Non Nobis Issue 26 November 2016

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ISSUE 26 | WINTER 2016 - NON NOBIS

Nobis

THE NEWSLETTER OF THE ST CATHERINE’S ASSOCIATION

Fanfare for St Cat’s!

www. stcathe rine s .info

DIARY DATES 2016/2017

END OF TERM LECTURE - HILARY PLUMMER

DECEMBER

Senior Director, Global Inbound Licensing, Lego

Tue 6

14.00-15.00 Pre-Prep School Nativity Performance

Wed 7

9.30-10.30 Pre-Prep School Nativity Performance

Mon 19

18.30-20.00 Association Carols by Candlelight, Chapel

FOR OUR SUMMER LECTURE WE WERE EXCITED to welcome Hilary Plummer, who is a Senior Director with Lego and has worked for the company for over 15 years. She is responsible for overseeing long-standing global licensing partnerships with companies such as Warner Brothers and Disney, as well as securing new themes to complement the Lego portfolio. She was involved in the launch of the Lego films and showed us a selection of trailers for the new Lego Batman film.

JANUARY Thur 19

09.45-10.45 Baby Cats Classics

Wed 25

19.30-21.00 St Catherine’s Presents… Jane Garvey*

Fri 27

20.00-22.00 4th Form Parents’ Supper

Sat 28

19.00-22.00 School Philanthropy Board Father/Daughter Dinner

Mon 30

19.30-21.30 Vocal Sectional Concert, Holy Trinity Church, Bramley

FEBRUARY Wed 8 Thur 9 Fri 10

19.00-22.00 Senior School Production – West Side Story* Tickets available from Jan 2017

Fri 26

20.00-22.00 4th Form Parents’ Supper

Tues 28

19.30-21.30 Woodwind & Brass Sectional Concert

Prior to this, she worked as Licensing Director for Universal Studios, managing the European Licensing Programme for Universal Studios Consumer Products. Although she started her working life in a traditional marketing role, as the new digital market evolved she learned to adapt. She stressed that you need to be open to new opportunities as they come along. It was interesting to learn how this type of occupation has developed and how she

has worked her way to the top in a worldrenowned company.

There was great delight at the end as anyone who asked a question was given her business card, which is an actual Lego figure with her contact details on it.

If any parents or alumnae are involved in an interesting job or career and would like to give the End-of-Term lecture or a careers talk of any kind, please contact: dawn.pilkington@stcatherines.info

MARCH Mon 6

19.00-21.30 Chamber Music Concert

Sat 18

19.30-22.30 St Catherine’s Association Choir Concert, Holy Trinity Church, Guildford

Mon 27

19.30-21.30 A Level Examination Recitals & Leavers’ Recitals

Wed 29

18.00-19.00 Alumnae Drinks Reception prior to House Singing

MAY Fri 5

19.30-22.00 Senior School Summer Concert

Sat 6

10.30-13.00 Association Family Fun Day & Prep School May Fair

Fri 26

19.30-22.00 Association Jazz & Rock Concert

JUNE Fri 23

11.00-16.30 Golden Girls Reunion – Leavers from the 30s, 40s & 50s

Fri 23

19.00-21.30 Middle School Concert

For the calendar of muscial events visit www.stcatherines.info/Calendar-of-Events. You are welcome to any concert marked Open to All. * To book tickets St Catherine’s Presents visit the School website: www.stcatherines.info/st-catherines-presents West Side Story/Association Choir Concert please email: association@stcatherines.info

PROSPECTIVE PARENTS’ EVENTS 2017 Tuesday 31st January Wednesday 8th March Friday 5th May Thursday 22nd June Prep School Friday 3rd February Tuesday 7th March Thursday 4th May – Reception entry only Friday 9th June Senior School Registrar - Clare Woodgates 01483 899 609 clare.woodgates@stcatherines.info Prep School Registrar - Sally Manhire 01483 899 665 sally.manhire@stcatherines.info

ASSOCIATION CHOIR & BAND THAT ROCKS DAVINA BYRNE (1995 & CURRENT STAFF) WRITES: The Rock Choir rehearsals have become one of the highlights of my year as I get to meet up with like-minded people who just love to sing. It has been an excellent way to de-stress mid-week and sing as part of a great, vibrant group rather than singing to the radio by myself on the way to work.

Taking part in the Annual Jazz and Rock Concert, is nerve wracking but extremely satisfying. You get caught up in the electric atmosphere and come together as a group to perform some amazing songs. New joiners are always welcome. Look out for Dawn’s email in April 2017.

www. s t c a t h e r i n e s .i n fo

ST CATHERINE’S

Presents...

THE BAND OF THE WELSH GUARDS

ON WEDNESDAY 5TH OCTOBER WE HAD THE GREAT HONOUR AND PLEASURE OF HOSTING THE BAND OF THE WELSH GUARDS. After an extremely inspiring and productive workshop afternoon with our guests, the School Concert Band and Welsh Guards formed a massed band (around 90 musicians) for the opening pieces of the evening concert.

First, Fanfare and Flourishes, complete with the Welsh Guard’s Fanfare Trumpeters lining the stairway in the Auditorium, dressed in their ceremonial scarlet tunics and their bearskins.

This was a spectacle to be witnessed. The second piece was the famous Colonel Bogey March, composed by Frederick Joseph Ricketts, who is the late grandfather of our very own Mrs Heather Bryn-Thomas. As a special treat, Mrs Bryn-Thomas brought in her Grandfather’s baton for Mr Young to conduct the piece, a great honour for him.

The rest of the programme was played firstly by the Concert Band and the second half was a fantastic demonstration of the best of the British military band tradition with virtuosic soloists, a humorous barbershop number and stirring traditional tunes.

The members of the Welsh Guards complimented our girls on their playing and eagerness to participate. The afternoon’s rehearsal and workshops were appreciated by the girls, who found the whole experience a day of musical inspiration. This sell out concert was a unique evening of musical entertainment from both bands and will be remembered for many years to come. A retiring collection was held in aid of Afghan Connection and the Corps of Army Music Trust.

COMING SOON: JANE GARVEY - SPEAKING UP FOR WOMEN Wednesday 25th January 2017 7.30pm in the Auditorium INSPIRATIONAL PUBLIC FIGURE, JANE GARVEY, is best known as one of the presenters of BBC Radio 4’s Woman’s Hour, this year celebrating its 70th anniversary. Her wonderful ‘radio voice’ and engaging manner ensure that she also presents a wide range of documentaries for Radio 4. Jane’s voice was the first to be heard on BBC Radio 5 live as a co-presenter when it launched in 1994. She returns to the station in November 2016 with a new programme on Sunday evenings, when

resuming her partnership with co-presenter, Peter Allen. We are delighted to have persuaded her to come to St Catherine’s and anticipate that this will be a very popular talk.

Book early to avoid disappointment.

Tickets are £10 for adults; students are free, but tickets must still be reserved. As this is also a 6th Form Lecture, seats for St Catherine’s 6th Form have already been reserved by the School.

To book your place, please go to http://womanshouratstcats.bpt.me or call 0800 4118881

www. stcathe rine s .info

From left to right: Christine Silver, Alice Phillips, Christine Massey & Gillian Soper

FOUNDATION DAY ALUMNAE OF ALL AGES, CURRENT & FORMER PARENTS AND STAFF, as well as friends in the local area, joined us on Sunday 25th September 2016 to launch Foundation Day and celebrate the birthday of the School in 1885, when St Catherine’s opened with 11 boarders and 6 day scholars. The programme amalgamated some of the former traditions of Old Girls Day and Association Day, adding new contemporary twists and inviting all Association Members to take part.

The afternoon started with a lovely Chapel Service, led by Rev’d Dr Benji McNair Scott, on the theme of ‘Growth’ and included tributes and the unveiling of plaques in memory of John Palmer, former Headmaster (1982-1994), and former Governor, Lady Calcutt. It was particularly special that Alex Palmer and Lilly Shimell, wife and daughter of John Palmer, and Graeme Walker, brother of Lady Calcutt, were able to join us.

Alex Palmer & Lilly Shimell

Caroline James (2005), Foreign News Editor with Sky News, gave a very informative keynote speech on the American Presidential Elections, which she has been covering this year. She had many behind-the-scenes stories to share and there was a lively Q&A session at the end.

During a traditional cream tea in the Dining Room, Mrs Alice Phillips, along with current and former staff, cut the cake whilst everyone sang Happy Birthday. There was much chat and laughter, catching up and networking over tea. The day was rounded off with tours of the School and the opportunity to view an archive display depicting the history of the individuals who inspired the naming of our current School Houses, thanks to the work of our honorary archivists, alumna Rosemary Christophers (1960) and husband Richard, and Fiona Hayward (Development Officer).

Caroline James

The new model for this day, and the focus on the Foundation date, proved very popular with guests and will be repeated next year on 24th September 2017. Do come along and join the 132nd birthday party.

www. s t c a t h e r i n e s .i n fo

Imogen Morgan & Emily Nott enjoy an off the cuff rendition at the end of the Concert

TOP OF THE STOPS A ROUSING AND UPLIFTING EVENING WELCOMED OVER 100 DONORS to our ‘Top of the Stops’ celebration to mark the completion of the fundraising campaign for the Chapel.

The Chapel Fund received donations of over £204,000 from former and current parents, alumnae, governors, friends and the girls themselves - a wonderful achievement.

Guests were treated to a varied programme of organ music, poetry and original drama.

Musical performances included the uplifting William Mathias Fanfare and the energising Dam Busters March by Eric Coates. Our five School organists were joined by alumna Evelyn Tinker (2009) who was the first Jennifer Bate Organ Scholar. Tabitha and Sofya, both in U4, treated the audience to a comic devised piece re-enacting the life of ‘Father’ Henry Willis who built our Chapel organ. Their comic interpretation and wonderful timing was praised by alumna Gillian Wood (Benton) (1960) who likened them to ‘a young Dawn French and Jennifer Saunders!’ Carol Ayton (Hooper) (1954) shared her memories of Chapel, recalling poignantly, tales of former staff, her confirmation and the Wednesday morning communions she had enjoyed many years ago. She encapsulated the many memories of chapel that were gathered during the fund-raising campaign.

‘Congratulations on the wonderful ‘Top of the Stops’ celebrations. A most enjoyable occasion.’

Beth MacCulloch (Former Staff )

Mrs Alice Phillips with Mrs Carol Ayton (1954)

‘As for the ‘Top of the Stops’ celebration. What a magnificent sound, and the girls’ playing was quite amazing. It sent many ‘tingles’ down my spine!’ Judy Standley (Willis) (1952) What a surprise it was to discover during the restoration work that Mrs Standley is the granddaughter of Blankley Willis, a distant cousin of ‘Father’ Henry Willis, who built our organ. Her Mother was also at St Catherine’s during Mrs Russell Baker’s headship and used to hand-pump the organ bellows before it was run on electricity.

‘The combination of the organ, the poetry and the play was just right and made it a very jolly celebration.’ R Burne (Current Parent) ‘We used to come twice on Sundays, morning and evening. We had the Bishop of Guildford for our confirmation and we were all dressed in white. It was a most special occasion. To me the Wednesday Holy Communion service was the one I used to really enjoy. It was calm, peaceful and quiet with just a few of us - a beautiful service - and that is what I remember about this Chapel. The peace of this Chapel passes all understanding and I hope it is with you tonight and for ever more.’ Carol Ayton (Hooper) (1954)

‘Father’ Willis comes to life in Chapel

Our organists received well deserved applause

Share the journey with us at www. stcatherines/development • • • •

View the souvenir programme of the ‘Top of the Stops’.

Watch the ‘Top of the Stops’ celebration.

View the super-fast time-lapse film of the organ restoration.

Read The Chapel Fund blog, which tracks the restoration of the organ and roof.

A final thank you Your support has made possible the full refurbishment of the 1898 ‘Father’ Willis & Sons organ. Your generous donations will also ensure that the Charles Eamer Kempe stained glass windows are painstakingly restored, re-leaded and continue to inspire generations of girls to come with their colour and visual storytelling. Thank you to all of those who gave so generously.

‘We are immensely privileged to have the Chapel here at St Catherine’s. It lifts our vision higher, reminding us of our link with past generations who have stopped, prayed, sung, thought and worshipped in this place of beauty and history. It remains the same today, offering all who come here an opportunity to draw breath, wonder and draw succour from the rich Judeo-Christian tradition whose timeless message still speaks into our lives.’

Rev’d Dr Benjamin McNair Scott, Chaplain

www. stcathe rine s .info

LONDON NETWORK LAUNCH THANK YOU TO ALL THOSE WHO ATTENDED the exciting launch of The London Network in October and particularly to those who offered help, support and opportunities to our alumnae. There was a real buzz at the ‘Cheesegrater’ (the Leadenhall Building) and we would like to thank our host, Tracy Meller, Partner at architects Rogers, Stirk, Harbour + Partners, our Chair, Rosemary Squire, co-founder and joint CEO of The Ambassador Theatre Group Ltd (ATG), and Harrison Catering, who generously sponsored refreshments for the evening.

We are also very grateful to our career sector ‘Champions’ who encouraged other Association members to attend, effected introductions on the night and provided advice and opportunities to young alumnae and the U6 delegates selected by application and interview to receive invitations to this event.

We are committed to helping St Catherine’s alumnae in their career development and every year we support many of them by making connections to other alumnae and parents working across a plethora of professions.

You can read more about the London Network and the Champions at: www.stcatherines.info/The-London-Network

A PARENT’S PERSPECTIVE ON OUR LAUNCH EVENT JOHN BLAUTH (CURRENT PARENT) WRITES: Sixth formers, recent alumnae and parents from a wide spectrum of professions, high-achieving businesses and striving entrepreneurs: probably the perfect recipe for an intriguing, interesting and useful evening for all concerned.

The inaugural St Catherine’s Network evening succeeded beyond many expectations.

Clearly, it broke the common perception that too many networking evenings are often, a waste of time.

To meet, one after the other, a succession of cool, calm, confident young women was a genuine privilege. And to make connections with the worlds of art, auctions, aerospace, law, brand management, theatre and others was invaluable.

Chatting about the evening, and the fascinating venue, to another parent on the journey back to Waterloo we agreed that the significance of events such as this cannot be overestimated, for us and for our daughters.

As someone I once worked with eloquently said: ‘You’re either networking or you’re not working.’ Quite so.

Rosemary Squire, Alice Phillips & Tracey Meller

www. s t c a t h e r i n e s .i n fo

A STUDENT’S PERSPECTIVE LAUREN BEAVIS (U6) WRITES: A few members of the Upper Sixth had the opportunity to attend the London Network in October. The evening was an incredible experience and is going to prepare us so well for the future.

I made many connections and gained over 13 contacts. The professionals there were so inspirational and brilliant role models. I can only hope that I become as successful and accomplished!

I want to say thank you to those who organised the event. I feel so privileged to be a member of such a distinguished and prestigious establishment.

ARE YOU

?

Join our ‘private’ group, open to all members of the Association. We have over 500 members, and share articles and comment on professional working life, leadership and career development.

Visit the School website and click on the LinkedIn logo at the top of the Home page.

A CHAMPION PERSPECTIVE ELISE RUSSELL (CURRENT PARENT) WRITES: ‘I just wanted to pass on huge congratulations to you and the rest of the Association network and friends at St Catherine’s School. What a great launch event and fantastically organised - and I’ve seen a few in my time!

SUPER-CHARGE YOUR CAREER OUR NEXT EVENT FOCUSES ON CAREERS IN STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) related subjects and will be held at Imperial College on Thursday 18th May 2017, thanks to the generous support of Shan Morris (1981) an Imperial alumna, and starts at 6.30pm. This is not exclusively for those working in this sector and if you would like to come, all are welcome. More information will be available nearer the time but please put the date in your diary.

I also wanted to feed back that the Champion set up worked well from my perspective; I linked 10+ people, am confident I can transfer an alumna over from BAE Systems fairly soon and am having a coffee in London early next week with a recent alumna and university graduate who is feeling a bit lost in the big world of London. All about the networking!’

‘Thank you so much for inviting me to the launch of The London Network last night, I very much enjoyed it. I thought it was very professionally done and loved meeting everyone. St Catherine’s has great potential reach and the network is a fantastic way to harness it for pupils past, present and future.’ Jessica Stewart (1995) ‘It was such a good evening on Tuesday. Thank you for arranging it and I hope it is the start of many more brilliant networking events.’

Pietra Mello-Pittman (2001)

www. stcathe rine s .info

SKILLS BEYOND THE CLASSROOOM: THE UNSUNG HEROES While the expertise of teachers at St Catherine’s is evident to pupils in the classroom, many will not be aware of the contributions they make outside School to public examinations, publications, outreach work and the local community. We thought it was time to shine a spotlight on a few unsung heroes.

RAISING POLITICAL AWARENESS Carl Gladwell, Head of Politics, is a member of the Political Studies Association. Last year he volunteered to contribute to the Chair’s Commission on Reaching Out. Its purpose was to broaden the appeal of politics to students and to improve the links between politics departments in schools and universities. As a school teaching member of the Commission, he made a valuable contribution to the report, which set out the foundations of a 10 year strategy.

Nigel Watson

Carl Gladwell

covered widely in the media – both newsprint and social – and has drawn the attention of politicians, academics and the Arts world. She has been instrumental in ensuring that the topic has been discussed by the Secretary of State for Education, Justine Greening, and at the last count, a public petition launched in support had attracted nearly 8,000 votes. She has also had articles published, including one in February in emagazine, on Christina Rossetti and her interaction with the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood.

MEDIA ENGAGEMENT

PROLIFIC WRITER Head of Economics and Business, Nigel Watson, is a prolific author of articles and books and is co-author of AQA Business for AS and Edexcel Business A Level Year 1.

His articles range from Business impacts of government spending in Business Review to Why is housing in the UK a distorted market? in Economics Today. He has recently published Crisis Economics: The Cutting Edge, which seeks to provide some answers to the many questions raised about the functioning of the global economic system.

PASSIONATE CAMPAIGNER Head of History of Art, Sarah Phillips, experienced teacher and examiner of History of Art A Level, has spent this autumn campaigning passionately to save her subject as an examined A Level after her own board, AQA, decided to drop it, even after she had completely revised the specification to widen its appeal and access for all students in all settings. What followed AQA’s decision was

Better known for her tweets than her books, Cecilia Townley, Head of RE, is in the top 10 recommended tweeters on RE matters amongst her peers on Twitter. She makes frequent appearances on local radio stations discussing ethical questions and topical religious issues such as the introduction of women Bishops.

Sarah Phillips

Cecilia Townley

COMMUNITY WORKER For the past 10 years Jean Arrick, Head of Psychology, has been a Principal Examiner in Psychology for the OCR examinations board.

She sets an A Level module paper and mark scheme for ‘Research, Methods, Approaches, Debates and Issues in Psychology’ and wrote a revision guide for this. In School, she is well-recognised as the tireless leader of our Sixth Form Charities Board and our Duke of Edinburgh’s Award Scheme programme but some may not be aware of the volunteering the girls undertake in the local community as part of the scheme. The U5 Community Action Group help at Bramley Infants School and provide face-painting and biscuitdecorating stalls at the Bramley Fete. The girls serve the community in a number of ways: working in charity shops, volunteering at the Royal Surrey County Hospital and helping disabled students via organisations such as Sailability and Riding for the Disabled. With nearly 75% of pupils across the eligible years participating in the scheme, Jean should be very proud of the inspiration she gives the girls.

www. s t c a t h e r i n e s .i n fo

Those early foundational years of training and Amy’s commitment and drive have been richly rewarded. Amy has shown her pupils that it is never too late to accomplish one’s dream.

Jean Arrick

Gayle Vickers

AWE-INSPIRING INFLUENCE Gayle Vickers, triathlete and swim coach, has been an awe-inspiring influence on the girls at St Catherine’s. She has always been energetic and enthusiastic about sport and music and disciplined to be the best that she can be. At school she enjoyed playing in sports teams and practising the trumpet.

MISSION ACCOMPLISHED As a girl at Lingfield Notre Dame School, Amy Gillman pursued her love of gymnastics but during her teenage years she increasingly focused on team sports and gymnastics was put to one side. She qualified as a PE teacher and threw herself into inspiring the girls at St Catherine’s Preparatory School with her love of sport when she joined us in 2013.

However, whilst undertaking coaching courses at the Hawth Gymastics Centre, she was encouraged to consider taking up adult gymnastics for herself and, rising to the challenge, she started classes in March 2015. It was not long before Amy was paired with Chris Cranfield, a now retired but very experienced acrobatics gymnast, and the pair began to train together.

Together with their coach, Amber SimpsonWarner, they dared to set their sights on competing at the 2016 Veterans British Championships. Intensive training of up to 10 hours a week ensued and they were rewarded with success in smaller competitions. One can only imagine Amy and Chris’s delight when, in August 2016, their efforts were rewarded and they were crowned the British Veterans Champions.

Amy Gillman

She didn’t go straight to university but worked at a school in Australia where she discovered her love of teaching. On returning to the UK she studied primary education and music at Warwick University and is now proud to be the St Catherine’s swimming coach, working with both the Prep and Senior PE departments.

As a member of the England Lacrosse team she represented England at U18, U21 and senior level for over 12 years. In 2008 she took up triathlon during the lacrosse off season.

Having always been a swimmer and done lots of running, she felt she had a good basis for a career in triathlon. The cycling was difficult but exciting!

In triathlon she has represented GB at the European and World Championships and in the 70.3 IronMan World Championships, competing in New Zealand, Australia, Nevada, Austria, Budapest and Canada (‘70.3’ is total distance in miles covered in the race) . In 2014 she became British Champion in the triathlon sprint distance. She was placed fifth in the European World Championships in Austria and again in Geneva in 2015. In the World Championships in New Zealand and London she gained a top 10 placing.

While coaching swimming, she met a five-year-old girl who had been diagnosed with Ataxia-Telangiectasia (A-T), a rare neurodegenerative disease, and since then she has focused her fundraising on Action for A-T, a charity raising money for medical research. To raise funds during this summer she cycled 1,067 miles from Land’s End to John O’Groats in 10 days. In September she competed in IronMan Wales, which is a 2.4mile ocean swim, a 112-mile bike ride and a 26.2-mile run.

The annual Action for A-T charity triathlon for the children, alongside an aquathlon for adults at St Catherine’s, were held in September. This included swimming in the school pool, cycling around the extensive grounds and running around the race track. There were over 90 participants, some as young as five. So far over £5,000 has been raised.

“If I can inspire one young girl to overcome personal setbacks in life and enjoy taking part in sport, especially to help others, then I will have succeeded.” Gayle Vickers

TEACHERS YOU REMEMBER Following our article in the last issue of Non Nobis, Vivien Canning (White) (1962) wrote to us with her memories of Mrs Maguire.

‘Mrs Maguire taught me Latin and, because she was such a wonderfully inspiring teacher, I did Latin A level. For me she was an early version of Mary Beard, with the same wisdom, enthusiasm, passion and knowledge. Every lesson was fun and interesting, even Caesar’s Gallic Wars (I now wonder how!) and the boat race in Book V of Virgil’s Aeneid (well, at least that was exciting). All these years on, if I look at a Latin inscription I can hear her voice: ‘Well, what do you think, Vivien? But it’s a genitive plural’. I’m not sure that they make them like that any more.’

Rosemary Christophers (Munn) (1960) also recalled Mrs Maguire. ‘I did A level Latin and as there were only two of us, we got to know her well. She was great, and had a shock of wiry grey hair which she was always running her hands through.’

If you had a favourite teacher and would like to tell us about the impact that he or she had on you, your values and your interests, do let us know at association@stcatherines.info.

www. stcathe rine s .info

REUNIONS AT ST CAT’S

1970s Reunion

1996 Leavers

YEAR OF 1996

THE WAY WE WERE…

BACK TO SCHOOL FOR 20 YEAR REUNION ANNA RUTTER-JEROME (1996) WRITES: on Saturday 15th October, a group of excited members of the Year of 1996 reunited at the School to celebrate. Many had not set foot in the grounds for over 20 years. We were kindly guided around the buildings, old and new, by Dawn Pilkington (Association Director) and Fiona Haywood (Development Officer). They had a lot of patience as we were rather slowmoving due to reminiscing, re-enacting and just catching up on the last couple of decades’ worth of news.

It was great to see the big tree and the fish pond still in place, to experience the same smells of the Home Economics rooms and the Library, and to walk along the corridors and talk about our old classes and teachers.

The most impressive new bits were definitely the gym, the orchestra pit and the 6th form study centre. However, the improvement in the choice of food available in the Dining Hall just plain blew us away! We then headed to

ON FRIDAY 17TH JUNE WE WERE DELIGHTED to welcome back over 80 alumnae and staff for the 1970s Reunion. We were particularly pleased that a number had made the effort to travel from overseas to re-join friends, from Australia, France and Singapore, as well as the four corners of the UK.

1996 Leavers

the pub for a well-earned lunch and further catching up. Thank you so much to the staff in the Foundation Office for welcoming us and helping us with the organisation and for the incredibly smart biscuits!

Special mention for effort must go to Helen Stansfield (Eastwood) who drove all the way down from Knaresborough and back in a day!

VISIT FROM ANNE CURTIS MISS ANNE CURTIS (1955) RETURNED IN SEPTEMBER to join us for our Foundation Day celebrations and share insights from her career in costume design in the theatre.

She spent time with the A Level Textiles students before giving the U4 Lecture about her career in the world of theatre.

She then kindly spoke to an audience of drama, art and textiles students about her journey from a Theatre Design course to designing costumes at the Royal Shakespeare Theatre, as Ladies’ Cutter, under Peter Hall and

On a beautiful sunny day our guests were able to roam the grounds between the planned activities. A happy, very noisy day ensued and it was a first return visit to St Catherine’s for many of our guests. The biggest group, the year of 1976 who had left school 40 years before, had arranged a pre-reception in the Lecture Theatre during the hour before registration.

Coffee in the foyer of the Anniversary Halls was followed by a Chapel service led by, Rev’d Dr Benji McNair Scott, on the theme of ‘Thanksgiving’. Returning to the Anniversary Halls, alumnae were given the chance to look at the excellent display of archive items from

the late Trevor Nunn. Taking the leap into freelance costume design, she then worked across the globe and until 1980 she was based at the Stratford Festival, Ontario, designing both costumes and sets.

She shared with the girls a huge selection of her drawings of characters for predominantly Shakespearean productions and historical texts. The girls pored over the intricacy of her drawings and really understood her message that costume should convey character with her memorable phrase: ‘one should be able to tell what he had for breakfast!’

The girls loved hearing stories of her time at School and wrote to thank her saying: ‘It was so fascinating when you mentioned your years at school. The “soggy boiled potatoes” sounded terrible and we could not believe that you had whale meat at school! There is no need to worry, the food at St Catherine’s is great now: especially the lunches’.

U4 student

www. s t c a t h e r i n e s .i n fo

the 1970’s, including many photos which, proved very popular, causing lots of laughter, as everyone spotted themselves and friends as teenagers.

There were many comments of ‘how much things have changed since our day’ and how many would love to be able to come back to school now. After a welcome from Mrs Alice Phillips, and a delicious lunch served in the Sports Hall, we gathered everyone for individual year photos before members of the L6 led tours of the School. The day ended with another opportunity for everyone to catch up on each other’s news whilst sitting in the outdoor amphitheatre enjoying a cream tea.

‘Thank you so much for making Friday such a special event. I cannot believe it was 1961 when I sat down for my first lesson and 1974 for my last! It was so lovely to meet up with many friends and to catch up on what we’ve been up to since 1974, and to share memories too.’

Karen Tinkler (Skeffington) (1974) ‘It was so lovely to be able to catch up with old friends and re-visit the familiar places around the school which hold so many memories. The whole day was superbly organised, the lunch was delicious and what a great idea to put the i-pads on the tables with the slideshow from the photographic archives!’ Celia Marsh (1979)

2006 Leavers

YEAR OF 2006 ELISE HAMER (2006) AND LUCY JOHNSTONE (2006) WRITE: on Saturday 8th October, a large group of the Class of 2006 descended upon St Catherine’s School for our much anticipated 10-year reunion.

As we were greeted with a glass of Buck’s Fizz we shrieked girlishly at the sight of so many old faces (and one very new one - nine month old Livvy Ford, daughter of Jo Wootton (2006), who definitely won ‘star pupil’ for the afternoon).

Following that, a tour of the school in all its modern glory made us incredibly jealous of the current students and the amazing facilities they enjoy, but equally proud to have been part of somewhere offering such a world class experience. For a brief moment it felt like quite a different place - just until we got a sniff of the Home Economics and Maths rooms, which smelled the same as they did the day we left!

Next was lesson time where our former teachers kindly agreed to teach us drama, netball and baking. Mr Friend’s baking skills were an absolute revelation to us and his

2006 Leavers

chocolate truffles were devoured in minutes!

The drama girls were told off by Miss Hilvert for giggling – just like the old days! - and the netballers were suitably red-faced at the end of their game with Mrs Folley. I suppose not much has changed really!

The day ended with a sumptuous afternoon tea and nostalgic words from Mrs Rose, who read out to us some of the speech she had given us when we left in July 2006. Then on to the pub where a group of ‘SIGOs’ (significant others) joined us to celebrate a fantastic day.

Thanks for having us back!

ST CATHERINE’S WHEEL AWARD FOR DISTINGUISHED SERVICE The academic year was rounded off with the launch of a very special award on Speech Day. The School is fortunate to be served behind the scenes by some very long-standing alumnae, staff and friends and we wanted to recognise this with the introduction of a new honour. It will not be awarded every year, only from time to time, and it will be in the gift of the Heads, the Governors, Senior Staff and the Association Director.

The worthy first recipient of what will be known as The St Catherine’s Wheel Award for Distinguished Service, is Mrs Elisabeth Reed. As an alumna (1951), former parent,

Governor, member of the Company, former member of the Old Girls’ Association Committee, signatory to the St Catherine’s Association Charter in 2004, loyal member of the Association Committee, researcher and writer of the History of the Chapel and founder of the School Archive in 2000, Elisabeth has been a supporter of everyone and everything to do with St Catherine’s. Sadly, she could not be at Speech Day, so in July Mrs Phillips presented Elisabeth with her award in her office with husband Brian, daughters Nicky (1979) and Suzy (1976), proudly watching on via Skype in America.

FAREWELL CELEBRATIONS TIA KUCHMY (CURRENT STAFF) WRITES: in June this year I had the enormous privilege of interviewing the violinist Paul Robertson, leader of the world famous Medici String Quartet, in the Wigmore Hall, London. The event, entitled Cavatina: the Inner Life of Ensemble, had been organised by the Guild of Analytical Psychology as one of a series of lectures designed to promote Jungian Psychology to the general public. These talks are often linked to one of the arts, in this case music, and I was chosen to host it because I am both a musician and a Jungian analyst.

I had also known Paul and his wife Chika as St Catherine’s parents over many years with their daughters Thaïs (2001) and Calista (2006). The lecture was primarily a celebration of the Medici Quartet and all current and former members of the ensemble were present, coming up onto the stage for questions from the audience at the end.

Paul had an extraordinary career, founding and leading the Medici quartet for 40 years and making many celebrated recordings, culminating with the complete cycle of Beethoven string quartets. In later years he also developed other interests: he wrote and presented the Channel 4 programme Music and the Mind, exploring the discoveries of neuroscience in connection with music; he lectured at medical schools; was a leadership coach at Davos; researched the numerology of the Bach solo violin sonatas and, after his near death experience in 2008, wrote a fascinating book entitled Soundscapes, which has just been published by Faber & Faber. We were fortunate that he gave one of his earliest lectures on music and psychology here at School as a Sixth Form Lecture.

Paul and I met several times in the run up to the event at his lovely Sussex home. He was already extremely ill at the time and it was touch and go whether he would make it to the Wigmore Hall, but he did and, once onstage, enthralled his audience with his wonderful presence, his captivating stories and his capacity for profound psychological reflection, receiving a standing ovation.

Paul died peacefully a month later surrounded by his family and listening to John Tavener’s work, Towards Silence, written especially for him and for his beloved Medici Quartet.

ON SUNDAY 26TH JUNE ALUMNAE, SIXTH FORMERS AND STAFF met to say farewell to Mrs Ridley, Head of Classics, who left St Catherine’s at the end of the Summer Term to take up a position as Head of Sixth Form at Streatham and Clapham High School. The sun shone, lots of cake was eaten and there was lots of laughter.

Res secudae tibi, magistra Ridley.

Meanwhile, Russell Baker and RB alumnae added extra special festive flair to the traditional end-of-term picnic to say farewell to Mrs Sue Hall, housemistress of eight years, who retired in July after 16 years at the School.

WELLINGTON REUNION Fiona Thomas met up with four alumnae, now living in Wellington (New Zealand) on Sunday 25th September.

It was a chatty, buzzy and friendly lunch as everyone shared their memories of Chapel, dining, getting up to mischief in boarding and boys of their acquaintance during their school years! The ladies were delighted to send a Happy Foundation Day message back to Bramley.

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Nobis

non

INTERVIEW WITH PAUL ROBERTSON RENOWNED VIOLINIST

Non Nobis Domine!

Not unto us, O Lord, The praise or glory be...

The opening of the school hymn Rudyard Kipling