Remembering Joan Blake

Joan Blake née Trumper (OG 1938–1945)

Joan was a pupil at Prior’s Field during the 1940s. She was Head Girl in her last year and made many friends to whom she remained extremely loyal throughout her life. Her father was Chairman of Governors at PF in the 1970s.

Inspired by the art lectures given by her headmistress Beatrice Burton-Brown (Bice), Joan developed a keen interest in paintings and architecture, and enjoyed visits to museums and galleries in groups guided by Bice. She was grateful to Prior’s Field all her life for giving her these opportunities, and used to sponsor PF girls, very generously, to go on similar trips if they could not afford it. It became the Joan Blake Award and is still going to this day. She was a regular visitor to the school on Old Girls’ Day.

Joan was a wonderful hostess in Sherborne, always having her many nephews and nieces to stay, entertaining friends and hosting the annual PF Old Girls’ Reunion in her home. She gave a great welcome to me when I retired to Sherborne in 1992. I frequently enjoyed her hospitality and on my birthday could find a packet of smoked salmon put through my letterbox; typical of Joan’s generosity and thoughtfulness. She also spent much of her time helping to run a charity shop and visiting anyone she knew who was unwell or in trouble.

A devout Christian, Joan would regularly attend services in Sherborne Abbey. When too frail to do so, in her last years, she and three friends had communion brought to them in her home by a curate.

Written by Micky Burton-Brown (Grandson of PF’s second Headmistress, Mrs Ethel Ann Burton-Brown and nephew of its third, Miss Beatrice Burton-Brown)

Thank you to Micky Burton-Brown, who kindly represented the school at Joan’s funeral at Sherborne Abbey on 30th October 2020, during a time of Covid-19 restrictions.

Jo Halford, Archivist, pictured with Joan Blake and Micky BurtonBrown In 2019, the Alumnae Officer and Archivist visited Joan Blake at her house in Sherborne, Dorset. Joan was at PF throughout World War II and remembers watching dog fights overhead from her boarding bedroom window. We were joined by Micky Burton-Brown, who spent much of his childhood at Prior’s Field and his long connection with the school includes serving as a Governor. It was a great honour to talk to both Joan and Micky whose memories, shared with great charm and humour, link us directly to Prior’s Field’s remarkable history.