Former Teacher Feature – Manu Grice

Former teacher feature

Manu Grice first came to work at St Swithun’s in 1995 and taught German and Spanish for two years before taking a career break to have her twin boys. She returned in 2002 part time and stayed on for another 16 years!

Manu remembers many happy times working with her colleagues. They used to celebrate department birthdays in whatever outrageous ways they could come up with… one year they created a Standard Poodle called Gloria as a wife for the House Mistress’ dog. They even mounted it on wheels in DT so they could pull it along!

She loved the school trips to Rhineland and Normandy with the U4s and Christmas assemblies too. When Dr Harvey left, Manu remembers she and other staff hilariously created a St Trinian’s style story book complete with photos. There was a deep friendship with those in her department and she misses that although they visit her from time to time in her new cottage. Originally, on retirement, Manu and her husband had planned to buy a B&B on the Isle of Wight but that sale fell through and they bought a cottage instead. It was a serendipitous change of plan that led them to their new village; a lively place with a wonderful community spirit.

Manu explained that during the pandemic their local delivery driver’s van broke down and he couldn’t afford to fix it or replace it, as it was customised for his disability and therefore very expensive. Within hours, the community had raised enough money to get it repaired and for the next two weeks they took turns delivering his parcels so he wouldn’t lose his job. Add to that the beautiful beaches and rolling countryside and it’s not difficult to see why they are happy there. Recently Manu was able to visit her family in Germany for the first time in two years. Whilst she was there, she swam in a glacier lake but cold water swimming is not unusual for her as she normally swims in the sea every day from May to October… and of course, on New Year’s Day! Who doesn’t?!

Alongside swimming and feeling guilty from time to time about not working, Manu also manages to enjoy gardening and painting. She loves to create seascapes and pet portraits and has just been offered her first commission after a friend saw Manu’s painting of a lurcher. She helps out at a local playgroup and of course is learning a new language! This time it is Welsh and with the help of an app on her phone she is picking up new vocabulary every day. “Now I know how the L4s felt learning German!” she laughed. ■