Learning is a Lifelong Pursuit

cannot say how lucky I am to have had the opportunity and so far good health to travel, enjoy what I am doing and make many new friends.”

Judy Perkins:

Lesley Hazel:

“Oh dear, where do I start? Retirement is busy and rewarding. Today I stepped down as President of Putney WI after a very active six years. The Committee and I were a ‘lifeline’ to many of our members in Covid. We have delivered almost 7,000 mask extenders to St George’s Hospital and 500 baby hats. For my endeavours I received a runner up prize in Wandsworth’s Civic Awards. I volunteer for Kensington Palace, Marble Hill House, plus Leighton and Sambourne Houses. I would highly recommend these to you. I love them all. I have been painting watercolours and subsequently took up Botanical Illustration, gaining my Kew Certificate and even selling some of my work. I

“In 2005 I had become very part time at LEH for family reasons when I was asked to cover a post in the RS Department at Hampton for two terms. I was in both schools to begin with, and the boys were particularly interested in life at LEH. I was teaching the same A level syllabus in both schools and the boys asked me how they were different. I told them that the girls wrote down everything I said, whereas they didn’t write down anything unless I told them to but that they wanted to argue with everything I said. “Oh no, we don’t!” was the reply! I ended up staying at Hampton until I retired, having spent 32 years on the Hanworth Road. The second lockdown finished me. “Sorry, Mrs Perkins, my Wi-Fi dropped out”…..

I am still living in Kew and enjoy my occasional meetings with former pupils from both schools. It is polite of them to remove their earpieces for a conversation! I am committed to my parish church and for the recent induction of a new vicar I made Coronation chicken for 250. I am a keen photographer and have completed a project to digitise all my photographs beginning with my parents’ marriage in 1956 and the few photos I have of them before that.”

Chris Dapre:

“I have kept very busy and thoroughly enjoyed life but nothing that makes me a ‘remarkable woman’ although my family might think I am very occasionally! I have been a member of the Teddington Theatre Club since 1976 – all sorts of tasks but none involving treading the boards. I am a volunteer with educational and family activities in the Royal Parks and The Naval Museum in Portsmouth and have helped with LEH Junior Department trips to Bushy Park in the past. Obviously, I can’t quite get education out of my system but both organisations have provided wonderful opportunities for learning and making new friends as has my association with the British Library. I am blessed with two grandchildren who I see often and who provide much joy and amusement.”

Jacqueline Khan:

“I am now retired from teaching history and, following the death of my husband, live with my daughter and family. I have two young grandchildren, a grandson aged seven and a granddaughter aged five. I help with childcare, meeting them out of school and driving them to football and tennis when required. I have also been found to have some skill at cricket; my grandson is impressed by my overarm bowling. Otherwise, I have time to enjoy life in Dulwich where we now live, close to the Picture Gallery and an excellent cinema. We were given a most interesting tour of the school at the reunion, which is very different to the one I remember from the 1970’s, now with impressive facilities. It was possible however to identify classrooms we taught in and I observed that work is still handed in on windowsills!”

Mary Beardwood:

‘It was wonderful to be welcomed back into school by Heather Hanbury and some of the current delightful Sixth Formers. Meeting up with other retired staff and former pupils, particularly the class of 1982, was such a joy.

Geraldine Kendrick and her netball team were the first team to qualify for the National Schools finals; they were in Upper 2 when I started teaching and have a very special place in my heart. I am still an England netball selector and am forever grateful for the opportunities afforded to me by LEH, working with brilliant colleagues and incredibly talented pupils for all my teaching career. Heather clearly led the school admirably through the Covid pandemic and, as always, LEH is in a league of its own!’

La Vie En Rose for Veronica Kean

Veronica Kean writes: “I am sure that you will all remember that at the end of term you would sit down with your Form Tutor and reflect on your achievements and set targets for your future goals. After 16 years of teaching at LEH, I am now reflecting on all the changes that have taken place since 2006.

There have been changes to the curriculum, lesson timings, a new week A and week B timetable, the use of iPads throughout the school alongside many impressive physical changes: smart Sixth Form common rooms, a swanky theatre, a stunning Art block, amazing music rooms, a new pupil dining room, the Gateway Building with new IT suites, a beautiful swimming pool and activity studio, the Q building, new numbering for the classrooms, a gate in the fence between Hampton and LEH and the younger years being allowed to use the Sixth Form corridor!

My enduring memories of LEH will be all the MFL school trips, the French exchanges to Béthune, Paris and Marseille or study trips to Nice and the Camargue. Memories of one Sixth Form A level student eagerly getting on the wrong métro train, the doors closing and her friends creasing up with laughter, as her train pulled out of the station. Being an LEH girl she simply got off at the next station and made her way back to the awaiting group!

Other memorable French experiences include arguing with a ticket inspector in Nice as one of the girls had not validated her ticket correctly, horse riding in the Camargue, going around Arles in a searing heat wave or watching a French sketch and dance routine in the hotel dining room, travelling on Eurostar and oversize cuddly souvenirs from Disneyland Paris.

The school will of course continue to change and evolve, and staff will come and go but some things will remain constant: the passion of the teachers for their subject and the joy of working with remarkable young people who make teaching such an inspiring career.

I have been so privileged to have taught at LEH and, as I embark upon my retirement, will always cherish my 16 years here. I have loved being a Form Tutor to my L4 and U4 tutor groups over the years, being Head of French and teaching groovy grammar to my wonderful GCSE and A level groups. Non, je ne regrette rien!”

Head of Careers

Alison Matthews Retires

After an LEH career spanning 30 years, we bid a fond farewell to long-time Head of Economics and Head of Careers Alison Matthews last term.

“So, it has been 30 years and three Head Mistresses, and it has flown by, but my association with the school is even longer as my brother was a Hampton boy and several of my childhood friends attended LEH.

It is funny looking back because I wasn’t totally sure I wanted the job and when Miss Candy rang, I hid in my room and made my mother answer the call. The school was, as it is now, highly selective, and very successful and as a young teacher I thought it might be a very daunting place to work. I quickly learnt that it was a fast paced, happy environment with lots of activities to enjoy.

People often ask if the school has changed a lot and the answer is it has and hasn’t. There was no doubt that it was an amazing school 30 years ago and it still is, but as you would expect it has moved on with the times.

I was trying to think of the changes, especially in my classroom. For most of my time at LEH my classroom was called 61 and was opposite the tower and looked out on the front of the school and the grass tennis courts in summer. The girls often referred to it as the cupboard.

Every Head has added a building, sometimes two, so expect another one when the new Head arrives. The school colours were a sort of pillar box red under Miss Candy, which changed to a kind of burgundy with Mrs Low and returned to pillar box red with Heather Hanbury.

The carpet went on the walls and now, I believe, it is coming off. There was a ‘The’ in front of Lady Eleanor Holles and the pattern of the timetables and breaks has changed three or maybe four times! You may remember that some of the timings for bells were a little unusual with 11.27am and 3.23pm and we also had trebles when I first arrived.

I think that what has stayed the same is the fantastic students, the lovely staff and the beautiful grounds especially the new meadow which has been absolutely gorgeous and planted to celebrate the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee.

I have loved working at LEH and have so many happy memories of so many students through the years. I hope to keep in touch with many of you through Holles Connect.”