Autumn AUTUMN 2020
Ellie Rumbold (DH 2013)
My Life in Music Read the full story on page 10
Alumnae Focus
FELICE
LEUNG 2008
After studying for her undergraduate degree, Felice Leung found that she was struggling to find her true calling and a job she really liked. She furthered her education and then found her dream job. Tell us about your career path since leaving Downe House? I left Downe House in 2008 and went to University of Warwick for my undergraduate in biomedical sciences. After my undergraduate studies, I was struggling to find my true calling and a job that I really liked so I was an office admin, a receptionist and an English teacher between 2011-2012. I then decided I wanted to further my education so I went to university of Manchester and did my MSc in Developmental Biology as I was interested in regenerative medicine. Following that, I went on to do my PhD in Renal Physiology and graduated in 2017. After my PhD, I spent six months looking for my dream job and came across DNAnudge, a company that wanted to develop an automated lab-on-a-chip genotyping device. That immediately sparked my interest so I contacted the CEO of DNAnudge and was hired a month later.
What’s so good about spending an extended amount of time at university? How has COVID-19 impacted your career? DNAnudge is primarily a commercial company and back in November 2019 we launched a nutrition test and an app that provides advice when you do your food shopping in the supermarket. At the beginning of March, DNAnudge decided to transform the technology from a genotypjng device to a medical diagnostic device for COVID-19. The average waiting time from sample collection to test results was 48 hours from a pathology lab in hospitals so the aim was to reduce it to 1 hour and 45 minutes with our technology. I was responsible for transforming the technology, which involved hours of planning and testing, but we were able to launch the COVID-19 test in less than two months and gained approval from clinical trials in two weeks. We are currently working with the NHS and have deployed our devices into five different hospitals in London; as of July 2020, 15,000 tests have been
processed by our machine. A lot of hard work was put into this transformation and the outcome was very rewarding. Explain your role at DNAnudge. I’m a postdoctoral scientist at DNAnudge and my main role is to develop and optimise the chip technology, which involves a lot of research, planning and experiments. In addition to that I also manage junior staff, liaise with vendors and collaborators, and find ways to reduce our manufacturing costs. Where I work is a very fast-paced and dynamic environment and every day is very different. What are your hopes for the future? After this technology transformation, I have become interested in medical diagnostics since I come from a medical research background. I would like to specialise in this area in the future.
CONTENTS 9 & 19 Alumnae Focus Six alumnae share stories from their lives beyond Downe House
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AUTUMN 2020
Autumn
12 Life in Lockdown See how the Downe House community pulled together in lockdown
16 My Career and the Coronavirus Read how COVID-19 has affected businesses and the lives of our alumnae
Ellie Rumbold (DH 2013)
My Life in Music
22 Kristin Linklater
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Read the full story on page 10
An obituary for the world-renowned voice production coach
On the Cover
25 Farewell Mrs Scott
Ellie Rumbold (DH 2013) One of the brightest new talents in the indie music scene. My Life in Music – read the full story on page 10.
We bid a fond farewell to Mrs Sally Scott after 35 years at Downe House
30 From the Archives
4 DH LINKS
A spotlight on tennis through the years and in particular Wimbledon
A successful year of events and new initiatives for DH LINKS
Downe House School
@DowneHouse
downe_house
Magazine team Editor-in-chief Mrs Michelle Scott Content Mrs Alexandra Barlow Contributors Miss Chloe Donaldson Mrs Hazel Ormrod Designer Mr Craig Stevens
Guest Editor Miss Madison James (DH 2020)
A fond farewell to the following staff who left at the end of the Summer term. Mrs Arabella Wise (Assistant Housemistress AGN) Mrs Paula Bell (Director of Pupil Progress) Mrs Frankie Capps (Housemistress of Darwin) Mrs Areti Bizior (Deputy Headmistress) Mrs Deborah Scotland (Head of Veyrines) Mr Iain Scotland (Gestionnaire/Administrator – Veyrines) Mrs Johanne Harrington (Teacher of English) Mrs Frances Brown (Teacher of Learning Skills) Mrs Ross Wise (Head of Academic Scholars & Enrichment) Mrs Sheena Eves (Teacher of Mathematics) Mrs Charlie Hartley (Teacher of Design Technology)
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D H LINK S
A new perspective
Conne ct I nn o va t e On l i n e
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WOMEN IN POLITICS LIVE EVENT To mark the first DH LINKS live virtual event, we invited six impressive female guest speakers from the world of politics and international relations to join a panel with seven members of our Sixth Form posing questions as well as taking questions from the on-line audience. PANELLISTS Laura Farris [1] MP for Newbury ● Harriet Finney [2] Director of External Relations at the British Film Institute (Current parent) ● Theo Clarke (DH 2003) [3] MP for Stafford ● Virginia Crosbie [4] MP for Ynys Mon ● Lucinda Penney (DH 2016) [5] Politics student at Edinburgh University ●
‘That was brilliant, really impressive. Thank you for taking my question!’ Amber Graham Watson (DH 2003) ‘I felt very honoured to sit alongside such distinguished panellists and I also found the event really insightful hearing from the other speakers as to how their careers have come about’. Lucinda Penney (DH 2016)
We are delighted to share with you a flavour of the DH LINKS on-line events, programmes and initiatives which took place during the past two terms. Click the symbol to watch or listen to the recordings. THE DH LINKS BIG LIVE EVENT As part of Founder’s Fortnight, we brought together six members of our alumnae, all of whom have pursued very different career paths and experiences since leaving Downe House, in a live and interactive discussion. Mrs Alexandra Barlow (DH LINKS Coordinator) hosted the virtual event and was joined by two co-hosts, Freya Illingworth (UV) and Marina Pownall (UV). PANELLISTS Isabel Spearman (DH 1997) [6] Brand Consultant, Sunday Telegraph STELLA columnist and Ambassador for Smart Works. ● Charlotte Monico (DH 1993) [7] Chief Operating Officer at Founder’s Pledge ● Katie Cary (Harland DH 2007) [8] Founder of Rogue Matilda ● Elizabeth Jenkin (DH 1990) [9] CCO at Nimbla, Non-Executive Director for the Women’s FA & Co-Founder of Lift as You Climb ● Alexandra Tolstoy (DH 1991) [10] Adventurer, author and TV Presenter ●
‘I really enjoyed hearing everyone else’s stories and sharing mine. The questions were excellent and testament to the level of engagement.’ Elizabeth Jenkin (DH 1990) ‘I was interested to hear Elizabeth and Charlotte speak as I work in a similar fintech field. I often find myself lacking in women to look up to and learn from so hearing from these Downe alumnae was hugely encouraging.’ Iona Loveridge (DH 2012)
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PROFESSIONAL INSIGHT VODCASTS Hosted by Rosie Tapner (DH 2014) [11], a television presenter, model and Ambassador for Wellbeing of Women.
Episode One: EQUESTRIAN PROFESSIONALS
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The DH LINKS team was delighted to be able to bring together several high profile members of the horse racing and eventing world, all of whom are members of the Downe House Alumnae community. This vodcast saw Emily Scott (DH 2008), Minty Farquhar (DH 2009) and Charlotte Agnew (DH 2006) discussing everything from owning a horse to making a career in the equestrian industry. Charlotte Agnew [12] is one of the country’s most promising Event riders; by the age of 25 she had produced three different horses to CCI5* level, and been recognised by the UK World Class Programme as a rider to support. ● Emily Scott [13] is the Communications Manager at Varian Stable in Newmarket. She is a successful graduate of the Darley Flying Start Programme. ● Minty Farquhar [14] is the Acting General Manager at Great British Racing International. ●
Episode Two: MEDICAL PROFESSIONALS For this Vodcast we brought together four members of our alumnae who all work in different roles in the medical profession: Emily Pullan (DH 2009), Clare Ratnage (Michell DH 2002), Libby Brewin (DH 2008) and Elle Manners (DH 2012). Emily Pullan [15] is a midwife at an NHS hospital in London ● Libby Brewin [16] is a surgeon in East Sussex ● Elle Manners [17] is a Junior Doctor in London ● Clare Ratnage [18] is a GP at a rural practice in Wiltshire ●
Episode Three: LEGAL PROFESSIONALS This Vodcast focused on the legal profession. Our host, Rosie Tapner (DH 2014) spoke to Timi Afolami (DH 2016), Camilla ter Haar (DH 1998), Mary Bonsor (DH 2005) and Hannah Jones (DH 2008) about their different roles and what advice they would give to girls who are looking to study or work in law. Timi Afolami [19] is starting a training contract at an international law firm in August. ● Camilla ter Haar [20] is a Barrister ● Hannah Jones [21] is a Barrister ● Mary Bonsor [22] is a CEO and Co-Founder of F-Lex ●
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MASTERCLASSES Pre-recorded videos from our alumnae community, sharing their skills and knowledge with you. We hope to continue to bring you a wide selection of videos across a range of topics and interests.
COOK WITH ROSIE DEMONSTRATION
DH LINKS MENTOR PROGRAMME Since launching the programme in March 2020, we have been able to build a strong network of Mentors for our Sixth Form girls thanks to the support of our recent leavers. We want to give our Upper Sixth girls a wide range of support as they navigate their way through the process of selecting universities and make important decisions about their journey beyond Downe House. We have over 40 Mentors on-hand and ready to answer questions on everything from specific course advice to accommodation guidance. Here are some of our Mentor Ambassadors
DURHAM UNIVERSITY Sophie is studying Sport, Exercise and Physical Activity
Rosie Trotter (DH 2001) has diverse experience in the food industry. Having honed her skills at Edinburgh School of Food and Wine, she then moved to London and joined Wahaca, helping develop it into one of London’s leading restaurant groups. Having cut her teeth in the commercial side of the business, she then moved onto teaching at Leiths, the training ground for many of the UK’s best chefs. It is with this education that she embarked on her own journey back to her hometown of Edinburgh: Cook with Rosie, spreading her love and passion for healthy, nutritious but never not delicious family food.
FLORISTRY WITH CLARA FROM WILD THYME
EDINBURGH UNIVERSITY Lucinda is studying Politics
IMPERIAL COLLEGE LONDON Sereena is studying Medicine
MANCHESTER UNIVERSITY Catharine is studying English and Drama
ST ANDREWS UNIVERSITY Ilaria is studying History of Art
BRISTOL UNIVERSITY Timi has graduated and has started a training contract at an international law firm in August. Clara Barthorp (DH 1989) is passionate about creating floral designs which reflect each client’s unique personality, but oozes her signature style, fusing a natural, organic, wildly lovely feel with luxurious, timeless elegance. Wilde Thyme was established in 2013, bringing a unique floral design service to Jersey. Magic happens in the Wilde Thyme Garden Studio where Delphi, the family dog and an adopted robin come to be with her. The freedom of not having a shop enables her to be incredibly flexible and travel easily to her clients both in Jersey and the UK.
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Join the DH LINKS Mentor Programme and become a Mentor today. You’ll have the opportunity to share your own knowledge, advice and guidance with our current girls.
CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP TODAY
CONNECT WITH AN ALUMNA INTERACTIVE SESSIONS FOR THE UPPER SIXTH AS PART OF THEIR BRIDGING PROGRAMME Sisters Annie and Ellie Hillier kicked off the series and hosted an event on Friday 15 May. ‘Having left Downe House in 2014 I spent four years at the University of Bristol where I gained an undergraduate degree in Geography and a Masters in Environmental Policy. I then completed an internship and went travelling before starting my career working as an environmental consultant in London in September 2019.’ Ellie Hillier (DH 2014) “Having left DH in 2008, I graduated from Bristol in 2012 with a Civil Engineering degree, and have spent the last eight years working in the Financial Services industry, focused on Retail Banking.” Annie Hillier (DH 2008)
Lorna Surtees (DH 1991) joined us on Friday 5 June to talk about her career in the art world and gave some fantastic tips to the girls about finding work experience and what resources to make good use of. “I have been working for Paloma Picasso for the last 15 years managing her extensive art collection. Prior to that I worked for a contemporary art dealer with a West End gallery.” “It was an honour to be part of the UVI Bridging Programme during lockdown and talking about my career in the art world via Zoom. It certainly made for a more modern Careers Fair which, in the days when I was at Downe House, were put on in the Jubilee Hall! I hope I provided some inspiration and interest for the pupils who are undoubtedly faced with a very different time ahead. Good luck to them all, I am certain when you do a “Lockdown Sixth Formers Revisited” article in ten years, they will all have glittering careers.’
IN CONVERSATION WITH.... Former Geraldine James Drama Scholar, Jessica Chapman (DH 2020) interviewed acclaimed Actress, Georgina Rylance (DH 1994) in June. Listen to their conversation here.
‘Being able to listen and chat to the alumnae really gave me the motivation to dive deep and figure out my passions and interests. I learnt that having a goal is key, even though you are not sure where you want to go if you have something to work towards then you will definitely end up on the right path.’ Jessica Bracken UVI
Elizabeth Jenkin (DH 1990) joined us on Friday 12 June and gave a brilliant talk about her career path in insurance, why you should have a short punchy opening line on your CV and what her plans for the future are. Elizabeth is the Chief Commercial Officer for Nimbla, an Insure-Tech disrupter. She began her career in financial services and moved to insurance as an underwriter in 1999, specialising in commodities. Following this, she moved into broking working with Aon for 19 years, latterly as the Chief Broking Officer for EMEA. More recently she was Managing Director at RFIB, a Lloyds re-insurance broking house. Elizabeth serves as a Non-Executive Director for the Women’s FA and sits on the advisory board of Amaechi Performance Systems. She is also a Co-Founder of Lift as You Climb, an organisation that exists to help working women in the UK stay ‘fit for the future’, so women’s careers can evolve with their passions, priorities and professions, throughout their entire working lives.
For the final talk of the series, the focus was on travel, gap years and university. We were joined by Lauren Griffith (DH 2018) and Saskia Wormsley (DH 2018) who spoke about their gap year adventures. ‘I began my gap year interning and tutoring to earn some money and then went traveling both in a small group and solo. I volunteered in Fiji (Think Pacific group project), travelled in India for two months and had some amazing experience travelling ‘off the beaten track.’ Lauren ‘At the start of my gap year, I worked as a ‘gappy’ at a school in Knightsbridge. I applied to university during my gap year (I am at Cambridge studying English). Some of my best memories are: the Kiwi Experience Bus (a structured travel package); volunteering in Nepal alone in a home-stay and travelling in India.’ Saskia
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VIRTUAL REUNIONS We are delighted that so many former year groups have been getting together in a virtual way over the last few months.
INSTAGRAM LIVE We recently went live on Instagram with Rosie Fortescue (DH 2008). She spoke about her life beyond Downe House, her time on Made in Chelsea and what it takes to run a hugely successful jewellery business. We are extremely grateful to Rosie for giving up her evening to chat to us.
HOLCOMBE SINGERS REUNITE TO RECORD WARTIME ANTHEM A sea of yellow to celebrate a wonderful reunion of Holcombe Singers. During lockdown, sixteen current and former members of Holcombe Singers came together to record their own version of ‘We’ll Meet Again’ which is a popular wartime anthem by singer Dame Vera Lynn. Listen here and enjoy – it is rather beautiful!
You can listen to the recording by following @dh_links on Instagram. Look out for future Instagram live conversations!
BECOME PART OF THE DH LINKS JOURNEY Email dhlinks@downehouse.net to discuss how to become involved in the growing DH LINKS programme.
Our thanks to all who contributed but a special mention must go to Georgia Allison (DH 2020) and Rose Galbraith (DH 2017) for all their support with this project.
BE PART OF THE DH LINKS COMMUNITY
Follow us on Instagram @dh_links
Tweet us @DHLinks
Like us on Facebook at Downe House Alumnae (Old Seniors) private group
Read more online at https://foundation.downehouse.net/homepage
Alumnae Focus
ESTHER
ADEBAJO 2016
My life at university Esther Adebajo is studying Chemical Engineering at Imperial College, London. She shares her top tips and recommendations for settling into life as a student and talks about her plans for the future. FURTHER EDUCATION: MENG CHEMICAL ENGINEERING, IMPERIAL COLLEGE LONDON GAP YEAR: NOT TAKEN My top tip for settling into university life is: Get involved with societies! From cultural to sports to subject specific societies, universities have a wide range of these and it gives you the best chance to find more like minded people and to grow your network/friendship group beyond your halls or department. Honestly, there is a society for everyone and anyone and it just brings more variety to your university lifestyle. For some people they can also be a place to wind down from a busy uni week.
for those who like myself never took a gap year. Spend time with family and friends, travel if possible and maybe try out that thing you’ve been dreaming of doing.
After graduation I hope to: Definitely looking forward to having a long break from education in preparation for moving onto the next phase of my life; starting my professional career. I will be starting my career in management consulting in 2021, if COVID permits it.
An average day for a student on my course is: Wow, well for me my days were packed. First, I typically had lectures in the morning. Next, i would grab lunch with some of my course friends. I usually brought in my packed lunch whilst some of my friends would buy food on campus. Then onto labs or group project work in the afternoon (in my second and third year). I would have been in uni from 10am to 5pm by this point. Finally in the evenings, at least four times a week, I would have some sort of societal commitment. This was always a lot of fun as I got to hang out with my friends outside of my course working on something fun such as putting together a cultural showcase or starting a social enterprise. Then I would head home with some friends around 9pm.
My top tip for recent graduates is: Take a break if you can. University work can get hectic, whilst also juggling applications for jobs and societal commitments. You don’t have to rush into working straight away as you really have the rest of your life to work. This might be the last chance you get to take an extended break (four to six months) especially
The most rewarding aspects of being a student are: I guess seeing how far you’ve come from first year of university. It’s truly amazing how much you grow in confidence over those three or four years. The wealth of experiences you will have help to nurture your thought, your character and to build up your resilience. This will be your first shot at truly being
Esther pictured in the Main Dining Room on Happy Day in 2015.
the independent woman you’ve always wanted to be and it is just as you’ve pictured it, if not better. The most challenging aspects of being a student are: Juggling so many things at once. Oh and having to cook for yourself because we were so privileged at Downe. I do, however, now find cooking quite therapeutic. The advice I would give my younger self is: Try to develop a habit of being on top of your uni work as you’re the only one that’s going to suffer doing all those late nighters. Contrary to what people tell you, they are avoidable with better organisation In ten years I hope to be: A fully qualified and trained management consultant with a few side hustles under my belt. This includes mentoring young girls from my hometown in Nigeria and managing an artist/musician on the rise. I also hope to have lived and worked full time in a country in Asia for at least a year. My fondest memories of Downe House are: Performing raps for our speeches in whole School assemblies as Deputy Head Senior in 2015/16. Summers at Downe, eating ice lollies on the grass during our free time. A member of staff I will always remember is: This is tough! I would say, Ms Stimson, Head of Sixth Form during my time. She was the best to talk to and always up for a chat. She was someone I did look up to during my time at Downe. Other worthy contenders: Ms Foote, Mr Reynolds, Mr Rivers (I was a STEM girl) and Mr Barnes before he left.
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music Alumnae Focus
My life in
ELLIE
RUMBOLD 2013
She has been identified as one of the brightest new talents in the indie music scene. Her role as International Product Manager at Partisan Records takes her all over the world. Here, Ellie shares her life beyond Downe House and the music that has shaped her. During the lockdown, Ellie spoke to our current girls about her career in the music industry. Listen to the interview here.
The song/album that reminds you most of school? Noah and the Whale ‘5 Years’ time’ from the album, Peaceful, the World Lays Me Down.
My favourite song when I was younger was… Judy in Disguise – John Fred and His Playboy Band. I was in a two dorm in AGS, with a very dear friend of mine called Flora. This was when Mrs Ford was our Housemistress, and we were in this absolutely tiny dorm – you had to climb over the beds to get to the cupboards. We used to play this song every morning when we woke up for the whole of the Mich term. It was around the beginning of the Upper Fifth that I started to consider the fact that you could have a career in music without being a Grade Eight violinist, and there was actually a huge industry that went into creating music.
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The last album you bought was? Phoebe Bridgers – The Punisher. Her second full-length collection as a solo artist.
What have you been listening to lately? The third album from IDOLS Ultra Mono which will be released later this year. Interested in knowing more about Partisan Records and the bands they work with? Click here https://partisanrecords.com/ My Life in Music. During lockdown, the DH LINKS team spoke to Ellie Rumbold about her career path beyond Downe House. The conversation was recorded and can be enjoyed by clicking here. Additionally, the link includes the audio version of this interview. Our sincere thanks to Madison James (DH 2020) and Queena Wong (UV) for their contributions to this recording.
An album that means something to me… Music Complete – New Order. That was the first big global music campaign I had ever worked on, and I remember finding it incredibly overwhelming but so exciting. The album ended up charting at number two in the UK; they bought me a lovely framed silver record because they sold over 200,000 records. Doing marketing, production and co-ordinating everything as an assistant on that campaign was so important in my foundation of knowledge. The whole campaign ended with New Order playing the Royal Albert Hall. It was an amazing thing to be part of.
My favourite release from last year was… GREY Area – Little Simz. She’s incredibly young, has Nigerian parents and was born in London. She put out this amazing, visceral, coming of age album; we had Fontaines D.C. and IDLES both up for a Mercury prize last September, and she performed a song from it called Selfish at Hammersmith Apollo. She was on the table next to us and her mum was crying her eyes out. It’s so important that we have more women and more people of colour in music.
The best band you have seen live? Fontaines D.C. Their new record A Hero’s Death was released at the end of July 2020.
The one album that everyone should listen to is… Song for Our Daughter – Laura Marling. This is the most recent campaign I product managed. It was quite difficult for a few reasons. Coronavirus arrived just as we were about to announce it, but Laura said that she wanted to go ahead with the release. We put it out on digital platforms first and the physical version has only just come out. With a split release, you forfeit your chart position, a lot of sales, and the recognition it might deserve, but we did the right thing. The album received five stars across the board. I think she is the most important songwriter of our generation – she’s our Joni Mitchell.
My best festival memory is… IDLES at Glastonbury last year. We put out their second album, Joy as an Act of Resistance, which charted in the top five in the UK. They have such a strong message about toxic masculinity, class, immigration, welfare and other topics which are very relevant. It all culminated at the moment where they were booked to play on Park Stage in the sunset slot. The whole of Partisan was there, as well as the US offices. We went to see IDLES and everyone was crying. Joe (frontman) broke down on stage, his wife and baby walked on and there were people crowd surfing. It was a very emotionally charged experience.
The album that got me through a difficult time was… Once I Was an Eagle – Laura Marling. The first two or three singles came out when I was doing my Pre-Us, and the album was released on the day of my last exam, Physics. It was by far the hardest one and I remember listening to the album once it had finished. It felt really surreal that suddenly we were done and we had a whole new chapter ahead of us. When I was in Lower Sixth, I wrote to Laura and said that I wanted to start my own record label that supports women. She wrote back and replied that that was just what the industry needed. We signed her in December – after all these years I still had the letter and she remembered it!
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LIFE IN
LO CKDOWN Our whole community came together to make sure our girls received the same care, support and opportunities as at School. Explore our Virtual School highlights for just a glimpse of how we stayed connected in response to COVID-19.
IT DEPARTMENT Our wonderful IT team were busy using the School 3D printers to make more vital PPE. We were able to provide face shields for a local Newbury care home and a young people’s charity to help make sure staff could continue their vital work safely and effectively.
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Darwin, Hill and Hermitage celebrated their girls birthdays on Zoom.
SUPPORTING THE LOCAL COMMUNITY Georgia (Lower Fourth) upcycled her grandmother’s outdoor furniture, ● Isabella (Upper Fourth) cycled around an empty London for the 2.6 Challenge. ●
Prior’s Court School presented a hamper of delicious treats made by their on-site bakery, Bread & Beyond, an artisan bakery providing vocational training and employment opportunities for young people with severe autism. The gift was to thank the Downe House community for providing accommodation in York House for the Prior’s Court key workers to enable them to shield vulnerable family members whilst continuing with their essential work. Pictured is Mr David Organ, a member of the Estates team receiving the hamper from a Prior’s Court staff member.
THE LOCKDOWNE LOWDOWNE Over Founder’s Fortnight, the Learning for Life Department asked girls, staff and families to share what they learned during lockdown.
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LOWER SCHOOL
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Lots of baking took place and Dominica (Lower Fourth) won the Founder’s Fortnight Lower School Bake Off title with a super effort.
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FRIDAY FILM NIGHT
DRAMA AND DANCE DEPARTMENT
Friday Film Night was a highlight through lockdown. We enjoyed delving through the Drama Production Archives and streaming a different production every Friday at 7pm. Highlights included Sound of Music from 2000, Guys & Dolls from 1999 and My Fair Lady from 2003.
THE ENGLISH DEPARTMENT A snapshot of all the creative and different ways in which the girls and staff interacted throughout the time as a virtual school.
GLOBAL AMBASSADORS’ AROUND THE WORLD RELAY
The Drama and Dance Department held some rich and vibrant events during lockdown. Including the launch of House Drama, virtual lessons, live theatre discussion groups, a virtual baby shower for Mrs Leigh-Barclay, screenings of previous performances, interviews with guest speakers, a ‘Women in Theatre’ on-line event with six members of our alumnae; Geraldine James (DH 1961), Flora Montgomery (DH 1992), Georgina Rylance (DH 1994), Marianne Oldham (DH 2000), Imogen Sarre (DH 2007) and Emma Powell (DH 2010). Renne, from the Lower School, worked hard on her ballet at home. She uploaded this photo in her Sports Diary along with information on all her workouts that kept her fit and ready to perform!
Our Downe House Global Ambassador team launched their fundraising ‘Around the World Relay’ in aid of the International Rescue Committee charity, helping poorer countries battle the COVID-19 outbreak. The relay started in Dubai with Poppy (LVI) running 10km and finished in early June with Tolu (LVI) walking 8km in London. 110km was covered across the world and the team raised an incredible £2,629.
PE DEPARTMENT The PE Department was wonderfully engaged with our families, staff and alumnae during lockdown. Our PE teachers coordinated a huge variety of challenges for them to take part in, virtual PE lessons, Sports Diaries, a weekly newsletter, regular on-line events with guest speakers and so much more. One particular challenge that encouraged the School community to move away from their screens was the 2.6 Challenge. Inspired by the London Marathon, the challenge was to think of an activity based around the numbers 2.6 or 26. Staff and girls did everything from running, walking and cycling, to trampolining and staircase climbing the equivalent of Scafell Pike!
THANKS TO ALL OUR FANTASTIC SPORTS LECTURE SERIES SPEAKERS
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CO-CURRICULAR DEPARTMENT The Co-Curricular Department ran over forty on-line events during lockdown. All girls from the Remove to Upper Fourth participated in the Gift of Service project over Founder’s Fortnight and produced some outstanding contributions. The Department also masterminded a Founder’s Fortnight Bake Off and sixty wonderful bakers took part from across the School community. During the Summer term, there were over 300 individual entries into different activities and competitions. A huge well done to all who participated!
UPPER SCHOOL AGN ●
AGS ●
AGN shared lockdown projects with each other. Heloise (Lower Sixth) created some beautiful hand embroidery whilst at home.
Raised £1,600 for their House charity, Hope Asia, in Myanmar which provides education, accommodation and safety for children across the country. This was raised through our ‘2 Good Deeds for £2’ campaign. Girls walked elderly neighbours’ dogs, cooked dinner, helped their siblings with homework, helped clean their grandparents’ houses and lots more.
Mrs Mears-Smith (Housemistress) enjoyed lots of lovely walks with her daughter Alice around the school site. ● Pet meet and greet took place over Zoom. ●
AISHOLT As part of the UV leavers’ celebrations, the House created a virtual Mad Hat party with all participants showcasing a range of different hat styles. ● Aisholt were victorious in the virtual Sports Day ● Aisholt took on AGS in a virtual quiz and won! ● Mrs Masters (Housemistress) and Miss Tinman (Assistant Housemistress) created a ‘we miss you’ sign on the grass outside Aisholt, which they sent to the Aisholt girls. ●
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HOLCOMBE Film and book reviews took place throughout the Lent and Summer terms. ● Evening bake-off competitions took place. Mrs Brader (Housemistress) ran a successful Scottish shortbread virtual cooking session. ● Meet the Holcombe Seniors team videos were sent to the girls. ●
TEDWORTH Tedworth held Zoom quizzes on a Wednesday night and enjoyed welcoming new UIV girls too. ● Mrs Barnard (Housemistress) organised a Mufti Day in aid of the Alzheimer’s Society which raised over £430. ● A number of girls in the House took part in the wide variety of PE challenges, including Eleanor who enjoyed running around London. ●
AGS hosted a quiz vs Aisholt – we lost unfortunately! ● Mimi (UIV), made and sold clothes and donated the profits to the NHS. ● Weekly Cookery, Current Affairs and Book Club. ● Elodie, Daisy and their family undertook the huge challenge of swimming the Channel (21 miles/ 2,930 lengths!) for a charity that is very close to their hearts – Rennie Grove Hospice Care. Read the story from Elodie and Daisy here. ●
THE MUSIC DEPARTMENT
SIXTH FORM
Composers’ Corner was an opportunity for our budding composers to share their work. It was also where the collaborative work, The Gathering was being composed – a musical piece that will be performed when we’re all back together on campus.
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The Virtual Concert Hall – 20 fantastic performances from our musicians. The Virtual Choir – seven rehearsals, 50 singers, all on-line with vocal warm-ups, scores, an accompanist and a conductor, learning Like a Rainbow Shining by Will Todd and Handel’s Hallelujah Chorus. The Weekly Fun Music Challenge – everything from ‘The household implement challenge’ to ‘collaboration week’!
York raised £1,100 from a very energetic virtual Danceathon with over 100 girls and 23 staff members taking part. Mrs Henson (staff) continued the House fundraising campaign by cycling 1795km which is the Shanghai to Tokyo leg of the Downe House Connections Tour. So far she has raised over £400 and all donations will go to the Stephen Lawrence Charitable Trust
Performing Workshops – In lieu of Individual Music Lessons, around 500 Performing Workshops were delivered to the girls. Girls were able to continue their musical development throughout the term and it offered real chances for discussion amongst groups of students too. As well as assisting with each student’s weekly training sessions, the Music staff also engaged in online aural skills, sight-reading and watched regular live and recorded performances from the students. The Performing Workshops were delivered through 60 separate MS Teams and within each one was a host of resources as well as a Performing Diary, with which students were able to plan their musical aims for the week and keep a log of their weekly training sessions! Weekly awards were given to those students who have shone in their commitment to on-line music! Willis organised a Mini MBA Business Stimulation course and 24 girls took part. ● Arella’s (Upper Sixth) virtual mufti day raised over £1000 for Kangemi Church School Kindergarten in Nairobi. ●
The Listening Lounge
– a great place to meet to suggest music to listen to! Through the Summer term, the Upper Sixth girls took part in a bridging programme which was coordinated by the Willis House team. Girls took part in a wide and varied enrichment programme which included; 22 Guest Speakers, 33 five-week courses and 189 hours of learning. ● Bella (Upper Sixth) painted rocks and placed them around her local area for people to find. ●
DH Music Live – an hour long ‘Radio Show’ presented by Dr Exon and Mr Lambert with special guests Bob Chilcott and Will Todd. Also contributions from Dr Alexander, Mrs McKendrick and eight of our Downe House musicians. 129 listeners and counting! Music Unlocked – our first on-line concert! Nine solo musicians, a chamber trio and Prima Voce provided a wonderful and relaxing evening of music Seven Choral Performances – have been shared on-line with the entire community, many of which were recorded in one take, on the day of departure. This alone makes them some extremely special performances. Virtual Chapel Music – Downe House musicians have provided the music for every on-line Downe House service that has been broadcast this term. Premium Practice Sessions – 15 Premium Practice sessions have taken place as normal this term, albeit on-line, for our Lower School musicians, with plenty of on-line practice challenges along the way!
R E E S R U A R I C ONAV S R I O S C I R C MY
E H T ND
A
THE HOSPITALITY BUSINESS OWNER SASHA IBBOTSON (DH 1992)
How has COVID-19 impacted your career? My husband and I own The Durham Ox at Crayke, North Yorkshire. We are a pub, restaurant and hotel and following Boris Johnson’s announcement to stay away from pubs on Monday 16 March 2020 we immediately lost 70% of our business. We had spent the day planning a new course of action for the business in light of COVID-19, but with the announcement, everything became null and void. On Tuesday 17 March, we decided to close after the Mothering Sunday lunch service which was already 40% of what it had been the week prior. With these reduced numbers, we decided we could go ahead with this responsibly. However by the Friday announcement we were closed. With the pub cleaned and everything turned off, the fridges emptied….we said goodbye to our team promising them we would do everything that we could to support them through this crisis. Up until this point, we have been part of an industry that never sleeps. Open seven days a week, 365 days a year. To say we felt ‘rudderless’ and ‘adrift’ is an understatement. What has been the hardest part? There is nothing more depressing than an empty pub and restaurant. Much like schools, when they’re empty, they almost echo with stillness reverberating with the laughter and voices that generally fill them. With the phones on divert to our house, we sat and answered phone call after phone call and email after email of cancellations; some guests happy to rebook at a later date and
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Click here to support Sasha’s business:
thedurhamox.com carry over their payment, others, with all their plans in array, only wanting a full refund. My husband liaised with the bank, who the previous week he had been meeting with a view to our building 11 new bedrooms and a pool house…and now the fact that we had so much security (who has ever heard of too much security!) meant that we weren’t entitled to the first round of loans. With a rateable value over £51,000 (ours is £57k) – we weren’t eligible for grants either. So, we sorted out our own luck. We were very fortunate that we were able to do this. The financial world sees the hospitality industry as a dirty word, and even with 20 years with the same bank and a healthy financial record, that did nothing to help – rather perverse and a sobering lesson. What plans are you making for the future? In November 2019 we celebrated 20 years of being at The Ox and
in January our plans to build 11 new bedrooms and a pool house overlooking mile upon mile of mile of the Vale of York were approved. Crayke village enjoys a beautiful hill top location with views across the Howardian Hills (voted The Times best place to live in the North East and Yorkshire) and the Vale of York. This work has been postponed to 2021 but not cancelled. We will always innovate in our business; hospitality is a constantly changing beast. And so for now we have created additional drinking areas outside…new terraces outside the bedrooms; we will split our Private Dining Room into multiple tables rather than the one so that family groups can book these and still comply with guidelines. We are building a new Al Fresco Dining Kitchen for August. Our Ox Barn, previously used for large celebrations is now a new Bar opening onto our outside courtyard and so on and so forth…. How have you stayed positive? We’ve had to make our own luck. The Durham Ox is neither a small nor large business so we fell between the cracks of state and bank support and it was hard not to see this as being incredibly unfair. With financial assistance unforthcoming, we were lucky we could sell some of our own private investments to provide the business with enough financial support to bridge the gap. Later we secured a Bounceback Loan. We haven’t waited for others to come to us with a solution and in that way, we have harnessed the feeling of being out of control; easier said than done at times. Being able to furlough every single one of our staff was hugely advantageous. We kept our full team on throughout, whether full timers or part timers and we’re really proud of that. We are used to driving our business, innovating and adapting to changing times and getting on with things. Our industry has taught us this over the years. Stand still and you’ll be left behind. Having this time has also given us time to reflect on the business and make changes that are difficult to make while you’re operating 24/7. We reopened on Saturday, 4 July but with some differences. By deciding to do this, it gave us and our staff the direction they needed to move forward and we were lucky to be listed among 50 pubs opening that day in the iWeekend paper. Staying in touch with others in the industry has not only kept us
abreast of what’s going on across the country within similar businesses, but given us solidarity amongst a group who thrive on looking after people and making them feel happy; it’s why we do our job after all. So, come and see us, we’ll welcome you with open arms….socially distanced of course.
supportive enough to join us in May for the new dates, which is wonderful and says a lot about our customers.
THE GRADUATE FLOSSIE WILDBLOOD (DH 2015)
What has been the hardest part? Worrying about the effects of the pandemic on our society and worrying about myself and the people I Iove getting seriously ill with Coronavirus. It’s a scary and uncertain time in general – let alone one to be graduating into. What plans are you making for the future? As I said I’ve founded Ours to Save, so a lot of my energy is going into that at the moment. Our first campaign #PlasticFreePints was picked up by the national press and we managed to get several pubs around the country either encouraging people to bring their own cups for takeaway pints or operating reusable deposit schemes. I’m hoping to build the site – particularly the interactive, crowdsourced map of climate action we have – into a self-sufficient and useful resource. Regarding my career in general, I definitely want to continue in the vein of solutions journalism – focusing in particular on the climate crisis.
Click here to read more about Ours to Save:
ourstosave.com How have you stayed positive? I do all sorts of things to manage my mental health but something that’s come in handy during the pandemic, when pretty much everyone has been struggling, has been taking one day at a time and not planning too far in advance where it’s not necessary. I’ve spent lockdown with brilliant people working on a project I find really engaging so comparatively I’ve got it pretty good.
Have you achieved any new goals or found new hobbies during lockdown? I finished several creative projects during lockdown, which is very satisfying. We were lucky enough to have four of our six (grown-up) children with us for the duration, which was a real blessing and a real privilege. What are your plans for the future? To keep improving the businesses whilst remaining very mindful of provenance, sustainability and quality. To keep walking, to keep looking at the trees, to keep looking at the wildflowers and trees.
THE SMALL BUSINESS OWNER CAROLINE GLADSTONE (THOMAS DH 1980) How has COVID-19 impacted your business? The financial impact has been huge, with all of our businesses apart from one closing for the duration of lockdown, and the inevitable consequences of that. However we have tried to turn the negative into a positive by working on improvements so that where and when we could, we reopened with a bang. Our festival has been postponed, but the huge majority of ticket holders have been
Background image by creativeneko on Shutterstock.com
How has COVID-19 impacted you as a graduate? My finals were totally different to what I was expecting – rather than six exams, I wrote 12 essays over the course of a few months. UCL managed the situation really well and because they implemented a no-detriment policy, I’m not too worried about my results. I didn’t have a grad scheme or any concrete employment plans in place for after I finished, so I’m currently applying for lots of jobs and hoping for the best like millions of other graduates! I’ve also taken things into my own hands slightly – I co-founded an environmental journalism platform (ourstosave.com) in lockdown, and it’s grown really quickly already, so I’m excited to see what opportunities arise from that.
Describe how you have adapted and collaborated with other businesses? Our pub, The Glynne Arms, was the first pub to close and reopen as a shop, which was great for us in terms of being able to keep on staff and for morale, but also great for the village. We also launched a call-toarms to freelance creatives, called the 50:50 project. We had over 700 applicants and have collaborated with over 50 of those, developing their applications into meaningful (and paid) projects.
Read more and find out how to support Caroline’s businesses here:
glendyecabinsandcottages.com thegoodlifeexperience.co.uk www.theglynnearms.co.uk 17
Alumnae Focus
PK
THUMMUKGOOL 2008
PK Thummukgool discovered her passion for theatre at House Drama and hasn’t looked back since. What career did you envisage for yourself and why during your time at Downe House? I’ve always wanted a career in the theatre. Funnily enough, I found my passion for theatre from doing House Drama and going to see shows during the holidays. From just being involved and seeing everyone working together to create a show was something special. I knew I never wanted an office job and so theatre was the definite answer for me. I found stage management really suited my personality and so I focused my career on that. Describe a typical day for you. Depending on what kind of contract and show I am working on, I can be on rehearsal calls, which means 9-5 in the rehearsal room developing the show with the creative team and company or show calls, which meant being in the theatre running live shows every night. What have been the greatest accomplishments in your career? One of the highlights would be getting the opportunity to work at the London 2012 Olympics on the stage management team.
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What has been the biggest challenge you have had to overcome in your career? Every show has its own challenges. In general, as a stage manager, you have to be able to problem solve, think on your feet and work under pressure when things go wrong, making sure everyone is safe. Do you find you work in a maledominated industry and if so, how has that impacted your journey? Fortunately my industry is very mixed and relatively diverse. It has not impacted me in any way. Your work and future progress is mostly based on merit, hard work and a bit of luck. What is the best piece of advice you have personally received? ‘It’s not what you say, it’s how you say it’. I got this advice very early on in
my career and it has gotten me out of many issues, and helped me solve many problems. How has COVID-19 impacted your career? Massively. Theatres closed down immediately on lockdown and everyone has stopped working. Hopefully, once it is safe, theatres will re-open in a few months’ time. It is a very interesting time and it’s certain that it will change the way things are managed behind the scenes. When picking your future career, what would you advise current girls to take into consideration? Do what you love. As cringing as it sounds, if you’re lucky enough to know what you like and want early on, then follow your passion. Which teacher at Downe House do you remember for their positive impact on your future? Mrs Scott was my drama teacher at the time. Although I was terrible at the acting side (I hope she forgave me for that!), she did guide me towards the technical aspects of theatre.
It’s not what you say, it’s how you say it
Alumnae Focus
NYASHA
KUWANA 1998
How I got here Nyasha Kuwana, Head of Product at FloodFlash, reflects on her career journey in insurance. What career did you envisage for yourself and why during your time at Downe House? I had little idea. I remember in a practice interview saying that I couldn’t see beyond three years. The teacher posing as the interviewee then responded ‘Well, that’s a shame as this is a four-year degree’. I felt there were a lot of careers I could have chosen, careers that I couldn’t or didn’t want to pursue and careers I hadn’t even heard of. At School, I focussed on university, and doing something i might enjoy. I thought a career would find me and that happened when I moved to Japan and became fascinated with catastrophes and insurance. Today I work for an insurtech specialising in catastrophe insurance. Describe a typical day for you. No day is the same, but every week has a rhythm. Typically Monday is full of meetings; it’s the one day everyone is in. Tuesdays and Wednesdays I try and carve out a large part of the day to do one big piece of work. This could be research, pulling together a proposal, visiting a customer. Thursdays are the second most common day to have people in and often I organise workshops on this day. Friday is my day to wrap-up work from the week, prepare for the following week or crunch through some data. All my days involve a little or, on occasion, a lot of firefighting. What have been your greatest accomplishments in your career? My accomplishments are rather
personal and even modest to date. I worked in France for five years. I arrived with no French skills to speak of and by the end, I could do my job as well in French as in English. I’m really not a natural linguist. This I was proud of. Most days in my job I feel I am accomplishing something but my efforts have not quite borne their fruit. Soon. Watch this space. What has been the biggest challenge you have had to overcome in your career? Just getting started. Until I entered the workplace, I felt I was judged objectively and fairly. School and university were easy in a sense as they were exam driven. We knew what the exam was likely to contain, we practised for it, knew when to take the exam and how to pass it. If we fell short, we could do something about it if we were close to a pass, we could usually name the problem. I have sat in interviews where I was asked ‘How does a girl get from Botswana to Oxford?’ I’m not from Botswana, rather Zimbabwe, so I would be irritated already though smiling through this. Or ‘What does your father do? I want to know you understand the workplace.’ Once, I went through six rounds of interviews when normally it would be three, so I had already put in twice as much work as the next candidate. The feedback someone once very frankly gave me was that, ‘in the end they couldn’t imagine someone with your name answering their phone.’ This sort
of racism is not a problem you can name, or even call out. I am sure there were days when I simply wasn’t good enough but I brushed those off, learnt from them and moved on. These other ones still stick with me. Do you work in a male-dominated industry and if so, how has that impacted your journey? If I’m in a room with nine colleagues, only one other is female. Often, they are more junior than I am. I don’t really know how it’s impacted me; being black holds me back more than being female. In that room no one else is from an ethnic minority. Organisations are good at measuring the gender pay gap but on other dimensions of diversity, the picture is worse and they don’t know by how much. What is the best piece of advice you have personally received? My first manager told me it was his job to push me and to get the most out of and it was my job to push back. It took me a while to heed that lesson but I know what’s important to me, I don’t compromise on those things and most people happily accommodate them as it’s nothing ridiculous. How has COVID-19 impacted your career? It’s too early to tell. I work in insurance, which needs a catastrophe or two to shake things up. I would like to think that my industry will change and that I will be part of that change. What qualities do you believe make for a good leader? I’ve taken to gardening in lockdown. I think great leaders are like great gardeners. They take time to understand a plant’s preferences, remove impediments, nourish it and most importantly, give it space to grow. What is your fondest memory of Downe House? One of my favourite things was receiving post. Even when I didn’t receive anything, the daily ritual and the anticipation were great.
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Alumnae Focus
ROBERTA
MORRIS 2008
Roberta (Bobbi) Morris shares her proudest moments as a doctor and talks openly and honestly about her own mental health. What career did you envisage for yourself and why during your time at Downe House? For most of my time at Downe I wanted to be an archaeologist, because I really loved ‘Time Team’! However, after experiencing an episode of poor personal physical and mental health, I became inspired by the prospect of a career in medicine.
Describe a typical day for you. One of the things I love about my job is that I rarely have a ‘typical day’! Work starts at 8am and then it depends which clinical area I am allocated to on the rota. If I am ‘on call’, the team of night doctors give a written and verbal handover of the patients and we swap over the bleeps. Bleeps are very old-fashioned pagers from the 80s that allow staff to contact you in an emergency. The bleep has to stay on my person at all times until I hand it back to the night team at
(managing and discharging women after they have had their babies) or maternity triage (essentially A&E for pregnant women). For most doctors, work doesn’t actually end when they leave the hospital. I will often spend some time during the evening or at weekends working on my professional development. A doctor must keep a portfolio, which is a mandatory record of what they have been learning and doing at work. In addition, I will work on creating teaching presentations, studying interesting patient cases, working on research/audits and revising for exams. What have been your greatest accomplishments in your career? I am very proud of my academic achievements, including undergraduate and postgraduate qualifications, however I don’t think these are my greatest accomplishments. It might seem a cliché, but I became a doctor because I wanted to do a job that meant something and to have a positive impact on patients’ lives. I find great satisfaction in the small differences I can make every day, from helping save the life of a baby during a difficult birth or helping someone understand the nature of their minor medical condition.
‘Work hard, play hard’ – this is actually my Dad’s motto and I definitely try to live my life by this. However, I would add – ‘but it is also essential to have some duvet days!’ 8pm. Following this we have a short departmental teaching session where one of the doctors will teach the others about an interesting topic or new area of research. In Obstetrics, I assist on the Labour Ward, helping manage decision-making in labour, instrumental deliveries (using forceps!) and caesarean sections. Often, these problems can happen at short notice, and require quick, calm thinking to reach a safe outcome. Gynaecology involves looking after post-operative inpatients and managing emergencies such as ectopic pregnancy and miscarriage. If I’m not ‘on call’ then my day will finish at 5pm and include planned activities such as antenatal clinic, elective caesarean sections, gynaecology surgery, postnatal ward
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What has been the biggest challenge in your career? I have struggled with my mental health since I was a teenager at Downe. The School were incredibly supportive but unfortunately, I was unable to complete my A Levels there and moved back home. At several points during medical school my mental health deteriorated, characterised by depression and anxiety which at times brought me close to leaving the profession. I believe that this stemmed from me taking on too much, having a perfectionist nature and being in competitive environments where my perception was that no-one felt they could show any vulnerability. It sometimes crippled my ability to carry out even simple tasks.
I have managed to create a network of supportive friends and colleagues who talk very openly about our experiences and the difficulties we face whilst studying and at work. Discussing these things with others has helped me appreciate that mental health problems are far more common than most people perhaps realise, and open communication has helped me understand this and successfully change my approach. Bobbi sent us these three images of her time at Downe House.
No such thing as a typical day When applying to a competitive course like medicine, what makes an application stand out? In my role as a clinical teaching fellow, I conducted medical school interviews for prospective students. Medical schools are looking for students who really want a lifelong career in medicine and are able to demonstrate, in a Personal Statement and at interview, that they have done their research. The students should know what this career will entail, have good reasons for choosing it and be aware of the disadvantages/challenges. They do not want students who are applying due to parental pressure or who just happen to be good at science. Medicine is, in my opinion, the best career in the world, but it is hard work, and it can be emotionally challenging. Those I have worked and studied with who are doing it for the wrong reasons can find these factors particularly difficult to overcome. However, if becoming a doctor is what you really want to do, the career is hugely rewarding and joyful. The best way to work out if medicine is right for you and to demonstrate this to universities is through work experience, talking to doctors and reading. I did around six to eight weeks of work experience in multiple specialties,
I also volunteered as a carer taking disabled children on holiday, read books about medicine and ensured I was up to date with medical current affairs and ethical issues. How has COVID-19 impacted your career? I think the medical schools might soon be asking this sort of question at interview! COVID-19 has been challenging for everyone working in healthcare. Other countries changed their practice in response to diseases like Ebola and SARS, but we have had to create new guidelines and implement new ways of working literally overnight. In O&G we have been relatively protected as pregnant women were advised to self-isolate very early and the vast majority enthusiastically complied. It has encouraged the organisation to take a pragmatic approach and make positive changes that doctors have been trying to implement for years. For example, prescribing contraception in hospital after birth was not done pre-COVID as the NHS budget for contraception costs comes from a different (community) pot of money! Now, the obstetrician is able to prescribe contraception rather than the new mother making a face-to-face appointment with
their GP, saving time, money and preventing unnecessary contact. Which teacher at Downe House do you remember for their positive impact on your future? Whilst at Downe and after leaving I always felt incredibly supported by the senior management team, Mrs McKendrick and Mrs Gwatkin. Despite me not completing my education at the school, I felt that they supported me and believed in my potential which culminated in added support for my medical school applications. I will always be incredibly grateful for this.
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KRISTIN LINKLATER AN OBITUARY
Kristin Linklater (DH 1953) an inspirational writer, teacher of voice and Shakespeare sadly passed away at the age of 84 at her home in Orkney in June. Kristin Linklater and her older sister Alison both attended Downe House; Alison left in 1951, Kristin in 1953. They had two brothers, Magnus and Andro. Their mother, Marjorie had also attended Downe House, (MacIntyre, DH 1926) and she, and both her daughters kept in touch with the school through the Downe House Old Seniors Association. Marjorie MacIntyre, an actress, married the well known writer Eric Linklater in 1933, they settled in Orkney and after a time, moved to the Highlands, near Tain. Although Eric died on mainland Scotland, he is buried in the Orkneys, and Marjorie spent her last years there too. There is no doubt that the Orcadian blood ran strong in the Linklater family and in one interview, Kristin said she thought that wind and rain were in fact very good for the voice, though she also said she came from a family who were all ‘vocally strong’. It is also said that each member of the
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family, throughout their lives, showed great independence of character. Both the Linklater girls became Seniors at School, and Kristin was Head Girl in her last year. Her sister Alison had gone on to Cambridge to
read Classics, which she then went on to teach for a time, but later became a painter. Kristin went to LAMDA after Downe House and the News of Old Seniors pages in the School Magazine included this, ‘Kristin Linklater finished her dramatic training last July and since then has had many and various jobs. She worked in an Espresso bar in Chelsea; interrupted by two very anonymous parts in BBC plays, and one not so anonymous. She is now in repertory at the Byre Theatre, St Andrews.’ In November 1961, she came down to the School to give a poetry reading with Norman Ayrton who was then the Principal of LAMDA. Other visiting lecturers in the Michaelmas term of 1961 spoke on flower arranging, the political situation in various parts of Africa and a climbing expedition in Greenland. After working in Scotland, she returned to LAMDA to teach for a number of years before heading across the Atlantic. Kristin reported in the News of Old Seniors in 1966 that she was in the US, ‘training voiceproduction teachers in her methods under a Rockefeller Foundation grant’. She went to the US with the intention of spending just a short period of time there, but ended up staying for fifty odd years, spending time teaching in New York, Ontario. Minneapolis, Massachusetts and Boston. Her son Hamish, born in the USA, is an actor.
She believed that the human voice was an instrument and her goal was that the person must be heard, rather than the person’s voice. She returned to Orkney in 2013 and set up her own voice academy, The Kristin Linklater Voice Centre, a residential, retreat-style of establishment in Quoyloo, in the west of Scotland. As a vocal coach, Kristin worked with a huge variety of people (not only well known actors) across all ages groups and her principles were always the same, to help her students release their voice from inside, from behind their noses, from inside their throats, so the training was always very physical. She believed that the human voice was an instrument and her goal was that the person must be heard, rather than the person’s voice. It is said that some actors, emerging from ‘method acting’ training still needed help with their voices; Hamish
Linklater wrote that his mother had helped such actors, ‘They had the naturalism, but they needed it freed.’ Kristin Linklater’s clear strong voice was inspiring in itself, but what she speaks of, about how to free the voice is fascinating – it is worth finding time to listen to her speak on Youtube, see references below. References: Kristin Linklater, Obituary, The Times, 23 June 2020 ● Kristin Linklater, Obituary, The New York Times, 16 June 2020 ● www.linklatervoice.com ● Youtube: ● #All the World’s a Stage 2020 ● Spotlight@SDA ● Studio 1 Network La Voce Naturale ●
DONATE TO THE KRISTIN LINKLATER APPEAL THE LEGACY OF KRISTIN LINKLATER: AN APPEAL TO HER FRIENDS, FAMILY AND WORLDWIDE COMMUNITY FROM THE KRISTIN LINKLATER VOICE CENTRE AND HER FAMILY: Since the sad news of Kristin’s death, we have been overwhelmed by the support and love shown for her. We have been comforted and uplifted by the often passionate expressions of gratitude you have expressed towards her and her lifelong vision. We are determined that her work – so valuable to so many people – should continue here at the Kristin Linklater Voice Centre in Orkney. But we need your help if it is to be carried on. This year, the Coronavirus crisis has meant that courses in Orkney have been cancelled, and the Centre remains closed. But we believe that it can – and will – open again, to welcome students and teachers back to the place that Kristin herself created and which lies at the heart of everything she did. To do that we must raise enough funds to keep it going through this year, to meet its running costs, clear off debts, and set it on a stable footing for the future.
WE ARE EDGING CLOSER TO OUR £140,000 ($176,000) TARGET BUT NEED YOUR HELP. CLICK HERE TO DONATE WWW.GOFUNDME.COM/F/KRISTIN-LINKLATER-APPEAL
Freeing the Natural Voice, published first in 1976 by Quite Specific Media Group USA, revised and expanded in 2006 by Quite Specific Media Group USA and Nick Hern Books Limited, UK ● Andro Linklater’s obituary of his mother Marjorie, The Independent, 4 July 1997 ● Eric Linklater, Obituary, The New York Times, 8 November 1974 ●
Jane Caiger-Smith School Archivist
www.linklatervoice.com
b m i l C n i a t n u Mo
s ’ t e r a g r a M s u o l l e v r a M
On Sunday 12 April 2020, 90-year-old Downe House alumna, Margaret Payne (DH 1947) began her 282 staircase climbs for charity. This climb would be the equivalent of the Highlands mountain Suilven – 731m (2,398ft) which Margaret first summited aged 15 in 1944 after being evacuated to Lochinver during World War II. ‘I had no idea that a flight of stairs could make so much money for charity.’ Margaret initially planned for the challenge to take her two months. However, as Margaret has continued to climb, she increased her daily average of stairs, from three to five flights per day, and reached the summit in mid-June. ‘I’ve made it. 73 days later, ten weeks climbing 282 flights of stairs!’ You can view Margaret’s challenge on Instagram @MargaretsMountainClimb. Margaret and her family were inspired by the good news story of 100-year-old Sir Captain Tom Moore’s incredible fundraising efforts walking 100 lengths of his garden and Margaret decided to do what
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she could to support the local and national healthcare services. This is a particularly personal challenge for Margaret, who raises money in gratitude for the NHS staff who helped take care of her late husband Jim, who passed away on Christmas Day last year.
‘I am completely overwhelmed and humbled by the generosity of everyone who has donated to this amazing cause. I would like to thank each and every one for their heartwarming messages of support and generous donations, which are providing greatly appreciated
‘The great thing in life is to be a giver, not a taker.’ The key instigator of the fundraising campaign is Margaret’s daughter, Nichola McArthur (Payne DH 1972), who is a proud resident of New Zealand but who has been in the Scottish Highlands during lockdown. In solidarity with her mother, Nichola is using the staircase in Scotland to climb Ama Dablam, Nepal after reaching its basecamp in late 2019. It is impossible not to be inspired by Margaret and her family who have raised over £400,000 for a number of charities including NHS Charities Together, the RNLI and Highland Hospice.
encouragement as I, slowly but surely, make my way up the mountain. I am very much looking forward to enjoying a good rest at the summit, and celebrating with my family and chosen charities.’ When asked if Margaret had a specific message for Downe House, she said: ‘The great thing in life is to be a giver, not a taker.’
Click here to watch Margaret’s epic challenge filmed at her home in Scotland.
Farewell
Mrs Scott At the end of the Summer term we bid farewell to Mrs Sally Scott (Head of Art) who has retired after thirty five years at Downe House. Mrs Scott has been a wonderful Head of Department, Teacher of Art, Tutor and colleague throughout her long career at the School. Members of the Downe House community share their memories of Mrs Scott. ‘Sally Scott has led the Art department brilliantly over the last 35 years and she has made it the beacon of excellence it is today. Her energy and love for the subject is evident as soon as you walk into her classroom and the girls have loved her fun and inspiring projects. She has enabled countless Sixth Form students to secure their Art Foundation and degree course places, and our alumnae have fond memories of her teaching and wish that they could have retained her as an advisor during their education beyond Downe House. We will all miss her terribly, but know that she will continue to pay a close interest in the Department for years to come.’ Mrs Kirsten Mortimer Teacher of Art
‘Sally’s love of young people and sharing her passion for Art with them have been the hallmarks of her time at Downe House. Her commitment, wisdom and sense of fun, as well as her skill, have inspired generations of Downe House Artists; she has been a special colleague indeed.’ Mrs Emma McKendrick Headmistress
‘My time spent in the Art Room with Mrs Scott are some of my happiest memories from School. She always pushed us out of our comfort zone, whether working in oil, mixed media or chalk pastels, and she taught us to look for beauty in the unexpected. I still find myself finding elegance and delicacy in the texture of a decaying boot or rusty wheel!
She’d put up with hours of our rambles and laughs to the sound track of Radio One, and her calm presence and subtle sense of humour always created a safe place for us to relax and express ourselves within the confines of a busy school schedule. She watched from afar as we grew from awkward 13 year olds right through to fully formed adults ready to enter the world, all the while playing an instrumental role in some of our most formative years. A huge thank you from us all for all her support, time and care along the way and I wish her a well-earned happy and healthy retirement.’ Lara Arnott DH 2010
‘I remember Mrs Scott joining the Art Department at Downe as a very young, fresh faced teacher, so it makes me feel very old to think she’s now retiring after 35 years! The Art Room was my complete sanctuary and I remember how she supported me when I gave up Geography and Physics GCSEs to do extra Pottery as well as Art – not exactly a normal academic choice but reflective of my lifelong passions. I have such fond memories of our Art classes and so much of that is down to Mrs Scott. I wish her a very happy and long retirement.’ Lottie Cole DH 1991
Sophie Kinnear (DH 2010) recently spoke to Sally Scott about her career at Downe House and her plans for the future. Click here to listen to the recording.
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? WHY
VENICE? The John Hall Venice Art History course runs once a year, from late January to late March. Downe House Alumna Vicky Gillions (von Struensee DH 1992), is the Course Manager at John Hall Venice, we invited her and a cast of recent alumnae to share their memories and explain what the course means to them personally.
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The John Hall Venice pre-university course was established in 1965 and leads the field in academically high quality cultural programmes that operate in Italy. There is a week in London, six weeks in Venice, one week in Florence and one week in Rome. Conducted through on-site visits and a series of lectures by a team of world-class experts, it includes not only Art – painting, sculpture and architecture, but also music, world cinema, some global issues, literature and history. It is an exciting and enriching experience for everyone, opening eyes, ears and minds. Apart from what is offered by the lectures, visits and events there is a fantastic selection of classes in cookery, painting & drawing, photography and Italian language. You can view our brochure online at: www.johnhallvenice.com See the day to day timetable of the programme at: www.johnhallvenice.com/programme This film also gives more details about the course: www.youtube.com Vicky Gillions (von Struensee DH 1992)
“ Willa is pictured here and above in the main photograph.
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Seeing the Grand Canal and Venice’s awe-inspiring horizon drawing closer are two of my great memories of my gap year and of course, the whole John Hall course experience. The pleasure of walking around this World Heritage site in the off season with renowned experts on art, architecture, the Byzantine Empire and so much more is a truly fantastic experience and even better, you don’t need to be studying History of Art to enjoy it as much as everyone else. The way I characterise the course is to say that it teaches you about Civilisation, how and why
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The John Hall course, put simply, was an experience of a lifetime. Nine weeks spent with so many likeminded people – many of whom are still my greatest friends – immersed in the sights, sounds and smells of Venice, Florence and Rome, proved to be some of the most memorable days of my gap year. From day one in the National Gallery you are thrust into this world of art, architecture and music. Whether it be watching Nigel McGilchrist’s egg tempura demonstration, sketching (very poorly in my case) from the steps of the Salute, or just ‘popping in’ to the Peggy Guggenheim museum,
western culture developed in the way it did, seeing amazing art by some of the most renowned Italian artists and experiencing it all with fantastic people. It is also a great half-way house between school and university. You’re with a group of like-minded students – boys and girls – (predominantly from the UK but also Australia and the US). You share a room with one other person in a small but delightful hotel in the centre of Venice just across the Grand Canal from St Mark’s Square. The food is delicious and you’re overseen with a very light touch by various instructors from the course. There is an easy test at the end to prove to your parents that you were listening to the lectures, but no essays! After a week in London, you do six weeks in Venice, one week in Florence and another in Rome. The John Hall course is a spectacular introduction to people, places and knowledge. Highlights include a private tour of the Sistine chapel, seeing Michelangelo’s David in Florence and eating world famous pizza everyday. A strongly recommended experience. Annabel Galbraith (DH 2014)
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Having loved every second of my first trip to Venice as a member of Downe’s Junior Choral, I wholeheartedly embraced the chance to live ‘come un locale’ in the floating ‘City of Canals’ for five unforgettable weeks of my gap year. The 53rd annual John Hall Venice course certainly did not disappoint any expectations raised during the insightful introductory week held in London. Still feeling the effects of
it opens up a way to explore the cities as a local might. Ordering a spritz and lattés at 11am, whispering in the silence of the Basilica di San Marco at night, wandering the streets during times of aqua alta; Charlie Hall encourages you to explore, negotiate in stilted Italian, and be curious about your surroundings. Whilst this might all sound bewildering and hedonistic, the draw of the course is that it aims to make you fall in love with the cities and the art they inspired, rather than claiming to produce experts in Renaissance masterpieces. Having said that, I admit to having dragged my friends off to see Carpaccio’s ‘St
George and the Dragon’ one too many times, whilst others developed addictions to various altarpieces or the Botticellis lining the walls of the Uffizi. This experience gave me a wonderful appreciation of centuries of western art and an enduring (albeit this was only five years ago) love for Italy. I could not recommend the course highly enough; the friendships and memories I made – I went on to spend the rest of my gap year with many of them – were what made the whole experience rare and utterly unique. Willa Prest (DH 2016)
Above: Annabel pictured on the Accademia Bridge, Venice. Right: Annabel pictured in Florence.
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endless school exams, my friends and I revelled in the freedom of a course which provided both academic and cultural stimulation away from the rigours of a restrictive curriculum. Highlights included dancing along the Giudecca, marvelling at the mosaics of St Mark’s Basilica illuminated at twilight, all-day picnics in the Boboli Gardens and one unforgettable night spent navigating the city’s canals during ‘Aqua Alta’, clad in feathered masks and plastic shoe covers, in search of an elusive ‘Carnivale’ party in the city’s former shipyards. Nothing could have better prepared me for going on to study Italian and History at university, I look back on the John Hall Venice course as something resembling a condensed introductory ‘Year Abroad’. The course instilled a lasting love of the city, so much so that my actual year abroad spent in Bologna was punctuated with frequent visits to Venice to see friends and experience the Biennale. Having succeeded in imparting my love of the course, and sending one sibling of two (so far) to Venice, I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend it to any Downe House girl with an appreciation of all things Italian looking to make some incredible memories.
‘This wonderful ten-week course is still to this day one of the best things I have done and will ever do. I’m so thankful I was given the opportunity to eat, live, breathe (and drink) everything Italian in the wonderful city of Venice. Not only did I fall head over heels in love with the city for its beautiful architecture, culture and art, but also with the people I shared those magical months with. Some of whom are still some of my best friends. The course is the perfect transition from school to university, we lived, played and partied to our hearts content yet making sure we arrived punctually to our lectures the next day. As John Hall provides some of the best lecturers in their fields, we needed no encouragement. This newfound freedom was an entirely foreign concept to me, but also an enjoyable one. It certainly prepared me for adapting to University life. I often look back fondly at my time in Venice and re-live memories of dancing through the cobbled streets, enjoying a Peach Bellini at Harry’s Bar and attending a party at the gorgeous Palazzo near the Rialto Bridge. These are moments I will cherish forever.’
Olivia Cave (DH 2017)
Georgina Williams (DH 2015)
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DHSA NEWS NEW HONORARY SENIOR We are delighted to welcome Mrs Sarah Barnard, Housemistress of Tedworth to the DHSA as an Honorary Senior.
RECENT DEATH NOTIFICATIONS Mrs Lorna Deacon (Maude-Roxby, DH 1952) Mrs Beata Hay (Reichhold, DH 1959) Miss Kristin Linklater (DH 1953) Mrs Moira Newell (Crepin, DH 1947) Mrs Elizabeth Clarke (Wordie, DH 1943)
Has lockdown made you think now is the time to consider re-training, changing career and/or planning some travelling when borders open – If so, think about applying for a DHSA Grant or the Mather Travel Award.
Summer Term Short Story Competition 2020 sponsored by the DHSA Organised by Mrs Jenny HIll, Learning Resources manager, the competition was launched to the whole School at Easter, with titles relating to War and Peace to commemorate the 75th Anniversary of VE Day. We were delighted that more than 80 girls entered and judging proved extremely challenging. We are extremely grateful to this year’s panel of judges who generously give of their time and expertise, Robina Pelham-Burn (DH 1984), Kate Duke (Wright-Morris, DH 1995), Georgina Blackwell (2004), Katharina Dixon-Ward (2014), Jess Boswell and Jennifer Kingsland. We congratulate all participants and are delighted to announce that the overall winner of the Clare Balding prize for Excellent Writing was Katie.
COMPETITION WINNERS LOWER SCHOOL
1ST Lara
GRANTS All members of the DHSA are entitled to a grant to assist them in a worthwhile project eg towards an individual’s professional/educational development. Submissions are considered at the next scheduled meeting of the Committee. Application forms, available from the website, should be sent to the DHSA administrator at dhsa@downehouse.net}. Next deadline: 31 January 2021
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3RD Tatiana
UPPER SCHOOL
1ST/OVERALL Katie
MATHER TRAVEL AWARDS Mather Travel awards may be applied for by Members from university age onwards (Travel awards will not be granted for gap year activities). For full application criteria, process and timing, see www.downehouse.net/ community/dhsa} Next deadline: 31 December 2020 for review early 2021
2ND Isabelle
2ND Katie
3RD Amy
SIXTH FORM
1ST Madison
2ND Poppy
3RD Eniayo
REUNIONS Regrettably some of the planned reunions have had to be postponed however we look forward to rescheduling them when circumstances permit. Edinburgh Uni-meet: organised by DH LINKS and supported by the DHSA, this lively event was held in March when a student group based in Edinburgh met up for brunch and cocktails and discussed the DHSA Grant offer, in particular the new Mather Travel Award.
Save the date SEP
14
2021
HURLINGHAM LUNCH PARTY
The Hurlingham Lunch Party, for those who left before 1970, originally planned for September 2020 has now been rearranged for Tuesday 14 September 2021. Invitations will be sent out in the Summer term of 2021.
NEXT DHSA MAGAZINE This will be published in Spring 2021 and requests for all your news will be circulated in the autumn. Last time we had more than 400 entries but with nearly 4000 members we look forward to hearing from as many of you as possible. Could your year improve on 1980 with 15 entries last time?
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SET,
MATCH GAME,
J
ane Caiger-Smith (Archivist) looks back at the connection between Downe House and Wimbledon and some of the many trips down the M4. One of the great delights of the Summer term at Downe House is seeing the tennis courts so well used, not only throughout the school day for coaching and matches but also on the warm evenings in the lengthening shadows. The trials of the day are brought into perspective as serious games are played, or the girls have a hilarious hit up. And there is always the pleasure of the matches over Founder’s Weekend too, missed this year of course, when the parents dust off the Dunlop Maxply and get out the treasured Pat Cash headband. As the BBC replayed some of the great matches, I thought you would like to see some charming photographs of tennis here at Downe House. In Kent, the girls played on the only court there, and after moving to Cold Ash, two sets of courts were established here on the main site. The courts near Willis were called Oliver’s after Miss Oliver, a long standing teacher of Physical Education, and the others near AGS were called Havergal’s after Miss Havergal, the School Gardener, and we now have courts on the field too.
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In 1946, the visiting coaches were Miss Walker and Mrs Swaninck and the Downe House tennis team were chosen to play in Junior Wimbledon. Then in 1954, one of our past pupils was accepted for the Ladies’ Doubles at Wimbledon. In 1925 the tennis coach here was a Major Ferguson and the Downe House Tennis VI and the first two substitutes were taken up to Wimbledon by Miss Furnivall and Miss Phelips, meeting the Major there. The group settled into their seats on Centre Court though some popped out before the semi-final match scheduled for 2pm to catch some of the men’s doubles on Court One. They were delighted to see three of the so-called Four Musketeers* over the afternoon and they also watched some mixed doubles before heading home. *The Four Musketeers were Cochet, Borota, Brugnon and Lacoste. In 1979, Miss Scott and Miss Samuel took an eager group of girls along the M4 to Wimbledon. They joined the queue ‘packed lunches in one hand and our £1.50 in the other.’ Miss Baldwick and Mrs Gill took a group of girls up in 1982 though they were less lucky with the weather. They did enjoy being there though, wandering around, taking cover when necessary and hoping to see a well
known player or two. The shop selling posters of the players did well, and most of the girls managed to get a poster of Mats Wilander! In 1984, the girls reported that things were better; ‘unlike our day at Wimbledon two years ago, when all we saw were the green covers protecting the hallowed turf from the unrelenting downpour’. The next year, a group headed up the day before school exams! ‘However eight of us threw caution to the winds and set off early on a deceptively clear morning.’ Three of the Downe House group in 1990 were interviewed by Radio 1 on ‘the attraction of Wimbledon’ as they waited in a long queue. Two years later and the Downe House group were lucky enough to see some of the best tennis of John McEnroe’s career. And so, in better times, this tradition will continue with the PE staff taking girls up to the best tennis tournament in the world and the last days of term will see the girls on the courts at Downe House playing with vigour and style and the odd flourish borrowed from one of their heroes.
Mrs Jane Caiger-Smith Archivist
FONDLY REMEMBERED Mary Armstrong 1948–2020 Mary Armstrong, aged 71, passed away suddenly on 14 May 2020 at her summer home in Georgetown, Maine. She was born in Torrington, CT, daughter of William H and Martha (Williams) Armstrong and raised in Kent. She graduated from The Northfield School in Massachusetts, received a BFA from Boston University and received her Master’s from Lesley College. She taught art at Charles River School, and later at Boston College, retiring in 2018. On 30 August 1980 she married Stoney Conley. Together they created a life studying and teaching art, preferably in Florence or Venice. An accomplished painter, Mary had numerous exhibitions with Victoria Munroe Gallery in Boston and New York City, and the Cross Mackenzie Gallery in Washington, DC. Her most recent exhibition, Conditions of Faith, was at the McMullen Museum of Art, Boston College in 2019. She had fellowships at Fine Arts Work Center in Provincetown and The Ballinglen Arts Foundation in Ireland.
is represented in many private collections. Last year, the department and the McMullen Museum of Art celebrated her recent work in a solo exhibition at the McMullen Museum. She enjoyed singing in the choir of St. Anne’s In The Field in Lincoln, MA. Mary lived and did everything with a burning bright intensity. Her art works explored how light played over desert mountains, cliffs of Ireland and the canals of Venice. She gloried in nature, celebrating light with its roots in darkness. She read voraciously – fiction, poetry and history – and loved a spirited disagreement about ideas. She taught all how to see in finer detail, especially her students and grand nephews, Atticus and Will. Like her gardens, her life was rich in colour and alive with the love of family and dedicated friends. She is survived by her husband, Stoney Conley, MA, brother, Christopher Armstrong and his wife Meredith Eachus Armstrong of PA., and several nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by her brother, David. A Celebration of her life will be held at a later date. Obituary kindly sent to us by Mary’s brother, Christopher (Kip) Armstrong. He writes; ‘My sister, Mary Armstrong, spent a wonderful year at Downe House as an English Speaking UNion exchange student in either 1966-67 or 1967-68. She loved every minute of it and starred in the spring play of Queen Elizabeth I. My father kept a photo of her from that play on his desk for the rest of his life.’
Mary lived and did everything with a burning bright intensity. Mary was described as an inspirational teacher at Boston College, where she taught for 30 years. Here is an extract from their website: The Art, Art History and Film Department mourns the loss of beloved painting professor, Mary A. Armstrong, who from 1989 to 2018 educated and inspired Boston College students. Mary had the gift of teaching. Her vibrant vision guided her students in achieving their creative potential. Her students’ luminous and evocative landscapes hanging in the hallway brightened our department and lives. An ardent and accomplished painter, Mary Armstrong focused on landscapes and seascapes, finding inspiration in such diverse environments as coastal Maine, the Californian desert, and aquatic Venice. Like the Venetian painters she admired, Mary’s primary means were light, colour, and brushstroke. Combining paint with wax, she harnessed these forms to probe deeply into seeing and to represent real and imagined forces of nature. Mary received her BFA at Boston University, her MEd at Lesley College, and attended Skowhegan School of Painting and Sculpture. Mary was recognized with regular solo exhibitions in Boston and New York as well as group shows throughout the United States, and her work
More can be read about Mary, her life as a teacher and the many tributes written to her, by following this link: https://www.bc.edu/content/bc-web/schools/mcas/ departments/art/about/news-notes.html Trish Roberts (DH 1967) had kept in touch with Mary since her short time at Downe House and she writes; ‘Mary and I shared a room together at AG during her year there, and had remained friends since, thanks to Mary’s generous capacity for friendship. She and I acted in Josephine Tey’s Richard of Bordeaux – I think she as Queen Anne and me as John of Gaunt’.
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SUPPORTING OUR HEROES
NHS KEY WORKERS In April we shared on social media the stories of some of our incredible alumnae who are working on the front line in the fight against COVID-19. Let’s continue to celebrate the incredibly brave, compassionate and selfless work they’re doing.
Rachel Clydesmuir (Colville DH 2001) Working in a psychiatric in-patient hospital. Camilla Day (DH 2001) Camilla is a Doctor. During lockdown, Camilla worked from home supporting all her trainees via email as she was pregnant.
Emily Pullan (DH 2009) A midwife in London.
Jessie Robinson (DH 2014) A physiotherapist.
Vivian Li (DH 2011) A Senior House Officer in Acute Medicine.
Lucy Brain (DH 2001) A GP who still holds the Downe House 100m record!
Shivani Singh (DH 2015) A second year dental student.
In response to the photo’s we shared on our social media sites, we have also had nominations for:
Jen Mae Low (DH 2009) A Junior Doctor in Intensive Care.
Libby Brewin (DH 2008) A surgeon in East Sussex nominated by Chia Brewin (DH 2009).
Tats Hyde (DH 1997) A Paediatric Consultant in London nominated by Emma Sayle (DH 1995). Julia Flint (DH 2002) A Rheumatology Registrar working in Birmingham seconded into acute medicine. Katherine Gillespie (DH 2009) Junior Doctor working in Anaesthetics and Intensive Care in Liverpool nominated by Annabel Barrons (DH 2009). Hatty Wells (DH 1995) Working in medicine nominated by Kate Duke (DH 1995). Alex Thomson Moore (DH 1995) Working in medicine nominated by Kate Duke (DH 1995).
Cold Ash, Thatcham, Berkshire RG18 9JJ T: 01635 204719 E: foundation@downehouse.net www.downehouse.net Downe House School
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