Withington Onwards 2025

WITHINGTON

BEYOND LIMITS ALEX DOOLEY - FREEDIVER

FASHION IN FOCUS SARAH BURTON OBE VISITS WGS

CURIOUS NOT FURIOUS

ALEX DALTON'S NEW IDEA

50TH ANNIVERSARY

CELEBRATING THE MARJORIE HULME BURSARY FUND AND THE WITHINGTON GIRLS' SCHOOL TRUST

2025/26

ONWARDS

+WELCOME...

Mrs Lesley Dowdall

DIRECTOR OF DEVELOPMENT decision-making and to forge their own pathways.

This acknowledgement of past and future carries through into our campaign to ensure that Bursary provision at Withington continues.

We are very grateful to all of you who generously donate, thus allowing others to follow in your footsteps and experience all that Withington can offer.

Next year, we will mark another milestone – 50 years of bursary support at Withington. This really is a remarkable achievement and we are proud that our bursary fund now bears the name of Marjorie Hulme who was instrumental in its foundation. We are already planning ways to celebrate in 2026, and hope many of you will get involved. You can read more about this on p.29.

Another significant way that alumnae support us is through you sharing your careers experiences.

You can read about some of the ways you have supported pupils this year. It makes a huge difference to current Withingtonians to have such amazing former pupils to

Welcome to the 2025 edition of Withington Onwards – your publication for Withington alumnae, friends and former staff. Sometimes, it is only through seeing things through the lens of the past that we can define the future. This edition has something of that flavour, inspired by our Founders’ Day theme of Milestones and Memories – reflecting on the past whilst marking the milestones that have been achieved in recent times.

In the magazine, there are alumnae from the past whose influence, once they left Withington, shaped lives through their careers or public service; alumnae in the present moment who are making a difference, either in their chosen fields or through their charitable endeavours; alumnae who have changed the direction of their lives or the lives of others.

And, as a backdrop to all of this, there is Withington itself, still encouraging every pupil to reach her full potential and empowering girls to challenge existing stereotypes, giving them the confidence to be brave in their

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inspire them. I’d also like to draw your attention to our forthcoming Futures Convention taking place at the end of January 2026. We know that our pupils gain so much from this experience. If you, or your business, would like to be involved, please do get in touch.

Our ‘Fantastic Fives’ reunion was another milestone event last September, with much laughter and lots of conversation! As well as familiar faces, there were also those returning to Withington for the very first time since leaving school and it’s amazing to see how quickly they feel right at home again. So, if you are someone who left Withington in a year ending in a six, put the date for this year’s reunion in your diary – Saturday, 3rd October. We can guarantee you won’t regret being part of it. And do make sure that we have your up-todate contact details as well, so that you don’t miss out!

If you are a regular reader of Withington Onwards, or coming to it for the first time, we hope that you find it an enjoyable read and wish you the very best for the coming year.

Mrs Sarah Haslam HEADMISTRESS

We are truly grateful for all of the ways in which alumnae support our school, from careers talks and inspirational assemblies, to becoming part of our Governing body and supporting Withington students through contributions to the Marjorie Hulme Bursary Fund. You make a huge difference to the life of the school and the educational experiences of current students who are inspired and supported by knowing that you are giving them every encouragement.

It seems only right then, that when there are significant events or changes in school that we share those with you.

Thus, there are a number of articles recounting this year’s milestones, not least our 100th Founders’ Day which has taken place in the 135th year of the school’s history, fittingly attended by descendants of a number of our Founders.

Whilst plaudits are not the motivation for what we do each day, I am delighted that the sustained dedication, creativity, vision, and professionalism of the staff, governors and trustees, and the exceptional school culture and partnership with our pupils, parents, alumnae and wider community has been acknowledged by objective outside experts in various ways this year.

In February, we were delighted that the Independent Schools

Inspectorate recognised the special qualities of our school in their overwhelmingly positive report following their visit. The report, available on our website, gave a resounding stamp of approval to the educational experience at WGS, and also included the rare accolade of a ‘significant strength’, something few schools receive. In the case of Withington, it was recognition of the way the school develops mutual respect and understanding amongst our pupils, something we see lived each day in school.

The Tatler Schools Guide, in their review of our school, described the energy at WGS as a ‘Withy state of mind’, whilst this year’s Good Schools Guide praised the girls’ ‘can-do attitude’ and described Withington as a ‘remarkable school’.

We are also honoured to have been one of five finalists in the girls’ school category of the national Independent Schools of the Year Awards 2025, the only school in the north to be included. And in these more challenging times, to be named The Daily Telegraph’s third Best Value School in the UK, our fourth consecutive time in the top three, is an accolade of which we are very proud.

Once again, our exam results were exceptional with 58.1% of GCSE results awarded at grade 9 and 82.2% of all grades at 8 or 9. At A

Level, 41.2% of grades achieved by our Upper Sixth were at the top A* grade, with 75.4% of all grades awarded at A*-A and 91.4% at A*-B. Congratulations once again to the Class of 2025 and a warm welcome to our alumnae community!

I am proud that this excellence has once again been recognised

by The Sunday Times Parent Power Guide which has named Withington Independent Secondary School of the Year in the North West for Academic Excellence 2026, our seventh consecutive award from The Sunday Times.

Our desire is that our pupils’ experience at Withington provides a firm foundation for what comes afterwards. The evidence of this is demonstrated through the achievements in so many different aspects of life by you, our alumnae, to which each edition of Withington Onwards bears testament.

As you may already know, I shall be retiring at the end of this academic year. I would like to thank you for all your contributions to the life of Withington, both whilst you were at school and since then. You are a vital part of our thriving school and of what enables Withington girls to shine, both here and in the wider world.

I wish you all the very best for the coming year and beyond.

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+FASHION IN What are your favourite memories of being at Withington?

Sarah Burton, left Withington in 1993. After studying at Central St Martins, she joined British fashion house, Alexander McQueen, becoming its Creative Director in 2011. In 2024, Sarah was announced as the new Creative Director of Givenchy.

I have many, many favourite memories. I used to love being in the Art Room with Mrs Connell (Former WGS Head of Art) and I made some great friends here – there is a great camaraderie at Withington. I loved my English and History lessons.

There was a brilliant sense of research and learning, a real thirst for knowledge.

What influenced your decisions about where to go after Withington?

She designed the wedding dress of Catherine, Princess of Wales, a moment that captured global attention and showcased Sarah’s extraordinary talent and craftsmanship. In 2011, she was awarded an OBE for services to British fashion.

When you want to do something like fashion, there isn’t an obvious career path.

I was very fortunate to have Mrs Connell who advised me to go to Central St Martins and the route to go there was to do a foundation course first. That was great because I was surrounded by very creative people from lots of different disciplines, such as graphic design, photography, printmaking. It helped to reinforce what I wanted to do.

We were delighted to welcome her back to Withington where she was interviewed by current pupils in assemblies for both the Senior and Junior Schools. In addition, she generously spent time with GCSE and A Level Art and GCSE Design Technology students, talking about her creative process from the development of an idea into a finished garment.

What do you think is your strength as a designer?

I think, probably influenced by being at Withington, it’s that desire to research and learn. At the beginning of my career, I spent a lot of time in different departments to understand how everything worked. I took myself to the factories and mills and I also sat with pattern-cutters and embroidery teams so that I really understood how they work. Also, teamwork is so important, as is empathy and kindness.

What did you learn at Withington that has helped you in your life after leaving school?

Again, that thirst for knowledge, which actually is very special to this school.

I think I just learnt how important it is to keep being inquisitive about things.

The idea that, when I start a collection, I can start with a Shakespeare play, or a picture or a painting. Also, working hard and always continuing to challenge yourself. I think I learned never to sit on your laurels, always propel yourself forward, always question things. And keep an open mind!

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FOCUS

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+WITHINGTON Seventh Sunday Times Award for WGS

Best Value in the North West

In July, we learned that Withington had been named the third best independent school in the UK for value for money - and the top in the North West - by The Telegraph.

The report, which assessed independent schools across the country, considered both academic performance and affordability, and for the first time this year, it reflects school facilities. The ranking highlighted Withington’s exceptional academic results - 77% of A Levels awarded A or A* in 2024 - combined with some of the most affordable fees in the independent sector, even after the recent VAT changes.

Withington sits just behind King Edward VI High School for Girls (Birmingham) and Queen Ethelburga’s College (York), making us the top school for value in our region. This marks our fourth consecutive year in the top tier, having previously held both first and second place.

At the time, Mrs Sarah Haslam, Headmistress, commented: “ We are very pleased that our commitment to providing an exceptional experience at a truly competitive cost has been recognised in this analysis by The Telegraph. We remain dedicated to fostering a stimulating learning environment, supporting our pupils’ emotional and physical wellbeing, and enriching their school experience through a wide range of activities, giving our pupils an inspiring foundation for their future lives.”

We were thrilled to receive news this December that Withington Girls’ School has again been honoured in the prestigious Sunday Times Parent Power Guide, being awarded the title of Northwest Independent School of the Year for Academic Excellence.

This marks the seventh consecutive year of recognition since the school was named North West Independent School of the Year in the 2020 edition.

“Each time we are recognised by The Sunday Times we are delighted, as it serves as a wonderful tribute to the efforts and commitment of that year’s GCSE and A Level students and their teachers,” said Mrs Haslam. She credits Withington’s consistently strong academic performance to an empowering environment in which each pupil is known as an individual and is offered tailored support.

The award is based on pupils’ academic performance in this year’s GCSE and A Level examinations, in which A Level students achieved 41.2% at A* with 75.4% at A*-A. At GCSE, 58.1% of passes were achieved at grade 9 and 82.2% at grade 8 or 9.

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Independent Schools of the Year Awards

We were absolutely thrilled that Withington was named as a finalist in the Independent Girls’ School of the Year category of the Independent Schools of the Year Awards 2025.

Withington was one of just five schools across the UK to be shortlisted in this category, and we were proud to represent independent schools in the North of England. The other finalists included North London Collegiate School (London), Channing School (London), St Helen and St Katharine (Abingdon) and Leicester High School for Girls.

The winners were announced at a ceremony in London in October which was attended by our Headmistress, Sarah Haslam, and the Head of Junior School, Ellie Clark. Whilst St Helen and St Katharine was announced as the winners, being selected as a finalist from a highly competitive shortlist and being the only school from the North of England was a moment of real pride and celebration for all of us at WGS. It was an achievement that reflected the dedication, talent and spirit of the entire Withington community - pupils, staff, governors, families and alumnae.

NEWS A Legacy Rekindled

In addition to being one of Withington’s founders, Jane Louisa Lejeune was also one of the school’s longest serving governor. Her extraordinary 47-year commitment helped to shape its early success and instilled values that continue to guide us today.

Her legacy will now live on for generations to come through a bursary named in her honour and funded by her descendants.

Having visited Withington last year and attended this year’s Founders’ Day celebrations (see p.9), members of the Lejeune family from the United States, Canada, Europe and Australia gathered together in person and online for the official inauguration of the fund, with a signing ceremony at school in April. Recipients of the bursary will become members of Lejeune House. The family’s aspiration is to grow the fund over time, ultimately supporting the bursary in perpetuity.

We are deeply grateful to the Lejeune family for their vision and generosity.

WGS Iftar Event 2025

In March, WGS hosted its second Iftar in support of the Marjorie Hulme Bursary Fund. The evening was expertly hosted by Year 13 pupils Ifra and Zainab. Two Sixth Form Bursary Ambassadors spoke eloquently about the impact that bursary support has had on their education. All of our pupil volunteers were outstanding ambassadors for Withington, contributing to the evening’s success. A total of £10,000 was pledged on the night.

COMBINED CENTRICA CAREERS ADVICE

In March, we welcomed back Ailsa Longmuir (Class of 2001) and Dawn Bell (Class of 1993).

After school, they both studied at Oxford University, unaware that their paths would eventually converge at Centrica, where Ailsa is General Counsel and Dawn is the Group Chief Risk Officer.

They delivered an assembly to all Senior pupils, giving an insight into their careers and pathways into work, and afterwards facilitated a Q&A with Year 12 Economics students.

Having graduated with a degree in Jurisprudence, Ailsa worked in London for an American law firm before moving to Centrica.

Ailsa discussed the differences between working in an in-house legal team and a law firm, emphasising that different settings suit different people.

She explained to students how she enjoyes being in-house as it allows her to work across departments and with a range of people.

Dawn read Mathematics and, after graduating, explored various roles before joining EDF Trading.

Not previously knowing that energy companies had tradig functions before taking the role, she became Head of Market Risk within three years. Dawn encouraged the students to ‘be open to new opportunities, as they may surprise you’.

They both offered fascinating insight into the worlds of law, trading and risk management.

We are very grateful to Ailsa and Dawn for their time and expertise!

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+100 FOUNDERS’ DAY TH

“ Our Founders chose for their school the motto ‘Ad Lucem’, towards the light – and through the endeavours of all in our community, our school continues to flourish and shine as a beacon of excellence for all of our pupils today in 2025, as it has done for 135 years.”

position. She reassured pupils and in particular the Class of 2025, that it was perfectly normal not to have a clear picture yet of what to do with their lives. She drew on similarities between the lauded Wimbledon Way and the way at Withington.

“ Withington has helped mould my life and my career. At Wimbledon, we have a set of principles which all of us that are involved in the championships try very hard to put into practice in our everyday work. Those principles are Heritage, Integrity, Respect and Excellence. And those principles, whether you realise it or not, will have been or are being instilled into you at Withington.”

Words from Headmistress, Mrs Haslam, addressing an audience at the Bridgewater Hall of pupils, staff, governors, trustees and invited guests, including relatives of the families of the original WGS Founders (see p.23). Fittingly, Memories and Milestones was the theme for marking the school’s Foundation 135 years ago and it first ever Founders’ Day in 1925.

Chair of Governors, Mr Malcolm Pike, gave the traditional Recital of Founders, there was music from the choir and this year’s Ad Lucem Awards were also presented. In keeping with the event’s theme, a video montage showcased WGS in action over the years, contrasting then and now using archive photography.

She highlighted the long-lasting tradition at Withington of encouraging students to stand on their own two feet and to think for themselves, whilst still enjoying their education. Denise spoke of the importance of integrity and respect. She questioned how we interpret and achieve excellence and the importance of the support systems we have around us in order to achieve excellence. She paid tribute to then Headmistress, Miss Hulme, who lent her total support

Our guest speaker was Denise Parnell (Class of 1979). Denise is the Wimbledon Championship Referee, the first ever female to hold that

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when Denise announced she wanted to be a professional tennis player. Her final piece of advice to students was, “ Be big and brave and be true to yourselves.”

Head Girl, Arabella Nawaz, spoke of the wealth of extracurricular she had embraced during her time at the school. “ I’ve had the freedom to throw myself into the things I love – whether that was teaching Latin at a local primary school, playing netball and lacrosse or attending SciSoc, Hepsoc, PhilSoc, PsychSoc or Medsoc. Put it this way, if there was a ‘soc’ at the end of it, I probably signed up. But that’s exactly what makes Withington so special.”

She echoed Denise’s sentiments regarding the way that Withington prepares students for the future,

“ Although the world beyond Withington feels uncertain, I take comfort in knowing that we are more than prepared for whatever comes next. Because if there’s one thing Withington girls do well it’s facing the unknown with determination, curiosity... and the occasional dance routine.”

+FOR A NEW CHAPTER WITHINGTON'S JUNIOR SCHOOL

NEW YORK, NEW YORK FOR ELISSA

On 2nd November, Elissa Thursfield (Class of 2005) took part in her first marathon... in New York City, raising £2,500 for the RNLI, a charity very close to her heart. Elissa is part of the RNLI in Abersoch where she was the first woman to take up the position of helm of the lifeboat. “ It was the most unbelievable day, and I’m thrilled to have finished my first ever marathon - not only at one of the largest events in the world, with over 59,000 runners and 2 million spectators - but also in the most insanely passionate and excited city. Expect all and any conversations and updates to start with, ‘the time I ran the New York Marathon…’”

Elissa had set herself the target of running the race in under 5 hours but was thrilled to finish in 4 hours, 38 minutes and 47 seconds. On her way home, she stopped off in Iceland for a hiking holiday – she’s not sure she really thought that one through!

The Junior School had always been an integral part of Withington, with many, many pupils over the years successfully taking up their places in Senior School following the entrance exam.

This year, a significant change to Junior School admissions has been announced.

Mrs Ellie Clark, Head of Juniors, explains: “ We’re now proud to offer a seamless, continuous journey into the Senior School, meaning all girls who join us in the Junior School will be offered a place.

This reduces pressure and affirms our confidence in each pupil. Families can feel reassured knowing their daughter’s journey will continue in a familiar, supportive environment.

Our Junior pupils will still sit the entrance exam but it will be used for internal assessment and curriculum planning only, helping us understand each girl’s progress and to share insights with Senior School colleagues. We already have a deep understanding of each girl’s academic ability: the entrance exam complements our ongoing assessments.”

Our Junior School at Withington continues to offer a nurturing, stimulating environment where girls are supported and challenged, helping each child to discover her strengths and develop a lifelong love of learning. By Upper II, our pupils are confident, curious and ready to become Senior School students.

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+DESTINATION OF APPRENTICESHIP 02

ABERDEEN 02 ST ANDREWS 01 EDINBURGH 04 GLASGOW 01

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DURHAM 07

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YORK 01

CHESTER 01

SHEFFIELD 01

LIVERPOOL 02

NOTTINGHAM 03

SALFORD 02

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MANCHESTER 05

CAMBRIDGE 06

LOUGHBOROUGH 02

LONDON 18

LEICESTER 01 BIRMINGHAM 02 WARWICK 01 BATH 02 BRISTOL 02

GAP YEAR 05

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+DEGREE SUBJECTS 2

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+CURIOUS NOT Alex Dalton (Class of 1989) is a founding partner of Leading Ideas, a company offering training and consultancy in creativity. This year she's been developing new training designed to help teams to aid creative ideas by learning to debate and even disagree well.

Alex began her career in Marketing and PR, before moving to BBC Sport where she worked for 10 years.

Since founding Leading Ideas, she has worked with organisations including Channel 4, Amnesty International, Bauer Media and Comedy Central, as well as retaining her links with the BBC. ‘A few times a year, I meet up with a group of old Withingtonian friends.

When they stay with me in London, my husband braces himself for a whirlwind. “You’re peas in a pod” he once said to me, after I’d waved them off. He’d noticed we shared a level of confidence and a love of lively, robust conversation and he asked if this had been formed at school. Before he commented on this, I’d not really been aware of our shared values, but I realised he was right. Withington encouraged us to be confident about our ideas but also to respect and be curious about the ideas and opinions of others.

I took this confidence and curiosity into my career in sports journalism at the BBC. I loved the buzz of live sport but was more interested in the stories and tensions behind the scenes. Sport is a high pressure, competitive environment, where decisions and opinions are routinely and vigorously questioned in the pursuit of excellence. I really loved the rough and tumble in the industry.

When I left the BBC, I used the skills I’d learned in programme making to start working as a creative consultant. I work with production teams and other businesses to help them generate bold, original ideas. Any work I do requires that same confidence to offer points of view and suggestions that others might not agree with and to feel comfortable questioning colleagues.

www.leadingideas.co.uk

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But a few years ago, I started to notice a trend. People were becoming more fearful of opposing the prevailing opinions and interests of the group they were with. I’d work with teams and there seemed to be a ‘right’ way of thinking. It became more and more difficult to encourage people to take the risks needed to produce strong ideas that could really surprise and delight.

I talked this through with an old BBC colleague who leads training in diversity and inclusion. She’d noticed people were sitting quietly in her sessions, afraid of saying the wrong thing and so failing to have the open, interested conversations needed to create authentically inclusive teams. We wondered if we had the courage to try to tackle this. It felt like a huge challenge, but it was one we cared about, so we went back to our journalistic roots and did some research.

Very quickly, we knew we were on to something. Every contact we spoke to across a broad range of industries recognised the problem: people unwilling to accept diverse points of view or disconnected at work because they were scared of being judged harshly. The broader cultural shift towards polarisation was playing out at work and making people less productive and less happy.

The training we designed combined our expertise: moderating sensitive conversations around diversity and inclusion, using problems and different points of view as a catalyst for creativity and getting the best out of a conversation by using carefully crafted, open questions. We were proud of what we produced: “Curious Not Furious” – training designed to help people disagree well.

FURIOUS We launched the training in the summer, certain that a few key things would help: + Making it clear that we are programmed to dig our heels in as soon as anyone tries to change our minds, so we may as well free ourselves from the challenge and relax into the idea we may never agree. + Emphasising the power of really listening to another person with no agenda, just an honest intent to understand. + Giving people a framework and some great questions to offer them a guide through tricky conversations. + Letting people know that facing disagreements could be a wonderful opportunity to strengthen relationships and solve problems in a genuine and positive way.

The training has been lively, eyeopening and rewarding. At the end people often confess that they'd started feeling apprehensive but, so far, they’ve all finished

UNIVERSITY OF LONDON GOLD MEDAL

Anya Nanchahal (Class of 2019) left Withington to study medicine at Imperial College London. In the summer, she was awarded the prestigious University of London Gold Medal after a viva examination against nominated students from the London medical schools.

Anya said: “ When I found out that I’d won I was utterly shocked! Whilst preparing for the competition, I had never let myself think of winning as a possibility.”

Awarded annually since 1904, notable previous recipients of the award include Sir Alexander Fleming, discoverer of penicillin.

The competition involves each candidate being questioned by a panel of expert examiners, covering a range of areas of medicine, including general medicine, surgery, obstetrics and gynaecology, clinical pharmacology, general practice, and pathology.

Congratulations, Anya!

feeling braver and lighter. We’ve had teams who’ve been divided over certain issues for years, chat honestly for half an hour and make breakthroughs they’re all excited about and keen to work together on. And we’ve had some people tell us there are certain conversations they still want to avoid for now...

And that’s fine. We appreciate small steps as much as great strides.

I’ve no doubt Withington still champions the values my friends and I still live by, I just fear there aren’t as many opportunities to exercise that openness or curiosity at the moment. You only need a few minutes on social media or a brief update on global news to know there’s no shortage of bold, firmly held opinions out there. But many of these opinions exist in echo chambers, or spaces where they are shielded from inquiry or debate.

With ‘Curious not Furious’, I’d love to play a part in re-invigorating the middle-ground, creating a space for fearless discussions, discomfort and unexpected alliances.’

Alex with her Withingtonian friends

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+FANTASTIC FIVES September brought about our annual reunion, this time for anyone who had left Withington in a year ending in a 5. Although it was atrocious weather outside, the atmosphere at school was decidedly sunny, as alumnae met up with old friends, renewed connections and reminisced on times past. This is what they had to say about their day. “ I really enjoyed the event. Although I was a little uncertain as to how well we would all get on with each other, it was wonderful! Everybody was so friendly and pleased to see their old school and classmates.”

“ I was really looking forward to seeing some old friends.

So pleased to have had a lovely time with them! Lovely to catch up, great to see the school as it now is, really relaxed day!”

“ I absolutely loved revisiting WGS - it felt so nostalgic walking around the school with all the memories flooding back. It was also so great to reconnect with girls I hadn’t seen for 20 years... it was as if time had stood still and we instantly reconnected. We also loved catching up with Dr Madden - great fun, and brilliant that she could walk around with us and tell us what changes had been made.”

“ It was a lovely event. I’m so happy I came along!

It was lovely, felt like coming home, easy to slip into conversation and so nice to reminisce. Exploring the school brought back so many happy memories. It was a really relaxed event. So enjoyed seeing old classmates, everyone was so warm and kind and interested in how each other is doing.”

“ It was superb! I was only in touch with one classmate, but after a previous reunion I reconnected with several girls and it has been an overwhelmingly positive experience. This event was great and now we're setting up a Whatsapp Group to have informal get-togethers.”

" Everything was well organised and it was so interesting to have a tour of school as it is today and to remember where and what things used to be! There was also plenty of time for us to chat amongst ourselves. Thanks for all your efforts."

Thinking about attending our reunion for the Sensational Sixes? Here’s some encouragement from the Fantastic Fives! “ I would recommend that next year’s girls rope in some friends and they won’t regret it!”

“ Don't be anxious about coming. It's a lovely opportunity to meet old friends, share memories and create new ones.”

“ Whatever your reservations and whatever your memories of the school, just go. I laid ghosts to rest and now view my years at Withington in a much more positive light.”

“ You’ll enjoy it much more than you think! It’s so interesting catching up with people that you knew in your past and finding out what they have been doing all these years.”

SENSATIONAL SIXES

11am, Saturday 3rd October 2025 Withington Girls’ School Did you leave Withington in a year ending in a 6?

Have you wondered where some of your classmates are today?

How much of the school as it is now do you think you might recognise?

Join us for a day of catching up, reminiscing and finding out some of the answers to those questions? Unsure? Take a look at the feedback from the Fantastic Fives on what a good time they had and start making plans to attend this year’s event.

You can book at wgs.org/Events or contact us at development@wgs.org

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1 1 AM S AT U R D AY 3 RD O C T O B E R 2 0 2 6 • W I T H I N G T O N G I R L S ’ S C H O O L development@wgs.org

REUNION

FIRST REUNION FOR THE CLASS OF 2024

We were delighted at the very end of the Autumn term last year to welcome back the Class of 2024 for their very first opportunity to come together as Withington alumnae and to collect their A Level certificates.

It was a lovely occasion and an opportunity to catch up what they had been doing since leaving.

Last year’s edition had gone to press before the event, hence its inclusion for this year!

ALTRINCHAM DRINKS

Thursday 26th February 2026 We’re coming together again with Manchester Grammar School and Manchester High School for Girls for a joint evening drinks event, but this time a little closer to home!

Join us on Thursday 26th February at Alibi in Altrincham to catch up with old friends from the three schools. Tickets are £10 and include a welcome drink and can be booked via our website: wgs.org/alumnae/events

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+AD LUCEM AWARDS AD LUCEM AWARD

This year, Senior School pupils were once again asked to vote in our bi-annual Ad Lucem Awards, celebrating the achievements and endeavours of our former pupils.

Withington alumnae excel in many different ways and areas and are a constant source of inspiration to current pupils.

Denise Parnell

(CLASS OF 1979) Denise is the Championship Referee of Wimbledon. She is the first woman in the world to hold the position at any of the ‘Grand Slam’ Championships.

After Withington, Denise embarked on a career as a professional tennis player, winning the British Under 21 title in 1981. She has played for and captained England on several occasions and played on the professional tennis circuit for ten years, including Wimbledon in 1986.

Retiring from professional tennis in 1990, Denise started gaining the necessary qualifications and reputation needed to work professionally as a tennis referee. In 2006 she attained the highest qualification awarded by the ITF (International Tennis Federation), that of Gold Badge Referee, a position currently held by only 17 women out of 71 Gold Badge holders worldwide.

During her career she has officiated at the Olympic Games in Athens and has been designated as Referee of a variety of international events in 43 different countries.

In 2021, she was appointed Referee of the pre-Wimbledon event at the Queen’s Club – the Cinch Championships.

This was the first time that a woman had been appointed as Referee of a Men’s Professional Tour event of this level anywhere in the world. The same year she was awarded Referee of the Year by the Association of British Tennis Officials.

She took over as Championship Referee at Wimbledon in 2024, the first woman to do so in its 125 year history.

In addition to her officiating, Denise also runs her own consultancy business, working with high-tech companies who provide scores and statistics and advanced TV graphics. In this capacity she also works with national governing sports bodies.

An Ad Lucem Award recipient is a Withington alumna who has made an outstanding contribution to society, or who acts as an inspirational role model, either in a professional, voluntary or philanthropic capacity, or through their personal endeavours. Their achievements, outlook and conduct will demonstrate that they continue to reflect the school’s ethos and values, making them an exceptional public ambassador for our school community.

This year’s shortlist was very impressive and made the Head Girl team’s task of shortlisting particularly challenging, to say nothing of the final voting by Senior School pupils. The trophies were all designed by current pupils and presented at our Founders’ Day celebration.

Ad Lucem Award designed by Eden, Year 9

Young Ad Lucem Award designed by Elena, Year 9

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The Ad Lucem Award was presented by Head Girl, Arabella Nawaz

Rose Acton Award designed by Anna, Year 7

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2025 YOUNG AD LUCEM AWARD

THE ROSE ACTON AWARD

Talia Pollick

Andrea Drury Mangambo-Malungu

The Young Ad Lucem Award was presented

by Denise Parnell

The Rose Acton Award presented to Andrea’s sister Gill (Class of 1998)

by Charles Acton, Rose’s father

(CLASS OF 2016) Talia, from the Class of 2016, studied Psychology and Cognitive Neuroscience at the University of Nottingham, followed by a Master’s degree studying the Criminal Justice System at Leeds University. Recognising the opportunities that her education at Withington had offered her, she has aligned her career path to help those who have not been afforded the same advantages.

She currently works for Manchester Women’s Aid, providing support to women facing domestic abuse, stalking and harassment. She helps them gain access to essential resources, including mental health care, housing, and legal assistance, while also developing comprehensive safety plans. She is committed to promoting female empowerment and strives to ensure that support is available to everyone, regardless of their background, ethnicity, or financial circumstances. She has also qualified as an Integrative Counsellor, specialising in areas such as grief and bereavement, complex trauma, generalised anxiety, and eating disorders.

Talia has volunteered in both the Magistrates’ and Crown Courts, supporting vulnerable adults and children in liaison with Victim Support and the Witness Service, using her knowledge and strength to amplify the voices of those who often struggle to speak for themselves. She is also a member of the Board of Trustees for Mind in Salford.

She says that the values she learned at Withington and our school’s close-knit and supportive environment were instrumental in shaping her career path, guiding her journey and fuelling her passion for helping others.

(CLASS OF 1996) Andrea very sadly passed away following an accident at the end of November 2023 and the award was presented to her family at Founders’ Day. Andrea left Withington in 1996 to study French and German at Edinburgh University. Her life was characterised by that sense of adventure, a curiosity about the world and a love of learning. Having volunteered in South Africa and Botswana, taught English in Japan and completed the first of her two Master's degrees, Andrea found her true calling working with the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC).

Humanitarian work was Andrea’s passion and took her all over the world, from Rwanda to Colombia, to the Democratic Republic of Congo. She tackled some of the toughest challenges including human rights in prisons and the reunification of orphans with wider family members, but always with equanimity. She continued her career with the ICRC right up until she died, moving into a learning and development role that took the family to Kenya, Thailand and then Geneva where she took up the post of Deputy Head of Learning and Development, training new recruits and supporting the career path of colleagues.

Andrea embraced both the challenges and the opportunities in life. Her legacy will be the impact she has had, not only through her work, but on the many individuals that she encountered throughout her life.

This award is presented in memory of former pupil, Rose Acton (Class of 2010) who died in 2020. It is decided by the school and is presented to an alumna whose achievements and conduct continue to reflect the school’s ethos and values, making them an exceptional ambassador for Withington.

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+REFLECTING

In this my final year at Withington, it is more clear to me than ever what a very special place this is. A community which has care and empowerment of young people at its heart makes this such an inspiring place to be and it has been an honour and a privilege to be part of the school’s story.

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ON WGS...

When I joined the staff of Withington back in 1995 as a Teacher of English, I was struck by the school’s ethos which puts love of learning at the centre and by the sense that anything was possible with commitment, creativity, and encouragement. I joined a highly dedicated team of staff who worked to the highest standards, and I will always be grateful to Margaret Kenyon and to Marie Green for appointing me and thus giving me an opportunity to be part of such an exceptional school.

Over the years I have been fortunate to work alongside so many inspiring and supportive colleagues from whom I have learned much, and I believe that this culture of mentoring and collaboration, as well as investment of time and resource in training, is part of Withington’s special magic. I had a wonderful time in the English department, working with

exceptional colleagues who loved their subject and supported each other through the ups and downs of life with laughter and with care.

In my subsequent roles as Head of Years 10 and 11, Deputy Head and Headmistress, the outstanding teamwork and commitment to a shared purpose has been inspiring and hugely supportive. At Withington the belief that working with children and young people is a vocation has never waned and that is something very precious.

The quality of the relationships here at all levels within school is a vital part of Withington’s fabric and culture. Older girls become fantastic role models for younger pupils, all of them individuals with their own interests and character, and yet part of something bigger with a sense of responsibility and energy to initiate, lead and support projects. It is not in every school that there is such trust and safety

that charity fundraising Dance competitions could take place in which the contestants are staff and the Headmistress could play air guitar! And those relationships are evident throughout the school in the partnership working of pupils, staff, parents, alumnae, governors and trustees. No organisation can ever be perfect, but the quality of relationships really is an intrinsic part of Withington’s success and of what makes the school the place it is. We were therefore delighted to see the mutual respect between pupils recognised as a significant strength of school life by the Independent Schools Inspectorate earlier this year.

The world we live in now is markedly different to that of 1995 when I joined the school. The pace and volume of communication has grown exponentially since that time, the rise of the internet and of social media has brought

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+REFLECTING ON WGS...

opportunity, complexity and challenge, and schools are now expected to carry more responsibility than ever for education in its broadest sense, and for the personal and social development of our young people.

I was part of the very first group of Heads of Year at Withington in 2003 and at that time emails were still relatively infrequent and the number of PCs growing but still quite small. Now all of our staff and pupils have access to their own device and learning how to navigate the online world safely is an

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absolute priority in school for the benefit of the girls both now and in their future lives.

Looking back across the timeline of my career at Withington, there are, of course, key milestones which demanded a response from us all and when, during my time as Head, it has been my responsibility to provide leadership so that we could meet the challenge of that time.

The Manchester Arena attack, the pandemic with two years of direct and difficult impacts on schools, the death of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth, the imposition of VAT on

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independent school fees, and from time to time, the loss of much loved and respected members of our community. Such events are never easy but it has been a privilege to work with others to ensure that our community has been cared for and sustained through these times.

Happily, working in a school like Withington also means exciting progress, fantastic highlights, and many wonderful memories. The school has grown in size, both in pupil numbers and facilities, and in the breadth of its provision and profile. The additions of the Sixth Form Centre, new Junior School and Hub, extended Sports facilities and Dining Room, new Learning Support area and Conference Room have all ensured that the school is light, bright, spacious and welcoming, whilst the calendar of events and projects continues to evolve to ensure that we are giving our pupils an exceptional range of opportunities and our school is part of the wider community

of Manchester and beyond. I will always treasure memories of English lessons, of concerts, plays, sports days, assemblies, school celebrations, and am as proud of the school’s commitment to wellbeing and pastoral care as I am of our outstanding academic record, the girls’ exceptional academic progress being the result of superb teaching and a caring environment in equal measure.

In a world of so much progress yet so much conflict, girls’ schools and schools like Withington which offer a sustaining and empowering education are as relevant today as they have ever been, and I am proud that the excellence in our school has been recognised externally, not least by the Sunday Times Parent Power Guide which has named Withington Independent Secondary School of the Year in the Northwest for Academic Excellence 2026, our seventh consecutive award from The Sunday Times.

Whilst always evolving to meet the

needs of our pupils and to reflect the best practice of our times, it is important to me that we also remember those who have come before us on whose shoulders we stand. The 125th anniversary of the school in 2015, the 100th anniversary of Founders’ Day in 2025 when we were thrilled to be reunited with descendants of the school’s far-sighted Founders, and the 50th anniversary in 2026 of the foundation of the WGS Trust which now makes possible the Marjorie Hulme Bursary Fund, are all examples of these moments when

we are able to celebrate together the endeavours, the achievements, and the people who are part of our school’s story.

The pupils of Withington have made working at the school a joy and I have been fortunate to work with wonderful and inspiring colleagues, governors trustees, and alumnae.

Thank you to you all for your support and I hope you always take Withington in your hearts - I wish you all the very best.

AD LUCEM!

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+A LONG LASTING from Canada, the US and Italy to join the commemoration. Lea Chambers Volpe, Louisa’s greatgreat-granddaughter and one of approximately 70 of her direct descendants located across the world, said: “ The descendants of Louisa Lejeune are honoured to have attended today’s event and witnessed the extraordinary quality of the students, staff and wards of this incredible school. We treasure our connection with what Louisa Lejeune and the other founders started in 1890. We are excited to continue our involvement for generations to come.”

Adolphus Ward’s great-grandson, Simon Barnes, attended with his wife Caroline. His grandmother Adelaide, Adolphus Ward’s daughter, was one of Withington’s first pupils. She went on to marry Ernest W Barnes who became the Bishop of Birmingham. Together, the couple built an enduring connection with WGS, which continued for some years, including Adelaide’s presence as guest speaker at Founders’ Day in 1946, with her signature being the first in the red book.

Simon recalled his grandmother speaking fondly of her Withington memories and that she had always cherished her WGS artefacts.

He was able to bring along to Founders’ Day a diary with entries

Founders’ Day is always an occasion where we are aware of the history of Withington. At this year’s 100th celebration, that sense of history was heightened further by the presence of our Founders’ descendants.

Relatives of WGS founders Louisa Lejeune, Henry and Emily Simon, C.P. Scott and Adolphus Ward attended the event at the Bridgewater Hall from Canada, the United States and Italy, and from across the UK. It was an honour to host representatives from four of our founding families as we paid tribute to their inspirational ancestors who, 135 years ago, had been a pioneering force in creating equality of education for girls in the area, and whom we have remembered annually at Founders’ Day since its introduction to the school calendar in 1925.

At a reception beforehand, our guest families had the opportunity to meet each other and to share stories of their own personal connections with the school. They also spoke with Withington staff and Governors and took a look at the Founders’ Day red book which has been signed by every guest speaker since 1946.

Louisa Lejeune was represented by her great-grandsons Russell and Derek Chambers and a multigenerational group of other family members who had travelled

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by Professor Ward and his wife during the years Adelaide had been a pupil at the school in the late 1890s. He also shared with the Lejeune descendants an original 1898 Withington programme that had featured two of Louisa’s daughters in a performance of The Tempest. Simon said: " We were very grateful for having been asked to such a historic and happy once-a-century celebration. No one could fail to note the strongly confident mood with which Withington’s young women will be moving on from this marvellously marshalled musical commemoration.”

Henry and Emily Simon, whose three daughters all attended WGS, were represented by greatgrandson Andrew Simon. He said that he has been aware of the family’s link to the school for most of his life and, “it is a source of much pride that Withington continues to be probably the very best school in the North of England.”

Andrew added, “I was greatly honoured to be invited to this year’s Founders’ Day celebration. My great-grandparents and their fellow founders were remarkable people.

They achieved much in a wide variety of spheres for the benefit of their fellow citizens. It is good that Withington Girls’ School continues to honour their memory and the

LEGACY values they sought to instil."

Representing the family of Charles Prestwich (C.P.) Scott was his greatgrandson Paddy Montague, who now lives in Solihull. In his annual Recital of Founders, Withington’s current Chair of Governors, Mr Malcolm Pike, said that Mr Scott, Editor of the Manchester Guardian, was one of the school’s founding governors in 1890, as well as Chair of Governors, "retaining this office after he had resigned every other; loving truth, duty and the exercise of reason, Charles Scott and his wife Rachel wished for the school knowledge through difficulty rather than success through ease."

Paddy explained how the Scott connections with Withington continued for more than 60 years, from the school’s foundation through to the 1950s. " My grandmother was Maddy Scott, C.P. and Rachel’s only daughter.

Her two daughters, Rose and Rachel, both attended WGS. So did my three sisters, Isabella (known as Bella), Rosa and Meg. I have very vivid memories of WGS in the 40s and 50s under Miss Bain. These include the fathers’ cricket match and each year us collecting the school Christmas tree and carrying it home through Withington.

THE WEANING GP

When Sarika Kapoor’s baby son choked on a banana, she couldn’t shake the thought of how much more frightening the experience might have been if she hadn’t had a medical background to save him. Sarika (Class of 2009) has just had a book published, The Weaning GP. “ Drawing on my training and experience as a GP, I became passionate about learning more and supporting other parents through what can be an anxious stage. I started an Instagram page to share trustworthy, practical guidance and simple recipes. I was genuinely blown away by the community that grew around it, and even more surprised when Penguin UK approached me to write a book as a resource for new parents.

Looking back, I know none of this would have been possible especially whilst raising two tiny humans - without the confidence, encouragement and discipline instilled in me during my time at Withington. I remain deeply grateful for the foundation it gave me, both personally and professionally.”

Instagram @theweaninggp

The Founders’ Day event was very, very special. It is difficult to express adequately my appreciation for the invitation to attend and meet the bevy of descendants of the founding families. It was wonderful to be at the celebration and to see first-hand the excellent job all of you at the school do to give women opportunities in life. Thank you all."

Chair of Governos, Malcolm Pike also described how Caroline Herford had been the first secretary of Withington and it was in her home that the decision to found the school was originally taken. As then headmistress of Lady Barn House School and seeking a suitable next stage for her female prep pupils, she was a passionate advocate for a progressive girls-only senior school in Manchester.

According to the Lejeune/Chambers’ family records, within 11 weeks of that first founders’ meeting, sufficient funds had been raised, premises acquired and Withington’s first headmistress appointed.

Caroline Herford went on to teach Biology at the school.

It was fitting to mark our 100th Founders’ Day celebration by gathering together some of our Founders’ descendants, bringing those Founders’ very much to life once more for everyone at Withington.

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+NOW&THEN

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When we look back at old photos and memories, it’s incredible to see how much has changed, and yet, how much has stayed the same. Technology has certainly moved on but the heart of our school remains unchanged. Throughout its history, Withington has been, and remains, a place where curiosity is encouraged, enthusiasm for learning is celebrated and friendships are made that last a lifetime. The sense of fun, camaraderie and teamwork is as strong today as it ever was.

Here’s to both cherishing our traditions whilst, at the same time, looking forward to the future with the joy and energy that have always defined us.

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+

MOVING IN A COMPLETELY

DIFFERENT

What motivated you to go into banking?

Was it an ambition you had whilst at Withington?

Eight years ago, Olivia Walker (Class of 2012) was a banker, but just after bringing in a £200million client to the bank, she decided to hand in her notice.

Now, she says it was her best career move to date.

I didn't really know what I wanted to do when I was at school. I always knew I enjoyed maths, problem solving and running but that didn't really seem to help me pick a career! I decided to do an Economics degree at UCL and the vast majority of people there wanted to go into banking. I've always been very sociable and liked the idea of being client facing.

There's a thing in banking called 'spring weeks' which take place in a student's first year It's essentially a mini internship. I successfully applied for Barclays Spring week, followed up by a summer internship at the end of my second year, after which they offered me a job for when I graduated.

However, I decided I wanted to take a gap year and spent six months travelling in Asia with some Withington friends! I’m pleased that I did delay, as I met my now husband in the first few days of the Barclays graduate scheme and we've been together since.

What do you think prompted you to wonder, ‘Is this it?’ and what happened next?

I'd just finished my private banking exams and I think I felt like I'd accomplished everything that I'd been thinking about up to that point and wondered what was next. It also struck me that everything I'd been working for then meant... sitting at a computer five days a week and toeing the company line.

THEN: Olivia in her banking days

I felt a bit disappointed and that there must be more to life. I run ultra-marathons and like being challenged and steep learning curves. For example, my husband and I bought a delivery van and fully converted it into a campervan - plumbing, electrics, the lot!

I wanted a change and at the time I was considering starting my own restaurant or café, so decided to learn more about small owner operated businesses. So, for a period of time, I was delivering bread by bike at 5am before starting my Barclays day job! I then did the same for a cocktail group that owned the fifth best bar in the world. A week's free work with them ultimately resulted in a full-time job.

How did you prepare for the change in salary what was the impact on your day to day life?

It was a big hit - effectively I took an 80% pay cut. Mentally it was a challenge but luckily, I'd saved over the years, so I wasn't too stressed but then Covid hit.

Initially, I moved home and sold loads of old clothes and unwanted items on ebay! Then I moved back to London and carried on delivering bread by bike.

With each shift you got a free coffee, loaf of bread and a pastry so I lived a very carb-heavy diet for quite a while to save cash!

I'd say I went through a period of testing and in a way that led to finding out what I didn't want to do. After the bakery and cocktail bar, I joined a sustainable packaging start-up with a mission to replace single use plastic packaging with seaweed alternatives. Whilst it was super interesting, I knew it wasn't fully right for me. I then moved into sales for AI-powered tech companies but ultimately decided to give it a go by myself again!

Email: olivia@mediacolab.co LinkedIn: Olivia Walker

🌱

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NOITCERID

CYCLING THE SOUTH COAST

In September, in between receiving her A Level results and taking up her place at Cambridge to study Economics, Jess Dior Williams (Class of 2025) took on a challenge to cycle 300 miles along the South Coast from Dover to Plymouth in just four days. She was raising funds for Pancreatic Cancer UK in memory of her grandma who had been diagnosed with the disease in 2024. She organised the challenge herself, planning the route, accommodation and her journey to Dover and back from Plymouth.

Unbeknownst to Jess, her family organised a trophy to present her with at the end of her challenge.

Jess said, “ My grandma was always giving, always caring, pouring so much detail into our lives, no matter how much pain she was in. With a survival rate of less than 50%, pancreatic cancer remains one of the hardest cancers to treat because the funding for research just isn’t there. I couldn’t save my grandma, but I can help to change the story for someone else’s family.”

So far Jess has raised over £2,500. If you would like to support her, you can do so via her JustGiving page:

What are you doing now?

Now, my husband and I work together in our own business, Media CoLab. We help founders and business owners to grow their personal brand and business revenue via LinkedIn. Life is a lot less smooth running your own business but way more exciting and it's so rewarding to help our clients' grow their businesses, as well as having control over my own time. We have the flexibility to see lots of family.

My sister was 3 years above me at school and now has a very cute little boy.

What are your reflections, looking back?

It's a funny one, as I can see in hindsight that there were lots of positives to working in banking that I didn't appreciate at the time because it was my first proper job.

Moving into the startup world afterwards opened my eyes to this! I think doing more work experience might have helped to inform my choices as well.

I was on a good salary, I was learning a lot and interacting with interesting and successful people. I think I'd still try banking first, as I'd probably wonder ‘what if?’ but I think I would still leave to try other things. I ran a homeware and candle brand with my sister for a number of years. Starting it as a side hustle whilst still on a decent full-time salary might have made it easier to start with!

Ultimately, banking just didn't feel very me. I think I was helped to make the change because my parents brought me up to be confident and believe in myself and my own decisions – and I was surrounded by people at Withington who thought similarly. I still have close Withington friends: six of us recently went on a trip together and they all came to my wedding!

NOW: Olivia now with her business partner and husband

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CELEBRATING

OF THE WITHINGTON GIRL AND THE MARJORIE HULM

From Then to Now:

Throughout 2026, we will be celebrating a very special milestone - the 50th anniversary of the establishment of the WGS Trust and our Bursary Fund. Over the years, financial support has helped so many young women to take up their place at Withington and go on to achieve incredible things.

Bursary Support at Withington Bursary support has been part of Withington for such a long time, many people don’t realise that this is not the case for all independent schools. In 1976, with the loss of the Direct Grant imminent, Miss Hulme and the Governors showed amazing foresight by taking action to ensure that Withington’s ethos of equality, opportunity and diversity would continue. We think that’s something worth celebrating and we hope that you do too.

We’ve been doing some research in our archive to find out a bit more.

Would you believe that, on 24th June 1975, Miss Hulme spearheaded a group of staff and Sixth Formers to join forces with Manchester High School for Girls and Bolton School and travel to London to lobby MPs at Westminster about the impending withdrawal of the Direct Grant. We think it might be the first time in the history of WGS that staff and pupils have been involved in political protest!

From the 1975 Newsletter:

Be Part of Our Celebrations!

We’d love to hear from anyone who received financial support during their time at school. We’re hoping that you could help us to highlight the lasting impact of supporting potential.

There are lots of different ways you could get involved, depending on what suits you best: + Share your story in a short interview for an article + Record a quick video on your phone + Send us a quote we can use to thank and inspire donors + Write a career profile to show the long-term impact of support + Join us at an assembly or event to speak in person We’re hoping to hear from at least 50 people – one for each year that the bursary fund has been running.

We’ve received some wonderful stories so far but we’d love to hear from as many of you as we can.

If you would like to get involved, please email us at development@ wgs.org. It would be great if you could include a few details about when you were at WGS, what kind of support you received and what you have gone on to do since.

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Withington Walks!

No time was wasted. Even whilst awaiting approval for the WGS Trust from the Charity Commission, the whole school took part in a mammoth sponsored walk around the playing fields that summer, raising £2,600.

By 1976, fundraising for the new WGS Trust was in full swing: profits from both the Spring Fair and that year’s school play, As You Like It, were donated. A group of Upper II parents saved the school £200 by redecorating their daughters’ form room and there were coffee mornings, fork suppers and Good-as-New stalls, with everyone determined to increase the capital in the Trust.

Snippets from the 1976 Newsletter

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50 YEARS

OXBRIDGE INSIGHTS

Once again, Year 13 students preparing for Oxbridge this year benefitted from an engaging and informative session delivered

by Sitara Bartle (Class of 2017).

During the workshop, students gained practical advice on the process and explored different types of questions. Sitara also reminded them of the importance of authenticity and of showing genuine passion for their chosen subject.

LS’ SCHOOL TRUST ME BURSARY FUND Were You There? + Did you take part in the sponsored walk?

+ Were you part of Miss Hulme’s trip to London?

If so, please share your memories of that day, or any other fundraising activities you were involved in during 1976, so that we can include them as part of our 50th anniversary celebrations. Your stories will help us bring this special milestone to life and celebrate the incredible community spirit that has shaped our history.

Giving Day 2026

Although we are marking the 50th anniversary throughout 2026, on 18th June, the whole school will be coming together for Giving Day, raising as much as we can for the Marjorie Hulme Bursary Fund.

To bring our celebrations full circle, we’ll be hosting another wholeschool sponsored walk, connecting past and present. Early next year, we’ll share details on how you can show your support for our pupils and help us mark this anniversary in a meaningful way. Together, we can make a difference by donating and celebrating 50 years of community and opportunity.

WITHINGTON’S CAREER CONVENTION 2026

Something that makes Withington so special is the willingness of you, our alumnae, to share your career experiences to help to inspire and inform current Withington students.

Our biennial Future Careers Convention will be taking place on the afternoon of Thursday 29th January 2026. Nicola Kober, our Head of Futures, is looking for people from a range of businesses to exhibit and speak about their professions to current students.

Please contact us at development@wgs.org if you think you can help. We’d be delighted to hear from you!

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+EMILY SIMON SOCIETY Annual Lunch

It was a great pleasure to welcome guests for the Emily Simon Lunch in May. Attendees are alumnae and other members of the Withington community who have pledged to leave a gift in their wills to Withington, something for which we are extremely grateful. Before lunch, the guests were impressed by a presentation from Upper II Junior School pupils. They shared their favourite memories from their time in the Junior School and what they were most looking forward to when starting Senior School, all of which brought back vivid memories of their own time at school for the alumnae present.

The highlight of the day, however, had to be the alumna from the Class of 1959 who couldn’t resist reliving her own school days with a quick climb up the familiar wall bars in the gym!

Giving Back, Looking Forward

Alumna Penny Holmes is part of the Emily Simon Society, having already made the decision to leave a gift to WGS in her will: “ I attended WGS in the Direct Grant era and I and several of my friends were lucky enough to benefit from a ‘free place’ from Manchester Education Committee. Some of us would not have been able to take up our places without this financial help. I think it’s only fair that I help out today’s students and parents by leaving a sum to the school in my will. It completes the circle.

I have said a number of times that I would love to be attending the school nowadays!

The opportunities and wide curriculum are enviable and I wish they had been available in my days in school.”

Did you know...

Also…

The WGS Trust is a registered charity. Any gift you leave in your will, will be free from inheritance tax. A gift of 10% or more of your estate to charity will mean the rest of your estate pays inheritance tax at the reduced rate of 36% instead of 40%.

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The government has announced that, from April 2027, death benefits from personal pensions will be subject to inheritance tax when you die. This will increase the number of estates which will be subject to tax and the amount that would be taxed. You may be able to offset this tax increase by making charitable gifts.

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50 BOOTCAMPS IN 50 DAYS

We’re incredibly grateful to those who supported our Memories and Milestones Appeal over the summer. Thanks to your kind gifts and generous match-funding from anonymous donors, we raised over £30,000, providing the equivalent funds for two full bursaries for a year.

This year, Dinah Turner (Class of 1992) decided to join in with a challenge to complete 50 bootcamps in 50 days to raise funds for Maggie’s Centres, which collectively raised nearly £16,000. “ It was fun but there were definitely days where a workout felt very tough! But finding 30 mins a day to get fitter and stronger has been worth it.

We set ourselves a challenge and we keep pushing ourselves further - because Maggie’s do great work and help people with cancer in communities all across the UK. I’m sure many fellow Withington alumnae will have heard of Maggie’s or might have benefited from them or know someone who has.

This challenge started four years ago and has really caught on from small beginnings in 2022. If you want to kick off January 2026 with a bang get on it next year!”

For the students you help to support, the opportunity to attend Withington is truly life changing. We were especially thankful to Haleema, one of our Sixth Form Bursary Ambassadors, who lent her voice to the appeal.

Haleema was thrilled with her well-deserved A Level results this summer and hopes to go on to study Dentistry at university.

We would also like to extend heart-felt thanks to the anonymous donors who kindly agreed to match the first £14,910 given. “ We are proud to have had the chance to contribute match funding for this appeal. As parents, we’ve experienced first-hand the impact that attending Withington can have – not only through academic opportunities but in the lasting memories being created through everything the school provides. This was an opportunity for us to support other families who, like us, simply want the very best education possible for their daughters.”

Your support continues to open doors. Thank you.

“ The friendships and the community that I have been able to build here will stay with me for a lifetime.” “ I want to thank you for helping me to become the person I am today - I couldn’t have done it without you.” “ Everyone is able to explore their niche interests and passions; here academic curiosity is celebrated.” “ It’s the opportunities open to you and the community you find yourself in, as well as the support given and the friendships you make.”

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+ B EYOND LIMITS BREATH-HOLDING BRILLIANCE Alex Doorey (Class of 2005), has recently dived into a new sport and has already set 3 UK national records.

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By day I’m a Corporate Affairs Director, but at night you will find me underwater!

In my spare time, I teach scuba diving to children. A couple of years ago, someone at the dive school suggested I try freediving - also known as apnea. Freediving is done on a single breath. There is no oxygen, no equipment, no tricks.

It’s as far or as deep as you can go, based on the air you have in your lungs.

After just one session, I knew I had found my ‘thing’.

Within a few weeks of training, I could hold my breath for five minutes. I won my first competition, then got a coach. I came third at UK nationals and earned a place on Team GB. This summer, I travelled with the team to two World Championships in Greece and Japan and set three CMAS national records.

CMAS is the international umbrella organisation for underwater sports.

My speciality is bi-fins: I have two long carbon fiber ‘flippers’ on my feet. With those I am able to travel close to 200m in training (that’s about 8 lengths of a standard swimming pool). The world record is 259m. It’s my aim to have all the dynamic fin national records by the end of next year.

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It is a very mental sport, a true mirror, and how you perform is very much based on who you are as a person and how you tick. It’s taught me some good lessons for life. For example, how to enjoy the process.

Diving demands a focus on the present. We’re all drilled to focus on future plans, objectives, and goals. They are important, but it’s also important not to lose sight of the moment you’re in right now.

I’m not what anyone at school would have described as athletic (putting it mildly). I had never even been to the gym, let alone ‘done a sport’! But the magic secret of freediving is that you actually get better as you age - your metabolism slows and your mind calms a bit. There are UK divers competing in their 70s. It is a sport with true longevity.

Freediving has received some bad press of late, sensationalised for TV and portrayed as dangerous.

But it is a beautiful sport with a very supportive community (there are one or two other WGS folks around too!).

The next step is to get apnea into the Olympics, and there are active discussions on that right now. When it happens... I’d love to be there.

+ STILL SETTING THE STANDARD Alumna Marjorie Deane’s enduring influence on financial journalism Sometimes, the groundbreaking paths of past alumnae can disappear into the mists of time and we forget what a debt we owe to those who have gone before. Marjorie Deane may not be so well known at Withington today, but her legacy as an influential financial journalist lives on in the Foundation that bears her name, each year supporting up and coming talent break into the world of financial journalism.

Her career, spanning nearly 40 years at The Economist was, in its way, remarkable. When she started in 1947, she really was a woman in the male world of central banking.

Born in 1914 and living just a stone’s throw from Withington on Mauldeth Road, Marjorie attended school from 1924 to 1931, matriculating with distinction in Mathematics, Additional Mathematics, and History.

She read Mathematics at the University of London and, during the war, worked as a statistician at the Admiralty, where Sir John Betjeman who became a friend, was her boss.

Marjorie joined The Economist as a statistician before moving across to journalism and becoming FInance Editor. She introduced the magazine’s Financial Report newsletter, editing it for 13 years. Her emphasis on accuracy was a major contribution to her work at the publication.

She knew and was respected by all the greatest names in banking.

Sue Cameron, in her obituary in The Financial Times, said, ‘When Marjorie hit the phones, nobody refused her calls.’

Paul Volcker, a former chairman of the US Federal Reserve, called her ‘a pathbreaker for female journalists’ and said that ‘she learned things that

THE LAW’S THE THING

Chloe Mattison (Class of 2005), a Senior Lawyer at the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero based in Manchester, kindly agreed to visit Withington to speak to HEPSoc (History, Politics and Economics Society) about her career. Having studied Law at Oxford University, Chloe completed her training contract at a magic circle law firm in London, qualifying in Commercial Litigation in March 2012. She moved to a firm specialising in media and sports before becoming part of the Government Legal Department, an area she hadn’t considered previously.

She explained to students how much she enjoys what she does, especially that her work makes a difference; from energy to security, health to human rights, the Government Legal Department helps Government to deliver life-changing laws. Part of Chloe’s role is to advise on and draft legislation. She also spoke about the opportunity available to work in different departments and areas of law, or to specialise in one area. She gave students valuable advice on the different routes to becoming qualified in Law and some of the changes currently being implemented.

others didn’t because people had confidence in her’, adding that she could write well and, unlike others, her reports were balanced.

Beyond her editorial achievements, Marjorie had an extraordinary ability to identify and nurture talent. Many of those she fostered went on to hold top positions in journalism and finance. Her influence extended far beyond the printed page.

After retiring from The Economist aged 75, she continued to work as a consultant for GISE and the World Gold Council. At the age of 80, she cowrote a book on central banking with Robert Pringle. She wrote a report on central banking for GISE just a year before her death in 2008.

Her achievements were widely recognised. In 1979, she received a special prize for journalism from the Wincott Foundation and she was awarded an MBE in 2006. On being presented with her MBE, she commented to the late Queen on how Her Majesty wasn’t keen on journalists, to which the Queen said she thought financial journalists were all right.

In 1998, Marjorie donated £1 million to establish a foundation in her name, dedicated to supporting young financial journalists through internships and grants - a programme that continues to thrive today.

Despite being born with a displaced hip and later suffering from arthritis, Marjorie didn’t let physical problems hold her back. When her sight failed due to macular degeneration, she would use a magnifying glass to read The Financial Times. Beyond finance, Marjorie had a passion for modern art, loved detective stories, and also played bridge at The Reform Club.

In his obituary for The Economist, Michael Cronk signed off saying, ‘She was an admirable lady’.

This article has drawn on information from obituaries following Marjorie’s death: The Economist, 09/10/08 - Michael Cronk The Financial Times, 08/11/08 - Sue Cameron

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+LIVES REMEMBERED Annette Noskwith CBE, OBE neé Gruenbaum • Jan 30 - Mar 25

Annette was born in Berlin in 1930 and spent her early childhood in a world increasingly hostile to her faith. By the age of nine, she had attended four different schools, each expelling her because of her religion. Her parents divorced when she was six, leaving her in the care of her mother. She endured the terror of Kristallnacht, which marked the end of Jewish children attending formal state education in Germany.

Annette then attended a makeshift ‘school’ where Jewish teachers taught Jewish children. Through this, she secured a place on the Kindertransport to the UK, almost certainly thanks to a visa issued by Major Frank Foley, a British Secret Intelligence Service officer based at the British Embassy in Berlin who helped thousands of Jewish families escape from Nazi Germany after Kristallnacht and before the outbreak of war.

On 4th March 1939, she arrived in Southampton aboard the SS Manhattan from Hamburg. Her guardian after she arrived was Mrs Ramsden, a dental surgeon who lived in Fallowfield, Manchester. Annette joined Withington Girls’ School after first attending Lady Barn House School. She was evacuated to Uttoxeter, along with the entire school in September 1939, and afterwards she was evacuated to the Lake District. During this time, Withington sent a member of staff every month to check on her welfare. This care and support was something that left a lasting impression on Annette and of which she was deeply appreciative.

Annette returned to Withington in 1943, obtaining her School Certificate in 1946. Miraculously, her mother had survived the war in hiding in Berlin and she was reunited with Annette in 1947. After the war, Annette worked in a children’s home and various office roles.

Annette, far right, arriving in the UK on the SS Manhattan in 1939.

In May 1957, at the age of 27, she met Rolf Noskwith.

During the war he was part of the Enigma codebreaking team at Bletchley Park. It was somewhat of a whirlwind romance, as they married that September in what became a lifelong partnership of over 59 years. They had a son, Adrian. Together, Rolf and Annette supported each other, with Annette enabling Rolf to grow his business, and Rolf encouraging Annette’s extensive community work.

In 1967, she began her remarkable public service as a local councillor in Derbyshire, a role she held for 40 years with a host of political appointments. Her dedication was recognised with her being appointed OBE and later CBE. She remained active on her local parish council until 2015, completing nearly 50 years’ service, and she remained as Chairman of Governors at the local school until turning a young 87.

Rolf’s death in 2017 almost certainly marked the beginning of Annette’s decline. She lived with dementia until her death in March 2025. Annette’s life was a testament to resilience, service, and especially love. What a privilege to have loved deeply and, in the end, to die of a broken heart.

ADRIAN NOSKWITH ANNETTE’S SON

Anine Susini neé Graillot • Aug 32 - Nov 25

Penelope Bowers 1940 - 2025

We are very sorry to learn that Anine, a pupil at WGS from 1940-1945, died recently in France. At the beginning of the war, she was sent to England to live with her grandparents in Cheshire to avoid hostilities, and remained until peace once more returned to the Continent. She was very bright and intelligent and soon became accustomed to the English way of life and the language; in which she quickly became an expert! She was very good at most sport and was often sought after to join a team. When she had to return to France at the end of the war, she was very much missed. As soon as she was able, she contacted her old friends at WGS, and a number of reunions took place.

We send most sincere condolences to her husband and daughters at this very sad loss.

Following her time at Withington Girls' School, Penny studied Medicine at the University of Manchester. She moved to the United States in 1966, beginning a 30-year career in the pharmaceutical industry. As a physician and senior leader in the Drug Safety Division at Boehringer Ingelheim, she was admired for her sharp intellect, compassionate leadership, and deep commitment to drug safety.

She was a life-long sailor and was a prominent part of sailing communities in New York and in Connecticut. She was known for her warm hospitality during "Après Sail" gatherings. Her adventurous spirit led her to travel the world extensively.

Penny’s unconditional kindness and sincere empathy made her a beloved presence in the lives of many, both in the US and the UK. She will be deeply missed by her family and many friends.

PAMELA BIRLEY CLASS OF 1950

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*Adapted from her obituary in the Darien Times in September 2025.

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Elisabeth Anne Jones

Fay Hassid

née Cohen • 1930 - 2025

née Pickup • Sept 21 - Dec 24

Born in the pre-war era, Anne, as she was known, survived a world war, a lifelong debilitating illness and a pandemic, during which she contracted Covid twice and seemingly shrugged it off, but that was the mark of the person that Anne was. Following her time at Withington Girls’ School, she went on to school in Cheltenham but always stayed in touch with friends from Withington and receiving newsletters.

In her early years as a teacher, Anne worked in deprived areas of Manchester where she contracted encephalitis, a virus which affected her brain, and left her with a speech impediment and paralysis down the left side of her body.

This disability meant that Anne was unable to continue to teach.

Undaunted and still with a life to live, in 1960 she married a merchant seaman, Harry David Jones, from Borth, Mid Wales. His work enabled Anne to travel with him all over the world. His untimely death in 1982 and her gradually increasing disabilities meant that she decided to move to Chatburn to be near her family.

Eventually Anne needed care and moved into the Manor House, where she lived until her death in 2024.

In July 2025, Anne’s ashes were scattered by the RNLI over the sea in Borth, Wales. Anne, Auntie to us, will be remembered for her sense of humour, her infectious laugh and her smile that would light up the room.

For us, it wasn’t Anne’s lifelong illness that defined her but how she handled it, shrugging off adversity and making a life full of happy memories.

Fay was a devoted mother, a passionate gardener, and a woman who always put others before herself.

At Withington Girls’ School she made a number of life-long friends with whom she kept in touch. During that time, she acquired a pen friend in the US. This led to the opportunity, aged 17, to sail to the US on her own for a visit that started a lifelong love for the US. She also created lasting friendships through Didsbury’s Jewish community centred around the Country Club on Palatine Road. In 1954, she married Bob Hassid, moved to Gatley and continuing her role as a dental nurse.

In the 1960s, the family moved to Wilmslow, and she started a new career as a private driver.

She created a strong family unit living on an acre of land in a converted cowshed. It was here that she developed her love of gardening. In the 1970s, she became a member of a local branch of the Kidney Research Association, raising significant sums for the North West chapter. In the 1980s, she became an advisor for the Citizens Advice Bureau, a position she held for over 30 years in Wilmslow and Knutsford. A visit to the Grand Canyon in 1980 inspired her to study for an O Level in American Studies.

Her dogs were a huge source of companionship during her life.

She was an ardent monarchist, having been part of the cheering crowds that lined Queen Elizabeth II’s route back from Westminster Abbey following her coronation. Out of the blue, in 2011, a BBC researcher got in touch and this led to Fay being interviewed by Melvin Bragg about her experiences of the Queen's coronation. The interview contributed to a TV programme helping celebrate the Queen’s reign.

Fay enjoyed her final years in Alderley Edge in comfort and surrounded by her memories and family.

Eunice lived in Burnage and attended Withington from 1931 to 1940 on what she described as a scholarship.

She was a keen sportswoman and played cricket, netball and lacrosse at school. Eunice was on a school trip to Canada when World War II broke out. She and her fellow Withingtonians finally made it back to England on board an American ship and Eunice celebrated her 18th birthday on the crossing.

Eunice was Head Girl of Withington and, on her return from Canada, she was immediately evacuated, joining the rest of the school in Uttoxeter.

After Withington, Eunice went on to study French and German at Westfield College London which had been evacuated to St. Peter’s Hall in Oxford.

This was followed by a diploma in education in wartime London. She became a teacher before marrying her husband, Robert, a congregational minister. They subsequently had three children and went on to live in Europe and the United States before finally returning to the UK to live when her husband retired.

We featured Eunice in the 2021 edition of Withington Onwards, marking her 100th birthday. Her daughter, Lydia, told us that Eunice maintained her ‘joie di vivre’ right to the end of her life, celebrating her 103rd birthday in style and, even just a few days before she died on 31st December last year, recalling stories with the family of Christmases past. Undoubtedly, Eunice was the embodiment of a long life well-lived.

née Howarth • Mar 36 - Jul 24

STEPHEN ANNE’S NEPHEW & MARIE JACKSON

Eunice Paul

JED HASSID, FAY’S SON

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The Development Office, Withington Girls’ School, Wellington Rd, Fallowfield, Manchester M14 6BL T: 0161 249 3494 E: development@wgs.org W: wgs.org Registered Charity No. 505207

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