GILLIAN MATHER, SCHOOL NURSE JOHN ARMSTRONG

I plan to work a little more as Mitch gets a bit older, but it’s a bit of a funny time to be choosing a new place to work, as it’s looking like a lot about the way we work will be changing. This change is well overdue, but unless Boris has a pot of gold under his pillow, it’s unlikely to be for the better in terms of NHS provisions for teeth.

I am grateful that the path I have chosen leaves me in a position to choose to work with such variety. I won’t miss out, or fall behind my colleagues for having taken time out for my son. Pandemic or no pandemic, people will always have teeth so I hope I’ll always be alright work-wise. Dentistry just would not have happened for me without the RGS: the grades, support with UCAS and just being surrounded by kids who work hard and aim high. I don’t really remember where the idea to be a dentist came from, but there is a good chance I copied it from someone else.

Circling back now to the pus puddle that was last weekend, I did manage to fish the root out for the lady with the orange, I hope she is feeling much better, and her face has gone back to its usual shape. As revolting as it sounds, it’s actually quite an enjoyable thing to sort out for someone. Days like that, as well as feeling happy when little Mitch brushes his teeth before bed, make me think that dentistry is alright really. I’m still yet to have any better ideas!

Dentistry just would not have happened for me without the RGS: the grades, support with UCAS and just being surrounded by kids who work hard and aim high.” GILLIAN MATHER

SCHOOL NURSE (91-08)

BY JOHN ARMSTRONG (72-03)

(L-R) Gillian Mather, Headmaster James Miller (94-08), Dr Michael Borthwick

Gillian Mather was the school’s first School Nurse when she joined the RGS nearly 30 years ago, in 1991.

Looking back today on her 17 years in the post (she retired in 2008) she says ‘I enjoyed it all very very much. I liked the people, the pupils, the staff; I liked the atmosphere’. With her warmth and empathy Gillian made a most important contribution to that atmosphere. Pupils (and staff) found her approachable and supportive.

To quote Mike Borthwick (60-67), then School Doctor, ‘it was very sensible to have a school nurse in place, essential’. The essential routines of her post included: assisting Mike with medicals and BCG injections; the visits from the health authorities; keeping the medical records; dealing with injuries and illnesses, sometimes taking pupils with injuries to hospital and contacting their parents. An administrative part of her post was keeping the attendance registers, with their notes of sickness absence; the end result was a laborious annual return for the Department of Education and Science. As the first School Nurse at RGS Gillian was a pioneer. She developed the role; she enjoyed meetings with her counterparts at Central High, Church High, Dame Allan’s, and other schools to discuss ideas and ways of doing things. When she retired in 2008, Gillian Mather didn’t lose touch with her friends at RGS. Peter Wilson (8720), Head of Exams, asked Gillian if she would be interested in joining the team of invigilators, and she’s been an RGS invigilator ever since.

John Armstrong arrived at the RGS in 1972, retiring in 2003 as Second Master. He was teacher (and one time Head) of English, for 30 years in charge of the Rugby 2nd XV, theatre director of 23 (largely) Shakespearian productions. Since retirement he has retained a core role in the Bursary Campaign, ever offering wise counsel. This is too brief a summary of his huge contribution to the RGS, which could fill an entire ONA Magazine.