Old Girls’ Association Newsletter 2020
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Upcoming Alumnae Events 2020 Inspiring Each Other: Alumnae Networking 26 March, 7pm - 9.30pm STEMinism: How to Succeed as a Woman in STEM A panel discussion followed by drinks and canapés where alumnae can network to share expertise. Tickets: https://inspiringstem.eventbrite.co.uk Careers Breakfast with Year 13 17 April, 8.30am - 10.40am An opportunity for Old Girls to return to school and inspire the current Year 13 girls with details of their career journeys. This will be followed by the chance to network with each other and take a tour of the school. UCAS & Beyond Breakfast with Year 12 19 June, 8.30am – 10.40am We invite alumnae who left school recently to return and offer current girls advice on their choices for further education - including courses and university locations. A tour of the school is also available afterwards. OGA Annual Reunion Tea Party 12 September, 2pm - 5pm Specific reunions this year will be for those who left in: 1955, 1960, 1965, 1970, 1975, 1980, 1985, 1990, 1995, 2000, 2005, 2010 & 2015. Tickets are £12 and available to buy online now: https://oga-tea-2020.eventbrite.co.uk
If you would like to get involved in any of the events above, or would like some more information, please email: alumnae@nhehs.gdst.net, or see the alumnae section of the school website: www.nhehs.gdst.net/alumnae/get-involved where details of all upcoming events can be found. Also, if you would like to suggest a city for a regional tea reunion - please do get in touch. 2
Contents
page 4
Head’s Review, Matthew Shoults
page 6
A Few Words From Zosia Thackray, OGA Chair
page 8
OGA Reunion Tea 2020 Information
page 9
Jane Sigaloff’s farewell
page 10
2019 Event Highlights in photographs
page 12
Angellica Bell - 20 Years in Televison
page 16
Kasia Reay - It’s Good to Talk
page 18
Move to Ealing Day - A Celebration
page 20
Archives: The Evolution of the NHEHS Uniform
page 22
A big thank you!
page 23
News from our Old Girls 3
Head’s Review
Matthew Shoults Headmaster and President of the OGA Madeleine Heggs (NHEHS 1948) recently celebrated her 90th birthday. When I invited her into school so that the girls and staff could sing her happy birthday in assembly, I quoted back to her her own words, when she was told by an interviewer that the law firm to which she was applying didn’t take women: “Well you’d better start, hadn’t you.” It is this pioneering and empowered spirit which I see both in our wonderful OGA, and in the current students, and the mutual support in the wide NHEHS community. It is no accident, perhaps, that following NHEHS old girl Nirupa Murugaesu’s year as GDST Alumna of the Year, another NHEHS alumna Polly Arnold was on the shortlist in 2019, reflecting her pioneering work in Chemistry. At networking events last year, including a Law breakfast event in the city (supported by alumna Aileen Hitchins) it has been inspiring to see Sixth Formers and alumnae helped to forge their careers, and get the help which Madeleine didn’t necessarily receive. Last year we launched a new ‘Skype Club’, enabling the girls to hear over the ether from alumnae working in different fields. We also welcomed in all three Huq sisters (Nutun, Rupa and Konnie) to be interviewed by the GDST for their alumnae magazine, and Rupa has also visited on several occasions, to encourage girls into politics, as well as to hust alongside other candidates in the recent election (the girls were as searching as you would expect). The school has had a strong focus on growing outward facing activities. We have launched and grown 4
a whole range of volunteering opportunities, with girls helping out with reading (and Latin) in local primary schools, organising events with Mencap and visiting care homes, to name a few; the range of projects is growing steadily. We completed our Erasmus scheme last summer, as girls joined up in Strasbourg with their partners from schools across Europe to work on research projects, and we hope to retain these links. We have also extended our connections, forging a link with the College of Notre Dame de Namur in Pennsylvania, which will see some of the older girls travelling there this summer to work with girls from across seven countries on science projects. There have been wonderfully diverse musical moments in the last year. The wider range of ensembles in school are reflected in this, whether the chamber choir performing evensong at St Martin’s in the Field, or the Year 7-8 rock band, Generation XX, opening the Ealing ‘Party in the Park’ on the main stage. The breadth of instruments played has also been boosted, with strong take up of our ‘Endangered Instruments’ scheme, encouraging greater numbers of brass players in particular; the 2019 Remembrance ceremony featured 4 young trumpeters playing the “Last Post”. The strength of the OGA reflects the school’s long history of girls’ education. Last year to increase our recognition of this, we instituted a ‘Move to Ealing’ day to mark the moment in 1931 when the school moved to its site on Cleveland Road. I reflected in the afternoon ceremony on the distinguished service of Miss McCaig in seeing the school through the move. There were also moments of pure entertainment, including a short play recreating the move, while junior school girls re-enacted the candle swimming races (this is as odd as it sounds) which used to take place in the school’s early years. I would like to finish by thanking Jane Sigaloff for her dedication to the OGA as she finishes her decade as chair. She provided me with a warm welcome on my arrival, but also a clear and firm steer on the strength and benefit of the Association! She has brought great continuity to the committee as longserving members have stepped down, and I am most grateful for everything she has done. I am delighted that Zosia has taken on her mantle so crisply.
Matthew Shoults 2020
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A few words from Zosia Thackray OGA Chair January 2020
Happy New Year! I hope you have all had a great year with plenty of time for fun, family, friends, growth and joy. Welcome to this year’s OGA newsletter, my first as Chair. I’m excited to take the helm and continue in Jane Sigaloff’s footsteps to help grow and develop our fabulous organisation. Once again we bring you a selection of interesting feature articles and the news of many of our Old (and not so old) Girls. Thank you for the news which you have contributed and to all those who help to bring this all together, including Natalie Burns Spence, our Alumnae Relations Manager, and our archivist Liz Broekmann. During 2019, we had many more Alumnae events, including our fantastic annual Reunion Tea Party in September, with over 200 attendees. Plenty of current and former staff also attended, which always makes the event more personal for the Old Girls. This time we even had the three previous headmistresses joining us: Mrs Jane Fitz (1983-1991), Mrs Susan Whitfield (1991-2008) and Ms Lucinda Hunt (2008-2016). We were blessed with fine weather which meant that the superb tea was able to flow out onto the patio and around the netball courts. Many gathered to watch the now famous OGs vs current girls netball match. Despite a serious practise session earlier in the week, the OGs were beaten again this year. If you think you could change our fortunes in the future, do come and join the Old Girls’ team next year! The date for the Reunion Tea Party next year is Saturday 12th September, 2-5pm. Do make sure it’s in your diary. You can find a list of contact details for the current reunion year group organisers on P8. If you’re able to help co-ordinate a particular year group, please get in touch. 6
Other Alumnae events this year included our networking evenings and breakfasts; alumnae returning to school as part of a lecture series to inspire current girls and developing on the lunchtime ‘Skype Club’ initiative with brand guru Talia Harvey née Eagle (NHEHS 1997) and architect Katie Wilmot (NHEHS 2002) speaking to girls. There was also an inspiring workshop at school, led by Konnie Huq (NHEHS 1993), who has just published her first children’s book about science. The OGA Christmas wreath-making workshop held in December sold out again within just a couple of weeks. I was able to attend this event and the mulled wine and mince pies lent great festive cheer to the creative crafting which followed. My wreath definitely added some welcome greenery and sparkle to my front door at Christmas. I left NHEHS in 1994, and I’ve only had short bursts out of the education sector since then. After school my gap year involved six months volunteering as an assistant English teacher at a school for the blind in Krakow, Poland. I then completed a four-year BA in Primary Education at Brighton University, graduating in 1999 as a qualified teacher. I worked for two years near Brighton as a class teacher, before heading across to Canada, the USA, New Zealand and Australia for over a year of travels and work. Upon my return, I started working as a supply teacher back at NHEHS, in the Junior Department! I ended up working at NHEHS for a further six years before a few years of upheaval and life changes began; the result being additional training to become a specialist teacher for children with Dyslexia and literacy difficulties. I have now been working as a specialist teacher for seven years, the past five at St. Augustine’s Priory in Ealing. I love this job, and have been able to balance it well with bringing up my young son, who is now 8 years old. I joined the OGA Committee in 2007 and in 2013 took over co-ordinating the organisation for the annual reunion tea party. This turned out to be a bonanza year, and I had to learn fast how to adapt to the ever-increasing numbers. I have enjoyed fine-tuning the tea party but it is only such a great success thanks to the team work of the whole committee. Speaking of which, we have welcomed three new members this year: Carrie Hartnell (NHEHS 1997), Chandni Kaneria (NHEHS 2010) and Irene Reguilon (NHEHS 2010); with Carrie now taking on the reunion tea party organisation. We are always looking for more members on the committee, to help continue to grow and develop our wonderful organisation. This involves just two committee meetings per year and helping with the annual tea party. If you would like to join us, please get in touch to hear more. Please do send us your news and updates. If not via the alumnae section of the school website then via email: alumnae@nhehs.gdst.net or if you’d rather write with pen and paper: NHEHS OGA c/o NHEHS, 2 Cleveland Road, London W13 8AX.
Zosia Thackray (née Kulesza) NHEHS 1987 - 1994
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Old Girls’ Association Reunion Tea 12 September 2020, 2pm - 5pm
Specific reunions this year will be for those who left in: 1955, 1960, 1965, 1970, 1975, 1980, 1985, 1990, 1995, 2000, 2005, 2010 & 2015, although we do not yet have co-ordinators for all years. Tickets are £12 and available to buy online now on Eventbrite: https://oga-tea-2020.eventbrite.co.uk If you will be attending the tea, please get in touch with your Reunion Co-ordinator to RSVP: 1960 - Judith Wilson: judithwilson@doctors.org.uk 1970 - Sally Mason (née Ashford): sally@mason77.plus.com 1975 - Jane Mansell (née Sellers): janemansell21@gmail.com 1980 - Lindsey Strickland: bumblestrickland@googlemail.com 1990 - Madeleine Mauwer, Lara de Haas and Erin Locke and Ewa Banaszkiewicz-Dymek: madeleinemauwer@gmail.com 2000 - Madeline Graham (née Squire): msquire@alumni.princeton.edu 2010 - Irene Reguilon: irene_reguilon@hotmail.com / Chandni Kaneria: chandni.kaneria0@gmail.com If you are unable to purchase tickets online please contact the alumnae office on 020 8233 8533. 8
Farewell from Jane Sigaloff 13 years ago I organised a ‘Can it really be 15 years since we left school?’ reunion for the Class of ’91. Whilst at school riding my wave of nostalgia I was approached by Lucy Cozens, then head of the OGA. Hers was a name I recognised from reading the News of Old Girls section which used to be printed at the back of the School Magazine throughout my school years. Lucy Cozens had been the leader of the OGA since the late 1970s. Twinkly eyed and all smiles, she asked me if I might be interested in attending a committee meeting to find out a bit more about what the OGA did. Honestly, I wasn’t sure that the OGA committee was for me. At that tea party I was two weeks away from my wedding day. A mere 33 years young, in my mind more of a recent leaver than an Old Girl, and not ready to write committee meeting in my diary. But Lucy never took no for an answer. Unless of course it was the answer she was hoping to hear.
After 11 years as chair, I am delighted to report that we are still one of the most successful OGAs in the Trust and now hopefully future-proof, with almost 4000 members on our in-house database, e-mailable newsletters, a Facebook and on-line presence, an archive of digitised and searchable school photos and magazines and an energetic committee comprising old and not-so-old girls from our wonderful school, helped enormously by another not-so-old girl and wonderful Director of Development and alumnae relations, Natalie Burns Spence. We have an oral history project underway, an annual OG Netball fixture against the current pupils and several other events every year.
In November 2006 I arrived at an OGA committee meeting, allegedly to see if it was something I might want to join. Everyone else at that meeting thought they were meeting Lucy’s successor. I was merely the last to know. Two years later Lucy resigned after 40 years of dedication. No pressure there then. She entrusted me with one of the most active OGAs in the Trust with nearly 1000 Our annual September tea party remains the focal members and a unique wonder-committee of ten event in our social calendar. We welcome over 200 former staff and pupils back to school for a cream women representing decades of NHEHS’s finest. tea, a glass of prosecco, a room full of familiar faces and an afternoon of nostalgia. The atmosphere is wonderful, the joy palpable. You can take the girl out of NHEHS but you can never take NHEHS out of the girl. Our affection for our school only grows as we age and it has been a privilege and an honour to lead this remarkable committee for the last 11 years. As we enter our twenties (ok the 2020s but it does feel good to write that again….) I wish Zosia well in her new role and look forward to supporting the OGA from the side-lines. Jane Sigaloff 9
Alumnae Event Highlights 2019
Inspiring Each Other: we continued our series of networking events with “Women Mean Business” in March. We heard from dynamic alumnae entrepreneurs and business women.
The ‘Inspiring Each Other’ networking event in May Celebrated 100 Years of Women in the Law - and was kindly hosted in the City by Katten Muchin Rosenman UK LLP.
Alumnae return to NHEHS to advise girls at the annual careers networking breakfast in April.
Alumnae Antonia Kraskowski and Phoebe Syms were on the judging panel for the Charity Fashion Show in June.
Recent alumnae returned to advise the girls on their university choices at the UCAS & Beyond Breakfast in June. 10
It was wonderful to welcome back so many Old Girls and former staff to the annual OGA Tea Reunion at school in September. There are more photos on the alumnae news page of the website.
Inspiring Each Other: Changing Directions, in November. A panel discussion and networking event discussing flexible working, career changes and forging new paths. Alumna Suzy Wynbergen in her boater.
The Christmas wreath workshop was festive and fun with merriment, mulled wine and mince pies in the NHEHS art rooms in December. For more information on past events please see the ‘news’ section on the Alumnae page of the NHEHS website: www.nhehs.gdst.net/alumnae/news or visit the OGA Facebook page @NHEHSoldgirlsassoc 11
Angellica Bell 20 Years in Television Angellica Bell left NHEHS in 1993 and is a television and radio broadcaster, voiceover artist and author. She started her career as the face of Children’s BBC and her current TV work includes presenting ‘The One Show’, and ‘Ill Gotten Gains’ for the BBC, as well as co-hosting ‘The Martin Lewis Money Show’ for ITV. Angellica also hosts a brand new show on the recently launched Scala Radio. In 2017 she was crowned Champion of ‘Celebrity MasterChef’, and in 2019 published her first cookery book aimed at children and aspiring new cooks, young or old, called ‘Fantastic Eats and How to Cook Them.’ Angellica is renowned for her smile, positivity and excellent interviewing skills: probably due in part to her degree in politics. We went to meet Angellica at BBC New Broadcasting House in Central London on a crisp November afternoon, where we spent some time with her at The One Show studio. “I always tell people I was so blessed to be at Notting Hill & Ealing High School, because growing up, I never thought I’d go there and in all honesty, it moulded me into the person I am today. Initially, I was a little bit lost when I started in 4 Lower (on an assisted place) as I had never been in an environment where I needed to be confident and assertive. I was really grateful to be able to make friendships so quickly, as it helped me find my feet and fit in. Whenever I reflect on my school days at NHEHS, I have to say there were many great moments. I had a mischievous streak which my teachers probably would testify to and I liked a good time and a good laugh! A couple of my favourite memories are of the time I spent in the Madrigal choir, numerous school plays and taking part in public speaking competitions. I used to be on a team with Anna Murphy and Anna Hutton which was hilarious. I loved drama and worked my way up to Grade 8 with my friend Vicky Glover in the duo acting 12
category and performing in school productions like ‘The Magic Flute’ and ‘Twelfth Night’; in which I played Sir Toby Belch; allowed me to express myself and be part of something exciting. There were some great teachers at Notting Hill. Naming a few, there was Miss Ashley (Deputy Head 1992 - 2009) who was a real positive force, Mrs Sergeant, my Head of 6th Form who was very patient and Miss Mercer who was always encouraging. One teacher I had lots of contact with (and was incredibly influential for me at school) was Mr Pullin (Head of Music 1985 – 1993). It’s funny because he was never my form tutor, but he just had this amazing presence and a huge passion for music. When I first joined the school, I didn’t know that much about classical music, but I loved to sing. I remember nervously auditioning for the Madrigal Choir - Nina Jaffer (NHEHS 1991) was on the piano and Mr Pullin just kept making me sing higher and higher. I can clearly remember anxiously
walking to the noticeboard and seeing my name on it having been selected to be a member. It was just fantastic to be part of that choir which meant I was able to go on school trips and sing in St Paul’s Cathedral. I wouldn’t have had those experiences if it wasn’t for Mr Pullin, and being selected for the Madrigal Choir surrounded me with other girls I had something in common with. Because of that exposure to music, I now sing with a local choir and present a Saturday morning show on Scala Radio, which aims to demystify classical music so it’s more accessible to everyone. Basically if it wasn’t for my time singing at school, I probably wouldn’t have that job. Performing allowed me to lose myself and build my confidence. When I went to university, I continued down this path trying out student radio and small bits of student TV and at the back of my mind did think presenting was something I wouldn’t mind doing, but never actually thought it would happen. After finishing my studies at university I had no idea of what I would do professionally, having applied to advertising agencies, only to be rejected. I tried media companies for research jobs and again the response wasn’t great. In the end I decided law could be an option and was offered a place for a CPE law conversion in London. The one thing I knew I could do was to start trying to pay off some debts, which I did by signing up for ad-hoc secretarial work. As a result I ended up temping at the BBC and being approached to audition for a position as a children’s television presenter. I remember calling my friend Konnie (Huq, another past pupil of NHEHS) who at the
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time was presenting Blue Peter, and she gave me some great advice and encouragement. The audition was so daunting and I thought at the time I’d blown that opportunity because I was just too nervous. However, after the cameras stopped rolling, I turned to the producer and floor manager and for a whole minute, without taking a breath, told them why my audition was bad and why they shouldn’t give me the job! They didn’t listen, and to my surprise they gave me the job! Within a few months my life had changed. I was presenting live television in front of millions of people on BBC1, having the best time ever.
One aspect of my job that I really enjoy is meeting remarkable people – some happen to be famous, but most are everyday people who do incredible things all over the country. Working for The One Show and BBC has given me the opportunity to travel around the UK and abroad and give those people the chance to tell their stories which at the same time, inspires me. Yes, there are the recognisable faces too and I have been lucky enough to interview high profile names for work, red carpet events and on television. One person who I was excited to meet was Oprah Winfrey – someone who I used to watch on television myself as a young girl, because what she achieved was ground-breaking; from having her own long running chat show to being a philanthropist and business minded. I used to think, here’s a woman who is intelligent, confident and happens to be black - a real role-model. It was an honour to meet her and I cheekily asked for a picture with her which I’ll have forever.
Credit - Shine TV
It is hard to comprehend that I’ve worked in telly for this long however I never take anything for granted. One piece of advice I give to anyone wanting to get into broadcasting is to have a backup plan. The fact is, you are at the mercy of what’s in vogue or popular, whether or not your face fits or who the commissioners are. It’s difficult to know how successful you are, because TV is subjective, however you just have to follow your own path and not take things personally. I am so proud to have been in this industry for 20 years and I am very grateful for the experiences I have had because of it. I also try and only commit to being part of shows that I am genuinely passionate about, and not compromise precious time with my family and friends. There is no typical day for me. I like to get up early as this works best for me and so I can have a full, productive day. Sometimes I may start off by going to the gym but most days it’s about getting the children ready for school. I might have a few voiceovers or meetings in a morning, but if I’m presenting The One Show – I need to be at New Broadcasting House by 3pm. Once there, I meet 14
up with my co-presenter and producers and go through the script, discuss the content of the show, talk about the guests and read through briefs. After that, it’s in the make-up chair for me, then 6pm we start rehearsals, and before you know it, it is 7pm and I am live on BBC One. Then it’s back in the car and home, back to normal routine of jobs like folding clothes or clearing up! Some of the shows I work on are pre-recorded, and so I might have to head to a particular location for filming. Some days, when I’m recording for radio or voiceovers, I could literally be in a studio wearing my pyjamas if I wanted to! Life can be so varied and that variety is one aspect of my job I love because every day is different. I appreciate having the flexibility to be able to balance out my day to day life alongside my work. It was so scary being on the other side of the ‘table’ on MasterChef in 2017. Usually when you are presenting a programme, you know where the camera shots are and the direction a show will take, but on this I was out of my comfort zone. On MasterChef when John and Gregg say you have an hour to cook a dish, you really do only have an
hour and you don’t have any control over whether something goes wrong. The problem is cooking in those conditions is unpredictable and so the show becomes an emotional roller coaster. I’ve always enjoyed watching MasterChef in the past and had wondered why people got so upset but I completely understood how they felt once I was there. Obviously I’m thrilled I agreed to be part of the show after initially resisting; in the end I spoke to a mentor I have at the BBC, Kate Philips (a fellow GDST girl) and she said I should go for it. Good thing I listened! I’m passionate about inspiring people to try something new - whether it be a recipe or listening to classical music, because personally, I like to challenge myself and know how good that makes me feel. It’s about taking yourself out of a comfort zone and pushing yourself and that’s why winning MasterChef was a massive moment for me – I’d never won anything before and as a result was presented with the opportunity to write my own cook book.
I’m not one for regrets either and there is no age limit to achieving a goal or overcoming a fear. For example, when I played the cello at school I was terrible, but I still kept my cello for all this time and then a few years ago, started lessons again and passed my Grade 3 in 2017. Then there was the fact I couldn’t ride a bike, so I decided to be part of a show called Tour de Celeb, where I learned to ride a bike in 8 weeks and cycled a section of the Tour de France called L’Etape. I did another show on ITV called ’71 Degrees North’ where I toughed it out in the Arctic for five weeks – at the start I couldn’t swim and didn’t like the cold, but I still did it and came second. It’s very easy to do something you are good at and succeed, but the feeling you get when you are unsure of yourself and work hard, and then you succeed, is truly amazing. I believe we should all just ‘go for it’. I’m not the best at everything, but what I do have is drive, as long as I achieve my goals, I feel like a winner. My one piece of advice is ‘Never overthink what other people may think of you’. You only have the power to control how you feel or how you react to situations. Ultimately, as long as you have done the best you can, you can’t ask anything more of yourself.” Fantastic Eats! (& how to cook them) - fabulous recipes for children to make, by Angellica Bell, published by Quadrille Publishing Ltd is available at £15.00 on Amazon and in all bookshops.
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Kasia Reay - It’s Good to Talk “Thank you, that was very helpful, but can you recommend a book to help us with all that at home?” It was late 2015 and I had just presented a phonics workshop to a group of parents of four year-olds at the primary school where I worked. It was clear to me that although synthetic phonics was now a firm fixture on the National Curriculum, it was still a complete mystery to most parents - it was simply not the way that they had been taught to read. I started mulling over the idea of writing a book to help families become really confident with early reading. In my mind’s eye, I saw short stories, beautifully illustrated, with appealing characters that children would want to read about. I saw a simple overview of phonics and a page layout that provided a constant prompt for the phonic rules, aimed at parent and child alike. In my imagination I had created a phonics storybook and handbook rolled into one, for that first and formative year of school. With her youngest daughter in Reception, Selina related to the project instantly. She said she’d love For over a year the idea bubbled away in the back to get involved. of my mind. I had the enthusiasm and experience to do the writing, but I needed an illustrator mad We met up that October to get the ball rolling. I enough to create well over 150 pictures, for free, started writing and Selina started drawing. It was in the spirit of a joint venture. I thought that the creative project we’d both been craving for finding that person would be an almost impossible some time. We were working around part-time task, until the OGA Tea two and a half years ago… jobs and families however, so our original plan of having a book ready by the following September It was good to see Selina Rayner (née Cheesman) turned out to be pie in the sky - life just kept after so many years. We talked about our lives and getting in the way! And it wasn’t long before we our children. We reminisced about school and the both had to accept that 176 illustrations really subjects we’d had in common in the sixth form - was a huge amount of artwork for one person to art and maths. We talked about her art foundation produce. Selina drew and painted when she was course and she laughed that she was an accountant at home and the children were at school, but with by profession, but an artist at heart. Over a glass so many pictures to produce, our creative sideline of wine I asked her, half-joking, whether she’d risked becoming a chore. The problem was, who be interested in illustrating a phonics book. She else would jump on board with us, on what was (if answered, without hesitation, that yes she would. we were both honest) a bit of a madcap scheme? 16
Skipping a generation this time, but maintaining the NHEHS connection, I approached my close school-friend Cleo Booth (née Thomas), not for her creative skills, but for those of her eldest daughter, Clara. Knowing that she was planning to apply to study illustration, I wondered if she might be interested in some work-experience? Luckily for us, not only was she keen, but her style contrasted brilliantly with Selina’s. She applied herself to the project with enviable amounts of youthful energy and it wasn’t long before she had produced 36 illustrations for the book whilst also securing her place to study illustration at Camberwell. Selina and I uploaded ‘Footsteps through Phonics’ to Amazon a little less than two years after our initial conversation at the OGA Tea. Publishing it digitally as an eBook seemed a bit out of character for a couple of technophobes, but it meant that we could make it affordable to as many families as possible. What also seemed out of character was throwing ourselves into a joint venture on the basis of a boozy chat, but the truth is that it was based on far more than that. I believe that what really made the project possible was the inherent trust we had in each other from our shared history and a healthy residual dose of that NHEHS spirit! Kasia Reay (née Balon) NHEHS 1992 Footsteps through Phonics is available to download from Amazon onto most devices and costs £4.99 https://www.amazon.co.uk/Footsteps-throughPhonics-stories-children-ebook/dp/B07V2J3138
`Science, Explosions and Scribbling’ It was exciting to welcome back Konnie Huq (NHEHS 1993) in Autumn 2019 for a brilliantly creative and science-fuelled workshop with the Junior School, to tie in with the launch of her first book `Cookie!... and the Most Annoying Boy in the World’. `Cookie!... and the Most Annoying Boy in the World’ (Piccadilly Press, £10.99) marks the start of a brand-new hilarious series for young readers (aged 8-12) and is available in bookshops now. 17
NHEHS Celebrates the Move to Ealing from Notting Hill On Thursday 7th February we celebrated the school’s move from Notting Hill to its current Ealing home with a number of special school-wide activities, culminating in a wonderful ceremony at school in Ealing in the afternoon. The school in Notting Hill opened on 16th September 1873 with 10 pupils – only one of whom had been to school before. Following the move to Ealing, the school re-opened at its new premises (formerly Girton House School) on 20th January 1931 with 237 pupils. To mark the move, 46 intrepid NHEHS girls made the historic walk from Norland Square in Notting Hill to Cleveland Road in Ealing, wearing red sashes and carrying placards commemorating the ‘Move to Ealing Day.’ Setting off at 10 am, the girls performed a short ceremony in W11 and then set off walking through Shepherd’s Bush and Acton, taking two and a half hours to cover the 5.1-milelong journey. Back at school, the Juniors were not to be left out of the celebrations with a Year 4-6 maths relay race across the top courts. The Year 5 and 6 classes took part in their own heritage swimming race, which involved swimming two lengths of the school pool while keeping a candle lit above the water. Keeping up the sports theme, some of the Year 9 girls had kicked off the Move To Ealing Challenge earlier in the week by rowing the distance between the old site in Notting Hill and the new school site in Ealing in under 11 minutes!
Cleveland Road, circa 1931
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In the afternoon, the Senior School filed into the Hall, and were joined by some special guests including two previous Heads, Lucinda Hunt and Susan Whitfield; the Chair of the Old Girls’ Association, Jane Sigaloff; Dr. Nirupa Murugaesu (GDST Alumna of the year 2018, NHEHS 1995) and Madeleine Heggs (NHEHS 1948). Mr. Shoults told the story of the school’s move to Ealing with some inspiring anecdotes of the Head at the time, Miss McCaig, and her steadfast vision of the school moving to the ‘land of milk and honey’ in Ealing. A short, light-hearted piece of drama, performed by Senior School girls, brought Miss McCaig to life. Miss McCaig arrived at a pivotal and complex time for the school. It was a time of considerable political change. The great depression had taken its effect across America and Europe. There was unrest across Europe. There were stirrings of nationalism in the British Empire, particularly in India, which Winston Churchill, out of power, but not without influence, was fiercely opposing. George V was fretting about the suitability of his son Edward as a future king. And the school was facing its own challenges. Quite simply, there was a need for greater space, coupled with the fact that more girls lived to the west of the school; and Notting Hill itself had rather declined as a neighbourhood – some areas were described as the worst in London.
It had been determined by the GPDST that a move west was the right response. There were other schools in the Ealing area but there was not really an academic school; and the private schools in the area refused to admit girls whose parents worked in “trade”; class division at work! Notting Hill’s new home was Girton House which, like the original home in Norland Square, had once been a school. Although the buildings were in better condition than those in Norland Square, there was, nonetheless, lots of building work to do and this was not finished when the school reopened in January 1931. The setting must have been almost rural at the time. Ealing was pretty much a village; and there are references from the time to the ‘water meadows of Perivale’, but the district and central train lines were in place. And even at that time there was the 65 bus which made its way up from the station to Cleveland Road.
ceilings and others without floors.’ By the end of February, the school was ready for its grand opening and before long, under Miss McCaig’s leadership, things were running smoothly. There was, importantly, continuity. The old panelling from the school hall was transported from Norland Square, and installed around the entrance hall. The oak furniture, including the huge book case (still at NHEHS today) was installed, as was the portrait of Miss Harriet Jones, the first Headmistress.
Although the move to Ealing coincided with the Great Depression, the school’s excellent reputation meant that large numbers of girls were still applying to attend – 120 in the first term with more following in the rest of the year. By 1933 there were 412 girls, more than the buildings could accommodate. In response, Miss McCaig acquired Redlands which became the new home The packing was quite occupying as one former of the Junior School, thus freeing up classrooms student recalled: “library books, science apparatus, for senior girls. acting costumes, pens and pencils, all in brown paper parcels neatly labelled. All chairs and desks On Miss McCaig’s retirement in 1950 she said: had to be labelled too, so as to get to the right “There is in my affection for Notting Hill a very room in the new school.” Term broke up with the warm feeling even for the School buildings and carol service on 19th December 1930. Girls and the gardens. How much greater is my affection for staff departed the buildings, and the belongings the living School itself, for the Girls and the Staff started their move. who have lived and worked with me throughout the years. They and I inherited a great tradition; The building works were still being completed as our hope must be that by our work and service in the move took place. Some of the staff recalled and for the school we have been worthy of that that ‘when we were gathered together once more tradition and that we pass it on undimmed to the as a school under our new Headmistress, it was in generations yet to come.” a building where certain rooms were still without
CALLING ALL RESEARCHERS! To celebrate Notting Hill and Ealing High School’s 150th anniversary in 2023, a group of volunteers is being gathered to create a colourful history book of the school. The book will contain photographs, anecdotes, stories of great moments and pupils, that capture the school’s incredible history from its inauguration in 1873 to the present day. We need help researching. This would primarily involve looking through the school archives which are now all online and so can be done remotely and anywhere round the world! If you would like to help us, please do get in contact with the Alumnae Office: alumnae@nhehs.gdst.net 19
Archives: Evolution of NHEHS uniform In 2019, NHEHS adopted a new school emblem. While looking completely different to its predecessors, it has a strong link to the school’s uniform heritage. Sometime towards the end of World War 1, as uniform became established at Notting Hill, a new style of white blouse, with a red cross-stitch design around the collars, was introduced. Although other aspects of the uniform saw several changes over subsequent years – collar shapes, sleeves, tunic designs etc, the collars continued to have crosses on them until the 1990s – an incredible 70+ years. It is this cross-stitch design, which was unique to Notting Hill, which inspired the new emblem’s design.
lll Upper 1918
uniformity – although it is not universal. By 1918, almost all girls in Form 3U are wearing tunics, but there is great variety in the shape and size of their blouse collars. The 6th form of 1918 have their own distinct uniform, and most girls are wearing The question of when uniforms were introduced is some variation of it. Were the striped ties for a challenging one as the records are virtually non- prefects? existent; there is little reference in the magazines with boys and few descriptions elsewhere. Most of our in 1926 information comes, therefore, from photographs. The first recorded reference to uniform we have found is in the magazine of 1900. It states that: ‘The school has lately adopted a special hat band, consisting of a ribbon of the school colour with an embroidered monogram of the initials NHHS in white, of a very effective design.’ By 1926, all the girls in the Junior School were More standardised clothing seems to have been dressed, uniformly, in box pleat tunics and white phased in over a period. In a 1913 photo of ‘a blouses with cross-stitched collars (albeit, of group of girls’ we start to see some evidence of different shapes). Uniform rules do not, however seem to have applied to the boys who were present in the lower years! The first official uniform in both the senior and junior schools was a box pleat tunic, worn with a sash – and this style continued to be worn until at least the late 1920s, after which it was replaced by a more flattering v-neck tunic - a style still in evidence in the early 1950s. We know that the Form Vl girls were wearing skirts by 1944 because the Staff and Prefects
Vl Upper & Lower 1919 20
Committee Minutes of March 29 that year reveal (presumably after discussion) that ‘V Uppers are not to be granted the Vl privilege of wearing skirts in summer.’
Summer 1948
It is the summer uniform which seems to have undergone the most change over the years. For a very long time, it comprised a dress, but styles and fabric designs underwent many changes. Several old girls remember a time in the 1950s when girls could wear a school dress in one of five colours. One, who was at NHEHS in 1951-1964 writes ‘Then 5 colours [were] introduced – sweet peas!!’ One of the most iconic parts of uniform, and one which has triggered many memories amongst old girls, is the boater! An OG wrote in the 1981 magazine, ‘Boaters (RIP) were one of the most distinctive features of the Notting Hill uniform. Although many of us disliked wearing them, we remember them rather wistfully now…the way we kicked and stamped on them.’
With the introduction of clothes rationing in 1941, the school relaxed its uniform requirements, held sales of second-hand uniforms, and hired out gym shoes. After the war Miss McCaig was keen to reinstate the uniform and wrote to parents in 1946 to say: ‘I am anxious to return as soon as possible to the pre-war uniform. This will have to be done gradually’ The importance placed on the neat wearing of the uniform is revealed in the Staff and Prefects Committee Minutes of March 29, 1944: ‘The prefects are to make a list of the most untidy girls and give it to Miss McCaig, who will deal with them separately.’ The minutes of November 28th 1945 suggest that girls were still not taking their appearance seriously enough as they state that ‘The committee were not satisfied with the appearance of girls outside school, particularly with the appearance of their hair and the angle of their hats.’
Skipton Girls 1949
The uniform of a school reflects its identity and helps create a sense of community. In older schools like NHEHS, it can provide an important link to the past – styles, colours etc. This is certainly the case with our new school emblem, where the design is inspired by an aspect of the uniform which survived for well over 70 years and is remembered by many generations of Nottinghillites. Through it, we acknowledge the past as we look to the future of NHEHS. Liz Broekmann (BA, HDipLib, HED, MCILIP) NHEHS School Archivist More at: www.nhehs.gdst.net/alumnae/archives/
Anne Irvine, late 1950s 21
Thank you! A huge thank you to the Old Girls who have been such an inspirational part of school and alumnae events and lectures in 2019 - the following alumnae have provided work experience, offered the opportunity for school trips, Skyped or have been in to school to inspire girls with their university and career stories, judge the fashion show, or be part of the panel at one of our alumnae networking events... Dayvana Davabalan- Thevarajah Lucy Green Maya Biswas Ella Defries Rachel East Sarah Ashraf Hafsa Malik Yasmin Sahota Zaibun-Nisa Malik Connie Goring-Morris Sophie Phillimore Kinda Savarino Olivia Stamp Katherine Howells Farnaz Motamedi Sophia Djili Emily Lloyd Grace Richardson Holly Smith Sophie Cater Emilie Paine Natalie Hughes Alice ter Haar Priya ChandĂŠ Aaisha Dadral Harriet Grigg Negar Hamzianpour Marisa Hofat Chloe Hole Eimi Howse Anita Davies Anna Angela Ma Natasha Delcourt Antonia Kraskowski Rozi Morris Katie Wilmot
2018 2018 2017 2017 2017 2016 2014 2014 2012 2012 2012 2012 2012 2009 2009 2008 2008 2008 2008 2007 2007 2006 2006 2005 2005 2005 2005 2005 2005 2004 2003 2003 2002 2002 2002 2002
Emily Kooner Pippa Evans Amy Lynch Maggie Rogers Roseanna Hailstone Jasmine Piran Divya Shah Victoria Crawford Talia Harvey Hannah Sullivan Lisa Wright Anna Allatt Lizzie Davison Aneeta Parthipun Lara Saour Kate Crawford Nirupa Murugaesu Azmina Airi Anne-Marie Pearce Angellica Bell Aileen Hitchins Konnie Huq Jane Sigaloff Alia Gormley Rupa Huq Nisha Parti Katie Tyndale Meg Cope Katharine Hunt Vanita Parti Shailina Benning Pavita Cooper Kate Murphy Marcia Shekerdemian QC Vanella Jackson Penny Bingham 22
2001 2000 2000 1999 1998 1998 1998 1997 1997 1997 1994 1996 1996 1996 1996 1995 1995 1994 1994 1993 1993 1993 1991 1990 1990 1990 1988 1987 1987 1987 1984 1984 1983 1982 1979 1974
News from our Old Girls... Joy Leslie Gibson NHEHS 1945 I was a pupil at Notting Hill from 1937 to 1945 and am now 92 years old. I have just received a PhD from the Shakespeare Institute (Birmingham University) on ‘Forgiveness and Repentance in early Modern Drama’ My sixth degree! I owe much to Notting Hill particularly the English mistress, Miss Bradford, and her inspirational idea of teaching the literature of the period we were doing in history. As the GDST advertisements say you really do teach girts to be independent and also enjoy learning. Patricia Ford (neé Mason) NHEHS 1951 Although I am 84 now, I live a very busy life; still impersonating the Queen (the last job was at a millionaire’s villa in Italy, with the actual Queen and Beach Boys bands present). I belong to bridge clubs, a canasta club, a Scrabble club; I apply to be on TV quiz shows; I hold committee positions in clubs; I occasionally make up a quiz for a U3A club I belong to. I am also still invigilating college exams! Still driving all over the country, night and day (the M25 doesn’t faze me!). I still live deep in the countryside and love the peace and quiet.
school at Bart’s. initially working in Paediatrics and General Medicine. I then chose the field of Radiation Oncology obtaining the FRCR and MSC. as higher qualifications. In 1975 I moved to Harvard in the US working as both an academic and a clinician - which I thoroughly enjoyed until retiring in 2010. In addition, I married a Harvard lawyer and brought up two daughters both of whom earned graduate degrees. My older daughter teaches in Cambridge Massachusetts and is married and bringing up her own family, my younger one specializes in Search Engine Optimization as it applies in the business world and is a consultant and lives in London UK. Widowed while the girls were in early teenage years, I subsequently married a Brit in 2003 who invented the ultraviolet sensor system on the Hubble Space Telescope and has reserved a ticket to fly on Virgin Galactica. Life is never dull.
Dreena Derwent (neé Grant) NHEHS 1964 Having lived in Barston, Solihull for 36 years we are about to move into a new bungalow in Lower Broadheath, Worcs..... a big change. I thoroughly enjoyed my 19 years as a Magistrate in Solihull/ Birmingham...my last 4 years specialising in the Jamila Gavin (neé Singh) NHEHS 1957 Family Court. A really worthwhile ‘job‘ for anyone Always exciting when one of your books is optioned to do. .... a real personal confidence booster and for a film or TV series. But we all soon learn not to you really can make a difference to people‘s lives. hold your breath. Years ago, The Wheel of Surya seemed signed and sealed. The film was cast, the Jane Anderson NHEHS 1967 director phoned me excitedly from the airport I now have two small grandchildren, and am very waiting to go on location. A week later, and another involved in helping my daughter with their care week later - silence. Finally came the news that as they live nearby. They are a delight! I’m also a it was all off. The last tranche of money hadn’t volunteer visitor for Age UK, am in 2 book groups, materialised. The same happened to Coram Boy. and in a classical choral choir which gives 3 concerts Years later, Coram Boy is optioned for the third time a year. I also try to get to Pilates classes regularly, and, unexpectedly, a book I wrote many years ago, and love walking in the country. Apart from that, The Robber Baron’s Daughter, has been optioned having more time to meet up with friends and along with a press release! I haven’t got 3 lungs go to galleries and museums is a huge bonus of to hold my breath but do have my fingers triple retirement. crossed. Surely one of them will come off? Ruth Davidson NHEHS 1967 Dr Rita Linggood FRCR, MSC. NHEHS 1959 Although retired, I keep very busy. My husband, I have very positive memories of my time at school. Bob, and I are parish account holders with Traidcraft. I graduated in 1960 and made my way to medical Traidcraft is a fair trade organisation which helps to 23
fight poverty through trade, providing technological help to produce high quality goods which can be sold at prices sufficiently high to allow workers to afford healthcare, educate their children and live in houses with running water and electricity. We hope to go to Swaziland in the summer on a Traidcraft ‘meet the producers’ tour in June. I am the treasurer of the Plymouth Amnesty International group; we write letters to prisoners of conscience, appeal to authorities to release innocent detainees and provide fair trials. We also hold events to fundraise and raise awareness of our work. We contribute to the work of Devon and Cornwall Refugee Support, including provision of activities at an event during Refugee week in the summer. I continue to enjoy participating weekly in a Dartmoor walking group and a Keep Fit class.
my dissertation many years later, with a footnote mentioning the NHEHS tradition. For those of you who were my contemporaries, yes I still play the bassoon.
Rolanda Hyams (neé Apfel) NHEHS 1973 This year I undertook a half iron man in Vichy France to raise money for a very close friend who unfortunately has MS. She is now only able to move her head. The charity is called Neurokinex and I raised nearly £19,000. This has made a huge difference for the charity which is small and relies heavily on private funding. The half iron man is a 1.2 mile open water swim, 56 miles on the bike and a 13.1 mile run. The whole event has to be completed in 8 hours. Vichy was very, very hot and unfortunately I missed the cut for the run by 7 minutes so was not allowed to do the run. I decided to try again in Turkey in November as Celia Gasgil (neé Datyner ) 1968 everyone had been so generous for the charity and I have lived and worked in Turkey as a teacher, unfortunately I was knocked of my bike by a car and teacher trainer and examiner for 27 years. had a trauma full hip replacement so will have to postpone the iron man until 2021 now. By then I will Dr Elizabeth Archer 1969 be 66 and I hope I can do it then!!! I am continuing to enjoy an active life in Brighton, keeping busy with singing with the New Sussex Dawn Slaughter (neé Mansell) NHEHS 1974 Opera chorus (latest production La Belle Helene by Having had to step down from the more vigorous Offenbach); helping to run my local Zen Buddhist sports in more recent years, between full time group; classes in cookery, Spanish, and classical working and two amdram productions a year, I am ballet; and looking after my little garden. Since I now heavily involved in indoor and outdoor lawn retired in 2011 my travels have included Antarctica, bowls and represented Middlesex several times. I Argentina, the USA, Iceland, Iran, and Ladakh. I’m reached the National Finals at Leamington Spa in looking forward to revisiting Botswana this spring, 2017 as Middlesex Champion, I would like to be some 40 years after I was last there! I am really able to repeat - proving it wasn’t a one-off fluke! sorry to have missed the 50 year reunion of my year Anyone in Ealing/Twickenham/Richmond area who in September 2019, but I was in the USA once again! plays or would like to have a go at bowls, please let me know! You can play at virtually any age from 8 Dr Sally Mason (neé Ashford) NHEHS 1970 - 108! Retired 4 years ago following spinal surgery. Enjoying gardening and continue with whale Jane Salisbury (nee Freake) NHEHS 1975 watching round the world when I can! Recently After I completed my photography degree and stepped down from OGA Committee after 25 years, became a grandmother in 2014 we decided to plan and looking forward to helping to host our 50 year for our long desired move out of London. We finally reunion in September 2020 at the Annual Tea Party. achieved this in early 2017. We now live in the village of Wheatley just outside Oxford. We have Dr Frances Eustace NHEHS 1973 very quickly made lots of new friends and, while This year, at the ripe old age of 64 I completed my Colin continues to work as a solicitor, I have happily PhD on the subject of Medieval Secular Carolling. retired to concentrate on my lovely garden and to Little did I know when I sang The Boar’s Head look after my Dad. I still sing in various groups, take Carol in December 1972 that it would feature in art lessons and am learning to play the ukelele. 24
Village life, with its cosy old pub, yet a short bus ride Sally Bates (neé George) NHEHS 1985 from Oxford, suits us very well. After 26 years teaching English as a Foreign Language I began a new career in May 2019 as Alison Henshaw (neé Harper Smith) NHEHS 1976 Associate Pastor at Frinton Free Church. My role is I have just retired from teaching Classics at primarily to care for the needs of the over-65s both Nottingham Girls’ High School but am still very much within the church and in the wider community. involved with Classics for All and ARLT (Association for Latin Teaching). I am also doing lots of travelling, Helena Bogdanopoulos NHEHS 1985 including NY, Dubrovnik, Berlin, Sicily, Malta & Tunis I have now entered my final year of study on the recently. Open University’s BSc psychology course and am busy preparing for my dissertation. I have much Raina Spencer NHEHS 1976 less time to pursue my hobbies but I always try I was at NHEHS for a few years leaving when I and make time for my favourites, namely Pilates, was about 9 in 1967 or 68 (we left London) so singing in choirs and swimming in the beautiful probably Class of 1976. I can only remember Anna Mediterranean Sea. Pilkington, my friend from Kew. Any contacts would be wonderful. I now live in Perth, Australia with Clare Fleerackers NHEHS 1987 husband and children. I’ve had a very difficult 18 months after the sudden and unexpected death of my 7 year old daughter Julia Moss (neé Norton) NHEHS 1978 Annaliese in May 2018. She died from sepsis within We are still happily living in California after being just a few hours. As many of you will know, life can here 25 years. My husband has recently retired change in an instant as it did for us that day. Since and we are visiting New Zealand for the first time then, my little family (our son was 5 when his big to celebrate, and looking forward to many more sister died) has been doing what it can to cope, years of exciting travel together. We have a 2 year grieve and survive. It’s changed me as a person, old granddaughter who is the love of our lives after something I wasn’t really prepared for and the having two sons! isolation you feel as a bereaved parent is a very real thing. In the past few months I’ve begun to get Kristine House (neé Fox) NHEHS 1983 back to a bit of freelancing work with a fantastic Happily living in Devon with husband David. We organisation called Hoxby. It’s a group of over 1000 have 3 grown up sons, one in London, one in freelancers working flexibly from home - just what Australia and one at home. I needed to start to get a little confidence back. I’m I’d love to hear from anyone who remembers me really enjoying the challenge and am thankful that from our school days. I can work from home and be around for Liam. For now I’m taking it day by day, trying to appreciate Dr Vicky Lavy (neé Thexton) the things I still have and doing my best to honour I live in Oxford with my husband and three boys my beautiful girl. who are now to-ing and fro-ing from university. I work with the national charity Care for the Family Ewa Banaszkiewicz NHEHS 1990 as a facilitator for their parenting courses. Years of being cast as man in (all!) school plays did At the last reunion I attended, my mother Robina not put me off a life in the arts – though possibly Thexton (neé Harry, NHEHS 1944) was the oldest made me aware at a young age I wasn’t leading lady member present. She died peacefully on 22 material. I’m now behind the camera and off the November 2019, age 93. stage. I work with my husband, Mateusz Dymek, as a writer/director/producer team – meaning we Vibeke Tanner (neé Rodrigues) NHEHS 1984 do all three of these together, (and ‘yes’ we are still I got married to Andrew Tanner 14 December 2018. married). We work mainly in film, but also do a fair We snuck off to Barbados and got married on the amount for BBC Radio and occasionally some TV. beach. 2018 was an important year for us. We completed our first feature film “My Friend the polish Girl” 25
and travelled the festival circuit with it for most of the year. In Spring 2019 it had a small release in cinemas in the US and UK, and was shown at the ICA in April. Our last BBC radio play, “The King of the Flat White as Narrated by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II”, has also done well: shortlisted in the Best Direction category for the BBC Radio Drama Awards. So, although working in the arts is often tough, recently it has been good. A big ‘thank you’ Miss Powell and those Drama Hut days for igniting a passion that has kept me going all these years. Fran Hathaway (née Hammond) NHEHS 1994 The highlight of my year has been a collaboration between my choir, Cardiff Polyphonic plus 2 other choirs, and German orchestra, Sinfonie Orchester Schöneberg, singing Mendelssohn’s Elijah, twice in Wales and once in Berlin at the Philharmonie. I was lucky enough to sing the Der Knabe solo, and it will take a while before I can top that particular musical thrill! Carrie Hartnell-Grundy (née Hartnell) NHEHS 1997 Life is a juggling act between a fascinating and exciting job at GDS (Cabinet Office) working on the Digital Identity programme and a wonderful family with two strong-willed & happy daughters. Love that I still have time to see so many OG friends. Hannah Sullivan NHEHS 1997 Hannah was awarded the prestigious TS Eliot Prize for Poetry in January 2019 for her first collection ‘Three Poems’ – just the third debut to land the award in its 25-year history, and a sign that the poetry world is hunting for a new generation of voices. Dr Anastasia E. Somerville-Wong NHEHS 2000 I have had an interesting career since leaving school and am now running my own non-profit organisation, the Secular Liturgies Network and Forum (SLN/F). You can read about my work and career so far at the SLN/F website and blog at www. secularliturgies.wordpress.com.
young leadership forum which was the catalyst which led me to question the role of business and leadership in solving wider global problems. Inspired by my own experience with Art Therapy to treat burnout and stress-induced anxiety as well as having witnessed the unprecedented rise in employees suffering with mental health issues, I launched Unwind LDN in October 2019. Introducing creative therapies to the corporate wellbeing agenda, harnessing the power of arts and crafts, Unwind LDN workshops help people digitally disconnect, learn new skills and be more productive at work. www.unwindldn.com Former Staff: Hazel Chapman (Head of PE, Deputy Head, 1951 1984) is always interested to hear what the Old Girls are doing now – please contact her via the alumnae office at NHEHS. Christy Maginn (Maths Teacher 1988 - 1991) On my return to NHEHS after too long an absence, I was excited to be spending time reflecting on my service there, and rekindling old and fond memories of good times and great people. Meeting Natalie facilitated my nostalgia, as together we recalled people we both knew. She took me through the structural and chronological changes the school has undergone, and on a full tour she showed me the breadth and extent of the improvements. There is a lot that is new and modern. There is imaginative use of space and light to accommodate progress and yes, everything is impressive. From the halls and assembly area to the dance studio and music facilities. The swimming pool and sports field are to die for! Behind these outward features, in the narrative she spoke about, is the driving force. The girls, their development, their interests, and their futures. These were the priorities at NHEHS 28 years ago. I’m delighted in this respect, nothing has changed. Thank you Natalie for your time, your expertise, your interest and your advice. You brought me back a little, and allowed me to glimpse too, into the future at NHEHS, a place for which I will always have a little light burning.
Priya Chandé NHEHS 2005 After 10 years at L’Oreal, I recently left my role as Marketing Director to embark on a new venture. I have been a One Young World Ambassador since To reply to any of these contributors, or to send 2016, and it was my involvement with the global your news, please email: alumnae@nhehs.gdst.net 26
In Memoriam
we fondly remember
2010 – 1st November – Gillian Griffin (née Sharpington) NHEHS 1946 2018 – Mary Darke NHEHS 1938 2018 – Elizabeth Darke NHEHS 1975 April 2019 – Susan Twigg (née Ryan) NHEHS 1965 November 2019 - Robina Thexton (née Harry) NHEHS 1944 On leaving NHEHS Robina went on to study medicine at the Royal Free Hospital, where she qualified in 1950. She went on to work in the field of family planning and psychosexual medicine and was on the Council of the Institute of Psychosexual Medicine. She had four children, the youngest of whom is also an NHEHS old girl Vicky Lavy (née Thexton, NHEHS 1983). She also served on the OGA Committee for a number of years.
Former Staff: September 2019 - Ingrid Gil September 2019 - Mark Bushby
Editorial, layout and articles, where not otherwise acknowledged, by Natalie Burns Spence, Alumnae Relations Manager, NHEHS. ed. 2019/2020
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Old Girls’ Association c/o Notting Hill & Ealing High School 2 Cleveland Road, Ealing, London W13 8AX alumnae@nhehs.gdst.net
www.nhehs.gdst.net/alumnae
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