S TAY CO N N EC T E D
LEH Alumnae News – Autumn 2021
STOP PRESS
LEH Alumnae @LEHalumnae Lady Eleanor Holles Alumnae hollesconnect www.hollesconnect.org.uk
A Class Act for LEH There are more pupils than ever this year and we’ve built a new building to accommodate them. Get your first glimpse inside the new Quadrant Building on page 3.
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VIRTUAL ALUMNAE REUNION 2021
Alumnae Reunion Goes Live on the 2nd October
It’s time to re-live your school days. Please register now for the Virtual Alumnae Reunion on Saturday 2nd October. See page 8.
LEH Alumna at Tokyo Olympics
Alys Thomas, Class of 2009, swam her fastest time of the year to place seventh in the 200m butterfly Olympic final in Toyko this summer. See page 5.
Calling For Entries
If you are looking to take on a new challenge this year, we might be able to help. Applications for the Emerging Talent Award 2021 are now open. See page 8 for details.
S W E N L O O SCH LEH Foshan Throws Open its Doors
LEH Foshan welcomed pupils and staff to their high-tech new campus in the Guangdong Province of China this month (September 2021). The International School, which is the sister school of LEH in Hampton, is a British curriculum day and boarding co-ed school for pupils aged 10-18 years. The purpose-build campus offers state-of-the-art facilities including collaborative classrooms, science and technology labs, performance spaces and sports amenities such as a 400-metre running track and a six-lane swimming pool. A team of British teachers is leading lessons. Headteacher Steve Allen said: “It is a very special day in the history of LEH Foshan, the first time we have been able to start the school year at this beautiful campus. PAGE 2 - LEH ALUMNAE NEWS
Thank you to our parents and students for their courage and wisdom! As founding families, you truly exemplify our school motto, “Hope favours the Bold”. “Building the first British International School in Foshan during COVID has been challenging… but this fabulous school has been worth the sweat and tears. Students are enjoying a joyful education and love going to lessons.” The official opening was celebrated in traditional British style with tea and cake for all!
A Class Act for LEH
The pupils and teachers might have been on holiday, but the summer months were a hive of activity at LEH with an ambitious building and refurbishment programme – resulting in the brand-new Quadrant Building. Situated near the entrance to the swimming pool, it houses the English Department. In addition to seven stylish new classrooms, there’s also a large meeting room, which will be known as the Megson Room. It has been named after alumna Barbara Megson (Class of 1948) who has been very generous to LEH in recent years.
community who helped the Friends of LEH to raise the significant funds required for the work in the halls. The upgraded facilities are part of the school’s expansion plans, which this year sees an increased intake of Thirds, up by 30 per cent. The Quadrant Building will have a second storey added by the start of 2022/23.
A major refurbishment of both the Senior and Junior Assembly Halls was also carried out. As well as full redecoration, the Halls have new windows and blinds, new lighting and new stage curtains. Thank you to all those in the LEH
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S W E N L O O H C S LEH Reaches Finals of ISY Awards 2021 LEH has been selected as a Finalist in the ‘Girls’ School’ category of the Independent Schools of the Year Awards 2021.
expert Careers Programme and reinvigorated alumnae offering, which has increased alumnae engagement by over 200%, LEH promotes the power of female networking and mentoring.
Head Teacher Heather Hanbury says: “We’re delighted to reach the finals in this particular category of these prestigious awards, especially in such a strong field. Fingers crossed for the announcement in October.” LEH has been demonstrating the importance and success of single sex education for over 300 years. Hope Favours the Bold is more than just the school motto. Students are encouraged to acquire mental, intellectual, emotional and moral courage during their time here.
Alumna Melanie Ivarrson, Class of 1990, Chief Development Officer at Moderna Inc, led the global development of one of the world’s first COVID-19 vaccines. She told pupils: “An education at LEH is absolutely what you need to go into the world feeling pretty confident that you can meet any challenge head on.”
At LEH there are many opportunities for students to lead. This role modelling teaches pupils to discover their voices and to speak up, developing the self-confidence they need to succeed in their careers and their life. The school grasps every opportunity to celebrate women’s achievements, providing inspiring role models and raising awareness against bias.
The other finalists in the ‘Girls’ School’ category are: Benenden School, Downe House, Harrogate Ladies’ College and St Mary’s School, Cambridge. The winner will be announced at a virtual awards ceremony on Thursday 7 October.
From a new science wall mural, a daily reminder of the pioneering role women have played in science, to our
“An education at LEH is absolutely what you need to go into the world feeling pretty confident that you can meet any challenge head on
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ALUMNAE NEWS
Alys Thomas at the Olympics Taking part in the Olympics this summer was a childhood dream come true for swimmer Alys Thomas, Class of 2009, who made her Olympic debut at the age of 30. The Team GB swimmer fought her way through the qualifying rounds to reach the finals of the Women’s 200m butterfly at the Tokyo Aquatics Centre. Although she didn’t finish on the podium, she still delivered her fastest time of the year, at 2:07.90, to place seventh overall, just four seconds behind the winner. The Swansea Aquatics competitor, who is also the 2018 Commonwealth Games champion, said: “I’ve just got to be proud of myself. To get to an Olympic final means the world to me. I was pleased to go faster, that’s what I wanted.” We are all incredibly proud of our champion alumna Alys.
Becky Hewitt Awarded OBE Many congratulations to Becky Hewitt, Class of 1994, who was awarded an OBE as part of the Queen’s Birthday Honours 2021 in June. Becky, who stepped down as Chief Executive of Changing Faces in May, says: “I am so delighted and humbled to have received this award. It was an enormous privilege to serve as CEO of Changing Faces and this is recognition of the charity’s vital, life-changing work and the importance of the wonderful visible difference community.” She received the award in recognition for services to people with visible difference. The Queen’s Birthday Honours lists mark the extraordinary contributions and service of people across the UK.
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ALU M N AE N E WS
The Hits Keep Coming For DJ Annie Nightingale This month sees the paperback publication of Hey Hi Hello, the autobiography of veteran Radio 1 DJ and LEH alumna Annie Nightingale, Class of 1958. In it BBC Radio 1’s longest-serving presenter says her passion for music has always been focused on the future, devoting her career to seeking out new bands and sounds that have the potential to define a generation. It was published in hardback to great critical acclaim last year. The Guardian described it as ‘A joy to read’, while Lauren Laverne said ‘What a story! I adored it’ and Irvine Walsh said: ‘I loved this book. Annie Nightingale is my heroine. The woman is a legend.” Annie walked in the door at Radio One in 1970 as its first female broadcaster. Fifty years later she continues to be a DJ and tastemaker who commands the respect of artists, listeners and peers across the world.
Hey Hi Hello tells the story of those early days at Radio One, the Ground Zero moment of punk and the arrival of acid house and the Second Summer of Love in the late 80s. Funny, warm and candid to a fault, including encounters with Bob Marley, Marc Bolan, The Beatles and interviews with Little Simz and Billie Eilish, this is a portrait of an artist who has helped shaped British culture for half a century.
Love is in the Care Anjana Dua, Class of 2009, and her husband Ash Karir are both doctors, and found that working side-by-side during the pandemic, in the same hospital ward, has brought them closer together than ever. The couple cared for some of the most seriously ill Covid patients on the Medical Acute Dependency Unit at Frimley Park Hospital, in Surrey. They have been married for two and half years, but have yet to celebrate in style as both anniversaries have fallen during lockdowns. Anjana said: “We were very blessed to be able to support each other, PAGE 6 - LEH ALUMNAE NEWS
working so closely through the pandemic. It was a great source of comfort, although we obviously had some really challenging days, when patients passed away and we had to have difficult telephone conversations with families. Checking in on each other during
the day really helped us to process it better.” Anjana has recently moved jobs and is now Medical Oncology Registrar at the Royal Surrey Hospital.
ALU M N AE N E WS
Fantasy Debut Takes Publishing World by Storm
Fireborn, is the first book in a thrilling new debut fantasy series for pre-teens by Aisling Fowler, Class of 2004, and is due to hit bookshops this month. Set in the snowy northern forests of an imagined prehistoric world, Fireborn is by turns exciting, funny and heart wrenchingly sad. It features an axe-welding heroine called Twelve, an epic quest, monsters, battles and a loveable squirrel – who could ask for more? Aisling Fowler says: “I loved every moment of writing Twelve’s story and I can’t wait to see Fireborn out in the world, where I hope it will capture the imagination of children everywhere. It was snapped up by HarperCollins in one of last year’s hottest bidding auctions and has been heralded with much excitement as the introduction of an unstoppable new voice in children’s storytelling.
Fireborn by Aisling Fowler is published globally on 30th September with at least 20 foreign language editions around the world.
Once a Lady Holles Girl, Always a Lady Holles Girl! It was a restless night following a Covid vaccine back in March that inspired Simone Blakely, Class of 1980, to write a lively account of her amazingly vivid memories of LEH in the 1970s. “Occasionally, if I can’t sleep, in my mind’s eye I walk around the LEH I knew so well and go from classrooms one to 70 and by the time I’ve got to the language lab in room five, I’m usually asleep. Last night, I just kept going and I could see into all the rooms incredibly clearly.”
She writes with humour about many of her teachers, including Mrs Sharp’s Mary-Jane shoes, Mrs Service’s homemade trousers, the glamorous art teacher Mrs Fraser, cookery with Mrs Colverson and visits from Crackerjack’s Lesley Crowther, whose daughter Charlie attended the school.
– we’re slightly older, slightly wrinklier, but essentially still LEH girls at heart!”
She says: “To this day I am in touch with many LEH friends, some on a very regular basis. We have a short cut to life – no introductions needed in our WhatsApp messages to each other – we just jump straight in
To read the full account, please sign up for the Virtual Alumnae Reunion on Saturday 2 October. We’d love to share your memories and photos too. Please send them to: alumnae@lehs.org.uk AUTUMN 2021 - PAGE 7
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Alumnae Reunion is Virtual Again! Although most of the Covid restrictions in school have been lifted, we’ve been advised to limit the number of visitors to the premises, so the Alumnae Reunion, on Saturday 2 October, will be online. We are also mindful that many people, understandably, remain cautious about attending large social events, so we have decided, with regret, that the lunch should be a virtual gathering instead. While last year’s online get-together was a hit, with double the usual attendance, we know many will be disappointed not to be able to attend in person, so we’re delighted to announce that we plan to hold an alternative event on the premises at the end of the Spring Term. Watch this space for more details. Meanwhile, please register your
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Welcome to the ion Vir tual Alumnae Reun
interest in the Virtual Alumnae Reunion on the website: www.hollesconnect.org.uk, and we will keep you updated on arrangements and send the link details nearer the time. The online event will run from 11am until 12.30pm.
performances from some of our most gifted music scholars and thought-provoking EPQ presentations, plus we’re hoping our sixth formers will take you on a video tour of the school. These will be followed by reunion group Zoom calls so you can catch up with your former classmates live.
The format will be the same as last year – a welcome from the Head Mistress, followed by stunning
We’re really looking forward to ‘seeing’ you there!
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Helping Alumnae Take on New Challenges
As part of our mission to support and encourage our alumnae long after they’ve left school, we are delighted to announce that applications for our Emerging Talent Award 2021 are now open. We are now accepting submissions for the Emerging Talent Award 2021. The deadline for applications is Friday 6 November 2021. The Award aims to celebrate and promote the spirit of LEH. The school ethos is to encourage pupils to stretch themselves to become their best, most confident selves; to
Life Lessons Beyond the Playing Fields
be supported by strong role models and be inspired by their peers; and to have the freedom to experiment and take on new challenges. To keep those much-cherished tenets alive, we encourage alumnae to nominate themselves, or each other, if they would benefit from the support of the alumnae community.
professional training, help fund a placement, or is perhaps a business woman or fledgling entrepreneur needing our support. We’re looking to recognise the most deserving Remarkable Women, who have worked hard and have a real capability in their chosen area. And remember - Hope Favours The Bold!
Awards of up to £1,000 are available to an alumna who has a talent in any field, who is looking to embark on a new project, undertake further
To apply, or to find out more information, please see the Emerging Talent page at www.hollesconnect.org.uk
An exciting summer of tennis, cricket, Olympics and Paralympics, after 18 months of near-lockdown, has got everyone talking about the benefits of sports participation at all levels. But LEH has long been aware that taking part in sport and physical activity is about more than keeping pupils fit and healthy. It helps build self-esteem and confidence, develop social skills and motivate students to do well at school and far beyond. The next edition of Holles Connect magazine will focus on Teamwork: Together We Can and we would love to hear your stories about sport, what it means to you and what life skills it has helped you develop. Please email us at: alumnae@lehs.org.uk The next edition of Holles Connect will be published at the start of 2022.
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EVENTS
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VIRTUAL ALUMNAE REUNION Saturday 2 October -11am-12.30pm. Please sign up now and we will send you the link and full joining instructions just before the event. SIGN UP HERE
ALUMNAE CAROL SERVICE Monday 29 November We hope - Covid-19 regulations permitting - that it will be held at its usual venue in the beautiful St Giles’ Church, Cripplegate. If we are unable to meet in person, we will hold a virtual carol service instead. REGISTER YOUR INTEREST HERE
CLASS OF 2021 REUNION Friday 7 January The very first reunion for our newest members – hopefully in school.
UNIVERSITY LUNCHES 2022 We will be sending out invites to alumnae currently attending Oxford, Cambridge and London universities to network with current L6 students who are exploring their university options.
Follow us on social media: LEH Alumnae
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@HollesConnect
@LEHalumnae
Lady Eleanor Holles Alumnae
alumnae@lehs.org.uk