ONLine the old North Londoners’ association magazine
Issue 20 | 2015
ONL Features Laura Parker on helping asylum seekers Anjali Martin on her love of the music industry Kate Hofman on the future of urban farming Beryl Lee on the forgotten people of Burma You can download ONLine at www.nlcs.org.uk
Welcome to ONLine 2015 Editor’s Welcome
I
hope that you will agree with me that the articles in this issue of ONLine show Old North Londoners share certain attributes: we are tenacious, strong-minded, and thoughtful, demonstrating passion in the varied choices we have made. Thank you to all of you who have contributed your thoughts to this edition: your experiences and interests show how you have made a contribution to the world, defined your own terms and walked your own path. ONLs show ‘passion’ in many ways: through careers, intellectual pursuits, charitable enterprises, leisure activities and personal interests, and it has been a pleasure to read these testimonies. The Alumnae Office is always keen to hear about your passions and news; please do keep in touch. If you know of an ONL who isn’t currently in contact with the School, do pass on their details (see below). We are keen to ensure everyone is included. Our theme for 2016 is Inspirational Women so please let us know if you would like to contribute. Everyone is welcome!
from The Headmistress Dear Old North Londoners, Since 1850, generations of talented and determined women have built on the foundations of their North London education and pursued their own talents and enthusiasms – each running her own race. At Alumnae events, it is inspiring to hear about the choices ONLs have made, the careers they have built, the interests they have followed with such commitment, the way that they have balanced these professional interests with their personal lives – and the impact that the School has had on their enduring values and friendships. North London has a long tradition of teaching that aims to inspire passion for subjects. This is aptly illustrated in the piece about an ONL and former teacher, Peggy Angus, in this issue - and I’m sure many ONLs will remember fondly teachers who inspired them during their time here. The School continues to prepare girls to be the leaders of the future in an atmosphere in which scholarship and a genuine love of subject thrive. I often hear from ONLs about how much they valued the social and cultural diversity they experienced at their School. The ability to offer places to girls from a range of backgrounds is partly due to the generous support of the many friends of the School who give towards bursaries. And of course, we are now also able to use the income from our franchise school in Jeju, South Korea to support our Bursary Fund. There has always been more to life at School than what takes place in the classroom, and the range of extra-curricular activities in which our students take part seems to expand each year. I’m always impressed by the dynamic and creative spirit of girls who run our 40 clubs and societies, take part in around 30 foreign trips and 40 concerts and productions each year,
Holly O’Connell (2003) ONLA Editor Please contact us
as well as a wealth of sports events! As we see in this edition of ONLine, ONLs have a rich diversity of interests, from producing music albums to founding a charity, from providing legal aid to refugees to launching a sustainable business. Such stories are inspiring to our students today, and we hope, in turn, they will be equally inspired to follow their own passions.
Email: onla@nlcs.org.uk Post: ONLine, Canons, Canons Drive, Edgware HA8 7RJ Tel: 020 8951 6475
Thank you for your continuing support of the School community, whether it be through attending reunions and networking events, financial gifts to the School or supporting students and other ONLs in the early stages of their careers. I hope to see you at Canons soon. With best wishes,
Editorial Team Producer Emma Maltz, NLCS Alumnae Officer Arts Columnist Chloé Nelkin (2006) Archives Columnist Joelaine Fitch (2006)
Magazine design by Johnny Marks, Splash Printing
2
| ON L i n e m a g a z i n e
Bernice McCabe Headmistress
ONLA Travel Award UPDATES Travel Award Report Sonali Shah
L
(2010)
India
ast December, I volunteered at the Manav Kalyan Trust School for Hearing and Speech Impaired Children. One of the main reasons I chose this particular school is because
the institution really focuses on protecting and educating children with disabilities. Having a disability is not a well-understood concept in India and is often seen as a taboo due to cultural ideas. Therefore, by providing children with disabilities with primary and secondary level education, it gives them access to opportunities that they otherwise wouldn’t receive.
Travel Award Report Corall Friedman (2013) Peru
D
uring my gap year I spent some time volunteering at ‘Pronoei Vista Alegre’, a
volunteer-run kindergarten in the Bellavista region of Cusco, Peru. This project was set up by mothers who had been forced to leave their young children home alone while they went to work. This had led to many infant deaths due to accidents in the home and on the streets.
Furthermore, the majority of the children
they are learning and trigger eagerness
accepted into the school come from tribal
to learn.
areas all across India. This is particularly interesting since, by supporting the
This school also encourages the students to
rehabilitation of these children into society
participate in extra-curricular activities such
with new life skills, the school prepares them
as karate, volleyball and chess but of course
to find work and eventually provide for the
due to tight budgets, sometimes the school
rest of their family.
cannot provide the children with the correct equipment to foster these skills. With this in
Given that the students cannot hear, the
mind, I am eager to return to the school next
Led by Mayke Marisal, many small
biggest challenge that I encountered whilst
year and work with the staff to engage with
kindergartens have been set up around Cusco
teaching was being able to communicate and
corporations that will be able to sponsor
to make sure that these children get a warm
teach different concepts effectively through
and make regular donations to support the
meal each day as well as social interaction
just sign language. This difficulty was felt not
running of these extra-curricular activities.
with other children and basic skills that will
only by me but also the teachers and, as a
help them be able to enter into primary
result, one of the prevalent teaching methods
Overall, volunteering at the Manav Kalyan
adopted by the school was to simply make
Trust was one of the most rewarding
Daniel, a volunteer from Australia, and I
the students copy blocks of text from the
experiences of my life. It definitely made
spent four weeks with a group of 25 three to
blackboard or textbooks into their exercise
me think about how we often take things
five-year-olds, teaching them songs in English,
books. This however meant that sometimes
for granted and put less important things
playing games in the nearby football pitches,
the students did not truly understand the
ahead of what really means the most to
helping out on vaccination day by entertaining
reasoning or logic behind certain topics.
us. Experiencing first-hand how well the
them and taking part in a parade for ‘Día de
Hence, during my stay I initiated the use
school is managed and seeing how much
la Educación Inicial’, Pre-School Education
of technology to educate. For example, I
this school means to both the children and
Day, to raise awareness and celebrate
encouraged the use of educational software
their families, makes me inclined to continue
the importance of pre-school education.
that would introduce different techniques
supporting the school in any way possible
Personally it was an eye-opening,
for teaching and make the students’ learning
and in the future donating as much as I can
incredibly rewarding experience, and I hope
more interactive. This encourages the
to this organisation.
to continue supporting this programme
students to think more deeply about what
www.manavkalyantrust.org
through donations.
school, and keep them out of harm’s way.
ON L i n e m a g a z i n e
|
3
ONLA Travel Award UPDATES Travel Award Report Eleanor Glynn
T
(2013)
Ghana
his summer I travelled to Ghana with a team of ten students from Exeter
University to represent the charity ‘KickStart Ghana’. We ran a six week summer school for 60 students about to take their entry exams to senior school in St Cecilia’s School in Ho,
the capital of the Volta region. The aim of our programme was to give the students an opportunity to develop key skills that are not included in the curriculum, such as teamwork, emotional, fine-motor and cognitive skills, in preparation for senior school. The first weeks of teaching were steep learning curves, though every lesson was enjoyable due to the attitude of the students
who were still learning to
who were lovely and very keen to learn. Our
read. After an hour every
lessons were full of exciting activities such as
day, the improvements were
making papier mâché solar systems, labelling
noticeable and their reading
life-size drawings of ourselves to learn parts
was so much smoother.
of the body, and blindfolded obstacle courses
We had lots of fun learning
to improve communication. We had so much
new words, some which
fun with them, and it was clear their skills
I could only define by
developed well, preparing them for their
actions such as ‘Swagger’!
Mount Afadjato. I had such a fantastic summer
entry exams in September.
in Ghana and I would highly recommend On the weekends we travelled as a team
overseas volunteering to anyone interested!
After school we ran a reading club for the
around the Volta region visiting some
younger children to improve literacy skills. I
incredible places such as Wli Falls Waterfall,
www.trackellie.wordpress.com
had the pleasure of teaching seven children
Tafi Atome Monkey Sanctuary, and climbing
ellieeglynn@gmail.com
Travel Award Report Harriet Keown
(2010)
India
around CES's research on communal violence,
is truly a country of contradictions - with
examining interviews CES has conducted with
booming economic growth and successful
people affected by the 2002 anti-Muslim riots
Mars missions on the one hand, and high
in Gujarat. I have been writing up cohesive
rates of poverty and discrimination on the
conflict narratives using these interviews,
other. I'm looking forward to deepening
to form part of an upcoming book on mass
my understanding of the complexities of
violence in India.
this country throughout the rest of my internship here.
Working on this project has been immensely
E
arlier this year I travelled to Delhi to begin an internship at the Centre for Equity
interesting, due to the continued issue of
I'm incredibly grateful for NLCS's support
communal violence within India. Even this
in helping me fund this venture. The
October, around Diwali time, there was
experience I have gained from working in
Studies (CES), an NGO which researches
an episode of communal violence between
the third sector will be invaluable when I
social and economic justice issues in India.
Muslim and Hindu neighbours in Trilokpuri,
return to the UK, and continue to pursue
Since then, most of my work has centred
Delhi - very near to where I currently live. It
a career in international development.
4
| ON L i n e m a g a z i n e
ONLA Travel Award UPDATES Travel Award Report Claudia Raperport Zanzibar
(2010)
and often lazy. Those nurses with the worst
There were some scary moments when I
attitude problems were my biggest fear
was very aware of my lack of resources and
when I started work, as I knew that if they
trained staff, especially when operating on
perceived my comments as criticism, they
very difficult cases and realizing the only
would never cooperate with me.
more experienced surgeon on the island was an hour away. My appreciation of the NHS
After coping with emergency situations
has grown enormously as I discovered the
ince starting work in 2008 I’ve packed in
including life-threatening haemorrhages,
cost of various medications and equipment,
as many exotic trips as my annual leave
eclamptic seizures, neonates needing
and the volume of manpower and support we
will stretch to. I am a registrar in Obstetrics
resuscitation and babies in distress needing
take for granted in the UK.
and Gynaecology in London and had decided
interventional deliveries, the nurses began to
many years ago I wanted to work in the
understand that I was there to help, and could
developing world. I waited until I could
teach them how to cope with problems they’d
happily run a busy labour ward, operate
previously run away from out of fear.
S
independently and be confident in my medical and surgical skills before escaping the
Some of my work was basic - only one of my
NHS temporarily.
nurses could tell the time so I spent many hours teaching the others. Labour can be
Health Improvement Project Zanzibar
dangerous, and knowing how long it’s been
(HIPZ) is a British charity run by a surgeon
going on or how quickly or slowly progress is
in Taunton. He has developed a relationship
being made can make the difference between
with the Ministry of Health in Zanzibar and
an alive or dead baby.
agreed to spend ten years working alongside
I kept a blog whilst I was away, and re-reading
local government staff in the second and third
The antenatal clinic in Kivunge is run by
my early entries makes me laugh, as some
biggest hospitals on the island, improving
a cleaning lady who conscientiously sees
of the most difficult staff members are now
the clinical care, resources, management and
all the patients, prescribing deworming
great friends. On one of my last days the
education, with the aim of leaving behind
tablets and tetanus injections according
labour ward was unusually quiet and so
self-supporting, sustainable services at both
to WHO guidelines. She doesn’t however
we took the chance to deep-clean - a day
hospitals. Unguja is the largest island in the
fully understand the need for vital checks
I’ll never forget as we all worked together
such as blood pressure monitoring. This is
scrubbing the walls, floor and beds and got
hardly her fault as she’s never been trained,
drenched and filthy but laughed throughout.
Zanzibar Archipelago. It has a population of 1.3 million people, a
but with teaching and the development of a
birth rate of 50,000 per year and there are
simple checklist, I trained her to identify any
Now that I’m home, I’m helping design a new
two obstetricians on the island. In fact, now
patients with risk factors for complications,
maternity unit to meet the growing number
I’m back in London, there is only one.
and set up my own weekly clinic to see these
of patients keen to deliver in Kivunge.
patients. By the time I left, 100% of these On arrival in Zanzibar, I took over the running
women had delivered in Kivunge (the home
My time in Zanzibar had to end as my job
of the maternity unit in Kivunge Hospital,
birth rate on the island is around 50%) and
was only held here for a year and I have
the third biggest maternity unit on the island.
they were all safe and well.
to continue up the career ladder (and my
I say ‘took over’, but there had never been
fiancé was getting fed up with our Skype
any management previously so I had my
HIPZ had built an operating theatre which we
relationship!) but the whole experience was
work cut out for me. It took several months
put into use as I started a Caesarean section
incredible, and I’m grateful to NLCS for their
to really integrate myself with the local
service and empowered the local staff to
generous travel award which helped me out
staff, learn enough Swahili to communicate
identify women in need, go through all the
whilst I volunteered. I can’t recommend highly
effectively with both staff and patients and
safety checks needed before transferring
enough the value of working abroad and will
to really observe what the biggest problems
them to theatre, perform the operation
certainly be heading out again whenever I can
in the unit are. Staff are horribly underpaid,
under my supervision, and then provide safe
persuade my NHS bosses to let me go!
overworked and are therefore demotivated
postnatal care.
www.drclaudia.co.uk
ON L i n e m a g a z i n e
|
5
Five Inspirational ONLs
Alex Wilson, Deputy Head and ONL (1990), explains the NLCS House Activities Programme
T
he House Activities Programme was introduced as a way
Lime Avenue or ‘Budge’ for Budge Square. We also discussed
to promote links between the different year groups, so
historical figures associated with Canons such as the Duke of
girls from different ages could interact socially and in a fun way
Chandos and Handel, amongst many others. After consultation
together. We plan to have termly events, some of which will
with the girls, staff, ONLs, and lots of different members of the
be competitive, others in support of creative ideas and charity
School community, the overwhelming suggestion was that the
work: these will all encourage a sense of team spirit amongst the
Houses should be named after inspirational women. And where
girls and staff, building and nurturing strong friendships.
better to find inspirational women than amongst our ONLs? The five ONLs chosen were pioneering women, who were
In choosing the names of the Houses we considered many
firsts in their particular areas which include science, the arts
ideas, for example, features of the School, such as ‘Lime’ for
and literature.
Joelaine Fitch (2006) uncovers the stories behind the ONLs who have given their names to the new House System at NLCS Edith Aitken
Edith overcame a number of obstacles
Stella, a ‘bully, he had other women.
In 1902, Edith Aitken, ONL and former
to successfully establish the School in
He threw a knife at my mother once
member of staff at NLCS, became
post-Boer war-ravaged Africa; a mere
and smashed a window. It was so hard
the founder and first headmistress of
two years after opening, the School
to get into a peaceful atmosphere’. Her
Pretoria High School for Girls in
received glowing reports from school
family life influenced Cold Comfort Farm:
South Africa.
inspectors. PHSG continues to prosper:
Stella wished to write a book about
Gauteng Department of Education has
‘one sensible person amid a lot of very
Edith wrote that she
ranked PHSG as one of the Top Schools
dramatic, over-sensational people [as]
wanted her school
in Gauteng, and Edith’s ideals of integrity,
that’s the kind of family [she] grew up
to be ‘conducted
inclusivity and excellence continue to
in, people who were in the most awful
with the earnest
be upheld.
mess with family trouble and rows’; Stella
hope that here
identified with the extremely sensible
girls of different
Stella Gibbons
protagonist, Flora Poste, who was
races and different
Stella Gibbons was a celebrated novelist
‘[Stella], of course, among the very
denominations
and poet; her most famous novel was the
over-heated ones’.
might meet in the
brilliant satire Cold Comfort Farm, which
commonwealth
won the French literary prize the Prix
Stella joined NLCS in 1915; a fellow
of letters which
Femina Vie Heureuse (foreigner category)
NLCS girl, Winifred Chatfield, recalls
gave Erasmus and
in 1933. The novel continues to be a
Stella’s literary talents blossoming at a
Shakespeare to
bestseller decades after it was written.
young age: ‘Stella Gibbons wrote really
the World; to Edith Ait ken
6
acquire there,
Stella’s childhood was
in accordance
not an easy one: her
with the ideals
father, who was a
of Christian Duty, the healthy physique,
doctor to the poor of
the trained mind and the disciplined
North London, was
character which should fit each to live
alcoholic, adulterous
worthily in that state of life unto which
and tempestuous;
it should please God to call her.’ Edith
Stella described him
modelled PHSG on NLCS: the two
as a ‘bad man, but
schools even share the motto, ‘We
a good doctor’. He
work in hope’.
was, according to
| ON L i n e m a g a z i n e
Stella Gibbons
of her portraits are in the National
Stella’s creativity and skill with words was
Portrait Gallery.
evident even when she was a school girl: Stella was Vice President of the Senior
Peggy’s legacy continues to be felt
Dramatic Club and Honorary Secretary
today, and the creativity and enthusiasm
of the Debating Society.
with which she infused the NLCS Art Department continues to live on.
Upon leaving North London, Stella took a journalism course at University College
Clara Collet
London. She later worked for the Evening
Clara Collet was the first NLCS pupil to gain a BA; she also played a vital role in
Standard and The Lady, whilst continuing to write in her spare time. It was there
Peggy Angus at Furlongs
improving the working conditions and pay for working women.
that she found inspiration to satirise the ‘agricultural school of novels’, the writers
school: a Sketch Club report from 1920
of which ‘always wrote about Sussex and
notes that the prize for the best sketch
Clara joined NLCS in 1873: her first
the Powys brothers who were great on
was won by Peggy; she was elected onto
memory of the School is of Miss Buss
cows and cow dung and dear old sex’.
the Club Committee the following year.
calling her out of the School entrance
Peggy was involved in a range of school
exam to give her encouraging words.
Stella met her husband Alan Bourne
activities: she was in one of the School’s
Whilst at school, Clara founded the
Webb whilst working at The Lady; she
hockey teams; participated in the
NLCS Debating Society with Sara Burstall
was ‘very happy with him for 26 years’.
School production of Prunella where she
(second headmistress of Manchester High
Stella’s happiness found its way into
‘afforded comic relief as a droll Scaramal’;
School for Girls) in 1876; it is a society
her work, for she ‘really liked writing
and also assisted in the charitable work
that continues to this day.
about ordinary people having ordinary
of the Frances Mary Buss House. When
feelings and not blowing them up’,
she was only 17, Peggy won a scholarship
Upon leaving school, Clara worked as
something that is seen in her later novels.
to the Royal College of Art.
a school mistress at Wyggeston Girl's
throughout her life, writing over
Peggy returned to NLCS as Head of
she chose to continue her education
twenty novels and many short stories
Art in 1947, where she remained until
at University College London, which
and poems.
1970. A former pupil of Peggy’s, Corinne
only began offering degrees to women
Five Inspirational ONLs
long, readable novels and poems at 13-14’.
School in Leicester. Like Stella Gibbons
Stella continued to be a prolific writer
Julius, remembers Peggy as a fighter:
in 1878. In 1880, the NLCS magazine
Many years after leaving school, Stella
‘Peggy fought battles… She fought for
proudly heralded Clara as having gained
spoke of how she believed the tradition
the building, for the curriculum; for
the School's ‘first B.A. degree’.
of North London ‘has always been sound
materials, and she employed really good
Christian ideals and conscientiousness –
people… She was a warrior.’ Peggy
for a North Londoner always does more
assisted in the development of the Art
than her best’; it is a tradition that Stella
Department, and also the beautiful Art
herself maintained.
Block that continues to be enjoyed by North London girls. Peggy ‘believed that
Peggy Angus
art was an important part of a person's
The wallpaper designed by Margaret
development’: former pupils recall her as
‘Peggy’ Angus still hangs in Red Square
someone who gave the gift of a lifelong
in the Old House of NLCS, testament
love of art.
to the vibrant and creative woman who inspired and mentored so many pupils.
Even whilst teaching, Peggy continued
Peggy’s birth was as unconventional as
to practise as an artist, and her unusual
herself: she was born in a railway station
hand-printed tiled wallpaper and designs
in exotic Chile. Her family moved to
were hung around the country. Her
London when she was very young, and,
interior designs gained her commissions
thanks to the salary of an elder sister,
with a celebrated architect, and her tile
Peggy was able to attend NLCS. Her
designs were produced commercially.
artistic talent blossomed when she was at
She also continued to paint, and two
Clara Collet
Cont'd overleaf
➥
ON L i n e m a g a z i n e
|
7
Five Inspirational ONLs
Clara was awarded an MA in Political
distinguished old pupils’, something
Economy in 1885 from UCL - she was
which is still true nearly 120
the first English woman to gain this; she
years later.
also became the first female Fellow of UCL.
Lilian Lindsay (née Murray)
After completing her Masters, Clara
Lilian was the first qualified female
became involved in philanthropy, and
dentist in the UK. In 1886, she
began to work closely with Charles
overcame the obstacles posed by
Booth, a philanthropist and researcher.
her circumstances (she was one
Clara was a key contributor to Booth’s
of eleven children, and her father
great piece of research: Life and Labour
died when she was fourteen)
of the People in London. She inspected the
and won the Frances Mary Buss
working conditions of working women
Scholarship to NLCS. Lilian
in London and smaller towns, and
recalls her headmistress, Miss
investigated a range of industries such
Buss, as ‘little of stature’ with
as ‘straw-plaiting in Luton; clothing, and
an ‘aura of greatness’. However,
cocoa manufacture in Bristol; and the
Lilian’s independent spirit
Staffordshire potteries’.
resisted even the advice of the
Lilian Lindsay
great Miss Buss, who believed Following her work with Booth, Clara
that Lilian was ‘destined to be a teacher
was appointed to a permanent post in
for the deaf and dumb’. Such advice did
the idea of a female dentist, but her
the Labour Department of the Board of
not have the desired effect on Lilian, who
fellow students were ‘from the first, the
Trade. When the Labour Department
found that this ‘aroused [her] rebellion’.
kindest imaginable’. Lilian enjoyed her
became the Ministry of Labour, Clara
As a result Lilian announced that she
‘two years [of school] to the full’ and
‘was there when [Prime Minister David]
was going to be a dentist, although she
later described the time as ‘some of the
Lloyd George created it’. Clara was one
‘knew nothing of dentistry’. However,
most joyous and carefree days’ of her life.
of the first women to achieve a high
‘having stated boldly that [she] would be
position in the civil service, and she
a dentist, there was nothing else to be
Lilian frequently encountered opposition
remained there until she retired
done’ except to be one.
from men, who told her that by choosing
in 1920.
her career she was ‘depriving some In 1889, after leaving school, Lilian began
man of his livelihood’. Indeed, Sir Henry
Clara researched and wrote many papers
a three-year dental apprenticeship. After
Littlejohn (Scottish surgeon and public
for the Royal Statistical Society and
this, before registering for further dental
health pioneer) one said to her ‘Madam,
Economic Journal (among others); a fellow
studies, she faced preliminary exams;
you are taking the bread out of some
member of the Royal Statistical Society
these were ‘hard, but [she] had started
poor fellow’s mouth’. Lilian ignored
wrote that ‘no one who consults [Clara’s]
on the road to dentistry and must
the naysayers, and upon completing
reports will have any doubt of Miss
not turn back’. Lilian was then advised
her studies and gaining a First Class
Collet’s capacity for hard work, thorough
to seek entry at the National Dental
Certificate, she returned home to
investigation, clear thinking, and concise,
Hospital School in London; unfortunately,
London in 1895, where she opened her
lucid expression’. Clara’s research and
the Dean of the School would not let
own practice. Lilian’s career flourished:
reports contributed to the Trade Boards
her set foot into the building, as he was
she became sub-editor of the British
Act of 1909, and she assisted in the
against females enrolling as students.
Dental Journal, the first female president
introduction of reforms such as pensions
Therefore Lilian applied to the Edinburgh
of the British Dental Association, and
for the elderly and labour exchanges.
Dental Hospital, where ‘women [were]
was made a Commander of the British
received on the same footing as men’.
Empire. Lilian spoke of Miss Buss as
Her lifelong friend George Gissing (a
8
one who ‘realised in the task before her
celebrated Victorian novelist) described
Lilian commenced her dental studies in
that she would never turn back’: it is a
Clara as a ‘very clever and independent
Edinburgh in 1892, and was pleased to
description that can be aptly applied to
woman, a remarkable person; full
discover that the classes there ‘made
Lilian herself.
of energy’; the NLCS magazine of
no distinction as to sex’. The instructing
1898 called Clara ‘one of our most
dental surgeon ‘was highly amused’ by
| ON L i n e m a g a z i n e
By Joelaine Fitch (2006)
race for life Canons Sparklers warmly invite ONLs to Race for Life with them this July to raise £10,000. We hear from seven Sparklers, friends from the class of '71, about their passion for RFL. 2007
ls, l to r: Spark ling away, delighted with our meda ood, Sue Hills, Lindsey Sharpe, Katy Barnes, Susi Kirkw ond, 2008. Sue Rhodes and Lynn Aylward. Richm
2014
Sue Hills (née Davis) explains. "Back in 2005, I lost my mother to cancer and my dear friend Sue Rhodes (née Gover) challenged me to run the 5km to raise funds for Cancer Research. Seeking sponsorship and fellow runners we contacted our entire year group and were
Our most recent Ra ce for Life . Proudl y showing off our me are , l to r: Judi Ho dals oper, Sue Hills, Lin dsey Sharpe , Joy Ba Lynn Aylward and rrett, Susi Kirkwood. Ric hmond , 2014
cheque . l to r: Presenting our 20 07 dsey Sharpe , Anne Guinamard, Lin ls and Katy Barnes. Jill from RFL , Sue Hil Canons, 20 08
Canons Sparklers
2008
delighted with the response. Some had already taken part before joining us, some ran or
cancer in some way, is both humbling and
Sue and the team would love
walked with us for their first time and others
awe inspiring. Doing it in the company of
you, as an individual or as
formed the core of our wonderful team of
friends made at school over 40 years ago
year groups, to join them on
sponsors alongside friends and families. We
makes it joyous and life-affirming. I intend to
Saturday 4th July for the RFL on
have them to thank for the £32,326 we have
keep running the RFL as long as I have the
Hampstead Heath – whether
raised to date".
strength and health - and as long as cancer is
you are a walker or a runner!
still there to be beaten."
Contact: suehills@hotmail.co.uk
Holliday) too. "My sister (ONL) Barby had
The Sparklers create a celebratory
Meanwhile Katy has the
just died at the age of 40 from breast cancer
atmosphere and friendships are rekindled over
last word: "The atmosphere and
when I received the e-mail from the two Sues.
a bring-and-share picnic afterwards. Lynn
togetherness during the Race is
Taking part in RFL helps me to do something
Aylward (née Rhodes) says "We have great
truly amazing - I recommend it."
positive to help fight this disease and reassures
fun on the day sharing stories of school days,
me that I am not alone in this".
family catch-ups and tales of our individual
Family bonds motivated Katy Barnes (née
2007
experiences of training for the event. The Lindsay Sharpe (née Marshall): "I also
poignancy of our losses is always bonding,
started running with Canons Sparklers
and our years of friendship mean sharing such
because I wanted to be in solidarity with Katy.
personal confidences is as natural as anything".
My own Mum died, aged 60, of cancer and after my own big birthday, I consider every day
Susi Kirkwood is drawn by the strong
I live to be a bonus! So RFL is a combination
feeling of companionship and says "I wouldn’t
of 'carpe diem' and supporting the fight against
have done RFL on my own, but taking part with
this ghastly disease".
other ONLs is very motivating".
Judi Hooper (née Pratt-Johnson) tells us:
Joy Barratt-Wilson
"I ran my first RFL in June 1999 - two months
(née Barratt) is a newcomer. "I
before I was diagnosed with breast cancer!
only started last year - and was
So the opportunity to contribute to raising
encouraged to do so by others
funds to fight and one day eradicate cancer is
saying what fun they were having
one that, as a cancer survivor, I am passionate
running together for this cause.
about. To do it in the company of thousands
So 'once bitten' one cannot
of women who have been touched by
be shy!"
Our record year. l to r: Lynn Aylward (née Rhodes), Lindsey Sharpe (née Marshall), the dear, late Hattie Rowlands (née Isaacs), Theresa Clunie (friend), Susi Kirkwood, Sue Rhodes (née Gover), Katy Barnes (née Holliday), Judi Hooper (née Pratt-Johnson), Anne Guinamard (friend) and Sue Hills (née Davis). Richmond, 2008
2005
the The first Race for Life Hills two Sues tackled. Sue s on Rhode is on the left , Sue y, 20 05 the right. Herne Ba
ON L i n e m a g a z i n e
|
9
Passion - a Mother’s Story
Passion: “ardent love ... a strong affection or enthusiasm for a person, concept, etc ... any strongly felt emotion .... the object of an intense desire or enthusiasm ... an outburst expressing intense emotion” Collins English Dictionary
M
y initial reaction when invited to write an article about ‘passion’ was
Hospital, she saw an advertisement for
to the depths of despair and the passion
the Sue Harris Bone Marrow Trust,
to find some meaning to the enormous
“help!” Having recently retired it is many,
contacted them and agreed to front a
void in our lives. Karen is our ruling
many years since I have written an
major campaign which saw thousands join
passion and the Karen Morris Memorial
in-depth essay. I am sure that if Karen
the bone marrow register and significant
Trust our ruling passion to conquer the
(ONL, 1993) had been asked to write
funds being raised.
reason for her untimely death.
about passion, she would have written an eloquent, well-thought-out article. But
“Passion is energy” Oprah Winfrey.
thinking about it in the context of Collins’ definition I realised Karen’s life was full of
I hope my words have inspired you to
passion - passion for her family, passion
understand why the legacy of Karen’s
for her friendships, passion for her studies,
passion drives all of us involved with the
passion for her Judaism, passion for her
KMMT to continue our work to ease the
work with young people and, in the last
emotional, and thereby the physical, pain
year, a passion to live. As she wrote:
of leukaemia patients and their families and to find some meaning to our immense loss. We currently fund four Karen’s
“When I was first diagnosed I philosophised
Homes from Home for leukaemia patients
about death but I never truly believed I was going to die. I remember saying at the time
Passion brings the deepest of emotions
and their families - at Hammersmith
that if I was to die (which I wasn’t but if I
- from the heights of happiness to the
Hospital in London, the Churchill Hospital
was) I know I will have led a full and active
depths of despair. Passion is an essential
in Oxford, Addenbrooke’s Hospital
life and on the whole a very happy one,
emotion which drives humans to get
in Cambridge and, most recently, the
short though it may be. In the last 22 years
things done. Life without passion is a life
Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Birmingham.
I have managed to live in three countries,
devoid of emotion and love. Passion is
We have also funded complementary
met dozens of fascinating people, been
contagious; we see this in the wonderful
staff and patients’ rooms in leading
able to do the type of work that I believe in
feedback we receive from users of our
haematology departments in the UK. We
(although lucrative - it wasn’t!), built up a
facilities. To quote from just one letter:
currently fund four Karen’s Homes from Home for leukaemia patients and their
beautiful set of friends and have very close, “Many many thanks for providing a lovely
families - in London, Oxford, Cambridge
home for us during my husband’s bone
and Birmingham. We regularly receive
The Karen Morris Memorial Trust
marrow transplant. I was able to cook
applications to fund facilities which would
(KMMT) means that now we, her
all his meals which enabled his early
not otherwise be available but which are
family, friends and a growing network
recovery. Such a pleasant experience not
proven to alleviate the emotional, and
of supporters, who have been inspired
to have to worry about accommodation at
thereby the physical, pain of leukaemia
by her story when staying in a Karen’s
a stressful time. Heartfelt thank you”.
sufferers. With YOUR support we can do
loving relationships with my family.”
Home from Home or benefitting from
Jill, Bristol
one of the several complementary
our passion!
services we support for leukaemia
“The ruling passion, be it what it
patients and their families, are driven by
will; The ruling passion conquers
her legacy of passion. Karen’s Home from
reason still.”
Home offers well appointed, comfortable
By Sylvia Morris, Karen’s mother and Chair of the Karen Morris Memorial Trust
Alexander Pope
accommodation for leukaemia patients'
10
even more. Please help us with
www.kmmt.org.uk info@kmmt.org.uk
families and for the patients themselves
Our passion, the passion of all who are
if they are able to leave the "cabin fever"
involved with the KMMT, includes the
Karen Morris was a student at NLCS
of the ward even for a few hours. We
extremes of passion - from the
from 1986-1993. She was diagnosed with
continue the fundraising she started
heights of happiness in our wonderful
chronic myeloid leukaemia in September
when, on her first visit to Hammersmith
memories of my beautiful, clever daughter
1997 and died in September 1998.
| ON L i n e m a g a z i n e
G
rassroots Tanzania (GT) is a young
The local community is already seeing
charity, set up in 2013 by Martin
benefits. The nearest village to the
and Charlotte Hopley, a husband and wife
100-acre site, Itumba Hill Singida,
team who live there. The idea behind the
recently raised £2,500 (most people live
charity is very simple. They have 80 acres
on one dollar a day) towards the building
in rural Tanzania, which has seen terrible
of a new primary school. Having started
deforestation, largely due to ‘slash and
the build and run out of funds, the village
burn’ nomadic farming, but also due to
approached GT for help to fund the roof.
honey farming practices, whereby large
Unfortunately on inspection, GT found
holes are cut into trees for bees to nest,
that the structure was not stable enough
which ultimately kills the trees. The area
to support a roof. It will now use the
is particularly good for honey bees and
funds raised for the roof to start work
produces a high quality honey which
on a more stable structure.
Grassroots Tanzania
Jennifer Holden (1993) explains her passion for the charity ‘Grassroots Tanzania’ and the difference it makes to local communities
commands a premium price at market. I strongly believe that helping GT has developed a very simple business
communities to become independent,
model: by providing hives for honey
rather than aid-dependent, benefits
production, a sustainable source of
everyone, and I hope that I’ve inspired
income can be derived, which is then
you to find out more about how
used to re-forest the area and to provide
this sort of self-funding, sustainable
for the local community. Initially this is
model, has far reaching benefits.
through support for primary education,
By Jennifer Holden (1993)
programmes on environment and
www.grassrootstz.org
conservation, and basic health for women. In the two years since Grassroots Tanzania was established, it has set up a base camp, started a tree nursery, provided some initial hives and sent their first honey produce to market. All of this whilst working in a rural area, where everything has to be brought in by dirt roads that are often impassable during the wet season. Local villagers have asked for their help to conserve a further 1,800 acres of deforested savannah.
ON L i n e m a g a z i n e
|
11
ONL BOOK CLUB Tanya Byron (née Sichel, 1985)
Lucy Tobin (2004)
Tanya Byron’s best selling ‘The Skeleton Cupboard’ is
Lucy Tobin has published a new planning
released in paperback this month. Imagine it is the first
guide for brides-to-be, called ‘From Yes to I
day of your new job and your first meeting in the diary
Do’ (Quercus). Inspired by her own big day
is with a psychopath. As Tanya Byron begins her years
in 2012, the book covers clever and fun ideas
of training as a new clinical psychologist we begin a
that help make weddings stand out from the
powerful journey which takes her, and her patients,
crowd - plus behind-the-scenes secrets to
from chaos to clarity through the maelstrom of what
help readers
life throws at us. With each fascinating and moving
barter the
story Tanya reveals how she inched her way past the
best prices
labels of diagnosis, and the often frightening face of the illness, to the real
from their
human being. Some of these stories are incredibly sad; others darkly funny - all of them take us
wedding day
closer to a place of compassion and understanding which will change the way we think about
suppliers. This
mental health.
is for those "who want a wedding with
Jane Corry (née Thomas, 1974)
a personal
Jane has written a practical book of tips for aspiring romantic
touch, not off
novelists entitled ‘How To Write Romantic Fiction’ (under her pen
the peg." ‘From
name Sophie King).
Yes to I Do’ is Lucy’s fifth book, with others including money-saving tome ‘Ausperity’ and ‘The Witness’ (under the pen name Jane
‘A Guide to Uni Life’. Her sixth book, careers
Bidder) is published by Accent Press.
bible ‘A Book of Jobs’, is to be published
When Alice, a respectable middle-aged
this summer.
mother, sees a couple behaving illegally in the park, she is asked to give witness in
Jemma Wayne (1998)
court. If she refuses, a drug dealer could go
Jemma’s debut novel ‘After Before’ was published
free. But if she agrees, her carefully-hidden
in June 2014. It is a powerful, contemporary
past will be revealed - and her life will come
story of three women: a Rwandan refugee, a
tumbling down.
cancer sufferer, and a newly engaged Londoner trying to escape her wild youth. Linked by
Writing as Jane Corry, ‘The Emerald Earrings’
deep betrayals in their pasts, they are each
is about a pair of Victorian cousins who both fall in love with the
consumed by this, stuck. Until as their lives
same man. Their fate can only be resolved when a missing earring
intersect, amidst an exploration of identity
is found - over a hundred years later. Published by Newton
and in particular modern womanhood, the
Compton in Italy (to be published in the UK in 2016).
relationships between them inspire the courage to at last look ahead. ‘After Before’
Amanda Hilton (née Smith, 1977)
is now also
Amanda writes children’s books under the pen name Amanda
available as
Swift. The sixth book in the popular ‘Guinea Pigs Online’ series
an audio book
was published in 2014, with ‘Puppies Online: Treasure Hunt’ to
(WFHowes,
follow this year.
November 2014), voiced by
Amanda has written for several well-established children's TV
Jemma’s actor sister, Anna-Marie Wayne.
series, including ‘My Parents are Aliens’. She has also written three other children’s novels: ‘The Boys' Club’, ‘Big Bones’ and
Longlisted for the 2015 Baileys Women's
‘Anna/Bella’.
Prize for Fiction.
12
| ON L i n e m a g a z i n e
K
a dream in Moe Bu’s mind seven years earlier. There is no government funded health care in Karenni State, and since most people are very poor subsistence farmers, few can afford to pay for
arenni Student Development
and we support many projects to achieve
hospital treatment in faraway towns.
Programme (KSDP) is a unique UK
this aim.
Many Karenni die at a young age and the
registered charity which was founded
aim of ‘Caring Stars Clinic’ is to offer
by our daughter, Stephanie Lee (ONL,
treatment, medical advice and health
1998) in February 1999. Stephanie took a
education in the hope that everyone can
gap year after school and after teaching
enjoy a healthier, longer life.
English in Vietnam, she travelled and came across a Karenni/Burmese refugee
Democracy is slowly coming to the
camp on the Thai/Burma border. She was
ethnic minorities of Burma, who have
very moved by the plight of the refugees
been living under a policy of ethnic
who, having suffered many years of
cleansing for over 60 years. Stephanie’s
oppression inside Burma under a military
charity remains an important force in
dictatorship, had fled across the border
In 2007, KSDP was able to sponsor Moe
this area and KSDP provides the support
to the safety of a refugee camp. With this
Bu, a Karenni refugee, for a temporary
which is vital if the refugees living in
passion inside her, Stephanie returned to
visa to the UK to work with KSDP. She
the camps and those who remained
the UK to set up the KSDP charity. She
was ultimately granted asylum in the
inside Karenni are to have any future
also changed her educational focus and
UK and she told us of her ‘two dreams’.
opportunities.
went to SOAS to read Burmese, Thai and
One was to become a qualified nurse
S.E. Asian politics and every university
and the other was to build a clinic in her
If anyone would like to hear more about
vacation she returned to the refugee
village. In June 2012, Moe Bu graduated
our work, or ‘sponsor’ a young Karenni
camp to teach English. She worked hard
with a nursing degree and then worked
by regular monthly contributions of as
to raise funds and worked part-time
in NHS hospitals in London. On gaining
little as £5, do please contact me. As a
during her studies to fund her trips back
her UK passport, in December 2013, she
very small, family-run charity, we operate
to the refugee camp, so that every penny
returned to her country to work with the
with minimal administrative costs so that
raised went to the Karenni refugees.
Karenni Mobile Health Committee and
every penny that is raised goes directly
to oversee the building of KSDP’s newest
to the Karenni people and even small
Tragically, in November 2001, Stephanie
project, The Caring Stars Clinic, in her
amounts can do so much out in Burma.
was killed in a motorbike accident close
village. It means so much to KSDP to
to the refugee camp and we immediately
have been able to help Moe Bu who has
By Beryl Lee Chairman KSDP
flew out to Thailand to attend her funeral
become our ‘adopted daughter’, realize
www.ksdp.org.uk
in the camp. Stephanie was just 21 when
both her dreams. It was made even more
beryl@ksdp.org.uk
her life abruptly ended, but she had
special for us because after many years of
achieved so much and had made such a
being unable to travel to Burma, in June
You might also like to join us at our next
marked impression upon the displaced
2014, we were granted visas and we were
major fundraising event in London when ONL
Karenni people. At her funeral, I made a
able to visit Moe Bu’s village and perform
(and ex-NLCS art teacher) Susan Bennett
pledge to the Karenni that the work of
a Grand Opening of the Clinic.
kindly hosts an annual KSDP Garden Party
KSDP would continue in a similar vein
The Forgotten People of Burma
Beryl Lee (Mother of ONL Stephanie Lee, 1998) writes about continuing her daughter’s legacy helping the Karenni The Forgotten People of Burma
in her beautiful garden (which was featured
and I’m proud and honoured to have
With ceasefire talks taking place, Karenni
on ITV’s “Best Back Gardens” in January).
taken on Steph’s passion and helped
has peace of sorts for the first time in
This year the event will be held on Sunday
KSDP to grow and develop to meet
sixty years and it has only just become
July 26th 2pm to 6pm at 5 St. Regis Close,
the changing needs of both the Karenni
possible for foreign nationals to visit a
Muswell Hill, N10 2DE. Plants for sale,
refugees and those Karenni remaining
few townships within that ethnic state.
wonderful home-made teas and cakes plus
inside Burma. KSDP’s motto is “To help
It was so wonderful to be able to see in
KSDP stall selling beautiful, unique
the Karenni people to help themselves”
real life this project that had started as
hand-crafted refugee and hill-tribe gifts.
ON L i n e m a g a z i n e
|
13
Music and Maths
Anjali Martin (née Dutt, 1978) reflects on coupling passion for music with an engineering degree to forge an exciting career in producing music
I
had always adored music; it was my passion. Those who knew me probably remember my head stuck in the NME, penning Dylan-esque streams of consciousness into stilted
English essays and endless showing off on the piano with Scott Joplin rags. I only ever wanted to, in some shape or form, be part of the making of a seminal piece of music that could become a folk standard, sung everywhere from weddings to funerals, songs
see if I would be interested in mixing
that would touch people’s lives as mine had been. Sadly my literary ambitions were
an up and coming band called Oasis
groundless; I actually had a particularly fine head for Mathematics and Physics so I was
to see if their recordings could be
encouraged to leave my dreams on hold and go to university; a shame to waste these
salvaged. We re-recorded the album
rare talents, particularly in a girl.
in a beautiful studio literally ‘up a tidal creek’ in Cornwall, to engineer the album
Electronic Engineering sounded like
tape with a bit of equalising, gives out
‘Definitely Maybe’. I was an unorthodox
Recording Engineering, though obviously
some useful advice about how the sounds
choice for them - ‘a nice middle class girl
they were poles apart, but hey ho,
are merging and the composition is
from north London with a pedigree in
those were the days of grants and cheap
progressing and finally mixes the tracks
arty indie-rock’, and they, ‘the working
accommodation. Once the degree was
on tape with some special effects to get
class northern lads mad for fame’. The
done though, I knocked on every studio
that final polished sound; it really is a
album went on to sell 8 million copies
door till one let me in, impressed that a
great job. However you just never went
and, for a time, Oasis became the single
girl with such a prestigious degree would
home, days merged into nights, you ate
most unifying phenomenon Britain had
want to be a mere runner just for a chance
takeaway food and jumped in and out of
known since the Beatles.
to work their way into the world of
cabs, all your friendships were in-house
‘Recording Studios’. I made tea for many,
and your only leisure was playing pool
The lifestyle eventually became quite
from Marianne Faithful to Elvis Costello,
and space invaders with all sorts of pop
wearing and I started to yearn to settle
from Lulu to Adam Ant, and after a short
stars and their entourage – in reality
down and start a family. By 1998 I had
while I was even allowed to put the reels of
quite limited.
married and had two children
tape onto and off the tape machines - not
and thoughts of being away
bad for someone with a top Engineering
from home were less enticing.
degree. Finally I made it to behind the
Ladies note that I did use that
mixing desk and, because in the early
rashly considered degree; I
eighties the studio complexes were rich
re-trained as a teacher and
with variety, I worked with everyone from
am now Head of Mathematics
film scores with full orchestras to punk
at Francis Holland School
bands, from Top of the Pops recordings
CG so there is a moral in
to huge big budget rock albums. One
there somewhere. But for
memorable trip was to record legendary jazz trumpeter Hugh Masekela at the edge
sis just maybe, Oa Definitely, not
of the Kalahari Desert in Botswana, a river
a long time I had a passion that I fought to achieve and, fortunately, I still came through as a happy
crossing from what was then ‘apartheid
Within the niche of ‘80’s indie boom’
fulfilled human being. One of my sons
South Africa’. I also wrote and produced
I had an agent negotiating deals which
plays in a band and thinks that I am cool;
my own music and one was picked up for
led to a long residency on the epic My
the other one loves Maths and never
the theme tune to Rosemary Connelly’s
Bloody Valentine album ‘Loveless’ and then
listens to music; so the genes have divided
Hip & Thigh Diet. Variety – definitely!
a hit album with The Boo Radley’s ‘Giant
and passed on.
Steps’. Reputation established, the calls
14
A recording engineer sets up the
came from far and wide - even so I was
By Anjali Martin (née Dutt, 1978)
microphones, records the signal onto
surprised when I was called to
Recording Engineer/Producer
| ON L i n e m a g a z i n e
ONLNEWS Jenny Bishop (1967) Life in old dogs yet
Cathy O'Connor (née Giagnoni, 1978)
I left North London in 1967 and went to
I found the last ONLine magazine featuring
Nottingham to read Architecture. I did my
working around the world really interesting,
master’s degree in 1971-74 and have been
and one article particularly caught my eye. It
practising Architecture ever since. I did
was about the work of Dr Katy Barnes and
an MBA in the late 80's (although did not
a physiotherapy colleague, Penny, pioneering
complete the dissertation) and had a successful
medical and rehabilitation work in Uganda.
and thoroughly enjoyable career in the
I work as a physiotherapist in the NHS in
international world of design and construction.
Winchester, Hampshire, and our hospital has a link with Yei Civil Hospital in South Sudan.
rehabilitation worker. The second week I did
In my 50's I wanted a new challenge, and a
Last October I joined the team of doctors,
three days of training for 15 staff (nurses and
return to my 60's hippie roots! I returned to
nurses and midwives who go out to Yei as
rehabilitation workers) for a charity called
University again, ever a glutton for punishment,
the first physiotherapist to accompany them.
Handicap International. The training needed
and received a distinction for a Masters in
I had been planning to do it for about a year,
to be fairly basic, as many of the staff have
Architecture, Advanced Environmental and
and Katy’s article prompted me to contact
had limited education, and recent civil war
the Hospital alongside a Sudanese
Energy Studies, moved to the country (a
her. Katy invited me over for a really useful
has resulted in some spending time in refugee
serious undertaking for a Londoner) and set up
and encouraging evening where she and Penny
camps. The area is extremely poor with very
my shingle as an Architect.
shared their nuggets of wisdom with me, their
limited resources. It was a privilege to be
amazing story, and even bits of equipment and
able to share knowledge and skills with these
useful books.
people who are hungry for knowledge, and to
I now have a small practice, which I love, specialising in energy conservation and
learn from them about some of the challenges
sustainability, working locally in East Anglia,
We went out to Sudan for a very busy and
they live with. Thank you for publishing the
as well as repairing a 14C money pit, breeding
intense two weeks. The first week I spent
inspiring stories of Old North Londoners - it
golden retrievers and playing bridge with my
some time assessing and advising patients at
came at just the right time for me.
husband (who happens to have been a Bridge World Champion). Definitely life in old dogs.
Tamsin Lewis (1987) After leaving North London, I read Classics
Recent Twitter News from @NLCS1850 For regular updates on ONL news, please follow us @NLCS1850 ONL @hospicedoctor in thought-provoking piece about changing face of hospice care on @BBCr4today 3:24 am - 10 Feb 2015
and Italian at Oxford, but ended up working in music and heritage. I direct the early music ensemble Passamezzo, specialising in English Renaissance music, and with them have worked on a variety of projects. Last year's work included: combining early music and Sufi chant in Morocco, reconstructing the Carolingian masque 'Love's Welcome' for a collaboration between English Heritage and Brunel University, and recording a CD of all the music associated with the 17th Century poet and playwright James Shirley. I also work as a researcher and historical consultant and have published a number of books with Rondo publishing. I'm still in touch with friends that I made at North London, and with Miss Weaver.
Lovely piece by Old North Londoner Dame @ERantzen in @tes about her favourite teachers during her time here 3:42 am - 6 Feb 2015 Gemma Godfrey: One day we'll both be broadcasting about physics" - 17yr old @RomaTheEngineer & me @NLCS1850 9:11 AM - 4 Feb 2015 BBC Woman’s Hour: From childhood, Roma Agrawal dreamt of building sky scrapers. Tmw she tells Jenni how she ended up designing the top of the London Shard. 8:00 PM - 3 Feb 2015 Hear Fenella - 1967 castaway - on @BBCRadio4 #DesertIslandDiscs Great selections and lovely off the cuff comments too 6:47 PM - 3 Feb 2015 OUP Children’s Books: Coming soon to a bookshop near you: SHADOW CAT by @gilliancross, winner of the Carnegie Medal (Jun 2015) 4:00 PM - 2 Feb 2015 The Poetry Archive: Our featured poem this week is Ruth Padel's 'Pilot Light'. http://www.poetryarchive.org/poem/pilot-light … @ruthpadel 12:27 PM - 2 Feb 2015 NLCS: Our alumna Anna Wintour from @voguemagazine will receive Outstanding Achievement Award at #BritishFashionAwards 2014 4:28 PM - 11 Nov 2014
ON L i n e m a g a z i n e
|
15
Creative Design
Dan Maier (1983) discloses her passion for good design and building her business on creativity
M
y A-levels were selected by default… Art was a definite but Impressionist Boot inspired by pointillism and Renoir's Le s Parapluies
then what else could I do? Teachers politely told me that Biology, Maths and English weren’t really my subjects so I landed on French and German which were the only things left that no-one had shooed me away from! This unintentional selection paid off later in life as I love to travel and having languages makes it much more enjoyable. When I left School in the 80’s after doing a lot of lino cutting and mono printing in the Art Block, I thought I wanted to be a wrapping paper designer. Little did I know I would have
Dan's innovative lighting design
Dan Maier
a career designing lighting and selling my lightshades through Harvey Nichols,
sins can be hidden inside. I exploited the
result was a pretty sad, saggy and
Liberty, Heal’s, John Lewis and around
stretch quality of knit in this effectively
seam-full affair.
the world. An even bigger surprise was
soft sculpted shape. To achieve this
to discover at an ONL reunion that,
elegant 3D form required not just a
My passion is good design and likewise
whilst not being very academic at School,
knowledge of knitting techniques but
my (more than) pet hate is bad design.
I was one of only a few girls in my year
quite a bit of maths - glad I paid attention
Products that look wonderful but don’t
who went on to set up and run their
in geometry lessons! And I’m pleased to
function properly make me want to
own business.
say the result didn’t just please me, but
scream! Good design is born of passion,
delighted thousands of others, earning
obsession, determination, creativity, and
me a living.
flair resulting in a thing that looks good,
I did a degree in Textiles at Central St Martins and ended up making knitted
feels good and that we want to have;
sculptures with no clue of how I would
The Knitted Chandelier became a much-
must have even. Think of an iPhone. So
ever make a living. However a window
loved classic with a timeless quality that
often we endure badly designed and
display commission for Wallis led me to
has lasted over 20 years. Such is the
poorly made products which erode our
designing what became known as Knitted
affection for this product that a divorcé
quality of life.
Chandeliers and the rest, as they say,
contacted me as his wife got custody of
is history…
the lampshade! He was determined to
Creating great products is one thing,
buy another for himself.
earning a living from them is another - a
Despite many more designs following, the
16
huge challenge and I love problem solving
Knitted Chandelier is still my favourite
As soon as an idea is out and becomes
design. Creating a curved cone was a
popular, it is very often copied. My
challenge but with calculated tailoring it
design was ripped-off and while this was
But when I left college 25 years ago
was perfectly realised using an invisible
upsetting and frustrating, the pretender
there was scarcely any business training
joining technique. The transparency of
was in fact, no real threat - the forger
available so I had to learn the hard way.
the lightshade meant that seams were
had missed the point. The knock-off was
My one regret is that I didn’t do more
not an option. There was no place
poorly constructed - they had used cheap
work experience which would have had
to hide a join or any mistakes, unlike
fabric and sewn panels together (quicker)
countless benefits. My experience selling
knitwear (clothing) where a multitude of
creating ugly and very visible seams. The
products around the world has led me
| ON L i n e m a g a z i n e
- it’s like doing a puzzle.
ARTS CORNER
JAN MARSH T
hese days exhibitions often introduce us to new areas in art history, new
works of art and new artists. The Guildhall Art Gallery has just reopened its doors having undergone a transformational rehang for the first time in 15 years and among its collection are Pre-Raphaelite gems. Many of
the works have never been on show before. The Pre-Raphaelites have long been in vogue and, in recent years, major galleries including Tate and the V&A have hosted blockbuster exhibitions. But it is still an nz ot inspired by Fra Expressionist Bo y on rm Ha Marc's Animal
area full of new findings. ONL Jan Marsh (1961) has long been
Love's Messenger by Marie Spartali Stillman (1885)
fascinated by this group of artists and is to mentor and coach designers getting
currently researching Marie Spartali Stillman
Ironically, while at NLCS as a
their products to market, giving them the
- one of the ‘overlooked’ names in
radically-minded teenager she didn’t
benefit of insider knowledge.
Pre-Raphaelite art.
really take to Frances Mary Buss, finding her far too straitlaced. Now she has a Jan studied at
better understanding of the Victorians,
Cambridge before
she appreciates Frances Mary Buss’s own
completing her
radicalism in insisting on education for girls
doctorate which led
and her sisterly concern for her failed-artist
to her first book, a
brother, who was employed to teach
critical biography
at NLCS.
of the poet Edward
Spartali by Rossett i
Romantics Shoe inspired by Gainsborough's Mr and Mrs Andrews
Thomas. Her
As well as working on the Late Victorian
interests soon
online catalogue of the National Portrait
moved to art
Gallery, Jan is co-curating The Poetry in
history, beginning
Beauty: the Pre-Raphaelite Art of Marie Spartali
with the
Stillman, which opens at the Delaware Art
Pre-Raphaelite Sisterhood, looking at the
Museum, Wilmington in November and
lives of models, wives and mistresses which
travels to the Watts Gallery, Guildford in
turned out to be such a fascinating topic
spring 2016. This will be the first ever solo
that her next book virtually wrote itself.
show of Marie Spartali’s works. As a woman
A career in the arts is one of the toughest to crack so I strongly recommend if
she refused the publicity and self-promotion Like most ONLs, Jan has fond memories of
essential to artistic reputations, so this will
you’re headed that way that you approach
the Art Department where she was taught
be the first opportunity to see and appraise
companies or organisations that interest
by the famous Peggy Angus. She says that
her wonderful work.
you NOW and get as much experience
it was a short step from Pre-Raphaelite
as you can, as soon as you can. This goes
models to Pre-Raphaelite women artists
You can read more about Jan at
for a career in any industry really. The
and she devised small shows devoted
www.janmarsh.blogspot.co.uk
contacts you make and nurture now will
to Lizzie Siddal and Janey Morris, wrote
and do contact her if you know of any
pay dividends and shape your career.
biographies of Christina and Dante Gabriel
paintings by Marie Spartali.
Rossetti and curated a large, pioneering By Dan Maier (1983)
exhibition, Black Victorians.
By Chloé Nelkin (2006)
www.danmaier.co.uk www.extraordinarydesign.com
If you have any involvement in the arts, in any capacity, please do get in touch at info@chloenelkinconsulting.com To keep up-to-date with my art news and clients, check out www.chloenelkinconsulting.com
ON L i n e m a g a z i n e
|
17
Asylum Access
Laura Parker
Laura Parker (2006) sheds light on the disturbing reality for refugees and how her work with Asylum Access helps desperate men, women and children to fight for their legal rights
W
hen I left NLCS, I certainly didn’t imagine I’d end up pursuing a career in
year of Human Rights Law I joined
refugee legal aid. I had hoped to indulge my passion for communicating with
Asylum Access, a non-profit organisation
people from different cultures in different languages, perhaps even migrating elsewhere
dedicated to upholding refugees’ rights,
myself. The world of forced migration wasn’t at all on my radar.
with legal aid offices in Ecuador, Tanzania, Thailand, Malaysia and soon Panama too. We give free legal advice to over 10,000 people annually fleeing war or persecution, so that they can regularise their migration status and consequently be protected from deportation to places where their lives are at risk. Navigating legal processes without a lawyer can be daunting at the best of times. It can become nigh on impossible upon arrival in a foreign country if you don’t speak the language and are dealing with the trauma that triggered your escape from your home country, or are struggling to meet your family’s immediate survival needs. Our (often volunteer) legal advocates
Refugee legal assistance at work
also help forced migrants exercise, for
© Michelle Arevalo-Carpenter
example, their right to employment, or to education: many institutions or
A degree in languages led to a year
neighbouring countries. This eye-opener
employers are unaware that they can hire
abroad at the Colombian Campaign to
was followed by a stint as an intern in
refugees, or that refugees can enrol their
Ban Landmines where I learnt about
the excitingly-titled Conference Services
children in school. Markedly different
the difficulties of conflict-induced
Department (translation, interpreting)
from a humanitarian hand-out approach
displacement. Landmine survivors are
of the UN in Nairobi, Kenya, which
costing millions year on year, securing
generally displaced from their homes
confirmed that my passion did not lie
people’s access to employment enables
as they seek rehabilitation or redress
in languages alone. Biting one’s lip when
them to become productive members of
in the clinics and courts of larger cities.
transmitting a disagreeable viewpoint,
society and rebuild their own lives.
Beautiful, friendly Colombia had the
without voicing one’s own questions,
dubious distinction of being the country
does not come naturally to an ONL,
However, sometimes legal aid by itself
with the second highest number of
particularly when topics at hand included
cannot achieve this. Sometimes the laws
landmine victims, after Afghanistan.
gender issues, women’s land rights, and
we work with are unjust, and require
Over five million Colombians are forcibly
sexual abuse claims against peacekeepers.
changing. We’re all familiar
displaced within their own country, and
18
with the ‘teach a man to fish’ maxim. In
many are obliged to seek refuge from
To progress in the field of social justice,
this story though, let’s imagine there is
armed groups across the border in
further studies were in order. After a
in fact a highly skilled fisherman. He’s
| ON L i n e m a g a z i n e
Asylum Access © Sandra ten Zijthoff
just not allowed to fish: the law prohibits
Asylum Access also aims to put the law
purposes usually cited as justification
refugee fisherman from working.
firmly back into the hands of uprooted
for establishing camps during mass
individuals and ensure that they are
influxes. 17 years is a long time for lives
Policy advocacy with governments is
equipped and empowered to use those
to be put on hold, in isolated locations,
one strategy that we employ to push for
tools created for their protection. Our
and with enforced dependency on aid
better laws in refugee-hosting states.
Know Your Rights training and Write
hand-outs. As Asylum Access’ tried and
In Tanzania we’re providing input into
Your Own Appeal sessions regularly have
tested model becomes more and more
urban refugee policy drafts, which would
standing room only. I find it exhilarating
successful, the challenges we face, along
allow refugees to seek out opportunities
that some of society’s most dispossessed
with the small global refugee legal aid
away from the isolated camp. In other
are then able to invoke their newly-
community, become bigger. Changing a
contexts, if advocacy doesn’t get the job
acquired legal knowledge to defend their
system does not happen overnight, but
done, we seek change more assertively:
human rights. This could mean fighting to
sustained support from a network of
by taking the government to court.
recover stolen land, recuperate withheld
dedicated human rights activists across
A recent legal victory in Ecuador’s
wages, or halt an eviction: discrimination
continents makes the first steps less
Constitutional Court saw restrictive
is common in many refugee-hosting
daunting. I for one am truly passionate
provisions of the country’s refugee law
states and many of our clients regularly
about this work, and would love to
struck down, extending protection for
run into such issues.
continue the conversation with any
many who were forced to flee their homes and seek safety in Ecuador.
curious readers. Producing a shift in the way refugee assistance is provided is long overdue:
Find out more about our clients’ stories,
the average
our work, and how to get involved
length of time
at www.asylumaccess.org. We are
spent in a refugee
frequently recruiting volunteer legal
camp is now 17
advocates for our busy offices in Africa,
years. That’s
Asia and Latin America and welcome any
longer than all my
interest from the ONL community.
years at NLCS, and stretches
By Laura Parker (2006)
well beyond
www.asylumaccess.org
any initial ‘last resort’ population management
ON L i n e m a g a z i n e
|
19
Urban Farming
Kate Hofman (2003) writes about starting a sustainable business: GrowUp Urban Farms
Kate Hofman
that we can use to grow food at a much
2. Keep your focus: With a concept
larger scale. It houses a fish tank in the
as exciting and cutting-edge as urban
container and vertical growing columns
farming, there are always interesting
hold over 400 salad and herb plants
opportunities and collaborations popping
’ve always believed that the purpose of
in the greenhouse to maximise the
up around us. As a start-up we have to
good business is to improve the world
amount of produce we can grow in a
constantly remind ourselves that we
- so I’ve never doubted that businesses
limited space. After six months we were
won’t be able to have a positive impact
and the people who run them can solve
harvesting enough salad to start selling
if we can’t stay around long enough to
the major environmental and social
weekly into local restaurants.
succeed. So it’s really important for us
st x up at Roof Ea The GrowUp Bo it © Mand y Zamm
I
problems facing us today. When I first
to focus on the business model we’ve
found out about aquaponics (combining
Once we started selling our produce, we
worked so hard to establish
aquaculture and hydroponics (the process
quickly found that demand was outpacing
(commercial-scale aquaponic farming
of growing plants in sand, gravel, or liquid,
our supply - helping us prove that London
in urban areas) - and not to let the
with added nutrients but without soil)
has a strong market for locally grown,
potentially exciting (but also potentially
in a sustainable food growing system),
environmentally sustainable salad. Now
destructive distractions) get in the way of
and taking unused urban
we’re working on building London’s first
achieving our aims.
spaces to grow fresh
commercial aquaponic farm - watch
3. Know your values: We agreed
vegetables and fish for
this space!
on our business values at an early stage
people living in cities, I was completely taken
It’s been an incredible journey so far -
entrepreneurs, things rarely go according
(hook, line and sinker!)
but I imagine most people say that about
to plan, and sometimes we’re not sure
with the idea. I wanted
starting a business. In our case, setting
which opportunity to focus on. With our
to build commercial
out with the intention of creating a
values in place we know we’re making
urban farms that were
business with a set of environmental and
the right decision for the business if it
not only environmentally
social values at the core of a commercial
helps us act in a way that reflects
sustainable, but were
enterprise has given us an additional
those values.
also a viable use of high-
set of challenges - but it’s also provided
4. Share your passion: Starting
value real estate in cities.
a strong framework which has helped
something from nothing is a labour of
Urban populations will continue to grow
direct our development. I’ve learnt a few
love, but you’ll burn out if you try and
and cities are coming under increasing
key lessons so far:
do everything on your own. Finding the
pressure to manage their resources. We
1. This makes “business as usual”
right team to work with is fundamental
need to start thinking seriously about
look easy: for lots of start-ups, getting
for a sustainable business. Firstly because
how our cities can adapt to face the
that bottom line right is the key focus
you’ll need a diverse mix of skills to
challenges of the future, and commercial
to make a business viable. When you’re
pioneer a business in an emerging
urban farming has to be on the agenda.
starting a sustainable business, and
industry and secondly because people
measuring your success against a
buy from people - and if you’re going to
In 2013 my business partner and I
triple-bottom line, your social and
engage with the stakeholders who are
founded GrowUp Urban Farms - with
environmental aims have to be as
key to your business succeeding then
the aim of bringing aquaponic urban
achievable as the economic ones. Balancing
you’ll need them to feel and share the
farming to London and making it
these is a challenge - but I think it’s the
vision of what you’re trying to achieve.
scalable. We designed the GrowUp
only long-term way to have a positive
Box, a demonstration farm built from
impact and sustain a successful business.
By Kate Hofman (2003)
an upcycled shipping container with a
We want to create jobs in inner city areas
GrowUp Urban Farms was founded by
greenhouse on top. The Box has allowed
- but we can only pay those salaries if we
Kate Hofman and Tom Webster.
us to showcase the aquaponic technology
can grow enough salad to cover our costs.
www.growup.org.uk
Up in the greenhouse © Mandy Zammit
20
- and this has been really important. As
| ON L i n e m a g a z i n e
I
Social Action
Vicky Clayton (2010) on the founding of United - an organisation which seeks to create a global community of students uniting for effective social action. Vicky Clayton
left NLCS in 2010 and worked for a variety of small charities for a year and started my degree in Human Sciences at Oxford. I spent every holiday exploring the nooks
and crannies of the social change sector - which led me to take time out of my degree to start up an organisation with two friends and dedicate long hours over the past two years to ‘United’.
In April 2013, I was part of a University
change my behaviour and push for change
of Oxford delegation invited by Aung
at a higher level.
San Suu Kyi to Myanmar to enhance student interactions between the UK
My understanding of the power of
and Myanmar. We met some fantastic
personal relationships in social change
and inspiring people (some of whom had
was first brought home to me during
been in prison longer than I’d been alive)
those conversations on the long boat
but very few students. The Myanmar
journeys across Myanmar. Changes
Africa, with activities being trialled in
Government had cancelled undergraduate
happen because people who care act.
the USA and Mexico. Although I didn’t
education at some institutions following
What if we could create such a friendship
intend it to be, such an enterprise is
the 1988 student uprising. I kept in
network? What if people could learn
all-consuming, my daily and nightly
touch with the few students we met, and
from one another, support each other
companion, sparking one thought to
through long Facebook conversations
and act together on issues that they care
the next. My interest in other people’s
came to understand a lot more about
about? Creating such a network is what
passions has led to something that most
the country, its incredible offerings and
I’ve dedicated my time to for the past
people would call passion. It sneaks up
its terrible experiences. Ultimately, our
two years.
on you!
people whom we met but my ongoing
At United we create global networks of
Visit www.unitedpartnerships.com
friendships with the Myanmar students
young people who are passionate about
to find out more about us.
made me much more informed and able to
social change. Young leaders learn from
As we are a young and fast growing
act. What was more, I cared about what
each other, improving their current
organisation, I would be very grateful for
happened to these people, my friends.
projects whilst creating deep, long-lasting
the support of fellow ONLs:
friendships. Such friendships provide a
we are looking for founding families
I was part of the delegation because of
latent network that can be engaged to
to invest in supporting our work at
work I had previously done, pairing up
project voices and mobilise resources.
universities across the world, enabling us
university students in the UK and Uganda
United broadens understanding of global
to support more students to do more
to learn from each other. When the anti-
issues through personal connections. In
good. This would be the start of a
homosexuality bill was passed in 2014 in
a world of globalised consumption and
long-term relationship with United and
Uganda, I understood the effect it had on
production, global civic society has some
getting to know our students.
friends there and the political motivations
catching up to do. We focus on university
behind passing such a bill. When the 43
students as the decision-makers of
ONLs on a gap year are encouraged to
students disappeared in Mexico last year,
tomorrow - creating leaders who are
get in touch to help us.
friends in Mexico City kept me informed
aware of and care about the global
about how I could help. I have countless
consequences of their actions, within a
other examples of how friendships have
collaborative global community.
The first discussion group of The Gender Project, empowering female students to discuss gender issues on campus at Makerere University, Uganda
delegation had very little to offer the
enabled me to understand issues in a
By Vicky Clayton (2010) www.unitedpartnerships.com
deeper way, identify with social injustices
United’s community has over 3,000
on a personal level and be motivated to
students, mostly across the UK and East
vicky@unitedpartnerships.com
ON L i n e m a g a z i n e
|
21
Spokeswoman forI those BelieveininNeed You 22
‘I Believe In You’: ONL Smruti Sriram (2004) on the importance of believing in young people
“Hello, my name is Smruti and I’m calling from the Christine Kehoe Campaign. I’m just checking to see if you will be voting for Senator Kehoe?” “Hey there, I will indeed be voting for Christine, let me know if you need any help down there in Mission Bay. You sound real polite … are you British?”
N
ovember 2004, the final push
nature and nurture and therefore need
Where do you get a list of schools from?
for the much anticipated US
to take responsibility in fostering an
Who at the school would I need to
presidential election campaign, and there
environment which “takes a chance” on
speak to?
I was, a fresh-faced gap year student in
young people. More than likely, we will
a little office in downtown San Diego
gain from the experience. In the words
Fast-forward ten years, and the Wings
feeling on top of the world. My name on
of the writer Robert A Heinlein, “When
of Hope Achievement Award has been
top of the leaderboard of interns. My
one teaches, two learn.”
adopted by over 400 schools across the
notes used to help prepare scripts for TV
country, and over 25,000 students have
debates. Me on the main campaign trail
My parents took a chance on me. In
participated in the programme. Student
around the Pacific Coast. Who was I?
2003 they set up an education charity,
winners have been flown to India to
The Wings of Hope - I am an only child,
teach at a Wings of Hope School to see
No honestly, who was I? I hadn’t
and with my North London schooling
the impact of the funds they have raised,
studied Politics at School, nor History,
about to end, my parents wanted to give
and have won work experience at Saatchi
and certainly knew very little about
children less fortunate than me access
& Saatchi, the BBC and Edelman. They
American politics. Yet, out of sheer
to a great education. Fundraising can
have presented to panels of judges at the
luck, a kind Democratic Senator decided
be a real chore. Charity ball tickets are
House of Lords and attended events such
to accept my application to intern for
not easy to sell. Why your charity over
as Speed Mentoring which have caught
her campaign. She took a chance (and
others? How many 10Ks can you run
the attention of national media. This
probably spotted a few ONL traits: hard
in a year? My parents and I were sitting
award was designed by students,
work, tenacity and a “can-do” attitude).
on the floor coiled up against a radiator
for students. But the ignition was sparked
That was the spark. She gave me the
(our old sofa was being replaced), my
by adults.
confidence to think that life outside the
head in my mother’s lap, and then
world of school, although big and wide,
suddenly my father said, “You kids are so
Call for action: say yes to that student
was still filled with teachers and mentors.
damn creative, why not set a challenge
who has plucked up the courage to ask
She believed in me (and my accent).
where young people can raise funds and
you for work experience; nominate
awareness in fun ways? That way you
someone for an award; send an email to
My grandfather used to reference a line
can learn about selling, communication,
younger colleagues saying you can mentor
from William Wordsworth: “the child
teamwork, leadership, dealing with
them. In the words of Kylie Minogue, sing
is father of the man.” These words are
rejection: important skills that theory
it out: “I Believe in You”.
powerful. Without acknowledging that the
cannot teach you.” That was it. I was
next generation needs to be skilled-up,
unleashed to come up with a social
empowered and believed-in, society will
enterprise award programme designed
not be able to progress in a positive
for students across the UK. What a task!
manner. We are indeed all a product of
A name? A slogan? A format? A prize?
| ON L i n e m a g a z i n e
By Smruti Sriram (2004) Follow @Smruti_Sriram
Clown Slut
I
t’s a Monday morning. My peers, looking all grown-up in their suits, head for another week at the office. I, however, am scuttling off to an audition, perfecting my Irish
accent, dressed as a nun. One week I’m getting my teeth stuck into a gritty, new, political play, the next, I’m flying to the other side of the world to shoot an advert for cheaper car insurance (“Oh the glamour!” I hear you cry). And so is the bizarre
existence of an actor, unpredictable and ridiculous - one never-ending adventure.
Joanna Griffin in the NLCS Production of Little Shop of Horrors
I loved theatre at School; the
weeks. The aroma of melted mozzarella
another. These qualities ring true of
opportunities were boundless. Ours
lured the audiences in as they watched a
the NLCS ethos that made such an
was the first school year that Theatre
play wrestling with ideas about feminism,
impression on me growing up. Plays have
Studies could be studied at A-level and
objectification culture, sexism and class.
the potential to challenge stereotypes
it was testament to NLCS, with such a
and to share the stories that go unheard.
reputation for academia, to declare that
I do not believe I could have done
Theatre shouldn’t be for the elite. It is
this was a subject worthy of study, not
this without my days at NLCS. The
time for new plays that will attract new,
just a hobby.
experience made me appreciate how
diverse audiences. I have had the fortune
lucky, how incredibly privileged my
of working at the Donmar Warehouse
After studying at Bristol University, then
education had been. I have endless
over the last two years and Artistic
LAMDA, life as an unemployed actress
fond memories of Mrs Podd and Mr
Director Josie Rourke has been a huge
beckoned. The industry is tough, very
Lewis taking us to see some of the best
inspiration. It’s been so exciting to be
tough indeed. As a woman, I would argue
theatre the UK has to offer. As part of
led by one of the first female artistic
it’s even tougher. Recent statistics show
the Drama course, we watched, studied
directors of a major London theatre and
that on average, only 38% of parts in
and were inspired by innovative theatre
her programming strives to represent a
England’s top ten subsidised theatres are
companies making work in which they
range of class, race and gender onstage.
given to women, while less than 35% of
had absolute belief. NLCS instilled in me
new work commissioned is by female
that confidence, that self-belief, that drive
playwrights. If theatre is meant to hold
for excellence in one’s work. Not only
up a mirror to society and this is how
had School given me the courage and skill
we are being represented on stage, then
to create my own material, but it had
what does this suggest about the real
given me a choice over my career path.
world beyond the artifice of plays?
While 80% of the lowest paid jobs in
Forum toIgniting InstigatePilotlight Change
Joanna Griffin (2005) reveals her passion for women in theatre and argues that theatre can be a vital forum to instigate change in society
Britain today are being filled by women Upon graduation, I was dismayed by
- cleaning, caring, catering - I have the
the roles (or lack thereof) on offer to
luxury of choice. This is something I am
women, so I wrote my first solo show -
grateful for every day. Feminism was
Clown Slut. What started as a personal
a significant part of my education at
experience, very quickly turned into
School and, as current discourse shows,
something fiercely political. Edinburgh
we still have a long way to go.
Festival was the perfect platform to
Joanna Griffin (Terri) wit h Daniel Mays (An in The Same Deep drew Eagleman) Water As Me at the © Photo by Joh an Donmar Warehous Per sso e. n
So from the West End to the back of a Scottish pizza shop, such is the life of
share this piece of stand-up theatre so
I believe theatre is a vital forum to
a creative. “There are no ceilings, only
last summer, I performed at the back
instigate change. Through stories we
floors” - NLCS, I wholeheartedly agree.
of an Italian restaurant, every day, for a
question the world, we learn, we
month. It was a surreal and brilliant four
empathise and we connect with one
By Joanna Griffin (2005)
ON L i n e m a g a z i n e
|
23
Bursaries at NLCS Passionate about providing an ambitious education to bright girls, regardless of their parents’ ability to pay
of financial means. Currently, we have 69
girls were not able to take up their places in
pupils on some level of bursary assistance
Year 7 in September 2014 because the School
(about 9% of students) in the Senior School
was unable to support their places.
(Years 7-13). The majority of our current bursary girls live in the Boroughs of Barnet,
‘I want girls educated to match their brothers’ Frances Mary Buss, 1850
If you are interested in finding out more
Harrow, Brent, Camden and Ealing; the ability
about the bursary fund or the Frances Mary
to offer bursaries enables the School to
Buss Fellowship, please do not hesitate
maintain its social mix and academic strength.
to contact Deborah Sobel, Director of
Donations to the fund are a mixture of
Development, on 020 8951 6376 or at
s the oldest of the large academic girls’ day
regular gifts and legacies. Those who let us
dsobel@nlcs.org.uk
schools in the country, North London’s
know that they have left us a legacy gift in
A
enduring aim has been to provide an ambitious
their will are invited to join the Frances Mary
academic education for young women,
Buss Fellowship, which meets each year at
regardless of their parents’ ability to pay.
the School for a special event. Alongside gifts
As early as 1910, local and national
also supports bursaries from general funds;
from the School’s supporters, the School government grants enabled North London
royalties from the School’s franchise in Jeju,
Collegiate to take non-fee-paying students.
South Korea pay for a number of bursaries
The Direct Grant and, latterly, the Assisted
in London. There are currently more than
Places Schemes enabled the School to
16 girls in the Senior School who would not
continue this policy. When the Direct Grant
have been able to accept their offer of a place
Scheme ended in 1976, the School set up a
without the income from NLCS Jeju.
bursary fund, the income from which is used
Despite these efforts, the demand for bursary
to provide places based on ability, regardless
assistance far exceeds available funds. Seven
‘I can now put myself forward in front of top academics, and people who have been really successful in their fields, and present to them my ideas with confidence: receiving a bursary was really life-changing for me’ Bursary ONL ‘I think it’s great for the bursary girls to get that opportunity at what is undoubtedly a great school and I also think it’s great for the other girls at North London who are getting what life’s actually about, the whole environment. It works both ways. North London does an exceptionally good job… the money is really hitting the target’ Bursary supporter
Fundraising Telephone Campaign ‘Good evening, am I speaking with Mrs Thompson? My name is Hennita and I’m phoning from North London Collegiate School.’
A
t the end of last summer, some of you may have received a phone call from a recent ONL, asking you to consider
supporting the School’s Bursary Fund. If so, you were one of the 750 ONLs and parents with whom we spoke, during North London’s first campaign of this kind. We were thrilled with the generosity of so many ONLs. You may be
edi Caller Hennita Triv
Caller Nirali Shah
pleased to hear that 55% of those ONLs contacted pledged a gift, and ONLs contributed a total of £65,000.
have let us know that our callers came across as friendly, enthusiastic and determined!
We are so grateful to all of you who have supported the phone campaign - thank you. We plan to conduct a similar campaign every
We weren’t able to phone as many ONLs as we would have
few years.
liked due to time constraints; if you didn’t receive a call but would like to contribute to the campaign, please do contact
The nine ONL callers were fantastically dedicated and hard-working
Deborah Sobel, Director of Development, on 020 8951 6376 or
during the days of the campaign; ONLs who were contacted
at dsobel@nlcs.org.uk
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| ON L i n e m a g a z i n e
Meet your Alumnae & Development Team T
he Alumnae & Development Team supports North London’s
We currently have contact details for over 5,000 ONLs across the
growing alumnae network, and fundraises for much-needed
world, but some of these may no longer be accurate. If you know
bursaries and developments at the School. We hold many events
anyone that isn’t in touch with the School, please ask them to email
for the ONL community from year group reunions and an annual
us at onla@nlcs.org.uk
ONL Picnic, to networking events and careers seminars. We always enjoy meeting you and receiving updates and news – by email, phone
And finally – if you want to share with us any ideas or suggestions
or Facebook. We’re here to support your ‘Community for Life’ so
for how we can better support or bring together ONLs, we’d love
please do keep in touch!
you to let us know. This is your alumnae network.
Deborah Sobel Director of Development
Poorvi Smith (ONL 1991) Alumnae Officer
Deborah joined NLCS as Director of
Poorvi is an ONL and mother to a
Development in January. Though not
seven-year-old daughter. She has worked
an ONL herself, she counts herself as
in the Alumnae Office for three years,
an ‘indirect ONL’, with two cousins and
and previously worked in the advertising
several friends who spent many years
and marketing industry. She returned to
at the School. She previously worked
NLCS for her 20 year reunion and very
in Development in the arts – the Royal
quickly fell back in love with the grounds,
Opera House, the Donmar Warehouse
the buildings and the general ethos of
and the National Theatre – and started
the School - so much so that she began
her career at Mars, where she did indeed
working there the following year. She still finds it difficult to go into
receive free chocolate. In the short
the staffroom and has to remind herself that at the age of 41, she is
time that she has been at the School, she has enjoyed hearing from
legitimately allowed to go there without getting into trouble!
ONLs about their experiences and highlights at North London, and is frequently impressed (but not surprised!) at their achievements
Whilst Poorvi secretly still harbours a dream to become Prime Minister,
and successes. With responsibility for fundraising as well as alumnae
her role in the Alumnae Office keeps her busy. She particularly enjoys
relations, she looks forward to many happy months and years at
running the Career Networking service and never ceases to be amazed
NLCS. Deborah has a two-year-old son, who is going to love the
at the incredible careers that NLCS girls go on to do.
Summer Picnic in June, and will most likely work his way round every picnic hamper trying to scavenge food.
Emma Maltz (Current Parent) Alumnae Officer
Jeremy Wilson Associate Development Director
Emma has been Alumnae Officer at NLCS for three years and previously worked
Jeremy has been Associate Development
in the advertising industry. She has a
Director at NLCS for two years, in
daughter in the Junior School, and two
addition to teaching Philosophy and
young sons. Sadly, despite repeated offers
Religious Studies in the Senior School.
to dress them in brown tunics, her sons
He has two young daughters with whom
have not been offered places in the
he regularly has philosophical debates
Junior School.
about chocolate and animals. He is passionate about the School’s Bursary
On one of her earliest visits to NLCS with her daughter, she
Fund and helping to raise funds for girls
noticed ONLs visiting for a 50 year reunion and loved the idea that
who require assistance with access to
her daughter would continue to visit NLCS with her friends, well
NLCS. Weekends are spent watching his
into her dotage! When the opportunity to work in the Alumnae
daughters play football, hockey and netball and any other sport at
Department came up, Emma was delighted to take the position
which they decide to dominate at U10 level.
and enjoys helping ONLs to reconnect with one another, share memories at reunions and to keep the connection with the School fresh.
ON L i n e m a g a z i n e
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25
REUNITED
Throughout 2014 ONLs attended events to swap news, visit familiar haunts and view the latest changes at Canons
SUMMER REUNION 2014 ONL Picnic
Calling all ONLs - come and join the fun at our next annual ONL Picnic on Sunday 21st June 2015 between 12-4pm. Each year, the picnic becomes more popular. It is a fun day for ONLs of all ages and their families and friends. Activities such as rounders and tennis are on offer, as well as games for children.
40 YEAR REUNION Class of 1974
Calling the Class of 1975 for your 40 Year Reunion on Saturday 9th May 2015. Invitations have been posted out please contact the Alumnae Office for more information. 26
| ON L i n e m a g a z i n e
REUNITED
50 YEAR REUNION Class of 1964
Calling the Class of 1965 for your 50 Year Reunion on Monday 21st September 2015 - please save the date!
ON L i n e m a g a z i n e
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27
REUNITED
10, 20 and 30 YEAR ReunionS Classes of 2004, 1994 and 1984
Calling the Classes of 2005, 1995 and 1985 for your reunions on Saturday 9th May 2015. Invitations have been posted out – please contact the Alumnae Office for more information.
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| ON L i n e m a g a z i n e
REUNITED
3 YEAR Reunion Class of 2011
Calling the Class of 2012 for your Three Year Reunion on Wednesday 1st July 2015, 5-7pm - please save the date!
1 YEAR Reunion Class of 2013
Calling the Class of 2014 for your One Year Reunion on Wednesday 9th September 2015, 5-7pm - please save the date!
UNIVERSITY DRINKS London, Bristol, Cambridge & Oxford in 2014
We have been ‘on tour’ again in 2015 and look forward to seeing ONL undergraduates from any university at the London drinks on Thursday 23rd April 2015.
ON L i n e m a g a z i n e
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29
ONLA GROUPS O
NLs often tell us that they feel that they are part of a community for life. No matter where they go in the world,
paths cross. Despite there often being many school years between them, ONLs never have any trouble chatting and sparking happy memories of their respective times at Canons. They inevitably discover
a shared ethos, work ethic and lively spirit which has shaped each of their paths through life. In the Alumnae Office, we are often overwhelmed by the generosity of ONLs to one another – either through offering advice to ONLs wishing to enter a similar
ONLA Law Society
career, putting old friends back in contact with one another or helping with organising events
The next meeting is on Tuesday 26th
for ONLs. It is a network with emotional, rather than physical, ties.
April 2015 Facebook Group: NLCS - ONLs
Do reach out to the Alumnae Office for careers advice, if you’d like to mentor, about joining a
Law Society
local group or a society or simply finding an old friend you’ve lost touch with. Contact us at: onla@nlcs.org.uk or 020 8951 6377
ONLA STEM Society By Emma and Poorvi
The next meeting will be in Autumn 2015 Facebook Group: NLCS - ONLs
ONLA Societies
STEM Society
On behalf of ONLA, NLCS coordinates a number of career networking societies. ONLs are invited to come together to meet with peers in their fields for informal drinks and the
ONLA Media Society
opportunity to forge new connections. We currently offer three ONLA Societies, details of
The next meeting is on Wednesday 3rd
which are to the right. If you would like to find out more, please contact onla@nlcs.org.uk
June 2015
career networking Through the willing help of our extensive ONL network, the School is keen to offer careers support to ONLs at all stages of their working life. Each week, we receive at least five requests from ONLs for careers advice, and we are grateful to the many ONLs who have volunteered to offer guidance or connections. If you would like us to either put you in touch with another North Londoner in your field, or if you would like to put yourself forward as a career mentor or contact, we would be delighted to hear from you at psmith@nlcs.org.uk
Careers Symposia In response to a suggestion from parents, the School hosts an annual careers symposium to support the career choices and connections of current students and ONLs. Last year we hosted a well-attended and fascinating evening about careers in Finance where we welcomed 150 guests to hear from speakers including Angelie Moledina (1993) and Sajanthi Nathan (2007), who shared their knowledge of some of the incredible opportunities for women in the financial sector. This year’s event explored careers in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths) and we were thrilled to welcome many eminent ONLs back to School to allow guests to explore career options in these diverse fields. Panellists included Roma Agrawal (2001) and Vicky Pope (1979). Thank you to all of you who have attended or supported these symposia and we look forward to sharing future events with the ONL community.
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Facebook Group: NLCS - ONLs Media Society
ONL Regional Groups T
he regional groups each have their own closed Facebook group
If you are going on a gap year or simply abroad on a holiday do
which is managed by the Alumnae Office. To become part of
consider contacting the regional groups as they would love to help
a group please simply befriend ‘Frances Mary Buss’ (look for the
you plan your time away.
daffodils!) and ask to be added to the relevant group.
CORNWALL/DEVON
LINCOLNSHIRE
Jill Hall (née Hankins) jill22hall@gmail.com
Caroline Kenyon (née Brandenburger)
Alison Nelson (née Strachan) an276@uwclub.net
Tel: (01673) 828302
Facebook Group: NLCS – ONLs Cornwall & Devon
caroline@kenyon-communications.com Facebook Group: NLCS – ONLs Lincolnshire
EAST ANGLIA Margaret Angus (née Claydon) maa@angi.me.uk
MIDLANDS
Facebook Group: NLCS – ONLs East Anglia
Kate Jones (née Levinson) Tel: (01676) 535249 Kate.Levinson@talk21.com
SUSSEX
Summer Meeting: Saturday 27th June 2015
Marguerite Wright (née Steinhardt)
Facebook Group: NLCS – ONLs Midlands
Tel: (01273) 330387 Facebook Group: NLCS – ONLs Sussex
SOUTH WEST Audrey Derrick (née Dickinson)
GLOUCESTERSHIRE
Tel: (01823) 421323
Dorothy Farley (née Coode)
priorscombe@tiscali.co.uk
Tel: (01452) 713883
Spring Meeting: Saturday 18th April 2015 at midday in
Facebook Group: NLCS – ONLs Gloucestershire
Frome, Somerset Autumn Meeting: Saturday 10th October 2015 in Stoke St Mary, near Taunton
HAMPSHIRE
Facebook Group: NLCS – ONLs South West England
Mandy Grover (née Collins) ALCollins@doctors.org.uk Spring Meeting: Saturday 18th April 2015 in Hill Head, Hampshire Autumn Meeting: Saturday 17th October Facebook Group: NLCS – ONLs Hampshire
OVERSEAS
USA
AUSTRALIA
Sarah Feldman (née Shaps)
Kay Moyes (née Hannah)
Tel: USA 845 625 8084
Tel: Australia 02 9975 6150
sfeldman005@gmail.com
moyes_kay@hotmail.com
Facebook Group: NLCS – ONLs USA
Mobile: 0416 002 701 Facebook Group: NLCS – ONLs Australia
ISRAEL Debra Benstein (née Kestel)
NEW ZEALAND
dbenstein@gmail.com
Helen Chipper (née Marr, 1967)
Facebook Group: NLCS – ONLs Israel
j.h.chipper@xtra.co.nz or 0064 9 4164946 Facebook Group: NLCS – ONLs New Zealand
ON L i n e m a g a z i n e
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ONL Engagements, Marriages and Births
ENGAGEMENTS
Golda Benjamin (née Blinder, 1940) died on 5th March 2014. Goldie was born in
Lucy Blunden (2004) became engaged to
London, the daughter of Ukrainian Jewish
Tom Thackeray in August 2014
immigrants. She won a scholarship to North London in 1937, but when the shadow of
Lizzy Leigh (2003) became engaged to
Hitler’s Germany fell across Europe she
Adam Lubczanski on 16th August 2014
was evacuated and like so many other girls, left the school never to return. Though she
Smruti Sriram (2004) became engaged to
relocated back to London in 1941, her formal
Joseph Blunt on 22nd August 2014 in London
education had ended and she later trained as an accountant secretary. Married for 40
Lucy Zilberkweit (2005) became engaged to
years to the actuary Sidney Benjamin, she is
Matt Jenkins in July 2014
survived by her son Ivor. Joan Cowley (née Day, 1941) died on 25th May 2014 after a short illness aged 90
MARRIAGES
and just a month after celebrating her 65th Wedding Anniversary. She is survived by her husband and two sons. She was one of
Sara Kaltz (2003) married Heinz Meyer
the few remaining ONLs who, under the
on 28th September 2014 at Hyde Barn,
leadership of Miss Drummond, experienced
near Stow-on-the-Wold
the traumatic war-time transition from Camden to Canons, via evacuation to
Belinda Magnus (2002) married
Luton in 1939. Joan became a prefect and
James Edelman on 8th June 2014 at the
then gained entry to Homerton College,
Luton Hoo Hotel, Bedfordshire
Cambridge for teacher training in 1941.
Sarita Vamadeva (1997) married Adrian Smith
Betty Davies (née Williams, 1938) died
on 6th December 2014
12th July 2014. She often remembered her days at NLCS and it cultivated her love of English and History. She is missed by family and friends.
BIRTHS
Lucy Diamond (1990) died on 17th February 2015. She had been suffering
Samantha Fogelman (née Rose, 2007)
from cancer. Lucy was a dressage and event
had her second son, Jordan Bailey Fogelman,
rider, married to champion farrier Billy
in June 2014, a little brother for
Crothers and mother of Emily and Olivia.
Joshua Harley
She was determined to keep up competing alongside her cancer treatment and
Stephanie Holding-Shah
she went on to a Top 10 place at the
(née Holding, 2002) had a baby boy, Dillon
national championships at Stoneleigh in
Raoul Shah, born on 29th September 2014 in Hong Kong, weighing 6lb 13oz. A baby
September 2014. Enzo and D illon
brother for Enzo
Dorothy Gill (née Bull, 1952) died on 12th October 2014 in Te Omanga Hospice,
Abigail Swerdlow (née Martyn, 2005) had a baby
Wellington after a brief illness. She is greatly
boy, Jack David Swerdlow, on 25th September 2014
missed by friends and family.
Tamsin Thomas (née Lewis, 1987) had a baby
Sylvia Goldwyn (née Bloom, 1941) died
boy, Rowan, on 13th May 2014
on 19th July 2014. NLCS meant a great deal to her, and inspired her to become one of
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remembrance the first female dental surgeons. Her link
bridge player. She was a vivacious, loveable
Wye in 1984. She lost her eyesight some
with fellow ONLs remained important to
and outgoing person, with a real zest for
15 years ago, and suffered from a second
her, especially in the last 30 years.
life. A wonderful friend to all, she is greatly
mastectomy in 2009. Leela was loved by all
missed by those who knew and loved her.
her patients and is greatly missed; a new road
diagnosed with breast cancer in 2011 and
Harriet Rowlands (née Isaacs, 1971)
her honour.
Catherine Ladd (née Ogden, 1972) was
in Edmonton was named Menon Drive in
died in August 2014. She read Theology
passed away in 2014. Harriet became an
at Durham, where she met her husband,
inspiring drama teacher with a reputation
Jeff. Catherine was a Careers Adviser in
of being able to reach unreachable pupils.
Huddersfield for the last 15 years after
Harriet was very cheerful and was able
working as a primary school teacher and
to spread happiness in the staff room, the
then raising her three sons. She enjoyed bell-
classroom and beyond. She was a gifted
ringing, running, and holidays in their flat in
amateur actor and a key figure at the
France and she adored her grandchildren:
Abbey theatre, St Albans. She is survived by
Joshua, Edith and Aaron.
Anthony and their two children, Alice (ONL)
Jean Wilks
and Sam. Caroline Merriam (née Wallace, 1950) died
Jean Wilks, CBE (1936) died, aged 97,
on 20th March 2014. Caroline was Head Girl in
Vivian Seif-Said (née Jones, 1947) died
on the 15th June 2014. Jean Wilks was a
the centenary year of the school and was a keen
on the 19th April 2014. She was a G.P.,
distinguished headmistress who promoted
sportswoman for which she received Colours.
practising family medicine in Coventry,
greater independence for girls and broke
She had six children and is greatly missed.
London and Torquay. She died in Torquay,
down old hierarchies at her school,
aged 84, after a short illness.
King Edward VI High School for Girls in
Freda Patton (née Leben, 1940) died very
Birmingham. She was one of the great
peacefully in July 2014 in Cambridge, aged
Evelyn Sirey (1935) died on 13th January
educators of her generation. Although self-
93. Freda had an extra year in the 6th Form
2015 after a short illness. Evelyn was both a
contained, scholarly and seemingly austere,
when she was quarantined with scarlet fever,
former student and former member of staff,
Jean was approachable, enlightened and
and she was evacuated to Luton, returning
having taught at the School from 1938-1943.
personally generous. She believed the best
to London and briefly enjoying the privileged
She was in her 97th year and had been an
of people and was perceptive enough to
delights of Canons before the rest of the
active supporter of NLCS. She is missed by
recognise talent and intelligence among
school moved out from Sandall Road. She
her friends.
her more lively and rebellious pupils as
was awarded a scholarship and her parents
well as among the more diligent. Jean was
were immensely proud of her achievements.
Judy Smither (née Simpson, 1968) died on
a governor and adviser to the Schools’
She went on to the University of London
the 8th January 2015. Judy excelled at sport,
Council in the 1970s and served on the
(to one of the colleges which eventually
especially swimming and netball. Her love
education committee of the Royal College
merged with King’s College), and gained a
of life and remarkable selflessness made her
of Nursing. She also served as president of
degree in Nutrition and Dietetics, qualified
a very popular Games Captain. Maths was
the Association of Headmistresses (1972-74)
as a Dietician and spent all her working life
her subject, but she studied social sciences
and as Pro-Vice Chancellor of Birmingham
working in community health. Freda always
before working in IT. She met David Smither
University. On her retirement in 1977 she
loved music and art and the natural world,
aged 18, and their loving marriage produced
was appointed CBE. The next year she
and took a great interest in all the people she
three children. Tragedy marked her last four
was elected a Fellow of the College of
ever met, right up to the end of her life, and
years, when she courageously bore the loss
Preceptors, the only honour specifically
despite her severe decline.
of her husband, then younger son, and her
awarded for teaching. Miss Wilks, who never
own final illness.
married, spent her last years in Oxford,
Betty Philips (née Chester, 1945) died
cared for by friend Joyce Stevens, former
15th February 2015 in Somerset. She had
Leela Wallace (née Menon, 1940) died
many happy memories of her time at NLCS.
on the 21st May 2014. Leela attended the
head of PE at Kings Edward’s.
Royal Free Medical School during the Second
Margaret Winkley (née Hawley, 1940)
Jane Rosaman (née Mancus, 1950) died in
World War. She married a GP in 1971,
died in March 2014. Margaret left NLCS as a result of evacuation in 1940.
in April 2014, aged 83. After leaving NLCS in
survived a mastectomy and together they
1949, she joined the teaching profession and
travelled a great deal, attending conferences
went on to become a Headmistress. She was
and making many friends. She was very
Vera Woolf (née Norris, 1947) passed
an avid sportswoman, traveller and a superb
active in the BMA and retired to Ross on
away on 5th February 2014 in Sussex.
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33
Staff News
Staff Baby News We are delighted to share with you that the following staff members have had babies in the last year:
Sarah Shaw, Director of Studies in the Junior School, gave birth to a baby boy called Casper in October 2014
Charlie Pearson, Head of Politics, became a father to Sebastian in February 2014
Fred Hitchcock, Director of Extra Curricular Activities, became a father to Phoebe in October 2014
Niranjali Manek, Teacher of Maths, gave birth to a baby girl called Ridhi in July 2014
Becky Brown, Head of History, gave birth to a baby girl called Darcey in November 2014
Will Van Reyk, Teacher of History, became a father to Lewis in September 2014
Ben Kerr-Shaw, Teacher of RS & Philosophy, became a father to Joshua in November 2014
Staff Engagements and Marriages Kate Machemer, Junior School Director of Sport, became engaged to Mr Karl Kiernan Dr Ruth Ling, English Teacher, became Dr Ruth McLoughlin in Summer 2014 Miss Hannah Wiedermann, French Teacher, became
Staff Valete
Mrs Hannah Wiedermann in Summer 2014
Teaching Staff
Daniel Coughlan (Teacher of Religious
Nicola Feggetter (Librarian) left to
Eva Strauss (Teacher of Economics)
Studies) left to join Hill’s Road Sixth Form
join Southbank International School.
left to lecture at the London School of
College, Cambridge.
Economics.
Sam Gare (PA to the Deputy Head) left Bernard Connolly (Teacher of
to take up a teaching training post in the
Matthew Russell (Head of German)
Mathematics) left to join University
English Department at Watford Grammar
left to join the British School of Chicago
College School.
School for Girls.
Non-Teaching Staff
Mr Alan Hardcastle (Art Technician)
George Maude (Teacher of Classics)
Mrs Caron Aspis (Teaching Assistant
left to pursue other interests.
left to become a Subject Leader of
in the Junior School) left to pursue
Classics at Portsmouth High School.
other interests.
as a Teacher of French and German.
Mrs Nadia Porter (PA to the Deputy Heads) left to pursue other interests.
Lucy Atkinson (Teacher of Drama) left
Miss Miriam Breckner (Teaching
to take up the post of Director of Drama
Assistant in the Junior School) left to
Anne Williamson (Assistant to
at Colfe’s School.
pursue other interests.
the Headmistress) left to pursue other interests.
Staff Obituaries Former Staff
girls as she was discussing the intricacies of prose translation
joined the staff in 1955 as an assistant
with the Sixth Form. Her love of French literature, the
teacher of French and Latin and was Head
sheer clarity of her language teaching and her insistence on
of the Modern Languages Department
high standards of accuracy will have been remembered by
from 1971 to 1988. In 33 years of
her pupils and have inspired many a girl to pursue languages
distinguished service at North London Olive’s enthusiasm remained undiminished. She was first and foremost a gifted
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teacher, as much at home teaching French songs to younger
Olive Mellor died in January 2015. She
at university.
Staff Valete This year we said goodbye to five members of staff who retired. Between them they have given over 150 years of service to the School. Geraldine Hurl
assemblies, debating, dressing up as the
of the team; his calm nature and patience
Head of Economics
Queen or teaching 24 girls to follow a recipe
were always a vital counter balance to the
For 28 years Geraldine was a hugely
for mock apricot tart as it was made during
somewhat manic art studios! A specialist
valued teacher, colleague, and friend. She
the war. We wish Barbara great happiness in
potter and accomplished painter, Allan’s
joined in 1986 to establish Economics as
her retirement and lots of time to pursue
experience proved essential time after time.
part of the Sixth Form curriculum. Her
her many interests including her new
We wish Allan all the best as he leaves
enormous success as a teacher was due to
grandson Daniel.
NLCS to pursue his expanding painting and
a combination of her deep knowledge and
decorating business.
understanding of the subject and her ability
Helen Turner
to make those in her care feel valued and
Head of Sixth Form (ONL 1976)
Margaret Olechno
secure. Geraldine always said that ‘when
Helen joined the staff at NLCS in September
Purchase Ledger Administrator
she grows up she wants to become a vet’
1982 as a member of the English Department,
Margaret initially joined NLCS in the
so is planning to volunteer at the local vet’s
having left as a pupil only six years earlier.
Housekeeping Department in 1979, becoming
surgery in her retirement, as well as spend
Helen became an inspiring Head of English
Administrative Assistant/Secretary in the
more time on her art, to become involved
in 1995 who was able to guide and persuade
Bursary in 1986, joining a team of just three
in wildlife conservation and the village
a diverse group of characters by sheer
staff. She was a loyal and supportive member
community shop.
intelligence, charm and warmth. Her lessons
of the bursary staff and gave most of her
always were legendary; no ICT or
working life to the School. She was one of
Eric Nicol
inter-active white boards to get in the way
the longest serving members of staff having
Head of Chemistry
of the text – just the book and, of course,
served 35 years. She contributed significantly
Eric joined the Chemistry Department at
Helen’s extraordinary depth and breadth of
to the school and she always gave 100%. We
NLCS in 2003 and was a very highly regarded
knowledge and her unique talent for drawing
will miss her.
teacher, tutor and head of department. As
out the best in her students. Her patience
a form tutor and classroom teacher Eric
and kindness are legendary: nothing was too
Lynne Roberts
was popular thanks to his gentle humour,
much trouble for her. Helen will be greatly
Secretary to the Bursar
capacious knowledge and utter devotion to
missed as she continues to nurture young
Lynne joined NLCS in July 1995 as Secretary
his subject. Girls throughout the school knew
people as a foster carer.
to the Bursar, providing secretarial support
honifbrockle. Year 11 students are devoted to
Geraldine Webb
Her range of skills, vast knowledge of the
his book, the Essence of Chemistry. He left
Year 2 Form Teacher
school and vibrant personality meant you
many friends at NLCS, excited about seeking
Gerry joined the staff first as part of a job
could always rely on Lynne when
out new challenges and opportunities.
share in Year 5, taking a permanent position
the job needed to get done. She will be
in 2005 and has lovingly taught Year 2. Gerry
greatly missed.
of Boris the Pixie, and the unpronounceable
and working closely with the Governing Body.
Barbara Ruben
was a wizard in the classroom, her lessons
Year 6 Form Teacher
pure magic – turning her Year 2 girls into
Suni Vadgama
Barbara joined the Junior School in
mathematicians, young writers and
Science Technician
September 2003. Barbara has had many
award-winning artists. We wish Gerry well
Suni joined the Chemistry Department
connections with School dating back to being
for her exotic travels and many exciting
23 years ago from her role at Brighton
a parent when her daughter Naomi began in
new ventures.
University, and brought her considerable
the Junior School in 1987, with her daughter Ellie starting in the first ever Reception class.
expertise and effortlessly calm and organised
NON-TEACHING STAFF
Barbara was the most wonderful teacher -
approach to NLCS. Suni plans to use her retirement to do voluntary tutoring in a
generations of girls have benefited from her
Allan Hardcastle
range of Science subjects, needlecraft and
care, encyclopaedic knowledge and numerous
Art Technician
property development.
talents. She was always prepared to turn her
Allan joined the Art department at NLCS
hand to anything from thought provoking
in 1994 and soon became an integral part
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ONLA Information Annual General Meeting Saturday 9th May 2015 Notice is hereby given that the Annual
Coffee and pastries will be served
General Meeting 2015 of the Old North
at 11am.
FORTHCOMING EVENTS 2015 Please visit the ONLA section of www.nlcs.org.uk for the most up to date
Londoners’ Association will be held at North
list of events and reunions.
London Collegiate School, Canons, Canons
All ONLs are more than welcome to attend.
Drive, Edgware, HA8 7RJ on Saturday 9th
The Association is run for the benefit of
May 2015 at 10.30am.
ONLs and we would be delighted to receive
APRIL
your input. If you would like to attend, please
28th ONLA Law Society Drinks
AGENDA 1. Apologies for absence
contact the Alumnae Office by Monday 27th April 2015.
2. Minutes of the last AGM 2014
May ONLA AGM
3. Matters arising
If you would like to nominate another ONL
9th
4. Secretary’s Report
for election or re-election to the Committee
5. Presentation of ONLA accounts
at the AGM please contact us for guidance on
10, 20, 30 and 40 Year Reunions – Classes of 1975, 1985, 1995, 2005
6. Election/re-election of Committee
how to nominate and the forms.
Members and Vice Presidents 7. Any Other Business
Email: onla@nlcs.org.uk Telephone: 020 8951 6475
ONLA Bursaries North London is keen to maintain a relationship with our students beyond their time at
June 3rd ONLA Media Society Drinks 16th Frances Mary Buss Fellowship Lunch 21st ONL Summer Picnic
School, supporting ONLs in their endeavours and ambitions whenever possible. All ONLs are eligible to apply for Travel and Academic Bursaries. Please contact the Alumnae Office for more details.
July 1st Class of 2012 Summer Pimm’s Party
VISITING CANONS ONLs are warmly welcomed back to the School at any time. Please don’t wait for a reunion – if you are going to be in the area, please contact the Alumnae Office and we would be delighted to organise a visit for you, with a tour of the school led by current girls. Please contact onla@nlcs.org.uk or 020 8951 6475. ONLs have an open invitation to attend any of the School shows, performances and sports
September 9th Class of 2014 Reunion 21st Class of 1965 50 Year Reunion 21st 55+ Reunion (ONLs who left prior to 1960)
matches. For example, this year the School will host 39 events from music to drama to art in the Performing Arts Centre. Information about these events is available at www.nlcs.org.uk under the About Us, NLCS Downloads section: ‘Performing Arts Brochure 2014-2015’. Founder’s Day remains a popular date in the School calendar and space for ONLs to attend is limited by the attendance of Year 13 parents. If you wish to be placed on the waiting list,
BUZZ SQUARE
please contact the Alumnae Office onla@nlcs.org.uk or 020 8951 6475 from January 2016.
Frances Mary Buss has almost 1,500 ONL
Names on the waiting list are added on a first-come, first-served basis and we will not be
Friends on Facebook! To become part of
able to confirm your seat until approximately a week beforehand.
the ONLA Facebook community, please befriend Frances Mary Buss and ask to be added to the correct group for your year. We also have different regional groups set up, as well as ONLA Law, Media and STEM Societies. You can keep up with the latest news about ONLs and current girls by following @nlcs1850 on Twitter.