Journal Sherborne Old Girls
No. 55 – 2021
No. 55 – 2021
Editorial Team Fiona James
Contents
Anna Anthony Tim Gibson Executive Committee
Design and print Shelleys
Journal Enclosures Your invitation to the Old Girls Day & AGM 2022.
The Old Girls Office Sherborne Girls Bradford Road Sherborne Dorset DT9 3QN T: 01935 818329 E: oldgirls@sherborne.com www.sherborne.com/Sherborne-Old-Girls
From the Secretary
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From the Chairman
2
From Sherborne Girls Head
3
and President of Sherborne Old Girls Development
7
New SOG Members 2021
8
Daughters and Granddaughters of OGs
8
Obituaries
9
Births, Marriages & Deaths
16
Further News
18
Features
22
The Green Gardener
40
School News
42
News from Honorary Members
44
Sherborne Old Girls Sherborne Girls Alumnae Sherborne Girls SherborneOldGirls sherbornegirlsconnect.com
IBC
The cover photo was taken during a CCF training day by Josie Sturgess-Mills.
From
T H E S E C R E TA R Y Fiona James
s
As 2021 draws to a close and we take a moment to reflect on the year, it
has struck me what a strong sense of community we have. This comes to
the fore during trying times like those we’ve experienced in the last couple of years. It was only a short time ago that wearing a mask and lateral flow testing were unheard of, yet now they are part of our daily lives. In the 2020 Journal, we featured Old Girls who worked in the NHS as well as those who helped their local communities in a variety of ways during the Covid crisis. This year, we wanted to reflect on the core values of Sherborne Girls that have remained constant over the decades and remain at the heart of our community today. With this in mind, we asked Old Girls from the 1950s to our more recent leavers to reflect and comment on their experiences at School. We hope that you enjoy reading this section of the magazine. With our environmental impact at the forefront of everyone’s mind, I hope you enjoy reading an article from Ellie Edkins which includes information on how we can all make our outside space more attractive to butterflies and bees. We have also sourced the paper for the Journal from a sustainable source that is 100% carbon neutral. We have removed the laminate from the cover this year and have instead chosen an environmentally friendly, recyclable coating.
During the first half of 2020 we were unable to hold any events and so were particularly delighted to start our programme of reunions and events from September 2020. We have a wide range of events and reunions planned for 2022, which are listed on our website, and look forward to seeing as many Old Girls as possible at them. Our Old Girls Day is being held at School on Saturday, 14 May 2022. Your invitation is included with this Journal. Given any potential Covid uncertainties, please check our website for updates before setting off for an event. If you have received an award or have any news you would like to share with us, please do send it in at any time either by email or by post to the Old Girls Office. We would love to celebrate your news with you. You will find the address and email details on the inside front cover. Thank you for your continued support and all good wishes for 2022.
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From
THE CHAIRMAN Alexandra White A’95 Welcome to this edition of the Sherborne Old Girls Journal. 2
Two years of social restrictions have really brought home the value of organisations like ours that bring people together. There is so much packed into this edition, but a consistent theme is that of ‘celebration’: celebration of fantastic events for networking, such as the virtual Women in Leadership conference in June 2021, with over 150 SOGs and current students signing up to talks from 17 represented professions; for celebration of sport such as the Old Girls lacrosse match or the Old Girls golf; and of course for celebrating simple reconnection and fun with the wonderful year group and circle reunions. I am so pleased that some of these could happen in person. After so much positive feedback we will be restarting
the career coaching programme this year – please do get in touch if you would like to apply for this opportunity. Our aim is for Sherborne Old Girls to be an organisation for all its members. If you have any ideas for how the Old Girls Association could be doing things differently to better serve the community, please do let us know. We really value all your ideas. Our very best wishes for a happy, healthy and successful 2022, and we look forward to welcoming as many of you as possible back at School for the Old Girls Day and AGM on Saturday, 14 May 2022.
From
SHERBORNE GIRLS HEAD AND P R E S I D E N T O F SHERBORNE OLD GIRLS Ruth Sullivan AW’91 In these extracts from her speech at Commemoration 2021, Dr Ruth Sullivan reflects on the vision and values that lie at the heart of Sherborne Girls, even in a time of Covid. What is success? We all use the word on a regular basis, but I wonder what our individual interpretation of it actually is? Success has been described as getting what you want. We consider ourselves successful if we reach targets or achieve goals, so I really must apologise as I might currently be one of the least successful Heads ever appointed, and certainly in the history of Sherborne Girls! As I near the end of my third year in office, no pupils turned up at School for one and a half terms; the pitches, Merritt Centre and the Oxley Sports Centre were totally deserted; I have only managed to organise one Commemoration Service in the Abbey, and public examinations have taken place just once! Surely that is one of the worst track records going? It is certainly not what I wanted. In the pre-pandemic heyday
of September 2019, we rolled out our five-year strategy in which we aimed to: • Enhance our position as a leading full-boarding school • Develop the future generation of 21st-century women • Cultivate a culture of aspiration and ambition • Foster both collaboration and communication with the wider community • Provide meaningful opportunities for leadership and management Little did we know that a global pandemic was on the horizon and that its arrival would provide so many opportunities for us to embrace fully as well as challenge us to stress test and fast track these strategic aims. Even so, the myriad complications presented by the pandemic have enabled us
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as a community to continue developing the future generation of 21st-century women who will help shape the future. Rising to challenges The last two years have challenged our pupils in different and complex ways, and they have each developed a wide range of skills and techniques that will equip them with robust coping mechanisms and strategies for the future. Here are some of the skills, qualities and attributes they
have developed, called upon and displayed so often:
of cancelled examinations and Covid uncertainty.
Organisation: navigating online lessons without the usual School structures around them.
Resilience: dealing with changes to our social programmes, with much less interaction across the School or with pupils from Sherborne School.
Memory: strengthening their short- and long-term memory and remembering all that needed to be done in any given day, while learning remotely, without friends, a House team or teachers close by. Courage: embarking on a journey without a map in light
Patience: living with the myriad disruptions of lockdowns, social distancing and remote learning. Negotiation: persuading their parents to let them use the furniture, kitchen utensils, even
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“
I believe the past two years have seen our pupils empower themselves to effect change in a way that reflects the mature, considerate and socially aware group that they undoubtedly are.
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family heirlooms and pets to complete sport challenges or art projects. Compassion: showing such generosity of spirit to stand by their friends when they were finding things hard.
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Initiative: making suggestions about ways to improve School life, such as keeping chickens in Boarding Houses, organising fundraising activities, or finding new forms of entertainment when social activities were restricted. Outlook: despite the ‘noise’ created by the pandemic, knowing that it would end one day, and spotting what is needed for a brighter future. Our ambitions As 21st-century women, our aspiration for our pupils is that they will be a force for good, with a strong moral compass, compassionate and kind, possessed of a deep understanding and appreciation of social and environmental responsibility with the confidence to speak out against injustice, and reach out to protect those less fortunate in society. I believe the past two years have seen our pupils empower themselves to effect change in a way that reflects the mature, considerate
and socially aware group that they undoubtedly are. This is seen in numerous examples, including the pupil-driven introduction of CCF, the establishment of the Diverse Voices Group and the suggestion of a pin badge to help raise funds for our Candlelight Bursaries. As these examples and many others demonstrate, authenticity is at the heart of our ethos at Sherborne Girls. It matters to this generation, and they can spot a deficit of it a mile away. In my first assembly after lockdown, I quoted Nelson Mandela, who said: “Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.” I hope each of our pupils can see just how much education has changed them, and how much change education has inspired them to bring about in the world.
DR SULLIVAN TO SERVE AS SOG PRESIDENT In a recovery of a former practice for Sherborne Old Girls, the Head will now serve as our President. Dr Ruth Sullivan, who attended the School in the Sixth Form, was voted into the role at the 2021 Annual General Meeting. Speaking about her new role, Ruth said: “I am delighted to deepen my connection with Sherborne Old Girls by becoming President. It is always a joy to see what our alumnae are up to and to keep in touch with pupils from every era of the School.”
In 2024, we will celebrate 125 years of preparing young women to go out into the world to lead, to serve and to realise their potential. This milestone is also a moment to assess how we can develop the quality of what we do in the face of accelerating change. By thinking ahead and being bold, we hope to sustain and develop as a leading, full-boarding girls’ school. We will be launching a new campaign to support a range of exciting educational initiatives designed to equip the girls to succeed in, and contribute to, the challenging world in which they will live and work. Key focus areas will be social and environmental responsibility, looking at ways we can reimagine our campus to provide inspirational facilities, as well as mobilising our community of Old Girls and parents to support our girls and leavers with advice, mentoring and networks. We look forward to sharing more details with you in due course. We are already building on our transformational Candlelight Bursaries programme, which offers full bursaries to girls whose challenging home lives mean that a boarding education can be lifechanging. We work in partnership with the Royal National Children’s SpringBoard Foundation to identify girls who would benefit most from our help, and we are currently raising funds to increase the number of girls we can support in this way.
INSPIRING MINDS
Following on from our successful Global Entrepreneurship Week, where we were hugely grateful to our five Old Girls who took part, we plan to launch an Inspiring Minds project. This will involve finding 125 inspirational speakers to talk to the current girls: inspiring Old Girls who can provide recordings for a collection of interviews; and mentors to inspire our current girls and younger Old Girls as they start out in their careers.
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TORCHBEARERS
Our Torchbearers’ society is a very special group of individuals who have chosen to support the School by leaving a gift in their Will. Remembering Sherborne Girls in your Will is one of the most personal and significant ways in which someone can help Sherborne Girls remain at the forefront of women’s education, as well as support the School’s vision to widen access and attract talent irrespective of financial means. We would love to increase our Torchbearers’ community to 125 in our Anniversary year. If you are interested in finding out more about becoming a Torchbearer, supporting our Candlelight programme or would like to discuss any areas mentioned above, please contact: development@ sherborne.com or 01935 818320. Katherine Prideaux-Brune (Massey) A’91, Director of External Affairs Laura Windsor, Development Officer
development
LOOKING TOWARDS OUR 125TH ANNIVERSARY
NEW SOG MEMBERS 8
Welcome to the following ‘new’ Old Girls who left School in summer 2021
DAUGHTERS AND GRANDDAUGHTERS OF OLD GIRLS IN THE SCHOOL
Penelope Aggett
Amelia Lawson
Amara Agwo
Jemima Lawson Johnston
Nicole Appleby
Amelia Livingston Booth
Elleneta Armitage
Olivia Lloyd
Poppy Bond
Angel Lulu-Briggs
Flora Brewster
Meabh Macaskie
Isabella Brown
Benedetta Marchegiani
Anna Cleveland
Louise Noel, Mother
May Cao
Alice McCormick
Jemima Drummond
Louise Taylor, Mother
Samantha Chau
Eve Messervy
Emilia Clements
Lara Miller
Serena Clinch
Sophie Minchin
Ellie Cole
Bea Mitchell
Iris Corran
Annalisa Nabitaka
Jessica Cotton
Emily Nokes
Petra Deacon
Charlotte Orton
Perdita Digby
Lydia Paines
Gabriella Dobson
Agatha Palmer
Flora Dunning
Alice Pope
Nancy Ellemann
Olivia Redman
Freya Evans
ALDHELMSTED WEST Arabella Guy
Diana Muriel, Mother
DUN HOLME
KENELM
Freya Beeny
Angela Gossow, Grandmother Caroline Swift, Mother
Eli Benbow
Amanda Claydon, Mother
Tilly Garton
Mary Monro, Grandmother
Lottie Welch
Jane Wilkinson, Mother
Sophie Welch
Jane Wilkinson, Mother
Hannah Wood
Fiona Stern, Grandmother
MULLINER
Annabel Drummond
Louise Taylor, Mother
Evelyn Robertson
Matilda Massey
Katherine Prideaux-Brune, Mother
Beatrisse Fender
Agnes Roberts-West
Artemis McMaster-Christie
Imogen Franklin
Sophie Slight
Sarah Tory, Mother Diana Hamblin, Grandmother
Mattie Gazzard
Isabella Snow
Amelia Pickance
Jane Isaacson, Mother
Ellie George
Alice Southcombe
Grace Tucker
Isobel Gordon
Matilda Staples
Penny Hockley, Grandmother Antonia Tozer, Mother
Jamila Grau
Venetia Tett
Emily Wood
Fiona Stern, Grandmother
Betty Gu
Amelia Ursell
Fenella Guinness
Emily Vaughan
Isabel Hankinson
Georgina Wheatley
Lucy Hankinson
Alexandra Wiltshire
Charlotte Harrison
Alma Wirth
Sophie Holcroft
Katherine Wong
Milly Holford
Lucy Woodhams
Cici Ashworth
Pix Bennett, Mother
Chloe Huang
Zoe Woolland
Tamara Ashworth
Pix Bennett, Mother
Millie Hunt
Charlotte Wu
Bobby Henderson
Kate Gutteridge, Mother
Huda Javed
Emilia Wyatt
Honey Henderson
Kate Gutteridge, Mother
Xanthe Kalimeraki
Jenny Xue
Electra Marshall
Kate Gregor, Mother
Taya Keating
Olivia Yates
Milly Wills
Katy Gascoigne-Pees, Mother
Ella-Rose Keith
Lorna Younger
Annabelle Kemp
Ania Zenzina
Daisy Kwong
Dasha Zenzina
READER HARRIS
Jemma Craig-Cooper
Catharine Simpson, Mother
Araminta German-Ribon
Bella Matheson, Mother
Isabella Schwinge
Clare Matthews, Mother
WINGFIELD DIGBY
If you know of other mothers and grandmothers with daughters currently at SG, please let us know by sending an email to: oldgirls@sherborne.com
O B I T U A R I E S
Lorna Granlund
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K’40
Obituary written by Madeline Russell, and Lorna’s friends Lorna was born in Devon in 1922, the youngest of four children. During her early life, she went to Blundells School, where her father was school chaplain. She then started at Sherborne Girls with her sister, Ruth, where both excelled at sport. On leaving school around 1939, Lorna joined the Voluntary Aid Detachment, and then the Women’s Royal Naval Service. When the war ended, Lorna went on to become the Housekeeper at St Ronan’s Prep School in Kent. When Lorna’s father died in 1964, she moved to Northumberland to care for her mother. She started a job looking after student wellbeing at Alnwick Teacher Training College, before completing teacher training herself. She then taught at Amble Secondary Modern and Middle Schools, with responsibility for music. Lorna was very musical, playing the flute
in the local orchestra and wind band and teaching flute and piano at home. She was also very knowledgeable about local birds, flora and fauna, as evidenced by her own beautiful garden. Then there were her dogs, whom she loved to walk along the Northumbrian beaches with her friends, Bet and Eva. Lorna was also a founder member of the Alnwick and District Natural History Society, of which she later became president. She loved to fish, knit and create tapestries, and in her 90s took up bellringing. Those of us who knew Lorna have had our lives enriched by her courage, stoicism, love of life, stubbornness, loyalty and kindness; not forgetting her sense of fun, and her interest in everything and everybody around her. For that, we are truly thankful.
Sarah Waterlow (Broadie) W’59
Sarah’s cousin, Philippa Gray (Grant) W’60, writes:
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Sarah sadly passed away on 9 August 2021. We were both at Wingfield in the 1950s: cousins and the second generation at the School. Our mothers, best friends, were in Thurstan in the 1930s: Angela Gray (Waterlow) T’33 and Bridget Bradfer-Lawrence (Gray) T’33. My mother Bridget went on to marry Angela’s brother, Peter Gray. Sarah’s School contemporaries knew her as ‘Flo’ or ‘Sally’. As well as me, they included Joanna Hoare (Durham-Matthews) W’58, Susan Clarke (Mackworth-Praed) W’58 and Lynn Boden (Holman) W’58, and we were all in awe of her academic prowess. We can also recall her regrettable feebleness in sport! Indeed, Joanna tells of how Flo regularly persuaded our Housemistress, Bice Crichton-Miller (also her godmother), to excuse her from PE, such was her distaste for sporting activities. Above all, we call to mind Sarah’s personal qualities of patience and kindness, which were of course later demonstrated in her teaching. At School, she distinguished herself in Classics and was greatly admired by Gwen Beese, then Head of Classics at Sherborne. In 1958, Sarah entered Somerville College, Oxford, to read Classical Greats and Philosophy. Her first appointment was to the University
of Edinburgh. There she met her future husband Frederick Broadie – another philosopher. In 1982, she published her PhD thesis, Nature, Change and Agency in Aristotle’s Physics. Following this, she was offered a place at the University of Texas, eventually accepting professorships at Yale, Rutgers and Princeton Universities, all in the USA. In 2001, Sarah and Frederick returned to Scotland and she accepted a position at the University of St Andrews. She remained there until her death in 2021, just short of her 80th birthday. Sarah published eight books, including Ethics with Aristotle (1991) and Nature and Divinity in Plato’s Timaeus (2012). Her various honours included membership of both the American Academy of Arts and Sciences and the British Academy. In 2019, Sarah was awarded the OBE for ‘services to classical philosophy’, conferred by HRH The Duke of Cambridge. I leave the final words to Joanna, who writes: “I considered and consider ‘Flo’ [Sarah’s nickname] an important part of my life. Never mind the world of academia and philosophy. Never mind the honours that were heaped upon her – quite rightly. I shall sorely miss my gentle, loving, friend.”
Susan Hamlin (Stanier)
Virginia Harding
Susan’s friend Daphne Wilkie (Burdick) T’53 writes:
Obituary submitted by Virginia’s brother, Anthony
Susan and her sister Jennifer Hamlin (Grater) T’54, were both born in Tiverton, Devon. After leaving Sherborne, Susan did a secretarial course and, aged 20, joined the ‘Green Room’ girls in Number 10 Downing Street. She worked there for Sir Anthony Eden PM, then Harold Macmillan PM. Susan travelled worldwide with the two prime ministers. She lived in Chelsea near her School friends Stefanie Hilton-Sergeant (Harwood) T’52 and Daphne Burdick. On marrying Alan Stanier, she moved back to Devon. Anne Pugsley (Glendining) K’56 and Daphne were bridesmaids. At her funeral were her sister, Jennifer, children and grandchildren. Also Anne Pugsley, Daphne Wilkie and Anne Finchett – another ‘Green Room’ girl who shared Susan’s flat in Chelsea.
Virginia Harding died on 27 August 2021. She had a remarkable career in music administration, having started as a junior in the BBC and then working for, in succession: Decca Records, as Lord Harewood’s secretary at the Edinburgh Festival, the City of London Festival, the Royal Festival Hall and the Barbican Arts Centre. It was at the Barbican that she started administering the Carl Flesch International Violin Competition, which led to work for other music competitions – notably the Wigmore Hall International Song Competition from 1997. Passionate about music, Virginia was a dedicated choral singer, performing with a number of excellent choirs in London and elsewhere. She was also a keen traveller, visiting Australia and New Zealand several times and forming a lifelong love of both countries. She had a great gift for friendship and her many friends around the world will miss her greatly.
T’53
DH’54
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Clare Roberts (Sands) AW’82
Clare’s friend Kate Muriel AW’82 writes:
Angela Tatham (Clarke) OBE, DL T’49
Obituary submitted by Angela’s brother, George 12
Clare created and ran a very successful craft business in the Bahamas, which she started soon after getting married in the late 1980s. She helped to revive the straw/basket work industry by designing and creating beautiful bags using local products and weavers. She also created other items and gifts using materials like shells and driftwood. Clare’s business was proudly 100% Bahamian and around 350 local families relied on her for work. Clare and her husband Jimmy had two daughters and two sons. Two of their children work with Jimmy in the family firm: a Bahamian brewery company. Clare was a loving and supporting wife, who Jimmy described as his “rock and anchor” in his eulogy. She was a wonderful mother and a successful businesswoman who was highly respected. She will be missed by many. Photo taken when Kate visited Clare in the Bahamas in 2016
First educated at St Albans High School, Angela attended Sherborne Girls from 1945 to 1948. She joined Thurstan House – following in the footsteps of her mother, Mary Leigh-Wood (Tatham) T’22, who attended Sherborne Girls from 1919 to 1922. Angela learned the piano and enjoyed music-making throughout her life, including playing the organ at St Peter and St Paul’s Church in Mottistone on the Isle of Wight. She spent family summer holidays at Bembridge, where she enjoyed sailing. After leaving Sherborne Girls, Angela qualified as a teacher at the Froebel Institute, Roehampton. In 1954, she married Michael Stephenson Clarke, a farmer on the Isle of Wight. Angela and Michael remained on the Isle of Wight, raising their four children there, and opening an agricultural museum at Yafford Mill. Angela became keenly involved in Conservative politics, Save the Children and the Isle of Wight NHS Trust. In 1983, she was awarded the OBE for political services, and in 1993 was appointed deputy lieutenant for the Isle of Wight. Angela died in a nursing home on the Isle of Wight in February 2021. Photo taken on behalf of the Daily Telegraph in an article about Yafford Mill, circa 1974
Georgina Andrewes (Dodd) A’77
Obituary submitted by Georgina’s husband, Daniel Dodd Georgina joined Sherborne Girls on a scholarship in 1972. Academically she was an all-rounder and the School steered her into Science. Georgina loved exploring and on leaving Sherborne Girls she took a gap year – travelling overland from London to Delhi across Europe, Turkey, Iran, Afghanistan, Pakistan and Nepal. On her return, Georgina went to read Natural Sciences at Girton College, Cambridge. After graduating, Georgina studied for a PGCE then taught in Kenya for three years for VSO. She went on to join the BBC African service as a presenter and producer for five years, and wrote a novel called Behind the
Waterfall, which won a Betty Trask award. On leaving the BBC, Georgina continued to teach, study and write, and devoted herself to bringing up three children and cultivating an allotment. Georgina died in July 2021 aged 61, after a long battle with breast cancer. She was typically brave and spirited to the end. She stayed in touch with friends from Sherborne Girls, and a number attended her funeral in London in August. Georgina will be deeply missed for her intelligence, wit and compassion.
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Diana Hoare (Hony) E’42 14
Tribute submitted by her daughters Sarah and Carol Diana Hoare was born in 1925 at her family home in Westbury, Wiltshire. Her formal education began with a governess, before going to prep school in Seaton and then on to Sherborne Girls. Diana loved Sherborne, where she made lifelong friends including June Mecredy (Wilmers) E’42, Ruth Vaughan Williams (Clark) E’42 (whom she always called RVW), Anne Grey E’42 and Brenda Cruickshank Reid (Reid) E’40. She was very artistic and proved a natural academic in the Arts and Humanities, obtaining a place to read English at St Hugh’s College, Oxford, in 1943. She didn’t mind being sent down after failing Anglo-Saxon, because she was keen to join the Women’s Royal Naval Service (WRNS) and ‘do her bit’ in the war. Upon marrying John Hony in 1953, Diana
lived in the remote bush of Western Nigeria where John had been posted by British American Tobacco. They had three children during their time in Nigeria – Carol, Guy and Sarah. When John retired in 1978, they went to live in Ibiza and spent 25 years there before returning to the UK. Diana was a regular churchgoer, and enjoyed groups such as the U3A, Marlborough Gardening Association, and various theatre and concert clubs. Diana was devastated by the untimely death of her son Guy on 3 July 2021. She desperately hoped to attend his funeral, but sadly it was not to be. In her usual uncomplaining way, she walked into Great Western A&E on 27 July and died less than a week later on 2 August 2021.
Siobhán Jones Head of Classics 1997 – 2015 Housemistress of Wingfield 1997 – 2002 Siobhán’s sister Alison writes: Siobhán Ann Jones of Somerton, Somerset, lived from 1 June 1960 to 13 July 2021. After Siobhán retired from Sherborne, she continued tutoring Latin and marking examinations. Set dancing was her passion as well as hiking with her dogs. Her MND diagnosis in 2019 curtailed her activities as her mobility decreased. Covid-19 restrictions were a major setback that prevented her from travelling to the extent she would have preferred. She was however able to enjoy several trips with family. Siobhán’s abiding interest in education saw her learning Ancient Hebrew and Finnish in her retirement. Sarah Haslam, Classics Teacher, writes: My first memory of Siobhán was when I came to Sherborne Girls for an interview on 1 July 2003, which happened to be Canada Day. I noticed that she was wearing both maple-leaf earrings and a brooch and pretty much her first words
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to me were: “I’m Canadian, you know.” She definitely did not like it when people misplaced her accent and assumed she was American! Siobhán’s devotion to the welfare of the girls, loyalty to the School, and abounding enthusiasm for all things classical were always evident and inspiring. Rachel Allen, Classics Teacher, Assistant Director of Sixth Form, EPQ Coordinator and Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead, writes: Siobhán was dynamic and energetic with a clear passion for Classics. She got me to learn Greek so that everyone in the department could teach all three subjects. It was not easy to do – I had three young children and it was Greek! – but I am very glad she insisted. When she wasn’t teaching Classics, she was dancing. Always dancing. School trips to Greece had to involve an evening of Greek dancing.
B, M & D BIRTHS Jessica Philips A’02 and Ben Fitch, had a son, Albert, on 10 April 2021
Poppy Lord (Tuke) AW’03 and William had a son, Edward, on 23 February 2021
Sarah Kipling (Bradley) AW’03 and Tim had a daughter, Poppy Isabella Charlotte, on 1 April 2020
Hannah Godwin (Blott) E/AE’04 and Hugo had a son, Jasper, on 25 October 2021, a brother for Hector
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MARRIAGES Tamsin Cairns DH’06 married David Holme on 4 September 2021
Lucinda James AE/RH’07 married Jack Hawker on 21 August 2021
Emily Lane A/RH’07 married Clive Beck on 8 October 2021
Beryl Holford (de Galleani) AE’37 died on 3 April 2021
Felicity Jackson (Butcher) W’45 died on 6 August 2021
Susan Hamlin (Stanier) T’53 died on 24 November 2021
Lorna Granlund K’40 died on 19 May 2021
Jean Cooper (Carroll) A’47 died on 20 February 2021
Elizabeth Dolman A’54 died on 8 February 2021
Diana Hoare (Hony) E’42 died on 2 August 2021
Louise Pendered (Jeffreys) E’47 died on 20 January 2021
Virginia Harding DH’54 died on 27 August 2021
Angela Grimsdale (Weeks) A’43 died on 20 April 2021
Angela Tatham (Clarke) OBE, DL T’49 died on 12 February 2021
Elaine Maliphant (Ledingham) DH’54 died on 8 December 2019
Janice Gent (Bradshaw) W’50 died on 28 January 2021
Jenifer Milligan (Cordeaux) DH’54 died on 11 January 2021
D E AT H S
Penny Rees (Fox) AW’43 died on 28 March 2021
Jemima Lofts (Edwards) DH’04 and James had a son, Albert Duncan, on 3 September 2021
Sophie Mann (Bliss) K’08 and Tim had a son, Benjamin Thomas David, on 4 March 2021
Georgina Lucas (Grumbridge) K’04 and Mike, had a son, Bear Alastair George, on 14 June 2021 17
Sophy Smith W’07 married Freddie Nesbitt on 4 September 2021
Caroline Smith DH’09 married Matthew Ramsbotham on 4 December 2021
Ann Pittard (Davidge) K’54 died in June 2021
Hannah Stallard (Gosling) K’60 died on 24 March 2021
Sarah Huntley (Lunt) K’57 died on 17 May 2021
Frankie Killick (Marsh) W’66 died on 2 March 2021
Joyce Walker (McKeough) K’57 died on 3 July 2021
Georgina Andrewes (Dodd) A’77 died on 23 July 2021
Susan Dowty (Thomson) K’58 died on 9 December 2021
Clare Roberts (Sands) AW’82 died on 27 August 2021
Sarah Waterlow (Broadie) W’59 died on 9 August 2021
Anna Pelly W’85 died on 25 December 2021
Siobhán Jones Head of Classics 1997 – 2015 and Housemistress of Wingfield 1997 – 2002 died on 13 July 2021 Ralph Hedderwick Former Governor (1955 – 1993) died on 28 February 2021
FURTHER NEWS VIRT U AL EVEN TS BRING COV I D P I CK - M E- UP
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For the first half of 2021 we were not able to hold face-to-face events due to Covid restrictions. However, we did host a virtual ‘Women in Leadership’ event in June. More than 130 Old Girls and members of the Sixth Form attended, where 17 different professions were represented by Old Girls. Sherborne Girls Head, Dr Ruth Sullivan, opened the event and we were enormously grateful to our Old Girl TED-style speakers.
These included Anne Jenkin E’73, who spoke about how to break through the glass ceiling and the importance of taking every opportunity that comes your way, Holly Joint AE’94, who spoke about how to stand out in the workplace, what is success and who defines it, and Holly Pattenden T’97, who argued that being female is not a differentiator if you are up to the job.
GE T T IN G BACK IN TO UCH
In September, we held our first events and reunions offline and it was wonderful and exciting to see each other again.
against the SG Firsts. It was a great success: so much so that we hope to make it an annual event.
On Saturday, 11 September, Old Girls formed a lacrosse team and played an exciting match
If you play lacrosse and would like to take part in September 2022, please do get in touch.
A NNUAL REUN ION S
That same day, we held a 5-year reunion for the leavers from 2015, who missed their reunion in 2020. The following weekend saw the 5-year reunion for the 2016 leavers and both events were at full capacity! We also held 10- and 15-year reunions during the year.
2015
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2016 10-YEAR REUNION
15-YEAR REUNION
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G O LF E RS BACK IN THE SW I N G Golf Report from Captain Katharine Martin (Stringer) DH’78 The Annual SOG Golf Autumn Meeting was held at Hennerton Golf Club in Wargrave, Berkshire on Monday, 27 September. We had 14 players from all parts of England, near and far – and even one from America! The day started off with heavy rain and wind but mercifully it cleared just as we started. Everyone seemed to have a fun day and there was great chatter afterwards while we were given an excellent cream tea as well as sandwiches and cakes.
This year’s winning team was Rachel Long (Trotman) W’69, Lizzy Hext (Pudner) T’83, and Lucille Childs (Richards) DH’78. Runners-up were Katharine Stringer, Kenah Cryer DH’80 and Josie Kemp (Mather) DH’62. Nearest the pin was won by Susie Pym (King) DH’68 and the longest drive by Katharine Stringer. We would love to have more SOGs join our golf events. All standards are extremely welcome. Diary note: The Autumn Meeting is taking place at Sunningdale Heath Golf Club, Ascot on 26 September 2022.
Photo, from left to right: Lucille Richards, Lizzy Pudner, Rachel Trotman, Susie King, Katharine Stringer, Anne Whately-Smith (Agnew) K’70, Hilary Peterkin (Younger) W’64, Kenah Cryer, Elizabeth Blandy (Francis) E’62, Jane Harris (Hinton) W’62, Sarah Kinnersley (Stonehouse) K’65, Josie Mather, Hilary Park (Dennes) E’65 and Jennifer Harris W’62
I NSPIRIN G GEN ERAT I ON S Global Entrepreneurship Week took place in November. For each day of the working week, a video recording was released featuring an Old Girl. Each person gave insights into their career and professional achievements while reflecting on one of the five core themes for the week: communication, courage, collaboration, creativity, and curiosity. The speakers were: Thea Wellband (Carroll) DH’08, Sarah Williams (Waddington) A’00, Irene Yap DH’90, Melissa Kettlewell (Nicholson) K’86 and Cherry Roengpithya AW’99. Thank you to them all for their willingness to take part and support this initiative. 21
C O NGRATULATION S Frances Budd DH’17 was awarded a First Class Honours BSc in Ecological and Environmental Sciences from the University of Edinburgh.
C I R C L E N EWS Circle 13B : Leicestershire, Rutland, Nottinghamshire and Lincolnshire Secretary: Josephine Hepburn (Blake) A’69 Jo writes: At the last moment we managed to get a few Old Girls together in the Autumn. We met for lunch at the Engine Yard just below Belvoir Castle, and afterwards enjoyed looking
round the artisan shops. Hopefully we can do the same again in 2022. Pictured from left to Right: Sally Mackie AE’75, Gillian Alcock (Ford) AE’67, Pru Nahum (Tatham) A’63, Jo Blake and Elizabeth Blandy (Francis) E’62.
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Gillian Brooks (Fulcher) DH’53 Gillian Fulcher is clear about what Sherborne Girls gave her during her time at the School: a zest for life and a commitment to “never waste a minute”. The life of a schoolgirl in the 1940s and early 1950s was different in many ways to that of one now. For a start, as Gillian Fulcher explains, the food available was far more meagre. She says that a clandestine trip to Milborne Port, on foot, for fish and chips was the only way to get a decent feed on a Saturday afternoon during termtime, when the house fare tended to be a slice of toast under white sauce. But some things rarely change, and for Sherborne Girls that is an understanding of the value of being busy, with a variety of activities to keep everyone challenged and amused. “I remember one afternoon when I played squash for 20 minutes, hockey for 50 minutes and lacrosse for a further 50 minutes,” says Gillian. “I suspect this has something to do with my unwillingness ever to be still. I am constantly on the go.”
Happy memories Gillian’s memories of Sherborne are many and varied. She looks back with cheer on that fish and chip sortie, when six girls from Dun Holme walked together in search of supper. She also remembers a half-term holiday spent at School, during which she and her friends hitched a lift in a furniture van to Lulworth Cove. “This would not have been approved of by our teachers,” she says. “And we didn’t give a second’s thought to how we might get back.” The girls obviously did return, and despite their modest acts of rebellion, Gillian says she and her friends had a deep respect for “right and wrong” and a strong moral code. “There was a clear discipline to life at School,” she reports. “We had a set of ideals and were encouraged never to waste a minute. We were expected to
show consideration for others, and to live a balanced life that combined physical and intellectual activity. We very soon appreciated the joy of good friendship, and that has stayed with me forever.” Something else instilled during her time at School is Gillian’s love of the countryside, which she attributes to Sherborne’s bucolic surroundings. “I love the natural world, and this translates into a love of gardening and walking each night,” she says. “I have a strong affinity with Dorset, despite living in Australia for many years. I am a big admirer of Thomas Hardy: he is my benchmark for a number of things.” Cultural pursuits The interest in Hardy speaks of Gillian’s intellectual vibrancy. After working as a typist at Number 10 Downing Street, including for Winston Churchill, she moved to Australia to complete a first degree and a PhD. She then spent 20 years as an academic before becoming an academic editor. Her own book, Disabling Policies? A Comparative Approach to Education and Disability, was published some 30 years ago and remains in print. “I keep my brain active,” Gillian reports, “and read a lot, especially late at night. I am interested in public issues
though increasingly dismayed by them. In recent years I have undertaken U3A courses in Ancient Greek, Latin and French. Language has been an interest throughout my life.”
...some things rarely change, and for Sherborne Girls that is an understanding of the value of being busy This reflects Gillian’s ongoing commitment to keeping busy. It is a disposition formed all those years ago during her time at Sherborne Girls. Like many such habits, it looks set to last a lifetime.
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ALUMNAE IN FOCUS:
Gillian Bower (Banwell) A’54 Gillian Bower’s connections with Sherborne Girls go back to the start of the 20th century – but she says the School’s values have always been at its heart.
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Self-discipline. Courage. Sharing. Getting on with different sorts of people. These are the things that Gillian Banwell remembers learning during her time at Sherborne Girls, where she was a pupil from 1948 to 1954. As she is quick to observe, they are close to what many pupils in the School will learn today, because its values have remained constant throughout the generations. “My mother, Armorel (Mollie) Woodd (Bower) DH 1914, attended the School in 1909,” Gillian reports, “and was great friends with Venetia Wingfield Digby, Day Boarder 1908, who was daughter of the founders. That gives me a strong connection with the School’s history and I’m proud to be associated with it.” A full life Gillian says Sherborne Girls gave her the confidence to go out into the world and pursue various opportunities. After School, Gillian trained as a short-hand typist, later qualifying as an orthoptist at the Oxford Eye Hospital. Her first job was in Saskatoon, Canada, and in 1962, post marriage, she and her husband spent two years in Hong Kong, where Gerald was consultant obstetrician at a Mission Hospital. All the patients were Chinese so they needed to learn to speak and understand Cantonese. Asked about her greatest accomplishments, Gillian doesn’t hesitate to respond: “My family.” She supported her husband in his work as an obstetrician and gynaecologist throughout his career. “He retired from the NHS at 65 and was never ill,” she explains. “But he was diagnosed with leukaemia at 67 and died at 68.” Despite this loss, Gillian has remained
positive. She says she is lucky to live near her three children, in whom she and her husband worked hard to instil the values and standards she had learned at Sherborne Girls, and from her parents. “I have seven grandchildren who are between the ages of 12 and 23,” she says, proudly. “I find it so interesting to hear what they are doing with their lives.” Voluntary work Those Sherborne Girls values of which Gillian speaks have shaped her whole life. For 20 or more years, she was a regular delivery driver for Meals on Wheels in Hertfordshire. “We were also able to help people who lived alone in rural areas with shopping, prescriptions and the like,” she says. “This was very fulfilling, but I’m now 84 and not very mobile due to arthritis, so I’m unable to get involved in these activities now.” Even so, Gillian retains a love of music that was formed at School, both as a listener and a performer. She also enjoys reading and sewing, and has an abiding interest in the theatre, despite not making it to many shows nowadays. She has kept in touch with many of her peers from School, not least as a regular participant in the Hertfordshire and Essex Circle. Particular friends from her school days include the late Prudence Butterworth (Dauris) A’57, Sally Dufty (Sandys-Renton) A’56 and Judy Howell (Lister) A’54, who she has known since the age of three. Such connections speak of the profound friendships that Gillian formed during her time at Sherborne Girls. As the values by which she lives evince, her time at School clearly made an impression that has lasted a lifetime.
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Georgina May (Bullock) E’69 From making jelly in her cubicle to chilly evening walks between Houses, Georgina has plenty of happy memories from her time at Sherborne Girls. In the span of a person’s life, the years spent at school may seem transient, all too brief. Yet they leave an impression that lasts for ever, creating memories that form them for whatever future they pursue. That’s never more the case than for Georgina, who attended Sherborne Girls from 1964 to 1969. She remembers many details of her time at School and has a clear sense of how these experiences shaped her to be the person she is today. “My fondest memories revolve around my life in the Boarding House,” she says. “I was a resident of Ealhstan, but we had to sleep out in Aldhelmsted West sometimes. I well remember the cold and wet evening walk to bed, which certainly helped us develop resilience.” Other happy memories include performing in House skits and enjoying toast in the Upper Sixth sitting room with her Housemates. “We also invented the Lower Sixth Free Dance Competition,” reports Georgina. “That feels like a good legacy to have left behind.” Forming habits Perhaps the best legacy is what Georgina took from her time at Sherborne Girls. As well as a no-fuss attitude, she says she and her classmates quickly learned how to be resourceful. “We used to make jellies in our cues,” she laughs. “And, of course,
we learned to tolerate the foibles of other people. You have to rub along when you’re living in confined quarters with each other.” Off the back of such tolerance, Georgina formed lasting friendships that she nurtures to this day. “I have kept in touch with some of my year group from Sherborne Girls,” she says. “I’ve also enjoyed the Regional Reunions and attended some of the School concerts when they’ve been held in London.” Georgina’s connection with Sherborne Girls is seen in other ways too. She puts her ongoing enthusiasm for tennis, and singing in choirs, down to her time at School. “Cooking and gardening followed later,” she says, “but tennis and singing were hobbies that I nurtured when I was at Sherborne and have continued for the rest of my life.” Another habit that was instilled during those formative years is of service to others. Georgina has certainly lived up to that value, serving as a Samaritan volunteer for 28 years. “I look back on my time at Sherborne with real gratitude,” she concludes. “I regard my greatest achievement as sending our daughter to Sherborne Girls! That’s the clearest possible sign that I enjoyed my time there and found it a worthwhile experience.”
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ALUMNAE IN FOCUS:
Baroness Kate Pope (Rock) A’86 Working Peer Baroness Rock has many fond memories of her time at Sherborne Girls – many of which centre on the inspiring people who taught her.
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Ask SOG Baroness Kate Rock to reflect on her time at Sherborne Girls and you’ll very quickly get a sense of the lively community of which she was a part between 1981 and 1986. The names of fellow pupils and former teachers come thick and fast. They include her Aylmar Housemates, Helen Moore and Emma Lowther, with whom she once crept through a skylight to top up their tans in the summer sun. “We smothered ourselves in baby oil, thinking it would make us browner,” Kate laughs. “I wouldn’t suggest taking such an approach now – either to the location or the skincare regime!” Other names include Kate’s Housemistress Anne Dixon, who always urged the girls in her charge to be “nice, not nasty”. Then there are those who inspired her love of learning, including English teacher Miss Pitt, whom Kate still thinks of when she reads Jane Austen’s Emma, and the legendary Gussie
Miller, described by Kate as “the most extraordinary and inspiring teacher”. She says she “adored” singing in the choir and playing in the orchestra and that her time at School instilled a love of music that endures to this day. Lessons learned Mingled with these very specific memories is the general sense that Kate describes of Sherborne Girls forming her for the future. She well remembers the spirit of determination formed on the lacrosse pitch, as well as losing herself among the bookshelves of the library. She also recalls the fairness that was at the centre of School life: a value that she still prizes. “While we were encouraged to believe that hard work and healthy competition have their place,” she says, “there was always a sense that you had to deal fairly with everyone you encountered.”
Sherborne Girls taught us to embrace change and not fear challenge
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That commitment remains at the heart of Kate’s outlook. It has shaped her work as one of the Founders of Women Supporting Women, an initiative for The Prince’s Trust that gives young women the skills to flourish in modern society. She is also a Director and Trustee of The Prince’s Countryside Fund, helping rural communities and family farms invest in their future. “Sherborne Girls taught us to embrace change and not fear challenge,” Kate says. “I always prepare well for everything, but I’m not afraid to ask for help and advice. There is always someone who knows more than you do.” Significant achievements Asked about her most significant achievements, Kate gives a surprising
answer. It is not her elevation to the House of Lords or her visiting fellowship at St Anthony’s College, Oxford. Rather, it is “… persuading my husband Caspar to marry me.” Kate and Caspar have two children, one of whom has Special Educational Needs. She says she has learned a huge amount from him: “He’s taught me that the world is full of extraordinary and diverse people. That has stood me in good stead in all sorts of contexts.” These include in her career in publishing, then public relations, and more recently in Parliament. Kate is also a NonExecutive Director of several companies, and farms alongside her father in her beloved Dorset.
ALUMNAE IN FOCUS:
Fongyee Walker DH’89 Photo by Sebastian Basco of NYSH Productions
Master of Wine Fongyee Walker took a circuitous path to career success after leaving Sherborne Girls. But she says the values instilled at School helped make her the person she is today.
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“My fondest memory of Sherborne Girls is very definitely the sense of camaraderie between pupils. I was rather naughty, so I enjoyed the sense of pulling together against the authorities. We found solidarity in our friendships and that set me up brilliantly for the rest of my life.” So says Fongyee Walker, who left Sherborne Girls after completing the Upper Fifth in 1987. She believes her time at School formed her to be resilient, tenacious and confident in expressing a minority opinion – all traits that have stood her in good stead as she has pursued her career. Dreaming big Fongyee believes that her time at School prompted her to have big ambitions for her future. “I realised that your dreams are only limited if you heed the views of people who can’t think beyond what’s normal or expected,” she reports. “Once you get past these limitations, you can do anything.” With a career trajectory involving five different university degrees, including a PhD at Cambridge, it is fair to say Fongyee has pushed herself to achieve success. “Before I finished my doctorate, I decided to move to China and start my own company. I have since become the only Master of Wine resident in China.” This is a significant achievement, and has presented Fongyee with all manner of opportunities. “My life is my hobby,” she says. “Sometimes, I can’t believe what I get to do as ‘work’, like helicoptering over glaciers in New
Zealand on a contract for Air New Zealand, travelling to Antarctica to do a tasting as a guest of Wines of Chile, or visiting beautiful chateaux to enjoy lovely food and wine. It’s such a privilege to do this array of fun things as part of my job.” Giving back There are other privileges too. For example, Fongyee often hosts charity wine auctions and recently raised more than 100,000RMB for a foundation to support abandoned children with disabilities in Shanghai. “I really enjoy doing live auctions,” she reflects. “It’s great to get people excited about supporting charity. I also work on sustainability issues in food and drink, so people are more aware of how their choices affect the world.” Given her influence training China’s next generation of wine connoisseurs, Fongyee more than lives up to her reputation as the country’s ‘Godmother’ of the industry. She says it is a delight to see her students go on to achieve success and build their own thriving businesses. The sense of ongoing connection with her students reminds Fongyee of her friends from Sherborne Girls, with whom she keeps in touch via the internet. “Covid scuppered our plans to meet in person during 2020,” she says, “but I follow their activities on the social media platforms that I can access in China. I hope that we can all meet face to face soon.”
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ALUMNAE IN FOCUS:
Cherry Roengpithya AW’99
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Cherry Roengpithya has followed a fascinating path since leaving Sherborne Girls, including running a hotel and turning it into a temporary hospital during the Covid crisis.
When the third wave of the Covid pandemic swept Thailand in April 2021, hotelier Cherry Roengpithya and her team decided to be proactive in supporting the nation’s health. Running at around 10% occupancy, and with Bangkok Hospital just a short walk away, they realised they could open their rooms on a temporary basis to patients. The team spent three weeks converting 114 hotel rooms over three floors into hospital accommodation. Staff were then trained to wear Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and in hygiene and infection control, before securing approval from Thailand’s Ministry of Public Health to operate during the crisis. The ‘Hospitel’ opened its doors on 14 August 2021 to a group of 10 patients. By the end of the month it was caring for 100 patients per day, and it ultimately accommodated more than 150 people – each of whom returned home safe and well at the end of their stay. Cherry reports that it was a hugely satisfying experience to repurpose her hotel in this way. It certainly bears out the mix of persistence and compassion that has defined her life both during and after her time at Sherborne Girls.
Persistence and hope “I think persistence is the most important value I learned at School,” she says. “To succeed, you have to be willing to keep on going through difficult times. “For example, when studying for my PhD in Chemical Engineering, there were moments when experiments failed, or I got writer’s block and wondered if I would ever complete my degree. But I kept my head down and tried my best until I finally graduated.” This same tenacity is what drove Cherry to keep the hotel open throughout the pandemic. “With so few travellers coming to Thailand, it would have been easier to close temporarily,” she says. “But I decided to adjust operations and keep trading to support my staff. Repurposing as a hospital at the height of the third wave felt like a natural development of that approach. We all persist through these difficult times.” Even now, with the hotel converted back to its original purpose, Cherry maintains her altruistic endeavours. The hotel hosts a one-stop food-donation programme that supports local medical facilities and a community isolation centre. It’s further evidence of the ethos of
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compassion and other regard that is at the heart of Cherry’s approach. A varied life After finishing her PhD at Imperial College London, Cherry returned to Thailand and worked at a chemical trading company before switching to commercial trading at Unilever Thailand. She moved into real-estate development after her first pregnancy and built the hotel in 2017. “I think the hotel is one of my biggest accomplishments,” she says, “though I have overcome other challenges too. I had preeclampsia during both of my pregnancies and feel lucky to have survived them.” This may all feel a long way from Cherry’s days at Sherborne Girls, which she attended from 1995 to 1999. She remembers her enjoyment of the dark winter evenings while at School, with the early UK sunset representing a contrast to the later dusks she was accustomed to from South East Asia. “Sherborne Girls gave me such a lot,” she reflects. “I remember especially enjoying Home Economics. I still have a love of cooking, bakery and embroidery.”
Another legacy of her time at School is the close friendships Cherry maintains with other Old Girls. “We keep in touch using modern technology,” she says. “It’s just like we’re still in adjacent cubicles when we chat!”
Repurposing as a hospital at the height of the third wave felt like a natural development of that approach. We all persist through these difficult times.
ALUMNAE IN FOCUS:
Georgina Lucas K’04 Georgina Lucas has many fond memories of her time at Sherborne Girls. She says she draws on them regularly when navigating life’s ups and downs.
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“I remember laughing, a lot.” That is a pithy summary of Georgina Lucas’s reminiscences about her time at Sherborne Girls. It was, she says, a time filled with great joy and some deep friendships, that will stay with her for ever. “I remember finding every conceivable excuse to avoid sport at all costs and then being made House athletics captain,” she laughs. “I remember making cheese toasties in our Upper Fifth Common Room while ‘revising’ for our GCSEs. I remember playing music at full volume, getting in trouble for staying up late and chatting in our cubicles, fancy dress discos. I remember testing how short we could make our skirts without being sent back to House to get changed. And I remember Abbey services, particularly the Christmas Carol Service, which is truly magical. “But most,” she asserts, “I remember the very greatest of friends.” A lifetime of support Georgina has had more cause than many to draw on those friendships since leaving School. Her son Grey died at the age of
21 days after being born nine weeks early. She has written about the experience in a memoir entitled If Not For You, published by Little, Brown and due for release in January 2022. “My view of life has changed since little Grey died,” she reflects. “Where once I would have counted my greatest achievements as things like writing a book or buying a house, now I really think it’s the small things that count: taking care of friends and family, kindness to strangers, seeing the good in every day.” That attitude may have come into sharper relief in the face of her personal tragedy, but Georgina traces its origins back to her time at Sherborne Girls. “We were taught the importance of values like integrity, kindness, taking part, supporting others – and, of course, the huge value of friendship. This has shaped my adult life in every way.” A broader perspective The road to publishing her memoir started with a series of internships in the fashion industry after leaving School. Georgina eventually moved into writing
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Photo by Marco Vittur
and worked as fashion marketing editor at Matchesfashion. She left to become a freelancer and now runs her own content and editorial consultancy. The book has been well-received by early reviewers, with ITN newscaster (and OS) Tom Bradbury describing it as “the book of the year, perhaps the decade”. Meanwhile, the novelist Kate Mosse said: “It is heartbreaking, beautiful, important, full of integrity, powerful and honest, inspiring and full of the wonder of women and love.” For Georgina, the book’s release will give welcome publicity to the charity she and her husband Mike have set up with their sisters in memory of Grey. “It is early days, but we hope The Love Grey
Foundation (lovegrey.org) will provide support, in many forms, to those affected by premature birth and baby loss.” As you may expect, Georgina has retained her love of reading but wishes she had more time to indulge the other enthusiasms that were nurtured during her time at School. “I love drawing and crafts,” she says. “I also enjoy running, yoga, skiing, travel, gardening and cooking.” And, of course, she relishes spending time in the company of her fellow Sherborne Old Girls. “Several of my closest friends are from School and we see each other regularly,” she reports. “The SOG network has been central to my life.”
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Octavia Cooper RH’15 Coming from a family of Sherborne Girls pupils has given Octavia Cooper a wider perspective on the School. One thing she knows with certainty is that it’s a place where everyone can flourish. “Sherborne has an extraordinary ability to make everyone feel valued and welcome,” says Octavia Cooper. “The fact that my two sisters and I (all very different) excelled in our own ways at School demonstrates this. There was a strong sense of inclusion and kindness that I think I carry with me now.” Such a culture plays out in a variety of ways. For a start, it encourages pupils to ‘have a go’ at the many opportunities laid out before them. Octavia, for example, had never held a racquet before she started playing squash in the Lower Sixth. She still loves the sport now, playing regularly with friends in London. “I also played tennis and hockey at School, and continue enjoying them now,” she reports. “I play hockey with four Reader Harris friends, so some things never change!” This speaks of the deep friendships Octavia formed during her time at Sherborne Girls. She lives with three SOGs and has kept in touch with several others. “I think everyone would agree there’s something special about your school friends, who have seen you grow up,” she remarks.
“We recently had our (belated) 5-year reunion and it was wonderful to see old faces and catch up.” Professional connections The Sherborne Old Girls network has been important for Octavia in other ways too. It was at a joint event with the Old Shirburnian Society that she met an insurance broker and started thinking about this as a potential career choice. She undertook a placement with Lloyd’s of London during her History degree at Bristol and secured a place as an Underwriting Graduate Trainee at AXA XL upon completing her studies. “I would never have imagined that I would end up working in insurance,” she says. “I was in the bottom set in my GCSE year and thanks to the incredible teaching of Miss Davidson somehow managed to achieve a B. But I really wanted to challenge myself and was lucky enough to get the offer from AXA XL after applying for more than 20 graduate schemes.” Charity work As well as developing her career, Octavia’s role presents
an opportunity to get involved in charity work. She joined the International Insurance Charitable Foundation (IICF) as soon as she started her traineeship. This brings a variety of law and insurance firms together to support 10 charities that are dedicated to improving social mobility for disadvantaged young people. “I sit on the volunteering committee and interact regularly with the charities,” says Octavia. “My interest in charity work was sparked when I visited Bristol with Kids Company during my time at Sherborne. And, of course, it’s been fostered by the ethos of kindness and compassion at the heart of the School.” This culture doesn’t only translate to pupils’ interactions with those in need. Octavia says it also shaped the friendships that form within the School community. “I well remember happy times in Reader Harris, especially in the run-up to Christmas,” she says. “We had so many rituals, including decorating the dining room. Everyone worked together to make it special, and Christmas has never quite been the same since leaving!”
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ALUMNAE IN FOCUS:
Georgina Lane RH’16 Charity worker and trainee lawyer, Georgina believes Sherborne Girls taught her to throw herself into everything. In consequence, she says she is always looking for fresh challenges.
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As with many former pupils of Sherborne Girls, Georgina Lane’s fondest memories are of the simple things. “My recollections revolve around the friendships I was able to make during my time at School,” she says. “I loved spending time with friends in our House in the evenings and making toast and cereal after Stick at the weekends.” These friendships have stood Georgina in good stead in her years since leaving Sherborne in 2016. Not only have they continued to sustain her on a personal level, the memories also shape the person she has become. “At Sherborne, we were always encouraged to pursue every avenue of interest, from academic study to sport, drama to cooking,” she says. “We took every opportunity that came our way and were always able to make the most of our experiences. That set me up perfectly for life beyond School.” Varied interests The multiplicity of activities in which Georgina is involved demonstrates her varied interests. After reading Philosophy and Criminology at Exeter University, she completed a postgraduate
degree in Law. Now, she works for a charity, but intends to begin the Barrister’s Training Course in September before pursuing a career at the Bar. “I continue to throw myself into everything I do,” she says. “I’m always looking for new challenges and that’s helped me continue to grow as a person. I have never felt confined to one aspect of my life, meaning that I have been able to do a huge variety of things since leaving Sherborne.” Such activities include swimming, cross-country running and athletics – all pastimes that Georgina first took up at School. She recently completed a charity fundraiser that involved a 21km run, an 8.5km swim and a 300km cycle. “The event was in memory of my wonderful friend Hannah and in aid of her charity, Hannah’s Willberry Wonder Pony,” Georgina says. “I raised money for the charity during my time at Sherborne and was always given huge support by School.” Charity work A habitual commitment to the wellbeing of other people is seen in Georgina’s current role. She works for the Resume Foundation, promoting
inclusive employment for marginalised groups. Her focus is on two projects: Project Racing, which helps people from marginalised groups work in the horseracing industry, and Project Venture, which gives exoffenders a chance to develop their business skills and pitch to a group of investors after a programme of mentoring and development. “I’ve also been involved in several pro bono legal projects,” she says, “including teaching groups of school pupils about their legal rights and responsibilities, and working on a case for the Freedom Law Clinic. This notfor-profit company provides research and advice on appeals for people convicted of serious criminal offences who maintain their innocence.” With such a well of professional experience already under her belt, it’s clear that Georgina faces a glittering future. For her, though, the most important thing is keeping those friendships alive from her younger days. “I see a number of SOGs regularly,” she concludes. “I thoroughly enjoyed the recent 5-year reunion. The time has gone so quickly, but we soon fell into our old routines.”
ALUMNAE IN FOCUS:
Annabel Harris K’18 Curiosity and compassion are just two of the traits that trainee physiotherapist Annabel Harris attributes to her time at Sherborne Girls. Both have helped her prepare for her next steps.
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It is easy for a school like Sherborne Girls to talk about the values that rest at its heart, but what really matters is when they are lived by pupils and alumnae. In the case of Annabel Harris, the School’s ethos is very much alive and kicking: she attributes the attitudes that are guiding her through her final year at university to her time at Sherborne Girls. “I have such fond memories of my time at School between 2013 and 2018,” she says. “I especially remember sitting in the House office in Kenelm in the evening and discussing anything and everything with whoever happened to be around. These informal encounters are what life in a Boarding
House is all about.” Annabel also remembers the Duke of Edinburgh expeditions organised by Mr Fremlin and Mr Biddle, which she says helped instil a love of outdoor pursuits and physical activity. “That love of adventure has stayed with me beyond my time at School,” she reports. “Tom Fremlin was a real influence in developing my enthusiasm for the great outdoors.” In a reflection of the diversity of opportunity available at Sherborne Girls, another of Annabel’s passions was in a very different sphere: she loved playing in the Symphony Orchestra and singing in the School choir. Indeed, she says some of her
happiest times were singing for services in Sherborne Abbey, and she is proud to have performed Handel’s Messiah in Wells Cathedral with the Sherborne Choral Society. Living values For all that these experiences have shaped Annabel’s habits beyond her time at School, she is quick to point out that the enduring influence of Sherborne is in the values that she lives day by day. “I learned to be compassionate and courageous, which is something that everyone at Sherborne Girls values enormously,” she says. “We were also taught to challenge ourselves and keep pursuing our goals
That love of adventure has stayed with me beyond my time at School
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whatever the setbacks. These habits have helped me enormously during my Physiotherapy degree at Cardiff University and in pursuing my goal of joining the Army Reserves.” This latter ambition is one that Annabel hopes to achieve after graduation, alongside securing a job as a physio with NHS Wales. “Sherborne Girls has a strong culture of giving back to society,” she says. “We recognise that whatever we achieve has come with the help of others, so we need to do our bit to support those coming up behind. I hope to have embodied this in
my life so far.” Allied to the innate curiosity that a Sherborne Girls education inculcates, it is no surprise to learn that alumnae like Annabel thrive when they move into their next phase of life. “My degree has been all about expanding my knowledge base,” she reports. “I’ve drawn a lot on the techniques that teachers like Dr Hopper equipped me with to keep up to date with the latest research in my field.” A wider network Annabel’s role as the Wales Officer for the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy
(CSP) Student Reference Group has also helped expand her knowledge and raise her profile. She works alongside 11 other student officers to ensure their perspective is wellrepresented with the CSP. “I also benefit hugely from the Sherborne Old Girls network,” she says. “I’ve been able to get advice and support from a variety of people, which has stood me in really good stead throughout my training. It also keeps me in touch with friends from School – reminding us all of the positive experiences we had during our time at Sherborne Girls.”
THE GREEN GARDENER
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Up-and-coming garden designer Ellie Edkins K’11 is using her skill to help people create eco-friendly outdoor spaces. Here are her tips for sustainable gardening success. Ellie Edkins is on a mission to make the UK’s gardens play an active role in arresting climate change and boosting biodiversity. She is using her skill as a garden designer to help clients develop green spaces around their homes that are havens for wildlife and improve the quality of life for humans and animals alike. As a finalist in the coveted RHS Young Designer of the Year Award 2021, Ellie’s credentials are beyond doubt. She combines a strong understanding of hard landscaping with an instinctive love of planting – resulting in a winning combination for anyone who wants to make the most of their garden. “No matter the size of your garden, there is plenty you can do to battle the causes and effects of climate change,” she
says. “Even in a small space such as a balcony or courtyard, we can all do our bit to improve conditions for wildlife.” Here, in her own words, are some of Ellie’s top tips for fellow SOGs, helping you enhance the eco credentials of your garden. Boost biodiversity Growing a broad range of plants that will flower at different times of the year is a great way to start quickly attracting wildlife into the garden, and requires little maintenance. A mix of long grass and wildflowers such as common poppies (Papaver rhoeas), Salvia pratensis and ox-eye daisy (Leucanthemum vulgare) will start to attract pollinating bees and butterflies. Ensuring a good mixture of flowering plants will build resilience in the garden, but plants always look best in
clumps of three or five in the border – so this is something to bear in mind too! Hardy ornamental grasses will ‘hug’ or hold more delicate flowering perennials in windy conditions, so adding these to the mix in your border is a good option if you have an exposed site. Let it grow and restore your hedgerow The wildest areas of your garden will attract the most wildlife, so there is a lot to be said for leaving some of the untidier areas of the garden well alone. You could think about screening off with some climbing plants if you’re not keen on a shaggier appearance. Restoring our native hedgerows is another important step available to those who are lucky enough to have larger spaces. This will greatly improve
the outlook for our struggling wildlife and is a much better alternative to that shabby timber fence. A mixture of dog rose, hazel and hawthorn is a great place to start. Grow in containers If you are limited to growing in containers because you’re renting or have a small outdoor space, there is still plenty you can do to create an outdoor sanctuary for you and your local wildlife. I think containers look their best when they are full with plants and with a bit of a wild look, and this provides great conditions for insects too. Plant up your pots with a diverse array of pollinatorfriendly plants, along with some plants with showy foliage for year-round interest such as Fatsia Japonica, which gives an exotic look.
Go peat free Unless your compost is labelled ‘peat-free’ you can assume it contains between 70% and 100% peat, so avoid avoid avoid! There are plenty of great alternatives, including well-rotted leaf mould which can be easily made in the garden, saving a few pennies too. The RHS recommends using three parts coir, one part sieved garden compost, one part sieved loam, and one part sharp sand, perlite or horticultural grit. Photos: (Below) Ellie’s show garden at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show in September 2021, with Fatsia Japonica at the back. Image by Kat Weatherhill. The other image (top left) is of Salvia pratensis (meadow sage), photographed by Gary Barnes.
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SCHOOL NEWS 2021 CHEMISTS STRETCHED IN CAMBRIDGE COMPETITION
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Our L6 chemists took part in the Cambridge Chemistry Challenge, a national competition sponsored and endorsed by St Catharine’s College, Cambridge. Pupils tackled some exceptionally difficult questions based on topics such as thiocyanic acid, a molecule which has been discovered in gas clouds in space, and complex redox reactions. The competition, which is organised by an experienced team of teachers and university chemists, involves participants from across the globe. It stretches pupils significantly beyond the syllabus and encourages them to think about Science, and particularly Chemistry, as they would at university. Sherborne Girls has a long history of success in the competition, but this year proved to be particularly strong with nine students achieving either Copper, Silver or Gold awards. Mr Angelosanto, Head of Chemistry, said: “Congratulations to all our chemists. The competition is extremely challenging, but a fantastic opportunity for our girls to apply their knowledge to some very difficult questions and unfamiliar scenarios. Special congratulations to Helena for achieving Gold, which is awarded to only a very small number of entrants worldwide.”
Gold award winner: Helena Campbell (right) Silver award winners: Anna Barnett and Arabella Lambeth (left and centre)
EXAM SUCCESS THIS SUMMER Despite another year of disruption to public exams, we were delighted to celebrate an outstanding set of results in the summer. As last year’s leavers accepted places at 27 different institutions, including Russell Group universities, prestigious colleges abroad, and a highly competitive Degree Apprenticeship, we welcomed a record 108 new girls to the School this year, taking the pupil role to its highest yet.
SHOWING THEIR STRICTLY SIDE The girls and staff were blown away when all the glitter and glamour of Strictly Come Dancing came to Sherborne Girls. Seven fab-u-lous Sherborne Girls celebrities (otherwise known as our Housemistresses/ Housemaster) stepped out of their comfort zones to learn and perform a routine with their very own professional dance partners. To top it all, the evening was opened with a surprise, pre-recorded routine by the Head, Dr Ruth Sullivan, and her partner who danced a waltz to Pure Imagination!
ENTREPRENEURSHIP MASTERCLASS Following last year’s success, we were delighted to celebrate Global Entrepreneurship Week again this term. In addition to an exciting line-up of activities and visiting speakers designed to inspire the girls, each morning we shared a video interview with a different Old Girl. Our thanks to the five inspiring Old Girls who each reflected one of the five entrepreneurship attributes: Communication, Curiosity, Courage, Collaboration and Creativity, through their experiences, achievements and words of advice. You can watch the interviews on our blog: SherborneGirlsVoices.com
SEPARATE YET TOGETHER Our collaboration with Sherborne School continues to go from strength to strength and we have recently put together this short film: www.sherborne.com/about-us/sherbornepartnership which demonstrates some of the advantages of our unique relationship. For example, over 70 of our girls are now taking part in the joint schools’ Combined Cadet Force (CCF). The joint contingent marked Remembrance Day at Sherborne School with a moving Remembrance Parade through the town that culminated in the Courts. The same evening, pupils from both schools came to Sherborne Girls to practise ‘multiple miniinterviews’, a carousel of tests and tasks to prepare them for medicine and veterinary applications.
SPORT IN HER SHOES We hosted over 250 girls and PE coaches at a ‘Sport in her Shoes’ conference that specifically looked at sport through a female lens. The event, hosted in collaboration with The Well, addressed issues relating to female performance, participation and enjoyment of sport. We were thrilled to be a part of this ground-breaking event and to be spearheading the movement, which is now gathering momentum across other schools and industries.
THE RHYTHM OF LIFE We have thoroughly enjoyed listening to live music again and the girls have performed in a full programme of concerts including the Joint Symphony Orchestra, String Orchestra, Choir and our popular lunchtime concerts. Meanwhile, the L5 have been busy rehearsing for this year’s production, The Worst Witch, and the upcoming joint musical production of Grease is eagerly anticipated.
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News from Honorary Members Leavers Our best wishes to the following members of the Sherborne Girls Community: Sara Barns-Graham
Sue Francis 44
History Teacher and Sixth Form Tutor 2002 – 2018 LIFE SINCE LEAVING SHERBORNE GIRLS IN 2018 Top of my ‘essentials for life’ list are: travel, family and friends; and so, with my last Commem day over, I headed immediately for Australia, to live for a while on the coast in the Melbourne area and to see friends. Back in Europe, I caught up with friends in the Dordogne and with Alice Rance WD’12 in Budapest, where she and her partner were successfully running their own bistro. A last-minute opportunity took me to Oman to explore its deserts and beautiful coasts. The pandemic then closed down travel, although I did get to Singapore after its borders opened, to visit my son, James (OS), a digital media journalist there. It was difficult to wear a mask outside as well as inside in 100% humidity, but still possible to experience this beautiful city. Closer to home, I’ve become familiar with the vibrant ‘scene’ in Manchester: shout out to my son, Sam Jefferson (OS), a musician, who lives there. A term after leaving SG, I returned to give a lecture for Holocaust Memorial Day on ‘Children of the Holocaust’. I was happy to see girls and colleagues again and to experience the lively excitement for learning at the school. My own ‘swotty self’ has been learning Italian and studying – to catch up on literature, drama, music and art – a student now, not a teacher! I’ve remained in touch with good friends and former colleagues: Isobel Morley Smith (WD Housemistress 2004 – 2011), Melanie Armistead (Head of Singing at SG 1997 – 2018) and Mark Felstead (Head of Modern Languages 1997 – 2018).
Annie Chillingworth Georgina Clapham Janet Coles Terry Farris Dorothy Goldsack Gill Hallett Jon Hammond Suse Hammond Jenny Ivimey-Cook Lindsay McConnell Bill McDermott Hazel Mote Sophie Palmer Wendy Partridge Petra Sorgo Sam Spurway Olivia Tupman Paul Utting Antoine Wojcik Stuart Wood Donna Woodward
Sherborne Old Girls
Peer Group Co-ordinators
President Ruth Sullivan
1925 – 1965
Daphne MaGuire (Thomson)
1966 – 1970
Anne Whatley-Smith (Agnew)
1971 – 1975
Jocelyn Passey (Humfrey)
1976 – 1980
Jane Digby (Auer)
1981 – 1985
Emma Burrows
1986 – 1990
Antonia Foster (Plant)
1991 – 1995
Alexandra White
1996 – 2000
Alexa Ramsay (Laryea)
2001 – 2005
Tess Cavendish
2006 – 2010
Alex Pentolfe
2011 – 2015
Louise Moseley
2016 – 2020
Imogen Andrews
2021 – 2025
Alice McCormick
Presidents Emeritae Mrs Geraldine Kerton-Johnson Mrs Jenny Dwyer Vice-Presidents Mrs Patricia Barker Miss Augusta Miller Miss Sheila Powell Dr Hassan Qasrawi
Executive Committee Chairman Alexandra White Treasurer Lindsay Taylor Secretary Fiona James oldgirls@sherborne.com Peer Group Ambassador Danielle Grant-Braham oldgirls@sherborne.com Circle Secretaries’ Co-ordinator Jane Nicholson oldgirls@sherborne.com Old Girl Ambassador Alice Richardson Co-opted Member Anna Lort-Phillips oldgirls@sherborne.com Under 30 Representative Zainab Kyari Sherborne Girls Head Ruth Sullivan head@sherborne.com Senior Management Team Representative Katherine Massey k.massey@sherborne.com
Trustees of Sherborne Old Girls Bursary Fund Joanna Gornall (Mrs Wright), Helen McLuskie (Mrs Garton) All correspondence should be addressed to: Miss Ghislaine Fluck, 16 Conifer Drive Meopham, Gravesend, Kent DA13 0TL ghislaine.fluck@btinternet.com Development Officer Laura Windsor development@sherborne.com Sherborne Old Girls Office, Bradford Road, Sherborne, Dorset DT9 3QN Tel: 01935 818329 Email: oldgirls@sherborne.com www.sherborne.com/Sherborne-Old-Girls Main school tel: 01935 812245 Email: office@sherborne.com
Sherborne Girls Alumnae Sherborne Girls SherborneOldGirls sherbornegirlsconnect.com
www.sherborne.com/Sherborne-Old-Girls
