WING-WALKING AT NEARLY 90

Wing Walking at Nearly 90-years-old

Sheila Hallas, MBE, Class of 1948, really lived up to the LEH motto – Hope Favours The Bold – as she displayed her pluck wing walking for charity a few months short of her 90th birthday.

The sprightly daredevil undertook the challenge to mark the 50th anniversary of her fundraising initiative, the Combined Charities Christmas Card Shops, which Sheila founded in 1971 and has since gone on to raise over £5.5m for good causes.

She says: “2020 was a disaster for all charities. The pandemic prevented us opening our five pop-up Christmas card shops and stopped all fundraising.

“As this is our 50th year, I wanted to make a special effort to raise much-needed funds for our charities. It was a wonderful experience. I’m so glad I did it. It was exhilarating but scary, as despite straps, you don’t feel tethered!”

For more information about Sheila’s fundraising initiative, please see her website: www.christmas-cards.org.uk

One Moment Could Change Everything

The debut novel from alumna author Caroline Khoury, who attended the Junior School from 1982-86, is published this month and is already being lauded as the most romantic read of 2022.

From London to Istanbul, Paris to Beirut, It Must Be Love is a heartwarming story that will leave you believing in the power of fate and destiny.

Caroline says: “It’s a dream come true having my book published. I’ll never forget my LEH junior school years, seeing my creative writing being displayed in the cabinet outside Mrs Braithwaite’s office. She instilled in me a belief that anything is possible if you work hard and believe in yourself.”

When Abbie met Oz, they were young, idealistic students from different backgrounds, but their connection was unmistakable. Then Oz went home to Istanbul and life moved on. Now Abbie is with the man she thinks she’s going to spend the rest of her life with, until she meets Oz again – a chance encounter that might change everything.

Caroline Khoury was born in Beirut to a Lebanese mother and Welsh father, and grew up in suburban London. She recently returned to the UK after more than a decade living in Hong Kong, Japan, and America.

It Must Be Love by Caroline Khoury was published by Penguin in February 2022.

100-Year-Old Prize Book Returns to LEH

Nicky Budd, Director of Sport, LEH 2008-2020

A beautiful copy of The Stories of King Arthur and his Knights, awarded to Elsie Langford, Class of 1911, when the school was still in Hackney, has kindly been donated to the LEH archive by her great niece.

Sharon Langford sent us her Great Aunt Elsie’s immaculate hardback, which bears the school crest on the cover and a copperplated inscription on the fly leaf. Sharon said: “I decided to offer the book to you as I felt it was the best home for it, and one where it would be appreciated and treasured.”

According to the inscription, 11-year-old Elsie was awarded the book as a ‘Prize for Class Work’ in Midsummer 1905. The Head Mistress of LEH, Mare Street, Hackney, at the time would have been Mrs Beatrice-Clarke. She oversaw an era of expansion and growing recognition for the academic achievements of the school. The 200 pupils benefitted from a newly installed laboratory and gymnasium.

“I always remember Elsie as a kind and gentle soul,” says Sharon. “The book is rather lovely and I’m sad to see it go, but it’s nice to know it will be appreciated by others now.”

Many alumnae will be very sad to hear that LEH’s long time former Director of Sport Nicky Budd suffered a massive stroke last year which has left her on life support.

Under Nicky’s guidance LEH won many school tournaments and competitions, including the Lacrosse Nationals Championship in 2018. The former England U19 and GB Lacrosse Coach worked at LEH for 12 years and was devoted to the school and pupils.

She left in September 2020 to accompany her husband George who was starting his new position as Principal of Moreton Hall in Shropshire. Nicky is now in need of a long-term care facility. We are sending our love and support to Nicky and her family.