Common Room How quickly time flies. I cannot believe another year has passed. So what has been happening in the common room this year?
am sure, remember his friends. Also Caroline Hodgshon who leaves us for the big city life in London. Both were excellent members of the common room and will be greatly missed. From the ancillary staff we also lost the services of Keith Flavell, Steve Wade and Mark Taylor, stalwarts who contributed so much to WGS. On behalf of the common room I thank them sincerely for all their efforts and wish them well for the future.
Vincent Darby announced his retirement, which was a surprise to a lot of people; we thought he would see his building projects through, but the Directors thought his request for a new headmaster’s study with en suite and Jacuzzi a bit excessive. Seriously though, he certainly smartened the school up during his headship as well as helping to establish the very successful Junior School which is thriving under Andrew Hymer. Vincent has managed to steer the school through a period of serious recession, which has been no easy task and he leaves the school in a strong position to move forward. On behalf of the common room I wish him a happy retirement and a reduced golf handicap.
We say goodbye also to Rob Short, who came as cover for Owen Davis (who continues his battle with mister “C” in his own impressive style). Rob has been a revelation as a teacher and taker of assemblies. He has a natural gift for teaching and a wry sense of humour that will be missed in the common room, but one which will lighten up the staff room at Abraham Darby School.
We congratulate and welcome Kathy Crewe-Read on her appointment. I know she will be a huge success and there are exciting times ahead. She can expect the same professional support that Vincent enjoyed from a hard working and dedicated staff.
We say goodbye to Karla Thomas who was only here for a relatively short time, yet made such a positive impact. The common room appreciated her help and assistance and I know she will be a success in whatever role she fills. Another farewell is to Dave Simpson who retires after 24 years of teaching. He has been a star supporting Simon O’Malley in DT; we wish him a happy retirement. Dave will be hard to replace but the impact of new boy Steven Turnbull has been excellent in his first year here. He is a top signing.
The common room gained three excellent new members in Rhiannon Platt, Rob Mason and Simon Palmer and all three have embraced our collegiality and friendship. There was also a welcome return to Brian Hopson who was covering for Kath Finn.
We held the Christmas dinner in Big School for the first time.The food was excellent and potentially could have been an exercise worth repeating, if
We had to say goodbye to Phil Lovesey, who goes on to become a rich and famous writer, who will, I
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