CLASS NOTES
1978 about the teachers I wanted to emulate. Mary Kirwan was one of them.”
looking forward to the next part of her adventure back in the UK. She will be missed!
Mary looks forward to being contacted by students and staff and can be reached at: mary.kirwan@gmail.com.
Mary says that she has always enjoyed her time at UWCSEA and what she will miss most when she moves on is the multiculturalism of the College as well as her colleagues and of course her students, who she says have “lit up my life.” She says, “It has been a rollercoaster of an adventure with never a dull moment.” It will be difficult to leave, but she is
More 2009 Staff Leavers Gareth Barlow, 2006 - 2009 Outdoor Education, Leader, Grades 6, 7 Tioman expeditions and Grade 8 Chiang Mai and Ropes Course. “I have had a fantastic time during my three years at UWCSEA in what I think must be one of the best jobs in the world. I will miss many things - friendly students, waking up for work on a tropical beach, forcing children to walk up hill and making so many wonderful friends! Heading to Switzerland and Africa.”
Catriona Lewis, 2007 - 2009 HS Maths Vicki Munt, 2006 - 2009 School Counsellor, Leader, Ambassador groups and Kalahari Experience to South Africa.
Larry Deferville, 1983 – 2009 High School Maths “It is hard to believe that 26 years have passed so quickly. I will take fond memories with me of the students and staff who have made my time at UWCSEA as enjoyable as it has been.”
Sukhvinder Raju, 2003 – 2009 Geography, Head of Grade 9, 10 since 2006, Leader, Himalayan Global Concern and Netball coach (14-18 year olds). “Heading to Bahrain. Thanks to the students for being so much fun and thanks to all my friends. I will miss you but never forget you.”
Chantal Hackford, 2005 - 2009 European Languages and Leader, South Africa and New Zealand trips. “I plan to take a year out for some adventure and hope to return to UWCSEA in 2010/11!”
Stephen Rowcliffe, 2006 - 2009 IB Biology, Advisor, Interscol team 2007 - 2009 and Durian Durian Bassist 2006 - 08. “Heading off to BC, Canada for some hiking, golf,
skiing, sailing...Thanks everyone I have had a wonderful time at UWCSEA.” Julie Sanders, 2006 - 2009 Geography “Thanks to my awesome tutor groups, hilarious colleagues, the super swim team and of course my wonderful students.” Sue Klinkhamer, 2005 – 2009 Grades 4. Head of Service Learning, East Campus. “Thanks so much to all of the fabulous people I’ve met in my four years at the College. It’s been a very special time. I’ve enjoyed the enthusiasm and energy of my students and my colleagues. Come visit me in Vancouver!” Rob Houghton, 2005 – 2009 Outdoor Education Neil Tett, 1993 - 2009 Moving to part time from 2009. English teacher, Model United Nations; Houseparent - Middle School/ Mahindra House ‘93 - ‘09 and Senior Girls football coach since ‘04. Neil is not leaving completely - he will continue to teach English on a part-time basis as of August 2009.
Karin Brown I was a UWCSEA boarder (Maley House and Senior House) from 1975-1978 as my parents worked in Brunei. I was lucky to have had a wonderful time at such an unique school and left UWCSEA in 1978 for college in Oxford, UK to do a diploma in Hotel Catering and Management. I then worked and travelled extensively until I had my daughter, Kara, in 1984 - she’s now a teacher! I reside and work as an Office Manager in Oxford and often visit my folks who now live in California, USA. Fortunately I have managed to catch up with many ex UWCSEA pupils and have attended quite a few mini reunions. Some of my former school friends may remember my love of motor bikes at school. Just for fun, I took my motor bike test in my forties and passed the first time around, much to my daughter’s horror! I own a yellow Honda Hornet 600cc which has bright pink wheel trims but I don’t ride it as much as I would like to.
Fey published her first solo Photography Book in May. Her intention is to create a series of photography books called ‘Up Close’. In ‘Up Close - The Venice Carnival’, the first book of the series, Fey is using the Venice Carnival with all its vitality, its expressions of brilliance, as a medium to remind us of the beauty of life up close. Her book and its accompanying photography exhibition will be featured at Bistro Senso @ Singapore Flyer ‘til the end of June. Fey invites everyone to take a walk with her and see the Venice Carnival up close. As a photographer, she says she has viewed, and appreciated the Carnival and its true beauty with her heart and soul. She hopes that you will now do the same with yours.
1979 Fiona Lansley (Kellaway) I am married to my lovely hubby Mark and we have three great girls, Holly (19), Kate (17) and Chloe (9). We are currently living in the UK. After UWCSEA I returned to Australia for boarding school, which was a stark difference to boarding in Singapore. I can’t say I enjoyed it at first - I even asked my folks if I could return to Singapore! I then went to Sydney University where I studied Architecture. I changed after the first year to a Maths and Psych Degree. After University, I travelled for a couple of years around Europe. I loved sailing/working on a flotillas of yachts for Falcon Sailing in Turkey, and the two seasons in the French Alps (Meribel) running a private ski chalet. I met my husband in Turkey and as they say the rest is history. We lived initially in the Lake District in the UK, and then moved for work to Melbourne, Australia. I completed a post grad in accounting and lectured at Swinburne University, Melbourne in Further Education. Again in the new millennium we moved to the States for work and lived in upstate New York. As a family we had a great time there. Finally we are back in the UK, but who knows where next! I love moving and travelling and my time at UWCSEA left a lasting love for Asia and all things Asian. It felt like a magical time and made for very special childhood. Singapore still feels like home!
Anne Matthews (Parkes) I always look upon my time at UWCSEA with fondness and many great memories crediting it for my love of travel. I returned to UK and undertook both Nurse then Midwifery training commencing in 1980. During this time I met my Australian husband Chris who was on a working holiday. We have travelled extensively as Chris played both state and test cricket and now live a quieter life but we still enjoy travelling. We have a 15 year old son, Luke. Our family loves camping, fishing and travelling. We have recently returned from a camping trip to Ningaloo Reef- an unspoilt and much treasured part of Western Australia.
Family portrait from Anne’s recent camping trip to Ningaloo Reef.
1983 Nirundon (Audt) Ragan I am presently living in Bangkok, Thailand, my home town. I started working in Aviation from 1987 and started off with being an airline mechanic with the last post of Crew Chief, B747-400 with Northwest. I received a sponsorship to become a helicopter pilot from Canada and was working as an Offshore Helicopter pilot from 1994-2000 after which I moved on to Chief Pilot and Director of Flight Operation for the Thai Partner Company in Thailand. I am presently the Operation Support Manager for South East Asia for CHC Global Operation. HQ is in Vancouver, Canada but I am stationed in Bangkok. Hope to be able to locate some of the old friends from the same year! 1984
Fiona Hammond (Miller)
I went to UWCSEA after completing primary school at Tanglin, which was pretty much the norm back then. (None of this putting your kids down on a waiting list
Please send us your news for the next edition of OneºNorth, to alumnimagazine@uwcsea.edu.sg.
OneºNorth June 2009 29
28 OneºNorth June 2009
Mireille Couture, 2003 – 2009 Geography, IB Environmental Systems and Society. “Thanks to all who made my six years at UWCSEA an amazing time!”
Cameron Hunter, 1995 - 2009 Head of Chemistry since 2005, Assistant Boarding Houseparent and former High School Head of Grade. “Heading to Munich, Germany. Thanks to all the great staff and students of the College who have made our time at UWCSEA fantastic!”
Diana Hinshelwood (Yeates) After I left Singapore, I took a gap year and then went to work with the BBC in London. Ever since, I’ve been working in the television industry, apart from a short break in the mid 90’s to train as a sports therapist. But even then, I was constantly offered TV work, so ended up back at the BBC working for CBeebies, where I became a director, and then a producer. I left again in April 2008 to set up my own production company, and am busy with both television and radio commissions specialising in Children’s programmes. I have been married to Peter for 18 years, and we have one little boy, Tyler, who is now four years old. We live close to the river in Sunbury on Thames.
Lian Fey Foong