Valete - July 2014

Tom Henley

Tom joined St Olave’s twentyseven years ago and from the outset it was clear that he was a frighteningly perceptive mathematician with a passion for finding as many different ways as possible to solve a single problem. Throughout the nearly four Olavian generations that he supervised, Tom inspired many of our top mathematicians to study the subject at degree level and way beyond. He also demonstrated his passion for the subject in his love of mathematical literature, running of extension classes for the STEP examinations and inaugurating the mathematical lecture series. However, his interest in matters academic and cultural extended much further than the Mathematics department. Tom is a true polyglot and his love of languages including Arabic, Japanese and many more inspired him to be instrumental in the setting up of many languages clubs run by native speakers within the school community. Tom is also a culture vulture who for many years was a member of the steering committee for the highly successful annual Cultural Evenings. In addition, Tom has been a highly effective sixth form tutor and will be remembered fondly by pupils and colleagues alike for his sharp wit. An example of this when he asked a student what studying and speaking Japanese was like, the student said, “I like it because no one can understand what you are saying.” Quick as a flash, Tom replied, “I know the feeling well.” In short, Tom is the type of larger-than-life character without whom St Olave’s would have been a far less colourful community and we wish him all the best for a long plus happy retirement.

Andrew

Gyford

Andrew has been a much-valued member of the Mathematics department for the past three years. He joined as a Newly Qualified Teacher with an obvious passion for communicating the subject in creative, engaging ways. He was always organised and quietly cheerful. One of his final achievements in the department was to lead a Year 9 team to victory in the inaugural SiMPLEX mathematical modelling competition. Andrew gave of himself to many other areas of school life including sport, the Duke of Edinburgh Award, Chapel Weekend and many trips as well as being an approachable form tutor. He will be sorely missed and we wish him every success as he takes up a teaching post in Beijing.

Sarah Wallace

Dr Sarah Wallace left the History department at the end of 2014-15 having taught at St. Olave’s since 2006. While the courses taught by the department did not lend themselves to her expertise in Tudor History, Sarah was particularly enthusiastic about the Year 13 Development of Democracy course. Sarah’s time at the school saw a great deal of personal change as she gave birth to Jane and Tom in recent years. Sarah contributed a huge amount to the History department, leading EA trips and working to develop and publish the History Society magazine with a characteristic efficiency and lack fuss. She will be sorely missed as she leaves to teach at Sydenham High.

Hanna Cooley

During the 22 years Hanna has worked at St Olave’s, she has been nothing but dedicated to the students. The last few years of her career have been enough time for me to appreciate how hard working, determined and full of energy she is. Always amongst the first members of staff to arrive in school, and very often in even when she would have free periods.

Hanna has a particular talent to enthuse students about German language, culture and history. This is obvious through the many trips she has run with virtually all year groups. Over the years, her trips and exchanges to Aachen, Berlin, Heidelberg, Starnberg and Vienna have become legendary, she will give up holidays and sleep to make them happen.

Hanna is loyal and supportive to colleagues, never saying ‘no’ to joining a trip or actively helping to set up a club to enrich students’ experience. The best examples of this being:

The number of times she went on the battlefields trip, even after she was left in Maidstone

The chess club, which she not only kept alive but led to success