St Catherine's, Bramley Non Nobis Autumn 2018

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ISSUE 30 | AUTUMN 2018 - NON NOBIS

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THE NEWSLETTER OF THE ST CATHERINE’S ASSOCIATION

Recipe for Success

Philip Friend - Senior Teacher (Maths and Food & Nutrition expert, Lead Teacher Trainer, Scholars’ Mentor and Editor of the School Magazine) who was a finalist on Britain’s Best Home Cook

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DIARY DATES 2018/19

Katy Watson (3rd from left) with Association Prefects, Head Girls and Rosa McQuade

NOVEMBER Tue 6

19.30-21.00 PTA Lecture, “Seven secrets to raising girls”, Auditorium** Mon 12- 18.00-20.00 St Cat’s Goes Fri 16 North Reunions Birmingham, Nottingham, Leeds, Durham, Edinburgh* Wed 14 17.30-18.30 Choral Evensong, Winchester Cathedral* Thur 15 19.30-22.00 String Sectional Concert, Auditorium** Fri 23 19.30-22.00 St Catherine’s Day Gala Concert (parents only or listen/watch via live stream) DECEMBER Sat 1 Tue 4 Wed 5 Mon 17

19.30-23.00 PTA Christmas Dinner Dance 14.00-15.00 Prep School Nativity Performance* 9.30 -10.30 Prep School Nativity Performance* 18.30-20.00 Association Carols by Candlelight, Chapel (All welcome)*

JANUARY Fri 25

19.30-22.00 Vocal Sectional Concert, Holy Trinity Church, Bramley**

FEBRUARY Wed 13- 19.00-22.00 Whole School Fri 15 Musical – Sister Act* MARCH Fri 1 Sat 9

Mon 11 Mon 11

Sat 16 Sun 17 Fri 23 Mon 25

Wed 27

Prep PTA Quiz Night, Bramley Village Hall 19.30-22.30 St Catherine’s Association Choir Concert, Holy Trinity Church, Guildford* 19.00-21.30 Chamber Music Concert, Auditorium** 18.30-21.30 The London Network – The World of Private Equity, at Exponent, 30 Broadwick Street, London.

All welcome but book your place via association@stcatherines.info Association History of Art trip to Amsterdam 19.30-21.30 Keyboard Sectional Concert, Auditorium** 19.30-21.30 A Level Examination Recitals & Leavers’ Recitals, Auditorium** 18.00-19.00 Alumnae Drinks Reception prior to House Singing *

April Fri 26

19.30-22.30 PTA Quiz Night*

MAY Thur 2 Fri 24

19.30-22.00 Senior School Summer Concert, Auditorium* 19.30-22.00 Rock & Jazz Concert*

* Contact association@stcatherines.info for more information ** All welcome at the door.

END OF TERM LECTURE IN THE SUMMER TERM, WE HAD THE PLEASURE OF WELCOMING KATY WATSON (1999) (third from the left), BBC NEWS SOUTH AMERICA CORRESPONDENT, to give our End of Term Lecture.

Since starting her career with the BBC Katy has worked in the Middle East, Washington, and has been based in South America since 2014. She has covered many interesting stories but currently many of her reports are highlighting the humanitarian crisis in Venezuela where four in five Venezuelans live in poverty. People queue for hours to buy food, are dying from a lack of medicines and inflation is at 82,766%.

Her role as South American correspondent is very varied. One day she can be in an army helicopter flying around remote areas of Colombia to cover both sides of the war against the cocaine trade, and the next, she will be reporting from a restaurant in Mexico serving ticks and worms!

Katy discussed her love of South America, her role as a female reporter and how she is one of the few female foreign correspondents with a family. She feels strongly that this should not be the case. It was fascinating to hear about the myriad opportunities that she has had as a foreign correspondent, especially from someone working over such a large geographical range.

FOUNDING ACORNS ‘N’ OAKS GILLY WILSON (HANKING-EVANS) (2000) WRITES: ‘Recently the popular Old People’s Home for Four Year Olds has returned to Channel Four. It’s a fantastic project which mirrors Acorns ‘n’ Oaks, a scheme I started last July.

Last year, whilst visiting an elderly neighbour in a care home, I noticed the lovely way in which my children were interacting not only with our friend Margaret, but also with the other residents. Over time it was clear they received few visitors, and that it really made their day when my children came and chatted to them.

I started a small playgroup, initially just during the summer holidays as I work as a Maths teacher during term time, but it was popular.

One of the members agreed to lead the group in my absence and there was so much interest from parents that I contacted a few more local care homes who were also enthusiastic.

Following the airing of the first series on Channel Four, interest in the concept grew, and a year later we have groups in 25 care homes across Bristol, Swindon, Cardiff and Yorkshire. We are keen to help bring this idea, the joy and happiness to as many lonely elderly people as possible.’

To find out more please visit www.acornsnoak.org.uk or FB @acornsnoaksplaygroups

PROSPECTIVE PARENTS’ EVENTS 2018/19 Senior School

Prep School

Thursday 15th November 2018 Wednesday 30th January 2019 Thursday 7th March 2019 Tuesday 30th April 2019

Friday 16th November 2018 Friday 1st February 2019 Tuesday 5th March 2019 Wednesday 1st May 2019 (Reception Entry)

Senior School Registrar - Clare Woodgates 01483 899 609 clare.woodgates@stcatherines.info

Prep School Registrar - Sally Manhire 01483 899 665 sally.manhire@stcatherines.info

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

MAKE YOUR MARQUE ST CATHERINE’S LONDON NETWORK BRANDING EVENING THE LONDON NETWORK EXISTS TO HELP ALUMNAE MAKE THEIR MARK IN THEIR CAREERS BY CREATING PROFESSIONAL CONNECTIONS WITH PARENTS. In the spectacular setting of the MINI Showroom in Park Lane, guests attended an evening focused on Branding: Personal & Corporate.

Experienced members of the St Cat’s Association lead discussion hubs on brand identity, the specialist brand sector, personal branding and recruitment with over 60 alumnae and parents sharing their experiences.

The hubs were based around the MINI cars on display and several speakers had stories to tell about their MINI or BMW cars. There was plenty of lively conversation and we would like to thank our host, Graham Biggs, Communications Director of BMW and Harrison Catering, who generously sponsored refreshments for the evening.

Our catering team from St Catherine’s prepared delicious canapés. This, our fifth event, was open to all and was led by our Chair, Dame Rosemary Squire.

Our next event focuses on the Finance and Banking sector and will provide insights into ‘The World of Private Equity’. Thanks to current parent, Richard Lenane we will meet at Exponent, Broadwick Street on Monday 11th March 2019 from 6.30pm. Places will be limited because of the nature of the venue so please book early at association@stcatherines. info.

It was a pleasure to be able to play host to this excellent initiative and from a personal point of view I really enjoyed it.

Graham Biggs (Host and Current Parent) A massive thank you for organising the Branding networking night on Thursday. I learnt a great deal and spoke to some really interesting people. I also managed to get some work experience, which will broaden my CV and give me an insight into agency marketing compared to corporate marketing.

Thank you again for such a wonderful night.

Florence Niemy (L6)

NEXT EVENT THE WORLD OF PRIVATE EQUITY - MONDAY 11th MARCH 6.30-9.30PM EXPONENT , 30 BROADWICK STREET, W1F 8JB BOOK: association@stcatherines.info

Thank you very much for what was a very positive and engaging event. I am separately going to meet my fellow stallholders, as I’m sure that there is plenty of opportunity for us to potentially work together and/or refer clients to one another.

Kerrie Ellis (Hub Leader and Current Parent)

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FOUNDATION DAY

OUR ANNUAL BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION ON SUNDAY 23rd SEPTEMBER, MEMBERS OF THE ST CATHERINE'S ASSOCIATION GATHERED TO CELEBRATE THE SCHOOL'S 133rd BIRTHDAY AT FOUNDATION DAY. The afternoon began with a chapel service on the theme of family and feasts, where Rev’d Dr McNair Scott highlighted the importance of food in our lives.

Thank you to you and your team for organising and hosting a lovely occasion on Sunday. I really enjoyed it… new hymn book, great speaker and delicious tea. Sorry I did not do the archives justice… too busy gassing to ex-students. Anyway, many more years to come.

Caroline Rose - Former Staff I want to say a huge thank you for all the effort you and everyone else at St Catherine’s put into making the Foundation day so special for my Mum. It really was the highlight of her year. One of her carers texted me the next day to say that she had never seen Mum smile so much when telling her about the day. She was particularly pleased with her going home bag, and asked me to put the St Catherine badge on her dressing table so she could enjoy it each morning and evening.

For me the most insightful moment was when you asked Mum what her over-riding memory of the school was-and she said the ‘friends I made’. I get the impression the school really does create very special girls who are a credit to you all. It was lovely to share the day with you all and to learn more about Mum’s time there. She was exhausted by the time we got her home, and she slept pretty much all the next day!

We have spent many happy hours looking at the photos and her school work. It has given her a new lease of life. We are so glad we brought her to see you all.

Daughter of Jane Shenfield (Goodman) (1948)

After this, Ms Pippa Carte, Development Director, gave a brief presentation on the School’s current plans for its future, and we were then treated to a wonderful talk from our keynote speaker, Senior Teacher, Philip Friend, about his time on BBC’s Britain’s Best Home Cook. It was fascinating to hear about the application process and what went on behind the scenes during filming; however, we were all shocked to learn that often the food was judged hours after being cooked when it was stone cold! The talk also included a short cooking demonstration, in which Philip Friend made a lovely mackerel pâté, and a lively Q&A session. To see more of his delicious receipes visit: bakingfanatic.wordpress.com We then set off on tours around the school, allowing many to enjoy reminiscing about their time here as well as exploring some of the new additions since their last visit. The day came to an end with a delightful afternoon tea, which was accompanied by a chorus of Happy Birthday whilst the birthday cake was cut, and some delicious canapés made by Philip Friend himself. The dining room was full of lively chatter as people shared memories about St Catherine’s whilst reuniting with old friends and making many new ones.

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ST CATHERINE’S

Presents...

… THE BAND OF THE WELSH GUARDS THE BAND OF THE WELSH GUARDS RETURNED TO ST CATHERINE’S ON THE 3rd OCTOBER BY POPULAR DEMAND FOR AN ACTION-PACKED DAY of activities. In the morning, Prep School girls, and others from local schools, responded enthusiastically to the traditional pomp of a marching display, with the Guards in full ceremonial dress, including their bearskins. Afterwards the children couldn’t resist marching over the field swinging their arms!

In the afternoon the Senior Wind Band joined forces with some members of the Prep School Wind Band and 7 guardsmen to put together a performance of I Dreamed a Dream and Anything Goes in an enjoyable 40-minute rehearsal before giving a short concert to approximately 40 parents in the Prep School Hall. At the same time Concert Band practised for the spectacular evening concert. Concert Band took to the stage in the first half and thrilled audiences with medleys from Into the Woods and Pirates of the Caribbean, while the Welsh Guards continued the theme of Stage & Screen with, amongst others, a selection from West Side Story in the Second Half. Their programme was loudly applauded by the packed Auditorium with highlights being The Incredibles and a rousing encore of Cossack dances with soloists from the Band. It was a memorable day for girls and audiences.

Thank you so much for organising such a wonderful opportunity for my daughter. She was the youngest Prep School pupil to play in the Wind Band and loved sitting beside one of the Welsh Guards. She is still talking about the marching display and concert days later.

Current Parent Thank you so much for tonight. All my friends and I enjoyed the concert hugely. Hopefully the Band will be back again soon.

Alumna I would like to congratulate Concert Band for their professionalism throughout the day.

The Welsh Guards commented on how well disciplined they are and a pleasure to work alongside. They look forward to returning to St Catherine’s in the future for another day of music making.

Mr Ian Young, Director, St Catherine’s School Concert Band It was an enjoyable evening and a great learning experience, and it was a privilege to be able to play with the Welsh Guards.

Current Pupil It was a privilege playing with professional musicians and it was a lot of fun.

Current Pupil

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WHAT TO DO WITH A DEGREE IN ...?

WE CONTINUE TO HOST MORE CAREERS SESSIONS IN OUR SERIES, ‘WHAT TO DO WITH A DEGREE IN…’ These sessions have proved very popular with pupils considering degree courses and career paths in the featured subjects.

Alumnae are invited back to tell the girls about their personal experiences of choosing a university, a degree course, work experience and a career. Current pupils find the information and advice from recent graduates particularly valuable, especially as the seminars highlight the enormous range of different directions that their careers can take after a particular degree. All the events this year have been well attended by 5th and 6th formers as well as groups from local schools: Rodborough, George Abbott and Guildford County School.

At WHAT TO DO WITH A DEGREE IN GEOGRAPHY, attendees were fascinated to hear about roles as a Housing Development Manager for the Greater London Authority, a Corporate Real Estate Solicitor at Nabarro, an Assistant Producer for factual TV programmes and a Graduate Surveyor at BNP Paribas Real Estate. Attendees reported that they were interested to realise the breadth of career opportunities open to graduates in Geography.

At WHAT TO DO WITH A DEGREE IN THE ARTS, the returning alumnae had taken a range of Arts degrees from Foundation Art, Fine Art, Textile Design, History of Art and Architecture. The Art and Textiles Departments were particularly proud to see the girls now working as an Embroidery Designer at Alexander McQueen; Registrar at the Victoria Miro Gallery, London; Director

What to do with a degree in Geography?

of Zettler PR Agency and Project Architect at IID Architects (working on the 6 project at St Catherine’s!) The speakers wrote afterwards that …….

‘It was such a treat to speak to an engaged and supportive audience in a place so filled with memories!’

‘It felt really good imparting our advice and experiences. I hope we will inspire them in one way or another’.

At our most recent event, WHAT TO DO WITH A DEGREE IN MATHS OR PHYSICS, alumnae spoke to the girls about their careers as a Finance Manager at Save the Children, a Valuation Analytics Specialist at a financial technology company and the co-founder of a technology company providing realtime data and insights in smart cities and integrated transport systems. The girls were also interested to hear the experiences of the alumnae on their way to qualifying as a Chartered Accountant and a Patent Attorney.

We are indebted to our alumnae and parents for the time they give to our current pupils offering advice and work experience. If you are able to help give careers advice or offer invaluable work experience, do please get in touch at association@stcatherines.info

ARE YOU

Rosanna Ward (2006), Philippa SampsonBancroft (nee Bloomfield) (2001), Magalie Whitton (2012), Lucie Crawford (2009), Mrs. Weighell (Business & Careers), Mrs Mackness, Mrs Hetherington and Mrs White (Geography Dep’t)

What to do with a degree in the Arts?

Alice Panton (2007), Jess Meyer (2006), Helen Whateley (2006), Amelia Gibbs (2009)

What to do with a degree in Maths or Physics?

?

Join our ‘private’ group, open to all members of the Association. We have over 750 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.

Kazi Levick (2013), Anna Jordan (2011), Jess Bricknell (2009) Lizzie Elliott (2012) and Catherine Taylor (2013)

OUR FIRST HEAD WAS A SUFFRAGIST! SUSAN MATHER BURNETT – OUR FIRST HEADMISTRESS On 25th September 1885 St Catherine’s opened for business with 17 students and fees of £39 per annum. The Founders of the School appointed a Miss Susan Burnett as Headmistress. Until recently we have known very little about the first headmistress of St Catherine’s, except that she resigned two years later to become a missionary teacher in Japan.

No photographs, documents or reports of her seem to exist in the school records.

However, recently, the archivists have found some more information on her, most interestingly that she was a member of the Church League for Women’s Suffrage (CLWS), in the same group as Emily Davison. The CLWS was founded in 1909 with the intention to: ‘band together, on a non-party basis,

Suffragists of every shade of opinion who are Church people in order to secure for women the vote in Church and State, as it is or may be granted to men.’ Her 1926 obituary sheds more light on this interesting lady.

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EXPANDING THE ST CATHERINE’S GLOBAL NETWORK WITH THE INTRODUCTION OF AMBASSADORS RUSSIA ambassador.russia@stcatherines.info Masha Alieva (1999) CANADA ambassador.canada@stcatherines.info Emily Kinnon (Millard) (2010) Lesley Wormald (Catling) (1967) UNITED ARAB EMIRATES ambassador.uae@stcatherines.info Trudi Jones (Drake) (1993) Seema Buckley (Current Parent)

NIGERIA ambassador.nigeria@stcatherines.info Fey Bello (Adesanya) (2010) FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS, ST CATHERINE’S HAS HELD REGIONAL GATHERINGS IN THE UK and, more recently, we have held reunions around the world, which have been well attended and much appreciated. Given increasing globalisation and the growing number of members living overseas for periods of their lives, we would like to develop these international events into a more formal global network headed up by Ambassadors in countries with sufficient members.

We are delighted to announce the first of these and would encourage you to make contact with your country’s Ambassador.

Whilst providing an opportunity for those with a shared background of St Catherine’s to connect and socialise together, we hope that these networks will also provide professional and career support. Alumnae on gap years or on secondment overseas will have a point of contact. Current parents will be able to meet each other, and prospective parents, considering sending their daughters to St Catherine’s, will be able to learn more about the School first hand.

‘Miss Burnett’s life, in spite of serious heart trouble from early years, was one of ceaseless activity in the service of Christ. When ill health prevented her from completing her training as a hospital nurse, she became a teacher (at St Catherine’s), and after working for a time in England, she went to Japan and spent many years teaching there.

On her return, she became headmistress of the elementary school at Madingley (Cambridgeshire),’ but moved back to London on the death of her father, where she set up her own floristry business in Eccleston Street, Belgravia. In 1920 she ‘became a student at King’s College, in the hope that she would persuade the authorities to extend the degree to women. She passed the same exams as the men theological students but the diploma was refused her.

The enthusiasm, humility and perseverance of this woman undergraduate will surely not easily be forgotten by her fellow students….. She lived respected by all and loved by many.’

AUSTRALIA ambassador.australia@stcatherines.info Fiona Thomas (Former Staff )

We hope that all those living overseas will feel closer to the St Catherine’s family and we look forward to expanding this network even further in the coming months.

For more information please email the Association Office: association@stcatherines.info

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PRINCIPAL SOPRANO IN AMADEUS FLEUR DE BRAY (2002) WRITES: “In the summer of 2016 I was offered the principal soprano role of Katherina Cavalieri in a brand new production of Peter Shaffer’s Amadeus at the National Theatre, London.

I had no idea how immense and groundbreaking a production it would be. Two years on and the production has had two sell-out runs and has been screened to cinemas worldwide through the NT Live broadcast scheme.

In our version the creative team were passionate about bringing the play to life by involving a live orchestra and opera singers to perform the excerpts of music referenced in the play. In previous productions of the play, either the referenced music was not audible or a recording had been used. We performed on the Olivier stage and it allowed for the orchestra to be onstage with us, fully choreographed into the action.

My character, Cavalieri, enters as a young singing student of Salieri’s and as the play develops, her singing abilities and confidence soar and she exudes sensual appeal. She goes on to perform excerpts such as ‘Martern aller arten’ Die Entführung aus dem Serail (k.384), and the ‘Kyrie’ from the Mass in C minor (k.427) and the Queen of the Night’s famous aria ‘Der Hölle rache’ from Die Zauberflöte (k.620). With thirteen costume changes for my character, each show was as busy offstage as it was onstage and the period costumes in particular were exquisitely made. The Entführung outfit (a vast pineapple print dress accessorised with an impressive wig, topped with a fully rigged ship) required a number of fittings so that both dress and wig could be tailored exactly to my measurements.

I can honestly say that performing as principal soprano at the National Theatre has been the absolute highlight of my career.”

BACK TO SCHOOL CAROLINE BEABEY (LANGLEY)(1994) CAME TO ST CATHERINE’S IN KINDERGARTEN (NOW PPI) IN 1980. Araminta (Minty) her daughter joined PPII in 2016. Caroline tells us some of her memories and thoughts on Minty following in her footsteps.

The wonderful thing about St Catherine’s today is how much has changed since 1980 (in a good way) yet how, in so many ways, much remains the same.

Aged 4 on my first day at St Catherine’s, I was blissfully unaware of our first female Prime Minister or that The Police were number one in the record (yes, records) charts. What mattered was meeting my teacher (Mrs Taylor) and making new friends.

Dropping Minty off on her first day, the Hall, with its splendid new organ, looked quite familiar but now there were so many new classrooms, a wonderful sports hall and an IT room unimaginable in the 1980s. As Minty tells me about her days at school, happy memories of my own time at St Catherine’s come flooding back; from crossing the road for lunch (far more exotic menus today) to the sound of the same school bell.

Caroline with her daughter Minty

The play Amadeus was first performed in 1979 and made into the film version in 1984. The story focuses on the relationship between two composers of the late 18th century; Antonio Salieri and young prodigy Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. Largely narrated from the inner workings of Salieri’s increasingly jealous mind, we witness Mozart’s rise to stardom, the unfaltering genius of his music and the shock reaction to his energetic personality.

© Mark Brenner

Caroline’s Prep School photo

Directed by Michael Longhurst with designer Chloe Lamford and choreographer Imogen Knight, this production was to bring together a total cast of 14 actors, 6 opera singers and 20 orchestral players from the Southbank Sinfonia as one body of performers. I still remember on the first day of rehearsals the overwhelming impact of each actor/singer/ instrumentalist sharing their skill with the rest of the room.

Minty’s uniform looks identical to mine, although maybe less synthetic. By chance Minty is in Red House, just like me, but now inspired by Emmeline Pankhurst its female role model. New facilities like the Auditorium, the Dance Studio and the much improved swimming pool really set the girls up fearlessly for the future but I was so happy when Minty proudly said she now had a school hymn book as I once had. I love how much she enjoys exploring ‘the woods’ around the edge of the playground and coming home with conkers in her pockets, all of which takes me right back.

I remember my time at St Catherine’s fondly; at least one of the teachers is still there! I often think how lucky Minty and her friends are to enjoy the opportunities that technology has brought to St Catherine’s as well as all those new sports and arts facilities.

However, what makes me most happy for her is the sense of continuity in the School’s values and ethos. Minty’s homework might now involve getting out a computer to ‘log on’ (not an expression used in my time at school) or printing from the ‘internet’ (not even invented) but it makes me happy to see her and her classmates in Chapel, taking their boxes to Harvest Festival, crossing the road for swimming and watching the maypole dancing in 2018, just as I did in the 1980s.

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EDINBURGH TV FESTIVAL

‘ONES TO WATCH’ 2018

ROUND THE WORLD SKIPPER

YEAR OF 2009 STUDENTS, LUCIE CRAWFORD AND CARLY BROWN, WERE BOTH SELECTED TO TAKE PART IN THE PRESTIGIOUS EDINBURGH TELEVISION Festival’s ‘Ones to Watch’ talent scheme.

Both in the same school tutor group, they did their Theatre Studies A-Level together at St Cats, too, so they were very surprised to be two of the 30 people selected for the scheme this year!

The programme is a career development scheme designed for mid-level TV professionals, looking to transform their careers and give back to the industry. It involves five days of inspiring sessions with industry professionals, creative debate and unrivalled networking opportunities.

Some of the speakers at this year’s festival included Aysha Rafaele (BAFTA winning director), Jay Hunt (Creative Director of Video at Apple) and Ben Frow (Controller of Channel 5).

Carly currently works as in-house Editor at Whisper Films, cutting sports and factual programmes, including Formula One and the Winter Paralympics for Channel 4.

She is lined up to edit her first one-hour documentary later this year for Channel Five. Going on the ‘Ones to Watch’ scheme was an opportunity to hear about other television genres, in particular high-end drama and how to break into it.

Lucie works as an Assistant Producer at Darlow Smithson Productions, a company which is part of a larger group called 'Endemol Shine'. She works mainly on history programmes and she is currently an Assistant Producer for a six-part BBC Two series celebrating British Industry. Lucie used the scheme as an opportunity to see all the different career paths in factual television.

NIKKI HENDERSON (2011) WRITES: ‘The Clipper Round the World Race, described as the ‘Race of Your Life’, is a 40,000 nautical mile extreme endurance challenge.

12 identical 70ft boats, 750 amateur crewmembers, 11 months at sea. It is said that more people have summitted Everest than sailed round the world. In July, I became the youngest skipper in history to complete the race and finished 2nd!

My team, sponsored by Visit Seattle, was made up of 10 circumnavigators, and 50 ‘leggers’ (one or more legs). They represented 16 nationalities and aged between 18 and 70 years old. With 15 – 23 crew onboard for each race we sailed 24/7, with the longest race taking us 35 days. We lived to a strict schedule of 4-6 hour shifts: half the crew working (sailing and chores), half resting.

The route started in Liverpool in August 2017, down to Uruguay, then Cape Town, across the Southern Ocean to Australia, up to China, over the Pacific Ocean to Seattle, then transiting the Panama Canal, up to New York, east to Derry/Londonderry and finally home after 211 days at sea.

As skipper, the challenge was not so much about the sailing. Keeping a boat safe in 100+ mph winds with 50ft waves is relatively straightforward. Keeping a team together and motivated for 11 months, is not. Leadership and team building are words that we all put on our CV, but in a yacht race they can mean life and death. The crew pay for their place onboard - signing up for very different reasons: adventure, escape, challenge, friendship, love, inspiration.... They were high achievers, often leaders, in their professional lives. At 24, I had to hold their command and respect. The emotional intelligence, selfawareness, and professionalism this required was exhausting. Night and day, I had to make the right decisions, and live with the bad. It was relentless but exhilarating.

The leadership and management skills I now have would have taken me a lifetime to learn. Making the difficult decision not to go to University and pursue a sailing career finally feel like the right one to have made! But the biggest prize is what I have seen and the people I have met. Dolphins, whales, penguins, albatross – like something from David Attenborough. Places so remote that the International Space Station houses the closest humans. Sunsets like fire. Moon rises bright as the day. I have seen grown adults weep from exhaustion, and then watched them face waves as high as tower blocks, feeling as if they just conquered the world. Their spirit and passion for life was intoxicating. Such inspiring people - risking everything for an adventure, for a dream.

I was so lucky to have spent a year surrounded by my team.’

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THANK YOU FOR YOUR GENEROUS SUPPORT ON BEHALF OF THE GIRLS AT ST CATHERINE’S SCHOOL, I’D LIKE TO SAY A BIG THANK YOU TO ALL THOSE WHO HAVE MADE CHARITABLE DONATIONS TO THE SCHOOL IN THE LAST ACADEMIC YEAR. Your support makes such a difference. Those giving to the Annual Fund have given joy to girls age 4 to 7 who have watched ducklings hatch and studied their life cycle. They have also given Physics students the gift of technology to help them log data results during their experiments.

Alumnae and parents supporting the Bursary Programme are giving bright girls with potential the opportunity to walk under the red brick arches, delve into their favourite subjects and be part of a plethora of extra-curricular activities be they on the lax field, in the orchestra pit or on stage. One

parent whose daughter has just started at St Catherine’s writes ‘If I could write to every person who has given towards the bursary funds to say ‘thank you’ I would. The changes we are seeing in our daughter are testament to the School and your amazing staff.’

Our campaign to ‘Create the Future’ at St Catherine’s continues apace. You are invited to join in support if you’d like to inspire the scientists of the future, ignite girls’ imaginations and creativity or shape the business and civic leaders of the future. We hope to begin the build of The 6 – the new Sixth Form space with boarding accommodation and a large social common room for all 6th formers in July 2019. We hope this will then be followed swiftly by The CATalyst, a learning centre dedicated to the sciences, maths, digital learning and

MY FAMILY AT ST CATHERINE’S

She recalled the lightning strike and fire in 1907 which destroyed much of the main building and being then billeted with families in the village while rebuilding was underway.

If you would like to find out more about how to make a gift to education and St Catherine’s School, please do contact Pippa Carte, + 44 (0)1483 899754 or pippa.carte@stcatherines. info You can find more details about our current ‘Create the Future’ campaign on our website www.stcatherines.info/create-the-future

the following year. They had 2 daughters (my sister and me) and a son. Elizabeth and I both attended the Prep School and I continued into Senior School, enjoying life as a day girl in Austen House.

JANET MCGOWAN (BROWN) (1970) WRITES: ‘Besides being a Governor at the school I can claim a long and happy association with the school going back 3 generations.

In 1903 my grandmother Rhoda Jacobs (nee Higlett), who lived with her family in Guildford, was sent as a boarder, arriving by train at the local Bramley halt. She “took some time to settle” but found much comfort in the Chapel with services every day, twice on some!

research. Ensuring equal investment in the arts and sciences, our final project will be the Art&Maker Space extension to the John Palmer Centre. Thank you to all of those who have already joined the community of support and taken up the mantle of past generations in investing in St Catherine’s and the incredible opportunities it offers girls.

She left in 1910 and married in 1917 during my grandfather’s leave from the Front Line.

They had a single child, Barbara, who in turn attended the school in 1930, enjoying her time and becoming Head of Merriman House and matriculating in 1938.

She entered medical school in 1939 in London, only to be then evacuated to North Wales.

In 1947 she qualified and married my father, also a Guildford man,

In 1970 my mother, then a local doctor, was asked to join the Board of Governors, just as I left school, and was a keen and regular attendee, sitting on several committees and overseeing many advancements. She was particularly interested in the buildings, education in Science, and the welfare of the pupils.

I also continued into a career in medicine and eventually became an anaesthetist working in Sussex, but was then delighted to follow her footsteps and joined the Board of Governors some three years after she left it.

I have chaired the Pastoral and Wellbeing Committee and been Deputy Chair of the Board for many years now, enjoying a closeup view of the school and always admiring the pervading “can do” attitude!

Last year Barbara passed away aged 96, after several sad years with dementia. We, her family, decided to donate money to the new ‘Create the Future’ vision and the CATalyst centre in her memory, from her will, by deed of variation, an easy process and one which we felt she would fully endorse, given her love and affection for the school. A pear tree will be planted in the School grounds which will mark our family’s long association across the years with our much-loved school.”

If you are interested in the idea of leaving a donation in your Will to St Catherine’s do contact Pippa Carte, Development Director on 01483 899754 or pippa.carte@stcatherines.info for an informal conversation. You can also find out more online at www.stcatherines.info/development

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

SPOTLIGHT ON DR PUECH – HEAD OF PHYSICS THERE’S ONE TEACHER WHO IS VERY KEEN TO SHARE HER LOVE OF SCIENCE IN THE CATALYST. With a little Q&A interview time, we found out why she’s putting her energy behind the Create the Future campaign.

I am not saying that everyone will be a scientist. Even classic jobs like marketing, that have usually been associated with intuition or experience, are fast changing due to the prevalence of big data. I feel, very strongly, that in a world that is becoming ever more scientific, a firm grounding in these subjects will ensure girls are far better equipped to compete successfully and tackle the social, political and environmental challenges of our world.

What appeals to you about working at St Catherine’s?

Where did you grow up?

I grew up in a town called Meerut, in India.

This is where the Sepoy Mutiny of 1857, against British rule, took place.

What is your earliest memory?

Lying under a mosquito net and looking up at the stars, concerned that a plane flying overhead would drop an atom bomb which would come through the mesh in my net (this was during the India Pakistan war; I must have heard someone talking about how small atoms were!). I also remember being scared that our house would blow up when we got gas in the kitchen for the first time. I was clearly a worrier!

What drew you to the sciences when you were at School?

When I chose to study Physics at university, it was only because it was a subject I really enjoyed at school! I didn’t have an idea of what I wanted to do as a career. But now, if I were going around again, I’d make exactly the same choice, because Physics and the rest of the sciences are critical to our future.

St Catherine’s is similar to the school I went to. Although it is a LOT nicer! I like the idea of teaching girls and I enjoy the camaraderie in the school. I feel that St Catherine’s is about so much more than academic success; the atmosphere helps the girls develop into strong and confident young women who will go on to be leaders in the future.

What is your most amusing or embarrassing classroom story?

I have always been very wary of the Van de Graaff generator (a device for creating high voltage). During one lesson I obviously let my guard down and got too close, resulting in a massive (hyperbole) lightning strike (literally) between the generator and my hand. I did not find it particularly amusing, but the pupils did.

Why are girls so under-represented in scientific careers?

Actually, at St Cat’s we do buck the trend. We do have a lot of girls opting for Maths and the Sciences. Over 38% of our girls went on to study science subjects at University last year. We have alumnae such as Dr Anne-Lise Goddings (2000) working in the Institute of Cognitive Neuroscience at UCL, unlocking the teenage brain. That is certainly a big

challenge! Professor Beverley McKeon (1992) is Professor of Aeronautics at California Institute of Technology and tackling carbon emissions caused by aircraft turbulence. I could go on; we have alumnae working in neuroscience, metallurgy, manufacturing …

So, you support the School’s investment in the sciences and the plans for The CATalyst?

Yes! Everywhere that we have invested in school – such as the Anniversary Halls our amazing musical facilities or the sports facilities - we have seen huge returns in terms of participation, excitement and success.

Now it is time for the same to happen to Science, Maths and Technology. If we want to inspire the girls, we need inspirational spaces.

How will it make a difference to the girls’ learning?

We need spaces where the sciences come together with Maths and Technology; spaces where interesting displays arouse curiosity and discussion, and nurture the scientists and innovators of the future. I believe that there is headroom for a girls' school that is distinctive in Science and Technology and I believe that can be us.

Ok, we hear your passion! Tell us three things your pupils might not know about you?

Growing up in India, I refused to speak English as a child, as I felt it was elitist!

When I met my husband for the first time (aged 15), I thought a good chat up line was, ‘ask me anything – I’m a Physics guru!’ I clearly had a high opinion of myself.

When I first came to Europe I thought double yellow lines were the cycle lane. I was cycling for two years before someone told me they were nothing to do with cyclists!

As a good scientist can you defend that statement?!

If you consider any of the big problems facing us at the moment - be it pollution of the land or sea, global warming or the emergence of superbugs, and I can think of so many more - these can only be solved by Science.

These things will shape our lives and we owe it to our children to ensure that they are fully geared up to take on these challenges.

If we look at the jobs of the future, everybody these days is talking about Artificial Intelligence or big data. Some people are beginning to talk about cognitive neuroscience. We can’t even imagine the jobs our children will have, but what we can say for sure is that they will require scientific grounding.

Dr Puech along with with fellow St Catherine’s Physics teacher Dr Suleman on the U5 trip to Thorpe Park

JOIN US IN LAGOS, NIGERIA WE ARE DELIGHTED TO ANNOUNCE OUR FIRST REUNION IN LAGOS, NIGERIA, in December. Mrs Alice Phillips, Mrs Dawn Pilkington and Ms Pippa Carte are travelling just before Christmas and look forward to meeting up with all members of the St Catherine's Nigerian community who will be in Lagos at this time.

IN RECOGNITION & THANKS Elly (2011) and Lucy Courage (2014) planted a pear tree in recognition of the gift made by their grandmother, Mrs Margaret Courage, in her Will to the School. Assisted

by Mrs Alice Phillips, Mrs Penny Harris, their Musgrave Housemistress, and Head Gardener Emma Browne. Sisters Alex (2009) and Pip (2013), watched via a video link.

There will be a reception on Wednesday 19th December at the Federal Palace Hotel, Lagos between 6.30pm8.30pm where drinks and 'small chops' will be served!

There will be plenty of time to reconnect and socialise with former St Catherine’s girls and for past, present and prospective parents to mingle. Please spread the word as we may not have contact details for everyone. We look forward to catching up with all your news. To book your place please email: association@stcatherines.info

ALUMNAE VISITS Since September we have been pleased to welcome back several alumnae to visit and tour the school: Paula Scott (1982) emigrated to Auckland, New Zealand, at the end of U5 in 1980 and had not been back to the school since.

She is over on an extended holiday visiting family and friends and as she was in the area wanted to see how the school had changed. She was delighted that the boarding staff let her see how things have changed since her time in Bronte and Keller boarding houses.

Fee Voon Hew (1990) was a full boarder from Malaysia joining the school for the 6th Form.

She is currently the Finance Director of Westlake International School in Malaysia and was over visiting schools in the UK with her headmistress, Sherry Ann Daniel.

Fee loved showing Sherry the chapel and marvelled at how the Speech Hall Library had evolved.

Clare Granger (Cooper) (1979) came for a visit after meeting our Headmistress Mrs Alice Phillips at a conference. Clare had also not been back since leaving and although she trained as a lawyer she is now an artist and portrait painter, as well as being governor of a girls’ school in the North of England.

If you are ever in the area, please let us know and we would be delighted to give you a personal tour of the school.

ST CAT’S GOES NORTH DAWN PILKINGTON AND FIONA HAYWOOD, FROM THE ASSOCIATION TEAM, ARE TRAVELLING NORTH IN NOVEMBER TO CATCH-UP WITH OUR ALUMNAE in five exciting cities. We hope one is near you so that you can join us for drinks and nibbles from 6-8pm on the following dates: Birmingham, Monday 12th, Bubble Lounge Nottingham, Tuesday 13th, Pitcher & Piano Leeds, Wednesday 14th, The Decanter Durham, Thursday 15th, Whisky River Edinburgh, Friday 16th, Copper Blossom

We welcome the opportunity to meet up with anyone from the St Catherine's community at university or living in the surrounding areas. Please feel free to drop in at any time during the evening.

To book your place and spread the word.

Email: association@stcatherines.info or 01483 899781 to confirm your attendance!

ASSOCIATION CHOIR THAT ROCKS THIS LIGHT-HEARTED CHOIR AND BAND ENJOYED FOUR WEEKS of fun packed rehearsals before kicking off the second half of the 2018 Rock & Jazz Concert. ‘Human’ by Rag ‘n’ Bone Man was enjoyed by everyone and we took the theme of the music video to dictate our dress code, all blacks and greys!

BEING IN CONTROL OF YOUR DATA AND OUR FUNDRAISING PROMISE We take your personal privacy seriously. We have a Confidentiality and Data Privacy Policy that is available on the St Catherine’s School website under ‘School Policies’. Communications we send might include publications, surveys, appeals and event marketing and may be sent by post, telephone or email. We will never release your details to any third parties for their use for marketing purposes. We are committed to high standards of fundraising, being open and honest, respectful of you and accountable for the support you give us. We adhere to the Institute of Fundraising Codes of Best Practice and as a charity are registered with the Fundraising Regulator. Our Fundraising Promise and Vulnerable Adults commitments are on the Development section of the website. If at any time you would like to change your preferences, please call Dawn Pilkington on 01483 899692 or email assocation@stcatherines.info Thank you.

Nobis

non

• • • • •

Non Nobis Domine!

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

The opening of the school hymn Rudyard Kipling