ryall House and then left College in 1934. She did a Law degree at London University and was called to the Bar in 1940.

Joy Hussey (Humphreys, 1949) wrote, “I wish to report the death of my best friend Heather Watson (Newhouse) who died in Florida, USA, from cancer in late 2014. She was a Day Girl living in Malvern, brilliant at sports and very clever. Her two older sisters were also at MGC. She is survived by her husband Keith and four sons.”

STAFF Margaret Jago on July 20 2015. Margaret was an Honorary Vice President of the Old Girls’ Association and taught at MGC for nearly 30 years. She joined in 1954 as a Biology teacher, and by 1960 was Head of Science. She was also a Senior Mistress and in 1970 became Director of Studies. She retired in 1983 and in the school magazine Hetty Bardsley describes her as ‘a teacher of great distinction. She loved her subject and inspired generations of children and young teachers’.

Joan Roberts in North Wales in June 2015. Joan was a former Geography teacher and an Honorary Vice President of the OGA and a ‘stalwart supporter’. Tricia Wilkinson writes, “She was a lively soul, an excellent and inspirational teacher of her subject. I did Geography for A Level so knew her pretty well and hence we kept in touch all these years”.

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HONORARY MEMBERS

HONORARY MEMBERS NEWS...

Elisabeth Rambridge – former History teacher, Housemistress, MSJ OGA Secretary, and now Archivist – writes: “During the filming of ‘Bargain Hunt’ at Philip Serrell’s, Charles came up and whispered to me – isn’t that Julia Lancucka? And it was, so we had a joyful reunion next to The Benhams which we loved running so much. It is great still to hear from other Deputy Housemistresses – Janet Severn, who always tries to spot Charles (and me!) in Flog It! programmes; from Emma Whalley (Whight) who has 2 children, Katherine Close (Foot) has 2 boys, and Joan George (Taylor), from Hatfield days, has 3 children. They all send hand-written cards. I am the one who cheats by typing. Mind you, I have typed some 20,000 words in support of the Heritage Lottery Fund application for our church. I’m thrilled to have got through the second stage and we’ve been awarded a grant of just under £100,000.

The work is underway and really interesting.

I was delighted to welcome the Ledbury U3A Churches-visiting group led by Ivian Lloyd and showed them a Triangle of Faith round the churches in our benefice. For the Heritage Open Elizabeth (left) on Open Day Days scheme in September, I devised a Diamond of Faith to 4 of the churches. In June, Andrew and I visited the Croatian coast on a cruise starting and finishing at Venice – I simply adored the island of Hvar.

Jane King, Judith Cleever (Davis) and Jane Corfield (Wigley-Smith) and I still find lots to chatter about when we are in touch, and that’s often!”

It is with sadness that we announce the passing of Mrs Siti Jones in January 2016. Siti was mentor, guide and pastoral support to Muslim girls at MGC and MSJ, and a much-loved presence in school. A celebration of Siti’s life was held at MSJ in April.

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Alice Wright (2008) got in touch with the OGA Office to organise a netball tournament with Old Girls and MSJ students. Twenty three girls from five year groups came, as well as parents and Mrs Pallett and Mrs Prophet. More news in the next edition, and on Facebook.

in bespoke fine furniture, fitted interiors and whole project management. I still keep in contact with many people from MSJ and recently returned from skiing with China Drew.”

Hannah Evans (MSJ 2010): “I am living in Bath, currently half way through completing my PGCE to become a primary school teacher with a specialism in Special Educational Needs. I did BA Music. sing for Lucis Choir and was a youth worker for Bath Abbey which involved chorister singing lessons. I have set up staff choirs in schools too.”

Charlotte Mason (2010): Charlotte graduated in 2015 from the Royal Northern College of Music where she is continuing to study for her Masters of Music.

Attributing her inspiration to MSJ’s Mrs Lynne Lindner, Charlotte pursues her two great loves, teaching and music. Charlotte performs professionally throughout the North-West and is currently in a production of Mozart’s ‘Cosi fan tutte’.

Elizabeth Goldblatt (Micklethwait, MGC/ MSJ 2008): Elizabeth Micklethwait married Daniel Goldblatt at Great Malvern Priory on 5th September 2015. Emily Clixby (MGC 2008) and Alice Wright (MGC 2008) were her maids of honour and a number of Old Girls attended the ceremony, including Natasha Brar, Tanya Brar, JJ Bowles, Eidin Crowdy, Laura Helm, Adrienne Lawson and Laura Pay (all MGC 2008), as well as Bruce and Suki Pallett. Ellie and Daniel are currently living in Oxford.

Charlotte Mason

Ellie Micklethwait marries Daniel

Charlie Adeney (2010): “I am currently living in Oxfordshire and working for Hutchinson Furniture and Interiors just outside Chipping Norton as a furniture designer specialising Charlie Adeney

Olivia Bales (2011) : “I recently graduated in November 2015 with a Masters from the University of Westminster in Sport and Exercise Nutrition.”

Becky Fisher (2011): “I’m a medical student at Edinburgh University and an aspiring academic surgeon. Music is still very much in my life! I sing with National Youth

Olivia Bales

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Choir of Scotland and work as a wedding singer and with university a cappella groups.”

Becky is currently writing a book on medical surgery.

Catherine Okey (2012): Catherine graduated from Bristol University with First Class Honours in Music this summer and is now studying Becky Fisher Medicine at The University of Southampton. Keen to continue music alongside her medical studies, Catherine plays the flute in the Southampton University Symphony Orchestra and regularly performs as a soloist in lunchtime recitals.

Catherine Okey with Zara Edwards

Felicity Rogers: Felicity has recently completed her post graduate studies at Birmingham Conservatoire, where she studied on a scholarship with Catherine Benson. Felicity is embarking upon a freelance career and sings with professional ensembles such as Ex Cathedra, Armonico Consort, Delphian Singers and St Chad’s Cathedral Choir.

Recent performances include 2nd Woman in Dido and

Aeneas with Elin Manahan Thomas at Thaxted Festival, and a recording of Alec Roth’s “A Time to Dance” with Ex Cathedra, currently at number five in the specialist classical charts.”

Miranda Mayer (2012) has graduated from Newcastle University in July 2015 with a BA Hons in Geography.

Rosie Baker (2012) was visited by Mrs Chuck at her Cambridge College in the Summer, just before Rosie graduated.

Rosie and Jenni at Cambridge

Sophy Coombes-Roberts (2012) is still very involved with Wales Lacrosse and is hoping to come back to school for a training weekend, and some time spent coaching our current top talent. She wrote to Mrs Woodhouse, “After a short stint coaching lacrosse at Shrewsbury school I have now started my full time job working for Sky Sports.

I love it … It really is the best first job I could ever have hoped for. Jess W has actually taken up my old position at Shrewsbury and I saw all the girls: Jess W, Jess C, Rosie, Cookie and Naomi on New Year’s Eve.” Samara Gannon (2012) has completed her undergraduate degree in Classical Studies at Bristol and has taken up a place at RADA. Kai Yan Siu (2012): “Since applying last year, I was accepted to do Philosophy at King’s, which I was very excited about.

However, news came just weeks before starting that I would not be able to take a second undergraduate degree

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according to some genius changes of visa conditions

by Teresa May! Back to the drawing board, I spent some months in London enjoying time off from institutions (good for the mind!) and am now in Hong Kong.

2014 Leavers Morinsola Reis, Ife Otegbeye and Nanma Agbin came in to talk to Sixth Form about life at Warwick University where they are all studying.

So, now I am writing for a contemporary art magazine— ArtAsiaPacific (a temporary job), writing some freelance news/culture articles and applying for a part-time master in Philosophy at the Chinese University of Hong Kong, where they offer an excellent core program with both Eastern and Western philosophy.

Tamsin Elsey (2012): “This June, I will be graduating in French and Spanish (MA Hons) from the University of St Andrews. I spent last year studying abroad at the Sorbonne and working in Valencia. I have also kept my music up as a choral scholar of the Salvator’s Chapel Choir, as well as singing in the St Andrews Renaissance Singers, Madrigal Ensemble and the Académie de Paris choir.”

Helen Liu and Mrs Lindner

Helen Liu (2013) is a final year BSc Economics student at LSE . She is currently a researcher for the LSE Macro Research Group and continues with her passion for piano and chamber choir. She plans to work in economic advisory after pursuing a MA in Economic Policy.

Sally Au-Yeung and Justine Chan (2014) visited Miss MacDonald. Sally is at Pennsylvania State University reading Accounting and Justine is reading Computer Science at Warwick.

Sally Au-Yeung, Miss MacDonald and Justine Chan

2014 Leavers talk about Warwick University

Briony Harford (2009): Briony completed a BA in Art History at The University of Nottingham. After being awarded the Arts and Humanities Scholarship, she did her MA at Sotheby’s Institute of Art. She worked in several London auction houses, and now leads the Fine Art Department, holding her own specialist sales with a team to support her. She enjoys taking to the rostrum for 8 hours a week as the sole auctioneer for the company.

Lucinda Ellaway-Bell (2014) is making a reputation for herself in University rowing. She won a gold medal at the British Universities Championships in the Durham University First Eight boat. She then went on to row in the Durham University Academic Eight boat at the Henley Women’s Regatta where again she took gold - the first time Durham University have won this race in 13 years! Following these successes Lucinda was selected to represent Durham University as part of the GB Universities Squad at the European Universities Championships.

She is delighted to be part of the GB squad and is looking forward to representing

Lucinda Ellaway-Bell

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Britain in the sport she first had the opportunity to try as part of the Outdoor Pursuits activities offered by Miss Sue Cole at school.

Victoria Gawlik (in yellow coat)

Jenny Avdoi (2015): “Although I only joined St Mary’s College in October, it feels like I have been at Durham University for much longer than several months. Life here definitely never stops - from attending lectures and seminars to playing tennis for my college, spending time with my newly-made friends (and also with some of my fellow MSJ Old Girls) and enjoying various dinners, I always find myself busy. This really is a fulfilling lifestyle, which I enjoy more and more with each new day.”

Rhiannon Cherry (2015) started at Cardiff University in September 2015, reading English Literature.

Victoria Gawlik (2015) hosted a group of MSJ History students when they went up to Oxford in February.

She arranged a Q&A, inviting several other of her undergraduate friends, to discuss life and study at Oxford University.

Natasha Killam (2009) “Since graduating from the Oxford School of Drama I have moved to London and am auditioning lots. I was recently in Birmingham performing at the Blue Orange Theatre and before that was in Edinburgh with two shows. I am delighted to still sing with the Jenny Lind Singers as often as I can!”

Many thanks to Saphie Soros-White (MSJ 2015) who came in to talk at the Sixth Form Experience in October for internal and external Year 11s.

Jenny Avdoi in Durham with friends from MSJ

Kirsty Haines (2015): “I’m currently doing a work placement at Dodderhill School teaching Music, PE and Learning Support.

Additionally I am working towards my flute diploma and I am still aiming to rejoin the Royal Marines in September. My highlight of the year so far has been playing in concert with Birmingham Conservatoire and RM Scotland Band.”

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Caitlin Lavin (2015) came in to see her old teachers and pal Giselle Pearson in the midst of a Christmas break in her gap year in China where she is working as a Teaching Assistant at Malvern College’s Chengdu school.

This Autumn she will take up a place at Coventry to read Spanish.

Saska Ingham (2013) and Elizabeth Rees (2014) joined MSJ girls for The Expose Musicale; a showcase concert which was the highpoint of the Music Department year.

Caitlin Lavin and Giselle Pearson

FROM THE ARCHIVIST

Elizabeth Rambridge, MSJ Archivist writes: “Last year, I wrote about the huge value in the magazines of our member schools. In the very production of the magazines, we see the understanding of forging an identity for the school. School prospectuses are another way in which that identity was promoted.

The earliest prospectuses contained a collection of photographs of buildings; these are especially Ann Parrack with an album from the ‘40s

useful in the case of Malvern Girls’ College for tracing the heritage of the Imperial Hotel. Very quickly, it was realised that schools aren’t simply about buildings, but more about those who people them. This photograph (top right) of an art class at St James’s is a wonderful

teaching of Chemistry in British Independent Schools from 18201920.

Photographs are the most wonderful way to bring the past alive and to be a catalyst for memories. This year in the Archives, I identified my husband Andrew in a school photo of Croftdown in 1953. Muriel Robinson (Potter, MGC 1950) has very kindly given her precious photo album to the Archives: I met her friend Ann Parrack (Talbot, MGC 1950) in Cheltenham to receive the album, and as Ann turned the pages, the memories flowed with clarity and detail.

But as Ann held the album, I reflected too on changing times, and how the ability to touch the past is in some ways receding. I always tell the girls I taught that I remember them by their handwriting. Miss Veronica Owen had a very strong handwriting that many of you will remember. Now I recognise Miss Alice Baird’s signature – we have in the archives her blotter, and her writing case too. Miss Mary Anstruther’s signature on a handilluminated copy of the Vespers brings to mind such a different age.

There was a tradition that House

St. James’s art class

In the research I have done to support the Restoration Project for my church, I have come across the Architectural Red Box Collection that Historic England has released online: https://historicengland.org.uk. Type

Miss Baird’s blotter

in your own area and have a look at this remarkable resource. In our sophisticated age, I never cease to be impressed by the quality of the ‘old’ black and white photographs.

We have been thinking very hard about how to make the Archives accessible and digitisation is an obvious course. If any Old Girls have experience in this field, please get in touch.”

Vespers from the St. James’s archive

example; and a photograph of girls in a science lab at MGC has been shared with Canadian researchers into the

photos were signed on the back and that is the moment to me that the people emerge from the paper.

archives@malvernstjames.co.uk

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SUMMER REUNION 2015 It was a great day of catching up for Old Girls and Honorary Members from all eras, with every decade from the 1940s to the 2000s represented.

The Old Girls made a valiant effort, but the Rounders match was won by Team MSJ.

The OGA Committe

MGC 2005 Leavers

Lynne Lindner, Ros Hayes and Penny Smith

Pat Chaisinthop and Frances Lam

Headmistresses

Maureen Reeve-Tucker and Phyllida Cockell

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Honorary Members Judith Cleever, Brenda Shipman and June Roundhill

SUMMER REUNION 2015

Old Girls versus MSJ Rounders

Amanda & Jenny Thomas

Elizabeth Mullenger, Joy Patten & Alex Surman

MGC 2005 Leavers

Lesley Rhodes & Emily Borrowdale

Tabitha Mahungu & 1995 Leavers

St James’s Group

MSJ’s OGA Prefect India Wilkinson and Head Girl, Elysia Garland

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COMMEMORATION & PRIZEGIVING 2015 We had a great turn-out of Old Girls for Summer 2015’s Commemoration Service at The Priory, followed by lunch in the York Hall and Prizegiving at the Sports Centre. Guest Speaker at Prizegiving was St James’s & The Abbey Old Girl, Deborah Thomas, now an actress, drama teacher, personal coach and business woman with her own company ClassApt. Deborah gave a fantastic speech with a delicious twist of red-carpet glamour.

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COMMEMORATION & PRIZEGIVING 2015

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SCHOOL NEWS

What’s been happening at MSJ The School is currently at 450+ pupils, with an almost equal split between Boarders and Day Girls. We are proud to be able to offer our girls an incredible number of activities to pursue in the classroom and outside of it. First class teaching and a programme of superb enrichment activities make us what we are today. And at our heart is boarding – we are a home from home; a happy, confident school that is coming of age as we approach our first decade.

Studies at Exeter, Law at Bristol, Maths at Imperial, Government and Economics at LSE are just some of the courses our Leavers embarked on. GCSE results were also impressive.

Academic aspiration is one of our hallmarks, and the School offers a vast range of enrichment opportunities to enhance classroom learning.

Girls go to external events to support their academic learning – here Year 10s are at the IBM Blue Fusion event

History and Politics students visited the Supreme Court and Capitol building in Washington; the UN Headquarters in New York, and Gettysburg.

Mrs Woodhouse with Victoria Gawlik, who went up to Oxford to read English

The school is achieving excellent results in public examinations; and just as importantly, getting girls to where they want to be for the next stage of their education. Last Autumn, girls went on to some of the most prestigious universities in the UK – indeed the world – and some of the most competitive courses.

Architecture at Edinburgh, English at Oxford, Mechanical Engineering at Leeds, Psychology at Durham, Classical

MSJ Girls celebrate their GCSE results

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Last year the Lower Ground Floor had a £1 million revamp. The Alice Dining Room has been a huge success, with one big open space which feels light and modern and can accommodate more girls and staff in one sitting.

The Expressive Arts are a big part of School life. Regular productions, Young Performers Platforms, Recitals, Singing and Orchestral bonanzas, Art Exhibitions, specialist workshops and trips to see acclaimed performances are features of the school programme.

SCHOOL NEWS

Last Summer MSJ singers and musicians went to Amsterdam to perform three outstanding productions. Two of the girls were helped by OGA Bursaries.

Another important aspect of the School’s enrichment programme is debating and public speaking, including English Speaking Union competitions, Latin & Greek Reading and Model United Nations.

We are producing excellent sportswomen and several Duke of

English Speaking Union winners with Mrs Chris Shepherd

athletics, swimming, netball and more. Sports BTec results have been exemplary – every girl receiving distinction – for the second year in a row and some girls receive prestigious sports scholarships to UK and US universities.

Music performance in the Abbey Room

Edinburgh’s Awards Gold medal achievers. Mrs Woodhouse and Mrs Sue Cole, D of E co-ordinator, will go to Buckingham Palace in May to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the Awards.

Prep’s Wind in the Willows

Year 8’s Ibble Watson

We have girls playing an unbelievable range of sports at regional, national and international level: skiing, cricket, football, tennis, lacrosse, hockey, sailing, gymnastics,

The Annual Prep production was ‘Wind in the Willows’ and the School production was ‘Mermaid’.

Girls compete at the Latin and Greek Reading Competition at Cheltenham Ladies’ College

Lottie van Praag who went to Exeter on a Sports Scholarship . This year two girls hold offers from U.S. universities with sports scholarships and a further one with an academic scholarship Duke of Edinburgh’s Awards

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SCHOOL NEWS

There is a MSJ Charity Committee which raises significant sums of money for various local, national and overseas projects. The girls who were about to embark on The Gambia Project this Easter limber up with a team bonding weekend (below). They helped with infrastructure projects and more at our sponsored school.

HRH The Duke of Gloucester visited the School in mid-March.

His mother, Princess Alice (then Lady Alice) attended St James’s School.

The Prep department now number over 80 girls and they get up to some really exciting stuff.

Gambia group hug

Year 11s raised over ÂŁ1800 for the Precious Sisters educational charity which supports poor girls through senior school in Kenya.

There is time for fun, too. Reeling at Eton, anyone?

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Prep Girls go Roman for a day

The Good Schools Guide has awarded MSJ for its Food Technology provision at A Level. We were also delighted to welcome Prue Leith to school to officially open the Alice Dining Room this April.

Prue Leith officially opens the Alice Dining Room

SCHOOL NEWS

OLD GIRLS ASSOCIATION TALKS AND WORKSHOPS

Caroline Copeland’s workshop

Dr Caroline Copeland (MGC 2005) came to talk to both Prep and Seniors about her career in research at Imperial College London, and studying Life Sciences at University.

Isobel Williams (Simpson 1960), who has published several books on the subject of the Antarctic Expeditions and Heroes, came in to deliver a very informative Sixth Form Talk about Ernest Shackleton.

Elizabeth Gowing

As we go to press, we are keenly anticipating a talk from Elizabeth Gowing (MGC 1990), author and charity founder, who is based in Kosovo. She will talk to the Sixth Form about the impact of gap year volunteering. Elizabeth’s charity is theideaspartnership.org Later in the year (November 4) we welcome back MGC Old Girl Caroline Lucas MP, the first Green Party MP, and former party leader.

Isobel Williams Caroline Lucas, MP

Isabel Evans with The Law Society Presidents, Louise & Rahama

Isabel Evans (Griffith 1974), Partner in Banking and Finance at Bird & Bird, gave a Law Workshop for would-be lawyers in March. It was very well received and has helped a number of girls currently at School, as well as an Old Girl who is preparing to start the Graduate Diploma in Law.

At the beginning of the School year, medical student Becky Fisher (2011) came in to talk to would-be medics about her experiences at Edinburgh University.

All of the Careers Workshops and Talks are open to Old Girls and their children. Diary dates are usually communicated by email, Facebook and Twitter, and posted on the MSJ website.

We are always interested in hearing from Old Girls who feel that they could offer a talk or workshop at school about their career or university course. Or those Old Girls who might be able to host a presentation and networking event at their organisation.

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THE FOUNDERS’ AWARDS Mrs Woodhouse writes: “As we approach the start of celebrations to commemorate the first decade of Malvern St James Girls’ School, it gives me great pleasure to announce the launch of The Founders’ Awards, a new bursary programme to enable outstanding students to access the excellent educational opportunities offered at MSJ. The Awards are open to girls commencing Sixth Form.

The Awards fulfil MSJ’s long-term ambition to reach more students who would be unable to attend the school, or take part in all aspects of it, without financial assistance. The Founders’ Awards are means-tested and entirely separate to the Scholarship awards which will continue in their current format based on excellence within a particular discipline.

The Founders’ Awards scheme has an annual fund of £20,000 guaranteed for its first two years. The number of Awards given, and the value of each, will be kept deliberately flexible so that we are able to reach the most deserving girls and address their individual circumstances. For example, the fund could be allocated in its entirety in one Award, or it could be divided into two or more Awards. In this way we create something which is bespoke and represents a meaningful contribution to the recipient.

Applications are welcomed from Year 11 girls already at MSJ as well as those currently at school elsewhere.

Awards would be considered for girls currently on another bursary or scholarship award, but who require additional funding; for Day Girls who wish to enrich their educational experience by boarding; for girls currently in Year 11 who need assistance to stay on for Sixth Form; as well as for girls looking to come to MSJ for the first time in either a boarding or a day capacity.

Applications are invited from girls who feel that they can make a real contribution to the academic and enrichment life at MSJ. We are looking for students who will be mentors, role models, and fantastic ambassadors; who will enjoy being part of our community with the aim of taking up a leadership role within it.

This year we have selected two girls, Chloe Parker & Coco Chernel who will benefit from being able to board in Sixth Form as a result of their awards. Chloe and Coco have been through a rigorous selection process which included a written application and a formal interview by a senior panel.

The first Founders Awards will be bestowed formally at the School’s Prizegiving Service on 7th July 2016.

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THE FOUNDERS’ GARDEN “We are continuing to look after the Founders’ Garden with a working party consisting of Elizabeth Mullenger, Val Payne, Isabel Carmichael, Mary Blackshaw, Meg Taylor and me. This autumn we began an onslaught on the alchemilla, but rain stopped play. Elizabeth, who has a plan to brighten the border by the drive, has planted tulips and peonies and hopes to add a small flowering cherry. As I write, the garden looks very smart as MSJ staff have pruned and mulched generously.

We are always grateful for offers of help from Old Girls, and hope that any passing members will drop by for a moment of quiet reflection.

We are very pleased that the Duke of Gloucester planted a commemorative rose for St James’s School when he visited the Garden in March.”

Duseline Stewart, former Headmistress, Lawnside

CHANGING HEADS It is with great sadness that the school will bid farewell to Mrs Patricia Woodhouse at the end of this academic year. She has led the School for the past six years, and created a vibrant, flourishing community, where numbers are up by almost a third.

Trish will take up a post at an all-girls boutique boarding school in Switzerland this September.

Mrs Olivera Raraty BA PGCE has been appointed new Headmistress of Malvern St James, commencing in September 2016. She comes from Notting Hill and Ealing High School in London where she was Deputy Head (Academic) for six years.

Previous to this she has had extensive senior leadership experience in academic and pastoral roles during a long career at Wycombe Abbey School as Head of History and Politics, Head of Year, and Assistant Director of Studies.

We look forward to welcoming Mrs Raraty in September for the next exciting phase of MSJ’s journey.

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oganews spring 2016

DIARY DATES If you would like to attend any of the following events, email us at: oga@malvernstjames.co.uk or call Fiona Meredith on tel: 01684 892288 SATURDAY 16 APRIL 2016 Netball match(es) Old Girls vs MSJ WEDNESDAY 20 APRIL Sixth Form Talk by Elizabeth Gowing (MGC, 1990) SATURDAY 14 MAY AROPS (Association of Representatives of Old Pupils Societies) Conference at MSJ SATURDAY 18 JUNE 2016 Summer Reunion & St James’s Dinner THURSDAY 7 JULY 2016 Commemoration at Worcester Cathedral and Prizegiving with Guest Speaker Tanith Carey (MGC, 1984) AUTUMN TERM 2016 – SUMMER TERM 2017 Ten Years of Malvern St James. There will be various events to celebrate the school’s first decade. More information will be available nearer the time – please check the MSJ website. www.malvernstjames.co.uk SATURDAY 15 OCTOBER 2016 Lacrosse match(es) MSJ vs Old Girls NOVEMBER 4 2016 OGA Lecture: Caroline Lucas MP Time tbc DECEMBER 2016 Honorary Members Coffee Morning FRIDAY 9 DECEMBER Carol Service at Malvern Priory MARCH 2017 Honorary Members Tea Party JUNE 17 2017 Special Ten Years On celebration for the Class of 2007, and all of the Class Groups from the first ten years of MSJ.

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oganews spring 2016

EDITOR’S NOTE There are some very lovely and inspirational aspects to my job looking after the OGA Office.

Particularly the moments when I pick up a letter from an Old Girl who is 101 and working on her second novel; or in her seventies and starting a new business; or taking on a massive physical challenge – be it marathon, triathlon, cross-continent cycle ride – when, to put it delicately, she is past the first flush of youth. This is the way to age, I think: burning brightly all the way, if you possibly can.

Thanks to all of you who write in, or email, or call and tell me these amazing stories. And thanks to some key individuals who have helped gather news from their contemporaries for the News sections of the magazine. Alex Surman (Tams) has helped with St James’s & The Abbey news and Mrs Lynne Lindner with St James’s and MSJ news.

Thanks too to our Guest Speakers over the past year, and those lined up for future dates. It is wonderful to host women at so many different stages of their lives, with such diverse interests, careers and backgrounds. We all benefit enormously from hearing your wisdom.

I look forward to meeting the many Old Girls and Honorary Members (former Staff) who will be coming to the Summer Reunion and the various other talks and events we have lined up. If you think there are things that we

Lucinda Hobden (right) with joint Head Girls Lucy Walton & Nova Yu

could be doing, which would encourage more of you to participate in Reunions, Networking events and OGA workshops, please do tell us what they are. We have some new ideas, but we are always on the lookout for more …

And if you think you would like to organise a Reunion for your year, or House, or one based on an activity (like The Gambia Project, Choir, Lacrosse etc), the OGA office would be very happy to help.

Wishing you all a wonderful Summer and beyond.

Fiona Meredith

It’s my great pleasure to introduce myself as the new OGA and Communications Prefect for academic year 2016-17. My name is Lucinda Hobden and I have been attending Malvern St James since I was in the Prep Department. Now studying A-Levels in English Literature, Latin, French, German and Russian, I plan to go on to study Modern Languages at University next year. When I’m not busy at school, my interests include travelling, going to the theatre, and playing the flute.

OGA SURVEY

Thank you to the almost 300 Old Girls who returned the OGA Survey inserted into the last magazine. It has helped us compile a database of those willing to help with careers advice, interview practice, participate in networking events and more; as well as to build up a better profile of individuals within the Association. The full results were published in the OGA Digital Newsletter in October. We would like to keep our records as up-to-date as possible, and to expand the number of Old Girls participating, so please do visit the MSJ website – www.malvernstjames.co.uk - to fill in an online form, or email us at the usual address.

NETWORKING EVENTS

Do you have a conference room or office space the OGA could use for networking events?

We are keen to host more events in London and other key cities. If you have office space we could use and / or you would be happy to speak on your careers sector, we would like to hear from you.

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oganews spring 2016

OGA SUMMER REUNION 2016 Saturday 18 June at MSJ Order of Events Incorporating a special celebration for the 120th anniversary of the founding of St James’s School and the Ten Years On Celebration for the Class of 2006 from MGC and St James’s School.

Daytime activities are free to all Old Girls. Adult guests are charged at £10 and children at £5. Please ensure that you RSVP in advance so that we are aware of numbers and can cater accordingly.

More information, including online RSVP forms, is available on the MSJ website at www.malvernstjames.co.uk

12 noon

Drinks in York Hall

12.20pm

Headmistress’ Welcome

12.30pm Lunch 1.30pm AGM 2pm

Tours of MSJ building and Houses

Minibuses to de Walden House for tours of grounds and building of old St James’s building

3.30pm

Old Girls vs MSJ Rounders Match at the Sports Centre

4pm

Minibuses back from de Walden House

4.30pm

Tea and Music in the York Hall

5.30pm

Close of day-time activities

Evening - St James’s Dinner A formal dinner to celebrate 120 years since the founding of St James’s School. Tickets, at £30 per head, must be purchased in advance. Tickets include pre-Dinner drinks, four course dinner and champagne for toasts.

6.45pm

Drinks in the Quad

7.30pm Dinner 11.30pm Carriages Dress: Glamorous

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A montage of memories for 2015 Leavers

oganews spring 2016

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@MSJ_OGA

Malvern St James

Call 01684 892288 oga@malvernstjames.co.uk www.malvernstjames.co.uk Malvern St James, 15 Avenue Road, Great Malvern, Worcestershire WR14 3BA