Day of Discovery Broadening Horizons
Happy Day
Big Kids Birthday Bash
Charity Focus
Willis House raises £10,000
Downe House girls get the VIP treatment at Disneyland Paris
SPRING 2017
Pictured alongside the U14 & U15 Netball teams is alumna Catherine Powell (née Young DH 1986). For full story please see inside cover
Downe House rated ‘excellent’ There was cause for delight all round in April as the key findings of the Independent Schools Inspectorate’s March Inspection at Downe House acknowledged the excellent work of the staff in fulfilling’s the School’s aims and the outstanding achievement of the pupils in academic studies and personal development. ‘When they leave the School, pupils are well prepared to face with confidence the challenges, opportunities and responsibilities of living and working in the modern world.’ To read the full report, please click on the ISI logo in the footer of the Downe House website.
Foundation Magazine team: Editor-in-chief Content Designer
Michelle Scott Alexandra Barlow Satvinder Orton
Front Cover Image
Catherine Powell (née Young DH 1986)
Who is who in the Foundation Office
Mrs Michelle Scott Assistant Headmistress oversees the Foundation Office
Mrs Alexandra Barlow DH LINKS, Reunions, Alumnae database
The Downe House U15 and U14 Netball teams travelled to Paris on tour to compete in the International Netball Festival alongside over 100 teams from different schools and clubs. Alumna Catherine Powell (née Young DH 1986) and now Présidente of Euro Disney group very kindly met up with the girls and staff during their tour. A fantastic VIP photoshoot took place with Catherine and Mickey Mouse in front of the castle. A truly magical experience for all our girls on this trip to Paris and our sincere thanks go to Catherine and her team.
Mrs Alison Ilott Events & Fundraising
Update your details online Lady Louise Peto DHSA, Events, Reunions
Mrs Laura Ogilvie-Jones DH LINKS, Admissions
Have you recently moved, changed your email address or phone number? You can simply update your details online: http://www.downehouse.net/foundation/ update_details_form.asp Email us at:
foundation@downehouse.net
CONTENTS
DAY OF DISCOVERY 4
GLOBAL ALUMNAE 20
FROM THE ARCHIVES 12
HAPPY DAY 22
WILLIS HOUSE RAISES £10,000 16
OBITUARIES 28
MEDLEY LECTURE 19
PEDAL POWER 30
DAY of DISCOVERY
On Tuesday 21 March 2017, the girls enjoyed an inspiring day of enrichment activities aimed at broadening horizons. While girls in the Remove and Lower Fourth headed to the Mary Rose in Portsmouth, girls from the Upper Fourth – Upper Sixth abandoned their timetables and enjoyed a selection of seminars, workshops and masterclasses. Over 120 different sessions were offered over the course of the day. From synchronised swimming to ballroom dancing, sushi making to yoga, criminal law to hearing about the work of Save the Children – there was something for everyone to experience and explore. The day ended with an ‘Any Questions’ style debate in the Performing Arts Centre. Mr James Hanbury chaired the panel and we were fortunate to have a wonderful selection of panellists who were tasked with answering a range of topical questions from the girls. We extend our sincere thanks to the outstanding array of speakers, including Downe House parents, alumnae and staff. A wonderful end to the Lent Term!
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DAY of DISCOVERY
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DAY of DISCOVERY
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DAY of DISCOVERY
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Informal Reunions We love it when Downe House girls get together for informal reunions. Share your photos with us via foundation@downehouse.net Thank you to our Facebook friends! #DHOGS
#DHOGS 8
Calling the Class of 2007 It’s your 10 Year Reunion in 2017 Thursday 2 November 2017 6.30pm - 9.00pm The Atlas Pub, London
Alumnae Family Day
110 Anniversary Celebrations
Alumnae Family Day 110 Year Anniversary Celebrations Sunday 1 October 2017 Downe House, 3pm – 5pm Join us for an afternoon of fun and activities for alumnae and family of all ages!
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5 Year Reunion – Class of 2012
The Atlas Pub, London, Wednesday 26 April 2017
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5 Year Reunion – Class of 2012
The Atlas Pub, London, Wednesday 26 April 2017
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From the Archives
A Focus on Former Staff Mr Sharwood-Smith Miss Willis described Mr Sharwood-Smith as a brilliant and inspiring teacher. He had been the Headmaster of Newbury Grammar School from 1903 to 1924 and when he retired, could not bear the thought of a quiet time, so happily settled into teaching Classics and Philosophy here at Downe House as he and his wife lived locally. In the Downe House Scrapbook, Miss Willis wrote, “He made his pupils and his friends …. feel that their opinions were worthy of attention and appreciation. His long lean figure used to be a familiar sight, walking up and down to the School and he was as much beloved as respected. The elder girls were unconsciously influenced by his liberal ideas and he helped them to think for themselves on both political and philosophical questions. Several Greek plays were translated by him for performance at Downe House and he coached the actors and produced the plays, which were intensely interesting and moving.”
Miss Marjorie Oliver Miss Marjorie Oliver joined the Downe House staff very early on; she and a great many of the other sports teachers in those times had trained at Madam Bergman Österberg’s College for Physical Education which was established in Hampstead in 1885 – it was the first of its kind in this country. Martina Bergman was born in southern Sweden and trained there before moving to London in the early 1880s. She married Dr Edvin Per Wilhelm Österberg. She then moved her college to Dartford in the late 1890s and it continued to flourish. The graduates of Madam Bergman Österberg’s always wore the distinctive college brooch, seen here on the right of the gym slip. The tennis courts next to Willis House were called Olivers, or more formally the Oliver Courts, in Miss Oliver’s memory.
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Miss Winona Croft Miss Winona Croft joined the School in 1916 when she was 23. She had spent six months in France before that, doing relief work. She had lost her fiancé in the war. She had beautiful copper coloured hair and was very tender hearted, wrote Anne Ridler. The whole School took her to their hearts and girls have written that they felt very at ease with her. Her nicknames were Caw/Cor or Crift and those lasted throughout her time at Downe House. Miss Croft taught Geography and Arithmetic, and played violin and viola in the orchestra – she also taught Violin. She also took the weaving classes for a time; Miss Willis wrote “A lack of concentration in a child can be overcome by a training in weaving and that introduces a practical need for accuracy and planning and memory.” Miss Croft was, for many years, the mainstay of Guiding in the School – Guiding continued up to the start of WW2 and we have some lovely photos in Archives of the camps with happy groups sitting outside canvas tents. Miss Croft accompanied 25 Downe House girls on the 1936 trip to the USA and Canada. She was terribly sea sick on the way out and the girls looked after her with great love and care. When they arrived at their hotel in New York, which was apparently quite luxurious, they popped ‘Crift’ into bed to recover and went out with the others to see some of the great city. Copy prepared by Mrs Jane Caiger-Smith (Archivist) email: archives@downehouse.net
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Work Shadowing Case Study Industry: Law
Each day we went into the courts and were given our cases for the day, and then we would head down for each case. The time we spent on each case was dependant on the procedure required for each one. Many of the cases we were dealing with were purely the administrative side, as opposed to the longer ones, which were sentencing - watching Judge Pilling at work was by far my favourite part!
Alumna: Annabel Corbett (Pilling DH 1991) Pupil: Annabel Roest LVI In the first week of my summer holiday following my GCSEs in 2016, I spent a couple of days shadowing District Judge Annabel Pilling in St Albans, which was very kindly set up for me through the extensive contact list at DH LINKS.
It was such an amazing experience and I have gained so much from my time in the law courts. Thank you very much to Annabel Corbett for her invaluable guidance and Mrs Barlow in the Foundation Office for setting the whole thing up for me.
We sat in on a variety of cases, ranging from a minor corporate case to serious criminal ones. It was very interesting to learn and gain insight into the industry from such a knowledgeable and experienced expert. I found it fascinating to be able to sit inside a real court and observe the ways in which it operates.
Written by: Annabel Roest LVI (Lower Sixth)
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Charity Focus
Film Premiere Supports The Armed Forces Fund
It was a very special night at the movies on Thursday 16 March for Downe House parents and alumnae who attended the Leicester Square film premiere of Another Mother’s Son in support of the Armed Forces Fund. Pictured are the stars of the red carpet - Jenny Seagrove, Ronan Keating and Julian Kostov. The Armed Forces Fund was very fortunate to be chosen as one of four charities to be supported at the world premiere of Another Mother’s Son. Guests mingled with the stars of the film including Jenny Seagrove, Ronan Keating, Amanda Abbington, John Hannah and Susan Hampshire and young actor Julian Kostov, as well as many other famous celebrities and television personalities and 30 soldiers attended the evening from the Grenadier and Scots Guards. Another Mother’s Son tells the true story of Louisa Gould, a largely unsung heroine of the Second World War. Under the rule of history’s most evil regime, and abandoned by Churchill
on the brink of the war, The Channel Islanders were the first to experience life under the Third Reich. Jersey became something of a prison island, where captured POWs (particularly from Russia) were brought and forced to build an Atlantic Wall, a huge concrete fortification to defend the islands from British counter attack. British citizens who were not born on the island were sent to Germany. Our very own Darwin Housemistress Mrs Capps was overjoyed to meet up with old school friend and star of the film Jenny Seagrove, who last saw each other aged 10! Written by: Ms Kate Raines (Communications Manager) For more information on the Armed Forces Fund (in conjunction with Radley College and St Mary’s Calne), please visit www.downehouse.net/foundation/ thearmedforcesfund.asp
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Another Mother’s Son tells the true story of Louisa Gould, a largely unsung heroine of the Second World War
the night away for charity On Saturday 25 February, Lower Sixth girls, their parents and House staff came together to raise a fantastic amount of money for the Prostate Cancer Research Centre. The Willis Charity Ball raised an outstanding amount of money, over £10,000 to donate to the Prostate Cancer Research Centre, our selected charity this year. We organised a variety show and tombola, both of which were a great success amongst the girls and the parents. The level of the performances was particularly high and extremely enjoyable, for which just a few examples were solo singers, music tech performances, comedy sketches and even a flash mob to wrap everything up - the operative word being very much ‘variety’.
It was wonderful to see everyone putting so much effort and support into the event, especially since the chosen charity was unusual in the way that the Prostate Cancer Research Centre is a charity that supports men. To see a girls’ School put so much time and work into the Ball was inspiring and eye opening for all of us. It also provided an opportunity for everyone who attended to remind themselves of how much our brothers, fathers, grandfathers and friends mean to us and, for some, was an opportunity to remember those who have been lost to prostate cancer. Recently, some huge leaps have been made in the research of prostate cancer and other forms of cancer. Personally, I cannot think of a
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more suitable time to donate to the Prostate Cancer Research Centre and I know that they will immensely appreciate the money raised by Willis House. Written by: Catharine Wippell (Lower Sixth) Willis Housemistress, Mrs Tara Reeve commented, “It was a wonderful evening and the flash mob routine really encapsulated the team spirit of the whole event. All the girls did a fantastic job and it was wonderful to see how everything came together on the night. Our thanks go to all the very generous parents and staff who have helped us to raise over £10,000 for such a worthwhile charity.”
Willis House sing & dance
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Russian Success for Nina We are proud to announce that Nina Bugeja has won a challenging competition organised by the Pushkin Institute for UK school students. Nina, who is currently in the Upper Fifth and in Holcombe, decided to take up Russian just nine months ago as a new challenge and is now studying for her GCSE examination next May. The British Council supported the competition to celebrate the Russia-UL Year of Language and Literature 2016 and aimed to build awareness of Russian literature and culture among British students. Nina is one of just three students nationwide to win an all-expense paid one-week Russian Language course at the Pushkin Institute School in Moscow.
Former DH pupils selected for England Lacrosse Team Congratulations to Kirsten Lafferty (DH 2007), Annie Hillier (DH 2008) and former Downe House staff member Asha Niven who have been named as part of the Team England Lacrosse 26 Women World Cup Training Squad. Kirsten, Annie and Asha headed to the US in February for a series of matches before welcoming Japan to England in March to ensure high-level competition before the tournament gets underway in July. We wish them all every success.
Design Success for DH Alumna We are delighted to hear that Victoria Hanson (DH 2010) was recently announced as winner of the Final Fence Competition for the Badminton Horse Trials 2017. The winning design with a strong 28.9% of the vote was ‘The Mitsubishi Final Mount’ designed by Victoria. The entry was one of ten shortlisted submissions selected by the competition judges. Victoria comments: “It is a huge honour to have my saddle jump selected as the design for the final fence at such a prestigious event and I am very much looking forward to seeing the unveiling of the fence in April at the press day, and to watching some of the top event riders in the world jump over it at the horse trials in May. A massive thank you to all who supported with voting.” Victoria studied Fashion & Textile Design at the Universtiy of Southampton and now works on the design team at Melissa Odabash.
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Talks and Lectures John Simpson CBE joins us for our Lent Term Medley Lecture Our special guest for the Lent Term Medley Lecture was John Simpson CBE, BBC World Affairs Editor, Broadcaster, Author and Columnist. To a packed audience in the Farr Centre, John gave us an intriguing insight into his remarkable career and sometimes downright dangerous lifestyle of a Foreign Correspondent. John reflected on how the world has changed since 1966 when he first joined the BBC and described many of the great events, to which he was an eyewitness, which have changed the course of history. From the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan to the Soweto Uprising, the fall of the Berlin Wall and the American-led invasion of Iraq, John clearly relishes the challenge of reporting from the midst of the action. A natural story-teller, John described his extraordinary experiences in Afghanistan where he disguised himself by wearing a burqa, dodging bullets at the Beijing Tiananmen Square Massacre and watching AntiApartheid Campaigner Nelson Mandela walk out of prison after 27 years. John very kindly answered many questions from the audience of pupils, parents, staff and alumnae. We are very grateful to the audience who generously donated over £1000 for Stop Ivory, a charity chosen by John, which aims to secure a sustainable future for African elephants in the wild, in a world without the ivory trade.
Tassie Foursomes Sally Huffam (née Peat DH 1971) would like to enter a team of four ladies with current handicaps to play at The Berkshire representing Downe House on Monday 12 June 2017. Sally comments: “It is a really good fun day with 1 ½ rounds of golf at a very prestigious club, an amazing lunch and tea and the chance to meet up with old friends from School days and make new as well.” The cost for the day is £82 or £328 for a team of four. For further information, please contact Sally directly via email: sally@creative-images.co.uk
Calling All DH Golfers 19
Alumnae around the World Olivia Openshaw (2012), who read History at Cambridge, spent several weeks in Ecuador during summer 2014 primarily studying the history and culture of the country. As a history student, I was particularly interested in the historical and cultural experiences of Ecuador. We flew to Quito, highest altitude capital city in the world with an elevation of 9,350 ft. Quito has a very strong colonial flavour, particularly the Old Town. In 1533 a relatively small group of Spanish conquistadors took control of the area around Quito in a merciless, brutal attack. Then in 1534 the Spaniards founded the city of San Francisco de Quito and many of the buildings date back to this era, particularly the Catholic churches. We visited all historic sites, the most famous La Compania, a 16th century church decorated almost entirely in gold leaf. We also gained insight into the local culture of this moreconservative Ecuadorian city. Then to the extremely remote Amazon rainforest which involved a three hour motorised canoe journey up the Napo River (half a kilometre wide), then a short walk through the jungle to a tributary where another canoe, this time paddled by our local guide, took us to a lake which was bordered by huts. The main focus of our stay here was to experience the extensive and diverse natural wildlife of the region. On our final day in the jungle we were taken to the local community area where the profits from the lodge we were staying in are invested to fund the primary school, support efforts to control tourism and protect the rainforest from the onslaught of the ever-developing oil industry. This area is communal to the Sani tribe and local families travel by canoe from their own land, which
is divided in strips down the river. They all gather at this site so were able to meet a few and sample local food, including fried grub which was surprisingly tasty! This was a special insight into indigenous life and rewarding to see how our visit was a source of support to the community. This positive experience was starkly contrasted by the subtle but glaring insight into the oil industry, which is encroaching closer to the Sani and other communities, with full-sized oil tankers on giant-sized motored rafts travelling alongside us up and down the Napo River. President Correa is notorious in the Western world for his novel political demands, but it was interesting re-hearing his policies in the jungle setting. Indeed, it seemed a good idea that in return for international community donations equivalent to half the value of oil estimated to exist, oil exploration would be prevented in part of the Yasuni National Park. This Park is home to over 520 bird species, 473 tree species and almost 60 per cent of Ecuador’s mammals and, the Ishpingo-TambocochaTiputini region of Yasuni - the area in question - contains more species in a hectare than all the wildlife in North America. The proceeds were pledged to protect local communities in what Correa termed “co-responsibility in the face of climate change.” However, in 2013, only $13m (£8m) of the $3.6bn goal had been given. The initiative was terminated, with oil companies entering the Park shortly after. We then returned to the lower
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altitude of the Andean highlands. We stayed at an eco-lodge, set high in the mountains of Cotopaxi province to experience the jaw-dropping scenery, near Rio Toachi Canyon and the famous Quilotoa Crater Lake, recognisable for its emerald water which spans 2km, the product of a volcanic eruption 850 years ago. Then to the coast through El Cajas National Park reminiscent of Scotland in terms of the terrain and cold rainy conditions, and through Guayaquil, Southern Ecuador’s main city. Our guidebooks, even written in 2013, described it in slightly wary tones, having been a dangerous area, particularly for tourists. However, a regeneration project by the Mayor in 2000 pumped a huge amount of money into previously slum-like areas, developing a Tobermory-esque area of multi-coloured houses, with a lookout over the city and western bank of the wide River Guayas, which empties into the Pacific 60km downstream. The main feature is a new waterfront, Malecón 2000, heavily policed 24 hours a day and ironically, given its past, was probably the safest place we visited. The trip provided a fantastic insight into Ecuador, an invaluable basis to begin understanding the region, its people, the different culture and history. Written by Olivia Openshaw (DH 2012)
DH in Hong Kong and Singapore Join the Headmistress, Mrs McKendrick, in Hong Kong and Singapore
Drinks Reception
Information Evening
Thursday 11 May 2017
Friday 12 May 2017
6.30pm - 8.30pm The Continental, Unit 406 L4 Pacific Place, 88 Queensway Hong Kong foundation@downehouse.net
6.30pm - 8.30pm Room 3008 JW Marriott Hotel Pacific Place, 88 Queensway Hong Kong foundation@downehouse.net
Evening Reception Saturday 13 May 2017 7.00pm - 9.00pm Bay@5 The Mandarin Oriental 5 Raffles Avenue Marina Square Singapore 039797 foundation@downehouse.net
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Downe House in
HONG KONG
Downe House in
SINGAPORE
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Big Kids Birthday Bash Bringing a smile and having fun are the two main aims of the annual Happy Day at Downe House and we hit the jackpot this year with the theme of the Big Kids Birthday Bash organised by Upper Sixth Formers, Florence Elliott, Head Senior and India Laidlaw, Deputy Head Senior.
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My Tsunami Story Alexa Coleridge Cole (DH 2012)
The first thing I remember from that day was the screaming. Actually that’s a lie, I remember the morning, the amazing hotel breakfast we had, the fighting over the sun cream bottle between my brothers and I, and the excitement for going to the waterfall. It all just became a blur with what happened next. When I heard the screaming, I remember running outside and seeing everyone running towards the hotel, away from this giant wave the size of two double decker London buses. My brother Ben grabbed me and put me onto the balcony of the first floor of the main building. He then ushered me to climb onto the room separation of the balconies while he followed and climbed up. It was at this point that the wave hit, everything went dark for me. I was thrown over the balcony’s concrete divide, and Ben was thrown through the glass windows into one of the hotel rooms, his head constantly being smashed against the ceiling. He later told me that he genuinely thought he was going to die there and then in that room. The wave had somehow pushed me through the hotel and off the back balcony, behind the main building to where there was only a swamp. Who knows how long went by, but one time when I came up for air again from the thick, muddy water, I heard my name being shouted. My brother was to the right of me in the distance, on a blue mattress. He shouted for me again, and when I tried to shout back I was dragged underwater again. Ben then managed to swim/clamber over to me.
Next I remember trying to cling onto Ben’s back, both of us clinging onto this mattress, all the while trying to dodge trees that were heading towards us at such speed. After almost an hour the water changed direction and we started getting dragged back out to sea. Ben told me after that after he hoisted me into one of the trees I just fell back in and he dove in after me to save me again. This actually happened 3 times, just because I was too weak to hold myself in the tree. I’m not sure how long later, but we managed to grab the trunk of a tree and Ben lifted me up before climbing up after. It was around 2-3 hours of sitting in this tree, just watching the water rush by. Suddenly Ben started shouting and I was so confused, until I heard another voice shouting back to the left of us. It was my other brother Freddie and
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he had heard us singing our Christmas songs. Then another similar voice also replied from the right. My dad. I cant remember how the conversation went but after another hour or so and a lot more shouting, Freddie was at the base of our tree. Ben somehow managed to climb down, and they both lay out their arms as a kind of net to jump into. Freddie had explained how he managed to climb into a tree from the water, helping save two Thai children, one of which had lost a leg. We walked on to find my dad after that, walking through the swamp, trying to avoid standing on sharp objects and even some bodies. Following his voice we found him wedged between two trees, slightly above what looked like a car, with a local Thai lady above him shouting hysterically. I remember dad trying to reason with her to get her
was stitching because I was thrashing around at the pain. All the while I was worried about my mum. Obviously I was ecstatic to be reunited with my dad and brothers, but still not knowing where my mum was, if she was even taken by the wave, was even more excruciating. It was after this that we moved to another hospital, and the doctors were saying that my foot was infected badly. They inserted a plastic straw into my foot and stitched up around the straw, which was there to help let the puss seep out. Apparently Ben and I shouldn’t have had stitching at all as there was too much flesh missing so the stitches had caused pockets of air inside our legs. This was the actual reason for the straw I later found out.
to come, but she kept shouting “after shock” and not wanting to move. Somehow Ben and Fred got Dad down from the tree and attempted to carry him between them, as he had completely buggered his hip. I was told to walk in front, which absolutely terrified me as I had no idea where we were going in this swamp or what we were looking for, plus the murky-grey ankle/knee deep water freaked me out as I didn’t know what was underneath. I remember using a long stick to prod and see what was in front of me, and I can still feel the mud squishing between my toes. When we arrived at the hospital, I remember it took ages before we were unloaded from the pick-up truck, as some Thai doctors were trying to stop us coming in because it was just too busy. Khoa Lak was the worst place hit
in Thailand. The whole of the hospital experience is honestly a blur to me. I remember being given a tetanus jab, and I remember they saying we had to move to another hospital because there was no more supplies, no anaesthetic, needles, pain killers or even bottled water at one point, but I couldn’t tell you when we did that. It was definitely after my stitches though, one of the most painful experiences of my life. My dad was in the bed next to me and my brothers were by my head, while the doctors started stitching up the cuts on my foot and thigh. However, because they had run out of anaesthetic, it was the most excruciating thing. My dad was shouting at my brothers to hold me down, but Fred couldn’t do it, and I’m pretty sure I remember him crying, so more doctors had to come restrain me. I even head butted the doctor while he
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The next thing I remember is waking up in a little house, lying on a red sofa, with my dad on the sofa next to me watching the TV. We were staying at one of my dad’s friends houses, who lived a little more in-land so wasn’t affected by the wave. Ben explained that Fred was out with the guy whose house we were in, looking for Mum, around 48 hours since we saw her. Thankfully on their second trip driving around they had found her, walking along the road holding up a sign with her name written on it. She hadn’t been taken by the wave, and made it to the roof of the main hotel building so literally had a birds eye view of the whole destruction, including watching the wave demolish the walls and roof of our bungalow where Mum obviously thought we had all been when it hit. I cannot even imagine what she was going through, thinking we had all been crushed in our bungalow by the wave. We are one of the luckiest families ever, not to have lost anyone. I owe my life to my brother Ben, multiple times to be honest, and even when Princess Anne awarded him, and my other brother, the Testimonial on Vellum from the Royal Human Society, nothing can express the love and appreciation I have towards him.
Centre for Learning
The builders have arrived April saw the start of the 18-month build programme for the Centre for Learning. With the site now cleared and the foundation work underway, we are excited to see this incredible new building rise up from the ground.
New date for Comedy Evening! The Downe House Comedy Evening has been rescheduled for 7pm on Wednesday 3 May 2017 at The Bluebird, Chelsea.
Can you help us hit the £6 million mark?
If you would like to secure a ticket (£50 per head) please email foundation@downehouse.net. Numbers are limited. All proceeds from the event are in support of the Centre for Learning appeal.
With just over £100,000 to go to reach the £6 million milestone, we hope to reach this target very soon. We have received support from all members of community – alumnae, current and past parents, Governors, Trustees and friends of Downe House. We’d be delighted to add your name to our list of donors.
If you haven’t yet decided on how you would like to support the Centre for Learning, there are many ways you can pledge your support, including donating a tax-efficient gift in kind to the School, donating stocks or shares, setting up a regular gift, making a donation via your business or family trust, or leaving the School a legacy in your Will. If you would like further information on how you can help please contact the Foundation Office on 01635 204719 or email foundation@downehouse.net.
How can you help? We have many sponsorship opportunities still available. For £250 you can sponsor a seat in the auditorium, £500 for an engraved paver, £750 to sponsor a learning pack and £1,000 to purchase a digital pack for the Centre, to name but a few. Thank you again to the parents, staff, alumnae, Governors and Trustees who have supported the appeal so generously. To be within touching distance of £6 million is remarkable.
For project updates, please visit: www.downehouse.net/10yearvision.asp
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Alumnae in Print
Georgie Capron (DH 2002) has had her first novel published. ‘Just the two of us’ is a heart-warming, funny and tear-jerking story about love, in all its shapes and sizes. This is the first of a three book deal with Aria Fiction. Georgie comments: “I started writing ‘just the two of us’ three years ago; as a primary school teacher, I am lucky enough to have plenty of time to write in the holidays. I was extremely lucky to find an agent soon after finishing the novel and was even more thrilled to be offered a three book deal with the publishers Aria. I hope you will enjoy reading it and very much appreciate your support.”
Lion Dance to celebrate new Confucius Classroom status
Miranda Hart Miranda Hart (DH 1991) made a surprise visit to Downe House in March as part of her filming for a one hour documentary which is due to air on the BBC next year. Miranda managed to catch up with a small number of current and former staff during her short visit. Picture shows Miranda with her former languages teacher Mr Salter.
Much to the delight of the girls and staff, Lion dancing was part of the celebrations to mark the success of our Chinese Department in winning the award of Confucius Classroom status. The award comes from the UCL Institute of Education as part of an initiative to encourage UK schools to develop the teaching and learning of Mandarin Chinese and the study of China across the other areas of the curriculum. We welcomed Xiaoming Zhu, the National Coordinator of the UCL Institute of Education to officially open and unveil the Confucius Classroom Plaque in Garden House. Mrs Zhu explained to the gathered audience that the award is in recognition of Downe House’s work over the past two years to become a centre of excellence for the teaching of Mandarin Chinese and congratulated the school on becoming part of an elite number of just 45 schools with Confucius classroom status across the UK.
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Diana Fawkes (née Weir) DH 1927 - 1931 Diana Fawkes passed away peacefully on 16 April aged 103. A Memorial Tribute Diana was principled, practical, logical, determined; these are more appropriate epithets, as anyone who played her at Scrabble can testify. Diana and George came to Compton in 1958, on his retirement as a Royal Navy chaplin. They loved Compton after the constant moving of their Naval life. Her parents, Graham and Mamie met as undergraduates at Oxford where they both read modern languages. Her father, Graham was already a pilot – being one of the very first to join the Royal Flying Corps. He went off to war, and a few months later in 1915 was shot down and captured.
(Pictured from left to right: D Weir, K Simpson, D Barton, B Brodhurst Hill, B Grant,
A gifted athlete, Diana acquired the family nickname of Possum – as she liked to hang upside down in trees. At 13 she went to Downe House near Newbury – a settled school at last, and one where she revered the head mistress, the renowned Miss Willis, and in due course became captain of gymnastics, fencing, vice captain of cricket, and with a good ear for languages, toured a Moliere play in France.
The family were all early skiing enthusiasts. Diana started when she was 12 in 1926 and with her love of speed became so good that she was selected to train for the British Women’s Olympic team for the planned 1940 Winter Olympics. Her great regret was that Hitler scotched that plan.
Her parents were now happily back in Oxford, where the RAF had tasked Graham with setting up the University Air Squadron. Among his student pilots was one George Fawkes, a student at Keeble College reading Medieval English under professors such as JRR Tolkein. Intriguingly, he was the pilot tasked to give the Boss’s daughter her very first flight aged 12! After school Diana embarked for South Africa where a family friend was vice chancellor of the Witwatersrand University in Johannesburg. There trained in high board diving by the coach to the South African Olympics diving team, and she also travelled widely in the Zulu hinterland taking many fine photos with her complicated
M James)
Rolleiflex camera. On her return she considered architecture, but trained as an haute couture dressmaker in London.
Diana had good French from school and wanted to also learn German. So undaunted, she bought an old model Y Ford and set off in 1936 to stay with a family in Munich. Hitler’s ‘Brownshirts’ were strutting the streets, and she said she took particular pleasure in avoiding giving any ‘Heil Hitlers’ or Nazi salutes! Back in London she took her bi-lingual secretarial exams and was promptly head hunted by the secret service to work for Dilly Knox, the famous chief cryptologist who was desperately working to crack the Enigma code. And this is why she was among the very first to move to Bletchley Park with him in the summer of 1938. She continued in the secret service until 1941 when - after her brother Nigel had been killed in the Battle of Britain, and her father drowned six months later
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when his ship was torpedoed – she was given compassionate leave and went to look after her mother in Shaftesbury. At this time she got to see much more of George and they married in January 1942. They bought Hunters Hill, in Twyford, by rather daringly submitting a sealed bid for ‘£100 more than the next highest bid’. Once accomplished she volunteered to join the Winchester Guild of Cathedral Guides and for the next 22 years led regular tours in German. She carried on fiercely independent, living with very little help at Hunters Hill until past her 100th birthday, when we finally persuaded her to relax a bit and take a place in Brendon Care’s Old Parsonage in Otterbourne. Her’s was a generation marked by war, grit and sacrifice to whom we must always be grateful for giving us the chance to lead the peaceful lives we have enjoyed. Written by: Mr Nigel Fawkes (Son of Diana)
Obituaries Jenny Howard A Tribute to ‘All Sorts of Everything’ – A Life Well Lived! Jenny joined Downe House in 1989, from Felixstowe College, looking for a complete change of scene. Already familiar with the boarding world and an experienced Modern Linguist, Jenny had a passion for getting the best out of every pupil in her charge. Jenny joined the Modern Languages Department and became Assistant Housemistress to Ancren Gate, joining an illustrious team of linguists and Housestaff. In the House, Jenny offered tough love – no compromise on doing the right thing to the letter, but always tempered with compassion, kindness and care. Attracted to Downe by the ethos of a holistic education, Jenny relished the opportunity of widening the horizons of those girls in her care, getting them to think beyond their own comfort zone with like-minded friends of similar backgrounds. Jenny’s compassionate side, I recall, always came to the fore in the face of failure. Punishments would often take the form of community service, in which she participated with the girls, rather than just supervised. In the early nineties, she invested countless hours of her own holiday
Anne Keynes (née Adrian) DH 1937-1941 The Hon. Mrs R. D. Keynes, formerly Miss Anne Adrian, died on Tuesday 28 March, peacefully, at her home in Cambridge, aged 92. She spoke often of her days at Downe
(Jenny Howard is pictured to the left)
time in a new venture for Downe, at the time - affectionately known as Children’s Holiday Weeks! Jenny’s boundless energy and enthusiasm for this project somehow galvanised us into action and the list of volunteers and activities was endless, offering a range of experiences to the children, living so close by and whose need was so great. The effect on the girls was, as Jenny predicted, totally inspirational. After spending some time as Housemistress of AGS, she moved to Veyrines where she could combine her love of French with her commitment to pastoral care. She embraced all the opportunities and challenges of running a branch of an English boarding school in rural France and many of the systems, trips and links that the girls enjoy today can be traced back to Jenny’s time at Veyrines.
House, from 1937 to 1941; and to judge from the numerous letters home to her parents, and her school reports, she thoroughly enjoyed her time there. She read French at Somerville College, Oxford, in 1942– 4. She became engaged to my late father, Professor R. D. Keynes, in August 1944, and they were married at Trinity College, Cambridge, in January 1945. She did war work at the Ministry of Production in 1944–5,
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It would be all too easy to describe Jenny as irascible and impatient. Those who succumbed to this temptation missed the value of her finer qualities. Her place at Downe was individually remarkable and certainly contributed to a greater whole. Our Founder would have approved of her vision and commitment to ‘all creatures, great and small.’ Her kindness and compassion to anyone in difficulty are largely unknown, except to those who were recipients. Thank you, Jenny, from the Downe House community for your passion, enthusiasm and refreshingly original approach to so many aspects of boarding school life. Written by: Mrs Alison Gwatkin (Former Downe House Staff)
and thereafter focussed on singing, and bringing up a family of four sons. She remained close friends throughout her life with friends from School, including Shirley Corke (née Bridges) and Rachel Scott (née Lloyd-Jones). Written by: Professor S. D. Keynes (Son of Anne)
Downe House alumnae head off on their push bikes Lucia Borradaile (née Vivian-Neal DH 1975) David and I decided that we were getting rather old for racehorses, so we took up cycling instead, and promptly had a senior moment and found ourselves signing up for this rather daunting challenge. We spent four months getting fit on the Dorset hills, before setting off from Land’s End at the beginning of September. Why not come down from Scotland? Well after a Downe House education one knew that the prevailing wind is south-westerly and cyclists like tail winds. Together with a team of 12 considerably younger challengers we were able to enjoy a magical experience of seeing the country as it unfolded - the lumps and bumps of Cornwall and Devon; the flat lands of the Somerset levels; spectacular Tintern Abbey and the Wye Valley; the rolling countryside of middle England and our longest day of 112 miles in 7.15 hours. The feeling of exhilaration as we scaled Shap at 3,400 ft and the far reaching beauty of the Lake District, and then the famous hill climb of ‘Rest and Be Thankful’ before plunging down to Loch Awe and Inveraray. We headed east across the Great Glen on a day the heavens opened. Thankfully most of our accommodation boasted hairdryers, which were essential for drying our lycra, and especially our shoes! On arrival at John O’Groats, where the skirl of a lone piper greeted us, our moment of euphoria was quickly overtaken by a feeling of anticlimax that after 12 days cycling 1020 miles (not the 874 as on the signpost!) and 70,000 feet climbed, at an average of 85 miles per day, our adventure was sadly over. It was certainly a very different experience from the school girl jaunts of old, on our sit up and beg bicycles to Bucklebury Ford to meet the Bradfield boys! We are extremely grateful to all the old Seniors who very kindly and generously sponsored us, and helped us raise over £21,000 for The Alzheimer’s Society.
Lucy Brain (DH 2001) On Friday 10 June 2016 as I sat on a train from Newcastle to Edinburgh I did wonder why I was about to do this again! In June 2015 five friends and I cycled from London to Newcastle over 20 hours in the pouring rain ‘just for fun’ and I vowed I would never do it again. However when people started to chatter through the winter months it was clear I was not going to be the one to miss out on the challenge.
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Rebecca Lancaster (DH 2005)
This time there were five of us undertaking the challenge and we left Edinburgh at 4.00am in some light drizzle but full of energy (and chocolate). We climbed the one large hill on our route at Duns and continued on to our breakfast stop in Seahouses where we were met by a large group of our cycling club members
In summer 2016 I cycled to Paris, from London to raise money for Back Up (www.backuptrust.org.uk), a charity which supports people affected by spinal cord injury. I was part of a team of 30, including four people with spinal cord injury, who have all experienced Back Up’s amazing work first-hand. It was the first time most of us had done a challenge like this before. Together, we raised £40,000, which goes towards the services it offers individuals and families affected by spinal cord injury – like mentoring, activity courses, wheelchair skills and support going back to school or work.
First official stop was at my house in Gateshead where my friends had got lunch ready and the first of three lycra changes occurred, very welcome after a wet start to the day and unfortunately it didn’t stop there. We rode on to York and had a burger in the station like true athletes. 708km (440miles) we completed in 32 hours without sleep. I am a GP in the North east and sadly one of my colleagues was diagnosed with mesothelioma, an untreatable asbestos related lung cancer, last year and so I was sponsored to do this cycle and raised £1850. Other charities supported by the group included a local hospice, a local neonatal baby unit and Cancer Research. For the second time I vowed ‘never again’ however peer pressure seems to have resulted in an event on 2 – 3 June. Can 800km (500 miles) be done?!
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The ride to Paris was great – it did require a good deal of training, as we were cycling around 80 miles each day. Everyone on the team had a close connection with spinal cord injury, so the group was very supportive and pretty lively too. It was such a high arriving in Paris, I would definitely recommend anyone to try it. We’re currently toying with idea of Land’s End to John O Groats for 2018! I have been involved with Back Up for more than five years now, and earlier this year I joined the board of trustees. We’re always looking for new volunteers and new people to work with, so it’ll come as no surprise that I’d really recommend supporting Back Up! One person is newly impacted by spinal cord injury every eight hours, usually from things many of us do like being in a car, skiing, cycling or sailing.
DHSA News
Magazine
2017
DHSA Magazine This was published in February. Any member who did not receive a copy should contact the administrator at dhsa@downehouse.net or on 01635 204797
Short Story Competition 2017 Sponsored by the DHSA, the winners for 2017 were announced in February as follows: Clare Balding Prize for Excellent Writing – Maddison James Junior category winner – Mary Hazlitt Middle category winner – Maddison James Senior category winner – Isabel Fincham The prize winners and runners-up enjoyed a trip to Oxford for a bespoke creative writing course at the Pitt-Rivers Museum, followed by supper.
Changes to Committee Roles At the AGM in February, we thanked both Catherine Palmer (Jackson, DH 1975) and Gillian Hulbert (Savory, DH 1962) for their sterling service as Secretary and Treasurer respectively. We are delighted that both are continuing on the committee. Lucinda Tindley (Franks, DH 1981) is taking over as the Secretary and Clare Duffield (Davies, DH 1982) will become the Treasurer. DHSA Reunion 2017 Advance Notice for Leavers from 1995 – 2007 This will be held at the Troubadour Club, London, in early autumn.
DH in Bermuda Mrs Michelle Scott (Assistant Headmistress – Foundation) and Mrs Laura Ogilvie-Jones (Director of Admissions) ventured to Bermuda in January 2017 to meet with current, past and prospective parents at an event kindly hosted at the Royal Bermuda Yacht Club by the Brewin family. (Chia, pictured (DH 2009) and Libby, DH 2008).
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Foundation
FOUNDER’S WEEKEND SATURDAY 1 JULY - SUNDAY 2 JULY 2017
Bringing the Downe House community together
FOUNDER’S WEEKEND SATURDAY 1 JULY
FOUNDER’S WEEKEND SUNDAY 2 JULY
EVENT PROGRAMME:
EVENT PROGRAMME:
10.45am – 12.30pm
Family Tennis and Rounders Tournament
10.30am
Drama Showcase
Workshops and exhibitions
12.00noon
School lunch and family picnic
11.30am – 12.00noon
Fashion Show
2.00pm
Founder’s Concert
12.00noon – 1.30pm
School lunch and family picnic
3.30pm – 4.30pm
Founder’s Tea
1.00pm – 2.30pm
Science workshops
4.30pm – 5.30pm
Music Event
1.00pm – 4.30pm
‘Founder’s Fair’- House activities in the Cloisters
6.15pm
Dance Showcase
2.30pm
Music Event – ‘Bring the House Downe’
6.00pm – 8.00pm
Family Big Band BBQ
3.30pm – 4.30pm
Founder’s Tea
5.30pm
Music Showcase
7.00pm
School Musical, ‘Into the Woods’
Bringing the Downe House community together
Dates for the Diary 2017 SATURDAY 1 AND SUNDAY 2 JULY Founder’s Weekend SUNDAY 1 OCTOBER Alumnae Family Day - 110 Year Anniversary Celebrations THURSDAY 2 NOVEMBER Class of 2007 Ten Year Reunion
Connect with us: Join us on Facebook - Downe House Alumnae
TUESDAY 19 SEPTEMBER Junior Medley Lecture with Guest Simon Weston CBE
Follow us on Twitter DowneFoundation or Downe House ‘DH LINKS’ group
DEATH NOTIFICATIONS Mrs Janet Fairfax-Lucy (née Niven) Mrs Jane Whittam (née Comerford)
DH 1953 DH 1951
e: foundation@downehouse.net T: 01635 204719 www.downehouse.net/foundation
Have you visited our website?
www.downehouse.net/foundation
Celebrating 110 years
Cold Ash, Thatcham, Berkshire RG18 9JJ t: 01635 204719 e: foundation@downehouse.net www.downehouse.net