WHSU Newsletter 2025 by Wimbledon High School

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The year has ended on a Wimbledonian high, with our Class of 2025 ‘Striding Out’ with much jubilation and more than a few tears shed. How proud we are of them and in a world which seems, at times, to give little cause for optimism, nothing could lift the spirits more than knowing that this generation of articulate, compassionate, able human beings are heading out into it, ready to be the decision-makers of the future.

The year itself has been productive and busy – recent highlights include our Senior Rowing Squad qualifying for Henley; our U13 football team coming 4th in the national cup; the energetic Y8&9 production of ‘Fame’; a stunning orchestral and ensembles concert and some sterling performances at the latest Model United Nations Conference hosted up at King’s. WHS students have talent, enthusiasm and curiosity in spades, and have thrown themselves into every aspect of the opportunities on offer to them.

In the Junior School, we welcomed Harriet Fryer as our new Head and she has made a very positive impact since starting in January. We were delighted to win the Education Choices Award for our partnerships work, an area we see as being absolutely key to building compassionate, grounded young people. I am also pleased to announce that incoming Head of Sixth Form, Holly Webb, has been recognized for her research on inclusive classrooms with the GARC Research Fellow Award at the recent International Coalition of Girls Schools Conference in Philadelphia.

I am also thrilled that we have had success in key areas of fundraising this year. First, the longed-for Steinway piano will be here for September, thanks to the 88 Keys Campaign. Such a quality instrument will lift the musical performances of our

talented musicians to the next level, as well as allowing us to host top-end concerts by external orchestras; we can’t wait to hear it in action! Our 1880 Society continues to flourish and we are delighted to be welcoming bursary students into our school in the new school year as a result. Our Telephone Campaign this July has been a chance for some of our newest alumnae to speak directly to you, our alumnae community, about our bursary campaign and life at school. Thank you to those of you who have been speaking to them and I hope the conversations were uplifting.

Which leads nicely on to this year’s Speech Day Ceremony, themed around Encounters. This year more than ever it feels that I have been lucky enough to experience encounters with extraordinary women – whether the 25 alumnae professionals at our Futures Fair, or Jacinda Ardern, former Prime Minister of New Zealand, who visited the school in June. And each encounter has made me more committed than ever to building a school which encourages, celebrates, challenges and uplifts girls and young women, every single day.

Have a wonderful summer, treasure the encounters you have and remember you are always welcome at Wimbledon High.

Fionnuala Kennedy, Head

The Wimbledon High School Union has had a quiet year but we were delighted that a number of our members (including the committee) attended the November 2024 Birthday Reunion that was held in the Auditorium.

News from the WHSU

There were attendees from so many years spreading over decades and all the different generations chatted happily together, telling their stories of their days at the school. Archive photos and memorabilia were on show and they brought back so many memories. After a delicious buffet lunch we were taken on guided tours around the school site. Much of the original site has now been developed and Draxmont, the original playground when I was at the school in the 1970s and 80s, no longer exits as a grassy play area. However the new facilities that have taken its place are quite extraordinary and enable the girls to study just about anything. Subjects we would never have heard of back in my day are taught and truly make you believe anything you might want to achieve is possible. Anthea Fry led a rousing rendition of the School Song and I was very happy to be asked to cut the first slice of the Birthday cake before everyone went home having had a really lovely afternoon.

The Wimbledon High School Union in itself is less active now as the School alumnae team take on much of the job we have done in the past. Records are now held centrally and we are gradually moving on from the days of membership cards and paper

WHSU Prize

records. However, the Union is still a point of contact especially for our older members and we are always delighted to hear from you. We have members living worldwide and in the last year I have had letters and e-mails from all over the world. So many have wonderful stories to tell of their exciting and interesting lives and we want to hear these so please do get in touch if you do have a story to tell about your life and achievements. Please do read the contribution from Anne Walsh, one of my oldest friends from WHS. She has pretty much dedicated her life to helping others in the most desperate and appalling conditions across the poorest parts of the world. It has taken me 20 years to get her to write about her work and her life and I continue to be in awe of her. She also managed to teach me to ski in my 40’s (albeit very badly) with the patience of the saint she truly is. Stories and memories are kept in the archives for others to read and play an important part of documenting the history of the school and the lives of those who are associated with it. In addition we have, on occasions, been able to put Old Girls back in touch with friends that they have not been in contact with for decades.

Sarah Mitchell WHSU Committee

Each year since 2018 the WHSU has given a prize to a girl at the school who has been seen to uphold the long-standing values of the school of loyalty, strength, self-sufficiency and putting others first. We are delighted that the 2025 winner of this prize was Saskia Pepper who received a book token and a further £20 to donate to a charity of her choice and the charity Saskia chose was Solace.

Solace Women’s Aid offers free advice and support to women and children in London to build safe and strong lives and Futures free from male abuse and violence.

The Birthday Reunion 2024 events

Saturday 16 November 2024

Our 144th Birthday was celebrated on Saturday 16 November at our annual Birthday Reunion, with an enthusiastic turn-out, in particular from the Classes of 1984 and 1994. We were especially delighted to welcome back former staff and alumnae who had travelled from Canada and Paris, as well as all corners of the UK.

Refresh your memory of the School Song lyrics by owning a WHSU teatowel! Makes a lovely gift and all profit goes to the WHSU.

Please contact Sarah Mitchell at drawingrooms@btinternet.com

Class of 2020 Reunion

13 March 2025

Five years to the very day since lockdown cut short their last year at WHS, the Class of 2020 and many of those who taught them got back together once more in the Auditorium in March.

Former Head Girl Jasmine and their former Head of Year 7, Mrs Treseder, reminded everyone of some of the highlights of their time together. It was particularly great to see so many ‘WHS Lifers’ – girls who joined in the Junior School and continued all the way through to Year 12 and former staff; Mrs Eaves, Ms Garczynski, Mrs Johnson, Mr Kane and Senora Nullens.

Class of 2014 Reunion

13 May 2025

The Class of 2014 were joined by former teachers Mr Yee, Mr Haythorne, Mrs Garczynski and Frau Eiberle to reminisce about their schooldays and were given tours by the current Y12s who enjoyed hearing all their anecdotes.

www.wimbledonhigh.gdst.net/ news/welcome-back-classof-2020/

https://www.wimbledonhigh.gdst.net/ news/class-of-2014-reunited-withtheir-old-teachers-once-more/

Anne Fleeman, née Lilly (Class of 1952) kindly donated her ‘Old Wimbledonian’ silver brooch for our archives.

The brooch was made available in 1988, a faithful reproduction of the original one from 1921. The apple has long been an emblem of WHS – the first apple tree having been planted on 10 November 1890 to commemorate the first ten years of the school.

1950s

1950s 1960s

Ilora (Gillian) Finlay née Downman (Class of 1967)

Ilora is a doctor, professor of palliative medicine and Independent Crossbench member of the House of Lords and a Deputy Speaker. She is a member of the House of Lords Special Inquiry Committee on the Integration of Primary and Community Care and is now a key figure in the debate on assisted dying. She has published a book The Reality of Assisted Dying: Understanding the Issues (OUP September 2024).

Congratulations to Anthea Richardson née Fry (Class of 1963) who married her partner, Robert Evans, on 24 May 2025!

Hazel Morgan née Grinyer wrote in about the Class of 1962 Now We Are Eighty Reunion. Eleven Wimbledonians met for lunch on 13 June 2024 at the home of Dinah Harris (Priest) and enjoyed good conversation and delicious food looking out at the Surrey Hills.

www.wimbledonhigh.gdst.net/ news/the-class-of-1962-nowwe-are-eighty-

Sarah Mitchell (Class of 1978) writes “The “Seville Signoritas” (as we call ourselves) continue to meet and enjoy each other’s company.

In May 2024 Jane Hicks kindly invited us to her house just outside Bristol where she lives with her wife, Maria. We did a couple of walks through Bristol itself, seeing the sights and admiring this historic town. We studied some amazing Bansky murals of which there are many around Bristol, we peered nervously from the Clifton Suspension Bridge and had a lazy lunch down in the harbour before wandering back along the riverbank. We also visited the amazing Tyntesfield House, a fabulous Victorian gothic style mansion and walked in the bluebell wood in full bloom.

In April we met up again this time in the New Forest where we went to Anne Patrick’s home in Hyde. She and her husband Kevin were also great hosts and we had a lovely walk and a very chatty lunch at their delightful home. We caught up with all our news and

laughed, as we always do, as we recalled the various thing we got up to at school, especially in our lasted few years. All very tame by today’s standards but still, probably a good thing our parents never found out.

It has been amazing that our friendship has last over 50 years and for some of us over 60. I think we are stuck with each other now which is great, it has all been such good fun!”

Anne Walsh (Class of 1978) “Looking back, I never imagined that those school days at Wimbledon High School would lead me refugee camps in Ethiopia, cholera outbreaks in Somaliland, or advocating for better ways to treat malnutrition at the World Health Organization. But that’s the path life took me on…”

Read about Anne’s life and career here

https://www.wimbledonhigh. gdst.net/news/alumnae-focusanne-walsh-class-of-1978/

Alumnae News

Sarah-Jane Kelland née Hunt (Class of 1984) surprised her niece Maddie who is in the Reception class at the Junior School when she came to show the class the scrapbook she had made about school’s 100th birthday celebrations back in 1980.

https://www.wimbledonhigh. gdst.net/news/special-visitorto-reception/

Do you remember..?

Sarah-Jane and her sister Susannah (Class of 1984) recall that during the Centenary year in 1980, every child and staff member received a Centenary mug which was designed by the Art and Pottery teacher, Mrs. Todd. Sarah- Jane says;

“ Mrs Todd’s pottery studio, where she taught us, was on the ground floor of Avon House, behind the swimming pool. I believe the mugs were made at a pottery in Fulham. Each mug had the same design, with Wimbledon High School 1880-1980 printed on the bottom, but the glaze on each mug was one of three different colours-blue, russet or yellow.”

Send in a photo of yourself with your mug if you still have one!

Fiza Saeed McLynn (Class of 1987)

As one of the new voices in historical fiction for 2025, we are eager to share news of Fiza Saeed McLynn’s debut fiction novel, The Midnight Carousel.

We are also delighted to announce that Fiza will talking about her novel at Wimbledon Bookfest which will be returning to Wimbledon High School in the Autumn 2025.

Fiza’s event is on Saturday 18 October 2025 at 5:00 pm.

1990s

1990’s

https://www.wimbledonhigh.gdst.net/ news/rowing_reminiscences/

With our recent efforts to get in touch with former WHSBC rowers, we delighted to hear from Charlotte Butler (Class of 1995), cox of the 1995 rowing crew. She got in touch to remind us of the triumph of the inaugural WHS rowing First VIII who rowed to victory in the 1995 Women’s Junior Novice VIII’s division of the Schools’ Head of the River.

2000s

Ashvi Ilott née Patel (Class of 1996)

is Chief Systems Engineer at SSTL and will be working with the European Space Agency on the development of the Moonlight programme. Moonlight aims to establish Europe’s first-ever satellite constellation for telecommunication and navigation services for the Moon - a significant step in lunar exploration. After WHS, Ashvi went on to complete a MEng in Aeronautics and Astronautics at the University of Southampton before embarking on her career in satellite technology. Watch this space! (no pun intended)

Dr Sheila Kanani (Class of 2001)

Congratulations to science educator and planetary scientist who in March was announced as winner of this year’s Royal Society Young People’s Book Prize for her book Can you get Rainbows in Space? In her acceptance speech, Sheila mentioned displaced children and STEM education for all and chose to donate her cash prize to Choose Love who work with children in Gaza, Sudan and support refugees across the globe. Her latest book Can You Get Music on the Moon? was published in April this year by Penguin books and promises to be just as successful!

2000’s

..And to Felicity Baker (Class of 2002)

Read more https://www.wimbledonhigh.gdst.net/ news/winner-of-the-royal-society-youngpeoples-book-prize/

who is the GDST’s Alumna of the Year!

BBC journalist and TV producer, Felicity is a ‘Stambassador’ and has put stammering in the spotlight. She set up the BBC’s Stammering Support Network and regularly speaks to Year 7s at WHS. Thank you to those who voted for her and do look out for her on the cover of the latest GDST Life magazine.

https://www.wimbledonhigh.gdst.net/ news/whs-alumna-felicity-baker-winsgdst-alumna-of-the-year-2024/

Alumnae News 2010s

2010s Edinburgh Fringe 2025

Gabriela Godinho-Moxon (Class of 2012)

with Never Over Theatre is premiering her play at this year’s Edinburgh Fringe Festival. Everything and Nothing is a brand-new play about love at first sight and the power of human connection.

Gaia Mondadori (Class of 2019)

also has her one-woman play Centre of the Universe premieres from 31 July- 25 August as part of the Edinburgh Fringe Festival. Gaia kindly shared her insights as a playwright and actor with students at our annual Folio celebration evening last November.

Read here

https://www.wimbledonhigh.gdst.net/ news/alumna-recognised-in-kings-newyear-honours-list/

2020s

Hannah Klugman (Class of 2027)

Obituaries Obituaries

Please read the tributes to alumnae and former staff below:

Gillian

Olga Janssen née Bath

20/06/1944 – 2/07/2024

WHS 1952 – 1962 (Class of 1962)

Family and friends assembled in Gillian’s garden in Twickenham on Saturday 3 August 2024 to celebrate her life. It was appropriate to meet in the home where she lived for 50 years. We could admire her outstanding collection of contemporary jewellery, destined for the V&A museum. We shared lovely food, recalling that warm hospitality had been a central feature of her life.

Born in Edinburgh she joined WHS in 1952. Several of us recall going to her family home with its large garden, especially appreciated as a stopping off point on the way to the All England Club during Wimbledon fortnight.

Gillian was a gifted linguist, especially influenced by her German

teacher, Miss Seligmann. She studied German and Russian at Liverpool University where she met Jens. They married and spent 52 years sharing their interests, opportunities to travel and good conversation. In later years their holiday flat overlooking Gloucester marina was a place of retreat. Several of us enjoyed their welcome. Gillian travelled as often as she could to visit their son, Kim, in the United States.

Gillian was a key member of our Zoom group formed in 2020. Her friends have described her as a pivotal member of the group, empathetic, independent, curious, perceptive and a dear friend.

From Hazel Morgan and members of the 1962 Zoom group

Elizabeth Anne Fisher née Nash

29/08/1937 – 30/04/2025

WHS 1949- 1954 (Class of 1955)

We were so sorry to hear about Anne’s death in April. You may recall that in the newsletter last year we had a contribution from Anne. She spoke of her memories of Wimbledon High School just after the war and of her career in Accounts.

Anne went on to raise four children and had 8 grandchildren and 12 greatgrandchildren and we had been delighted that she had been able to attend the 2023 WHS Reunion lunch.

After the newsletter went out last year, Anne contacted me to say how happy she had been to see her article in print and that her children had been very proud of her when they saw it.

It was a pleasure to see her and her daughter Angela again at the 2024 lunch which she evidently enjoyed.

Sarah Mitchell

Jenny Randerson née Sinclair

(The Baroness Randerson of Roath Park)

26/05/2048 – 04/01/2025 (Class of 1966)

We were deeply saddened to learn of the death in January of alumna and Welsh Liberal Democrat politician Jenny Randerson (Class of 1966) whose groundbreaking contribution to Welsh life and to politics over many decades, in the words of colleagues “has been nothing short of immense”. With a career full of ‘firsts’, she was the first female Liberal Democrat minister in the UK as Minister for Culture, Sport and the Welsh Language in the National Assembly for

Wales (now Senedd) from 2000 to 2003, the first ever female Welsh Liberal Democrat to hold ministerial office at Westminster and the first Welsh Liberal to hold a UK ministerial post since Gwilym Lloyd-George in 1945.

Fellow alumna and member of the House of Lords, Ilora Finlay (Class of 1967) said:

“Jenny’s social conscience and drive to serve others was evident from her schooldays. In politics, she became widely respected across party lines for her wise approach to issues, her listening skills, the thoroughness of her preparation and her ability to prioritise. She was above all a kind friend to many from all walks of life, generous with her time and her commitment. She encouraged all she encountered to reach their own full potential through her gentle supportive approach. Her legacy to the Arts and Cultural Life of Wales is second to none. She wore

FORMER STAFF

Obituaries

Carol Stephenson

01/01/1945 – 23/09/2024

Head of Juniors 1983 - 1994

I met Carol in 1963 at the ILEA school ‘Henry Fawcett’. I had been teaching for about four years whilst she had arrived straight from college. As her husband, Rob, was a chef in a top hotel, she was often on her own and we spent many happy times together. She had a very warn, generous manner and Carol loved music

Hugh Wilson

18/04/1952 – 06/01/2025

WHSU Treasurer

The WHSU committee were so sad to hear that WHSU Treasurer passed away in January after a long illness. Hugh Wilson was the husband of Lynda Wilson who was a history teacher at the school for many years. Sarah Mitchell says “Hugh kindly

Kelly Jones

23/02/1952 – 4/02/2025

WHS Senior School Librarian

1992 – 2014

Archive Volunteer 2014- 2025

Kelly was the WHS Senior School Librarian from 19922014 and after retirement, looked after the archives at WHS archives, being present at every Birthday Reunion with her display of magazines and photographs for

The Kelly Jones Award

and song. She sang for the Royal Choral Society (RCS) over many years and was a leading light of the Friends of the RCS, organising exclusive, private, outings to special venues such as the House of Commons, Legoland and the London Transport Museum. She was a great supporter of the school, regularly attending alumnae reunions. Carol was a very good teacher; meticulous, caring and had a warm, generous manner. She loved children but unfortunately did not have any of her own. She left WHS to be Head of Ipswich Juniors, then a Governor until she retired. A sad loss.

From Margaret Hunt (former staff 1983- 96)

agreed to help the Union as our accountant many years ago and has kept our accounts in order ever since. He was extremely patient and easy to work with and one of the nicest people I have ever met. I attended his funeral and it is tribute to him that so many people were there.”

guests to enjoy. Kelly was also very active in her local community – she was a passionate AFC Wimbledon fan, volunteer at Wimbledon Museum and a member of the Wimbledon Community Chorus. A lively celebration of her life was held at AFC Wimbledon. Kelly will be greatly missed by everyone here at Wimbledon High.

Read her full obituary here

https://www.wimbledonhigh.gdst.net/ wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Kelly-JonesARCHIVE-Article-FINAL.pdf

To recognise Kelly’s huge contribution to school life at WHS, the Kelly Jones Award is for a Year 11 History student who plans to continue with History at A Level and who has consistently demonstrated excellent Historical or archival skills. Their understanding may be demonstrated through engaging academic writing or outstanding oracy skills. The award honours the longstanding commitment of former school archivist and librarian Kelly Jones (1992-2025) to the history of the school and local area. We were delighted to invite Kelly’s daughter, Rosie, to present the inaugural award on Friday 4 July at Speech Day which was awarded to Imogen Andrews.

VE Day 80 Wartime at Wimbledon High

For VE Day 80 on 8 May, we were delighted to recently connect with Hanford Prep School in Dorset, where Prep and Junior students and staff from Wimbledon High were evacuated during WWII.

In a special VE Day assembly, Junior School pupils learnt about what life was like as an evacuee to Hanford House (as it was then known), as well as those who remained in Wimbledon and were affected by blackouts and bombings.

A number of Prep and Junior pupils were evacuated along with teaching staff just one week before war was declared in 1939. Hanford House was a Jacobean mansion in the depths of rural Dorset, not yet a school at the time, with extensive grounds and it became the second home for many Wimbledonians between September 1939 and July 1940, and beyond for some.

Tatler Magazine ran a feature on the young Wimbledon High evacuees at Hanford House describing what life was like so far from home which you can see opposite.

Meanwhile, a reduced school community remained at Wimbledon High, throughout the trials and tribulations of wartime. And when VE Day came at last on 8 May 1945, staff and students;

“ had a glorious celebration in Draxmont, a bonfire 15-20 feet high consumed all the junk we had been aching to get rid of. Everyone sat round and sang songs... This general celebration was continued until a late hour, only ending when the bonfire had practically burnt out. Finally Miss Littlewood had a private celebration, giving a dinner in town (of a truly pre-war quality) to the veterans of the staff, who had been right through the war with her.”

Source: V. H. Truman (WHS Magazine Issue No 53 – 1946)

If you have any VE Day or Hanford House memories, we would love to hear from you.

Hanford Prep and WHS Juniors on VE Day

Come and visit the archives

Look out for an invitation to come back for a ‘decades afternoon tea’ to look through our archives at Nursery Road and help us catalogue our huge collection of photos and memorabilia.

Read

https://www.wimbledonhigh.gdst.net/news/ ve-day-80-wartime-at-wimbledon-high/

New Head, Miss Littlewood, celebrates the school birthday with students in 1940.

Find out more here

https://www.gdst.net/support/ gdst-telephone-campaignjuly-2025/

If you have any queries please contact alumnae@wim.gdst.net

Telephone Campaign 2025

We are delighted that we have three enthusiastic young WHS alumnae who will be making the calls.

Please do consider giving your time for a call – not only do the youngest members of our community really enjoy hearing your schooldays anecdotes, but it is also a great opportunity to catch up on school news and hear more about Wimbledon High.

Did you row with WHS?

We are setting up an alumnae group for WHSBC, with the aim of creating a lifelong community of Wimbledon High rowers, with a rowing newsletter emailed every term.

Current rowers would really appreciate getting to know the past rowers who have shaped the club into what it is today – are you still competing or training at university or at a club?

Please let us know your news and whether you are available to give talks or support our current students in any way.

Wimbledon High School, Mansel Road, London SW19 4AB

t. 020 8971 0900

e. info@wim.gdst.net wimbledonhigh.gdst.net/