Making Memories

Documenting memories that were made at Prior's Field is important, so that we can form a picture of what the school was like through the decades. Here are some memories from our Old Girls from the 1950s to the 1970s.

Caroline Shelton née Nicholls

(OG 1953–1956, Former Staff)

I have a photo of Bice at my wedding in 1962, in Chelsea Old Church. She gave us a pair of white Wedgwood ceramic shells which survived seven years in India and thirty in Australia and are now on my dresser in the kitchen-living room here in Saffron Walden, giving me a buzz whenever I look at them.

Jean Le Maitre née Finlay

(OG 1954–1959)

The summer terms were always warm and sunny. It was the term when we swam at the Charterhouse swimming pool, having to run the gauntlet of passing boys as we got to the pool door. I had piano lessons with Miss Bedlington and when music exams loomed, we had ‘fright parties’ where a group of staff listened as we performed our exam programme, presumably with the purpose of it being more alarming that the actual exam!

Christine Lim née Wilkinson

(OG 1959–1963)

I remember…our Headmistress Miss Chinneck, playing tennis on the lawn, lacrosse matches, picking raspberries and gooseberries in the fruit cage, early Sunday morning walks to Compton church, Miss Polanski our Art teacher - which is where I was when the news of President Kennedy's assassination was announced, the gymnasium/hall for daily assembly and, of course, for the dreaded exams!

Rosanna Cameron née Grotrian

(OG 1960–1963)

I, too, travelled to school on the Flying Scotsman and knew Alex Crabbie. After reading her article in Field Notes 2018, I feel a need to salvage the reputation of Miss Le Maitre’s cottage! I spent two terms there and found it rather a sanctuary! I enjoyed being away from the noise of the main school. The tree branches were close enough to the window at the back to see the world of the birds.

Sukey Pullen née Cameron

(OG 1968–1973)

As juniors, we weren’t really allowed in the Rose Garden, but I do remember being in there in the Sixth Form. We were not allowed in the Oak Hall unless we were seeing Mrs Hiles! In the first year, during a Governors’ meeting, we leant over the banisters, smelling the cigar smoke and listening in! Our dorm we called the 'Aquarium' was above the Oak Hall stairs (we were forbidden to use them).