Ins I de th I s I ssue
seniors’ travel Award Amelia h artley seniors s potlight: henrietta McMicking seniors’ Carol service
the Interview: Caroline h aughey
It is always a pleasure to spend time with s eniors and h onorary s eniors, and it has been a delight to talk to so many of you at the wide range of events held this year.
From Seniors’ Day in the summer to the festive Carol Service in December, I enjoyed seeing Seniors from across the decades in attendance, from those who left in the 1940s to our most recent leavers, the Class of 2023.
I also attended the Seniors’ Social event in London in November, an evening which highlighted the close bonds between former classmates. It was filled with reminiscing about School, as well as making new connections and I am looking forward to the future Seniors’ Socials, which are being planned as we actively continue to develop our engagement programme.
We are making excellent progress on implementing the School’s Strategic Direction. The first stage of work on the interior of the Performing Arts Centre has begun and will be finished later in 2024. We have worked hard on our plans for the Innovation and Design Centre and are excited about how this ambitious project is developing. The building is a statement of our intent and responsibility to prepare girls for a rapidly changing world and we are looking at all aspects of our curriculum in light of this.
Our international family of schools continues to grow, and we are working towards the opening of Wycombe Abbey International Cairo East, Egypt, in 2024. I am looking forward to strengthening the relationships with our international partners as our global community develops and introducing exchanges and visits for pupils and staff.
I hope you enjoy reading this issue of the Seniors’ Supplement , which is a wonderful illustration of all that our Seniors community has been involved with over the last year. Wycombe Abbey Seniors remain an inspiration to current pupils, and we are extremely proud of this network of women.
Jo d uncan MA (s t Andrews), PGC e (Cantab) h eadmistress
For more from the Headmistress, follow on X (Twitter) and Instagram @WA_Headmistress
elcome to the 2023 Seniors’ Supplement , and a particular welcome to the 2023 Clarence Leavers. I hope that you enjoy this issue, and I look forward to catching up with many of you at this year’s events.
The Seniors’ Consultative Committee (SCC) works with the Seniors’ Office and provides a channel of communication between the Seniors community and the School. The main aim of the committee is to promote and support the wide variety of activities in which Seniors are involved, from social events to careers forums. My thanks go to my committee members for all their advice and guidance. I would particularly like to thank Caroline Ames (Buttle, C141, Barry, 1979) who is stepping down at the end of this year after many dedicated years of service to the School and to the Seniors.
Niki Kilminster became our Alumnae Relations Officer in December 2022, and I would like to thank her for all that she has done to support the Seniors over the last year, it has been greatly appreciated. I would also like to share my appreciation of Clare Flynn-Scarelli, the outgoing Director of Development and External Relations. Clare did a fantastic job of guiding the Seniors’ Office through the challenges of the pandemic and the celebrations of the School’s 125 anniversary.
Alongside our favourite social and traditional activities, such as the Carol Service, there are an increasing number of ways that Seniors are now involved. This autumn we held a drinks party in London, which I hope will become an annual event. If you know friends from Wycombe Abbey who are no longer in contact with the School, please do encourage them to email the Seniors’ Office or register their details on the Seniors’ website.
I’m delighted to report that registrations on Seniors’ Connect have increased by nearly 30% over the last year.
If you have not already done so, please sign up at wycomeabbeyseniors.com as it is the easiest way for you to be kept informed of news and events, and to volunteer your time and expertise. Currently, 500 Seniors are registered on the Senior-Pupil Mentoring programme, offering advice and support to current pupils and alumnae. There are also opportunities for Seniors to be University Ambassadors and to talk at careers events. Your experience is invaluable, particularly to today’s Sixth Form girls, so please get in touch.
Thank you to those of you who have supported the Seniors this year by attending events, providing careers advice or by contributing to this edition of the Seniors’ Supplement . If you would like any more details of current ways to get involved, have ideas as to what we could do in the future, or would like to organise an event please don’t hesitate to contact me or one of the Seniors’ Office.
Finally, a reminder about bursaries. If you know of girls who would thrive at Wycombe Abbey, but whose families may be unable to afford the full cost, please do encourage them to apply for a full or partial bursary. Details are available from the School Admissions Office or use the QR code to visit the Admissions webpage.
Through the Seniors community, I hope that together we will carry on supporting our fellow Seniors, current girls and charitable endeavours just as the first leavers did, and continue to be proud of this school, each other, and our education.
Fizz Conway ( h arris, C160, Wendover, 1986)the Development and Seniors’ Office fosters relationships with the s chool’s s eniors and h onorary s eniors community and a wide range of donors, supporters and friends of the s chool.
We are excited to share with you the stories that highlighted the year for the Department.
As explained in the School’s Strategic Direction, it is the School’s aim to support more pupils on bursaries and to pursue our transformational site development and ambitions, which will be enabled through the generosity of our parents, Seniors and friends. As we continue to build momentum around our Campus Masterplan, we want to express our gratitude for the support we received from our entire Wycombe Abbey community last year, as we continue to foster a culture of philanthropy and emphasise the importance of collective giving.
To continue the pursuit of excellence in academic, recreational and pastoral care, we asked all Seniors and current parents to support the School in one of three areas: area of greatest need, bursaries or living and learning facilities. As a result of our two Annual Fund appeals, donation totals more than doubled from the previous year and the number of gifts tripled. The Clarence Leavers Appeal, an invitation for parents of Upper Sixth pupils to donate their deposit back to the School, generated even more than the previous year with a total of £58,750 towards the Annual Fund.
The School organised a number of fundraising and donor stewardship events, with three separate events generously hosted by individual current and past parents in London. Over the spring Short Leave, 16 parents and their daughters spent the weekend on an outing that shared their love of cars during the first Wycombe Abbey Car Enthusiasts event. They raised £3,700 towards bursaries and we hope to make this an annual tradition for years to come.
We are delighted by the enthusiasm of our volunteers who help make events like these happen, and we look forward to continuing our momentum in this year as well.
seniors
2023 has been a great year for the Seniors community with many wonderful events taking place.
After welcoming the Class of 2023 as Seniors at the Clarence Leavers’ Ceremony in April, it was on to a sunny Seniors’ Day in June, which you can read more about on page 14. There have been a number of small reunions taking place this year, including a ten-year reunion for the Class of 2013, who enjoyed an afternoon at Wycombe Abbey before continuing their celebrations in London. We look forward to helping more Seniors arrange their reunions in 2024.
It has been encouraging to see Seniors in Hong Kong hosting and attending events this year. These have included drinks receptions and an exclusive screening of a documentary.
November saw the Seniors’ Social drinks reception in London, which sold out! We were delighted with the positive feedback from the event and look forward to organising another Seniors’ Social in 2024. Lastly, we rounded off the year with the glorious Seniors’ Carol Service.
We are immensely grateful to all Seniors who give up their time to come to School to speak to the current pupils or mentor an Upper Sixth girl. This year, Seniors have been involved with Career Spotlight talks, the Careers Seminar, spoken at the Management Conference or as part of the Carrington Award and mentored nearly 30 girls on the Senior-Pupil Mentoring Programme.
We are continuing to increase engagement on our Seniors’ Connect platform, where you can find information about events, activities and other news. Photos from events will also be uploaded here and we encourage you to share any photos, or other news, with the Seniors community. Visit www.wycombeabbey.com/seniors for more information.
We look forward to 2024 being another fantastic year for the Seniors community. Please always feel free to reach out to the Seniors’ Office at seniors@wycombeabbey.com if you have any questions or news to share.
ChAI r:
Felicity Conway (h arris, C160, Wendover, 1986)
After leaving Wycombe Abbey in 1986 I went to the University of Exeter and then on to Price Waterhouse before pursuing a career in finance, mainly at Marks and Spencer’s. I am pictured here with my husband Gerard, and my two daughters Olivia (C342, Cloister, 2021) and Ettie (C360, Cloister, 2023) who are also Seniors.
CoMMIttee Me M bers:
sue Cameron (C100, b arry, 1961)
After I left Wycombe Abbey and gained a History degree, I applied to Voluntary Services Overseas. I was posted to teach at a convent school in Oguta, Eastern Nigeria, then to New Zealand. So it went on until I finally became a Headmistress. The photograph is of me as the villain Chauvelin in the Barry House play, The Scarlet Pimpernel, in December 1957 with Heather Herrington (Angier, C94, Barry, 1959), who died too young, as Lady Blakeney.
Katrin roskelly
( turner, C151, Pitt, 1982)
After leaving Wycombe Abbey in 1982 and studying at the French Institute in London, I had careers in financial services and communications. A mum of two school-aged children, I am a great believer in future-focused themes and the power of communities to make a difference.
susannah s aary (C170, b utler, 1989)
After leaving Wycombe Abbey I went to King’s College London where I gained a BA (Hons) in Geography, served as VicePresident of the Students’ Union, and founded the King’s Players. I later received a Post-Graduate Diploma in Acting from Drama Studio London. I have lived in London and Los Angeles (working in the entertainment industry), Paris and Barcelona (where I spent time producing music and DJing). I am a freelance writer and voiceover artist. I have ghostwritten numerous books and I am a publishing consultant. I live in West Sussex with my husband.
Azura Safiyuddeen (C233, Campbell, 2003)
After leaving Wycombe Abbey in 2003, I pursued Law at University of Bristol and went on to complete the Bar at Middle Temple. I worked for a short stint as an Associate in Shell Malaysia and as a corporate lawyer in Kuala Lumpur. After pursuing a Masters in Interior Architecture, I now run my own studio specialising in high-end residential projects. I am pictured here with my husband, Rahmat, and our cat, Pasha, at our home.
tracy b jelland (C235, Campbell, 2004)
I left Wycombe Abbey in 2004 and moved to the US to attend Harvard. I have spent my career in Brand Management and Marketing across a number of companies from Voss Water to General Mills, and now Target. I currently reside in Minneapolis with my wife, Alex, and our three young children, Theo, Charlie, and Georgie.
s en I ors’ Consu LtAtI ve Co MMIttee
s arah r iley ( h onorary s enior, C197 h , h ead of Geography)
I came to Wycombe Abbey in 1988 as Head of Geography. I also ran the Silver and Gold Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme and oversaw the Centenary celebrations. I left in 1998 to take up a Deputy Headship at a school in South London until 2003, after which I pursued a career in business.
s ue Jenkins
( h onorary s enior, s helburne h ousemistress)
From a young age I always wanted to be a teacher of Physical Education and Music, and enjoyed both subjects. I loved every minute of my 45 years as a teacher. I played piano and classical guitar, played netball at club, county, regional and national level as well as qualifying as a British Ski Instructor, and gaining coaching awards in all the major sports. Now, I sing in the Church Choir and Chair a Charity to support the upkeep of the First Century Norman Church in our village. I mentor part time at a different boarding school, I am on the panel of the Ladies Ski Club of Great Britan and organise the British Schoolgirls Indoor Ski Races at Milton Keynes Snozone every year.
After ten years working in the fitness industry, mainly managing a ladies-only gym franchise and teaching Zumba, I moved into fundraising at Coeliac UK, a charity which holds a personal connection to me. Starting out as Challenge Event and Community Coordinator, I also covered roles in Regular Giving, became Team Leader and ended my nearly seven years there as Supporter Relationship Manager, overseeing Major Gifts and Legacies. I have been at Wycombe Abbey for a year now and I am thoroughly enjoying getting to know the Seniors, particularly hearing their memories and stories from their time at School.
I earned my BA degree from Kenyon College in History and Spanish and my MA from Old Dominion University in International Relations with a Certificate in Women’s Studies. I have 11 years of experience in development and donor relations. My first position was Development Officer at Norfolk Academy, a prestigious day school in Virginia, US. I then worked at the US Naval Academy Foundation where I was Assistant Director of Donor Relations and enjoyed working closely with donors and alumni. I enjoy competing in swimming in my spare time.
We are delighted to announce that Robin Sharp will join Wycombe Abbey from 19 February 2024 as Director of Development. Robin has a BA in History from Denison University and has worked most recently as Director of Development at Bradford Grammar School. We would like to thank Fiona Kirk, who became Interim Director of Development in December 2022, for her guidance and support over the last year.
the deve Lo PM ent And sen Iors’ oFFIC e:
over the past year, seven Lower s ixth teams from Wycombe Abbey took part in the tycoon e nterprise Competition run by the Peter Jones Foundation. e ach participating team prepared a business plan to bid for start-up funding and then, once successful, used the capital to start their business, trading over six weeks and supported by our amazing business mentors.
At the end of the trading period, all teams submitted their accounts, detailing profits made and reflections on their Tycoon journey. One of our teams, Anectote, was invited to the Finalists Awards Ceremony at Hampton Court Palace on Thursday 21 September.
Not only was Anectote awarded winner of their age category, but they went on to win Overall Winners of Tycoon 2023. In addition to their trophies, they received £1,000 to reinvest in their company. The team said ‘We were really excited to be announced as champions at the National Tycoon Enterprise competition. The process was incredibly enjoyable, and we learnt so much from the experience. We knew we had a great product with a lot of potential but were still shocked when we were announced as the overall winners! A special thanks must go to Mrs Kiln who helped us throughout the process
and the whole DT Department as they let us use the heat press machine to produce our bags. We would also like to thank our business mentor and Wycombe Abbey Senior Jo Hilditch (C147, Airlie, 1981) for her invaluable support and advice throughout the competition.’
t he process was incredibly enjoyable, and we learnt so much from the experience.LvI Pupil
Anectote produced and sold sustainable tote bags. They sourced materials from a local UK company to make sure they were environmentally friendly and ethical. They wanted to promote a simple, yet high quality and durable product to raise awareness of sustainability.
The team realised everyone at School had similar tote bags and so spotted a gap in the market to create a functional and customisable product that offered customers a way to express their creativity. The team made an impressive profit of £3,852, which was an amazing effort. To further their positive cycle of change and promote awareness of sustainability, they decided to donate half of their profits to the Friends of the Earth charity and further 30% to the Peter Jones Foundation.
This award is an incredible achievement for the team and School is extremely proud of their of entrepreneurial spirit and dedication to sustainability.
Mrs Alison Kiln h ead of e conomics and e nterprise
ons unday 10 d ecember, we were delighted to welcome s eniors, h onorary s eniors and their families for the 2023 s eniors’ Carol s ervice.
Big School was the perfect setting for the festive Afternoon Tea, which gave guests the opportunity to chat to friends old and new. Seniors also enjoyed visiting the School Shop to purchase Wycombe Abbey merchandise, including some rather lovely Seniors teddy bears.
After a few words from Jo Duncan, Headmistress, everyone made their way in to Chapel for the traditional Carol Service, which of course featured the Charterhouse Carol being sung beautifully by the Choirs and the congregation.
The evening ended with mulled wine and mince pies in Big School and a final chance to gather with friends until the next Seniors’ event.
on a very sunny s aturday 10 June, Wycombe Abbey was the perfect setting to host s eniors and h onorary s eniors for the annual s eniors’ d ay event.
Guests were welcomed with an appropriately refreshing drink given the hot weather and had the chance to greet each other and members of Wycombe Abbey staff and pupils, including the new Head Girl Team, before heading in to the beautifully decorated marquee. Jo Duncan, Headmistress, opened proceedings with a delightful speech and marked the arrival of lunch by saying grace.
We enjoyed two more speeches from Felicity Conway, Chair of the Seniors’ Consultative Committee and Niki Kilminster, Alumnae Relations Officer. Following this,
guests had the opportunity to visit their former boarding house, see the completed Big School refurbishment and purchase Wycombe Abbey merchandise from the School Shop. Guests also enjoyed being shown around the School by some of our current pupils and hearing how life at Wycombe Abbey is for girls today.
After the trip down memory lane, it was back to the marquee for a final time to enjoy tea and cake before saying goodbye. As one guest remarked, ‘Thank you so much for the lovely time on Saturday afternoon. It was a delicious meal, perfect weather and such a lovely setting in the marquee. There were so many friends and colleagues with whom to exchange news and good wishes. A very happy and delightful way to celebrate my years at Wycombe Abbey.’
We look forward to hosting more Seniors’ events this year. For more information email seniors@wycombeabbey.com or visit the Seniors website www.wycombeabbey.com/seniors
We were delighted to host 60 Wycombe Abbey s eniors for a drinks event in London in n ovember.
Held at Patch, a cocktail bar just around the corner from St Paul’s Cathedral, Seniors were welcomed by the Headmistress, Jo Duncan and the Chair of the SCC, Felicity Conway.
After many introductions and enthusiastic greetings from reunited friends, Jo Duncan spoke of current life at Wycombe Abbey and the importance of the Seniors’ community to the School. Following a roundup of how Seniors can stay engaged with Wycombe Abbey, it was time to enjoy drinks and engaging conversations.
It was wonderful to see a mini reunion of Seniors from 1994 and 1995 at the event and thank you to everyone involved in rallying the troops from those years. We heard many interesting stories and memories of the Seniors’ time at Wycombe Abbey and it was also an opportunity for them to make new acquaintances and network.
Thanks to Jo Duncan, the SCC and all the Seniors who attended for an enjoyable and successful evening. We will be back next year for an even bigger Seniors’ Social!
It was wonderful to see a mini reunion of s eniors from 1994 and 1995 at the event and thank you to everyone involved in rallying the troops from those years.
seniors in h ong Kong attended a screening of a new documentary, Blurring the Color Line, by director Crystal Kwok. t he documentary is about the Chinese in the segregated s outh of the u nited s tates during the Jim Crow era.
Hosted by Jane Liu (C204, Butler, 1997) and Leonie Foong (C192, Shelburne, 1995), both Trustees of the Wycombe Abbey Hong Kong Foundation, the screening was followed by dinner and discussion with Crystal, which was moderated by Wycombe Abbey Senior and producer Melissa Lee (C211, Pitt, 1999).
The evening was thoroughly enjoyed by all, as highlighted by Charmaine Lee (C205, Cloister, 1997): ‘It was great to be able to catch up with everyone and meet other Seniors in such an intimate setting as well as participate in such an open and frank discussion on a topic that we can all relate to at the same time. I found the documentary both stimulating and thought provoking and I am so happy I had the opportunity to watch it. A small group of us brainstormed for ideas on topics for future gatherings and we are all looking forward to the next event!’
Our thanks to Crystal, Melissa, Jane, Leonie and the Wycombe Abbey Hong Kong Foundation for their participation and for organising this wonderful event.
The Wycombe Abbey Hong Kong Foundation is a tax efficient giving vehicle to support, advance and promote Wycombe Abbey in the UK. The Foundation is run by five Trustees, three of which are Seniors with strong ties in Hong Kong. If you would like to support Wycombe Abbey by donating through the Wycombe Abbey Hong Kong Foundation please email development@wycombeabbey.com
I found the documentary both stimulating and thought provoking and am so happy I had the opportunity to watch it.
We are excited to announce that you can now view Wycombe Abbey merchandise via the school website. Visit www.wycombeabbey.com/schoolshop/ and then email or call the School Shop to place your order.
If you have any ideas for products you would like to see, please let the Seniors’ Office know and we will pass them on to the School Shop.
the Class of 2013 might all be closer to 30 than 20 now but a trip back to Wycombe Abbey for a ten-year reunion reminded us that we’re still a bunch of giggling schoolgirls at heart. n ot content with having spent years of s aturdays at s chool, 60 s eniors descended upon their old stomping ground in late s eptember to catch up, share stories, and reminisce about some of the antics from their teen years spent as a Wycombe Abbey girl.
I’m sure I speak for others too in admitting the ‘back-toschool’ butterflies appeared as the train rolled into High Wycombe station. However, these were quickly quashed by the vibrant colours of the underpass, a welcome glass of something fizzy and the appearance of some faces I hadn’t seen since we left.
Some married, some with kids and others unable to find a Hinge match, ten years can put people in all different stages in their life, but that wasn’t the first talking point: ‘Have you SEEN the Big School loos now?’ was uttered repeatedly while ‘How can you do the lunch run without gym courtyard?’ was a hot talking point. It appeared lots had changed in our lives and at the School, but, beating the lunch run still remains high up on the priority list.
Organiser in chief, Tatiana Bell (C286, Wendover, 2013), kicked off the entertainment with a speech that roused memories of some long-forgotten misbehaviours as well as musings on activities that are only funny to those who were in the bubble…boob fight anyone?!
A much-anticipated tour in the glorious late summer sunshine was greeted with plentiful reaction as we took in that Pitt and Rubens are now a trek half way up the hill
I’m sure I speak for others too in admitting the ‘back-to-school’ butterflies appeared as the train rolled into h igh Wycombe station.
and that there are no longer vending machines in the Sports Centre reception. We pointed out the best places for tobogganing on a dinner tray, the dreaded weather box dragged up cold cross-country memories we’ve all tried to forget and a trip into Chapel brought memories of which hymn numbers were bangers (here’s looking at you Charterhouse Carol ).
In a world that is so digital, it’s sometimes hard to keep up with what you’ve posted, what accounts you have and how much you’ve untagged. Luckily, we are the Facebook generation and a deep-dive into some long-forgotten accounts provided ample material for a photo trip down memory lane. Ozzy bay, D of E, kitchen parties and more were all dragged up for a slide show; plus videos from staff members who had been unable to join us helped round off the day and perhaps nudge us to have a look back at our Facebooks.
In true School style it wouldn’t be complete without a bus and we waved farewell to the Abbey, each armed with a Seniors bear, and continued the night joined by plus ones in London.
All in all, a mighty success and already committee members are being asked when the next might be. A huge thanks goes to Niki for all her help and to all the girls and staff who came along.
Georgie h eath (C289, s helburne, 2013)
seven Clarence/ rubens s eniors (Circles 108-117) met for a reunion lunch on 11 s eptember 2023 in London. s ome of us met four years ago and we were delighted that two more s eniors were able to join us this year.
Melanie Brice, Susan Paul, Vivien Northridge and Rosemary Jones started at Wycombe Abbey in Clarence, but when the Sixth Form House was created in 1965, Melanie, Susan and Vivien moved into Rubens. We had a wonderful lunch sharing memories and catching up with each other’s news.
In the photo from left to right are:
Caroline Daykin (Mendelski, C115, Rubens, 1968)
Vivien Northridge (Hayman, C114, Clarence/Rubens, 1968)
Rosemary Jones (C108, Clarence, 1965)
Melanie Brice (Shipton, C111, Clarence/Rubens, 1967)
Susan Paul (Weeks, C111, Clarence/Rubens, 1966)
Elizabeth Breeze (C117, Rubens, 1969)
Susanna Walker (Coryndon, C113, Rubens, 1967)
Caroline d aykin (Mendelski, C115, rubens, 1968)
on 19 April 2023, 16 of us who had been at Wycombe Abbey during part of the 1960s, gathered together at Carole Mitchell- h eggs’ house and enjoyed a delicious lunch with much chat.
In the photo from left to right:
Gail Thorpe (Heseltine, C116, Wendover, 1968)
Liz Bromage (Raikes, C114, Butler, 1970)
Rachel Stapleton (Prest, C116, Airlie, 1969)
Ros Savill (C113, Shelburne, 1967)
Carole Mitchell-Heggs (North, C117, Pitt, 1970)
Marcia Neil (Seymour-Smith, C116, Barry, 1969)
Tina Thomson Jones (Thomson, C116, Cloister, 1969)
Sue Wolff (Class of 1969)
Marigo Harries (Sevastopulo, Class of 1969)
Liz Landers (Denlegh-Maxwell, C117, Cloister, 1969)
Trish Presland (Barnes, C115, Airlie, 1969)
Elizabeth Noel (Pattison, C116, Rubens, 1969)
Pippa Barrett (Walker, C117, Wendover, 1969)
Pippa Barnsley (Riley, C117, Airlie, 1969)
Mary Murray Wells (Fryers, C117, Wendover, 1969)
Elizabeth Breeze (C117, Rubens, 1969)
e lizabeth b reeze (C117, rubens, 1969)
For the first Career Spotlight of the new year, pupils from across the School heard from two Wycombe Abbey s eniors, Alice b ush (C272, Campbell, 2010) and Fiyin durojaiye (C314, Campbell, 2018) about their careers in the finance sector. The Career Spotlight was also open to pupils from Wycombe High School and RGS High Wycombe.
Our series of Career Spotlight events take place throughout the School year. Inspiring speakers are invited to share real-life career experiences: the highs, the lows, and some tips for success. The talks give pupils the opportunity to ask questions in an informal environment which they may use to cement the choices they have made, or perhaps steer them towards a profession or degree subject they had not previously considered.
Matilda, Laila and Liza (UVI), said: ‘We were delighted to hear from Alice Bush and Fiyin Durojaiye for the first Career Spotlight of the academic year. As members of the Sixth Form, we were lucky to be able to ask some burning questions at a buffet dinner before the talks.
We were then joined by over 100 pupils, including a few from local schools, all with the collective aim of discovering more about career opportunities in the financial sector. Fiyin spoke first about her experience after leaving Wycombe Abbey and applying to study economics at the University of Warwick. She provided useful advice on the application process, including the ups and downs, as well as valuable information on her year abroad in Paris. Working at JP Morgan enabled her to discover her specific interests within the financial sector as she transitioned from equity research to luxury goods. She highlighted the importance of engaging with new people and being open to new opportunities. Our second speaker, Alice, has worked in
the financial sector for over ten years, therefore she had an abundance of knowledge to pass on to us about her experience in the industry. Her advice ranged from creating a stand-out CV to applying for competitive internships. During the Q&A sessions, everyone jumped at the chance to ask both Fiyin and Alice further questions. Due to the fact that the financial sector is such a male-dominated field, listening to these inspirational women empowered all those who attended to discover more about the different career opportunities in investment banking.’
Mrs b ecky s cott Careers Administrator
We are always on the look out for different work experience opportunities for our pupils. If you would like to help by offering to host a work experience placement, we would be very interested to hear from you. It could take the form of a week’s placement at your organisation or, as an alternative, perhaps you might consider offering a one off ‘Insight Day’? This is where a small group of pupils can visit your workplace and get an insight into what a day at your organisation looks like.
If you think you would like to help or are interested in discussing the possibilities, we would love to hear from you. Please contact Becky Scott in the Careers Department: scottb@wycombeabbey.com
on Friday 15 s eptember 2023, t halia Jervis (C168, Wendover, 1988), the Chief e xecutive of Citizens Advice Bucks, came to deliver the first Carrington talk of the year to the s ixth Form.
Thalia is a Wycombe Abbey Senior and her professional life embodies the School value of Service. Having studied History at the University of Cambridge, she has enjoyed a varied career which began in the Civil Service and led to a position working for Network Rail followed by her current position at a local charity.
She spoke with great passion and detail about the invaluable work her charity was doing to provide guidance to people living in poverty in the local area. It was particularly heartening to see the number of questions at the end, as well as the line of pupils asking about ways they could help. It was an inspirational start to the year, particularly as many of our Sixth Form embark on their placements at our Partnership Schools.
Mr o lly Murphy teacher of Classics u niversity Preparation Co-ordinator
It was an inspirational start to the year, particularly as many of our s ixth Form embark on their placements at our Partnership s chools.
When I sat down to write this, I couldn’t quite believe that it had been a year since I’d left Wycombe Abbey. s o much has happened this year and yet it feels like no time has gone by. I spent a relaxing summer back in Hong Kong (for the first time in two years!), reconnecting with family and friends. In October 2022, I began studying Medicine at the Corpus Christi College, o xford.
After spending seven years at Wycombe, adjusting to the harsh realities of university life was a bit of a shock to the system. As somebody fairly resistant to change, I felt slightly overwhelmed, as I did when I first arrived at Junior House (and most definitely did not beg my mother to pull me out of school and send me on the first flight home).
The traditions of the University of Oxford are an acquired taste, from punting in summer term, being ‘trashed’ with shaving cream, flour and confetti after exams (or raw eggs, pickles and pasta sauce if your friends are cruel), to staying up all night to hear the Magdalen bells on May Day. Surprisingly, these reminded me of Wycombe’s traditions: how we would scream the Charterhouse Carol, belt out a ‘tuneful’ post- Happy-Birthday ‘she’s a jolly good fellow’ and eat our body weight at the MSDR pancake station on pancake day. The Corpus Christi community is extremely welcoming, with doting college parents, our cosy Junior Common Room and an unexpectedly-aggressive college tortoise called Fox (who has, as I have been told, been banned from the annual inter-college Tortoise race previously for ‘unruly’ behaviour).
Additionally, I love that university gives me the avenues to explore academic interests that I did not know anything about, such as embryonic limb development, and bore my
humanities friends with countless fun facts such as that a Parkinson’s patient can ride a bike? Or that you can actually die a of a broken heart (look it up: takotsubo cardiomyopathy)?
One of the coolest things about higher education is that you get opportunities to interact with leading thinkers in their fields. Hearing from Peter Agre, a Nobel prize winner who discovered aquaporins, definitely ranks as one of the most memorable academic experiences in my life.
One of the things I’m most grateful for is the fact that I’ve been able to stay in touch with my friends from School who have become a vital part of my support system in this new environment. I am grateful to Wycombe Abbey for allowing me to form such important and close friendships that I will treasure for a long time. Living with my friends at school allowed us to see the best, the worst and the weirdest in each other. It has also equipped me to deal better with the everyday tasks of university life (perhaps more so than some of my peers). In one memorable incident, a friend asked me one month into the autumn term: ‘what are the small blue and green squishy things and where in the washing machine do I put them?’
All in all, this year has been both turbulent and eye-opening, simultaneously challenging me and allowing me to grow. I wish the outgoing Clarence cohort the best of
luck with what will undoubtedly be one of the most unforgettable years of their lives.
As I got ready to embark upon my five-week trip to Tanzania, I gathered my belongings into my suitcase and headed off to Heathrow. My first flight was to Doha, where I would have a three-hour layover before my next flight to Kilimanjaro. On my layover, I met Alice who turned out to be one of my very good friends for the next five weeks. Upon reaching Kilimanjaro, we were warmly greeted by two representatives from tanzania host e xperience ( the ), instantly fostering a sense of welcome in a country far from home.
We were given basic Swahili phrases - it seemed like we were never going to be able to learn them. But looking back, it wasn’t that difficult, especially when we were exposed to the language for a long period of time. I spent the majority of the car ride gazing out the windows, surprised to see countless loose cows and goats roaming beside the road. We arrived at our accommodation, which was called Twiga (meaning giraffe in Swahili). As we came up the driveway, a wave of nerves hit me when looking at all the people gathered outside the house as it seemed that they knew exactly what was going on, whereas I was quite unsure of what I was thinking.
Soon we realised that Thursday nights were social night, which meant that one of the three houses would host dinner before they would drive us to a local bar. Although tired from the long travels, we believed this would be a good opportunity to get to know others. Even though it was an enjoyable experience, it did often feel unsafe, which led us to get the earlier bus home so we could try and get sleep before the next day.
After a surprisingly comfortable first night on my top bunk, we headed down to orientation. The day started
with a basic Swahili lesson, as well as an introduction to the Mamas (the women looking after us). We had lunch before heading off to the town centre to exchange money, get sim cards and grab some snacks from Shoppers (the local supermarket). The roads are unlike anything I have seen before with cars, dala dalas and tuk-tuks weaving in and out whilst avoiding people crossing the roads. Often there are people wheeling carts down the road in line with the cars, trying to catch up with the rest of the flow of vehicles.
We spent the first weekend in Arusha to get to know our surroundings and a group of us headed over to the Maasai Market. This was my first experience of many in a dala dala. With people sitting on laps and others hanging out the window, the drivers try to maximise the numbers in order to make as much money as they can. As you walk through the market stores the locals try to persuade you to buy anything they have.
On the first day of placement, Nelson (one of the directors) came to pick me up from the house. The first day walking into Eden Day Care is forever etched in my memory. I walked through the gates and 50 kids came running at me with the largest smiles
on their faces shouting ‘teacher, teacher’ before giving me the warmest hugs. For the next five weeks, that was how I was greeted every morning, and it made my day every time. Most of the days would follow the same routine, except Fridays where it was playtime for the whole day. I would teach my first lesson for an hour, and this ranged from teaching maths and fractions, to English with handwriting, phonics and reading. Initially, I found it hard to communicate and teach as lots of the kids were not able to speak English very well and they wouldn’t listen. But after a week I got into a solid routine and it became much more familiar. Sometimes, I would spend time writing their class tasks in their notebooks for their lessons after the break, as everything was handwritten. After that would be porridge time, my least favourite time of the day! Most days the porridge would be of a watery liquid consistency and every so often as I poured it, lumps would gush out. After breaktime, we would head back inside to do our final lot of teaching. After the kids finished a task, they would come running at you to get you to mark their work and ask you to draw pictures, which really stretched my artistic talent. After the final lesson it would be lunchtime, which meant plating up and serving meals. These
were usually ugali (national dish) and cabbage or rice and beans. After the kids ate, we would go back to the volunteer house and have lunch before doing activities in the afternoon.
Each weekend we had the opportunity to get out and do an activity, which included safari, Maasai tours, weekends in the jungle, Moshi waterfalls and even Zanzibar. For our first outing, we chose to go on a safari. We set off to go to the Serengeti, stopping on the way to buy our safari t-shirt. Four hours in, we saw our first animal, a zebra! For some reason, I thought it would look slightly different than what it did. As we made our way deeper into the park we saw elephants and lions. When we got to the campsite, we loaded our tents before heading off for dinner. As we went to the bathroom after dinner, we looked around and saw ourselves looking right at a buffalo and a hyena, so we ran off and straight back to our tent for comfort. Or so we thought. Initially, I managed to go to bed fairly quickly until I was abruptly awakened in the middle of the night by roaring and stomping noises outside the tents. I genuinely don’t think I have ever been as terrified as that moment when I froze and didn’t move for the next hour until the noise subsided. The next
morning a girl showed us photos of the lions sleeping right outside our tents, which was not comforting to say the least. We did have the most incredible experience and saw all the animals we hoped to see.
The next weekend we made a very spontaneous decision to fly to Zanzibar. The trip was organised by Jess Chadwick, a travel influencer who inspired many of us to make the initial trip to Tanzania. We had a sunset cruise booked for that afternoon where we were able to dance and then jump off a boat with lots of locals, which was very enjoyable. We headed back to the hostel and had an early night to prepare for our big day ahead. We got up early to get our boat trip to Mnemba Island. It was a very bumpy trip, but was all worth it when we were able to see dolphins and a whale as well as holding starfish in the water. When we returned, we went to the full moon party. It was a night full of Swahili music and dancing, which I relished.
On our final weekend, we went on a trip to a local Maasai tribe. Here, we dressed in their garments and took part in a variety of activities such as making fire from donkey dung and
The Travel Award fund was established by Senior, Vera Gordon, and applications are available to all Seniors and girls in Clarence House.
Applicants must provide full details of their plans, including costs, which must include a charitable element. The applicant must be proactive about raising most of the money herself. This will be followed by an interview with one or two members of the SCC. The award is usually in the order of a few hundred pounds.
Successful applicants will be expected to write a full report of their travels for the next Seniors’ Supplement . There have been some fascinating accounts in previous Supplements over the years.
For an application form or further information, please email the Seniors’ Office at seniors@wycombeabbey.com .
taking part in their dances. We were given the opportunity to watch them get food, which meant killing a goat. Once they had done this, we were able to try drinking the goat’s blood and eating raw goat kidneys. Even though I could taste the warm, metallic mixture in my mouth for the rest of the day, I would do it again. Before going back to Arusha, we went to have a look at some of the things that the women make to sell, which helps provide for their families. We each bought a couple of gifts for our families back home.
Iam a criminal barrister who was called to the b ar in 1999 and became a QC/KC in 2019. I was at Wycombe Abbey between 1988 and 1994 before attending trinity College, dublin to read Law. Although I both prosecute and defend the entire range of criminal offending (murder, drugs, sex, you name it I’ve done it!), my specialism is in Modern Slavery and Human Trafficking (exploitative offending). For this I received an obe from the rt. hon. teresa May, as well as an honorary doctorate from st Mary’s university in London.
I also sit on the Provosts’ Council for Trinity College, Dublin, the Human Trafficking Advisory Council of the McCain Institute, USA, the boards of Anti-Slavery Collective (a charity), the Early Intervention Cancer Research Institute, the White Ensign and I am a non-executive Director of Norbrook Laboratories, the family business, as well as a governor at Witham Hall Preparatory School.
Please give us a brief outline of your career so far.
Following my undergraduate degree in Dublin, I came back to London to study for Bar school, knowing I wanted to be a criminal barrister, and London, to be frank, had a greater diversity of criminal offending. Whilst undertaking my Bar school, I also lectured at a university, specifically in crime, legal methods and constitutional law, which I enjoyed enormously. I subsequently did my pupillage at one set before finishing it at Furnival Chambers in 2001, where I remain in practice now and gained tenancy there in 2002.
My practice has been somewhat unusual in that I have ended up doing a lot of cases of novel law – Low Copy Number DNA - which is remarkable, bearing in mind I got 23% in my UIV Chemistry exam and was no doubt a challenge for both Mrs Wright and Mrs Turner to teach.
I prosecuted the first bribery and corruption case under the new Bribery Act, the first Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act (RIPA) case concerning withholding of passwords on electronic devices, first Serious Organised Crime and Police Act (SOCPA) agreement case and the first case concerning a sex offender who committed all of the acts outside of England and Wales and where all of the evidence was internationally obtained.
My modern slavery practice evolved by chance when I was instructed to prosecute the first such case in England in 2011 – R -v- Saeeda Khan (whilst heavily pregnant with my second daughter). This case then led
to me being instructed in the next slavery case and subsequently invited to talk about the difficulties in prosecuting such cases. One of those lectures happened to be with Baroness Butler-Sloss (Havers, C75, Butler, 1950), someone whom I had admired from the outset of my practice and she, together with Rt Hon Frank Field MP, asked me to sit as a legal advisor on their all parliamentary committee. They proposed a Modern Slavery Act, gathering together all the disparate parts of the law, enhancing the sentencing powers and creating a new legislative landscape in the monitoring, policing and prosecuting of exploitative offending in UK - it was a world first.
Having been involved in the drafting of that Act and two subsequent independent reviews of that Act, it led to me being involved in assisting other jurisdictions in drafting their acts, implementing that law, policing and prosecuting as well as continuing my usual criminal court practice. Although
I was working under Teresa May as Home Secretary at the time, when she became Prime Minister in 2016, she put slavery and exploitation offending at the top of her agenda, which meant that I spent a bit of time at Downing Street getting over excited about sitting with members of MI5 and MI6, as well as ensuring the Act was properly implemented. I took silk (became a QC/KC) in 2019 and although I was relatively young, my practice changed only to the extent that I became leading counsel in murder trials and had letters after my name.
Whilst doing my criminal court work, I was asked through a friend to help a crime novelist with the plot in his story, which led onto me giving media training to actors and then professional sports people in media skills, be it interview techniques or handling social media. This has evolved into my assisting with their off-pitch performance and behaviours. Whilst this is not what I expected when I started off at the Bar, it’s been a fascinating experience seeing how other performers work, as I am quite happy to acknowledge that ‘performing’ is a significant part of my job in court.
Is there something from your career which reflects your personal values and what you wanted to achieve in life?
I think my professional life and personal life are firmly intertwined. The law, in particular criminal law, is about fairness, removing bias and letting the facts and evidence speak for themselves. I try to remove prejudgement and see as I find and not as I am told – quite hard in this time of social media and opinion news.
I hold strong the view that I must prosecute fairly and defend fiercely. I also try to be kind - the people I both prosecute and defend need my services in a time of crisis and, irrespective of their actions, they are entitled to fair process and someone who is prepared to listen and speak for them when they cannot.
What role did your school education play in preparing you for your future?
Without a doubt, Wycombe Abbey was informative in terms of my career, although there were times when some did not think this was an appropriate career for me. I was hugely privileged to be taught a love of the English language by Miss Parham, Mrs O’Rourke and Mrs Parsons, all of whom, despite my dyslexia diagnosis, encouraged me to embrace words and have the sureness to use them. The role they played in my life was profound and I can only hope my four daughters are lucky enough to have such teachers in their lives.
I also had the benefit of being mentored by Jean Nobbs (former Housemistress of Butler), who took me under her wing and gave me the confidence to embrace a good argument. She was quite literally my sensei in my black belt in verbal combat, from encouraging my active participation in the Debating Society and the Public Speaking Society, not to mention the Dining Society and, my particular favourite, chairing the Wine Society with my extremely able secretary (and best friend) Candida Williams (C189, Butler, 1994). Jokes aside, the quality of the teaching was phenomenal and instilled in me a love of learning. I still read books on the Civil War inspired by Ms Beckett and the rigorous approach to teaching
independence of thought is, I think, what has laid the foundations for my practice in not being afraid to challenge the status quo of a law or being fearful of novel thought. As a woman in what was a very male environment, although less so now, I think Wycombe Abbey, through both lessons and outside events, gave me the confidence to know that my opinion was valuable, as long as it was properly researched and considered. The drama aspect too, with Ms Livesey, has played a significant part as all the tools I learnt are the ones I deploy in court in front of my juries.
The friends I made were exceptional and I am lucky enough to keep in contact with many of them, from picking me up after a grim day in court, to reminding me what a pain I was at School. It speaks volumes that at the last School arranged drinks in London, it was our class year who predominated. They are an exceptional group of brilliant women – kind, compassionate, loyal and very, very funny. All have excelled in their chosen fields from motherhood, to art or art history, acting, interior design, to the city or law.
What do you enjoy most about being a Criminal b arrister?
I love the difference in each day, the human interaction and the intellectual challenge of what I do. People and their stories are fascinating and being given carte blanche to ask them anything in pursuit of helping them is a wonderful position to hold. I do love being able to make a difference in people’s lives and I am not ashamed to admit I love the performance aspect of it – this is probably the one stage where my audience cannot leave irrespective of how poor my
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performance is. Although the financial remuneration is not great, this is a calling and not a job and I knew that from an early age. I have been incredibly privileged to be at the Bar and they will probably have to take me out of court in a coffin in due course.
What challenges have you faced during your career?
There have been many, including failure and rejection but both, although painful, have been good life lessons. One of the toughest has been a lack of support of those from whom I would have expected it. Having said that, being told I couldn’t or wouldn’t achieve something was a big driver in proving the naysayers wrong. I am from Northern Ireland and although my accent has dissipated over the last 28 years, it was pretty strong when I applied for pupillage and I had some interesting experiences, both in chambers and court, based on presumptions as to my background and political beliefs. I was rejected from my first two chambers where I did pupillage but got taken on at Furnival. I will be eternally grateful to my joint heads of chambers, Sally O’Neil KC and Oliver Blunt KC, for telling me not to change, be true to myself and for giving me some confidence in my abilities.
Being dyslexic, and I think one of the first diagnosed at Wycombe Abbey, has also been a challenge and I still get the vast majority of my written work proof read by someone else (long suffering husband). I am very open about my condition and, as wider understanding of neurodivergences exists, judges and colleagues have been more and more
accommodating. Interestingly, although I have four daughters, each of those pregnancies/births has led to a notable improvement in my career rather than a diminishment.
Human Trafficking and Modern s lavery in the u K is an expertise of yours. tell us more about your work in that area and what inspired your interest in Modern s lavery?
I sort of fell into modern slavery work in practice but always had an interest in exploitative offending, having written my finals thesis on decriminalisation of prostitution in Ireland. Post-graduation, I subsequently extended the thesis to become a white paper for the Irish Government. I was also lucky enough to have a brilliant criminology lecturer, Professor Ivana Bacik, who inspired a lifelong fascination with ‘why’ as well as ‘who has done what.’ I interviewed prostitutes in Dublin and hearing their stories as to why they did their work was a salutary lesson.
As a baby barrister, I was of the era of practitioners where young people in the criminal courts had no special protections and saw the evolution after the Jamie Bulger murder of how courts could adapt. I became immersed in the concepts of how to best question ‘vulnerable’ people, be they defendants or complainants.
These two strands of interest I think led to my modern slavery work, which as a type of offending is very different to ‘normal crime’. In offences such as murder, there is usually a linear line of investigation - who died, how did they die and who did it. It is the same for the vast majority of offending. Modern
slavery/trafficking offending is different as victims often do not know they are victims. They are scared, embarrassed or ashamed of their circumstances or simply incapable of understanding that the way they are treated is exploitative. Likewise, there are offenders who may have started off as victims themselves and became offenders as a means of survival. Understanding why someone is in the case is vital in ensuring their best representation.
The evolution of my specialism has really been a lot of luck and rarely saying no to any opportunity (possibly based on a fear of missing out?). I truly do love my work and there is so much reward gained from returning autonomy and freedom to those who have been deprived of it and being their voice when they have been silenced.
What has been your proudest achievement so far?
Aside from my family, I am most proud of what I hope will be the legacy of the UK Modern Slavery Act. It was the first national legislation of its kind and changed the world wide landscape for investigating and prosecuting such offending. It inspired French, Australian, German and many other governments to draft an Act. It has, I hope, enabled exploited people to have hope and know that the legal system is there to emancipate them, protect them and prosecute for them.
Where have your sources of inspiration come from in your life?
I have been inspired by so many individuals, from lawyers such as Baroness Butler-Sloss, who it has been an enormous privilege to work with, Lord Denning, Lord Justice Carswell, all of whom created novel law, which has stood the test of time and done so whilst being prepared to listen to
others and adapt accordingly. The victims who have come forward, given accounts and been tested and challenged by lawyers in court and yet, despite the ordeal, returned to ensure that the perpetrators are stopped. My mentors in their various different guises, who have been kind and wise and so generous with their time. My parents too, who were a mixed religious marriage in Northern Ireland but believed, despite the political climate, that it was not sufficient to say the right thing but to actually do the right thing.
You have been part of the seniorPupil Mentoring programme for the last couple of years. Why is it important for you to be involved in this way?
I have been incredibly fortunate to have had a diverse range of mentors, many of whom approached me and offered their support. Mr Justice Nigel Sweeney had the misfortune to be prosecuted by me in his last case
Interestingly, although I have four daughters, each of those pregnancies/ births has led to a notable improvement in my career rather than a diminishment.
as a barrister before going to the High Court Bench, when I was pregnant and suffering severe morning sickness resulting in my vomiting (!) on him in Court. His kindness then and thereafter has been remarkable. Likewise Lady Justice Rafferty, who I appeared before in the Court of Appeal as a baby barrister, subsequently rang my clerks to ask me to do some advocacy training of young people with her via the Kalisher Trust. They have provided a steady hand, wisdom and guidance when I have sought it and equally when I have not known I needed it. I would not be where I am in my profession without them and so I feel it is my responsibility to pay that generosity of time and kindness
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forward. I am also only too aware of how challenging it is to navigate the process of university and careers. I was one of those unusual people who knew what I wanted to do from an early age, but many don’t and having someone to talk it through with can be invaluable. I view my role as more a listener and questioner and helping my mentees find the answers themselves.
do you feel it is easier to have a connection with your mentee because of the Wycombe Abbey experience you share? no doubt it is also interesting for you to hear how life for pupils at the school has changed over the years?
Yes absolutely, shared experiences of Wycombe Abbey and its ethos are a great starting point and although much has changed, many things have not. It is interesting to hear that much of the tradition we so valued remains but that there has been development in a truly positive way. I have been helped and inspired by many Wycombe Abbey lawyers and judges and indeed parents of Wycombe Abbey girls and it’s wonderful to perpetuate that.
Are you still in touch with your previous mentees?
Yes, this is my third year as a mentor and I see one of my mentees in Cambridge when I can and I keep in contact with the other two who are at Oxford. All of them have been delightful and great company and give me fresh perspective on the world so it is very much a two way relationship.
What were your passions and interests at Wycombe Abbey?
As those who had the misfortune to be in my year will confirm, I loved
debating, arguing and public speaking. My yearbook quote ‘don’t argue with me, I am always right’ I think probably speaks volumes, although I am now prepared to concede I am not always right (four daughters and a husband have seen to that). I love theatre and literature and that was very much nurtured at School. I still remember vividly watching Someone Who’ll Watch Over Me with Stephen Rae and being profoundly moved by the power of words in a prison cell backdrop. It was a moment that impacted on what I do professionally.
What is one of your most favourite memories from being at Wycombe Abbey?
I have lots of lovely memories, mainly friend focused with Candy and the other girls - Candy Walduck (C188, Cloister, 1994), Portia Edmiston (C188, Cloister, 1994), Susanna Hall (C187, Wendover, 1994), Shoey Gooley (C188, Cloister, 1994), Juliet Gribbon (C188, Airlie, 1994), all of whom were in different houses to me but with whom I have long lasting and wonderful friendships.
Our time in Clarence making toast (by the loaf) and talking, our Duke of Edinburgh Award in the Brecon Beacons and then our Gold Award in the Pennines. I also loved our Clarence play of A Midsummer Night’s Dream and of course the Carol Service. The Charterhouse Carol is still one of the most magical pieces of music and I insisted on both the Sevenfold Amen and the Stanford Te Deum in my wedding service.
What advice would you like to pass along to current pupils?
I think I would advise anyone to remain
curious, something Wycombe Abbey has always encouraged, and to listen, but to not be afraid to disagree or challenge. That challenge should be done with kindness and compassion and the recognition that sometimes we have to agree to disagree. I would also encourage them to be fearless and not scared of advocating change as long as that change is based on rationale, fairness and kindness. I would also add, have confidence in yourselves and your abilities, but balance that with humility and know that there is always more that you can do.
What do you think makes the Wycombe Abbey s eniors community special?
I think we are bound by a shared experience of rigorous academic learning, an ability to work hard under pressure, a sense of purpose and loyalty (to the School and to each other) and a strong moral compass. Our first Lady Chief Justice Sue Carr (C151, Barry, 1982) embodies thatshe found me at a drinks party and asked how she could help me, despite me being at the bottom of the legal hierarchy. Our only connection –Wycombe Abbey.
You may be familiar with the story of o peration Mincemeat, the deception operation that took place during the s econd World War, in which the body of a homeless man was deposited off the coast of s pain, disguised as a royal Marine and carrying fake intelligence documents. Carried out in 1943, this plot was to trick hitler into diverting his troops from sicily to make way for the Allied invasion and has been widely credited with saving many lives as well as changing the course of the war.
One of the key elements to this plot was to make the Nazis believe that the deceased homeless man was Major William ‘Bill’ Martin, and so a backstory was created. This included a fictional fiancée, named Pam, from whom love letters were placed in the jacket of the body to eventually be found by the Nazis. It would be these letters that helped the Nazis believe the ruse, but until recently, the author of the letters had remained a mystery, although it was clear that an MI5 secretary had played the role of ‘Pam’.
Not until a book published in 2010 (Operation Mincemeat by Ben Macintyre) was the name Hester Leggatt mentioned, although it was spelt Leggett, meaning a connection was not immediately made. This book inspired a film and subsequently a musical, through which the creators asked fans to find out more about Hester, as nothing more than her name was known. Through this amateur sleuthing, and by changing the spelling of Leggett to Leggatt, one fan found out that Hester had attended Wycombe Abbey.
Born in India in 1905, Hester and her family moved back to the UK before the First World War. She attended Tormead School in Guildford before coming to Wycombe Abbey, then under the Headship of Miss Whitelaw,
on 5 May 1920, where she was in Barry House until July 1924 when she, of course, became a Senior (Circle 37).
Information in the archives from Hester’s time here is sparse, but issues of The Gazette from 1920 – 1924 have brought up her name, indeed one item confirms her arrival in May 1920. In 1922, we can see that Hester gained her School Certificate and had also become a Barry House Editor. On 10 March 1923, as part of an entertainment piece, Hester read A.A. Milne’s Primrose Farm whilst fellow pupils acted around her. By June 1923, Hester had passed the London General School Examination, with exemption from London Matriculation.
We have yet to formally identify Hester from two photos of Barry House that were taken during her time at Wycombe Abbey. However, the fans researching Hester compared our photo to that of Hester’s brothers and, due to a strong family resemblance, believe she is the girl circled in the photo above. Sadly, Hester’s family descendants have not been able to locate a photo that can confirm her identity.
Upon leaving Wycombe Abbey, Hester signed the Seniors’ Roll book, which shows that she was ‘House Monitor, House Editor, Library Committee. Qualified for
‘plain needlework’ in addition to her examination. She went on to complete Secretarial Training at St James’ Secretarial College, London, which is confirmed by a war record found in the Wycombe Abbey archives. The record also shows that Hester was living in London and was employed at the War Office. A fact also confirmed by a letter from MI5 to one of the researchers, which states Hester worked as a ‘Grade 2 administrative assistant’ in section B1a, the division responsible for running MI5’s Double Cross agents during the war.
Ben Macintyre’s book recalls memories from those that worked alongside Hester, describing her as a ‘sharptongued dragon... who demanded absolute obedience and perfect efficiency among her girls.’ Others called her ‘The Spin’, short for ‘spinster’, whilst another said she was ‘fierce and demanding... she devoted herself utterly to the job of marshalling a huge quantity of secret paperwork.’ A complete contrast to the persona that is evident in the love letters from ‘Pam’ to ‘Darling Bill’. However, some have speculated that Hester may have felt like she was writing to her own brother, whom she also called ‘Bill’ and who was fighting in the War. By making the love letters convincing, she would have been helping the safety of her own brother.
So why did it take so long for Hester’s name to be associated with these letters? According to the book The Man Who Never Was by Ewen Montagu, the intelligence officer in charge of Operation Mincemeat, they ‘asked a girl working in one of the offices whether she could get some girl to do it. She took on the job, but never would tell us the name of the girl who produced the two magnificent letters.’ It is also likely that Hester would not have felt comfortable showing her emotions so openly on paper and therefore did not tell her superiors that she had written the letters.
After the war, Hester, who never married, worked at the British Council before retiring to Chilton in Buckinghamshire. She later moved in to a nursing home, where she sadly passed away in 1995 at the age of 89.
Thanks to the unveiling of Hester’s role in a significant historical event, a plaque has been erected in her honour at the Fortune Theatre, London, where the Operation Mincemeat musical is currently showing. There will, of course, be many others like Hester who quietly did their bit for the war but we are grateful that the amazing story of this Senior has come to light and can be celebrated.
Iam a journalist who spent 20 years covering news, politics and conflicts and I now make narrative podcasts for children. It’s not the huge leap it might sound as they both involve telling amazing true stories and making complicated things exciting and accessible.
Please give us a brief outline of your career and life since leaving Wycombe Abbey.
I studied Arabic and Middle Eastern Studies at Durham University. I fell in love with the Middle East in all its marvellous complexity.
While at university I spent a brilliant year in Cairo and after graduating, I worked for Al Jazeera making news programmes and documentaries, which involved a lot of travel to inhospitable and insalubrious places. I later joined BBC News and spent nearly 15 years working in Glasgow, Cambridge and London covering everything from party conferences to 100th birthday parties.
I am also the trustee of a tiny charity called Firefly International that helps children whose lives have been turned upside down by conflict. Children don’t start wars but too often they are the ones most affected. We currently sponsor programmes in Syria and Gaza.
tell us more about The Wonder Podcast for Curious Kids h ow did this come about?
My co-podcaster and I were researching the idea of a podcast for kids when Covid-19 struck. We had seen there was a gap in the market for quality audio for children and young people and when lockdown happened, we had to put our foot down hard on the accelerator. We were writing furiously and sending audio equipment out to actors, broadcasters, and voiceover artists to record our scripts. Between homeschooling our own children, we were coming up with a resource for others to use too.
The premise is a simple one - we tackle a subject in less than ten minutes, bombarding the listener with incredible facts and extraordinary stories. Ten minutes is the average time it takes to drive to school or a club and is a perfect time for children and their parents to listen to together and to spark debate. Right now, we have 28 episodes so they can be listened to on long journeys too, or are equally
good on a smart speaker in the kitchen or before bed.
While aimed at primary school children (6-12 year olds), we have found that our listenership has broken out of these bounds and it reaches all ages. My Pilates teacher listens while she’s on a run, and our most dedicated follower is a retired physics professor from Michigan USA, who emails his commentsafter each episode.
What topics do you cover and how do you choose them?
We cover any story as long as it’s true and it tickles our fancy. While some of the things we write about are serious they are often funny and always intriguing.
We have made an episode about poo, but also one on mental health. Our podcasts are non-gender specific - we have written about the Moon Landings that boys may like and also the interlinked history of humans and horses.
We have explored the extraordinary
story of when Malala Yusefzai was shot in the head on her way to school and also when the Mona Lisa was stolen from the Louvre.
At the moment we are writing one called Thinking Differently, which covers neurodiversity. And one of my recent favourites is all about plastic; I have been slightly obsessed about environmental issues since I was at school.
h ow do you hope to develop the podcast?
Well of course we want Wonder to become the young people’s equivalent of The Rest is Politics!
We are evangelical about reaching more children and schools, particularly in deprived areas. Children who may not have the same access to books or find reading difficult, but still have a thirst for knowledge and for sharing stories.
We have talked about developing our scripts into books. And of course we would love to be carried by BBC Sounds.
h ow did your experience at Wycombe Abbey prepare you for, or shape, your future?
I think Wycombe Abbey gives you the quiet confidence to stand up and voice your opinions. I think it also taught me resilience.
I am also the trustee of a tiny charity called Firefly International that helps children whose lives have been turned upside down by conflict.
If I walk into a room of strangers, no matter what age, the former Wycombe Abbey girl is immediately apparent and I’m not even sure I can explain why.
What changes have you noticed at the s chool since you attended as pupil?
It is so much smarter than when we attended. Recently a couple of
friends and I attended the Seniors Carol Service and we were marvelling at all the changes: new Clarence, Pitt and Rubens out of the Abbey, the Sports Centre, even Big School had had a makeover. But beneath all the new bits, it still smells the same.
We walked up the hill and half way up on the left was an icehouse that we never knew about. It must have been covered by brambles and overgrown shrubs as the three of us spent years walking up and down that path and had never seen it before.
What is one of your most favourite memories from being at Wycombe Abbey?
I’m not sure that my favourite memories are altogether appropriate as I was quite naughty at school, often getting into trouble. I loved the Summer Term, post exams, when we would explore the woods, have picnics in fields and sunbathe on the roof.
Are you still in touch with any fellow s eniors?
I am almost embarrassed to say how many people I am still in touch with 35 years later. That is the legacy that Wycombe Abbey has given meenduring friendships. I am on a WhatsApp group with 12 of our closest friends called WAGS - no prizes for working out the acronym.
My best friend from school and university Cat Fenston, (Manson, C172, Campbell, 1990) does some work for Art History Abroad, who ran our legendary A level History of
Art trip. Myself and two other friends, Martha Swire (C174, Cloister, 1990) and Olivia Watson (C172, Airlie, 1990), recently joined her group to Rome and Orvieto. It was almost like being 17 again, surrounded by incredible paintings, delicious food and animated conversation. My wonderful sister-in-law, Alice Faure Walker (C159, Airlie, 1985), is also a Senior, though we rarely talk about school.
I have a couple of friends who have been teachers, even if Simon Johns himself was not a Senior.
What advice would you give to our current pupils?
Have a go at as many opportunities as you possibly can and don’t worry about failing or not being good enough. Take some risks. And always try and retain a sense of humour. Even when things seem bleak a bit of laughter goes a long way.
The Wonder Podcast for Curious Kids is available on all the main podcasting platforms; just look for our sweet owlet logo or subscribe at https:// wonderaudio.podbean.com/
And for more information about Firefly International visit https://fireflyinternational.org/
Please note that the publication of content in the following sections does not constitute an endorsement by Wycombe Abbey of any of the products, services or opinions of the individual.
Joan Hitman (Morris, C74, Pitt, 1949)
I am now over the age of 90 and I am fortunate to be in my own home. I moved three years ago from a very large family home where we had lived for about 50 years. My husband passed away before the pandemic and I managed to sell the house for a great price. I am now in a lovely flat in Bushey, Hertfordshire. I am very near two daughters, four out of six grandchildren and all five great grandchildren. They range from five months to six years and all visit me. I have a live-in carer as 12 years ago I had a below the knee amputation and now have difficulty getting around and cooking.
I play bridge online, use a laptop and manage quite well. I also have a few friends who live near me. I have not kept in contact with anyone from Wycombe Abbey but if anybody lives in Hertfordshire I would love to hear from them.
Anne Walton (Boobyer, C79, Butler, 1952)
I have very little in the way of news as I am getting very old and can no longer cope with all the many things I used to do. Luckily I enjoy reading and managed to bring masses of books with me when I moved, many of which I hadn’t got around to reading, so I have plenty to occupy me.
I play some bridge, and I still belong to the Makers of History group of the University of the Third Age, where we meet monthly and give a talk on a famous person. It was my turn the other day and I managed to repeat my talk on Ernest Shackleton, which I did after a trip to the Antarctic more than 20 years ago - none of them had heard it before!
I had a lovely weekend in Sandwich at the beginning of September when one of my sons was 60 and invited all his siblings and their families for the weekend. Summer had returned and there were 14 of us staying. That was my summer holiday and it was a great treat.
Margaret Hopkinson-Woolley (Twining, C79, Pitt, 1952)
I left Wycombe Abbey in July 1952. I was not academic but I knew I wanted to train as a nurse. I was due to start my training at St Thomas’ when I turned 19. I had my interview with the Matron of this great hospital when I was 15! I travelled by train to London in my school uniform.
A domestic science course followed and then some time spent in France to improve my school French. At last, it was time to start my training in April 1954. We lived in the nurses’ homes, were fed, supplied with uniform and earned about £30 a month. Long lasting friends were made and we all enjoyed our time until we were qualified. Another year followed as staff nurses, to repay the hospital for training us. We were known as Nightingales thereafter.
After four years in London, I planned to volunteer for the Anglican Sunday School Mission founded by Miss Eva Hasell. (See Wikipedia.) I volunteered for two summers, spending six months nursing in Vancouver for the winter. Home again and I soon found myself with a job in Kenya in 1961 for a year, looking after a pioneer farmer on his dairy farm, south of Nairobi. I was there as a nurse as he had a stroke and I had to help his wife. They had an Arab horse stud and my ‘work’ was to ride and school the young Arabs. I kept the stud records and dealt with the selling of the mares and young stallions. I was very ‘horsey’ from the age of five and so nursing and horses went well together.
This wonderful year in Kenya ended and at the end of August 1962, I met my husband, a teacher. We have four children who are all in their 50s, plus seven grandchildren who are in their 20s. Our daughter is teaching at the The Dragon School in Oxford. A granddaughter teaches at Christ Church Cathedral School. Teaching seems to run in families.
Our home is on the beautiful Isle of Wight where we keep happily busy in our old age! I have very happy memories of my time at Wycombe Abbey and though I wasn’t brainy, I enjoyed the games and friends.
Barbara Philips (Honour, C79, Pitt 1952)
I am old enough to remember and have lived through World War II, Friday 1 September 1939 - Sunday 2 September 1945, including VE Day Tuesday 8 May 1945. The Air Ministry requisitioned Wycombe Abbey in March 1942 as headquarters of the US Air Force. It was returned 9 May 1946. Two years later, I was a student at Wycombe Abbey. I was in Pitt House between 1948-1952.
Miss KA Walpole was our Headmistress. She had afternoon tea in the Entrance Hall, sitting in the armchair, with some of the resident staff. Above Miss Walpole’s chair there was a tablet commemorating the occupation of the school during the war by American Bomber Command, 3 March 1949.
During the war, Wycombe Abbey became Pinetree for four years, home to the US Army Air Force. Pinetree welcomed famous guests:
King George VI (1895-1952)
Queen Elizabeth II (1926-2022)
Winston Churchill (1874-1965)
Glenn Miller (1904-1944) died at sea en route from London to Paris.
I would like to hear from other Seniors interested in Wycombe Abbey history.
Katy Marsh (Cameron, C82, Wendover, 1954)
My husband, David, died suddenly of a stroke in August 2022. I decided to leave Southport, where I spent many happy years, to move to a retirement complex in the centre of Cheltenham to be nearer my daughters, Fiona and Suzi.
I am settling into a new community. I can see some parallels to being back at boarding school, though no Early Morning Practice, no daily Chapel service. I’m enjoying Cheltenham. This week we have had the delights of the Literary Festival, right here on my doorstep.
Daphne Martin (Heyring, C87, Barry, 1956)
My son has just sailed his boat from Germany to England across the North Sea (six days because of constant head winds). Then they went north to Inverness and were going to go round via Stornoway, but head winds have made them change plans and go through the Caledonian Canal. From Oban, they will be able to sail home, which is near Ullapool. Nice to be young!
Sheila Knauer (Tennent, C89, Cloister, 1957)
Never thought at age 83 I would be writing news for the Seniors’ Supplement ! Earlier this year, I went south to explore Antartica, Chile, Peru and Argentina. Great trip and of course the highlight were the penguins! I have now visited all seven continents and have thought of Miss Tate very often!
I’m living in Sylvania, Ohio (60 years!) and we are just beginning to see Fall colours. Now retired, I’m enjoying golf and travel, grand and great grandchildren who live nearby. I retired from physiotherapy three years ago. It was a great career but now gardening and Florida in the winter have taken its place.
Cordelia Ashwanden (Tilden, C90, Cloister, 1957)
Living close to High Wycombe, I attend functions when possible. I keep up with some younger Seniors and present pupils. I even was the Senior Sister and Housemistress of the Junior House for three years in the 1970s.
I nursed for more than 40 years, around caring for our large and busy family, both Claire (C147, Airlie, 1981) and Emma (C155, Airlie, 1984) are Wycombe Abbey Seniors with their own families and careers. I finished my nursing career as the Manager of a new renal unit in Berkshire for 14 years. This was fascinating and very
busy as it was during the 1980s and 1990s when renal knowledge was expanding. I left there to finish my PhD, which led to becoming a university examiner and lecturer within my specialty.
I did have to refuse to go to Australia (too expensive) to examine, luckily technology stepped in and Zoom was used. I became an author of an important renal journal for six years and met many fascinating medical people from around the world, all working towards increased knowledge of renal disease and treatments.
When my husband, David, developed Parkinson’s Disease in 2018, I was able to nurse him for four years until his death, after 59 years of marriage. Throughout my adult life, fitting it into nursing and family, I have been teaching piano, singing, and the dreaded theory, even using Zoom during Covid-19, which nearly killed me if not the pupils. After David’s death, I have become a concert organiser within our local community. This is great fun and the village is very surprised at the amount and standard of local talent. I can highly recommend Seniors to see if there is untapped talent in their community!
Diana Ryssel Feldman (Adams, C99, Campbell, 1962)
After some 50 years living and working in different countries, I am now once again back in Switzerland, this time in Château-d’Oex and only an hour and a half drive from my daughter and her family in Commugny.
I am still in frequent touch with Denise Baur (Sherwood-Smith, Barry, 1956) and Tamara Sharman (Khan, C104, Campbell, 1963) although neither of them are very near, Denise living in Germany and Tamara in England. Should there be any Seniors living nearby, I would be delighted to meet up with them! My email address is feldman.diana@gmail.com.
Cynthia Faulkner (Wilton, C103, Butler, 1963)
I believe this is the first time I’ve contributed to ‘Circle News’ so I have many years’ news to catch up. I spent two years after leaving Wycombe Abbey in 1963, doing a couple of admin/secretarial courses, which enabled me to find myself a job in Sydney, Australia in 1965 working for a Director of Philips Electrical. My connection to Australia was because my grandparents, like many other British, left India to settle in Sydney; heading to the warmer climate rather than moving back to cold, postwar Britain.
During the following years, I lived and worked with my husband in Teheran for a company supplying medical and surgical equipment to the many hospitals being built at the time by the Shah of Iran’s government. There I caught up with the late Jan Richardson (Butler, Class of 1963) who was teaching at The British School in Teheran. Upon returning to Sussex, I set up a small, private pre-prep school which brought me 20 years of enjoyment and satisfaction. I renewed contact with Ruth McDougall (Trevatt, C103, Butler, 1964), Noemi Eiser, Annette Haworth (Dyer, C105, Butler, 1963), Jane Freedman (Baxter, C106, Butler, 1964), the late Jackie Barrow (Baxter, C109, Butler, 1965), Katie Light (Donald, C103, Butler, 1962) and Ann Ogle-Skan (Corbett, C106, Butler, 1964).
My life in England then rolled on with three lovely children over the years - all who now live in Australia. My youngest daughter and my ‘surfie’ grandson live in beautiful Byron Bay and my other daughter and son live near me in NSW. My brother Paul married Jennie Laird (C108, Barry, 1967) and they recently moved back to the UK after many years in Barbados.
Happily retired now but at the age of 77, I’m busier than ever. I’m a beekeeper, keen on promoting education on bees to local school children and other new beekeepers (or ‘newbees’ as they are known). I do workshops and hands-on experience at my local bee club and occasionally give talks to local gardening clubs or school classes. I have several hives of my own and these along with swimming, tai chi and art, make sure my calendar is always full! Setting up a small gallery with a village friend is also proving a big success with our regular exhibitions of local art. So all in all, I lead an active life with a lovely husband in a beautiful cool climate, wine-growing part of the world here in Australia (just three hours out of Sydney, west of the Blue Mountains) living in an ecofriendly, ‘off-the-grid’ warm home – I feel I am extremely lucky and most days I have to pinch myself!
Rosemary Zakrzewski (Birt, C105, Barry, 1964)
My husband and I went by ship to the Baltic Sea, where we went up small fjords. Then we went by car to northern Spain and came back via Lyon, and spent some pleasant days there where my husband’s sister lives with her British husband.
The biggest adventure was on a ship that took us all the way across the Atlantic Ocean and back. We stopped at various islands on the way, but the best place was Greenland, which was right next to Canada. We really enjoyed first wandering around the town and seeing the houses high up on the hills, but the best of all was simply going up a long series of steps. At the top we had a wonderful view of the dramatic, vertical stone hills and of a big lake some distance away. Altogether it was wonderful, and we were never bored as there were interesting events that took place in the ship’s internal theatre.
Maggie Guillebaud (Brooke, C111, Wendover, 1966)
I don’t seem to have been in touch for a long time, but then Covid-19 has scrambled our brains and there appears to be BC (before Covid-19) and AC (after Covid-19). What a peculiar time it was.
I am still a priest at Salisbury Cathedral, clocking up my 18th year. I do less now of course - 76 next birthday looms - but still enjoy preaching, presiding and pastoral work.
The grandchildren are growing up fast. So far we have an aspirant art historian, putative doctor, and an art student. It is so fascinating to see how they are all turning out. Two are taking their GCSEs in the summer - watch this space!
I have seen Rona Bower (Class of 1966) this year, and Cha Whitworth (C111, Wendover, 1966). My daughter Alice (Simon, C186, Pitt, 1993) recently went to her Wycombe Abbey once-a-decade dinner in London and met lots of old friends. Can’t believe she will be 50 in two years time. How did we all get to be so old?
Charlotte Hays (Whitworth, C111, Wendover, 1966)
We had a lovely Wendover reunion organised by Di Emmett (McInroy, C112, Wendover, 1966) way back before the pandemic. It was such fun seeing so many people. Since then our life has been completely changed by my husband Mark developing Lewy Body Dementia. I had never heard of it, in spite of my medical training. There is an overlap with Parkinson’s disease, so he has physical problems as well as cognitive ones. It’s very sad to see him decline, but we are lucky to have lots of help and support from both carers and family.
We managed a little break in North Norfolk in the autumn, which was a great treat. I’m now researching wheelchairs, finding one light enough for me to lift, but with a high enough back to fit him is proving tricky. After which we will probably need a slightly bigger car to accommodate the wheelchair! Such are the joys of advancing years!
Judith Tait (Henderson, C113, Wendover, 1966)
I celebrated Christmas 2022 with a family reunion in Thailand. Lovely to have the Aussie and UK-based families together. I flew back alone, and ten hours into the flight from Singapore to London, found myself unable to breathe. In spite of being given oxygen, I soon collapsed. The next thing I was really aware of was being stretchered off the flight in Athens. The plane with all 400 plus passengers had been diverted. I was taken to hospital where I learned I had had a cardiac arrest on the plane and was saved by a wonderful doctor who happened to be on board. The greek doctors were excellent and after eight days in hospital and a week in a hotel, I was able to fly home. Being really fit meant I survived so keep fit to keep alive guys! I’m happy to say I very soon got back to being as fit and well as ever.
Anne Hutchinson (King, C116, Rubens, 1969)
Luckily the grandchildren still like having the traditional Christmas family photo. Unfortunately it was about the
only time we were all able to get together over Christmas, as most of us came down with Covid-19. It turned out to be the most boring Christmas ever! Luckily 2023 has been better so far!
I have settled into retirement and spend a great deal of time running the children to and from kindergarten, school, sporting fixtures, rehearsals etc. When I first moved to Melbourne 36 years ago, I made two wonderful life-long friends at my daughter’s kinder. We now have grandchildren of roughly the same age, so the three of us spend a lot of time together with and without the children! My daughter bought a house this year and we are now converting the garage into a granny flat for me!
Tina Thomson-Jones (Thomson, C116, Cloister, 1969) Things seemed to have picked up to a breakneck speed since the lockdown. I so enjoyed Carole Mitchell-Heggs (North, C117, Pitt, 1970) and Liz Breeze’s (C117, Rubens, 1969) reunion in summer, staying with Liz Landers (Denlegh-Maxwell, C117, Cloister, 1969) so we went together. Some people I had not seen since we left School.
I am still doing some face-to-face examining for the ABRSM in the UK and abroad, as well as online examining. I was in Lisbon, which was great, but the five weeks turned into four days as they had so few entries which was disappointing. Covid-19 has had an unbelievably devastating effect on classical music. I stayed on for a week and got to know it quite well.
I drove over to South Germany via the Czech Republic in summer, staying much of the time with friends. It was lovely to be on the road (most of the time) and not in an airport, and not as tiring as I had feared. I gave myself plenty of time and was away four and a half weeks. I am off to India, Delhi and Lucknow in November to examine. Very exciting!
I had a wonderful week with my son and grandson in Scotland who flew from Ireland to join me. My granddaughter was born in June. What a joy she is, also not nearby. Life is good and I am grateful for my health and energy and I am glad to be alive.
Rachel Cunynghame (Baines, C120, Butler, 1971)
I thought it might be fun to send photos of the scissors which both my sister, Julie-Anne Hudson (Baines, C129, Butler, 1975) and I were awarded for sticking out the dressmaking course. Not many did and maybe we are one of only a few sisters who gained this award.
We are both still sewing and our recent project has been making fabric bags and pencil cases to go into the Christmas Shoe Boxes, which are sent to Romania, Ukraine and Uganda.
I’ve been busy running The Chipping Campden Support Hub, which we set up when Covid-19 struck, but kept going and then helped all the Ukrainians who arrived here. We are still running three sessions of English lessons a week. We are now supporting locals who need help of any kind - furniture, funds, grass cutting. You name it, we’ll try and do it!
Penny Kent (Bevan, C120, Butler, 1971)
We had great ideas of having a small Butler gathering in London this year with Rachel Cunygnhame (Baines, C120, Butler, 1971), Sarah Holt (C122, Butler, 1971), Ottilie Sefton (C122, Butler, 1971) and Judy Nicholson (C122, Butler, 1971) but sadly it hasn’t happened yet!! But we will meet before too long.
I have been in touch with Sue Farr (C128H, Head of PE and Housemistress of Barry) as she has kindly donated her lacrosse memorabilia to the Lacrosse Archives, which I am
helping to collect at University of Bedford. She has given me a marvellous collection of photos and articles from her days of playing, notably a record of the British Pioneers Lacrosse World Tour in 1969. I contacted Sue again after I had visited the gardens at Cliveden this summer. I remembered playing indoor tennis there with her and Sue Hudson (PE Staff), Sue Herald (C124, Campbell, 1972) and Sue Powell (C123, Campbell, 1972) in the 70s on a very tricky wooden surface! I asked Sue how she had managed to take us along to their prestigious court and she said she knew one of the Astors and she persuaded them that Wycombe Abbey was ‘suitable’!! We were very honoured - no sign of a court nowadays.
This has been a busy year as I had my 70th birthday in June! I celebrated with an ABBA party at the Golf Club, a speeding rib trip on the Thames, trips to the theatre, a safari in South Africa and lots of cake! 70 always seemed so ancient when I was at School but I don’t feel too decrepit! I do play for the Over 70s County Tennis Team but have increasingly dodgy shoulders, hips and knees.
I set up a Bedford PE Old Students’ Golf Society a few years ago, which is thriving with over 50 members. Jennie Jupp (C132, Shelburne, 1976) kindly offered to organise a golf day at her Huntswood Club (she said I coerced her?!) - we had a great day! Unfortunately, I was not able to play at The Silver Tassie at The Berkshire this year, organised by Jo Chatwin (Edwards, C152, Shelburne, 1983), and Wycombe won the Trophy! She may not ask me next year!
I meet up with my wonderful siblings when we can, Jenny Miller (Bevan, 1964), Wendy Simpson (Beva, C113, Butler, 1967) and Mary Dupplaw (Bevan, 1976) and we have a great catch up!
Caroline Banszky (While, C121, Airlie, 1971)
I see a great deal of my twin sister, Alison Gore-Randall (While, C121, Wendover, 1971) who lives nearby. I have been for a walk in Gloucestershire with Rachel Cunynghame (Baines, C120, Butler, 1971) and caught up with her news. I see Caroline Jackson (Rowbotham, C121, Campbell, 1971). She has recently moved to London from the north east.
I have a house near Burford where I try to spend as much time as possible. I am Church Warden, so plenty to do in the village and garden. I have no gardener. I am still a non-executive Director (and Chair of the Audit & Risk Committee) of two listed FTSE companies. I am currently interviewing for another public role. In 2024, I rotate off the Board of the Benefact Trust, a large Christian grant giving charity, as well as the Investment Committee of the Open University.
I am based in London for the first half of the weekmost of my company and charity meetings are in London. I try to spend two afternoons a week looking after my grandchildren, who live nearby in London. I spend more time midweek with my grandchildren than I did with my own children when they were small, how times have changed! I love it.
When not occupied as above, I go Scottish Country dancing twice a week. It is brilliant cardiovascular exercise, great for the memory and fun. I also keep a small closed pedigree British Beef Shorthorn herd.
Penny Sylvester (Shaw, C123, Rubens, 1972)
Penny and her husband, Don, moved their family to Agoura Hills, USA in 1998 so that their children, Peter and Louise, could grow up in a family neighbourhood and attend excellent public schools.
Penny has always been active in the community. She started as a cub scout and girl scout leader and then became more actively involved in the schools. She was Parent Faculty President at Willow Elementary School, Lindero Canyon Middle School, and Agoura High School. She served on many Las Virgenes Unified School District committees, working with teachers and staff to solve problems and create new programmes . She established and ran Knowledge Counts Summer School from 2012-2018 for local high school students. She served as an alternate board member for the Agoura Hills Calabasas Community Centre from 2019- 2021. In 2021,
she was appointed to the Planning Commission. In September 2022 she was appointed to fill the vacant seat on the City Council.
Penny was born in London, England, and grew up in Jamaica and Ireland. She graduated from University of Sussex with a Bachelor of Arts in American Studies. She arrived in Los Angeles in 1977 working in the editing department of a feature film and has lived in California ever since. She became an American Citizen in 1994. Penny loves to travel, walk her dog and spend time with her extended family (she is one of ten siblings, five of whom live in the LA area).
Our big news is that our daughter Laura was married in January 2023 in Asheville, North Carolina to Edward Goode. I was terrified it would snow in the mountains there, but everything went perfectly and we are overjoyed for them. Above is a photo of the happy couple along with my husband David, our son Jim, my stepchildren Meredith and David Jr., and yours truly. Even better, they have already presented us with an adorable grandson, Thomas!
Caroline Hemphill (McMullen, C123, Campbell, 1972)Sarah Weir (Bushby, C127, Campbell, 1974)
The last six months have been a little traumatic. I lost my husband, Tony, suddenly in May. He had been ill on and off for the last year, but his death was unexpected. Neville, our eldest son, is now running the farm with me.
Tasneem Virani (Nanji, C127, Pitt, 1974)
I am a devoted grandmother to my two grandchildren, aged nine and six, who give me a lot of joy by taking frequent trips to New York to immerse myself in their lives, creating cherished memories. My daughter continues to explore different cities, so travelling to learn about her world is an adventure.
My husband and I currently are enjoying the freedom to work from anywhere, spending time in Portugal and captivated by its culture, the weather and peacefulness. The pandemic inspired my book Human Touch Leadership, drawing from my extensive experience as an organisational coach and consultant as I continue to work to build Human Touch Leadership in our everchanging world, emphasising emotional and conversational intelligence in building relationships through greater self and social awareness.
My lifelong passion with human dynamics and human potential began in my 20s and as a late career developer in my 40s, realising it is never too late to continue to learn and grow.
Karen Bateman (C134, Pitt, 1977)
Hello from Perth, Western Australia where I have lived with my family since 1978 (yes, just after finishing at Wycombe Abbey). This year I started international travel again. During the pandemic, whilst we didn’t have lock downs, there was a ban on leaving Western Australia! I returned to the UK in May 2023 to have a refresh of UK
culture and to see dear friends (Annie Morris, C134, Barry, 1977). I also had a fabulous time in the Shetlands, which are about as different as you can get from Western Australia!
I am still working and I am currently with the Renewable Energy company (wind farms), which I love. This week Cesarina Chang (Cloister, 1977) visited from Queensland, where she now lives. We reminisced about Miss Dickens Flint and Miss Tait!
Best wishes and love to hear from you.
Jane Mather (Makower, C151, Pitt, 1982)
Margaret Beckett, Head of History at Wycombe Abbey and Deputy Head under Pat Lancaster, inspired me to do History at Durham. We talk on the phone from time to time, which is how I hear news of Jo Willmott who introduced me to Mr Knightley (never Knightley) for English A level. Margaret’s brother is a Church of Scotland Minister and so is my husband.
Fenella Dernie (Fox, C149, Pitt, 1982) was in my year. She went to Bristol where she met her husband, John. They made me godmother to their son, Josh, who is immensely musical and came to a concert at Drapers Hall.
Felicity (Fizz) Conway (Harris, C160, Wendover, 1986) and I served on the Finance and General Purposes Committee at the Drapers Company and were shocked to see each other at a Wycombe Abbey reunion. We had not realised we were both at School, though at different times.
I met Jen Muggleton (C149, Campbell, 1982) at another reunion in June 2022, 40 years since we left, and we have kept in touch. She and her son, Oliver, are coming to visit us in November this year.
Lucy Carter (Stiles, C150, Pitt, 1982) and I exchanged a message followed by an email and then some correspondence before settling down to a regular WhatsApp exchange for the last two years. I love her hilarious and occasionally acidic commentary on whatever is going on in both our lives. Maybe we will meet up eventually - Lucy lives in Portugal.
Kate Stanton (Silk, C152, Wendover, 1982) is now a therapist and I am training to become one. We practice on each other from time to time.
Both Lucy and Kate, (who were with me in Junior House) have been so supportive through my Dad’s illness. He is in a local care home in the last stages of Alzheimer’s. My indomitable Mum had an emergency hip operation in May and came to us to convalesce as we have an annexe without stairs. So far, so good and we are staying together.
So now we are a family of three dogs (one belongs to Mum), three adults, two hens and two cockerels. It makes for a noisy but happy co-existence.
Sarah Beales (Steel, C151, Airlie, 1982)
Since leaving Wycombe Abbey, I have continued to keep music at the forefront of my working life as well as singing for fun - in various choirs etc, but more recently with a couple of friends in a trio - participating in fundraising gigs. I have spent the last 30 years teaching the flute, which I played at Wycombe Abbey to Grade 8 and whilst I have a new career, which I hope to continue well into my 60s and 70s, I am still teaching at Bryanston where I have lived with my husband until this term. His 12-year tenure as a housemaster has recently come to an end so we are now enjoying life in the ‘real world’ in the beautiful Dorset countryside. He commutes to school every day and I am continuing to build my homeopathic practice, with a single day’s flute teaching still at school.
We have two ‘children’ - Katie aged 23 and Rosie aged 25. Rosie lives and works in Bristol and Katie has just started working in London having spent the last seven months in South America.
Kate Stanton (Silk, C152, Wendover, 1982)
After many years of children’s nursing, which involved a lot of listening, I decided to train as a counsellor and have now started my own practice in Devon (Katestantoncounselling. co.uk). I am particularly interested in supporting people who have experienced loss in any way, and finding a way to live with the grief that goes with it. Alongside my counselling, I work as a trainer for a leading baby loss
charity and child bereavement charity.
Married to James, with two wonderful children, Rose and Henry, we love life in Devon with some chickens and a couple of bullocks. Outside of work, I love to run and garden. I am currently walking the South West coast path with James, and see my sister Alex, who has moved to Somerset to be near our wonderful mum - in fact in the same house, which she is currently renovating. Always enjoy catching up with Pippa Sale (Trethown, C151, Shelburne, 1982), Fi Pattinson (C150, Wendover, 1982) and Jane Mather (Makower, C151, Pitt, 1982).
Rowena Nason (Colthurst, C169, Rubens, 1989)
Quick update on me. I am a Talent & Value Add Adviser at Vitruvian Partners as well as being the Owner of Pitchford Hall in Shropshire (www.pitchfordestate.com), a grade one listed Tudor house that my Public Affairs husband, James Nason, reacquired in 2016 and, so far have spent seven years helping bring the historic house and estate back to life after 25 years of neglect.
We offer guided tours through Historic Houses, have started a history and politics festival in collaboration with Stokesay Court (of Atonement fame) called Marches of Time (www.marchesoftime.com) with the next one on 14-15 September 2024. We also offer weddings at The Pitchford Orangery and have a number of holiday cottages on Pitchford Estate, which we let via Sykes Cottages (www. sykescottages.co.uk - The Generals Quarters (part of the main house, sleeps 14), Windy Mundy Farm (sleeps 16), Stockbatch Granary (sleeps 14) and Treehouse Barn (sleeps 4). Please follow our progress at @PitchfordEstate
Alice Sheldon (C173, Pitt, 1990)
I’m loving living back in London after a decade away, and still find it the most exciting city in the world. After a very varied career including working as a teacher, a barrister, and running a national charity, I now work with organisations on wellbeing, connection and purpose. I published a book a couple of years ago that I’m still really proud of.
I recently brought my daughter back to a Seniors’ Carol Service, and have seen Harriet Evans (C174, Pitt, 1990), Kirsty Leyns (C174, Pitt, 1990), Alex Pedder (C173, Shelburne, 1990), Beth Passey (C174, Pitt, 1990), Henry McMicking (C174, Shelburne, 1990) and Gemma Timms (C173, Pitt, 1990) in the last few years.
Monique Tollgard (de Villiers, C187, Pitt, 1994)
I still run Tollgard, an interior design business, with my husband of 20 years. Our boys, Leo and Elliot, are 16 and 13 and are both boarding – one at Kingham Hill and one at Winchester - where I happily bumped into Eliza Hebditch (C187, Shelburne, 1994) whose son was starting on the same day. My Wycombe Abbey sisters continue to be the best friends I have in my life. I see them as often as I can, and our kids growing up together is an utter joy.
Picture of Ellie Lemoine (Liddiard, C190, Pitt, 1994), Fiona Palmer (Cheung, C190, Pitt, 1994) and Ranti Williams (C187, Shelburne, 1994) at my birthday this year.
Leonie Foong (C192, Shelburne, 1995)
Greetings from Hong Kong. A quick update from me as I realize I have not written for a long time. It’s my 16th year living in Hong Kong and my husband Wen and I have
a son and daughter (ages nine and six). Our son might be going to prep school in the UK next year so I’ll be commuting regularly between UK and HK.
Workwise, I have been in Private Equity/Public markets investing throughout these years and I am currently a Partner and Investment Committee member at Overlook Investments, an Asia focused fund. Earlier this year, I was appointed to be an Advisory Member to The Nature Conservancy’s Investment Committee. It is an honour and very fulfilling to be able to contribute my experience to an organization that is tackling immense climate change issues and conservation projects.
Outside work, it is a pleasure to be involved with my alma maters. I serve on the Investment Committee of Balliol College, Oxford and also work closely with fellow Wycombe Abbey alumni Jane Liu (C204, Butler, 1997) in Hong Kong as Trustees of Wycombe Abbey Hong Kong Foundation (WAHKF). During the Covid-19 disruption years, many in-person events we wanted to organize had to be put on hold or cancelled, but we are glad that the events have been back in action! Look forward to many more occasions to meet up.
Sarah Roberts (Crawshaw, C208, Campbell, 1998) I continue to teach A level Maths and I am busy setting up an exciting new course in interdisciplinary learning. With my eldest now a teenager at secondary, the kids are at different schools so I seem to spend most of my time doing the school run!
Becky Singarajah (Lewis, C208, Airlie, 1998) had her second child, Siena Domino, on 31 January 2023. We all got together with our families for Siena’s Christening party recently. Pictured left to right: Becky, me, Nicole Hudd (Randall, C209, Campbell, 1998), Emmy Hodgson (Kennedy, C208, Airlie, 1998) and Carita Thomas (C208, Airlie, 1998). Was lovely to also see Caroline Hall (C209, Airlie, 1998) there.
Zoë Anastassiou (C212, Campbell, 1999)
Zoe Anastassiou just spent the 2022-2023 theatrical season touring the USA as part of The Acting Company’s renowned National Tour in celebration of their 50th Anniversary. The Acting Company has launched the careers of some 400 actors, including Kevin Kline, Patti LuPone, and Rainn Wilson, to name a few, while bringing sophisticated theatre to hundreds of small towns and major cities alike. This past season, The Acting Company toured with two shows in rep with Zoe playing the notable role of the Nurse in Romeo and Julie t and also as Lady Lannoy as well as seven other characters in The Three Musketeers ! Both shows began on the East Coast, with a full run at The New Victory Theatre on 42nd Street in NYC, and ended in Washington State on the West Coast. Feel free to follow more of what Zoe is up to at www.zoeanastassiou.com
Katherine Paul (Badenoch, C240, Pitt, 2005)
Wine Company in 2020. Min Yee currently manages the company’s Private Client, Corporate & University Sales division and is one of only 12,000 people globally who holds the prestigious Wine & Spirit Education Trust’s Level 4 Diploma in Wines, having passed all tasting elements of the exam with Merit.
Katarina Roele (C263, Cloister, 2009)
We have a new member of the household, Maple, who is now nine months old. She’s a Hungarian Vizsla who has been enjoying all the new sounds and smells as we have made the move back to London. She will be a regular fixture now in Parsons Green where we recently bought a house.
My husband, Alistair Paul, and I welcomed our daughter, Harriet Matilda Jean Paul into the world on 23 April 2023. We are loving life as new parents, she has been the best fun! Secondly, my sister, Charlotte Badenoch (also a Senior and former Head Girl, C274, Cloister, 2010) got engaged at the start of the year to her fiancé Jonathan Davidson.
Min Yee Tseu (C260, Pitt, 2008)
Having graduated Oxford with a Masters in Biochemistry, Min Yee spent seven years as a Strategy Consultant in both London and New York. She decided wine is significantly more interesting and, following a summer working at a Château in Bordeaux, joined The Oxford
Jeannette Vincent (C268H, Former Barry Housemistress)
I am enjoying my retirement in West Norfolk. It is sometimes sunny and can be quite windy. We have not had as much rain as they forecast.
I am very involved with the Community Church I belong to and last Sunday we enjoyed pizzas together after the service and then six members were baptized in the local river. I keep myself busy with knitting, sewing, looking after Maisy, my dog, and meeting up with neighbours for coffee or afternoon tea. It is usually very peaceful except for the F35 fighter planes from Marham that fly over most days Monday to Friday, sometimes practicing their ‘dog fights’ in the sky right overhead.
It is right what people say, ‘you are busier when you are retired than when you are working’.
Angela e laine b radbury Imray, C112, Pitt, 1966
17 February 1948 – 15 December 2022
Gillian e ileen Coplestone Biggs, C74, Butler, 1949
31 December 1931 – 6 September 2022
r achel tweedale eyre Lee, C86, Campbell, 1955
27 June 1937 – 24 November 2022
Phyllis Jennifer (Jenny) Macrory booth, C90, Campbell, 1958
From a happy childhood in b olton, where she was born in 1940, Jenny won a scholarship to Wycombe Abbey. t here she became heavily involved in s chool life, eventually becoming h ead of Campbell h ouse, as well as h ouse tennis Captain and a member of the s chool Lacrosse team.
After reading History at Westfield College, University of London, Jenny joined Unilever as its first female graduate trainee. Marriage to Rory and the first two of her three children soon followed. Just as she was looking to return to the workplace, her husband’s work led her instead to Trinidad, where she spent a very happy four years as ‘Madam Cement’. Prevented from doing any paid work, she devoted herself to her children, supporting other trailing wives and volunteering, in particular through teaching at a school for the deaf.
After returning to England, Jenny began supply teaching and later TEFL teaching, before taking a job as Librarian for Rugby School, where once again she was a trailblazer, becoming the first woman to enter the smoke and tweedfilled Common Room. While the library only loosely held her attention, her passion was in the archives, which proved to be a treasure trove into which she would delve to respond to questions from around the world.
Julia h art C74, Shelburne, 1950
24 February 1932 – 21 January 2023
diana May s ackville hulkes C87, Rubens, 1956
7 September 1938 – 8 June 2022
Soon, sick of men plagiarising her words to write ‘definitive’ works on Rugby football, she wrote her own meticulously researched book Running with the Ball, which she published to tie in with the launch of the Rugby World Cup from the school, and for good measure, created a school museum to open that same year.
Upon retirement, she spent her time fixing up houses, saw her youngest child off to university, and never said no to any charity requesting her time or money. Jenny was always decisive and shied away from nothing but doctors; one night in hospital was long enough for her and upon learning the doctor’s prognosis she acted decisively and died before visiting hours were over. She will be remembered as a generous, intelligent, and funny woman, by her family and the many friends she made from every stage of life.
Jessica Macrory d aughterJune
was born in a b ritish Military hospital in h amburg, a sister for rodney. her family was military on both sides – her maternal grandfather became a Major General in the Indian Army and her father Clive became a Lt. Col. in the royal Artillery. her brother rodney became a b rigadier in the royal Artillery and was awarded a military C be for efforts in Germany in the early 90s. June loved to travel but never considered a life in the army.
June’s mother, Betty (Beanland, C58, Cloister, 1936) was a Wycombe Abbey Senior and June followed in her footsteps, entering Cloister in 1961. She enjoyed School life and made many friends with whom she kept in touch throughout her life. She was not athletic and found the daily trudge down and up the hill between House and School rather a challenge, although later in life she enjoyed walking, perhaps on flatter ground. She excelled at Domestic Science, particularly needlework. She wrote in the Seniors Roll book in her final year that she ‘Qualified in the Art and Craft of Dress’ for which she was awarded the prestigious Scissors. After leaving Wycombe Abbey, June completed a Cordon Bleu course in Woking and a secretarial course in London. She was now well-equipped to work anywhere in the world.
First, she looked after the household of a consul-general in Zurich. The family became long-term friends. Then in 1971 she set off for New Zealand to teach cookery and needlework at Woodford House, a girls’ boarding school in Hawke’s Bay. Kay Bell (C87H, Housemistress of Cloister and Head of Chapel Music from 1950 - 1964) had gone back to her native New Zealand to be Headmistress of Woodford. June revelled in the life there and made many friends with pupils and their families. I was there at the same time and we got to know each other. Ralph and Joy Beamish had two daughters at Woodford. They lived on a large sheep and cattle farm in the hills of Hawke’s Bay on the North Island, and they invited June to spend time with them during school holidays. She came to know the family well, spending many holidays at the farm. They all loved her delicious Cordon Bleu meals, especially her Quiche Lorraine for lunch! She also spent time at the sewing machine and created many beautiful dance frocks.
She later became chef at a Farmers’ Club in Napier; it was exacting but she enjoyed it and was popular with the farmers. But she did not want to stay in New Zealand forever and decided to return to the UK via Australia. Always seeking travel opportunities she blindly booked an overland bus trip from Kathmandu to London with about 40 other passengers, taking over two months. She was always pleased she had done that. They visited countries that have changed enormously over the years because of political strife.
When she returned to the UK, she started a business doing dressmaking and cooking for dinner parties. In 1982, she met Richard Claxton. They married in 1983 and the following year their son Peter was born. For 13 years the family lived in Chilmark, Wiltshire, where June was a member of the Tisbury Flower Club and very much hands on arranging flowers in the Church. The Beamish family kept in touch before and after her marriage and say ‘June and Richard were wonderful hosts, having us all to stay and taking us around the areas in which they lived. They were marvellous guides.’
In 1999, Richard retired and June felt that she should keep a closer eye on her ageing mother so the family moved to a smallholding in North Devon. Here she joined the women of an amateur dramatic group who made costumes for their annual pantomime. As a committee member she also had a regular stand selling souvenirs in aid of the RNLI. A few years after the death of her mother the family moved to Helford, Cornwall. She became Treasurer of the local WI. Wherever she was, June had a smile on her face and was willing to help others in any way: arranging festivals, making tea, doing the washing up. She loved gardening and walking, particularly coastal walks, and travelling with family and friends. Sadly, in summer 2022, June was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s and in February 2023, she and Richard relocated to Wiltshire to be closer to Peter. She gradually became less mobile and, after a fall in
May, had a short stay in hospital. Richard was able to arrange care for her at home until, in June, tragically, she was diagnosed with Motor Neurone Disease. The disease progressed very quickly, which meant that June could no longer walk and daily tasks became increasingly difficult because of severe muscle weakness. She moved into a nearby Nursing Home so Richard and Peter could visit frequently.
She died on Wednesday 20 September 2023. The family have sent the proceeds of the collection at her funeral to Motor Neurone Research.
sue Cameron (C100, Barry 1961) friend richard Claxton husband Peter Claxton son Joy and Melanie b eamish friends in new Zealand
sally b anwell
Manson, C132, Campbell, 1976
18 April 1958 – 3 October 2022
our sister s ally was born in hertford, the third of four sisters, all of us Wycombe Abbey s eniors.
She joined Campbell House at Wycombe Abbey in 1970. Top set in all subjects, brilliant at Maths, kind, popular and good at games - she was a school prefect before her final year in Clarence. Sally went onto Newham College, University of Cambridge with an exhibition to read Engineering, rare for a woman at that time. She later added an MSc with Distinction to her MA. She rowed for her college, often getting up at 5am for training.
Sally loved sailing and met her husband Tony on a mutual friend’s yacht. They married in 1980 and lived all their married life in Bournemouth. After a short spell teaching Maths at a local school, and working as a software engineer at an aluminium company, children followed - Alison and twin boys Simon and Guy. Her children, for which she was firmly the anchor, were her great pride. Sally’s unwavering dedication to them has been a huge influence on all their successful and varied lives. When family commitments allowed it, Sally returned to work, enjoying a long career as a software engineer for a library systems company.
In 2006, Sally was diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease, which was to gradually, and cruelly, change her lifestyle. Bit by bit, activities were limited, but Sally would always fill her hours with cooking, elaborate embroidery and knitting, crazily difficult puzzles and games,
crosswords and extensively researching our family tree back to the seventeenth century.
In 2012, Sally became one of the founder members of the Parkinson’s Dance Group, established in Bournemouth to help those affected by movement and speech disorders. Sally threw much of her energies into this therapeutic form of exercise as well as helping to fund the group and promote its value more widely across the country.
When we think of Sally we remember the fun we hadher sense of humour, her razor-sharp intelligence (winning every word game), her kindness and care for others, the immense joy she took in her children, her incredible bravery in the face of her progressive disease and her determination to keep going. We miss our clever, kind and lovely sister, Sally.
Pippa Manson (C121, Campbell, 1971)
Jill Manson (C124, Campbell, 1973) diana b riggs (Manson, C138, Campbell, 1978) sisters
elizabeth, known as Liz throughout her life, was the oldest of four children. her childhood was privileged and old fashioned with numerous staff in the household and most of the care provided by a nanny and then governess, although she adored her father, Leslie, and particularly treasured memories of personal time with him. her adolescence was troubled by the shadow and then the reality of war. this was so hardwired, she could recall her fear even in the later stages of her dementia. s he was old enough to know the danger to their family as Jews.
Her happiest times were almost certainly at Wycombe Abbey, under her Housemistress, Miss Partridge (‘Part’). She was seriously upset by the School’s sudden wartime closure. She lost contact with her friends, was forced to switch to a less enlightened boarding school and felt forever that her education had been permanently prejudiced. She kept in good touch with Part until her death and visited the School from time to time. She was something of a rebel and thus began a lifetime of disregard for petty rules, particularly those she felt were unjustified or perhaps resonated with the strict regime at home.
During her adolescence, she developed a will of iron – a level of awesome courage that saw her overcome considerable adversity, not least in her extraordinary recovery from a major stroke in 2000, in which she delighted in confounding her consultant and learning to walk again. Frustrations could lead to a certain waspishness, yet there was a hunger to make the world a better place, to volunteer and to support the underdog, including those with much less privileged backgrounds than hers. She volunteered in her youth in a club in the East End and was a supporter of numerous charities over the years.
Liz met her future husband Peter at her 18th birthday party, and they married in April 1950. She settled into the role of homebuilder and mother, with three sons, Richard, Stephen and James. Her devotion enabled Peter to be completely focused on his successful career. She enjoyed being by his side as he reached the higher echelons of the Civil Service, culminating in him being a Permanent Secretary, for which he was knighted in 1985.
Liz loved Bognor Regis and she was never happier than by the sea with her family brood around her. She loved making her relative prosperity available to others, including lending out her very large living room and holiday house. Within her limited gastronomic range, she was frequently to be seen
delivering food to folk in need, particularly those moving to a new house, or who had suffered a loss and always to her children when they returned from holiday.
She loved her garden – not just employing a gardener but also on her hands and knees weeding and tendering her plants. The garden bloomed in the spring and her roses gave her much joy. She had a lifelong passion for children and indeed she remained young at heart. Her ten grandchildren were a source of constant joy. She was surprised that half of these were girls, which enabled her to buy dresses, a dolls house and other paraphernalia. She took her grandchildren on treats and loved buying them gifts, allowing them to try on her clothes and high heels, and generally permitting them to behave far beyond the boundaries that existed in their own homes. She also adored other children and any child entering her home would be greeted with a treasure trove of toys to play with and a licensed anarchy to behave pretty well however they pleased.
Liz had a great gift for friendship to those in need and was not afraid to visit those who were very sick. Despite her rather conservative and traditional views on many things, she had many lasting friendships with those much younger than she was - being an anchor through many a storm. She had a very keen sense of humour and when she laughed, she could speedily be engulfed in hysterics. She had a radiant smile, which lit up the room.
She hosted a fabulous party to celebrate her 80th birthday. Sadly, all too soon after this, she began her long struggle with dementia. Her last years were difficult, but she was looked after wonderfully and was grateful and a little more placid than in her prime. Her departure on 4 November 2022 was perfectly peaceful.
James Lazarus sonAnne was a pupil at Wycombe Abbey from 1941 until the s chool closed for the war. s he graduated from u niversity of London in Mathematics, and became a Maths teacher.
In addition to her teaching, she also later served as governor for several London schools, a councillor for Camden council, and chair of the East Sussex Conservative Association.
Michael Morris sonAnn smith
those who remember Ann, and there will not be many since she was 92 when she died in May this year, will recall a tall, athletic girl who excelled at games. s he was enrolled at Wycombe Abbey (Pitt house) when the s chool re-opened after the war in the summer of 1946. her cousin Jill e llis (née simcox, Class of 1949) arrived at the same time and recalls a group of girls being asked to serve a tennis ball. Ann’s flew accurately beyond the reach of the games mistress who inquired if she could do it a second time. Ann did and went directly into the first team, first couple. She also represented the school at cricket.
Ann left Wycombe Abbey the following April but her short time at the School left an indelible and proud imprint on her memory. Well into old age, she spoke of girls she had met and friends she had made. She read the annual magazine with interest.
Born in Birmingham, Ann was nine years old when war broke out and she, her mother and younger brother followed her father to Criccieth and Cambridge where he served in the RAF. After the war, the family returned to Birmingham. Wycombe Abbey was Ann’s sixth school. In the year she left Wycombe Abbey she found the inspiration to start her commonplace book - a handwritten journal of her favourite literary extracts which ranged from If to Jaberwocky. She continued to add entries throughout her life.
Ann worked briefly at the Birmingham Accident Hospital and for the family wholesale business, Richard Lunt & Company. Tennis, however, was her main interest. She represented her club and county and reached the quarter final of Junior Wimbledon. A match against Grand Slam winner Maria Bueno was close but the outcome inevitable against a professional player.
Ann met her husband, Geoff Smith, at the Priory Lawn Tennis Club, Edgbaston. They married when she was twenty years old. They were a sociable, sporty couple who entertained friends generously with their wit and sense of fun. Ann worked voluntarily for the National Adoption Society, and for 28 years, serving as a Justice of the Peace and chairing the Bench in Birmingham.
Throughout her life, Ann dedicated herself to her family for whom she did all she could. After the tragic death of her elder daughter at the age of 39, Ann gave herself inestimably to the care and support of her grandchildren whom, along with all her family, she loved with all her heart.
Ginny d avies d aughter
rosemary
helen tiarks Markham (née e ngland) was born in st helen’s Lancashire. s he had a twin sister, dorothy, and two older brothers, Peter and nigel. her father, Benjamin England of Knaresborough was a rising figure in the operation of public transport systems. her mother, Mabel tiarks of h arrogate, was the daughter of an Anglican vicar. rosemary upheld her faith throughout her life.
The family moved to Southend in the mid-1930s and then Nottingham upon the appointment of Rosemary’s father to be general manager of the Nottinghamshire public transport system. Her local schooling was interrupted by the heavy bombing of Nottingham, and she spent much of the war in the care of her Aunt Louise, Mother Superior at Sunnybrae Convent in Walkerburn near Galashiels. In May 1946, she went to Wycombe Abbey, leaving in July 1948.
Upon completion of her schooling, Rosemary took a gap year to attend finishing school in Switzerland and then to work as a private tutor in English Language for the Japanese Ambassador in London and his wife, and as an au pair for their children. During this period, she also had the chance to travel throughout the continent, as she accompanied her father, who was engaged to consult in the post-war reconstruction programme for public transport systems in cities such as Paris, Rome and Berlin.
In October 1950, Rosemary went to Nottingham University to read English Literature, where she met her future husband, Kenneth Markham. They were married in February 1953. Her husband secured a local teaching position after completing his Teacher Training qualification and their first two children, Edward and James, were born. In 1956, a career move for her husband took the family to Sunderland, where Henry was born in 1959. The final move was to Dinas Powys in Wales, when Kenneth Markham became a lecturer at University of Wales Institute of Science and Technology. Their fourth and last child, Rachel, was born in 1963.
In Wales, through academic connections and friendships, Rosemary settled down to build a reputation as an artist, achieving recognition in an entry in the Dictionary of Artists in Wales (Gomer Press 2015) and one painting was accepted for the RA Summer Exhibition.
Alongside painting, Rosemary wrote reviews for both art and sculpture exhibitions around Wales in a variety of publications, including the Western Mail daily newspaper and the Anglo-Welsh Review. She was commissioned to paint several portraits, including ones of R.S. Thomas, Lady Traherne, Frank Roper and Lord Aberdare, and places of interest including Cardiff Castle, Dinas Powys Castle, Tredegar House and Duffryn House and Gardens. Furthermore, Rosemary spent a great deal of time working with Llandaff Cathedral and reviewing the work of sculptor Frank Roper’s stained glass windows there, as well as painting landscapes of the cathedral building for the presiding bishop and of the Rosetti Triptych inside. Examples of her work can be found at the Britten-Pears Library in Aldeburgh, Llandaff Cathedral, National Library of Wales in Aberystwyth, St Fagan’s National History Museum, Tredegar House in Newport, and the University of Hull. In any spare moments Rosemary loved to write her own poetry, some items of which were also published.
By 1984, Rosemary enjoyed a broader focus on her love of art and literature. However, this was very sadly impeded when her eldest son, Edward, died by his own hand in 1989. This catastrophe cast a dark shadow over her remaining years. She found some peace with a final visit to his grave in April 2023.
Kenneth and Rosemary remained in Dinas Powys until February 2018 when, with Kenneth’s declining health, they moved to London to be closer to Rachel and James. On 5 November 2018, Rosemary was widowed and shortly thereafter moved to MHA Ryelands in Wallington until her death on 31 May 2023. She leaves her three remaining children, 11 grandchildren and four greatgrandchildren.
James Markham s onvivienne
Mary Gershon, who participated in one of the greatest codebreaking operations of World War II, died on 22 April 2023 at the age of 100. s he was a long-time resident of s helter Island, new York, usA.
Born in West Riding of Yorkshire, on 29 October 1922, Vivienne was the only child of George Croft Foulds, a manufacturer, and his wife, Kate Winifred Lister, whose English family had settled in South Africa. Her paternal grandfather, Charles Henry Foulds, served as mayor of Keighley Borough in 1898-99. Her stepmother, Elsie M. Foulds, OBE, was the first female mayor of Keighley in 1966-67.
Vivienne attended Wycombe Abbey in the mid-1930s where she grew interested in art and photography. She left in 1940, briefly returned to Yorkshire, where she helped care for returning soldiers, and in the early 1940s entered the naval service.
Living and working near Bletchley Park, Vivienne, a member of the Women’s Royal Naval Service, led a team that operated the Bombe machines used to evaluate solutions to the German Enigma cipher. The successful project is credited with shortening the war by years. Faithful to the Official Secrets Act, Vivienne did not speak publicly about her wartime work until the 1990s, when she noticed that someone had published a book about the work at Bletchley and realized the
restrictions had been lifted. With the debut of the 2014 film The Imitation Game, Vivienne drew fresh attention for her role in the intensive British effort, led by mathematician Alan Turing, to crack the Nazi communications code.
Vivienne’s wartime experience ultimately led her to the United States and to Shelter Island. At a Halloween dance, she met Archie Gershon, an American from Long Island, New York, then stationed in England with the U.S. Army Eighth Air Force. They married in England, where Vivienne gave birth to their first child, Colin. Their second son, Gary, was born in 1948.
In 1962, Vivienne and Archie opened their business, House of Glass, a glass business and hardware store and Vivienne ran the gift shop. She also earned a reputation as an Island artist through her paintings and hand-decorated ceramic ornaments, establishing an art studio in her home. She began making ornaments of Shelter Island and East End (Long Island) landmarks and emblems: ferries, public libraries, churches, post offices, lighthouses, sailboats, and the like. Vivienne also served on the Shelter Island School Board and volunteered for many years in the public library’s book sale and with the Historical Society.
Last October, Vivienne celebrated her 100th birthday with her family and friends. She is survived by her two sons, five grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren.
Colin Gershon son
Weston, C77, butler, 1951
16 July 1933 - 20 January 2023
eunice was a pupil at Wycombe Abbey between s eptember 1946 and July 1951. In b utler house, she enjoyed the wide variety of both academic and sporting facilities, particularly lacrosse and cricket. her school reports summarise she was ‘a competent and conscientious student’.
In December 1964, Eunice married Derek Gillingham and in September 1965 gave birth to Beth, her first child. The family moved from Pinner to Jordans, Buckinghamshire. In January 1968, she gave birth to her son, Gerard.
After school, she spent three years at the Central School of Speech and Drama where she gained a diploma in Dramatic Art. Between 1954 and 1956, Eunice taught Speech and Drama at Sutherland House School, Cromer. In 1965 she moved to Heathfield School, Ascot to teach Diction, Public Speaking and Dramatic Arts. In 1960, Eunice returned to her beloved Wycombe Abbey School to teach English, Speech and Drama. Between 1963 –1965, Eunice attended the Digby Stuart College of the Sacred Heart where she gave lectures on the London methods of Drama, Production and Acting. During this time, she also enjoyed sporting summer camps at Bisham Abbey.
In pursuit of her love of students, Eunice took up a Drama Speech Training job at Godstowe School, High Wycombe and was there between 1974 - 1992. A pupil myself during this time, Mummy had an incredibly positive impact on every pupil and wrote at least six school plays where every single person at Godstowe had a part. Not surprisingly she was inundated with letters of thanks, praise and sadness when she ‘retired’.
In her later years, Eunice travelled extensively with Derek, enjoyed trips to London to see plays and operas and was an active member of both the Quiet Garden Movement and the Quakers in Jordans. She was a much loved and respected Seer Green village member, where the family moved to in 1977.
Eunice was unique! She enjoyed giving family parties, which always involved her made-up games. The last month of her life was spent peacefully at Bradbury House, Beaconsfield, where she wrote a Christmas Day play and insisted the carers acted it out to all the residents. Eunice, much-loved wife of Derek, dearly loved mother of Beth and Gerard and adored grandmother of Baz, Chloe, Joss and Nancy, died peacefully in her armchair with her mandatory afternoon cup of tea. Given her special relationship with God, I’m sure they planned her departure this way, together and how clever, the perfect way to depart.
b eth b utterwick (Class of 1984) d aughter
Wycombe Abbey has benefitted for many years from generous philanthropic support, through gifts at all levels, from our wonderful community of s eniors and h onorary s eniors. t his generosity has helped to enable a number of projects beyond what could have been funded by the s chool itself, helping to strengthen Wycombe Abbey’s ability to provide a world class, future-focused education that allows each girl to flourish in her chosen path.
Whilst single big gifts received are talked about and recognised, the power of collective giving is a message that can be more easily missed. And yet, it is something that defines and embeds an organisation’s culture of philanthropy. This is why Wycombe Abbey and other schools and charities run programmes like an Annual Fund to encourage everyone to consider making a donation at whatever level they may feel able. Our Annual Fund provides unrestricted support to the School in three key areas that help to deliver outstanding learning and boarding experiences for the girls:
• Area of Greatest need - allows the School to direct funds towards the areas of greatest priority and support a broad range of projects.
• b ursaries - we wish to ensure that a Wycombe Abbey education is available to more girls who would benefit from an education here, no matter her family’s financial circumstances. A successful bursary programme ensures that the School community reflects different perspectives and lived experiences. This is something that all pupils will benefit from as they make their journey through School and into the world beyond.
• Living and Learning Facilities - Wycombe Abbey is recognised as the leading girls’ boarding school in the UK. High quality, fit-for-purpose facilities that benefit our current and future pupils is an important element in enabling us to remain in this position. It helps create an environment for our girls to pursue academic excellence and for our staff to provide outstanding teaching, both of which enable our pupils to flourish and fulfil their potential.
If you want to learn more about how support for the School is encouraged, please visit the Development webpage development.wycombeabbey.com
To donate to the Annual Fund please visit development.wycombeabbey.com/waystogive or complete the form inserted with this Seniors’ Supplement . We are grateful for donations of all sizes and we hope that you will consider supporting an area most meaningful to you.
Together, we can ensure that current and future generations of Wycombe Abbey pupils will experience a world class School.
Alegacy gift is one of the most influential ways in which you can help and is an indication of your affection for the s chool.
We strive to ensure that Wycombe Abbey continues to evolve and grow, offering the highest possible academic standards with state-of-the-art living and learning facilities. Our world class vision requires financial support and can only be achieved with the generosity of our Seniors.
By remembering Wycombe Abbey in your will with either a lump sum or part of your estate, you have the capability to support the School’s ambitious plans as they evolve over time.
Whilst you do not have to inform us of your gift, we would love for you to let us know and would be
delighted to welcome you as a member of the Dove-Bowerman Society, set up in 2017 to recognise and thank all those who indicate an intention to leave a legacy to the School.
Please complete the pledge form on our website (development.wycombeabbey.com/legacies/ ) as a means of notifying us of your intentions and desire to join the Dove-Bowerman Society or contact the Development Office by emailing development@wycombeabbey.com
Thank you for helping Wycombe Abbey continue to ensure that the next generation of pioneering women will receive exceptional opportunities that will prepare them to reach their fullest potential.
Please note that the publication of content in the following sections does not constitute an endorsement by Wycombe Abbey of any of the products, services or opinions of the individual.
Award-winning s amara Karoo reserve is a conservation journey on 67,000 acres of born-again wilderness in s outh Africa’s heart-stoppingly beautiful, Great Karoo region.
Founded in 1997 by the family of Isabelle Pieters (Tompkins, C273, Airlie, 2010) and Sienna Tompkins (C283, Shelburne, 2012), Samara has pioneered the rewilding of this semi-arid yet uniquely biodiverse landscape, catalysing an ambitious vision to expand the conservation estate to a 3-million-acre footprint in a Global Biodiversity Hotspot. Today, the reserve is one of South Africa’s most diverse safari destinations, comprising five vegetation biomes across strikingly varied topography, home to over 60 mammal species including the Big Five and cheetah, as well as 225 bird species. Three intimate lodges welcome guests for considered, meaningful and exceptional safari encounters.
www.samara.co.za
o ur e ast Lothian house is available for holiday rentals, so come and explore this lovely coastline just 20 miles from e dinburgh.
The house is Historic Scotland listed and sits on Gullane Hill looking south over the golf courses. It is a great base for a group wanting to play the many excellent courses along Scotland’s ‘golf coast’. There are four double bedrooms with four bathrooms, a big sitting room, dining room, kitchen and a large garden. The beach, shops and several good restaurants are all within walking distance.
Contact: Fiona s tephenson (Malcolm, C145, s helburne, 1980)
Email: fionastephenson01@gmail.com
Interior serv IC es
We all have a relationship with money whether we earn a lot, spend a lot, don’t charge enough or give our time away for free. We aren’t taught about money growing up, but we hear phrases that often impact us as adults. With 12 years’ experience in Wealth Management, Philly now offers Financial Coaching to get to the bottom of how you want to live and how money can be a tool to enable that. she helps with the psychological as well as the practical, unlocking what might be holding you back as well as empowering you to take charge of your wealth.
Philly Ponniah (Fielding, C254, Barry, 2007) helps high-achieving women get financial clarity, so that they can live well today while building wealth sustainably for the future. She has been featured in the Financial Times, The Independent and Women’s Health amongst other national publications.
For 1:1 and group coaching work, please go to www.phillyfinancial.co.uk or @phillyfinancial on Instagram.
68 Directory
Today marks a significant milestone in the world of marketing with the launch of de Musson, a pioneering cultural marketing agency poised to redefine the way brands connect with diverse audiences. With a fresh approach that celebrates and amplifies cultural diversity, de Musson is set to transform the marketing landscape.
In a rapidly evolving global marketplace, traditional marketing strategies often fall short of resonating with audiences from various cultural backgrounds. De Musson recognizes this gap and is committed to bridging it by crafting campaigns that not only acknowledge cultural nuances but also celebrate them. The agency’s mission is to forge authentic connections that empower brands to tell their stories in ways that deeply resonate with consumers’ identities and experiences.
De Musson’s services include culturally informed brand strategy, cross-cultural content creation, culturally sensitive campaign development and comprehensive market analysis. The agency’s client roster spans industries, from artists to exhibitions, interior designers to musicians.
Led by a team of industry veterans and cultural experts, De Musson brings a wealth of knowledge and a passion for inclusivity to the table. The agency’s holistic approach to cultural marketing involves in-depth research, cultural immersion, and collaboration with local communities to ensure that every campaign is rooted in authenticity and sensitivity.
‘We are thrilled to unveil De Musson to the world,’ said Clementine Perrins, (Musson, C218, Rubens, 2000) Founder and CEO of the agency. ‘Our vision is to transform marketing into a force that unites and uplifts people from all walks of life. De Musson is not just an agency; it’s a movement towards recognizing and celebrating the rich tapestry of cultures that make up our global society.’
The launch of De Musson comes at a time when consumers are increasingly seeking authentic connections with brands that align with their values. The agency’s commitment to cultural authenticity positions it as a key partner for brands aiming to engage meaningfully and responsibly with diverse audiences.
For more information about De Musson and its innovative approach to cultural marketing, please visit www.demusson.com or contact Clementine@demusson.com
About de Musson:
De Musson is a cutting-edge cultural marketing agency that specializes in creating authentic connections between brands and diverse audiences. With a team of cultural experts and industry veterans, De Musson is on a mission to revolutionize marketing by celebrating the richness of cultural diversity. The agency offers a range of services including brand strategy, content creation, campaign development and market analysis.
de M usson .C o
Keep in touch and read the latest news and updates about Seniors’ activities and School events. Seniors’ Connect is the perfect way to reach out to the Seniors’ community. If you are part of a society, use the group tool to contact members.
Careers
• Find a mentor
• Post a job vacancy
• Search for positions
• Meet other people in your sector
• Support Seniors and pupils as a mentor
Events
• Register for upcoming events
• Share and view photos
Connect
• Search the Seniors’ directory
• Connect and message friends
• See other members in your Circle
• Search groups by country, region, city and university
wycombeabbeyseniors.com
As we look to host more Seniors’ events based on leaving year, location or even career, we want to make sure you are invited. Please contact seniors@wycombeabbey.com to update your postal and email addresses so you don’t miss out on any events.
s eniors’ d ay
s aturday 8 June 2024, Wycombe Abbey
Join us for our annual day of reminiscing and catching up with old friends, as well as hearing about current and future developments at the School.
After the success of this year’s event, we will be organising another Seniors’ Social drinks reception in London.
Further details of both events will be shared soon.
Follow Wycombe Abbey on social media for updates, news and events.
(formerly Twitter) @WycombeAbbey and @Wycombeseniors
Facebook Wycombe Abbey
Instagram @wycombeabbey
LinkedIn Wycombe Abbey
If you do not receive emails from the Seniors’ Office, please contact seniors@wycombeabbey.com to sign up for our regular e-newsletter, event invites and other Seniors’ communications.
Wycombe Abbey
High Wycombe
Buckinghamshire
HP11 1PE
seniors@wycombeabbey.com
wycombeabbey.com
Registered Charity No. 310638