Field Notes 2019 - Prior's Field Old Girls' Magazine

Working for a sustainable future

Natasha Fanshawe visits Antarctica

Head’s welcome

Dear

Alumnae,

I am proud to be the Head here each and every day, but never more so than last year’s Results Day when we were able to celebrate record breaking A-Level successes which put us in the top 2% of all schools for value added at A-Level and saw many of you depart to an astounding array of exciting degree courses (see page 4-5). Higher Education destinations included Imperial College, The Courtauld Institute, Cardiff, Exeter, St Andrews, Nottingham Trent, Manchester and even Iowa University!

The Class of 2019 are sitting their A-Level exams as I write and once again ‘Give Back Day’ brought with it a sea of wonderful thank you cards, hung like bunting across the staff room. In their cards the girls spoke of ‘friendships which will last me a life-time’, and ‘experiences and memories that will be treasured forever’ and the sense of ‘confidence, community and self-belief’ they have gained whilst being here.

It is always very difficult to say goodbye to each cohort, but equally I know that for so many of you, being part of the PF community is life-long and we will see you once again and hear about your continued friendships, memories and on-going achievements through this magazine, the Facebook group and at our many Alumnae events.

Please keep in touch, you will always be a valuable member of this wonderful school community and warmly welcomed every time you visit.

Tracy Kirnig Head

I was pleased to notice an overarching theme for this year’s Field Notes.

It happened quite by chance that I should receive so many fascinating articles from Old Girls demonstrating their sustainable input, whether it be in their work or home-life. We will be hearing from Natasha Fanshawe (OG 1987–1993) who has started up a sustainability network, I interviewed Jill Cole (OG 1946–1951) who lives organically in a community on 70 acres of land in Suffolk, and Diana Watson (OG 1999–2004) who is taking a year to learn about how the social enterprise and impact investment sector works in Asia. It ties in nicely with what the school is doing to raise environmental awareness, save money and empower our girls.

This is the first year, since it’s inception in 1909, that the Old Girls’ Magazine has been sent in anything other than an envelope. Not only does this fit a lot better with my budget, but more importantly, we are being kinder to the environment. The compostable poly has no polythene and is fully sustainable - you can even use it in your food waste bin!

We can be so proud of what Prior’s Field Old Girls have gone on to achieve, with varying careers ranging from artists, biologists, fire breathers, investment managers, teachers, pilots and so much more.

I would also like to reflect on our Old Girls who are no longer with us. Having attended a number of OG funerals this year, I was heartened to hear that Prior’s Field meant so much to them, with the theme of Admiration, Hope and Love running through their services. I hope you enjoy Field Notes 2019 and as ever, I look forward to meeting more Old Girls in the coming year.

Polly Murray (OG 1995–2000) Alumnae Officer

Prior’s Field Alumnae @pfalumnae

Prior’s Field School Alumnae

GSA Girls’ Boarding & Day School 11–18

Prior’s Field, Priorsfield Road, Godalming, Surrey, GU7 2RH

Brave New World One year on...

Bethan Hone: University of Exeter, History

I’m studying History at the University of Exeter’s Penryn Campus in Cornwall. This campus was the best choice for me. Like most things in life, this year has had its ups and downs, and has certainly been a whirlwind, but as the weather improves and we are finally treated to some good old Cornish sunshine, Penryn is a fantastic place to be. Adapting to uni was a really hard thing for me, but I filled my time with extra-curricular activities which have now become the centre of my social life. Next year, I will be on society committees for two choirs and the orchestra and I plan to take up paddle-boarding. My course was the easy part; the jump from A-Level was noticeable, but not horrendous, and I have a solid group of friends. I worried I would struggle to make friends as close as those I had during my time at PF. That’s true to a certain extent, but I seek out the people who make me happy.

Class of 2018 Year group Ambassador

Flora Hickman: University of St Andrews, History and Arabic

My first year at the University of St Andrews has gone quickly. There have been challenges, but I have learnt a lot over the year. Relatively quickly, I felt that I had made the right decision and that St Andrews was somewhere I belong. I have met friends from across the world, taken part in crazy traditions, and been a part of a place where people actively look to try new things. Taking up kayaking has been a great part of my university experience and has allowed me to see some amazing parts of Scotland. My degree subject has presented some exciting opportunities, such as the prospect of working in a refugee camp in Lebanon next summer. Starting a new language has been challenging, especially alongside adjusting to fewer contact hours and the reading load for history, however, it has been equally inspiring to have the time to work out what I am passionate about and to be taught by experts in their field. Next year I will be moving out of halls and into a house with five others. I am especially looking forward to joining the dance performance team, exploring the highlands and developing my interest in Middle Eastern and Islamic history.

We caught up with four of our newest PF leavers who gave us the low-down of year one at university.

Holly Giles: Cardiff University, Biomedical Science

It’s hard to summarise such a rollercoaster of emotions, experiences and events in a single paragraph but uni is going really well! I love my course and I find learning about the human body completely fascinating; something I’m sure was planted there by Mrs Allen or Mrs Ali! Owing to this, I have chosen anatomy to be my path of specialism next year. Learning at university is very different to A-Levels and it took me a while to acclimatise to this new style, but I am lucky to have amazing lecturers and a lovely group of course friends. Outside of my studies I am in the yoga society, a university choir and a community book group. I also write science articles in the weekly student newspaper and it has been a real achievement to see my work in print. I love being in Cardiff and experiencing all the joys of a city. Next year will be similar, except I will be living in a house with four other girls. I think we are all very excited by the prospect of having a sofa and TV!

Class of 2018 Year group Ambassador

Maya Tanfield: Imperial College London, Biological Sciences

The course has been demanding so far, but I have also found it rewarding. It certainly helps that the lecturers are great, and my course friends are all so lovely.

I have been living in halls in Paddington, which is the perfect distance from campus and I get to walk through Kensington Gardens every morning, which is not a bad commute! Next year, I’ll be moving into private accommodation with several friends, so the house hunt is on. In my second year, I get to select elective modules for my course, and I’m planning on studying

Bacterial Physiology and Immunology. I also intend to do a Business module for course credit, and continue learning Japanese for extra-credit.

I began playing rugby in the spring term, having not played before, but both the sport and the women’s team are brilliant, and I look forward to exploring more societies next year.

All Work and Some

Play!

We know how hard our PF leavers are working, but do they have time to relax outside of their courses?

Sarah Humphrys (OG

2006-2009)

I took up swing dancing as a club on the side of my course at university. University of Bristol, Archaeology and Anthropology

Jo Scott (OG

2005-2012)

Although I'm not on a campus, as I’m studying for a Master's degree in counselling and psychotherapy, I teach yoga in a secondary school in Central London providing de-stress sessions during exams.

Maddie de Ferrer (OG

2008-2013)

I am part of the Law Society and I am also a member of Norwich Canoe Club. I have some quite big kayaking races coming up later this year. University of East Anglia, Law

Helena Traill (OG

2007-2015)

I do freelance graphic design on the side mainly, plus cycling, painting and horse riding. Central Saint Martins, Graphic Communication Design

Bethan Lloyd (OG

2015-2017)

I play five aside football with my friends, but I will be trying for the university's girls' football team next year. Anglia Ruskin, Biomedical Science

Georgie Savage (OG

2010-2017)

Over the two years, I have been a part of the biology society, tennis club and Bodysoc fitness society. University of Exeter, Biological Sciences

Toyin Dairo (OG

2014-2016)

In my 2nd year I was the President of Warwick's Hip Hop Dance Society and now I’m just an active member. Outside of my degree I attend classes and film dance covers with other members of the society. Warwick University, Biomedical Sciences

Eliot Hancock (OG

2010-2017)

Outside of my course, I volunteer with MindOut, an LGBTQ+ mental health service as a fundraising volunteer. I love it because the work we do makes me feel like I'm making a difference. University of Brighton, Social Sciences

We live by Admiration, Hope

Archive Project

Prior’s Field Launch First Online Archive

After months of work and liaison with industry leader SDS Heritage, we are proud and excited to announce that the Prior’s Field Archive Online has been launched and is now available for you to see.

archive.priorsfieldschool.com

Old Girls and the wider community are now able to search approximately 5,000 pages of key Prior’s Field publications which have been digitised, including the Prior’s Field Magazine, Old Girls' Magazine, and newsletters.

We plan to add more to the Archive Online in the coming months, including the wonderful larger format photograph albums, which many of you will remember, as well as the whole school photographs right up to the current day.

Following the launch of Archive Online, we would welcome any feedback from you, our users from the PF Community and we hope you will enjoy delving into the school’s past as much as we have.

Leonard Huxley portrait conservation

Thanks to a generous donation from Old Girl Melanie Munk née Bosanquet (OG 1960-1965) we have been able to engage a specialist conservator to clean and restore our magnificent John Collier portrait of Leonard Huxley (1860-1933).

Leonard Huxley was the husband of Prior’s Field’s founder, Mrs Julia Huxley. He worked very closely with Julia when she established the school, and remained involved as a director for many years following her death in 1908. Leonard’s second wife, Rosalind, also became a director. She commissioned the painting and bequeathed it to Prior’s Field in 1994.

John Collier (1850-1934), one of the most important portrait artists of his time, was also a member of the Huxley family. He married Leonard’s sister Marian in 1879 and, following her death, his youngest sister, Ethel, became Collier’s second wife in 1889. His daughter Joan was one of Prior’s Field’s first pupils.

The conservation work was carried out by Sally Marriott at the Watts Gallery in Compton. The gallery’s proximity to the school provided a unique learning opportunity for a keen group of PF History of Art scholars, who were able to visit Sally in her workshop, and observe a real specialist in action.

The portrait now hangs pride of place above the Oak Hall stairs, with Leonard looking resplendent in his red St. Andrew’s robes, which are now particularly vibrant following the restoration.

The legacy of Miss Dickie

These beautifully illustrated pages are from a commemorative book intricately painted by Miss Dickie, the art mistress, on the occasion of the School's Golden Jubilee celebrations in 1952.

The retirement of Beatrice BurtonBrown coincided with the Golden Jubilee, and the book was presented to her to mark the occasion. The names of Old Girls who contributed to Miss Burton-Brown's retirement fund are listed in beautiful script, and the margins are finely illustrated with vibrant sketches of the chief activities of the school through its first 50 years.

Miss Mary Dickie, known universally at “Potts” came to Prior’s Field in the early 1930s. She quickly immersed herself in school life, accompanying trips, directing dramatic productions, and even becoming Commandant of the Girls’ Training Corps during World War II. She stayed for nearly 25 years.

Generations of Prior’s Field girls were inspired by Miss Dickie’s enthusiasm for her subject and outright talent as an artist. Ann Hechle (OG 1952–56) remembers:

“What was so outstanding about ‘Potts’ was that she really believed that art mattered and therefore that was present in what she was teaching. There was an integrity there and a commitment - and perhaps it’s that that the young pick up on.”

Ann was so inspired by Miss Dickie that she has made a successful career as a calligrapher.

We would love to collect more memories of Miss Dickie. Please do write and tell me about her art lessons and how she inspired you.

archives@priorsfieldschool.com

Your Treasures

Since the last Field Notes was published we’ve received a steady stream of new material to the archive, each item unique and valuable in its own right. So far in 2019 we have received the following:

Penny Hawker née Dening (OG 1959–1964) donated her sought after ‘Viktoria’ lacrosse stick made by T S Hattersley & Son of Manchester, which had previously belonged to her mother, Joy Dening née Bond (OG 1935–1940), along with some wonderful photographs of Prior’s Field from her family’s albums.

Carolyne Hepworth-Smith née Hepworth (OG 1963–1966) sent us her school reports, letters sent home to parents and other documents relating to her time at PF. The letters provide a fabulous insight into life at school in the 1960s - Beatlemania and all!

Jill Benthall née Hechle (OG 1950–1953) sent us photographs from her PF album. The school has also had lovely correspondence with Jill’s younger sister, Ann Hechle, who was so inspired by art mistress Mary Dickie.

Micky Burton-Brown provided digital copies of documents and photographs relating to his family, including Beatrice Burton-Brown’s moving, handwritten memories of her mother, Ethel Ann.

Diana Dudley-Williams née Duncan (OG 1961–1965) kindly gave us copies of her uniform list, timetable and class lists when we met her at the West Sussex Lunch in May 2019.

We are very grateful to all of our donors.

How can you help?

We would be most grateful for any feedback of our newly launched Archive Online. Please get in touch with our archivist, Jo Halford: archives@priorsfieldschool.com

A Trip Down Memory Lane

Daphne Lakes Snapshot of life at PF in 1941

I arrived at Prior’s Field in May 1941 when I was thirteen-and-a-half. This was not the best age to be changing schools, but there were several other new girls there around the same age and we were all there due to different circumstances caused by the war. The required uniform was a grey pleated tunic, grey aertex ‘bloomers’, white blouses, a light grey Harris Tweed suit (for best) and a green, red and white striped tie. Clothes were all rationed so these took precious coupons. So some items were new, the others were purchased at school, where leaving girls had left items in good condition to be bought coupon free by new girls. I found myself sharing a room with Veronica

Ashley-Cook (pictured), she had come from another boarding school but her parents wanted her closer to home. She and I remained friends throughout our lives until she passed away a few years ago. This was before the days of modern fabrics and luggage. We would arrive with a small suitcase and our old-fashioned trunks would be picked up at the station and put in the gym. One of the first things we did on the first day was to unpack, making several trips to our bedroom.

Miss Burton-Brown (Bice) was the Headmistress, with about 110 pupils. We were all boarders, except for a few who lived close by and

the original buildings. Not many women went to university then but all the teachers had been. They wore their gowns flowing around them all the time and if one came towards you in a passageway, we had to flatten against the wall to let them by! There were only about 20 girls in each class so we had a bit of individual teaching. You were assigned a place in the dining room and if I remember rightly, it was with your own class. The food was put on plates and then served at the tables. Every meal started with Bice saying “Lord be our guest at all times.”

Friends of Prior’s Field

I was keen to meet new people as well as stay in touch with the school community of other parents when my daughter Louisa left. It was made easy from the various events PF put on throughout the year. My role of Friends’ Ambassador is to act as a figurehead for the group and to spread the word about what it means to be a PF ‘Friend’. I am so pleased to report that since last year’s Field Notes magazine, we have had many more former parents sign up to become ‘Friends’. Friends aren’t just former parents, but anyone with a connection to the school.

We have now introduced a brand new event, the Alumnae & Friends' Tennis Tournament and BBQ, scheduled on Sunday 21st July 2019 at 10:30. Players of all standards are welcome, as well as spectators who just want to cheer from the tramlines and enjoy a delicious barbeque. Please see details on page 15.

I look forward to meeting you at an event soon.

Carolyn Boersma

If you would like to join us and receive news about Friends of Prior’s Field please contact our Alumnae Officer, Polly Murray friends@priorsfieldschool.com

In May 2018, we

Reunions

Joanna Mahtani and friends caught up over dinner. Front left to the back: Clare Cormack née Prideau (1989), Joanna Mahtani née Hickey (1987), Emma Anstee, Jessica Dobbs (1989), Helen Spice. Back right to the front: Sarah Cregeen née Pickvance (1989), Charlie Williams née Davies (1986), Anthea Williamson (1988), Pernille Stafford (1987), Calie Pitts-Tucker (1989).

It was a dream for Lucy Clark née Brownlow-Smith (OG 1998–2002) to spend time with Casey Dickson née Lee (OG 2001–2002) and her family in Australia in January 2019.

Hayley/Hails Wilson née Kirker (OG 1984–1988) is appealing for school friends to join her for their 30 year Sleepover Reunion in October 2021. Please get in touch with Polly Murray if you would like to reconnect and join the sleepover event.

We

live by Admiration, Hope and Love

The class of 1978 were reunited after 40 years at their Sleepover Reunion in October 2018.

Class friends Amanda Anstee née Mitchell (OG 1984–1989) and Grace Lam reunited in Hong Kong after at least 25–30 years!

Our youngest Old Girls at their Recent Leaver Christmas Drinks 2018 at the Inn on the Lake. All of them were back from university for Christmas.

welcomed Old Girl Khursheed Khurody (OG 1979–1983), her sister Shenaiya Day née Khurody (OG 1979–1984) and their father from India during their visit to the UK. This turned into an impromptu reunion for 15 additional Old Girls of their year group. The school chefs made every effort to impress with a specially made shortbread dusted with cocoa to form PF’s much-loved crest (pictured).

Pam Rash (OG 1948–1954) and friends met in Ginny Stack's garden in June 2018. (L-R) Virginia Stourton née Hordern, Rosemary Hurry née Hoskyns-Abrahall, Ann Keddie née Wilkinson, Pam Rash née Bourne, Barbara Henry née Davey, Judy Jenks née Edwards, Minette Hunt née Shepard, Mairi Inglish-Jones née Owen, Virginia Stack née Todd, Sue Turner née Shaw, Belinda Milne née Brooks.

Cover Story And the Future?

When I left Prior’s Field, I had no idea what I wanted to do but I did enjoy languages so that’s what I studied at university. My Spanish flourished, first on my year abroad at Salamanca University, then trekking around Peru. By then a fluent Spanish speaker, I found a job as a tour guide, and also met my now husband, Peruvian author, Gunter Silva. The tour guiding led me to run a couple of trips in Patagonia just after Gunter and I were married, and we started our honeymoon in the world’s southernmost city, Ushuaia. From that moment, my dream of visiting Antarctica became a vague possibility and I finally made it in November 2018 when I was given the opportunity to volunteer with 4 Deserts, a company that organises ultramarathons in deserts around the world, Antarctica being the coldest of them all.

Antarctica was everything I expected it to be. Travel companies operating down there are doing everything they can to keep the landscape pristine, by not allowing food on land, by talking to visitors about the beauty and fragility of the landscape, and the importance of keeping it that way. Much of what we do there should, and could, be implemented back home: being aware of all the rubbish we produce, the air we pollute, and the water we contaminate can help to change the way we do things. After a week of looking at pristine white and blue in the never-ending landscapes, I was interested to see how I’d react to the green, grey, colourful landscapes back in the real world. The planet is currently suffering with humans’ overconsumption, but Antarctica is still a beautiful, beautiful place…with penguins! I realise the irony of trying to live sustainably and minimising my impact on the planet, while visiting a fragile landscape about as far away as you can get from anywhere but it was definitely an inspiring trip.

And The Future?

I took a leap of faith three years ago and left the comfy world of full-time employment to work on things that aligned more with my values. I set up Light Style Space, a decluttering business, and joined a Start-Up accelerator run by Escape the City where I met Lisa Matzi (pictured left). Her deeply rooted belief that we can all do something to live more sustainably was voiced during a conversation between us, and we decided to team up and create a platform to inspire everyone who wanted to join our mission. And The Future? was born.

And The Future? was set up to share what we have learned from consciously making sustainable choices. We discovered a different way of living that didn't just support a more sustainable economy but also made us more resourceful, grateful and happier along the way. And we want to inspire others to do the same and feel like they have a say in what the future will look like. We believe our opinions won't change the world but our actions will.

Starting the And The Future? six week online bootcamp on the UK's Earth Overshoot Day* (2 August 2017), we emailed subscribers three challenges every week based around a different topic each time.

MV Plancius arriving at Danko Island.

About 6 layers of clothing. Cold but happy.

Natasha Fanshawe (OG 1987–1993)

Here are three of those challenges. It’s not about a few people doing everything to change the world, it’s about all of us doing something.

How is PF Helping?

Prior’s Field has followed the EcoSchools award scheme for several years. We are part of the work that schools across 67 countries are doing to improve

school environments.

Challenge 1: Plastic Free

Carry out a plastic audit in your bathroom and kitchen. How much plastic do you have? When you finish the bottles of products, change to plastic free alternatives. For example, swap shower gel and shampoo for soap and a shampoo bar.

Each form has an Eco Rep and an Eco Committee that meets throughout the year and every year the girls carry out an environmental audit, which then feeds into our action plan for the following year. This year our key focus is on waste, energy and litter. We have made great strides in reducing our plastic waste, in particular, helped by our catering team who have been fantastic in supporting our initiatives. We no longer purchase single use plastics.

Food waste is collected and weighed each lunch time. The fourth form girls have recently promoted our first Zero Food Waste day and we hope that this will be a termly event to keep the issue of food waste on everyone’s agenda. The School Council have also been researching the benefits of a possible ‘Meat-Free Monday’ strategy.

Challenge 2: Food Waste

Compost! Food that goes into the normal bin doesn’t break down properly and produces methane (a gas more potent and harmful than carbon dioxide) in the process. This does not happen on a compost heap and instead your food scraps turn into nutrient-rich humus that you can use on your garden.

Recycling paper is something that everyone now takes for granted. We have a blue sack recycling scheme and form reps organise their forms to empty them regularly.

A group of First Form girls chose to focus on ways to reduce our energy use. Their new 'switch off the light' signs are now all over the school and aim to make people think about conserving energy, day-to-day.

Creating a buzz at school

Challenge 3: Green Energy

Switch to a sustainable energy supplier. It may only take five minutes and allows you to invest in renewables instead of fossil fuels. Check out Bulb and Good Energy

For more challenges visit www.andthefuture.com and subscribe to our newsletter!

*Earth Overshoot Day is the day in the year when our consumption of the planet's resources is exceeding nature's capacity to regenerate them. It falls on 29th July 2019 in the UK.

We live by Admiration, Hope and

Maintenance Manager Nigel Swansborough (pictured with Head) has introduced two bee hives to Tracy Kirnig’s garden, helping to pollinate the fruit trees in the Rose Garden. His plan is to start a Bee Club, involving the girls, educating them to conserve our natural environment. Honey is a bonus!

Three bees painted by Miss Dickie (see page 7) representing the initials of third headmistress, Miss Beatrice Burton-Brown

Interviews

I met Jill Cole over the phone and Grace Lam by email for these interviews and it was fascinating to hear about their contrasting lifestyles. Jill has lived in Old Hall Community in Suffolk since the 1970s, and Grace is keeping up with the Chinese fashion hustle and bustle.

Jill Cole née Le Neve-Foster

(OG 1946–1951) Old Hall Commune

How did you get introduced to the community lifestyle?

I got into this life unexpectedly; it was a turn of fate. I was studying Sociology and Politics as an Open University course and we’d often meet in a local pub. One guy who was not in the usual group talked about a community which was being set up a few miles away.

Describe what living in a commune means to you.

I have lived at Old Hall since 1975. I suppose we were pioneers at the time. Old Hall, an organic farm, is one of the oldest and most well established and with renewed interest in ecological issues and climate change. Residents enjoy the outdoor life. We have our own water supply from a borehole and we have photovoltaic solar panels. We grow most of our food and care about the environment. Community life keeps you fit; I am 84 and I am up at 6am most mornings to milk our cows by hand and cook for 30 plus people, two or three times a week.

What is it like for a child to be part of a commune?

It’s great for children, I came here with my four. They learn what it is like to live healthily, organically where possible and there is no hierarchy. The children have a nice relationship with adults and get involved in jobs outside of school, although there are not many children now; eight altogether.

How is it decided who can live at Old Hall?

People find out about Old Hall via the website and often people write in asking to visit for six months. During that time we get to know them and vice versa. All decisions are made by consensus. We get a lot of interest from young families which is just as well, as some of us are getting on a bit!

What is private and what is shared?

One reason we’ve been successful is that we have our own space. I have a big sitting room with three bedrooms to accommodate family and visitors. Some people have private bathrooms but the majority share. We share a great big kitchen and eat food together. We eat outside a lot. We mostly get on together but with any groups there are occasional conflicts, but on the whole we are one big family.

What is your stand out memory from Prior’s Field?

Do people have jobs outside of the commune?

Most people have part-time paid employment outside the community. We have teachers, doctors, lawyers; a variety of jobs. Some people take on roles within Old Hall whether it be secretarial or looking after the accounts. I’ve worked in a school but I’m retired and there is a lot of work to do – farming and vegetable growing takes a lot of time!

Our Headmistress ‘Bice’ as she was known, was frightening and called all of us her ‘creatures’. We were so grateful for her art lectures. They were so special and something other schools just didn’t offer. In my day at PF, everyone was a boarder and I think that sharing life with others back then has helped me be a good community member now.

You can find out more about Old Hall by visiting www.oldhall.org.uk

“I am 84 and I am up at 6am most mornings to milk our cows by hand and cook for 30 plus people.”

Grace Lam (OG 1986–1991)

Former Senior Fashion Style Editor at Vogue China

What career path took you to Vogue China?

I was studying a Graphic Design degree at Central Saint Martins in London where I met Terry Jones, the Founder/ Creative Director of the iconic i-D magazine. Terry saw my potential as a fashion stylist, so I started interning at i-D. Soon after, I met the fashion-director-at-large, Edward Enninful (who is now at British Vogue as Editor-in-Chief) and I became his fashion assistant for a few years. We worked with fashion talents such as Kate Moss and Naomi Campbell, so it was an eye-opening experience and I learnt a lot. Vogue China then approached me to help launch the magazine as their Senior Fashion Style Editor, so I moved from London to Shanghai/Hong Kong.

What was your vision for Vogue China magazine?

At Vogue China I styled celebrities and models. I have a great eye for putting clothes together and would always think of different ways to revamp someone’s style. When I styled China’s most popular pop singer Chris Li Yu Chun, I made her break out of her comfort zone and recreate her whole image. She is one of China’s most stylish icons who collaborates with brands like Givenchy and Gucci.

Describe your job now as a Fashion Director.

It’s hectic! I start early, preparing my five year old son, Theo, for school. If I have a fashion shoot then my day usually starts around 6am or 7am. I also do personal shopping and styling for private clients and collaborate with fashion brands for VIP store events. I started my Instagram/Youtube channel @gracelamStyle and each month my husband Jason Capobianco and I produce video content to inspire others. It’s not easy being a working mum as there’s never enough time to do everything but I am a super organised person.

© JC

Was life at Vogue China as glamorous as we would imagine?

Yes and no. It always seems more glamorous as an outsider, but fashion people are quite dramatic! I tend to be realistic and practical about things. When you work with supermodels, celebrities and creatives you deal with lots of egos and need to know how to read people well to work in harmony.

Did you feel the pressure to always look the part and wear the most fashionable clothes every day?

Not really as I like to dress up anyway. If you don’t dress well or try to look presentable then how can you convince people you are good at your job? I don’t only wear big designer brands, but I like to mix and match designer clothes with high street and vintage items.

How does the Asian fashion market compare to the UK?

In Asia retail business, people tend to go for big brand names whereas in the UK people are quite diverse and have no problem wearing vintage clothes. For me it’s very important to recycle and live an eco-lifestyle.

What are your top five wardrobe essentials?

A pair of black skinny jeans, cute colour ankle socks, a pair of cool sunnies, any statement jewellery and a nice handbag.

What is the best piece of advice you could give a stylist starting out in the industry?

You cannot get to the top without working hard.

Follow Grace on Instagram: @gracelamStyle

We live by Admiration, Hope and

Grace styled the HK/China style-icon and actress Maggie Cheung

© Wing Shya

We Old Girl Visitors

"We

We met Old Girl Ging Langer (OG 1973–1977) and family, who came to visit from America.

Prior’s Field Old Girls’

Sirinapha Vajrabhaya (OG 1969–1971) visited during a trip to the UK from Thailand.

Aya Tanikawa (OG 2005–2007) on a trip to UK from Japan with former EFL teacher, Cherry Gay.

We welcomed back our Old Girls, who spoke about their careers so far, to inspire our current girls.

Senior Marketing Executive Maddie Martin-Binks (OG 2005–2012) came in to do a talk for pupils.

saw the famous red Cope at Compton Church which looks remarkably fresh after all these years."

Sue Coombe (OG 1957–1962) (right).

Khursheed Khurody (OG 1979–1983) visited from Mumbai (see page 9).

Caroline Underwood OBE (OG 1974–1981) was presented with the Old Girl of the Year Award during Speech Day 2018.

Karen Ng and Patricia Wong (OG 2013/14) on a tour during a visit from Hong Kong.

Holly James and Katherine Gough (OG 2008–2015) had a tour during the PF Christmas Fair.

Susie Leonard (OG 1965–1968) came to PF for a tour of the school. Susie was the first American girl to attend Prior's Field.

The Tennis Tournament went ahead in the form of a BBQ despite being rained off!

Amy Formstone (OG 1998–2005) came in to talk to the girls about being a Patient at Risk of Resuscitation Nurse.

Angie Coen (OG 1985–1992) and family on a visit from Ireland.

Catherine Gray née Valentine (OG 1994–2000) visited PF and was impressed by the sports facilities.

Sheila Kuo (OG 2005–2008), visited PF from Taipei.

You Asked, We Listened

New event: PF Connections

Thank you to everyone who filled out the questionnaire that was sent out at the end of last year. Your detailed responses allowed us to make decisions about new events based on your requests.

Thanks to School Governor, Hazel Morris née Dyson (OG 1968–1972), we were able to host our very first PF Connections networking evening, as asked for by you, at the prestigious Knight Frank Global Headquarters in Baker Street, London. Opened by Old Girl of the Year Winner 2018, Caroline Underwood OBE (OG 1974–1981), Old Girls of all ages and stages of their careers came together to talk about how they got to where they are and to give advice to the younger ‘Old’ Girls!

The format of the evening was conducive to mingling, with a number of short talks, including CV Writing (Hazel Morris, 1972), Networking (Lindsay McLoughlin, 1981), Social Media (Sue Llewellyn, 1977), Franchises (Virginia Stourton, 1954), PR & Events (Rebecca Templeton, 1991) and Technology (Alix Chan, 2002). All key areas for those starting or wanting to develop their careers.

A wonderful group of OGs were at the event with varying careers: Senior Formula 1 Coordinator, Declutterer, Trainee Assistant Underwriter, Retail Buyer, Letting & Sales Property Agent, students and many more.

Thank you to everyone who came to our first event of its kind and contributed to what was a very informative, enjoyable evening. The feedback you have given will be incorporated into next year’s event.

Congratulations to Rosie Capps, (OG 2007–2014), who has secured a graduate scheme with Knight Frank in Baker Street having completed an internship last summer. These are highly sought after positions, with rigorous competition, requiring a serious approach in building up a strong CV whilst at university.

Old Girl Focus Groups

We hosted three Focus Group sessions; one in the Pepperpot in Godalming and two in Southbank, London. The small but perfectly formed groups gave us an insight into events and communication preferences from our Old Girls themselves. They were invaluable sessions for us and hope that our OG volunteers enjoyed shaping the future of the Alumnae programme.

Events 2019

Tennis Tournament & BBQ

Heritage Open Day

Saturday 14th September 2019, 10am–3pm The school will open its doors to the public during the national event. Come for a self-guided tour with experts in each room of interest, focussing on our original Arts and Crafts features.

1990 Sleepover Reunion

18–19th October 2019

If you left PF in 1990, please join Jo Curtis née Comfort and friends. Booking: www.trybooking.co.uk/4209

Recent Leaver Drinks

Wednesday 18th December 2019

Did you leave PF in 2017, 2018 & 2019? It’s time for your first reunion at The Inn On The Lake! Gather up your school friends and meet in your uni holidays. First drink on us!

We live by Admiration, Hope and

OG Visits

Still living by Admiration, Hope and Love: Joan Matheson at 100

In March 2019, Alumnae Officer Polly Murray went to visit centenarian Winifred ‘Joan’ Matheson née Heaton (OG 1931–1936) at her home in Macclesfield. Joan shared her wonderful memories with Polly about life at Prior’s Field in the 1930s and her incredible wartime service.

Joan joined Prior’s Field in the third form in 1931 from Stratford House School, Bickley, Kent. Not knowing anyone else, she chose a single room on arrival but soon made firm friends with Rosemary Wynn-Jones; they shared a room for the rest of their school days and were always known as ‘Roey and Joey’. Joan went on to spend many happy summer and Easter holidays with Roey and her family and they remained lifelong friends.

Joan remembers that girls changed their clothes infrequently, other than knicker linings which were changed once a week! They also made the linings in needlework for their sister school in London, which looked after children with health conditions and disabilities. Joan was paired with a little girl called Vera Porter who suffered from a serious heart condition. Despite her health problems, Vera’s mother encouraged her to go on visits with Joan to the zoo, wanting her to enjoy her life as much as she could.

As can be viewed in the footage held in the school’s archive, Joan remembers participating in Greek dancing for the two annual garden summer parties Prior’s Field put on for parents. She particularly loved playing lacrosse, and captained the team; she thinks she may have made herself unpopular

by organising pre-breakfast runs for team members to increase their fitness levels! She also remembers swimming at Charterhouse but all the boys were kept well out of sight! The girls were often warned by Miss Burton-Brown to keep away from the ‘edges and hedges’ in case any Charterhouse boys were loitering! On Sunday afternoons, Joan had an arrangement with one of the ‘Stop me and buy one’ ice cream boys as she was very partial to ices. Unfortunately for Joan, Miss Burton-Brown cottoned on to this and changed the time of writing letters home to coincide with the boy’s visits: Joan lived in dread of the boy walking up to the front door and asking if Joan Heaton wanted an ice!

In 1935, Joan joined one of the coveted Art History trips to Italy, taking in Florence, Assisi and Rome, along with Beatrice Burton-Brown (‘an excellent headmistress’), Miss Dickie (who had a lisp) and Miss Wales. Joan’s photograph collection includes her visiting the Palazzo Vecchio, taking a siesta in an olive grove, seeing the Pope at St Peter’s and an incredible shot of Mussolini making a speech from a balcony. To get a good view, the girls had taken breakfast at a nearby café, getting there especially early. Disappointingly for them, Mussolini’s guards moved all the crowds much further back when he arrived.

Right – Gwen, Miss Dickie, Marion, Maro, Rosemary, Miss Burton, self, Miss Wales – Assisi

Far right – Enjoying The Italian Art trip in April 1935 – Fonti del Clitunno

After being Head Girl, Joan was presented at court in 1936 and travelled in Britain and Europe with friends and family before war broke out on her 21st birthday. She joined the Land Army but found working on her father’s farm deeply unsatisfying, as no one would really let her do anything. Encouraged by a friend to ‘try something different’, she applied for a job with the War Office at Blenheim Palace and was most surprised to learn on arrival that she’d joined MI5, though she did not reveal this until many years post-war as she took signing the Official Secrets Act very seriously. Joan remembers the Duke of Marlborough coming to the office each week to sell flowers to raise money for the war effort.

Joan worked at Blenheim from 1941–43, but then asked for a transfer to the WRENS – the role that is printed on her school record – as she liked the uniform! The request was refused but she was offered a posting in Cairo working for Special Intelligence Middle East (SIME) collating information on spies.

Joan sailed to Egypt on HMS Highland Princess, which was part of the first convoy across the Mediterranean; sadly one of the other ships was bombed and sank. To protect their own ship, they were unable to stop to pick up the people in the sea, the horror of which has stayed with her. Once in Cairo, Joan and her colleagues had to spend the first night sleeping in a brothel, as there was nowhere else to go! Working hours were long, but the middle of the day was free as it was thought too hot to work. Instead, Joan went climbing pyramids, riding horses in the desert and drinking cocktails in the Al-Jazeera Club. Her work took

her all over the Middle East, and she met her future husband, Major Robin Matheson, when escorting an alleged spy back from Damascus. On another occasion, the vehicle in which Joan was travelling broke down in the desert; the driver left to find help and returned with a whole regiment of Royal Mechanical Engineers. That night, an armed guard slept at the entrance to Joan’s tent, as she was the first woman the men had seen in months.

Joan and Robin married in St Patrick’s Cathedral, Cairo in March 1945; their reception was held at the much-frequented Al-Jazeera Club. After the war, she returned to London and lived in Hampstead with her husband and three sons, before moving in 1955 to a dairy and arable farm in Hampshire, where the family lived for 49 years.

The values instilled in Joan at Prior’s Field remained with her: she volunteered with the Red Cross for many years as she felt it important to give something back to the community and to help those less fortunate than herself. She remained fit by playing tennis twice per week until she was over 80 years old and only stopped skiing in her late 70s, when Robin was not able to accompany her.

Joan lives happily in a house a few yards from her eldest son, Duncan and his wife Kath, surrounded by wonderful countryside. She enjoys regular visits from family and friends and loves seeing her 11 grandchildren and seven greatgrandchildren. Joan turned 100 in September 2018 and is proud to show off her telegram from the Queen (pictured left). Although her short term memory is poor, Joan’s wonderful sense of humour and mischievous laugh remains intact, and she is particularly pleased to recall her Prior’s Field days, which she remembers with joy.

Desiree Roderick née Johnson-Houghton

It was wonderful to visit 97 year old Desiree Roderick (OG 1934–1937) in September 2018 at her house in Hampshire where she recalled memories of PF. "I keep having to remind myself of the present number of pupils compared to the 60–65 girls (all boarders) and the lack of universities and A-Levels in my day. We must seem very ‘uneducated’ to the present day pupils!"

Pam Rash and Helen Milliken

We met Pam Rash née Bourne (OG 1948–1954) and Helen Milliken née Western (OG 1942–1947) in December 2018.

Pam and Helen are firm friends

who have kept in touch since school and both live in Dorking to be close to each other. We enjoyed seeing Pam’s PF photograph albums.

Joan Blake and Micky Burton-Brown

It was an honour to meet Joan Blake (OG 1938–1945) former Head Girl and generous supporter of the school and Micky BurtonBrown, 87, grandson of Prior’s Field’s second Headmistress Mrs Ethel Ann Burton-Brown. Their memories, shared with great charm and humour, link us directly to Prior’s Field’s remarkable history and we thank them for sharing a day with us in their home town of Sherborne.

We thoroughly enjoy meeting our Old Girls. If you have photographs or memorabilia you would like to show us, please contact Polly Murray: alumnae@priorsfieldschool.com

live by Admiration, Hope and

“The girls were often warned by Miss Burton-Brown to keep away from the 'edges and hedges' in case any Charterhouse boys were loitering!”

Old Girl of the Year

Emily Lamb

The power of social media.

After the successful launch of our Old Girl of the Year initiative in 2017, this year was no exception with all entries worthy of the top spot. Judged with difficulty by Head, Tracy Kirnig, artist and eldest granddaughter of Sir David Shepherd, Emily Lamb stole the show with her Instagram campaign 'Sketch for Wildlife'.

I began my wildlife campaign in January quite by accident. I had just moved to Cape Town, alone, to start a new adventure in life and to be closer to the wildlife and wild spaces that I love. The idea came from craving a relief from bigger and more time-consuming painting projects. Quite impulsively, I sat down and started sketching a rhino. It took me just 30 minutes. When your mind is still and present, 30 minutes doing something you love just flies by.

I posted the sketch on Instagram, together with a small narrative about the desperate plight of rhinos and added a £100 price tag. To my surprise, it sold instantly and so I made a promise right there and then to commit just 30 minutes every day

for a year, donating every penny to help save wildlife - ’The Voiceless'. More than 90 days in, I have raised over £9,000 to help keep various projects alive and operational. The campaign has also raised awareness for the work of The David Shepherd Wildlife Foundation and several other small grassroots conservation groups which really are making a difference to wildlife survival.

With this wildlife campaign, other doors opened: I have also embarked on an ‘Earthlings Campaign’. Earthlings is a 2005 American documentary detailing the horrors of the use of animals as pets, food, clothing, entertainment and for scientific research. I am using my art to raise funds and awareness

to oppose the unbelievable cruelty inflicted on animals for economic purposes. I’ve now almost doubled the amount I have raised for 'The Voiceless’ - and it’s not about to stop.

If you want to master anything, then practice is key. Leading a nomadic, often unsettled life has meant it has not always been easy to fulfil this philosophy; my routines and structure are entirely different to those in 9-5 jobs. I have had to learn my strengths and weaknesses as an artist and find the best way to commit to a daily practice. The discipline to achieve this was in no small part thanks to Prior’s Field. Discipline and concentrated effort at a young age has allowed me the freedom to experiment and

as time passes and I push harder and wider into my own art, I realise the content and reasons for each painting comes from my education. This gift that Prior’s Field gave me and continues to offer today’s pupils, is more valuable than I can explain.

The ‘30 Minute Daily Sketch for Wildlife’ campaign has shown me that it’s not about thinking at all, it’s reacting to something that makes our hearts pulse and our eyes shine. The campaign has sparked off various other initiatives, all related to the welfare and liberation of animals; my undying passion and purpose. I now create exhibitions and sell work with the sole intention of being of service to the wild as it has served me. As Greta Thunberg, the Swedish climate activist says, "The house is burning down around us," and there is a need for radical change. Art and science have always been at the forefront of great change. It is my job as an artist to shake up the rule book and challenge the norm, and Prior’s Field gave me a darn good foundation to do so.

I am honoured to be recognised as Old Girl of the Year 2019. It means a great deal to have this support and I thank Prior’s Field for everything they have done for me. I would love to come back into the school with my sister Peanut to share what we know, and are learning in the world of wildlife, with the girls.

@emilylamb_art

PF Artists around the World

Artist in Oz: Inspired by Nature

Award-winning artist Caroline Healey (OG 1991–1996), originally from the UK, has made her home in Australia. After two years of worldwide travels, she settled in Warrnambool, on the southwestern coast of Victoria, in 2014. Heavily influenced by her immediate surroundings, Caroline’s work illustrates the brilliant colours of the coastline and dramatic skies of this wild part of the country.

For three years from 2015, Caroline worked as a full-time Teacher Assistant at Warrnambool Special Developmental School while painting in her spare time. Her first son was born in January 2018 which put painting onto the back burner for a few months. Caroline has come back with a vengeance this year: she is painting prolifically, sketching, selling prints at local markets and working towards an exhibition booked for January 2020. Winning numerous awards and accolades, Caroline has also exhibited in many galleries and won Designer of the Month at Warrnambool Art Gallery in February 2019.

Caroline will be in the UK from July-September 2019 and available for commissions.

www.carolinehealeyart.com

Capturing the World in

Wax and Dyes

Rosi Robinson née Stewart (OG 1960–1965) is a batik artist, teacher, lecturer and author, introduced to batik in 1970 while studying for Post Graduate Certificate in Education in Bristol. For the first part of her career, she was the Art Specialist in several primary schools teaching drawing, painting, collage, weaving, batik and pottery, but the batik technique (applying wax to surfaces including fabric, paper and wood, as a resist for colourful dyes) captured her imagination.

Rosi’s work pushes the traditional technique in a more figurative Western way, creating a watercolour style. Her work is inspired by her travels and interests, ranging from land and seascapes, sporting scenes and nature to abstract reflections.

Exhibiting throughout the world including France, Belgium, Germany, USA, Canada, China and Japan, Rosi has also travelled widely in Indonesia and Sri Lanka, where she studied the technique in more detail. She has had four solo exhibitions in the Barbican Library, London, during the last 19 years.

If you are interested in learning more, Rosi’s next workshop is on 26–27th October 2019 in Horsted Keynes, West Sussex. You can find out more or sign up here: www.rosirobinson.com/exhibitions-workshops

We live by Admiration, Hope

Best in Class

Daring to Dream: The Magnolia Cup

Riding in the Magnolia Cup at Goodwood last year was a truly life changing opportunity. The Magnolia Cup is a charity horse race featuring a field of brave/mad, inspirational women, none of whom are professional jockeys. Some have never ridden before, but all take on the challenge for charity, raising over £1.2 million since its inception eight years ago. The race is run over five-anda-half furlongs down Goodwood’s straight, in front of a capacity crowd of 25,000 at the Qatar Goodwood Festival. Previous riders include TV and radio presenter Sara Cox, supermodel Edie Campbell and double Olympic gold medalist Sarah Ayton.

I’ve never really thought I had the confidence to take on such a challenge, but the turning point came when I heard that the selected charity was Cancer Research UK. With both of my parents undergoing cancer treatment, I felt that this was my small contribution to help.

Six weeks after the disappointment of finding all 12 places were taken, Goodwood got back in touch to say that one of the girls had withdrawn and asked if I would like to take her place. My email reply simply said “YES PLEASE!!!”

From that day, I became 100% absorbed in the Magnolia Cup bubble. I was quite a few weeks behind the other girls’ preparation and with just 12 weeks to go before the race, there was a lot of work to do. Goodwood are very strict and all jockeys go through a rigorous fitness test at the British Racing School in Newmarket before being allowed to compete.

Professional jockeys must be as fit as 200m Olympic runners, so the test was certainly not going to be easy. Goodwood arranged for me to be based with racehorse trainer George Baker, so that I could learn everything there was to know about being a jockey. Here started my new daily routine…5am alarm to ride two horses before work, a quick dash home to shower and make myself presentable for my day job as Managing Director of an Interior Design Studio, then ending the day with a couple of hours in the gym and bed by 9pm.

This punishing routine went by in a blur. Before I knew it, I had passed the fitness test with flying colours, raised over £12,000 for Cancer Research (thanks to some very generous family and friends) and was just a week away from race day. I had ridden about ten of George’s horses, but didn’t know which one I would be racing. It is a huge ask of an owner to offer their prize-winning, vastly expensive, top pedigree horse to a complete amateur, so when George’s wife informed me that Harry Hurricane would be my mount, I nearly fell to the floor! I hadn’t ridden Harry before but knew he was their fastest

sprinter. I was hugely apprehensive of my first ride on him. All the fear evaporated on my trip up the gallops. His speed was exceptional, the type that makes your eyes water and your cheeks wobble! From that moment on, I knew that with him as my partner, we really could achieve something extraordinary.

Race day finally arrived with all the razzmatazz that I had expected: fanfares, flags, and a cacophony of noise. Before I knew it, I had my last pep talk with George (“Just don’t muck up the start!”), was legged up and off to start the most exhilarating few minutes of my life. I remember the starter telling us all to line up, me talking to Harry to calm both our nerves, and then the flag dropping. We were off. The next five-and-a-half furlongs are a blank. I recall how wobbly my legs felt, (despite all the endless squatting in the gym) and how my ears rang with the thunder of hooves. We were over the finish line, ahead of the others by a length.

Both my parents were there in the winners’ enclosure to congratulate me, hugging and wiping away my streaming tears. The beautiful Swarovski stone trophy awarded to me by the Duke of Richmond still glimmers away on my mantelpiece as a fine memory of what will probably be the most astonishing day of my life. This is what dreams are made of.

Despite disliking early mornings, I still ride out at George Baker’s three times a week before work, and the best part of all is that I can now proudly say that Harry Hurricane has a new set of owners. He was due to be sold soon after the race, but thanks to some very kind friends, family and racing supporters, we now own Harry as part of the Dare to Dream syndicate. Harry was the magic that made that day possible, so it was the very least I could do. We all look forward to seeing him race more this coming year, just with a professional jockey on him this time!

Katie Forrest (OG 1996–2003)

“I recall how wobbly my legs felt, and how my ears rang with the thunder of hooves.”

Top Dogs: Into the Crufts Show Ring

I attended my first dog show at just six weeks old and entered my first competition at six years old. I started as soon as the Young Kennel Club (YKC), would allow and my love of dog shows has continued ever since.

The Young Kennel Club (YKC) is an organisation for dog lovers aged between 6–24 and is the junior division of the prestigious Kennel Club. Since the first show, I have competed and won awards in Junior Handling - based on my skills, and Stakes classes - based on the dog. I competed internationally when my family relocated to the USA in 2005, showing and handling our Giant Schnauzer, Freya. She was only a few points away from achieving her American title.

In 2006, I came back to the UK to compete at Crufts, having qualified for the YKC handling class. I only met the dog I was to handle, a German Shorthaired Pointer, very briefly outside the show ring. The dog was known for fidgeting and did not show very well for his owner, but I competed with him and I am pleased to say that we won the Gun Dog Group 6–11

GunDogGroup

year old Handling Class. I have been showing our own German Wirehaired Pointers ever since. This year is a special one for me as I reach the age of 25, meaning it will be my last time to compete in YKC.

At Crufts 2019, I showed our eight-year-old dog Chilli in the YKC Gun Dog Stakes Class. It was Chilli’s first time at Crufts, and it was by special invitation: she has a docked tail and would not normally be allowed to be shown in the breed classes, however, the YKC allowed us to go. The entrants were organised in a random order and I was the first person in the show ring. A Stakes class is based on the dog and their confirmation; the judge is comparing your dog to the breed standard. It involves standing and running the dog so the entire outline and movement can be studied. After the judge had looked at all 23 of us individually, to our surprise, she pulled out her final shortlist and Chilli and I were on it. After one final run around the ring, she picked her winner. I am very proud and happy to say that we won the Gun Dog Group and we were then able to represent this group in the main arena in the YKC Best in Show. Sadly, I didn’t win the overall title, but competing in front of 7,000 people with it also being televised to many more thousands, and stepping out onto the famous green Crufts carpet, it will be something that I will never forget.

Alice Turnbull (OG 2009–2013)

© BeatMedia

© Yulia Titovets at Four Little Paws

“This year is a special one for me as I reach the age of 25, meaning it will be my last time to compete in YKC.”

Charity

The halow project

Three PF Old Girls, (left to right) Charlotte Meins (OG 1999–2004), Laura Harrison (OG 1997–2004) and Jessica Meins (OG 1999–2004) recently formed a fundraising group ‘Junior Trustees’ for local charity, the halow project.

The charity was founded in 2006 by a group of parents of children with learning disabilities. Concerned for their children’s prospects and passionate that they should enjoy the same fulfilment and happiness as any other child, they created halow One of the founding inspirations was Jessica and Charlotte’s sister, Harriet: the ‘h’ in halow.

The halow project is now a growing community charity, based in Guildford, Surrey. Its aim is to ensure that every person with a learning

disability has the same life choices and chances as any other person. The charity runs projects to help young people build relationships, become part of the community, find meaningful employment and have a home of their own.

Jessica, Charlotte and Laura formed the Junior Trustees Board with other members, to raise money for the charity through events targeting fresh new audiences. Jessica comments:

“We hope that as we are focused solely on fundraising and have gathered together a group of creative, digitally-savvy young people, we will be able to target new audiences to raise more money for halow. The group is formed from members who have a personal connection to the cause, so we are all very invested.”

The Board will be organising events to raise funds for a whole range of

services for young people from 16 years upwards who need support after leaving school to become independent and active members of their community.

If you want to find out more about the charity, please look at their website: www.halowproject.org.uk To get involved in the Junior Trustee Board, please contact Jessica Meins: jessicameins@gmail.com

The Prior’s Field Foundation: Transforming girls’ lives through education

Prior’s Field welcomed the first ‘Foundationer’ to the Sixth Form in 2013. It was just one year after the launch of the Prior’s Field Foundation, a bold initiative to create the school’s own charitable fund. The Foundation was launched to be a focus for fundraising for two important things: for life-changing bursaries and for improvements to facilities for outstanding learning.

We have come a long way in five years. Thanks to the outstanding support of generous benefactors and gifts at every level from across our community – from Old Girls, parents, staff and the pupils themselves – the Foundation has been able to support small infrastructure projects and widen access to the school.

Unlocking potential

The idea of ‘transformational’ bursaries is to help those who stand to gain the most but who need full financial support. Help at a crucial time in a girl’s education can not only unlock her learning potential and transform her achievement at school but can also change her chances in life.

Prior’s Field believes that with its focus on the individual, and its warm pastoral care, that it is very well placed to make a success of a transformational bursary programme. Through our Foundation Awards we have welcomed girls already on bursary support, age 16 and others introduced by charity partners working with disadvantage and social exclusion. So far our Foundationers have come from London and around the country as full boarders but it is hoped to extend the opportunity to girls from the Godalming area.

Prior’s Field opened many doors for me and developed me as a person with the responsibility of being a prefect and the wonderful education I received. I hope for the future that PF will be known for its loving and kind heart, acceptance of individuals and empowering girls from all aspects of life. If I could describe Prior’s Field in one word it would be ‘remarkable’.

PF Foundationer Old Girl now studying Biomedical Science at Warwick University

Diana Watson (OG

1999–2004)

I have worked in Corporate Social Responsibility and Social Impact Investment in London for over eight years.

For those unfamiliar with the term, impact investing is the concept of making an investment with a dual purpose: a social/ environmental return in addition to a financial one.

I love working in this field as it includes everything from grant-making to charities, investing in social enterprises, to creating sustainability strategies that minimise environmental impact.

I was keen to explore how the sector operates in other countries. Europe and the US are similarly developed markets, but by contrast the concept is just taking off across Asia. I therefore made the decision to spend a year exploring what the sector is like across the Asia-Pacific region.

My journey started in January 2019 in Shanghai. I specifically chose China as a first stop as I knew it would be the most challenging – my first couple of months have certainly been a steep learning curve! China did not have a charity sector for 50 years, which led to a large knowledge gap in mainstream understanding. Since the 1990s non-governmental operations started operating in China, however they were somewhat paradoxically named GONGOs (Government Organised Non-Government

Sarah Priday

(OG 1971–1977)

I work as a practicing paediatric nurse and this year I was asked to join a 59-strong party of volunteers to provide free cleft lip and palate surgery in India.

Each January, babies, children and adults travel from all over India to the central city of Nagpur for treatment that they could not otherwise afford. Alongside surgeons, anaesthetists, theatre staff, recovery nurses, ward nurses, speech therapists, an orthodontist and other non-health professionals we joined the Northern Cleft Foundation Camp. I worked harder than I have ever worked!

Facilities were unbelievably basic: one sink with a cold tap for a 40-bed (no cots) ward; extremely limited medical equipment not to mention linen. Not only did we need to raise £1,500 to join the trip, all members of the team had to bring out suitcases bulging with medical materials, colouring books, balloons, bubbles, clothes etc. for the patients. I was in my element teaching, encouraging and insisting on big smiles when dealing with patients.

Organisations) to ensure that the government retained an element of control. Now layering the concept of a social enterprise on top is a new concept for many and organisations in the sector are having to do a lot of advocacy and education work to inform people.

I am currently working with an organisation called NPI (Non Profit Incubator) the leading organisation in the country for incubating social enterprises. I have also been doing sustainability consultancy for a company that makes healthy cooking oils and operates across Macau, Hong Kong and Australia. It is my first time as a freelance consultant, which has added another exciting element to my adventure.

Working in China has been amazing but not without its challenges – language barriers (my Mandarin evening classes did not get me that far when most locals speak Shanghainese), cultural differences and a complex business environment have certainly taken me out of my comfort zone.

My next stop is Singapore where I will spend three months with the Asian Venture Philanthropy Network on their Deal Share Platform, matching social enterprises with investors across the Asia-Pacific region. I’m looking forward to discovering how the sector works differently in South East Asia compared to China.

One of the main takeaways so far, is that whilst the sector in Asia might be younger than in the UK, it is hugely dynamic and developing rapidly. Some organisations are achieving countrywide initiatives in a year that took the UK ten years to achieve. A lot of this is driven by a widespread adoption of new technology and effective collaboration.

I’m looking forward to the next chapter in my adventure and to decide what part of the world to continue in.

The sheer joy of being part of life-changing surgery for these patients is extraordinary; the patients were able to start eating, drinking and in time talking clearly with their loved ones.

Old Girl News and Achievements

Lucy Clark née BrownlowSmith (OG 1998–2002) A career highlight for me was being asked to help with the interior elements of Chris Beardshaw's Gold and Best In Show garden at The Chelsea Flower Show in May 2018. The garden provided a metaphor for the emotional transition in a child as they experience support from the NSPCC. It was a healing and restorative space with a rich sensory environment, designed to evoke a sense of safety, security and strength.

Emma Robinson (OG 2016–2018) I was selected to represent Northern Ireland for Fencing in the Junior (under 20) Commonwealth Games in March 2018, and after fundraising for equipment and accommodation expenses I was able to compete in July 2018. The event was held over a week, and I competed over two days in the individual women’s Sabre and team events. It was an experience I will never forget which may lead me to selections for other big competitions in the future.

Franki and Tash Harrington (OG 1997–2002) Franki went to Nottingham to study Biochemistry with Genetics and then did a graduate entry medical degree at Oxford. She is now a doctor and is currently working in New Zealand in the field of genetic pathology. Tash studied Law at Oxford and then trained as a barrister and was called to the bar. She is now with the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and is working in South Sudan.

Maddie Sturgess (OG 2011–2016) I was awarded my Gold Duke of Edinburgh Award by Sophie, Countess of Wessex at Buckingham Palace on 17th May 2018. It was a beautiful day and the sun was shining.

Adelaide Goodeve (OG 2002–2007) I am excited to announce that my podcast The Ultimate Woman's Guide To Adventurous Living won the Shextreme podcast competition. I started my podcast not only because I wanted to provide a voice for women in extreme sports and adventure, but I wanted to share how they achieved their success with other women. You can find out more about Adelaide's podcast at www.adelaidegoodeve.com/podcast

Imogen Harrison née Tillman (OG 2002–2007) After an exhausting but incredible year, I am a qualified teacher. Deciding to go down the teaching route was the best decision I could have made.

Shree Desai (OG 2007–2014) I graduated from Cardiff Metropolitan University in July 2018 and thoroughly enjoyed my course from start to finish. I have now qualified as a Public Health Nutritionist accredited by the Association for Nutrition, opening doors to the food industry, community and sports nutrition career fields.

Alix Chan (OG 2000–2002) I now work in the Technology sector in London and would be keen to hear from Old Girls with start-up businesses and entrepreneurs, who might want to develop a prototype or scale up their business. Elemental Concept, the company I work for, are also keen to hear from any next generation UX/UI designers, so please get in touch: chan.alix@gmail.com

Briony Ward (OG 2005–2010) My wonderful tiny cohort - making history as the first Midwives at the University of Leicester on the first integrated Midwifery Master's course, Midwifery with Leadership, in the UK.

Rebecca Gwyther (OG 2008–2015) Old Girls Anna Blades, Georgina Cave (OG 2008–2013), Rosie Stocks and I took part in the Shine Night Walk Half Marathon in September 2018 to help those like Rosie's mother affected by malignant melanoma, raising over £3,400 for Cancer Research UK.

Harriet Martin (OG 2007–2014) I have decided to try my hand at writing a blog, so I have set up ‘Footprints in the Sand’. I am aiming to do my bit for the planet and wanted to share my findings. If you are interested, please see www.footprintsinthesand.news.blog

Jess Denham (OG 2008–2015)

Representing the University of Southampton's Ski and Snowboard Club, I won the British University Dryslope Championships (BUDS). The competition is against all universities in the country and I won a gold medal for the Snowboard Slalom.

Amy Bell (OG 1995–2000) In May 2018, I completed my creative yoga 200 hour Teacher Training in Hatha Yoga with refinements in asana, vinyasa, meditation, pranayama mantra and embodiment.

Hamilia Chan (OG 2008–2012)

I joined a local running club in Hong Kong in 2018 to keep fit and I train regularly 2–3 times a week. Thanks to the friendly and supportive community, I had great fun and began to love running. It brings me joy and confidence and it helps free my mind of the daily stresses of work. This year, I ran my first half marathon in 1 hour 52 mins. My next goal is to complete a full marathon and an ultra-distance trail race to raise money for charities.

Jo Scott (OG 2005–2012) I completed my Yoga Teacher Training in 2018 as well as a specialised course in teaching yoga and mindfulness to teens. I am now a qualified Psychotherapist working in secondary schools.

Aura Pillinger (OG 2008–2010)

I studied Veterinary Medicine (DVM, Doctor of Veterinary Medicine) at the University of Veterinary Medicine, Budapest. I got a job offer during my practical semester in North of Scotland, Aberdeenshire, where I will be working at a mixed practice which deals with farm animals and pets.

Rebecca Gwyther (OG 2008–2015) I left Prior's Field in 2015 and have been producing since then. A Hundred Words for Snow is a production I have been working on, which debuted in London's West End in March 2019 and was on tour between 4th–28th February 2019.

Taking this show to Trafalgar Studios also makes me one of the youngest theatre producers in the West End (possibly the youngest female producer) and is a massive step in my career. The play has also been republished by Nick Hern Books.

Holly Giles (OG 2016–2018) The Student in Dungarees is my very own passion project designed to give a real presentation of what being a uni student is like and all the things I've learnt along the way. I am studying Biomedical Science at Cardiff University. The blog will cover the highs, lows and lessons that uni life provides. www.thestudentindungarees.co.uk

Charlie Davies née Williams (OG 1980–1986) If you'd asked me 35 years ago if this was a scene I could imagine happening in the future, I would have laughed you out of the room! But life can be stranger than fiction and this is me with Mr Groves (Head of Music, Drama and temporary Head of Geography 1974–1989), buying one of my prints!

Georgie Savage (OG 2010–2017) This was a fish exploration lab for my Marine Biology module. Here we had the opportunity to dissect a range of bycatch (marine organisms that are caught unintentionally while fishing for other targeted species) including sharks and rays. This was a thorn back ray. The University of Exeter buy bycatch off local fisherman for educational purposes, supporting local fisherman and preventing it from going to waste.

Young Enterprise

Young mothers Domino Ward née Purchas and Nadine Bannister née Letts have set up their businesses around family life. We hear about their recipe for success.

Domino Ward née Purchas

(OG 1996–1999)

If somebody had told my 11-year-old self that I would be a cake maker when I grew up, I think I would have been pretty excited about the prospect. Of course, when I was at Prior’s Field 'cake designer' didn’t feature as a career option. However, the passion that I gained for art and design at PF set me well on the road.

My company Domino Purchas Cakes has been running for ten years. In that time I’ve been fortunate enough to make cakes for some fascinating people, including Hollywood actors, rock stars, models and royalty. I take huge pride in making show-stopping masterpieces that help to mark special occasions. I take even more pride in teaching people the skills that I have gained. I recently set up a cookery school, Coco Blanche, with two friends who share my passion for cooking. We run bespoke cookery courses for adults and children. Our birthday party courses are especially popular; people can create their own delicious and inspiring recipes. From accomplished cooks, to children just learning the ropes, our speciallydesigned courses provide life-long skills… and amazing hampers to take home with them. I hope to inspire as many people as possible!

www.dominopurchas.com www.cocoblanche.co.uk

Nadine Bannister née Letts

(OG 1997-2002)

My business partner Sarah Cooper, (Caroline Dillon’s sister OG 1997-2002) and I started My 1st Photos in April 2018 with no sewing experience, no designs and a dream...

From our studio in Guildford, we make personalised photo gifts for babies, including fabric photo albums and other baby gifts. We've made albums for Prince Louis, Chris Evans' twins and a whole host of bloggers, influencers and hundreds of wonderful customers!

We've appeared in Tatler three times, been featured in numerous blogs and gift guides and grown our Instagram to over 7000 followers.

Together, we've exhibited at Loseley House, Guildford Cathedral, Bournemouth Pavilion Theatre and have added more products to our range, made larger albums and have some exciting products planned for 2019.

We've collaborated with many other fantastic brands and small businesses, we’ve run giveaways and competitions and helped charities, raffles and school fetes to raise money. We have just won the New Business/Start Up of the year 2019 in the Surrey and Hampshire's Biz Awards (pictured) and we’re finalists in the Muddy Stilettos Award 2019 in the ‘Children’s Business’ category. Find us on the Women in Business page next door.

What a year! We're quite proud of ourselves!

www.my1stphotos.co.uk

Women in Business

Art, craft and handmade

Amy Maris Maris Feltwork Felt animal portrait artist

Do you have your own business and would like to be listed here? Email: alumnae@priorsfieldschool.com

www.facebook.com/Marisfeltwork

Anne Wyles Honeystreet Handmade Registered fairtrade bath and beauty products www.honeystreethandmade.co.uk

Charlotte Williams Wildlife Art and Pet Portraits Wildlife and pet portraiture www.charlotte-williams.com

Gabriella Irving Gabriella Irving Artworks Pencil and watercolour artist www.facebook.com/ gabrielleirvingart

Georgie Page Spoilt Leopard Specially sourced textiles/rugs/blankets repurposed www.spoiltleopard.com

Liz Shewan Liz Shewan Art Art, jewellery, workshops, photography www.lizshewanart.com

Lucy Makin Mural Designs Mural paintings www.lucymakin.com

Nadine Bannister My 1st Photos Handmade fabric photo albums for little people www.my1stphotos.co.uk

Vicki Hodge The Crafting Place Wool and craft supplies www.thecraftingplace.co.uk

Business and Corporate

Caroline Warburton DDA Event Management Event Management www.ddapr.com Eleanor Ainsworth Shrewd PR PR and Marketing Consultancy www.shrewdpr.co.uk

Catering and Food

Catherine Clark Kitchen Sink Catering Cordon Bleu catering www.kitchensinkcatering.co.uk

Catherine Clark Princess Paella Large-scale Paella for events and weddings www.facebook.com/pg/ Princesspaellauk/

Domino Ward Coco Blanche Cookery School www.cocoblanche.co.uk

Lizzie Jenkins Mint ~Catering With Taste~ Catering Company www.mintcateringwithtaste.co.uk

Domestic

Cassie Starr DCM Pest Control Pest Control www.dcmpestcontrolsussex.co.uk

Fashion

Caroline Graham-Watson Mandarina Shoes Designer shoes www.mandarinashoes.com

Fenella Price Fenella Luxury ladies fashion www.fenella.com

Rebecca Davies Style By Rebecca Professional Stylist www.stylebyrebecca.co.uk

Sophie Wharmby Coco-Belle Clothing Hand smocked children's clothing www.coco-belle.co.uk

Home and Design

Becky Formstone House of Stone Online home furnishings www.house-of-stone.co.uk

Cat Dal-Gilmore Cat Dal Interiors Interior Design www.catdalinteriors.com

Lucy Clark Studio Clark + Co Interior Design www.studioclarkandco.com

Leisure and Travel

Abigail Shaw Bush Baby Travel Award winning family travel specialists www.bushbaby.travel Chania Coveyduck Gites La Foye Self-catering holidays in France www.giteslafoye.com Diana Brooks Wistow Maze Award winning tourist attraction www.wistow.com

Lifestyle

Adelaide Goodeve Adelaide Goodeve Ltd Mindset Coach For Athletes www.adelaidegoodeve.com Alyson Jones-Cooper Alyson Jones-Cooper Health and wellbeing practitioner www.alyjc.com

Liz Shewan Soul Rebalancing Energy Healing Consultant and Tarot Reader www.soulrebalancing.co.uk

Natasha Fanshawe Light Style Space Declutterer www.lightstylespace.co.uk

Nicola Wingfield Soul Revival Reflexology Reflexology www.soulrevivalreflexology.co.uk

Samira Stevenson Samira Stevenson Lifestyle Concierge www.samirastevenson.com

Steph Mulligan DeLuxe Lashes Eyelash technician www.facebook.com/ stephsdeluxelashes

Property

Belinda Bender Little Bay Realty Real Estate www.littlebayrealty.com

Lucie Young Light Intervention Bespoke Property Services & Management www.lightintervention.com

Hospitality and Weddings

Sophie Janes Wick Farm Bath Beautiful Medieval Barn Wedding Venue www.wickfarmbath.co.uk

We live by Admiration, Hope and