Cloisters Winter 2016 issue 17

Reunions

WINTER 2017

Class of 2011, Class of 2006, Class of 1995, Class of 1991

Charity Focus

Rebecca Norris and the Three Pillars Project

Alumna Wins Top Award

Catriona Brewin

OVER C IS

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Y A D OF D

TUESDAY 21 MARCH 2017

• Seminars • Workshops • Lectures • Masterclasses • Demonstrations • Trips Delivered by visiting speakers, alumnae, parents and staff.

CONTENTS

Meet the team Catherine Newman Cat joined the Foundation Team in March 2016 as Deputy Development Director tasked with raising funds for the Centre for Learning Capital Appeal. Cat has over 18 years’ worth of fundraising experience working at a number of charities including Oxfam, The National Trust, Royal Brompton & Harefield Hospitals Charity and most recently as Head of Customer Marketing and Innovation at Guide Dogs for the Blind Association.

Working in the Foundation Office has allowed Cat to branch out of the not-for-profit sector and to experience the education sector and all that it has to offer. The Centre for Learning marks the biggest and most inspirational development that the School has ever undertaken and Cat is proud to be part of such a ground-breaking project.

Cat says “I was over the moon to be asked to join the Foundation Team at Downe House particularly during such an exciting period of growth for the School. During my time here I have had the pleasure of meeting a good number of parents and alumnae at reunions and parent drinks events, it’s been wonderful to hear how passionate they are about the School and to witness how supportive they are of the fundraising efforts.”

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

Foundation Magazine team: Editor-in-chief Michelle Scott Content Alexandra Barlow Designer Satvinder Orton

REUNIONS

WEDDINGS

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SAVE THE DATE

DH LINKS

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FROM THE ARCHIVES

OBITUARIES

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CHARITY FOCUS

CHRISTMAS AT DOWNE HOUSE

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5 Year Reunion – Class of 2011

The Atlas Pub, London, Thursday 3 November 2016

10 Year Reunion – Class of 2006

The Bluebird, London Thursday 20 October 2016

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21 Year Reunion – Class of 1995

Downe House, Sunday 18 September 2016

25 Year Reunion – Class of 1991

Cavendish Square, London, Wednesday 21 September 2016

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Informal Reunions

5 Year Reunion for Class of 2012 Wednesday 26 April 2017 The Atlas Pub, London

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 We are looking forward to seeing you all again in the Autumn.

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From the Archives

The Water Tower In 1920, when The Cloisters Estate was advertised for sale by Messrs Simmons & Sons, the sale particulars described the Water Tower simply, practically and with delightful capitalisation, reproduced here. “There is a very large Rain Water Tank in the Basement. On the First Floor there is a very well equipped Laundry with Hard and Soft Water Supply and Life, Electric Irons, Washing Machines etc. On the Second Floor is the Battery Room and Store, and on the Third Floor Four Tanks of 6000 gallon capacity. The water pumping machine is underground. Large Domed tank for storing 1000 gallons of oil. 4 large rain water tanks are built at convenient spots.”

The atmospheric picture below, of the tower through the trees would have pleased the architect James McLaren Ross who was heavily influenced by the Arts and Craft style. We have an architectural plan of the original buildings which is striking in its elegance. Pevsner describes the Water Tower as closing the vista at the end of the drive and there is no doubt that it would have been clear to see from distant vantage points. Our chapel tower came later to the site.

Miss Willis had been assured, at the time of the purchase, that the water supply for the main buildings was plentiful but dry at times. There were considerable problems with the supply and the girls wrote about this in charming and poetic ways. They and the staff always banded together to get water to a bathtub and for necessities - timed bathing was essential and hair washing was special. The legendary Miss Nickel was quickly ‘on the case’ when there were water supply problems and Miss Willis describes visitors being alarmed as they drove slowly up towards the tower in their elegant big motors , seeing her popping up “like a jack in the box” from the manhole above the water pumping machine!

Miss Nickel guided the diggers of a new well to a spot near the water tower and a supplementary supply was finally found in a chalk basin about 500 feet down. Although that water was quite

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for many years; visitors were always guided to marked parking spaces “in front of the water tower”, it was the departure point for trips out, the spot where parents were greeted and bid farewell, staff would walk past it to Parents’ Meetings having before walked past it to their job interviews, teachers were greeted cheerily in the morning by the housekeeping staff walking up past it having prepared the classrooms down below, girls queued next to it for Chapel and the younger girls loved to race past it after lunch, back packs clunking, to have a bit of a play around below it, hopping over the ropes or climbing around the roots of the big tree. The memorial garden is beyond it, behind the Chapel to the left. In the 1970s, the machinery housed there became redundant.

The water tower was used for all sorts of other School activity before it was filled with more fuel and water storage tanks. There was a loom there as for a time weaving was very popular. Hester McClintock (née Wilder) wrote that Miss Nickel (who as well as designing and building bits of the School and teaching the girls to make superb puff pastry, also taught the violin) was asked to take her violin pupils to the water tower for their lessons: “to keep the general peace, all violin lessons were relegated to the top of the water tower – out of everybody’s earshot!” Four days of holiday were had to celebrate the Coronation and though a great number of the girls went to London, some stayed and decorated the water tower with flags and bunting. Priscilla Hayter (née Napier) writes of their Old Testament history lessons at the top of the water tower given by a “vague and pious lady who wore a peasant blouse.”

The water tower has served the School beautifully

Written by: Mrs Jane Caiger-Smith (Archivist)

Naming of the Houses AISHOLT

hard, Miss Willis wrote that it was a wonderful supply and was pumped up “by our own enormous pump.”

Mrs Richardson remembers that every so often soldiers would come and climb up the tower and raise a flag, and the AA installed a radio transmitter at the top of the tower and would regularly come and inspect the essential equipment, no doubt taking a bit of extra time to enjoy the commanding view. Some of the past students suggest that it was not a place to hang around as it was so clearly in sight of the administration up on the first floor of what is now Aisholt. If you were loitering a call from a quickly opened window would have sent you on the way to lessons.

When the boilers that had been installed in the water tower were fired by wood, the clinker left over in the ash was used to make into blocks for the building; another example of the ingenuity of Miss Nickel. The laundry operated from there for many years for the School, and before that for the School of Silence, an esoteric religious community who actually built The Cloisters. There was a big School bike shed behind the tower too, as for many years the girls were free to use the bicycles when they had free time after lessons and on the weekends. Other buildings behind the tower served as storage and work areas.

Aisholt House was founded in 1979 and situated in the two wings, East and West of the original main house of the School, built in 1912.

The three storeys were known respectively (from the ground floor) as Bottom East or West, Middle East or West, and Top East or West.

Aisholt is named after the small Somerset village in the Quantock Hills where Miss Willis owned a thatched cottage, called Holcombe.

Happy art though to lie in that still room Under the deep-thatched eaves in Aisholt Combe, Where sings the nightingale, where blooms the broom.

By Walter de la Mare Miss Willis had stayed in the cottage, and sometime during WWI she bought it. She went on to purchase more land in the valley, and engaged the Hastes family to farm some of it. Olive Willis hosted friends, family, Downe House staff and girls and took great pleasure in seeing them enjoy the quintessential west country atmosphere and landscapes.

The area was adored by Coleridge, who wrote of Aisholt “the situation is delicious; all I could wish … a green romantic chasm.”

Sir Henry Newbolt, a poet, writer and historian lived in Aisholt and he called the immediate area “a beloved valley.” The writer and critic Charles Williams and his wife Michal also came to Aisholt as the guests of Olive Willis.

After WWII, Olive Willis sold much of the land and gave some to her nephew Armine Wright, though she kept her beloved Holcombe cottage. In the Church of All Saints in Aisholt, there is a memorial plaque to Olive Willis. The ancient oak woodland, Aisholt Wood, is now

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owned by the Somerset Wildlife Trust.

Written by: Mrs Jane Caiger-Smith (Archivist)

HOUSEMISTRESSES 1979 two terms Mrs Doggett 1979 - 1991 Miss Eileen Houghton 1991 - 1999 Mrs Jennifer Francis 1999 - 2005 Mrs Paulyne Kelly 2005 - 2009 Mrs Nicola Riddle 2009 - 2016 Mrs Rebecca Wilson Current Housemistress: Mrs Jessica Boswell

Charity Focus

Hair now gone tomorrow “

I raised money through a JustGiving page and cash donations. In the end I raised a total of £2,130.61. All my family, friends and teachers were very generous and I hugely appreciate it.

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Three Downe House girls put charity before vanity this summer and took the bold step of shaving their hair to support the Little Princess Trust which makes wigs for children who lose their locks due to medical conditions or cancer treatments.

Katie (UV) explains how it came about: “I was familiar with this charity because in November 2014, I cut 12 inches of my hair off, which made my hair into a bob, and this time I felt that I would go the extra step to shave my head. It was a very bold decision, but I thought that it was the right time in my life to do something like this. This time I had 18 inches of hair to very happily give away. It was a very nerve-racking day, although I was lucky to have 12 of my very close friends to support me and give me the courage to do it.”

“I thought this charity was extra special because, giving a child the normality that I feel some people, especially young girls, take a little for granted, is important. It gives them confidence, in a time where

they feel very different and isolated, and the courage to carry on with their difficult situation. One of the very positive things I have gained from shaving my head, is that I never find stray hair ties on my wrist anymore, which I see as a huge bonus! “ “I raised money through a JustGiving page and cash donations. In the end I raised a total of £2,130.61. All my family, friends and teachers were very generous and I hugely appreciate it.”

Clemmie (UIV) adds, “I raised £1,192.51 and more for this amazing cause. I shaved my hair because when I was little I saw a very sad video of a girl losing her hair because of cancer and I thought that if I did this I would help at least one person have a better and more comfortable life. Afterwards I felt quite proud to make a difference even if it is a small one.”

Freya (LIV) continues, “It felt amazing to know that I was directly helping people by donating resources but also by spreading awareness of cancer among my

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peers. I really wanted to show people that anyone you know or love could be diagnosed. I raised about £7,650. I raised the funds for the Teenage Cancer Trust (the Lower School charity) and donated my hair to the Little Princess Trust so that it could be made into a real hair wig for a child who had lost their hair.”

“During my sponsorship journey, I got to hear and share so many experiences with people who had been affected by cancer. I put together a sponsorship website so that people could look at the money I raised and all my updates.

From the start, I’ve loved having short hair although it was a drastic change for me. Obviously it’s very low maintenance apart from the occasional awful bedhead when I wake up.”

Written by: Ms Kate Raines (Communications Manager)

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Pillars Project

Rebecca Norris (DH 2004) recently took a break from the world of commercial law in order to co-found 3 Pillars Project. They operate within the criminal justice system to tackle the issues of violence in prisons, rehabilitation and reintegration. They target young males, using a combination of military-style leadership and rugby coaching to promote positive role-modelling, teamwork and leadership skills.

“I need to learn to be more patient.” It may seem like a small statement but, for one man, it was the start of a new way of thinking.

Will*, a 24 year-old inmate serving his third custodial sentence in HMP Wandsworth, was sat on the prison sports pitch when he admitted this to himself and 12 other inmates during the 3 Pillars Project pilot programme earlier this year. For me, this was also a breakthrough moment as I realised that the concepts upon which 3 Pillars Project is based work in practice, as well as in theory.

I trained as a criminal barrister after studying law at the University of Cambridge and I spent much of my time as a student working with prison-based projects, including in Jamaica and South Africa, as well as eventually practising prison law.

Life took me from the Criminal Bar to the City and more commerciallyfocussed work but, four years on, I took a sabbatical to re-assess my priorities. Cue 3 Pillars Project.

The brain-child of Michael Crofts, a former army officer with two tours of Afghanistan under his belt, 3 Pillars Project uses rugby coaching, positive role-modelling and military leadership to deliver mentoring programmes in male prisons. The six-week courses are designed as positive interventions, targeting

those inmates who are traditionally difficult to engage (usually under 25s who pose a high risk of violence and/or gang-related behaviour).

We use former military leaders to deliver top-level fitness and rugby coaching, tackling impulsivity and teaching controlled aggression and leadership skills through the medium of rugby. Participants also engage in group discussions, focussing on life goals and values, as well as having the opportunity to talk with an off-pitch mentor at any time during each session.

The programme culminates in a rugby match against a local rugby club who visit the prison for the afternoon. This helps to bridge gaps between ex-offenders and the local community and provides a platform from which we are able to place former course participants in local rugby clubs upon their release from custody. We believe that collaboration, both with the community and other organisations working within the criminal justice system, is key to offering long-term support to all our participants.

As Co-Founder, I had the privilege of seeing the project come to fruition through an overwhelmingly successful pilot

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programme at HMP Wandsworth.

Having gone from strength to strength, we are currently gearing up to run a programme in HMP Wormwood Scrubs specifically tailored towards violence reduction and gang intervention. We are working in partnership with Invictus Games athletes, who deliver motivational sessions on overcoming adversity, as well as with researchers from the University of Cambridge who are assisting us in measuring the impact of our programme.

Naturally, we may not ever know the real impact of our work in many cases but we are committed to empowering individuals to make a positive contribution to society in the future, regardless of their past.

One participant told us “the best thing about the course was making me feel wanted being around other men.” Even if that was all we achieved, it was well worth it.

Please feel free to contact info@3pillarsproject.com if you would like to know more. We very much welcome all support and interest. *Not his real name Written by: Rebecca Norris (DH 2004)

Alumnae Talks and Lectures Michaelmas Term 2016

Rosie zips across London to help raise one million for charity On Friday 2 December Rosie Tapner (DH 2014) zip-wired across the Thames from the top of St Thomas’s Hospital to the garden beside the House of Lords.

Rosie was one of twenty fundraisers, who pledged to donate £50,000 or more to take part in this fantastic charity challenge. Each fundraiser was catapulted across the river at 40 miles an hour. The line, which was 1,480ft (450m) long, was installed by the London Fire Brigade for one day only, raising over £1 million for Evelina Children’s Hospital. Specialising in children’s health issues with a heavy emphasis on research as well, the Evelina is a special place. The £1 million raised will go towards a £2.8 million fund for a new Research and Development Department.

Clare Michell (DH 2002)

Rosie is closing in on her fund-raising target and has a short time left to hit her target of £50,000. If you would like to make a small donation towards the cause, please use the link below. http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/RosieTapner

Katharina Dixon-Ward (DH 2014) recently won the Graham Midgley Memorial Prize for poetry with her poem ‘Clachtoll’. Katharina is currently at Oxford University studying English Language & Literature.

Katharina comments: ‘The Reverend Graham Midgley was a scholar who specialised in 18th Century Literature and studied English at St Edmund Hall. My poem was based on the prophecies of the Brahan Seer, who lived in Assynt where I used to spend summer holidays as a child.’

Clachtoll The place where the wind held stone.

There, where the Brahan Seer had stood. A great heaving, steady moving, wave bringing towards you. Yes, you behind the rocks, sand standers, small cowerers. For you, this was always the place of the wind, where it gathered – threatened to drag you under, wind pushed water, thicker than any voice you could have forged.

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Clachtoll – cracked rock, you.

How you had fallen, tide hauling, wind pulling. A thunder to tear the laird’s cattle red from their tethers.

And the next day how we circled – mouths sun opened, wondering at how the land could split?

Dr Clare Michell gave a truly captivating and informative talk on studying and practising medicine on 28 November as part of the Oyster Society programme. She started the evening by talking about Bristol University, where she studied medicine for six years.

Being a Lower Sixth student at Downe, I personally, find this part of the evening very useful since the prospect of university is looming nearer and nearer. Even though the whole process is very daunting for all of us, Dr Michell has given lots of useful advice that we all can take away and apply in our daily lives and help make the procedure a little less ‘scary’.

Dr Michell is currently a GP in Battersea, London, however when she finds spare time she doubles up as an expedition doctor. By taking on this role, it had taken her to many amazing places such as Fiji, Kilimanjaro in Kenya and the Himalayas in Nepal. I find this really interesting and exciting since she is

able to travel across the world but at the same time, help people who are less fortunate than us. Coming from a developed country where healthcare is a norm, I find this very shocking and hardhitting that people who are less fortunate than me are experiencing this and I really respect her for doing this.

All in all it was a truly inspiring evening, I would like to thank Dr Michell for taking time out of her busy schedule to come talk to us. I have learnt many new things that I can use to help me grow as an individual and that I can apply in the world beyond Downe House. I understand that being a doctor is an arduous career and requires lots of time and effort, however, at the end of the day, it is all worth it.

Written by: Nutthapit Poolworaluk (Lower Sixth)

Alumna Wins Top Award Catriona ‘Chia’ Brewin (DH 2009) has been placed on the Women in Fintech 2016 Power List.

Chia works for Trunomi who have offices in Bermuda, Canary Wharf and California. Trunomi is a financial technology company providing software for financial institutions Chia has earned multiple promotions since she joined Trunomi and now leads global media, communications and marketing at the firm.

After leaving Downe House, Chia studied Biological Sciences & Psychology at Queen Mary, University of London.

Our congratulations go to Chia!

(“The natural arch, or ‘Clach tholl,’ near Storehead in Assynt, will fall with a crash so loud as to cause the laird of Leadmore’s cattle, twenty miles away, to break their tethers.” Brahan Seer)

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New Year New Look

Global Exchange Programme

Bea and Ella (Lower Sixth) spent two weeks at one of Downe House’s Partner Schools in India as part of the Global Exchange Programme.

The girls participated in a full timetable of lessons and extracurricular activities including Indian dancing and found that the teaching style was quite different from Downe House. They enjoyed the lessons particularly History where they learned about the struggle for Indian Independence from the British and in Economics where the emphasis was on reducing poverty from the developing country’s viewpoint.

Ella said, “We both felt that this exchange would be a great opportunity to learn about the Indian culture and expand our knowledge as global citizens, and so we decided to apply for this exchange together.

One of the biggest changes for us was probably the food and we definitely found it rather different to home. We enjoyed a variety of meals, with some particularly interesting ones including a breakfast of Southern Indian dosas which were a type of pancake with spicy pickle and curd!”

During the trip, the girls had lots of opportunities to explore the local area and they visited a Buddhist monastery in Clement Town, the mountain town of Missouri as well as attending an International Science Fair at Doone Boys’ School. Bea said, “We were lucky enough to be visiting India at the time of Diwali, the festival

of light and two of the Wellham girls kindly took us home for the weekend to celebrate with their families. It was an incredible experience and the whole city was lit up with fairy lights and fireworks. Overall we had the best time and learnt so much.

We were only out there for two short weeks but we ended up making some amazing friends and unforgettable memories.“ The two girls were given a very warm welcome by Wellham Girls School in Dehradun located in the Garhwal region in the northern part of India. It was established in 1957 and is now a leading boarding school in India with 600 girls on the roll. Downe House has an international exchange programme with eleven partner schools around the globe including Australia, Sweden, South Africa and India. Incoming and outgoing exchanges take place throughout the year, allowing girls to expand their cultural horizons, experience different learning styles and develop a global outlook.

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We were lucky enough to be visiting India at the time of Diwali, the festival of light and two of the Wellham girls kindly took us home for the weekend to celebrate with their families. It was an incredible experience and the whole city was lit up with fairy lights and fireworks.

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Downe House has always taken pride in being an innovative School, constantly evolving in line with its commitment to being at the forefront of girls’ education. It has moved forward considerably over the last few decades and we very much wanted this to be reflected in our brand. With this in mind, a little over a year ago we began a branding review. With the Centre for Learning on the horizon, it seems the right moment for our branding to evolve to reflect our values and attributes: innovation in learning, a sense of place and the way of life that boarding represents.

After a thorough consultation process with prep school heads, staff, pupils, governors, parents and prospective parents, exploring our mission and values as well as our competitive positioning, we are excited to launch our new brand, which we feel reflects these values and makes a bold, modern and purposeful statement about Downe House in the twenty first century.

From January 2017 you will start to notice this new visual brand identity, which will be brought to life through a new DH logo, typography, colour palette, imagery and tone of voice on the website, signage, publications and social media. Whilst we fully recognise the heritage of our current brand, this new direction will be a visual reminder that we are moving forward and that our personality is not static.

We hope you will find the new logo modern, distinctive, bold and purposeful. Importantly it captures the character of the School and, when combined with the other elements of the brand, it conveys the creativity, confidence and trustworthiness of Downe House to everyone who comes into contact with it!

an adventure in education

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Written by: Ms Kate Raines (Communications Manager)

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Whilst we fully recognise the heritage of our current brand, this new direction will be a visual reminder that we are moving forward and that our personality is not static.

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dings d e W Share your happy news with us.

E: foundation@downehouse.net Thank you to our Facebook friends!

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Entrepreneur & Business Start Up Cluster Group

Medical & Healthcare Cluster Group

Entrepreneurship was the hot topic at the recent DH LINKS Cluster Group which brought together current parents and alumnae who have started their own business. It was fantastic to invite ten Lower and Upper Sixth girls to this event and give them an insight into the world of small businesses.

The event took place at The Atlas pub in Fulham on Wednesday 16 November and we were hosted by current parent, Mr Richard Manners. He gave us all a wonderful insight into how he started his business and the hurdles he has overcome since purchasing The Atlas pub with his brother nearly twenty years ago. Mr Manners was then joined for a Question and Answer session by an expert panel consisting of Harriot PleydellBouverie (DH 2003), Marylou Thistleton-Smith (DH 1990) and Mark Wippell (current parent).

Questions were led by the Sixth Form girls, with knowledge and advice being shared around the room from not only the panel but other alumnae and parents who had joined us.

The event was a huge success and we are already looking at how we can develop a future follow up event.

We were delighted to hold the second DH LINKS Cluster Group for the Medical/Allied Healthcare professions on 12 October at Guy’s Hospital. In attendance were a good number of alumnae who are currently working in medical professions or studying medicine/ related degrees at University, as well as current parents working in medicine. We invited along our Sixth Form girls who have expressed an interest to pursue a career in medicine; they had the opportunity to ask plenty of questions and gain valuable contact details for future work shadowing opportunities.

The evening was supported by Sir John Cunningham, Professor of Nephrology at University College London and Consultant Nephrologist at The Royal Free Hospital who gave a talk to the group about his particular career path. The parents and alumnae in attendance represented various stages in the medical careers pathway including undergraduate study in medicine, GP training, medical marketing, clinical and academic research, PhD study, training directors and consultants at a range of hospitals.

We were thrilled to welcome back Sophie Bashall (DH 2014) and Shivani Singh (DH 2015) who both attended the first DH LINKS Medical Cluster Group as Sixth Form students and are now following their dream of studying medicine.

Sophie is currently at Barts and Shivani at St George’s.

Written by: Mrs Alexandra Barlow (DH LINKS Coordinator)

Written by: Mrs Alexandra Barlow (DH LINKS Coordinator)

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Work Shadowing Case Study

Industry: Architecture & Design Alumna: Juliette Blackshaw (DH 2000) Pupil: Lauren Griffith (LVI) During the summer I spent one week working with Farrells Architecture Firm who are located in North London but are an international cooperation, operating mainly from Hong Kong, Shanghai, and London. On arrival I was partnered up to my mentor for the week, Alec, who works as an architectural assistant as well as managing the work experience sector of the company. Having expressed my interest in rejuvenation, redevelopment and sustainability over previous emails, Farrells kindly recognised this and catered my week around this interest.

On my first day I was given a plot of land

by Paddington Green on which I was asked to come up with my own ideas on how I would attempt to redevelop the now abandoned area, hypothetically. I was very much thrown into the deep end, which I did actually enjoy, as I was asked to not only raise the socioeconomic rating of the area of land I was rejuvenating, but also had to consider how I could intertwine my ideas with the locals and involve the surrounding communities. Having sketched up design ideas, debriefed them to Alec and his team, I was set off transferring my sketches into their graphic design programming software in order to formalise my suggested ideas. This was very frustrating work as the intricacy of the programming required patience and care but eventually I got used to the software and

the work became easier. On the fourth day my designs were printed in a blue print format and I was taken to the model workroom to make my ideas come to life in 3D form. I was shown how the company uses the 3D printer to make other large scale models they have produced for the numerous masterplans Farrells has undertaken, including the Earl’s Court Redevelopment project. I used foam to make a miniature model of my blue prints, which again was a very fiddly job but the end product felt really rewarding and it was amazing to see my ideas transform into something more lifelike and realistic.

Throughout the week I was introduced to various members of the Farrells team who all work as architects with an emphasis on large scale projects and masterplans. The week was very informative and it opened my eyes to the world of architecture as well as the path I would have to take to find myself a place in this fascinating sector of business. I cannot thank Farrells enough for granting me this opportunity as well as DH LINKS which was hugely important in helping find me a work shadowing placement with the company.

AGN

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The Oratory

On Saturday 3 December, AGN held a Great Gatsby themed ball in support of Sparkes Home in Sri Lanka, our international link charity.

We invited boys from the Oratory, and everyone looked quite the part in glittery dresses and smart suits.

First we had dinner in the Main Dining Room, where we had some excellent food and had a chance to talk with the boys on our table. I liked the way that we were encouraged to talk and socialise with the boys, as it was very

come together to raise money different to all the previous socials I have been to. Shortly before we moved over to the PAC, the winners of the silent auction were announced, where some wonderful prizes and opportunities were given including work experience with a Queen’s Counsel and a rather delicious looking Harrods Hamper!

Finally, we had two action packed hours, filled with dancing in the PAC. An amazing band called Pandora’s Jukebox played some well-known songs non-stop, which

Written by: Lauren Griffith (Lower Sixth)

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entertained us all for a long time.

After a late finish, the boys were escorted back and everyone left, exhausted, but excited for the next one in two years’ time and pleased that we had raised £3,500 for a great cause.

Written by: Sabrina Sambhi (Upper Fifth)

Centre for Learning

Obituaries

Project Update

Rosalind Angela Fishburn ex-Mallinson, née Hoare (1946 – 2016) DH 1958 - 1961 Eulogy read by Mr Tim Guinness at Rosalind’s funeral on Thursday 8 December 2016.

The Downe House site has been a hive of activity. In December, we saw the beginning of phase II of the Centre for Learning enabling works, a series of building and administration cabins were set up on site and the existing heras fencing was re-ordered to allow for access for the ground works to commence.

The ground works are now well underway and we hope this phase of the work will be completed by the end of January.

The Foundation Office returned following a wonderful Christmas and New Year break revitalised and ready to celebrate the School’s 110th Anniversary Year. While we were away a number of donations came into the office from the Centre for Learning alumnae appeal mailing and so far we have raised just over £7,000 with money still coming in. Our recent parents’ appeal mailing is still

producing donations having raised an additional £65,000 and counting.

The fundraising campaign now stands at an impressive £5.8 million from donations and firm pledges leaving the School with just under £700,000 left to be raised.

Thanks again to everyone who has supported the project.

If you haven’t yet supported the appeal and would like to be part of this transformational project and celebrate the School’s anniversary there is still time and lots of rooms, areas, steps, pavers and equipment left to sponsor.

For more information and ways to support please contact the Foundation Office on 01635 204719 or email foundation@downehouse.net.

For project updates, please visit: www.downehouse.net/10yearvision.asp

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So: my first cousin Rosalind, beloved by many people, here and all around the world, is gone.

The family has asked me to say a few words.

My shoulder was initially tapped

by Ros a year ago, when we spent a lovely weekend together down at Bembridge. I felt very honoured to have been selected by her, albeit a bit daunted. I was a year and three months younger than Ros, and I was a boy too, so the gulf between us, back then, was of course quite big. But . . . Rollo, her father, and my mother, Angela, were twins, so they were very close; and the fact that we lived not far from each other in Hampshire, meant I did see quite a lot of her over the first 20 years of her life.

Ros was born 70 years ago, on 4 April 1946, less than a year after the end of the War. Her blood mingled the Hoares and the Charringtons, and the Herveys and Jeffreys. She and Michael her brother grew up here, in Dogmersfield, just up the drive. It was a boisterous childhood; filled with horses with names like Tom Thumb and My Little Peter.

And it was also a life full of parties and friends.

One of her friends told me that at around eight she won the sisters’ race at the Sports Day at Heatherdown – Michael’s prep school. This friend has a clear picture of flaming red hair and of an iron determination to win!

At around the time she was sent off to her first boarding school, hints of her fashion sense – which was a conspicuous feature of her life – began to emerge. She detested the coat she’d been dispatched in.

Her solution was admirably direct: scissor it, from hem to collar, in neat parallel cuts, and put it back on its hanger. It worked. There was a different, more approved model for the next term.

School, or rather schools – as she shed them like coats – ended with Downe House. I am reliably informed they were a challenging crew. So badly behaved, apparently, that one term the teachers struck against their whole form, refusing to go on. So the form struck back. Taking the bit between their teeth, they proceeded to teach themselves. Text books were studied as never before, tests applied to each other, and the whole class blazed through its exams successfully.

Soon enough, horses and schools yielded to skiing – especially in Wengen and

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St Moritz – and to London life – where her bases were Queensgate and Lowndes Square. Her Down Hill Only skiing prowess led to the godlike status of becoming a Ski Club of Great Britain Rep. Brother Michael struggled to keep up. And apparently her Coming Out party, in the Dower House next door, was quite something.

Then brother Michael got married and moved to Australia; and Ros, who had some medical condition which she claimed to have been told needed the sun, decided quite abruptly to pay him a visit.

She’d not been there two minutes before her medical condition disappeared, never to reappear, and she was asked out by an Australian – who, horror of horrors, appeared at the door to take her out . . . wearing SHORTS. As she went out of the front door with this ozzie, who should come in – but the handsome and dashing Willy Mallinson, who was being brought round to meet Michael. The horrid man in shorts got short shrift;

and very soon Willy and Ros were an item. And indeed very quickly thereafter, they returned to get married at Winchfield.

Those of us there will remember Ros fainting, dramatically, in the church. What more can a bride do? Then straight back to Oz, where more life-long friendships were formed. And two years later – James.

At this stage, Ros was only just 24.

One friend reminisced to me: “My clearest memories back then are of winter weekends: Ros, Willy, my wife and I, skiing at Mt Buller, about two hours’ drive north of Melbourne. My wife was a member of Southern Cross Ski Club which was so run down that none of the members ever stayed there.

It became our private ski lodge, with a memorable bunk-room with three tiers of four bunks, full of very relaxed friends. Ros was a beautiful and stylish skier, who loved speed and fearlessly tackled the Black Runs. My last memory of skiing with her was when she joined a group of Aussie friends in Lech in March 2009. She showed the identical style and speed from 40 years earlier: and still had the looks and figure of a teenager!”

Life with Willy was a whirlwind.

The infant James was brought

back via adventures in Bali, Nepal and Jamaica. (James, I wonder if you remember them). Home was established in Addison Gardens and Kate was born soon thereafter.

Willy moved between a daytime job in Mallinson’s timber company and evenings working at Dingwalls, a live music club in Camden which he’d established with friends.

Unfortunately, Willy’s whirlwind also had a downside: the dreaded drink. And sadly the marriage was brought down by it. This meant Ros moving out from Willy, initially to her parents, Elizabeth and Rollo, at the Dower House, which is just behind us; and then to her own place off Ravenscourt Park.

Ros’s next regret was having truncated her education. So in the early eighties she enrolled at London University, as a mature student, reading Mediaeval History.

After graduating, she then joined the Royal Academy, where she became Head of Events, and organised numerous outings for the 70,000 Friends of the RA. She was highly knowledgeable and held in great esteem, being universally popular from the President to the girls in the post room.

She also travelled extensively, inculcating the passion in her children. James left Eton for Oxford,

where he studied Sanskrit, and thence to India. Kate acquired a taste for Russia and Central Asia, travelling with Ros to Moscow, Samarkand and Lake Baikal; and went on to study Russian at Edinburgh. James is now the Lecturer in Sanskrit at London University SOAS; Kate is now a leading regional expert, covering Central Asia. Neither had their horizons narrowed by their mother.

Then, in 1991 Ros met Dale, who tells me that he was immediately smitten. As today, this was in fact at a funeral – life from death – of Ros’s delightful godfather, Peter Willes, who was also Dale’s cousin.

Ros and Dale married five years later. Two decades of action and travels followed: China, Central Asia, lots of India, the States, Mongolia, Cuba, Syria, Burma – sometimes accompanied by Dale’s children as well as by Ros’s. At the end of the last millennium, Dale sold his business – and for several years they lived at homes in Bouillon in the Ardennes, and for six months in Paris. The permanent home in the Ardennes enabled an intensive exposure to Europe – which Ros told Dale she’d been saving for her middle age! Amongst other things, the two of them devised a successful formula of taking a place

in a major city for a full month at a time: Istanbul, Rome, Berlin fitted between more exotic locations outside Europe. They didn’t waste time.

James and Kate had by now both married: to Claudia and Gareth, and these unions then brought another generation of children. Dale’s girls, Amelia and Jemima, both married too, both with children.

Willie, with whom Ros had become completely reconciled by the mid ‘80s, then died; and the Watch House, on the Isle of Wight – although inherited by James and Kate – was taken for the duration

by Dale and Ros. It became a wonderful retreat and a focus for their many friends, and in particular for their children, nephews, nieces and grandchildren – sailing, crabbing and cartwheeling.

All this was up until the Christmas before last, in Bouillon, when Dale returned from getting their car fixed – and found Ros prostrate and semi-conscious. It was immediately obvious to them that their lives had changed profoundly and dramatically. Thankfully, modern medicine was able to provide some respite. It gave Ros the breathing space to be able to connect up fully with family and friends.

James and Kate have remained

extraordinarily close and hugely supportive throughout this last difficult period of her illness. As have Dale’s children, and the combined fleet of grandchildren.

And then there was the incredible support which she received from Dale.

The loving warmth from all of them, and from her wonderfully close friends, was of course also a tribute to how much she’d earned it over so many years. It was no accident.

It’s quite difficult to try to summarise someone’s qualities – but needs must.

So for starters here are a few of the comments which I heard from the people I have spoken to over the last two weeks: “Ros was a saint!!”

“The kindest, nicest, most loyal person you could ever meet – the most fantastic lady, wife, mother and now grandmother – I cannot even think of coming to London and not seeing her – I was a little wild in those early days in Oz! – but Ros was always there for me” “I have such fond memories of her – always laughing, happy, understanding , positive and an absolute joy to be around – she was a great traveller, and I see a lot of Ros in Kate – she is amazing as is James.”

“So much humour; utterly stylish.”

“Ros, with her perfect poise – at all times.”

“I never met anyone kinder.”

“She was a Bach Choir groupie; but she never forgot having once stood in a lift with Keith Richards.”

“No forthcoming exhibition or play ever escaped her attention.”

“From a standing start, Ros mastered swathes of gardening skills, which she implemented spectacularly at the Watch House.”

“A star in our firmament.”

So in conclusion: above all, over the course of her life, Ros accumulated a wonderfully loyal group of great friends, attracted by her enchanting mixture of diffidence, beauty, fun, stylishness, knowledge and sympathy.

Friends who loved her.

And who will miss her terribly.

Written by: Mr Tim Guinness

Obituaries Mrs Jenny Howard, a former long-standing member of staff, died suddenly on 4 January 2017.

Beginning as an Assistant Housemistress in Ancren Gate in 1989, she took over as the first Housemistress of Ancren Gate North in 1991. She remained in post for four years and then in 1995 she took over as Head of Veyrines.

As a teacher of French she was very well suited to the role and remained there, known to the girls under her care as Madame H, until her retirement in 2003. She remained living in France following her retirement.

Always busy and energetic, but also kind and caring, she also found time to supervise the Children’s Holiday Weeks run by the Lower Sixth and held for several years in the 1990s.

Written by: Mrs Jennifer Kingsland (Former Staff)

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Obituaries

Obituaries Shirley Corke née Bridges (1924 – 2015) DH 1938 - 1942

Diana Jill Campbell Tetlow née Sellers (1944 – 2016) DH 1957 - 1962 While at Downe House she began to be very interested in painting, but her art teacher told her she would never be a portrait painter.

In fact, this was probably the best thing she could have said to Diana, who was incredibly stubborn, as it would have spurred her on to prove her teacher wrong. When she left school she worked as a secretary at Ogilvy Advertising, continuing to paint, but then married Tim Tetlow and moved to Bermuda.

In Bermuda, Diana had two children, Timothy and Anna (who also went to Downe House). She kept painting and soon became the go-to artist on the island for portraits, either in pastel or oil.

She painted several local and international dignitaries including United States Secretary of State Colin Powel and former British Home Secretary and Governor of Bermuda, Lord Waddington. She also spent a month living with the Maasai, capturing their way of life. The proceeds of her Maasai exhibition went to a charity she set up preserving Maasai artefacts.

However, portraits were only the tip of the iceberg of Diana’s many artistic talents. She painted beautiful still life and landscapes.

She was also an accomplished creator of costumes and a set

designer and builder. She started out with make-up design on the movie set of her childhood friend, Micheal Reeves, the British filmmaker known best for the 1968 film Witchfinder General.

For the Bermuda Musical and Dramatic Society she worked on many productions, including costumes for Cabaret and set and costumes for The Importance of Being Ernest. Her three dimensional work includes a bronze statue of Prospero, which is awarded by the Bermuda International Film Festival for lifetime achievement in film.

Aside from her creative skills, Diana was also a keen gardener.

Her two favourite things to grow were milkweed and roses. The former, milkweed, is the only plant

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the sadly disappearing Monarch caterpillar will eat, turning into beautiful distinctive black and orange butterflies, which she loved to nurture and observe. The latter, roses, were the subject of her last exhibition ‘Tinker’s Roses’ dedicated to her first granddaughter Tinker.

Diana Tetlow was a remarkable woman – hugely talented and feisty but always wickedly and wonderfully amusing. She had a great sense for adventure – living in Paris in her early twenties to further her art, and in her sixties spending seven years in San Gimignano in Italy when she retired.

Written by: Anna Tetlow (DH 1991)

Shirley Frances Bridges was born on 23 October 1924, on her grandfather (the Poet Laureate) Robert Bridges’ 80th birthday. Her upbringing, starting in the nursery with Nanny and nursemaids, with Cook, and being driven to her grandparents in the country by their chauffeur, seems extraordinarily remote now, but at the time it was quite ordinary. An early childhood in London at Campden Hill Square, where she made many life-long friends, was followed at the age of eleven by a move to Headley, Surrey.

She went to Downe House from 1938-42, where she became head girl (“Someone had to be” as she said when one of her children uncovered this secret). Somerville followed, to read History. She had wanted to read English, but her father wouldn’t allow it. In retrospect she felt that he had been right. She loved Oxford life, though it was not quite itself during the war, with most men only doing one-year war degrees. She and her friends, in particular Anne Adrian, joined (and ran) several societies simply in order to stop them folding before the men returned.

A year’s war-work followed, teaching at the Farmhouse School, Wendover. This unusual school had lessons in the mornings and farmwork in the afternoons. While she was unsure of its effectiveness, it sparked a life-long interest in the education of children.

Back at Oxford, she studied for a B Litt, and then in 1948 gained a Rome Scholarship in Mediaeval Studies. She became highly proficient in Italian, honed her palaeographical skills and published a number of papers, co-authoring at least one with John Ward Perkins.

Returning to England in 1952, she

became a Tutorial Research Student at Royal Holloway for a year, and then an Assistant at the department of History at Edinburgh University. Here she met Hilary Corke, then a lecturer in the English Department. From 1955 Shirley was Lecturer in Mediaeval European History at Birmingham University, until she and Hilary married in June 1957.

Fortuitously, a cousin had just vacated a house owned by her family, and so Shirley and Hilary were able to fulfil her childhood dream of living at Abinger. She lived at Eversheds for the rest of her life.

Although she quickly had four children, whom she and Hilary homeeducated, this was not a sufficient outlet for her abounding energy and restless mind. While the children were very small she worked at home, translating from Italian. This included Ragghianti’s ‘The Painters of Pompeii’ and a novel, Marotti’s ‘The Slaves of Time’.

In 1968 she took a part-time job

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as assistant to Dr Enid Dance at Guildford Museum and Muniment Room. This was an interesting and varied job, which included archival work such as listing and conservation of the papers of Guildford Borough, the Diocese, the Loseley Manuscripts, Parish Registers and other Public Records, together with curation of the archaeological and other collections. The staff all did whatever came to hand. On occasion, in those pre-PPG16 days – and pre-Healthand-Safety –, the whole staff (bar the caretaker) would abandon the building in order to excavate something found by building work.

Once Shirley spent a week or two at the bottom of a pit in the Tunsgate, where she found an unusual green border-ware face-jug. This was christened by the rest of the team ‘Dame Shirley’.

After Enid Dance retired in 1974, the museum and Muniment Room were separated. Shirley became the full-time Assistant Archivist at the

Muniment Room, and then in 1982 the Archivist-in-Charge. She retired in 1989. During this time she was actively collecting papers of many sorts. Whenever she heard that some firm was closing or moving, she would get in touch and persuade the owners to let her rummage through – often filthy – stores. The ‘kitchen’ behind her office became a conservation room, always full of chests of papers undergoing fungicidal treatment. When Dennis moved, it contained hundreds of glass-plate photographs of fireengines and thousands of blue-prints of engine-parts, all brought back in her car, all covered in decades of dust and mould. She didn’t neglect the searchers, teaching palaeography courses and building up a team of volunteers to read and list the collections.

She also did her own research.

Sometimes this came out of the Muniment Room work. When it was decreed that parishes should no longer store their registers in their ancient chests, but either deposit them in record offices or modern safes, it was Shirley’s job to see that they complied. She noticed that the first registers of a number of parishes were physically identical, and this led to a study of civil marriage during the interregnum. The essay she wrote on this won a national essay prize. She also contributed the documentary research sections to a number of archaeological reports, wrote several local guide books (including ‘Guildford: a pictorial history’, Phillimore, 1990), and edited and contributed to a historical and literary magazine (Leaves, 1986-92).

After retirement from the Muniment Room, she became a self-employed researcher. She was engaged by the National Trust to produce historical landscape surveys for several of their properties. She enjoyed the detective element of this, going to obscure archives, and also tramping through undergrowth in search of ancient, almost flattened boundaries.

She did the same thing for the Shere Manor Estate in support of their

successful full bid to prevent fourwheeled vehicles using a track across the Hurtwood. A time-consuming but very interesting project, which meant travel all over the country, was the writing of the history of the law firm Farrer and Co, to which she had family connections. At the same time she was the Archivist to Charterhouse. This was a time when public schools were starting to have professional archivists, rather than interested teachers. Shirley founded an association of school archivists to encourage this and to support the archivists who often worked alone and who sometimes were not very well qualified. She also wrote a history of the Charterhouse Mission in Southwark, which was published by the school.

Another project was a centenary history of the Leith Hill Musical Festival, which had been founded

by Shirley’s step-grandmother and Meggie Vaughan Williams. Many members of Shirley’s family had been involved in this, and she could contribute from her family archive as well as her writing. (‘Music Won the Cause’, 2005).

For the last fifteen or so years of her life she took up a project first started in Rome – a fictionalised life of Margherita Aldobrandesca.

Unfortunately the research was so fascinating that she never actually wrote a word of the book.

Her interest in education meant that when the local authority decided to close Abinger Hammer School in 1982, she decided to try to keep it open as a non-fee-paying charitable institution. This was possible because the building had been built by her great-grandfather, and when the council took it over, he made the stipulation that if ever it ceased to be a school the family would get it back. Although the building was free, keeping the school open was a huge undertaking, which took up vast - and increasing – amounts of Shirley’s time. A trust was formed, and fundraising took over everyone’s lives – jumble-sales, Christmas bazaars, the Teddy Bear’s Picnic

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(the main annual event, the concept of which – competitive classes for bears – was invented by Hilary), and endless begging-letters. All this as well as actually running a school with its endless inspections and rules and regulations to be met.

The school finally closed in 2009 as a result of Surrey County Council admission policies, which meant that Abinger Hammer children were disadvantaged.

Her life was also full of painting, music and poetry. She drew and painted pen and water-colour drawings, and some of her closest friendships were with painters. She played the violin and sang, and chamber music with her family and friends was a necessity to her. Poetry though was with her every day. Her first volume of verse is dated 1934, while the last completed poem is dated 17 June 2014. She always had a notebook with her, in which she would write stray lines, later to be forged into what were often highlywrought many-layered poems.

Others are - on the face of it anyway – very simple. Her subjects range widely, from archaeology, politics, childhood, places, to thoughts on losing memory. All show an immense empathy with other lives and other times. She published ‘Still Life with Pram’ in 1984, and in many, worldwide journals. Poetry for her was an intensely private matter; she kept journals containing her work hidden from her children at the back of bookcases. This strategy failed when she won a South-East Arts ‘Poetry on the Buses’ competition and her work appeared on buses all over the region.

She will be remembered by her friends for erudite conversation, passionate advocacy of often surprising causes, warm affection, wonderful food and a brilliant smile.

Shirley (Bridges) Corke, 23 October 1924 – 20 December 2015. Married Hilary Corke 1957, four children, three grandchildren.

Written by: Emma Corke

Obituaries

Angela Sinclair-Loutit, née Renzy-Martin (1921 - 2016) DH 1936 - 1939 Angela Sinclair-Loutit, died in October 2016 aged 95.

Thin with spiky hair, she always had a twinkle in her eyes. She wore second hand clothes from charity shops and was proud of it. Angela was often hunched over her computer until 3am, smoking and writing articles or letters of protest, occasionally sipping a glass of wine. Calling herself an “aggressive pacifist”, she was a long-time member both of CND and of the Labour party, and was a friend of her local MP, Jeremy Corbyn.

Born in Kensington, London, to Edward de Renzy-Martin, a lieutenant colonel in the army, and his wife, Winifred (nee Hull), Angela was raised in Hampshire, and after attending Downe House, was among one of the early intakes of women students at Oxford University.

Already a determined pacifist, she became a conscientious objector when the second world war broke out and left university to sign up with the Friends Ambulance Unit, with which she helped to reunite dispersed families, trained as a nurse under Edwina Mountbatten and volunteered to work with Slav refugees in camps in Egypt, where she taught herself Serbo-Croat. She then drove a truck, which she had learned to service herself, through Yugoslavia, delivering medical equipment.

In Egypt she met Kenneth Sinclair-Loutit, a doctor. They married in 1946 and after the war moved to London, where Kenneth set up the Finsbury health centre.

Thereafter, as Kenneth took on jobs of increasing importance with the

‘A picnic in summer 1937’ photograph sourced from the Mariella Fischer-Williams collection

World Health Organisation and as an adviser to Unicef, they lived in Canada, France, Thailand and Morocco, all of which contributed to consolidating Angela’s great free spirit, full of empathy for the different peoples of the world.

In 1972 she returned to London with their three teenaged children, but Kenneth decided not to return.

Angela trained as a psychiatric social worker and settled in Islington, north London, where, in retirement, she wrote for the Islington Gazette and the socialist newspaper Tribune, was secretary of the Islington Pensioners Forum, and campaigned against closure of the local Whittington hospital A&E department. She was also part of a team of activists that helped to save Gillespie Park in Highbury.

Angela was bright and incisive to the end, up to date with world affairs and political developments.

She is survived by her children, David, Stephan and Jessica, and by seven grandchildren.

Courtesy of Guardian News & Media Ltd (October 2016)

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Death Notifications Mrs Jane Baker (née Dunphie) DH 1949 Miss Ingeborg Bratman - DH 1952 Mrs Harriet Dykes (née Johnson) DH 1979 Mrs Joanna Matthews (née Wollaston) - DH 1945 Ms Angela Sinclair-Loutit (née Renzy-Martin) DH 1939 Mrs Philippa Duce (née Mynors) DH 1967 Mrs Mary Aice Trustram Eve (née Fraser) - DH 1955 Miss Betsy Ashton - DH 1949 Miss Elizabeth Young - DH 1942 Mrs Margery Farr (née Dawson) DH 1944 Mrs Elisabeth Ratiu (née Pilkington) - DH 1937 Mrs Shirley Corke (née Bridges) DH 1942 Mrs Rachel Fairie (née Pryor) DH 1954 Mrs Diana Tetlow (née Sellers) DH 1962 Mrs Cicely Drewe (née Hesketh Prichard) - DH 1958

Anne Ridler A blue plaque was unveiled at Anne Ridler’s (DH 1930) former Oxford home in September by family members and Michael Schmidt (left). Born in 1912, Anne Ridler was educated at Downe House, in Italy and at King’s College, London.

She worked on the editorial staff of Faber & Faber, for a time as assistant to T. S. Eliot and later as a freelance reader. She was married to Vivian Ridler, who was Printer to the University of Oxford 1958-1978. She published ten collections of poetry, original and translated opera libretti, including Monteverdi’s Orfeo.

The Observer described Anne Ridler as ‘one of the best poets of her generation’.

Anne Ridler’s first book, Poems, was published in 1939. Her poetry developed in the light and shadow of the poets of the day - MacNeice and Auden, but also Durrell and Watkins. As important is a deep affinity with the secular and devotional writers of the 16th and 17th centuries. Ambitious for her poems, she was never ambitious for reputation. Like that of her friend E.J.Scovell, her work has not received proper recognition until now.

The Listener called her ‘a purposeful and undistracted poet, with a maturely consistent technique at her command.’ This collection contains all that she wished to preserve from her volumes of lyric poetry, together with the choruses from the play The Trial of Thomas Cranmer, and a masque for music by Elizabeth Maconchy, The Jesse Tree.

DHSA News

Magazine

2017

Recent Grant Awards Grants have been awarded to the following: Charlotte Bingham (DH 2012) Masters in Science Communication Lukyn Gedge (DH 2012) Masters in Public Health Our thanks to Michael Schmidt for the photograph She published ten collections of poetry, original and translated opera libretti, including Monteverdi’s Orfeo. She was also the author of verse plays which have been performed in Oxford and London. The handsome John Piper cover image was originally drawn for The Jesse Tree.

Our thanks to Carcanet Press for allowing us to print this article

Emily Jack (DH 2008) - PGCE Iona Macmillan-Douglas(DH 2010) - Internship with USA lawyers representing Death Row inmates Alexandra Moss (DH 2007) Tante Marie cookery course Susannah Moss (DH 2009) - To learn the language (Amharic) in Ethiopia Emma Roberts (DH 2009) Masters - Environment, Policy and Globalisation Isabella Stopford (DH 2010) Medical elective in the Philippines

DHSA Magazine 2017 This will be published at the end of January 2017. Any member who does not receive a copy should contact the administrator at dhsa@downehouse.net Our thanks go to all who contributed their news, to the registrars and especially to Louise Peto, the DHSA administrator, and her colleagues in the Foundation Office.

Reunion at the Hurlingham Club In September 2016, more than seventy members who left Downe House before 1963 returned to the Hurlingham Club for a very enjoyable lunch party.

We were delighted that all decades were well represented

Births

Fond Farewell

Many congratulations to Sheila David (DH 2000) whose daughter Clementine R. M. Goatman was born on 16 August 2016 at St Mary’s Hospital, London weighing 6 lbs 6 ozs.

Patricia Lockwood 1990 - 2016 At the end of the Michaelmas Term we said a fond farewell to Patricia Lockwood after 26 wonderful years of service at Downe House. She will be missed by us all and particularly by the girls in Aisholt. Many will remember Pat from her days as a member of the catering team. She ruled the Main Dining Room!

Our thanks go to Pat and we wish her well in her retirement.

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and so many Old Seniors were able to attend. We were particularly pleased that some of our most senior Seniors, at School in the 1940s, were able to be with us.

Notice of Annual General Meeting 2017 The AGM of the DHSA will be held on Tuesday 21 February 2017 at 30 Stevenage Road, London SW6 6ET at 8.00pm by kind permission of Mrs Catherine Palmer.

Any member wishing to attend should notify the DHSA administrator by 14 February. (telephone 01635 204797 or dhsa@downehouse.net)

Gift Fair 2016 Raising funds for local charities

The 2016 annual Gift Fair was a huge success and it was wonderful to see the Performing Arts Centre buzzing with parents, staff and friends of the Downe House community. We were treated to a variety of stalls, which offered everything from cheese to toys, designer jewellery, pyjamas, pottery, cashmere ponchos, hats, fudge, cakes and the CafĂŠ which served hot refreshments.

Together we raised over ÂŁ6,000 for local charities; Riding for the Disabled Association, The Castle School, Swings and Smiles and Mary Hare School.

We are already looking forward to 2017.

Christmas at Downe House

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Dates for the Diary 2017 Tuesday 21 March – Day of Discovery Wednesday 26 April – Class of 2012, 5 Year Reunion Wednesday 3 May – DH LINKS PR, Media & Marketing Cluster Group Saturday 1 & Sunday 2 July – Founder’s Weekend Sunday 1 October – Alumnae & Family 110th Anniversary Celebrations at Downe House

Connect with us: Join us on Facebook - Downe House Alumnae Follow us on Twitter DowneFoundation or Downe House ‘DH LINKS’ group 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