THOGA Newsletter TALBOT HEA TH OL D GIRL S A SSOCIATION
July 2011
Celebrating
Years of Excellence in Education
Old girls, governors, staff, pupils and parents came together on Friday 1st April for a day of celebration, thanksgiving and remembrance as Talbot Heath marked its 125th Birthday. Former pupil Baroness Shirley Williams gave a birthday address, echoing our motto – Honour Before Honours – as she explained the need ‘to look beyond one’s own self interests and think about how we can best serve our community’. The Baroness officially opened the newlyrefurbished air-raid shelter, remembering her own experiences of the war. Pilot Officer Cecil Henry Hight, a New Zealander in the Royal Air Force, was specifically remembered. On 15th August 1940, he deliberately piloted his stricken plane away from the built up area of the town to crash on the corner of Leven Avenue and Walsford Road, near to the school. Afternoon celebrations included a 125 years fashion show of TH uniforms and period costumes; period hockey and tennis matches; war time recipes and cookery demonstrations; an extensive display of archive material and performances of “The Mischling”. Ex-pupil Louise Garcia’s play is based on the true story of Jewish children who were evacuated from Nazi Germany and came to Talbot Heath. A number of our audience members were themselves evacuees on Kindertransport trains. In the evening a champagne reception and musical concert included present and former pupils. Our new Head, Mrs Holloway, was touched that the “whole community, aged 3 to well beyond 93, has come together to share its experiences and memories of a school which holds 125 years of rich history.”
Scenes from Talbot Heath’s special day
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THOGA Newsletter
President’s Repor t “Clear vision... high expectations... excellent results... exceptional progress... broad curriculum... small classes... excellent personal development... extremely good care... a nurturing environment... a wide range of extracurricular activities... extremely positive and supportive relationships... exemplary behaviour... skilfully chosen learning tasks... articulate, self-assured, highly reflective pupils... bright, spacious, beautiful natural surroundings... Early Years provision which is outstanding in every respect...” I am delighted to report some of the many positive findings of the ISI inspectors who visited us in March. Clearly Talbot Heath School is maintaining its high standards of education and ensuring that its pupils flourish. My thanks go to the staff for their hard work, skill and dedication.
The whole school is very proud of its excellent report. I would also like to thank the Old Girls for their kind words of support and thanks regarding the 125 birthday celebrations. I was delighted that so many former pupils came back (from all corners of the globe) to join in our wonderful celebrations. I am very keen to develop further opportunities for Old Girls to participate in school events that we are planning in the coming months. I believe that strong links between current and former pupils can be beneficial in so many ways, as was evident from the sense of shared belonging and pride in their school at the school birthday event. Angharad Holloway, Head
Memories & Stories Last summer, when I became Editor of the Chronicle and the Newsletter, I had no idea how much fun it would be. Many of my life experiences since leaving TH 50 years ago: skills used in running a small hotel in Bournemouth, organising events for Britain’s top hairdressers, and bringing up four children, were suddenly very pertinent. We had little time to gather your news, but we did the best we could and filled the Chronicle with it. Thanks are due to all the Group Secretaries for their hard work. The success of any venture is the strength of the team and we are so fortunate. All those who were involved in the birthday
celebrations contributed more than could be imagined. It’s impossible to thank them all individually but the Head and I have received so many congratulatory letters and cards that say it all. People felt welcome, they had time to recount nostalgic memories and catch-up on stories; there was delicious food and lots to see and do. It was a happy day, one which will stay in the memory. If you weren’t able to take part please look at the photos and reports on our website: www.talbotheath.org. Next year? A garden party to celebrate the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee on 29th June at Talbot Heath – be there if you can! Celia Wood, Editor
Gratitude Our grateful thanks go to Jane Hosking, Editor of the OGA Chronicle and the Newsletter for the past 10 years. Jane had to combine these duties with teaching in school and caring for loved ones who were ill, so thank you Jane for all your hard work – it has been greatly appreciated.
Jane, pictured at the 125 event.
We also say goodbye and thank you to Lorraine Lacey, THOGA Secretary since 2009. Lorraine, who is the school’s Desktop Publisher, stepped into the breach when calls for a new secretary were unmet. THOGA might have drifted away entirely without her intervention. We are grateful for her vital work in updating the database, handling correspondence, co-ordinating members’ mailings, and also formatting the Chronicle for printing – all done in record time. It is impossible to over-estimate the hours required to keep track of members’ details, when we have about 1,600 current members.
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July 2011
Old Girls’ Reunions Is this you - Group H2? Did you leave TH from Upper 6 in 1964, Upper 5 in 1962, or Lower 6 in 1963? Several of us met at the 125 reunion and were amazed at how much we loved it! The years (too many of them!) rolled away, and we were back at school – to laugh and share together, yet with the wisdom of all the years in between to understand and appreciate ourselves and others more than we used to! So we're arranging a year-group reunion on Friday September 9th 2011 at Marsham Court Hotel, Bournemouth, with coffee, lunch, an afternoon visit to Talbot Heath and tea – or as much as each person can manage. We’ve contacted over 30 of the group, and seek contact details for the rest: if that includes you, please email me, Dawn Cuthbertson (Guinness), and I'll
Diary Dates
send you information: mandd.cuthbertson@tiscali.co.uk. If you prefer to phone, please call Fiona Rogers (Barrie) at 01590-672576 (evenings and weekends) or mobile 07833 453986. It would be great to see you! The next School reunion will be September 22nd 2012 to feature Groups B2, C2, I2, J2, R2, S2, Y2 and Z2. PS Don’t forget the Friends Reunited page under Talbot Heath School – Reunions. If other groups are planning reunions in the next year, do let Celia Wood know. 50 Years On! A get-together is planned in summer 2012 for members of Group F2 and their classmates. Details and invitations to follow later; meanwhile please encourage any non-OGA-member contemporaries you're still in touch with to send their contact details to Lynne (Pheasey), so they too can be invited: lynneandpat_ferguson@tiscali.co.uk.
You are invited to join in a range of school events
Tuesday 11th October 2011 A fund-raising dinner and talk given by Lee Durrell, widow of Gerald Durrell (1925-1995), the wellknown naturalist, zookeeper, conservationist, author, and television presenter. Tickets are £20 each. Thursday 1st December Christmas Tea Party for former pupils and staff in the Jubilee Hall, 3-5 pm. £7.50 per person, please apply by 18th November. This year we hope to have carols! Friday 29th June 2012 the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Garden Party from 3 pm – details to be announced later.
Christmas Tea Party 2010: Mary Allan (Huxtable) and Janet Prime. It may have snowed outside but inside the West Hants Club a dozen of us enjoyed a little Christmas cheer.
Other dates, to be announced: There will be a series of lunchtime lectures, school productions and concerts throughout the year. They events will be particularly suitable for those living within a 25 mile radius of the school but are not limited to them. If you would like tickets for any of the above events, or wish to be included on the mailing list, please contact Celia Wood.
Group News
Three people have kindly volunteered to be Group Secretaries … thank you!
Emily Bolden for Group L3, 2010 Leavers. Contact her at: 18 Seacombe Road, Poole, Dorset BH13 7RJ or email: emily.bolden@lineone.net Amy Yeoman for Group M3, 2011 Leavers. Email her at: amy.yeoman1@btinternet.com Debbie Driver takes on Group M2, 1974-5 Leavers, as Jane Edwards steps down from the role. Debbie’s address is: 22 Wickham Drive, Corfe Mullen, Wimborne, Dorset BH21 3JT; tel: 01202 242067; email: driver.family22@virginmedia.com Thanks to Jane too for her help.
THOGA Officers
- Contact Details
Secretary/Editor: Celia Wood (F2) tel: 01747 870930 (home), 01202 761881 (school) email: celiarwood@aol.com Treasurer: Janet Stone (K2) tel: 01179 586666 email: info@stoneandpartners.co.uk Staff Rep: Judith Habgood (K2) tel: 01202 424540 email: jhabgood@talbotheath.org
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THOGA Newsletter
Could you be a Group Secret ar y? If you are computer literate and confident in using email and spreadsheets, perhaps you could spare a little time to help? Every two years you would need to gather news from your members for the Chronicle and send it to the Editor. Apart from that, your duties would be to maintain links (and instigate meetings, if your group wish to). When necessary you would be provided with a spreadsheet for the group you are responsible for, and any admin expenses would be reimbursed. You don’t have to be in the Group you are responsible for, and groups vary in size.
We have the following vacancies:-
Group W Group L2 Group O2b Group W2 Group X2 Group Y2 Group Z2 Group F3 Group G3 Group K3
1937-48 1961-1973 1967-1980 Leavers 1995 Leavers 1996 Leavers 1997 Leavers 1998 Leavers 2004 Leavers 2005 Leavers 2009
Contact Celia Wood for more information before committing yourself, if you are able to help in this way. Every help will be given, so don’t think it will be too much work.
Alumni/School Development Fund Of ficer From 1st September 2011, Celia Wood will fill the post of Alumni/School Development Fund Officer. Reporting to the Head, Mrs Holloway, she will maintain links with former pupils and enhance the reputation of the school, raising funds for future development and bursaries in accordance with the School Strategy Plan. Celia will take over
the THOGA Secretary’s role from Lorraine and will be responsible for the Newsletter. She will continue as Editor of The Chronicle, which is to be published again in 2013. Celia can be contacted at home on 01747 870930 and celiarwood@aol.com (or messages can be left at school on 01202 761881 if she is not available).
School News: An Enchanted Evening Talbot Heath is known for fostering talent across a wide spectrum of artistic activities, and that talent was showcased during the Autumn term’s sell-out performances of ‘Beauty and the Beast.’ Adapted from the RSC play and directed by Mrs Adlam, The production had all the ingredients of an entertaining show: talking furniture, an exploding horse, and the spiteful ‘ugly sisters’, a perfect duo of Head Girl Alex McGinn and Year 10’s Yolanda Moore. The lead roles were convincingly played by Grace Taylor and Maxine Khalil: the audience collectively
Deaths Notified
jumped in their seats when Beast entered from the back of the hall with a powerful roar! Mrs Holloway was impressed by the ‘creativity and flair’ of the girls and pleased “that the whole school community worked together to create such a superb production”. The costumes were sumptuous, the set, stunning and the original music composed by Mr Hill was beautifully performed by Year 11 pupil Nathalie GreenBuckley. Well done to all the girls for their commitment and energy in providing a splendid entertainment.
since The Chronicle Group
Mrs Zoe Westwood (Johnson) Miss Jennie Cockshoot Mrs Joan Ball (Wiltshire) Mrs Lorna Pople (Norris) (aged 102)
X B2 N L
Sara Cousins (1970-2011) It is with great sadness that we learn of the untimely death of Sara Cousins, (Group P2) daughter of the C2 Group Secretary, Jill Cousins (nee Drury). Sara's father predeceased her by only two weeks; our heartfelt condolences go out to Jill.
July 2011
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Spor ting Highlights It has been another incredibly busy and very successful year on the court, the pitch and in the pool!
Germany, Sweden and Denmark. In September she has been invited to participate at the UK School Games in Sheffield so we wish her all the very best.
Congratulations to the Year 8 and 10 tennis teams who won the AEGON National Finals in Bolton in December! It’s the first time in the 27 year history of the competition that a single school has won both junior and senior events. TH has been featured in numerous publications for this achievement and the quote I gave at the time is: “The girls are tremendous ambassadors of Talbot Heath and I am so proud of their team spirit and drive throughout the entire weekend – the players fully deserved the title of best tennis school in the country”.
The Netball teams have had a successful season with the U14 team achieving joint 5th in the Regional Finals. The U12 team won the Hanford Invitational Tournament, the Bournemouth Area Tournament and then went on to be crowned Dorset U12 champions as well. In Athletics once again Talbot Heath was overall winning school in the Bournemouth Town Sports at junior and senior school level; 19 athletes were then invited to represent Bournemouth at the Dorset County finals and Grace Howie was also invited to attend the South West Regional Finals.
The winning Year 8 and 10 tennis teams with Miss Hardy (left) and Mrs Holloway (right).
In the PE department we try to ensure there are opportunities aplenty for those that do not enjoy team games, so we have introduced dodge ball, street dance, gymnastics on an inflatable tumbling track, wave boarding, rocket ball, surfing at Boscombe, scuba diving and crazy catch, to name but a few! In addition we have brought back the ski trip and 81 girls came to Stowe, Vermont in the USA in Easter 2010. The trip included a stay in the New York Hilton Hotel and shopping along Fifth Avenue. Next Easter we head to the west coast to ski at Lake Tahoe and end the visit with a stay at the Radisson Hotel along Fisherman’s Wharf in San Francisco.
Our School is now ranked Number 1 girls school for tennis by the Lawn Tennis Association and, due to the excellent depth of players we currently have, the girls have also qualified for the Aberdare Cup National Finals in July. Talbot Heath has been voted Dorset Tennis School of the Year in recognition of the girls’ outstanding year on court. Having qualified sixteenth the intermediate Swimming team came 8th in the medley relay in the English Schools Swimming National Finals held in Stockport which was a fantastic achievement. The senior Badminton team once again qualified for the Center Parcs National Finals in April. It was unfortunate however, for a number of reasons; we were unable to field our strongest team, although the team still achieved a very credible 5th place. Lynnlette Aung has had a sensational year on the Badminton court and won the individual National Championships. She has also represented England and came runner –up in the Six Nations competing in France against the Netherlands, France,
There has also been a water sports trip to Rockley in the South of France which incorporates pico and dart sailing, windsurfing, kayaking, mountain biking and body boarding; and we look forward to Rockley France again this summer. Mrs Button will be retiring at the end of this academic year and we wish her all the best for the future. Lauren Marks will be joining the department in September and we are looking forward to her joining the team. Helen Hardy Head of Physical Education
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THOGA Newsletter
THOGA Accounts THOGA BALANCE SHEET AT 31 MARCH 2011
THOGA INCOME & EXPENDITURE A/C YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2011
Income Life subscriptions Donations Reunion fees and sales Christmas tea party Chronicle Interest received Expenditure Honorarium Reunion expenses Tea party expenses Post and stationery Leaving gifts Catering
31/03/2011 £
31/03/2010 £
1050.00 10.00 648.50 82.50 15.00 84.03 1890.03
1700.00 0 0 0 0 157.44 1857.44
300.00 501.68 79.00 1615.12 82.29 0 2578.09
0 0 0 0 0 0 0.00
Net income/expenditure -688.06 Inc & exp a/c b'fwd 14213.57 Inc & exp a/c c'fwd 13525.51
31/03/201131/03/2010 £ £
Cash at bank Current account 1700.19 Deposit account 6932.22 National Savings 5093.10 Cash 0 Investment 3.5% War Stock 50.00 Debtor for membership subs 0 Accruals -250.00 13525.51 Represented by: Income &exp a/c 13525.51
310.54 7324.93 5018.10 10.00 50.00 1700.00 -200.00 14213.57 14213.57
Regis ter of Talent Ruth Peacock is keen to develop a register of Old Girls who might be willing and able to offer current pupils some career advice, mentoring or guidance. If you would like to become involved in this project, please email: ruth.peacock@bbc.co.uk
1857.44 12356.13 14213.57
Notes There will be a new Old Girls database from September 2011, which will allow more integration with School. It will preserve the integrity and accuracy of our information if everyone completes the Address & Contact Details form below and returns it as soon as possible. The Dorothea Rowe memorial garden around the school’s lily pond is going to be extended this summer to include a Garden of Memory. More details to come later in the year. A 125 birthday DVD featuring images of the celebration day is now available from Celia Wood, at a cost of £10. All profits from the sale of these will go to the Guild of Help.
Address and Contact Details Could everyone please complete and return this slip to: Mrs Celia Wood (THOGA), Peel House, High Street,
Tisbury, Salisbury, Wiltshire SP3 6PS or email to: celiarwood@aol.com by 1st September 2011. Name …………………………………………………………………......... Maiden Name………………………………………………. Group/Year of leaving school ……...........…... Address …………..………...........……..…………………............................……… …………..………………………………………………………………………….........................………… Postcode ………................ Telephone (home) ………………........………… (work ………......................…………… (mobile)…......................................…… Email ……….................................................…………………………………….
Remembering Delia 1942 – 2010 It was September 1954 when a small group of eleven year olds arrived for the first time at St Margaret’s House. We were wearing our new Sunday suits, white shirt and school tie and, horror of horrors, brown lisle stockings held up by a suspender belt, if we had a waist, or suspenders attached to a fleecy liberty bodice, if we didn’t. We were to be in Flaghead Dorm (top-floor back, over the kitchens) and our ‘Head of Dorm’ was Delia Legge, who had come up from the ‘Juniors’. That night we were subdued as we cuddled beneath our eiderdowns or woollen rugs but, as days became weeks we drove Delia to distraction as we did terrible things to ‘Monkey’, her pyjama case and refused to stop talking after ‘lights out’. But Delia, always to be the life and soul of any party, jollied us along and with her we learned how to live as a family. She played all the latest popular songs for us on the Junior Com piano, she sang the opening verse of the Boar’s Head Carol before Christmas lunch and she regularly played for Chapel. And Delia had no fear of authority! Of course ‘every family has its ups and downs from time to time’ and the dorm of ’54 was no exception. We ganged up on each other and we teased each other, sometimes quite dangerously. Best friends at eleven fell out once adolescence kicked in and we competed to have a boyfriend at home, to own our first Cuban heels and to wear the latest fashion into Sunday Chapel. In our year, Delia, with her dark good looks and regular shopping trips to the West End during the holidays, led the way. After College, Delia worked as a secretary in the West-End, she married Tony Orbell and brought up two children. She was active in her local Rotary Club, finding interesting speakers and continually fund raising for Charity. Once the family had fled the nest she worked for the MD of the ‘Iain Rennie Hospice at Home’ which has a very high profile in the Chilterns, continuing as a volunteer after her retirement until she became too ill. Friends remember her in different ways: “I lectured to her Rotary Group where she was clearly a live wire and active in finding speakers.” “She and her parents were generous to boarders with family far away. I recall being taken out on exeat weekends for elegant teas and being struck by her mother’s stylish clothes.” “I stayed with them once so that we could go to some London museums and galleries which was wonderful.” “Don’t forget to add what a clever needlewoman she was. She created the most beautiful clothes and cushions and other items of soft-furnishing and toys.” Eventually the dorm of ‘54 left Talbot Heath and we followed many different careers. Some went to each other’s weddings, some just sent Christmas cards. It was not until the Centenary celebrations at school that a few from that original group met and then made the effort to meet again on an annual basis for lunch at a central London hotel. Over recent years we have found lost members and have included those from the years above and below us in the ‘House’, And so it was that we were there, as ‘family’ should be, to encourage Delia in her fight against the terrible cancer that eventually got the better of her. It was her dignity and courage at the end of her life that will always be such an inspiration to us. Elegant and forthright to the end, Delia, we shall miss you! Delia Legge (Orbell) Talbot Heath 1950-59 Delia is succeeded by her daughter Stephanie, her son Keith and by four grand children. Editorial Note: This contribution was put together by the following Old Girls: Barbara Powell (Knights), Philippa Fox-Robinson (Glanville), Anna Morgan (Evans), Lynette Kenroy (Albrighton), Margaret Partridge (Casey), Jenny Ball (Westaway), Margaret Davies (Morgan), Katrina Rogers (Warren) who say, “We hope that it offers some light-hearted insight into what life was like for boarders in the '50s. More importantly, it shows how our up-bringing at TH influenced our lives after school, in giving to the community, as Delia did, both through the Rotary and her work with the Hospice. Showing how caring for each other has survived over 55+ years!”