14098 KHS Old girls newsletter issue 3 low - King's High
14098 KHS Old girls newsletter issue 3 low - King's High
14098 KHS Old girls newsletter issue 3 low - King's High
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<strong>High</strong> Times<br />
The <strong>newsletter</strong> for the Alumnae of King’s <strong>High</strong> Spring 2009<br />
From the Development Office:<br />
A new name for the <strong>newsletter</strong>!<br />
In the previous <strong>issue</strong> of <strong>Old</strong> Girls’ News, we challenged our<br />
readers to come up with a new name for this <strong>newsletter</strong>.<br />
The response was amazing, with some really inspired and<br />
creative ideas. Of course, there can only ever be one<br />
winner, and we are delighted to announce that this is<br />
Penny Clapp (1986-93), with her suggestion, <strong>High</strong> Times.<br />
Penny said of her winning entry, “<strong>High</strong> Times was the<br />
name of the student magazine I used to write for when<br />
I was at King’s <strong>High</strong>. It existed during my Lower and Upper<br />
6th years and was full of lots of witty observations,<br />
musings, interviews and some fun recipe and puzzle features.”<br />
The <strong>KHS</strong> judging panel felt that <strong>High</strong> Times captured the mood and<br />
tone of the Alumnae <strong>newsletter</strong> perfectly, and was delighted with<br />
its historical relevance to the school. Penny receives a prize of<br />
£25 of M&S vouchers.<br />
Feedback to the Autumn 2008 <strong>issue</strong><br />
Thank you to everyone who e mailed or wrote in with their<br />
comments about the Autumn 2008 <strong>issue</strong>. Over 100 of you<br />
took the trouble to contact us; Julia Wates (1974-81) e mailed<br />
us from the USA to tell us “it is a pleasure to receive and read”,<br />
Kate Everett (née Adams, 1992-99) advised us of her change of<br />
address, adding “I love reading what’s going on and I don’t want to<br />
miss any updates”, and Alice Brade (née Lucas, 1977-84) e mailed<br />
from Somerset to say “it’s nice to hear news from the old school,<br />
all the way down here in the South West!”.<br />
We have also received a number of ideas for <strong>newsletter</strong> features,<br />
and will aim to incorporate these into future <strong>issue</strong>s. Finally, welcome<br />
to several hundred new readers: Alumnae with whom we have<br />
re-established contact since the last <strong>issue</strong>.<br />
Chris Musselwhite<br />
Development Manager<br />
Penny Clapp, winner of our<br />
<strong>newsletter</strong> naming competition.<br />
Front cover of the 1991 <strong>issue</strong><br />
of King’s <strong>High</strong> student<br />
magazine <strong>High</strong> Times<br />
Come to our 1980s<br />
Decade Day!<br />
OGA Lunch. Leavers from the 80s and 90s, left to right,<br />
Emily Lingard, Katie Jotischky (King) and Fiona Brown.<br />
OGA Lunch. Former Headmistress Jackie Anderson,<br />
former Deputy Headmistress Caroline Russell and<br />
Headmistress Elizabeth Surber in the Headmistress’s Study.<br />
Scrutinising old school photographs<br />
at the OGA Lunch.<br />
www.kingshighwarwick.co.uk
Events<br />
The Annual OGA Lunch<br />
The bells of St Mary’s rang out as King’s <strong>High</strong> opened its doors to welcome<br />
back 75 <strong>Old</strong> Girls, former and current staff to the annual OGA Lunch on<br />
Saturday 28 February 2009.<br />
Seven decades were represented at the event, with Leavers and staff from the<br />
1930s to the present day stepping through the blue door for welcome drinks in<br />
Landor Hall. For some, this was the first time they had returned to school in<br />
decades; for others the lunch has become a much loved annual event. Sixth<br />
formers were on hand to provide tours of the school, with the first tour<br />
emptying Landor Hall as soon as its departure was announced, and with extra<br />
tours added due to popular demand. Many former pupils expressed amazement<br />
at the wide range of facilities and activities available to today’s King’s <strong>High</strong> <strong>girls</strong>.<br />
As soon as the door to the Headmistress’s Study opened, a steady stream of<br />
former pupils took the opportunity to wander in, many feeling that they should<br />
perhaps knock beforehand! Mrs Surber was delighted to welcome back her<br />
predecessor, Mrs Jackie Anderson, and former Deputy Headmistress Mrs Caroline<br />
Russell, and the three reminisced in her study as <strong>Old</strong> Girls came and went.<br />
The OGA AGM took place at 12 noon, fol<strong>low</strong>ed by a buffet lunch in the Main Hall.<br />
Mrs Surber thanked attendees for their support, and went on to outline the<br />
success of the various reunion events of the past year, including the 1970s<br />
Decade Day last July. She challenged the 1980s Leavers to come in even greater<br />
numbers this year, to the 80s Decade Day planned for June.<br />
Head Girl, Charlotte Lavelle, gave a speech on her experiences at King’s <strong>High</strong>,<br />
from a fledgling Year 7 “new girl” to her role as Head Girl in her final year. She<br />
acknowledged the support of her teachers, recognising the privilege of the new<br />
Sixth Form Centre and, above all, the uniqueness of her school.<br />
Caroline Russell then took centre stage as Guest Speaker. Caroline began with the<br />
revelation that she had spent one third of her adult life at King’s <strong>High</strong>, and<br />
remembered her very first day, when fel<strong>low</strong> member of staff Edna Wells showed<br />
her around the school and offered help, an act of kindness Caroline has never<br />
forgotten. From here, she developed the themes of the importance of building<br />
good relationships with staff and pupils, getting pupils really interested in learning,<br />
and developing an atmosphere of fun – providing illustrated examples of this last<br />
point! Her presentation went down so well that, afterwards, even a number of<br />
<strong>Old</strong> Girls from the 50s and 60s thanked her, wishing that Caroline had been at<br />
King’s during their time here.<br />
Enjoying drinks in<br />
Landor Hall, left to<br />
right, Lucy Emsden,<br />
Margaret Rayner<br />
and Joanne de Groot<br />
(Bray).<br />
1950s Leavers,<br />
left to right, Anne<br />
Moore (Smith),<br />
Linda Butcher<br />
(Hambridge),<br />
Susan Bridgewater<br />
(Wheatley), Anna<br />
Yelland (Warwick)<br />
and Margaret<br />
Strachan (Carter).<br />
1960s Leavers,<br />
left to right,<br />
Rachael Curnow<br />
(Hedges), Juliet<br />
Cox (Neale), Janet<br />
Carter (Burgess),<br />
Robina Phillips<br />
(Hammond) and<br />
Sandra Harvey<br />
(Clark).<br />
1933 Leaver Mary<br />
Bakewell, left, with<br />
Mrs Surber, Head<br />
Girl Charlotte Lavelle<br />
and 1942 Leaver<br />
Mary Forster<br />
(Bowley), right.<br />
The day ended with the raffle, a distribution of f<strong>low</strong>ers, and more of that in<br />
which, as Mrs Surber remarked, all King’s Girls excel – chat!<br />
Calling all golfers…<br />
A number of Alumnae have suggested<br />
that we organise a Golf Day, perhaps<br />
during the Autumn, at a course in<br />
Warwickshire. If you are interested in<br />
teeing off and enjoying a round, fol<strong>low</strong>ed<br />
by post-game drinks in the clubhouse,<br />
please contact the school Development Office to<br />
register your interest. We would also welcome ideas<br />
for a preferred Warwickshire golfing venue.<br />
Head of Modern Foreign<br />
Languages Edward<br />
MacFetridge met up with some<br />
former pupils from the 1990s.<br />
He was the sole male attendee<br />
at the lunch, but took this in<br />
his stride!<br />
The team of 6th formers who provided invaluable assistance on the<br />
day. Left to right, Prefects Ellie Houghton, Rebecca Kane, Laura Cairns,<br />
Alicia Birch, Head Girl Charlotte Lavelle and Prefect Becky Morgan.
Events<br />
Join us at our inaugural<br />
London Group Reunion –<br />
Thursday 23 April 2009<br />
We are delighted to announce the<br />
formation of a London Group for <strong>Old</strong><br />
Girls and former members of staff.<br />
Our first meeting will be held on<br />
Thursday 23rd April 2009, in the Library at the University<br />
The University Women’s<br />
Club, Mayfair.<br />
Women’s Club, London, where complimentary drinks will be served<br />
from 6.30pm until 8.30pm. The event will provide an opportunity<br />
to network, make new friends and catch up with old acquaintances.<br />
There will also be a chance to contribute ideas towards the future<br />
development of the London Group.<br />
Admission is free to Alumnae and former members of staff. We do<br />
hope you will be able to join us and we look forward to your<br />
company on the evening.<br />
Varsity Double<br />
King’s <strong>High</strong> School has won the warm-up hockey match in the run<br />
up to this year’s Varsity challenge.<br />
The school was honoured to be asked to play at the prestigious<br />
event which this year took place at the Southgate Hockey Club in<br />
London. Former King’s <strong>High</strong> girl, Charlotte Jackson (1999-2006)<br />
captained the Oxford hockey side taking part in the main event.<br />
It was a great day for King’s all round. In an all-Midlands warm up<br />
schools contest King’s <strong>High</strong> won 3–1 against Bablake School.<br />
Deputy Head Girl Alison Stockdale was named “Man of the Match.”<br />
Charlotte Jackson also led her Oxford team to success against<br />
Cambridge, scoring the winning goal to take the match 2-1.<br />
<strong>Old</strong> Girl Harriet McGrath (1999-2006), Cambridge University<br />
Varsity Netball Captain, also came to the event to support<br />
King’s <strong>High</strong>.<br />
Invitations have already been sent out to around 200 Alumnae<br />
known to be living in London and the Home Counties, although the<br />
event is open to everyone. Please contact the school Development<br />
Office to book your place for this event.<br />
Relive the 80s at our Decade Day –<br />
Saturday 27 June 2009 – in association<br />
with the OGA<br />
Come back to<br />
school and<br />
celebrate the 80s<br />
at our Decade<br />
Day on Saturday<br />
27 June 2009,<br />
and catch up<br />
with <strong>Old</strong> Girls<br />
and former<br />
members of<br />
staff who were<br />
at school during<br />
the decade.<br />
1st VI Tennis and 1st VII Netball Teams of 1984-85.<br />
We hope to see some of you on Decade Day!<br />
Varsity Captains: friends and former pupils Harriet McGrath, left,<br />
and Charlotte Jackson at the recent Varsity hockey challenge.<br />
Head of PE, Miss Gilbert, herself a former national hockey<br />
player, commented “This is a great day for hockey at King’s <strong>High</strong>.<br />
The <strong>girls</strong> played their best hockey ever and were rewarded on the<br />
big stage – a great achievement.”<br />
Last year’s 1970s Decade Day<br />
was a huge success, with over<br />
100 attendees, and great fun<br />
for all who returned to school,<br />
so don’t miss out on this year’s<br />
nostalgic event.<br />
Attendees at last year’s 1970s Decade<br />
Day enjoy the archive displays.<br />
Tickets cost £15 per person, to<br />
include buffet lunch and drinks.<br />
We do hope you will join us on<br />
the day. If you have not yet received details and a booking form for<br />
the event, please contact the school Development Office.<br />
1st and 2nd XI Squad 2008 – 2009
Alumnae News<br />
A chance in a million encounter in New York<br />
Jo Berritt (nee Marcus, 1973-80), requested information about other King’s <strong>High</strong> <strong>Old</strong> Girls living in New York City. The Development<br />
Office confirmed that Christine Mainwaring-Samwell (1953-58), is also based there, which led to the realisation that the two ladies<br />
had actually met through their fundraising work in the US, but had no idea they were both King’s <strong>High</strong> <strong>girls</strong>. Jo went on to say: “out of<br />
all the millions of people here in New York, I found my way to another King’s <strong>High</strong> girl!” Jo and Christine met again just before<br />
Christmas, and were able to compare notes on their school days.<br />
Alice Hamilton returns to school<br />
Alice Hamilton (1998-2005) visited the school recently to speak<br />
to two sixth form groups about her year abroad. Alice, a keen<br />
language student during her time at King’s, worked in Mexico<br />
where she taught children in deprived areas and also spent some<br />
time abroad in France. Her enthusiasm and drive inspired the <strong>girls</strong><br />
in the knowledge that they too can put their language skills to<br />
good use in the wider world.<br />
Alice Matthews demonstrates design skills<br />
Alice Matthews (1996-2003) returned to school during the<br />
Autumn Term to talk about her work as a furniture designer. Alice<br />
went on to gain a BA in Product and Furniture Design at Kingston<br />
University before embarking on a career as a furniture designer. She<br />
brought in some examples of her work that she designed and made.<br />
Alice with the Year 13 Spanish group. Back row, left to<br />
right, Martha Bates, Alicia Birch, Alice Hamilton. Front<br />
row, left to right, Annalysa Oliynik, Samantha Preston.<br />
Alice with two items of furniture that she<br />
designed and created.<br />
One year on: news from 2008 Leavers<br />
We e mailed last year’s Leavers to find out what they have been up to<br />
since leaving King’s. From the response we received, it is clear that, after<br />
they leave us, King’s <strong>High</strong> <strong>girls</strong> continue to be an active, well travelled,<br />
go-getting bunch, keen to pack as much as possible into life…<br />
Annabel Kishor<br />
Annabel ‘s gap year began with two months in Argentina, playing polo,<br />
fol<strong>low</strong>ed by travelling to India where she is now working in a<br />
Government primary school for the children of Rajhastani road<br />
workers in the foothills of the Himalayas. She plans to round off her<br />
gap year backpacking around India with fel<strong>low</strong> <strong>Old</strong> Girl Emily White<br />
(2001-2006).<br />
Isabel Harrison-Hall and Charlotte Jeffcoate<br />
Isabel and Charlotte left the UK in late January 2009 to spend four<br />
months travelling to Thailand, Australia, New Zealand and Fiji. They<br />
will include a home stay in a Thai village in their itinerary, and hope to<br />
learn about local culture and traditions as well as raise funds for the<br />
community. They will return to the UK in June.<br />
Alice Meaden<br />
Alice is enjoying student life at The University of St Andrews. Alice<br />
was formerly Head Chorister at St Mary’s, but has now taken up<br />
sailing in place of singing. Already, she is in the sailing race team, is to<br />
take part in the BUSA sailing championships, and is also to enter the<br />
Scottish Three Peaks Race, involving sailing and cross-country.<br />
Annabel Kishor in Argentina, Autumn 2008.<br />
Alice Meaden takes up the sailing challenge.
Did you know?<br />
Jean Field (née Box, 1949-56), suggested that we start a<br />
“Did you know” section, featuring specific achievements of <strong>Old</strong> Girls.<br />
Whilst researching material for her own books she was struck by the<br />
number of <strong>Old</strong> Girls who were published writers, and this formed the<br />
basis for the first proposed feature idea. Jean herself has had a<br />
number of non-fiction history books published, including<br />
“The Ilex and the Mulberry Tree”, a comprehensive history of<br />
King’s <strong>High</strong> between 1879 and 1997.<br />
Our first feature is about former King’s <strong>High</strong> pupils who went on to<br />
become published fiction writers. This is by no means an exhaustive<br />
list; we apologise for any omissions, and would welcome further<br />
information about authors we have not included, as well as those<br />
who are included but about whom we have little information.<br />
Many of these authors’ books can be found on Amazon.co.uk<br />
Harriet Castor (1986-88).<br />
Harriet initially wrote children’s books, later including adult books in<br />
her repertoire.<br />
Eleanor Doorly, Headmistress, 1922-1944.<br />
Miss Doorly wrote many books for children. Although not fiction per<br />
se, they included biographies of famous people, and included “The<br />
Radium Woman” (a biography of Marie Curie), “The Microbe Man”<br />
(Louis Pasteur) and “The Insect Man” (Henri Fabre). “The Radium<br />
Woman” won the British Library’s Carnegie Medal for the best<br />
children’s book of 1939.<br />
Maud Morin, 1880s.<br />
Maud was an early pupil of the King’s <strong>High</strong> School for Girls during the<br />
1880s, and her fiction work includes the <strong>girls</strong>’ school stories “To the<br />
Fray, St Agatha’s!” (1935), “That Red-haired Girl in Thorn’s” (1936)<br />
and “Sally of the Fourth” (1938). She undoubtedly based much of<br />
her work on her own experiences as a pupil at <strong>High</strong> School, and, as it<br />
is believed she became an English teacher, on events during her<br />
subsequent teaching career. Maud also wrote many other children’s<br />
books, plays for schools and fairy tales. Her reminiscences about<br />
life at King’s <strong>High</strong> featured in the “King’s <strong>High</strong> School Book of the<br />
Jubilee, 1929”.<br />
Biographies by Miss Doorly (photograph courtesy of Polly Beidas).<br />
Pauline Harris (1949-1956).<br />
Pauline wrote a number of romantic novels for Mills and Boon.<br />
Helen Wilkinson (née Porter, 1973-80).<br />
Helen has had a number of works of children’s fiction published,<br />
including “Chinks: One Boy’s Search for a Dog and a Dad” and<br />
“The Missing Peace”, as well as some adult fiction.<br />
Are you a fiction writer? Do you know of any other<br />
King’s <strong>High</strong> Alumnae who are? If so, please let us know.<br />
Our thanks go to Jean Field and Polly Beidas for their<br />
help in compiling this feature.<br />
“Chinks” by Helen Wilkinson.
Appeal for information<br />
Former Deputy Head Girls: where are they now?<br />
In conjunction with the OGA, we are keen to find out what has happened to a number of former Deputy Head Girls of 1940-1970, with<br />
whom we have lost touch over the years. If you are one of the fol<strong>low</strong>ing individuals (perhaps your name has changed) or know what has<br />
happened to someone on this list, please e mail or write to the Development Office or the OGA Secretary with information. Our appeal in<br />
the Autumn 2008 <strong>newsletter</strong> generated an excellent response and al<strong>low</strong>ed us to re-establish contact with a number of <strong>Old</strong> Girls.<br />
Deputy Head Girls<br />
Year Name<br />
1940 P Dennis<br />
1941 P Keay<br />
1942 E Bullard<br />
1943 S Lane<br />
1944 B Moyse<br />
1945 H Dent<br />
1947 Pauline Curson, later Mrs Molner<br />
1948 Lucy Izod<br />
1949 Muriel Smith, B Powney<br />
1950 B Coleman<br />
1951 J Watts<br />
1952 J Trown<br />
1953 J Nettle<br />
1955 D Andrew, M Tat<strong>low</strong><br />
1956 Jean Addicott<br />
1957 L Cross, A Taylor<br />
1959 J Jones, Valerie Cutler<br />
1962 Deborah Lewty<br />
1963 L Wilson, Sheila Ryan<br />
1964 Sarah White, Lynne Warden<br />
1965 Francine Beesley<br />
1966 Wendy Saunders<br />
1967 Rosemary Austen<br />
1968 Rachel Mee<br />
1969 Anne Whitehead<br />
1970 Rosalind Errey<br />
1947 Prefects. Back row, left to right, Muriel Smith, Sheila Fane,<br />
Pat Foster, Lucy Izod, Pamela Chester, Audrey Dent and<br />
Margaret Rayner. Front row, left to right, Joy Bailey, Pauline<br />
Curson, Jean Hanney, Frances Rogers and Angela Vaughan.<br />
1951 Prefects with Miss Hare. The group includes<br />
P Wilkes, J Watts, C Archer, B Bristow, M Cross,<br />
E Dibbon, N Duke, J Gibbon, M North, J Robinson,<br />
B Selman, N Sullivan, S Todd-Jones and J Trown.<br />
The Ilex<br />
Photographs courtesy<br />
of Jean Field.<br />
Please e mail any news that you would like to be included in this year’s Ilex to Polly Beidas,<br />
OGA Secretary, at secoga@sky.com<br />
Join the OGA or refer a friend<br />
If you are not a member of the OGA, or know an <strong>Old</strong> Girl who would like to join, please contact<br />
Polly Beidas on the above e mail, or write to her via King’s <strong>High</strong>.<br />
Published by the King’s <strong>High</strong> Development Office.