Cloisters Summer 2016 issue 16

Summer 2016 Issue 16

News from the heart of Downe House

INSIDE:

Founder’s Weekend 2016

10 Year Vision

Page 4

Update on page 20

Leavers’ Day 2016

Reunion at Longford

Farewell to the 2016 Leavers - on page 10

Read more on page 12

Life Beyond Downe House - 5 years on reunion for the class of 2010 Page 14

SHARE YOUR LIFE BEYOND DOWNE HOUSE

It is one of the greatest strengths of our alumnae community that so many of you feel able to share your expertise and offer support to both current girls and fellow alumnae. The story of your lives helps inspire the next generation of Downe House graduates to go on to achieve great things, and they greatly value the words of advice and encouragement from those that have gone before. We are putting together the 3rd Edition of our Beyond Downe House brochure and we’d love to hear from anyone that feels able to share their story.

Please contact Michelle Scott at foundation@downehouse.net

Update your details online 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 Or email us at:

foundation@downehouse.net

MEET THE TEAM Louise Peto Louise joined the Foundation Office in February 2016, on maternity cover for Mrs Lucy O’Meara, in the dual role of Foundation Office Events and DHSA Administrator. Louise started her career in advertising at J. Walter Thompson and spent eleven years working in a number of ad agencies.

She enjoyed many opportunities to work on TV and print campaigns for a number of household names; her favourites include ‘does exactly what is says on the tin’ for Ronseal and ‘you know when you’ve been Tango’d’!

Louise had a career break to raise her children, and returned to work at a local primary school as School Administrator before joining Downe House.

Louise is coordinating a wide range of events, which include parent receptions, class reunions, celebrations and DHSA reunions.

Alongside the Foundation Team, Louise devises the event concept, plans logistics and co-ordinates RSVPs. She spends much of her time selecting venues, budgeting, organising transport, liaising with speakers or entertainers and arranging catering. Louise is very much looking forward to supporting the DHSA with the next edition of the DHSA magazine and receiving news from our alumnae.

Louise says ‘I am relishing the multiple aspects of my job, and in particular planning events and forging and building relationships with the Old Seniors and Alumnae. I would like to thank the Foundation Team and the DHSA Committee for making me feel so welcome.’

MAGAZINE TEAM: Editor-in-chief Features Designer

Michelle Scott Alexandra Barlow Satvinder Orton

Cloisters CONTENTS Founder’s Weekend 2016

4

Farewell to the 2016 Leavers

10

A Reunion at Longford Castle

12

Life Beyond Downe House - 5 Years On

14

Wedding and Baby News

16

Emily Jack Award Success

17

Mr Ralph Hedderwick Celebrates a Century

17

From The Archives - Darwin House

18

The PE Department at Downe House Over The Years

19

10 Year Vision

20

DH LINKS Cluster Group - Get Interested in Careers

22

DH LINKS - Emma Dobby (Upper Fifth) Work Experience

23

Staff Farewell - John Sentance-Davis

24

Charity Focus - Lucy Harley (Lower Sixth)

25

Emily Cycles from London to Cape Town

26

Career Change for Sophie Dear

27

Foundation Dinner 2016

28

Father & Daughter Charity Gala

30

DHSA News

32

Obituary - Sister Mary Jennifer

32

Reunions - Class of 2006, Class of 1995 and Class of 1991

33

Dates for the diary

34

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Bringing the Downe House community together The showers didn’t dampen spirits at Founder’s Weekend 2016. 28 events, more than 300 performers, stunning displays and delicious food over two sensational days.

On Saturday 2 and Sunday 3 July, the Downe House community gathered for our annual Founder’s Weekend celebrations. Now in its sixth year, the weekend was filled with entertainment and family fun.

From the stunning departmental displays, the family tennis tournament and climbing wall, to the wonderful showcases and performances from the girls in Music, Dance and Drama. It was a spectacular weekend that was enjoyed by all. The catering team provided exquisite refreshments throughout including the legendary Founder’s afternoon tea and the delightful family BBQ to the sounds of the Big Band.

Parents and friends of Downe House were treated to a magnificent display of Downe at its best. As one parent said, “At Downe House you manage to achieve positive vibes for every girl in the school which is a wonderful achievement.”

We couldn’t agree more!

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L E AV E R S 2 0 1 6 FAREWELL TO THE CLASS OF 2016 On 6 July we celebrated the end of an era for the Upper Sixth. The day commenced with a Prize Giving Ceremony in the Farr Centre. Our special guest for the assembly was DH Alumna Mrs Sara Scrivener (DH 1990).

A Leavers’ Service followed in Chapel and then a delicious lunch was enjoyed by all in the marquee.

The sun shone through the afternoon and we enjoyed saying farewell to this wonderful year group of girls. We wish them all the best for Results Day in August and we look forward to tracking their lives beyond Downe.

Here’s to the Five Year Reunion in 2021!

We hope you enjoy this snapshot of images. A full selection of Leavers’ Day images will be showcased in our Michaelmas term edition of Cloisters.

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The sun came out on a group of DH girls who reunited in May The splendid surroundings of Longford Castle in Wiltshire provided a very special backdrop for a small group of Downe House Old Seniors from the 1930s to 1960s who gathered for a private tour of the Castle, courtesy of Lord Radnor and his sister Alexandra Ormerod on a sunny day in May. Set on the banks of the River Avon, the castle was built in Elizabethan times and has been in Lord Radnor’s family for the past 300 years. With its formal gardens blooming in purples, violets and creams, its beautifully preserved interiors and family atmosphere, Longford Castle felt like an untouched slice of history, brought to life by Alexandra Ormerod’s in-depth commentary.

Although very much a family home, the castle retains two state rooms. The green drawing room is still hung with the original 17th century flocked velvet wallpaper from Genoa and houses some of the Longford collection, one of the finest intact art collections in the country, featuring artworks by Van Dyck, Gainsborough and Reynolds.

The Longford Estate maintains a close relationship with the National Gallery to whom some of its artworks are on loan. Tours of the Castle can be booked through the National Gallery.

The group of Old Seniors (overheard to refer to themselves as Downe and outs) were in raptures by the end of the afternoon - firstly to rediscover each other and rekindle friendships and secondly to have the privilege of a private tour of what must be one of the country’s most magnificent country houses. With daughters, granddaughters and great nieces all part of the Downe family, the afternoon proved that the DH spirit is alive and well across the generations.

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A Reunion at Longford Castle

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Life Beyond Downe House FIVE YEARS ON

You can take the girl out of Downe House‌ With five years of life beyond Downe House under their belts, the Class of 2010 are spreading their wings and entering careers as diverse as film, travel, fashion and the charity sector. Their reunion in London last month was an occasion to catch up, connect and keep alive bonds with the wider DH family.

With most girls now having graduated from university and in their first or second jobs, many are well on their way to forging careers across a wide range of sectors. For some of these young alumnae, their training continues as they seek to become qualified doctors, teachers and lawyers. But throughout it all a spirit of entrepreneurship, hard work, creativity and adventure persists as the Class of 2010 take their first steps on the career ladder.

What is clear is that the friendships formed at Downe House remain strong today, with many of them still very much in touch. Amongst some exciting career options, Alexa Berry, after a degree in film acting at the Los Angeles campus of the New York Film Academy, now co-owns a 14 CLOISTERS Issue 16 14 CLOISTERS Issue 16

production company focussing on web, television and independent films; Amy Posner, with a BA and PHD in Politics under her belt, is working in the travel industry and enjoying the buzz of global travel; and Victoria Hanson, a graduate in Fashion and Textiles, has gained a prestigious place on the design team for swimwear designer Melissa Odabash.

Camilla Medd commented, “It was really such a fun evening, so nice to see so many of us all in one room again and great to see all the staff!”

Emma Powell added, “It was so great to see everyone again, especially all those I haven’t seen for ages. Golly, we’re so lucky to have such a lovely year group.”

We wish them all well as they shape their futures through work, study and connections and look forward to seeing them in 2020 at their 10 Year Reunion.

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Wedding album

Photographs courtesy of our Facebook friends.

Births

Congratulations to Tory Brown (née Louth DH 2003) ‘Our little darling, Felix Robert Metaxa was born on 14th March 2016 weighing in at 7lbs 3oz at Chelsea & Westminster’.

Congratulations to Lucy and Bryan O’Meara on the birth of Edward Walter on 3 May 2016.

Do you have photos to share? Email your news to foundation@downehouse.net 16 CLOISTERS Issue 16

AWARD SUCCESS – KINGS TUTORS

EMILY JACK

Congratulations go to Emily Jack (DH 2008) and her business Kings Tutors who were voted the best company for graduates to work for in the ‘Charity, Education and Public Services’ sector.

Furthermore, Kings Tutors was the runner up as the ‘UK’s overall top company for graduates to work for.’ Emily founded Kings Tutors in 2012 from a small client base and now has offices in both London and Edinburgh. We look forward to tracking her future success.

Congratulations

Former Governor Mr Ralph Hedderwick celebrated his 100th birthday on 22 June 2016.

Mr Hedderwick served as a Governor at Downe House from June 1985 to June 1991 and was appointed as Chair of Governors from 1988 – 1991.

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FROM THE ARCHIVES

Darwin House

WRITTEN BY: MRS JANE CAIGER-SMITH

In the Downe House Scrapbook, Priscilla (Hayter) Napier wrote “the old Downe had a calm prospect over Kentish fields, and a large lawn, shaded by an ilex tree and a mulberry tree.” Nan (Woodall) Napier, the first pupil, wrote in the Scrapbook of her science lessons in the laboratory; “Here Miss Heather presided over the bangs and 18 CLOISTERS Issue 16

Darwin House, 2016 at Downe House

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I N HOU

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And this is Downe ! Standing among green fields, High on the windy uplands, where the breeze Wanders unfettered, whispering peace To hazel copses and wide-spreading trees.

Down in the sun-kissed valleys corn blows gold, There shall ye find peace from the wide world’s strife, Down in the shady lanes where the brambles cling, There shall ye find Peace --- and Perfect life.

H.W.C

RW

•

DOW NE

A

This poem was written for the first Downe House School magazine published in 1909 (typewritten and carbon copied) when there were 32 girls in the school.

SE

Anne Ridler wrote, “The house, a white Georgian building three stories high, stands just outside the village of Downe in Kent. It presents a plain front to the road, except for a pillared portico, but at the back Darwin had added a large bow right to the roof, which breaks the outline, and a veranda stands out from the wing which he added in 1877.”

After the war, the house was bursting at the seams even though the legendary Miss Nickel had been inventive and energetic on the construction front; one pupil wrote “Miss Nickel, a wonderful person, ran up buildings as other people ran up dresses.” Miss Willis realised she needed to look for another home for her school and in 1921 she and her sister Dorothy, while spending some time with a friend in Berkshire during holidays, came upon some sale particulars for The Cloisters Estate in Cold Ash.

L

So the house went on to become another very happy home to Miss Willis, her staff and her pupils. Darwin’s study became the Common Room, though they always called it the study and a horse drawn bus ran up and down from the nearby village to Orpington. Miss Willis would read to the girls in the evening in the drawing room which had long windows looking out onto the garden through the glass covered veranda.

smells. What a gifted teacher she was, making even test-tubes and litmus paper interesting and what an honour to be working in Darwin’s own laboratory; Hilary always had the impression that he was perhaps quite close to us.” (Hilary was the second pupil. Nan was allowed to have her own dog with her at Downe, a bull mastiff called Tiger).

•D

Olive Willis and Alice Carver, after some time searching for a house suitable for their school, settled on this one in early 1907; it was the former home of Charles Darwin and his family, near Orpington in Kent. So our own Darwin House is named after Charles Darwin and for forty years it was a happy home to the Darwin family - it is said to have been an open air laboratory and where he wrote The Origin of the Species in 1859.

ER SCHO

O

DARWIN HO U S E HO U S EMIS TRE S S E S

1980 - 1985 1985 - 1987 1987 - 1991 1991 - 1996 1996 - 1997 1997 - 2002 2002 - 2010 2010 - 2012 2012 - 2015 2015

Mrs Lynne Berwick Miss Peggie McAdoo Mrs Diana Roberts Mrs Rosalind Burns Mrs Gail Tucker Mrs Rosalind Burns Mme Fanelie Chartrain Mrs Sheena Moore Miss Faith Smith Mrs Frankie Capps

FROM THE ARCHIVES

The PE Department at Downe House over the Years The PE Department at Downe House are a multitalented group of fantastically fit and energetic sports people. Here they are in 2016 and through the years. Our thanks go to the School Archivist, Mrs Jane Caiger-Smith for sourcing these pictures.

The PE Department at Downe House is a mutlitalented group of fantastically fit and energtic sports people. Each individual brings unique talent to the team as a whole. Pictured above are the Downe House PE staff in May 2016.

Pictured right: Sarah Butt (nĂŠe Richardson) Group photo below: Games staff in 1996. Pictured from left to right; Paula Machin, Tori Hill, Judith Wheaton, Holly Tooze & Rachel Hill, Sarah Butt & Mike Delacole. Miss Palmer is seated.

Pictured bottom right: Miss Maclean diving in Lugano 1965. Miss Maclean taught at Downe House 1959 – 1971

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YEAR

YEAR CENTRE FOR LEARNING Inspirational, innovative and imaginative It is our aim to ensure that Downe House moves forward and remains at the forefront of boarding education. Our girls are preparing for an increasingly demanding future and we want them to have the very best preparation for life and the maximum range of opportunities, so that they can develop as rounded individuals and leave us ready to make a significant contribution to society.

It is also our hope and aspiration that Downe House should, as our Founder intended, continue to be a thriving community so that our girls benefit from strong parental involvement, the support of our alumnae and, of course, the highest calibre of staff.

As part of our 10 Year Vision, the School has focused on strategic projects such as the refurbishments of Holcombe, York and Darwin, the building of the new Lower School houses, and improvements made to the dining facilities and surrounding area on the ground floor of Willis House. The Centre for Learning will be a fabulous addition to this list of enhancements.

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The Centre for Learning is the most ambitious development we have taken on in decades and our biggest fundraising appeal ever. This will be a stunning, new building providing additional facilities for Music, Art, Drama, Dance and the wider Creative Arts at the heart of the Downe House site.

Split over three floors and benefitting from the glorious views of the West Berkshire countryside, the contemporary library and study spaces will facilitate all styles of learning including social, collaborative, supported, teacher-led, digital and individual bridging the gap between school and university. A state-of-the-art 250 seat auditorium with retractable seating and viewing galleries will enhance the enrichment programme and provide a space for recitals, workshops, lectures, demonstrations and performances as well as curriculum teaching. The entrance foyer will be a welcoming open gallery space, providing prominent display space for art and a central meeting place for the whole School community. The learning cafĂŠ and School shop will be a place to enjoy relaxed learning, read newspapers and journals, as well as socialise with peers or meet with their Tutors or Teachers.

The building has been designed by architects, Design Engine, who designed the award-winning John Henry Brookes Building at Oxford Brookes University. As well as architectural excellence, the Centre for Learning will meet BREEAM standards of excellence by being a highly sustainable building. The building will have naturally ventilated spaces to reduce the demand for energy use, and natural daylight will be used wherever practical. The thermally efficient building envelope system will use low carbon energy sources for heating, and systems will be considered for harvesting rainwater.

The project will cost £6.5 million. To date we have raised £3.5 million from current and past parents, Governors and alumnae. The Governors have agreed to donate a further £2 million to the project, leaving us with £1 million left to be raised.

As part of the fundraising effort the School is offering supporters sponsorship opportunities including the option to name a room, area, piece of equipment, or commemorative item such as paving stones and seats in the Centre for

Learning and garden area. Donations will be honoured on the external and internal signage of the building and on an honours board in the foyer.

For more information visit the 10 Year Vision webpages on the School website. Donations can be made towards 10 Year Vision bursaries, specific areas of the Centre for Learning and in memory or celebration of a loved one. Gifts can be made online via our Centre for Learning Total Giving page, by downloading a donation form and sending it into the Foundation Office. International gifts are welcome via the downloadable International donation form, or via the British Schools and Universities Foundation Inc. for US donors.

We welcome gifts from companies or donations of stocks and shares, and are happy to discuss all of the tax effective giving options available to you. For more information please contact Catherine Newman, Deputy Development Director on: 01635 204741 newmanc@downehouse.net.

Over the coming months we will post Centre for Learning project and fundraising updates on the School website, so come and visit and see the project evolve.

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GET INTERESTED IN CAREERS. IT’S THE LAW! Our DH LINKS legal cluster group brought together over thirty pupils, alumnae and parents.

The most recent meeting in the DH LINKS programme of careers and networking events was a gathering of practising lawyers and barristers, primed to impart their wisdom on pursuing a career in the legal profession to girls in the Sixth Form and recent Downe House alumnae.

Kindly hosted by Ms Saira Kabir Sheikh QC at the Francis Taylor Building at the heart of Inner Temple, the event proved an invaluable sharing of expertise and knowledge to spur on those considering this career path. A significant number of attendees were recent students concluding a law degree or embarking upon a law conversion, as well as trainees and pupil barristers.

The expertise in the room covered everything from financial services, property and environmental law to commercial litigation, fraud, tax, negligence and family law, some with a focus on international matters.

Mrs Elspeth Talbot Rice QC, current parent, commented, “This was a thoroughly enjoyable, convivial meeting of past, present and future lawyers, sharing (sometimes remarkably similar) war stories from the law and the lacrosse pitch.”

LVI pupil India Laidlaw was excited about the possibilities of a future in the profession, “The legal cluster group was a truly inspiring and insightful evening which I am so glad that I attended. It was really helpful to speak to some old DH girls who gave me some invaluable knowledge about life at Law School and their journey to becoming a lawyer. It has definitely given me some ideas about my career choice!”

WRITTEN BY: MS KATE RAINES

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EMMA DOBBY WORK EXPERIENCE ON A BEAUTIFUL FARM IN ALDBOURNE DURING APRIL 2016

Day 1: • Arrived at 8:30 • Sorted waters for the sheep with lambs • Ewes with lambs kept in smaller pens • Given water and hay until they are turned out into larger pens • Went to check on the calves, gave them fresh hay, barley and a magnesium supplement.

• Checked on the ewes with lambs that were out in the field already.

• If they were lame at all they were injected with a long lasting antibiotic and penicillin, then sprayed with an orange stripe. (Looking particularly for mastitis in ewes and joint problems with the lambs, also had to check that ewes hadn’t gotten stuck on their backs in the mud) • We then came back and fed the pairs in the bigger pens with hay.

• I then went around ringing and marking the two and three day old lambs before being turned out the next day.

• Drenched ewes before they were turned out

Day 2: • The second day we repeated the morning chores • Attempted to stomach tube some lambs, which hadn’t been accepted by their mothers. Making sure that the tube didn’t go into their lungs.

• One ewe had tried to have both lambs at once, they had got stuck, we had to chop the head off of one and force it back inside in order to get the other out and save the ewe. Both lambs were already dead.

• A ewe had aborted both of her lambs in the night as well.

• Tried to get lambs to suckle for the first time to get colostrum into their systems.

• Also turned some pairs into the big field, herding them by looking at them and moving slow and low.

• Also moved some from their small pens into the larger communal pens, this was done by taking the lambs and holding them low, so that the mother could see them and then, in theory follow.

• Drenched and rung ewes and lambs.

Day 3: • Again, the morning routine of checking ewes if they had lambed.

• Two that had been stomach tubed hadn’t made it through the night.

• Checked on the sheep and cows that were out in the fields.

• Repaired fencing.

• Ringed some more.

• Stomach tubed more I thoroughly enjoyed the experience, I found it particularly interesting seeing the line there was between genuine affection for the farmers animals and the cold reality that I was on a working farm and if the lamb wasn’t going to survive then tough. The attitudes and way of life was a definite change to what I am used to which was why I think I found it so interesting and enjoyable. It was definitely difficult to deal with seeing things like a lamb having its head cut off and then having to carry the remains but this was contrasted with the joy that I felt when stomach tubing other lambs. I think I enjoyed the stomach tubing so much because I knew I was making a considerable and immediate positive impact on that lamb’s life and chances of survival.

WRITTEN BY: EMMA DOBBY (UPPER FIFTH)

“Emma was incredibly helpful and we hope she found the experience interesting and rewarding. It was late in the season, and so quite quiet, but there is always something to see and do with the ewes and lambs, and for the younger students who are also trying to revise, it is probably better not being too hectic. A very positive experience.”

MRS ANN BROWN (FORMER PARENT) SAVE THE DATE Wednesday 16 November 2016 DH LINKS Entrepreneur & Start Up Business Cluster Group 6.30pm - 8.30pm London Issue 16 CLOISTERS 23

STAFF FAREWELL JOHN SENTANCE-DAVIS

John re-joined Downe after an absence of some twenty years and has been an integral member of the English Department for the last three years. In his role as Second in Department, John worked tirelessly and he brought his wealth of experience to bear.

He provided endless support to the new members of the department and I very much appreciated his friendship, help and patience. In his role as Oxbridge Coordinator for English, John implemented a wonderful range of enrichment sessions; the most notable of these a ‘poetry analysis slam’ – a battle of wits against our very own Mr Atherton - that proved very popular among the girls and was spoken of enthusiastically for some considerable time after.

John approaches all he does with passion and a wonderful sense of humour. The girls within his care benefitted from and truly appreciated his inspirational and imaginative approach to teaching, and his irrepressible gusto. His passion for literature, especially texts from the Renaissance period, sparked lively debate both inside and outside of the classroom and he has an extraordinary capacity to bring Shakespeare’s plays to life – even if this does mean wearing yellow socks in true Malvolio style! John gives generously of his time and the girls speak of him with genuine respect, affection and appreciation for all that he has done to help them succeed in their studies.

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With his penchant for colourful clothes, shoes and literary ties, John is Downe’s very own twenty-first century dandy and the epitome of Wilde’s aphorism, ‘one should always be a little improbable’. Downe will be a far duller place without him.

John leaves Downe for Sherfield, where is to become Head of English. We wish him and his lovely family all the very best of luck for the future.

WRITTEN BY: MRS JOHANNE HARRINGTON (HEAD OF ENGLISH)

CHARITY FOCUS

LUCY HARLEY (LOWER SIXTH) LUCY AND WELLA GALLOP TO CORNWALL THIS SUMMER Lucy Harley (Lower Sixth) will be tackling a 240 mile ride next month in memory of her best friend, Leggy. Lucy will be riding from Princes Mead Prep school, Winchester, to Daymer Bay, Cornwall.

Lucy decided to take on the challenge to raise funds for Allegra’s Ambition. The charity was set up in memory of her friend, Allegra, who died suddenly in February last year, 16 days before her 16th birthday. Allegra had a passion for sport and Allegra’s Ambition aims to help other young people enhance their lives through sport and outdoor activities.

Lucy will be partnered by her 18-year-old skewbald pony, Wella, for the challenge and aims to cover around 15 miles a day. She plans to set off on Tuesday 19 July and hopes to complete the ride in three to four weeks.

Half terms have been spent training for this event and so far Wella has coped well with the distances. Lucy will be wearing a pink hi-vis for the duration of the ride with ‘Ride for Allegra’ printed on her tabard.

So far, Lucy has raised £2,626.70 of her £5,000 target.

For more information and to donate visit: www.justgiving.com/fundraising/Lucy-Harley1

Lucy comments: “Allegra loved horses, I wanted to do something special in her memory, we were at prep school in Winchester and Allegra loved going on holiday every year to Daymer Bay. She was the happiest, kindest person who adored any sort of animal, sport or outdoor activity and everyone who knew her adored her. I’ve never done anything like this before, no long distance riding, but I’m really excited about it. My mum has worked really hard to coordinate the routes and our living room floor is often covered in maps and post it notes! We have lots of different stops along the way, with people who live along the way and stopping off at livery yards and fields. Please do come and support me if you can.”

Lucy and Allegra growing up together

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Emily Conrad-Pickles (DH 2001) Cycling 19,000km from London to Cape Town It was the dream. Something that other people do and certainly something I never thought I would actually do. The idea to cycle from London to Cape Town all started on our second date. James asked me if there was anything that I really wanted to do in my life and I (possibly helped by some very good red wine) didn’t hesitate when I told him that I’d always wanted to do something like cycle from London to Cape Town. I felt pretty comfortable telling him this as deep down I thought that it would never happen. Until he called my bluff and 3 years later after much persuasion, planning and 19,000km cycled, we have fulfilled our dream.

And what an adventure we have had. We experienced immense highs and lows along the way but we have met some of the kindest people and seen some extraordinary places. We’ve been faced with immense challenges throughout the journey including crossing 10,000ft mountains in Ethiopia, 55°C heat in the Sudanese deserts, some very tough terrain in a number of countries and sickness which at one point meant a medevac to Nairobi when I suffered a severe electrolyte imbalance causing issues in my heart. In Ethiopia the kids spent hours on end chasing and throwing rocks at us and in some areas political unrest meant that we had to re-route or take armed escorts.

However, despite the tough terrain, sickness and a few mechanical set backs, throughout this journey, and especially on the African continent, we experienced incredible kindness and hospitality from people we met – we were even given money to buy food from strangers who had very little in Sudan when our wallet went missing. People have opened up their homes, offered food and water, helped fix broken bikes in the middle of nowhere and cheered us on from the roadside.

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Along the way we have been fundraising and raising awareness for the charity World Bicycle Relief. The charity provides specially designed, locally assembled bicycles called Buffalo Bikes to people in rural, communities across Africa. The UK project we have been funding gives bicycles to schoolgirls.

We have been able to see first hand the real impact that a bicycle can make to individuals living in remote communities. Distance easily becomes a barrier to education, healthcare and commerce but sadly education is often the first thing to go however, when you give a child a bike, their attendance increases by up to 28% and grades increase by 59%.

Incredibly just £95 will buy one bicycle and it really can directly change the life of a schoolgirl in rural Africa.

After a final month cycling 2,000km through the harsh Namibian desert, we were joined by the British High Commissioner to South Africa and Consul General to Cape Town for the last few miles into Cape Town.

You can read more about our journey or make a donation to World Bicycle Relief by visiting http://London2CapeTown.org

Yoga

NEW CLASSES IN FULHAM SOPHIE DEAR (DH 2004) TEACHES GROUP CLASSES AT VIDA STUDIOS ON WEDNES DAYS AT 7. 0 0 A M AN D T H UR SDAYS AT 6.45PM PRIVATE T U I T I O N AL S O AVA IL A BL E www.sophiesfitness.co.uk

Fulham resident, Sophie Dear, is a yoga teacher, food and fitness blogger and health and happiness warrior! She teaches dynamic vinyasa yoga where movement is synchronised with breath. Her classes are energetic and will build strength, flexibility and balance; with fun sequencing and eclectic music that will leave you feeling revitalised and glowing!

Sophie’s group classes run at Vida Studios on Fulham High Street on Wednesday mornings at 7.00am and Thursday evenings at 6.45pm. Private tuition is also available.

find some balance in her life. Having completely re-evaluated her idea of success and happiness she decided to leave TV and trained as Personal Trainer and Yoga Teacher. On her career change Sophie explains: “I want to make people feel happy about their bodies and calmer in their minds. I hope to be a support and inspiration as others have been for me.”

For more information, please visit: www.sophiesfitness.co.uk/ or contact Sophie direct: sophie@sophiesfitness. co.uk

Sophie’s career began in TV working on series such as ‘Spooks’; ‘Broadchurch’; ‘Mr Selfridge’ and ‘Call the Midwife’. Her role as an Assistant Director was very rewarding and challenging but it was also very hectic and stressful. She turned to yoga try and

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F O U N D AT I O N D I N N E R 2 0 1 6

F O U N D AT I O Wishing the 2016 Leavers all the very best for the future.

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On Friday 24 June, I hosted, alongside the Lower Sixth committee (Florence Palmer, Imogen Hancock, Isabelle Smith, Celine Harborne, Emily Crowston, Ola Milne, Gina Galbraith, Hebe Meredith, Tiffany Chan, Rumbi Wasterfall, Sereena Singh, Zara Chamberlain, Lucy Harley, Arabella Nourse, Rose Galbraith and India Burney) the Father and Daughter Charity Gala in support of the Purple Community Fund. PCF is a charity that I have grown up with, having first been introduced to the organisation when I was living in the Philippines. The charity aims to eradicate poverty on a dumpsite in Manila, Philippines by setting up livelihood programmes, medical schemes and building a school. The night, open for the Lower Sixth girls, had been around a year in the making and was a wonderful opportunity for fathers to come to the school and meet other fathers. On the night we had a champagne reception followed by a two course dinner, a speech from Jane Walker the Founder of the Charity and a quiz. There was also an opportunity for girls to have their photo taken with their fathers by Hebe Meredith. The Quiz was hosted by Gina Galbraith and Ola Milne and it was incredibly fun but also quite difficult!

We are delighted to announce that we raised ÂŁ2,750 for PCF. WRITTEN BY: CAROLINE WATKINSON (LOWER SIXTH)

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FATHER & DAUGHTER CHARITY GALA

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DHSA NEWS

A luncheon party will held at the Hurlingham Club, London SW6 on

DHSA PARTY 2016 FOR MEMBERS WHO LEFT IN OR BEFORE 1963 WEDNESDAY 14 SEPTEMBER 2016 at 12.30pm RSVP by 1 September 2016 Invitations are being sent out to those eligible.

DHSA GRANTS Applications for funding towards worthwhile pursuits from members of any age are considered three times a year, following deadlines of 31January, 30 April and 31 August.

All information and details on the application process may be found on the website www.downehouse.net/dhsagrants.asp Please note: Each Old Senior may receive one grant only from the DHSA after leaving school.

DHSA MAGAZINE 2017 ADVANCE NOTICE: Please let us have your news!

In September, we shall be collecting material for the next edition of the magazine to be published in January 2017 and encourage all members to contribute.

News can be submitted via your registrar or through the Downe House website.

OBITUARY SISTE R M A RY JEN N IFER CSM V ( J E N N I F E R W EST DH 1949) Sister Mary Jennifer CSMV (Jennifer West DH 1949) died in April 2016 at the convent in Wantage to which she had belonged for over 50 years.

After leaving School Jennifer West initially worked as a secretary, first in publishing and then for the Professor of Physics at University College London. She became a novice in 1960 and after taking her final lifelong vows in 1963, she became a professed Sister in the Community of St Mary the Virgin at Wantage as Sister Mary Jennifer. Over the years she has lived in many of the Community’s branch houses away from Wantage and been in varying situations, including eight years in South Africa (Pretoria and the Transkei) in charge of a home for the elderly but also at different times working with alcoholics, drug addicts, mentally disabled girls, hospital and prison visiting. More recently she worked as a visitors’ Chaplain at Birmingham Cathedral before returning finally to Wantage to give pastoral care to a house of 70 elderly people at a time when she herself was over 80.

She kept in touch regularly with the DHSA and also latterly with the School through the former Chaplain, Father Simon Thorn.

Her family too maintained connections with Downe House; her elder sister Mary left the School in 1944 and died in 2014 and her brother, Dr Jonathan West, will be remembered by many as the School doctor in the 1970s/1980s. In recent years he has contributed generously to the School Archives.

WRITTEN BY: MRS JENNIFER KINGSLAND

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EA EAR R

21 21

REUNION REUNION

For informal get together For anan informal get together atat Downe House Downe House

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YEAROFOF1995 1995 YEAR

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YEAROF OF1991 1991 YEAR WEDNESDAY SEPTEMBER 2016 WEDNESDAY 2121 SEPTEMBER 2016

6.30pm - 9.00pm 6.30pm - 9.00pm

SUNDAY SEPTEMBER 2016 - 2.00PM - 4.00PM SUNDAY 1818 SEPTEMBER 2016 - 2.00PM - 4.00PM

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YEARREUNION REUNION YEAR

Council Room, RCN Council Room, RCN Cavendish Square, Cavendish Square, London, W1G 0RN London, W1G 0RN

D E AT H N OT I F I C AT I O N S Charlotte Balfour (DH 1961 - 1964) Charlotte sadly passed away on Wednesday 6 April 2016.

Thursday October 2016 - 6.30pm-9.00pm Thursday 2020 October 2016 - 6.30pm-9.00pm Gallery Room, Bluebird Chelsea, Kings Road, London, SW3 5UU Gallery Room, Bluebird Chelsea, 350350 Kings Road, London, SW3 5UU

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Dates for the Diary 2016 SUNDAY 18 SEPTEMBER - Class of 1995, 21 Year Reunion WEDNESDAY 21 SEPTEMBER - Class of 1991, 25 Year Reunion

Connect with us: Join us on Facebook - Downe House Alumnae

THURSDAY 20 OCTOBER - Class of 2006, 10 Year Reunion WEDNESDAY 16 NOVEMBER - DH LINKS Entrepreneur & Start Up Business Cluster Group

Follow us on Twitter DH LINKS and/or DowneFoundation ‘DH LINKS’ group e: foundation@downehouse.net T: 01635 204719 www.downehouse.net/foundation

Have you visited our website?

Have a Wonderful Summer!

www.downehouse.net/foundation

For more information on events contact foundation@downehouse.net or telephone 01635 204719

DOWNE HOUSE Cold Ash, Thatcham, Berkshire, RG18 9JJ email: foundation@downehouse.net tel - 01635 204719