both large and small, right across the School from the Prep School through to the Sixth Form and in both Senior Schools. She regularly supported the string sections in the main orchestras too, taking excellent sectional rehearsals, and was
Russell Garner.
In his early days here he was the focus of much interest as he lived on a canal boat. In the early 2000s this was a novelty – Russell was living off-grid before the grid was invented. In the classroom, countless Berkhamsted students have benefited from his skills in teaching painting, drawing and photography. In addition, the art staff too have been able to learn some of the intricacies of Adobe Photoshop under his guidance. Russell leaves us to be able to spend more time with his family up north and also to develop his professional painting career. As of September, he will be based at the Open Door gallery and studios on Berkhamsted High Street. Thank you for all your creative input during a fantastic career at Berkhamsted and we all wish you well for the future. Louise Gent
always ready to step in and conduct when needed. She was an active member of the Prep’s carousel team and probably thousands of children have benefited from having violin lessons with her over her 26 years at Berkhamsted. She also initiated and set up a Y2 String Initiative to give all the children at the Pre-Prep the opportunity to experience learning the violin and she ran a summer holiday string course for youngsters as a part of Basecamp’s early incarnation. The pupils in those ensembles will always remember her kindness, expertise and commitment as well as the tubs of chocolates she managed to produce in rehearsals, just when energy levels might have started to flag. As a dedicated Music teacher, she was appreciated by her many pupils and was known for preparing them thoroughly for exams from
Jane McClelland Jane joined the ranks of the Music Department in 1993 and taught individual violin and viola lessons across the School. She soon became Head of Strings and relished every opportunity to become entrenched in the music ensemble programme. She set up and directed ensembles, 118 | The Old Berkhamstedian 2020
Jane McClelland.