Cornerpost, Issue 15

Issue 15 // 2013

In this issue:

30 days in Africa

Celebrating Founder’s Day

What are you doing now?

See page 4

See page 8

See page 10

Contents Welcome to Cornerstones

2 3 4 4-5 5 6 6 6

A Message from the Headmistress

News from Pipers

– World Challenge: 30 days in Africa

– Examination results 2013

– Swimming success

– Cycle for Chloe

– Pipers’ past returns

Obituary: Audrey Hewison

Celebrating Founder’s Day

Memories of Pipers

What are you doing now?

Dates for your diary

Parents’ Day 20132013 2 cornerpost

7 8-9 10 - 11 12 - 15 16

Welcome to Cornerpost

A message from the Headmistress

It has been a busy year for Cornerstones with the development of new aims and objectives, as well as several new initiatives to promote communication between the Alumnae and the School.

Rather than publishing my speech from Parents’ Day in Cornerpost this year I decided instead to write something more in keeping with the message we would like to send to you, our valued alumnae, from the girls and staff who are currently at the school. Although it is important for us to share news of the school with you and keep you up-to-date with how we are progressing it is also important for us to recognise ways in which we can do this together.

We would love to hear from members who would like to offer their services in any way they can.

• cornerstones@piperscorner.co.uk • 01494 719850

Cornerstones Contact Through Cornerstones Contact we hope to enable our alumnae to offer support, advice and friendship to each other when at university, in a professional career or when working or living abroad.

Speed Networking An opportunity to give Sixth Form Girls a chance to connect with Pipers Alumnae who have career experience to offer. This will take place in the 2013/14 academic year.

Keep in touch We always like to hear what our alumnae have been up to, whether it is moving on from university with your first job or retiring, fundraising activities you are involved in or even just a house move. Any news updates are greatly appreciated and we aim to print them in the Cornerpost magazines annually and the newsletters which you receive throughout the year. If you would like to send us any updates please email us at cornerstones@piperscorner.co.uk.

Alternatively you can visit the website www.piperscorner.co.uk/cornerstones and use the online form.

Pipers Corner and Cornerstones have also gone social this year with the launch of a Twitter account and a Facebook Page.

Please follow and Like us so we can all stay connected. It will be a great way to keep in contact with fellow members of the alumnae as well Pipers Corner School.

If you do not have access to the Internet or an email address you can still write to Cornerstones and we will be able to keep you up to date with news.

Cornerstones, Pipers Corner School Great Kingshill, High Wycombe Buckinghamshire HP15 6LP

Whilst we move forward with new ideas and improvements, we do not lose sight of where we have come from and we are all immensely proud of the rich and full history that the school has enjoyed since Jessie Cross first opened the doors of Grove Park, Chiswick in 1930.

New this year was our first ever recognition of Founder’s Day – one could argue 83 years too late, celebrating the fact that Pipers has educated several generations of girls. You can read more about this historic event on page 8. We intend to celebrate this day every year in order to ensure that our current girls are educated about the school’s history and appreciate just where Pipers has come from and the rich history they are a part of.

As our alumnae you remain a very important part of the life of the school and I hope that many of you will feel able to sign up to the new “Cornerstones Contact” and “Speed Networking” initiatives that the alumnae team is hoping to put in place. It is only with your involvement that these new steps forward will be successful and I am sure that many of you have relevant knowledge and experience that would be invaluable to our current students.

Pipers is above all a community – and this community extends across the years and continents, encompassing all those who hold the school dear. This year we have been fortunate to welcome Liz Carrighan, an ex-Pipers’ Head Girl, to the Governing body. For a Head, the advice and support of Governors is absolutely crucial and I worked out recently that between them our current Governing body have contributed 175 years of service for the school – using their diverse skills to oversee the changing educational needs of the school, the health and safety of everyone in it and the strategic development for the school’s future – and making sure that we can pay for all of that. I am the sixth Head to benefit from the wisdom and guidance of such a dedicated

Undoubtedly Pipers is a beautiful school, something that is particular brought into focus on a day such as today when, as I write, I look out at the glorious afternoon sunshine. And yet, beautiful and inspirational as the setting is, education has its own mountains to climb and Pipers is no different. On Parents’ Day this year we were delighted to be able to welcome Rebecca Stephens, the first British woman to climb Mount Everest and the seven summits.

This was especially relevant as last year an ex-Pipers’ girl, Leanna Shuttleworth become the youngest British Woman to climb the same mountain - and in July 2012 we had our first ever Pipers’ World Challenge trip which saw a small group of girls trek round Tanzania for five weeks. Next year almost 50 girls will travel to Uganda for the second World Challenge expedition. We encourage in our girls the robustness and determination which will allow them not only to scale the heights of GSCE and A Level, on the sports field and in the theatre or studio - but also to develop the qualities which will prepare them for their future careers and lives. It is this unique Pipers spirit that is a delight to see not only within our current girls but also evident in the old girls who come back frequently to visit us. It is a spirit which forges real character and connections in this remarkable community which is sustained long after girls leave us and move on to the next set of challenges. I see it borne out in long lasting friendships which defined your time at Pipers and beyond.

The farther backward you can look, the farther forward you can see.

The year also began with record numbers of pupils in the school.

Winston Churchill Pipers may have an idyllic and isolated situation but its reputation travels easily and widely. We are also fortunate Governing body and am immensely grateful for in that our thriving school continues to attract the time they have put into carefully nurturing the highest calibre staff to join us. I am often and building this wonderful school through the overwhelmed by the number of applicants who peaks and troughs of educational history. want to join this very special community and to work towards the development and change to As Pipers enters its 84th year undoubtedly which any good school must be committed. its landscape will change. For example we remain entirely committed to exploiting to its But when applicants for teaching posts – or full potential the digital revolution and all that it parents keen for their daughters to join us sit can bring to teaching and learning. To that end on the sofas in my study, I make it very clear we have appointed Pipers’ first ever Director that we will expect a lot of them and that of Digital Strategy and we look forward to Pipers should not be viewed as a comfortable working with him to develop this area so that alternative to a grammar school or even those we have cutting edge provision for our students highly selective independent school. and teachers. This year we have benefited from Digital Signage throughout the school and by Ironically as we ask more of our students September we will also have WiFi coverage they achieve more. As you will see from the over the site. And it is not just the virtual examination results included on page 5 there world we will embrace – I am also delighted was a 100% A Level pass rate this summer. that next year we may be able to share with 81% of the girls in the Sixth Form at Pipers you details about the state of the art theatre achieved a top A* or A grade in at least one which we hope to build at the heart of our of their A Level subjects with 100% A* and A school, planning permission allowing. grades in Maths and Physics. 46% of results These are exciting times indeed. were at grades A*-A and 79% at grades A*-B.

I spend a lot of my time working out how to market this wonderful school – but something like that is just impossible to capture. It’s just...

Pipers.

I do hope that you feel able and willing to continue your Pipers journey with us and would encourage you to come back for the reunion events on offer and to let us know what you are doing now so that we can share it with the rest of the alumnae. Part of the school’s alumnae mission is to foster and maintain a lifelong bond between Pipers and Old Girls. To that end I look forward to a continuing relationship with you all and the many opportunities we will have to celebrate and share the Pipers’ spirit together.

Helen Ness-Gifford, Headmistress

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News

from Pipers

World Challenge: 30 days in Africa

Two days after we broke up for the summer holidays, six of my friends, Mr Gifford, Miss Poore and myself left England and ventured off on a once in a lifetime trip, to Southern Tanzania in Africa.

We had spent just over a year preparing: going on a practice expedition, attending meetings, researching the places we were going to visit and fundraising to pay for our kit and the trip itself. Saying goodbye to our families was very emotional and there were a few tears from both parents and girls! We quite literally left our world behind; leaving our friends, family, home comforts, computers and phones in England and jetted off for a month.

In all honesty I was completely petrified. The prospect of not seeing my family for such a long time worried me, visiting a new exotic place where the culture and language was different made me very apprehensive and I was

worried that I wouldn’t be able to successfully complete everything required of me and let everyone down. However, all the anxieties that I had before the trip vanished almost immediately, we worked well as a team helping one another out when required, we supported one another when we got emotional, interacted with as many people as possible to ensure that we felt involved and slowly learnt to cope with the changed toilet facilities! As a team we were supported by our expedition leader, Ali and the in-country agent, Richard. They were fantastic, Ali ensured that we all felt safe and comfortable with what we were doing, whilst Richard was contactable at all times if we had any questions.

He even allowed us to camp in his garden one night so that we could use his bathroom, meaning we could all have a warm shower.

Our first main venture was the acclimatisation trek. We spent three days simply getting used to one another and working out how to work

successfully as a team. The mornings were spent walking and once we had reached our destination we spent the afternoons setting up camp and swimming in the river. Our next stage was the main trek. I was particularly worried about this part of the trip as for me this was going to be the most challenging. However I successfully managed to complete the trek over the Livingstone Mountains! The views and scenery were incredible, we started off low down where the scenery was very typical of what I would expect to see in Africa, however, as we ascended up, the scenery changed into lush greenery filled with plants. The kit list asked for warm clothes, here my naivety took over as I presumed that everywhere in Africa during their dry season was hot; however I was proven wrong as on our trek the temperatures ranged from boiling hot to so cold that you had to wear a woolly hat.

Following the treks, we went on safari for two days. I was so amazed by the huge number of wild animals we saw in their natural habitat, along with how close we got to them. We saw baby elephants, zebras, monkeys, giraffes, hippos, crocodiles, impalas and a wide variety of birds to name just a few. Following this we visited a Masai village for the afternoon, I personally found this a bizarre experience, I still struggle to comprehend how they are able to live their lives so differently from the rest of society, living simply and on a diet of milk and meat. A very weird moment occurred, when we took a photo of some tribal men and in turn they took a photo of us with their mobile phones, which highlighted that they live in a more advanced society than I originally thought.

looked damp and uncared for. Therefore we set about to improve the conditions of the school.

For just under a week, we painted the interior and exterior walls of some classrooms, sanded and painted doors and window frames, filled the cracks in the school’s blackboards and paid for a toilet block to be built. On top of this we had the opportunity to interact and play games with the children and on our last day we played a netball match against their team, although we subsequently lost, the match was very enjoyable. One morning, we all split into pairs to teach an English lesson to different year groups. Following this, we bought around 100 textbooks for the school. This was greatly appreciated and as a thank you gift for all our hard work, the school organised an assembly where they danced and sang for us. We were presented with 50 eggs and two chickens as leaving gifts which were donated by the children and their families. Despite having a traditional cooking lesson earlier on in the trip, we decided that the two live chickens would

stretch our culinary skills a bit far, so we donated them to Daudi who had looked after us throughout the project. However, the eggs were hugely appreciated and provided a nice change to our traditional breakfast of porridge.

The last three days were spent with a bit of rest and relaxation. We went up the coast, near to a town called Iringa and camped in a resort by the beach. Here we spent our days lying by the pool, playing card games, enjoying group meals (which we didn’t have to cook!), and swimming in the pool or in the sea. For Miss Poore’s birthday we all decided to go snorkelling. We were able to see all sorts of exotic fish and turtles along with a beautiful coral reef. We ate our lunch on Sandy Island, which consisted of white sand and was surrounded by clear blue sea.

Touching back down at Heathrow was quite emotional. Similar to there being tears before we left, there were equally as many tears when we arrived back, some out of excitement for seeing those who we hadn’t seen in 30 days and others due to feeling sad that such an incredible experience was now over.

Although at times the trip was challenging, the experience taught me a lot about myself, both my strengths and weaknesses.

It highlighted the inequalities and hardships that others around the world face and taught me that one can cope with very little as you are able to adapt and be resourceful.

It is very difficult to describe to someone how rewarding the trip was and the only way to find out, I believe, is by participating in a World Challenge Trip for yourself.

Exam results 2013 A Level results 2013 • 100% of all results at A Level were at grades A-E • 79% of all results at A Level were at grades A*-B • 46% of results were at grades A* and A ipers’ girls have successfully gained places P at some of the country’s most sought after universities including UCL, University of Bristol, Kings College London, University of Sheffield, University of Birmingham and University of Exeter. They will be going onto study a diverse range of courses such as Medicine, Archaeology, Law, Maths, Geography, Music, Theology, Human Sciences, English Literature and Acting.

• 81% achieved a top A* or A grade in at least one of their A Level subjects.

• 100% A* and A grades in Maths and Physics.

• In Art, Chemistry, Drama, French, Geography and Textiles 100% of the girls achieved at least a grade A or B. GCSE results 2013 • 78% of all the GCSE results were grades A*-B • 46% of all the GCSE results were grades A*-A • Impressively 20% of the year group achieved at least 8 A* or A grades in their exams.

• In iGCSE English 54% of results were grade A* or A and in Maths 40% achieved these highest grades.

• All girls attained a B grade or higher in Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Geography, Religious Studies, Dance, Design Technology and Textiles.

Ellen Hitchman, Upper Sixth 2013

My personal highlight of the trip was the sense of achievement I felt after working on the community project at a school. When we arrived I was shocked at how poor a condition the school was in, there were craters in the floors, holes in the roof and all of the rooms 4

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Swimming success On Thursday 20 June the Year 5 and 6 swimming squad took part in the Bucks and Milton Keynes School Games at the Stoke Mandeville Stadium, representing the Sir William Borlase Partnership and Pipers Corner School.

There were 6 mixed teams of boys and girls competing in the Gala who had all qualified for the finals by winning their individual Partnership events, so all of the races were hotly contested. All of the competitors were ranked from number one to number four in the girls’ team and again in the boys’ team (our Year 5 girls). Each competitor swam 25m of Backstroke, Breaststroke and Front crawl, then a girls’ Medley and Freestyle Relay and a boys’ Medley and Freestyle Relay.

Cycle for Chloe

Obituary | Audrey Hewison that after six months in hospital, Chloe was due to go home from hospital the following week.

Pipers Corner was the final destination for Callum Campbell’s fundraising cycle ride from Brighton to Great Kingshill in June. The aim of Cycle4Chloe was to raise money for the Hurstwood Park Neurological Unit in Haywards Heath. The Unit saved the life of Chloe Townsend, a pupil in the Upper Sixth at Pipers last year, who suffered serious injuries in an accident on New Year’s Eve.

The Pipers community has closely followed Chloe’s amazing progress and long recovery.

A very special and moving assembly was held at school on 7 June so that Chloe could be welcomed back to Pipers and her friends, along with Callum could share her story with the school and talk about their fundraising.

Callum, a friend of Chloe’s, arrived at Pipers after leaving Brighton early on Saturday morning and was greeted by a grateful Chloe, her family and friends with a special party. The party was also celebrating the fact

To show their support the girls at Pipers organised a fun run on Friday 21 June as well as a mufti day on Friday 14 June and were delighted to contribute over £900 to the fundraising initiative.

It is with great sadness that we learnt of the death of Miss Audrey Hewison, Classics teacher and Deputy Headmistress of Pipers Corner School from 1963 - 1991, on 5 March 2013, aged 82. The following is a tribute to Miss Hewison from Mr David Chantler.

Out of the 28 races swum, Pipers Corner came an amazing first place in 14 of them, which was a fantastic achievement in itself, but, even better, the team from Pipers Corner of Phebe H (Capt.), Louise H, Katie T, Martha B (Year 6), Rowen St, Phoebe H, Grace-Mary F and Lily H (Year 5) finished in first place overall.

Audrey was born on 7 July 1931 to Gertrude and George Hewison at their home. He was a Chartered Civil Engineer working for The Chatham and South Eastern Railway Company, which subsequently became the Southern Region of British Rail.

Pipers’ past returns This term we are very lucky to have had two of our past Pipers girls return but in very different guises.

The A Level Drama students were delighted to receive a visit from Jo Nastari Ellis who has just graduated with a degree in Drama from St Mary’s in Twickenham and who they recently saw in a play at the Lyric Theatre in Hammersmith. The girls had a fantastic opportunity to learn first hand, how an actor approaches a role and it was lovely to have an old Pipers girl put back into our community.

All the girls received a gold medal, a participants medal and a very large silver trophy. A fabulous finish to a very successful swimming season.

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I was constantly grateful to her as Deputy Head for her readiness to take on whatever had to be done, for her sound judgement and readiness to speak her mind, above all for her unswerving loyalty.

At the other end of the school the Prep girls had an inspirational visit from Leanna Shuttleworth who has just become the youngest British female to climb Mount Everest. She spoke to the girls about the trials and triumphs that she experienced and showed them some breathtaking photographs.

During the war George moved Audrey and her mother to Sidmouth. After two years they returned to Orpington where Audrey started at Bromley High School for Girls in 1942. Here she gained her School Certificate and A Levels before going to university in 1949. She then started at the University of London until 1952 gaining a first class degree in Classics, with

the firm intention of going on to teach this speciality to others.

Her teaching career began in 1953 at The King Edward VI School for Girls in Handsworth, Birmingham. Between King Edward VI School and Pipers Corner, Audrey taught for a year or two at the Francis Holland School near Regent’s Park in London. She left there in 1963 to take up her post at Pipers Corner. This was a long and happy appointment for her and she remained there until her retirement in 1991.

At Pipers she became Head of Latin and successfully taught many generations of pupils. Audrey progressed to become Senior Mistress at Pipers in 1974 and Deputy Head the following year.

Henry Maas, Headmaster of Pipers at the time, writes “I was constantly grateful to her as Deputy Head for her readiness to take

on whatever had to be done, for her sound judgement and readiness to speak her mind, above all for her unswerving loyalty.”

Among the qualities she brought to Pipers was a fund of good sense, which was always available to girls and fellow teachers alike. Audrey’s opinion was always worth considering, and her advice, though she never pressed it, was always sound. She took the job seriously, but was fun to work with because she had a delightful sense of humour and never lost heart even when there were difficulties to face. It was a blessing to know that whenever I was away the school was safe in her hands.”

I would like to thank all of Audrey’s friends, who locally as well as far and wide in looking after Audrey’s interest and for the memories they have shared to help bring her life into focus for us all.

Much as I hated Latin, and as much as Latin hated me, every year at parents’ evening, she would tell my parents “she’s no sausage”. I always like to think there was a backhanded compliment in there!

Su Beagley 1985 - 1992

I studied at Pipers from 1980 to 1990 and took Latin GCSE with Miss Hewison. I was the only person in my year to do Latin GCSE so I had two years of lessons with just Miss Hewison and myself. I would like to say what a lovely lady she was and I remember her very fondly. She made such an effort with me during these two years and we often went out to the theatre just the two of us to see plays in Latin. She would always bring us a bowl of strawberries and cream no matter the weather. She was an incredibly patient teacher and very dedicated to making sure her students did well in everything they did. She was a credit to Pipers Corner School and I will miss her.”

Sarah Keen 1980 – 1990

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Celebrating Founder’s Day In 1930 Jessie Cross set up a school for 11 girls at Grove Park in Chiswick. She was a remarkable and foresighted woman who believed deeply in the education of girls through single sex schooling.

Girls from Pre-Prep to Upper Sixth embraced the styles of the era. There were soldiers, sailors and air crew, evacuees, glamorous women in pearls and heels and land girls in abundance.

Within a year of starting the school numbers had grown to 25 and bigger premises were needed. Jessie Cross moved the school to Richmond Hill and The Old Vicarage School was born. Over the coming year the school grew much larger and by 1936 there were 85 girls attending. When 1940 began and the onset of World War 2 the school moved to Prestwood Lodge. By 1945 many girls living in the area had started at Prestwood Lodge and the numbers were increasing every year and in July the decision to buy Pipers Corner was made.

Every lesson for each year group had a 1940s feel to it and the whole school came together to celebrate at the Founder’s Day Service. The hymns and readings were chosen to reflect the period and the atmosphere that the wartime 1940s would have cast, even onto school girls.

To celebrate the founding of Pipers Corner, the school celebrated its first ever Founder’s Day on 26 September 2012.

Wartime poetry was read out in the quiet garden by some Drama students and then there was the cake, in honour of Jessie Cross

and cut by the senior and junior members of the school.

Lunch was an austere affair with girls sitting down to corned beef hash, peas and gravy and the whole event was overseen by teachers in their gowns with canes.

The overall impression I have of these years, 1939-1945, was one of security at school which is remarkable tribute to Miss Cross and her staff at such a time

Nancy Swanton from The History of Pipers Corner 1930 – 2000.

This was a new venture for the school but we wanted to recognise our Founder, Jessie Cross, and this felt like an appropriate way to teach the girls about what it would have been like for their predecessors at the school. The girls thoroughly bought into the spirit of the day and clearly enjoyed their journey back in time.

Did you know, the school hall was named after the previous owner of Pipers Corner, Herman Landau

Pamela Beglin taught and worked at Pipers Corner School as a teacher of Maths and Housemistress for six years from 1990-1996.

Pamela’s husband, Col Lional Beglin, recently contacted Cornerstones to let us know that Pam was diagnosed with Dementia in 2009 and is currently residing in a nursing home in Bournemouth. He went on to say “I have many vivid and lovely memories of the school when visiting my wife, and I know that Pam feels the same. She does break into smile when young girls visit her and I tell her that they are from her schools”. Before coming to Pipers, Pam was Headmistress of an Army school in India while her husband was serving in the Indian Army in the 1940s – 1960s, she also taught for 15 years at St Mary’s Girls School in Bournemouth.

Col Beglin also says that he and his wife “feel proud and privileged to have been part of the great Pipers Corner School.” Pam is now 83 and recently celebrated her Diamond wedding anniversary with her husband.

The next Founder’s Day is on 20 September 2013 and this year the school will be celebrating the 1950s. If any members of Cornerstones would like to contribute to future Founder’s Days with anecdotes about particular decades or information regarding what the school was like please get in touch. (cornerstones@piperscorner.co.uk).

How big it seemed (Pipers Corner) after Prestwood Lodge Chris Berrisford from The History of Pipers Corner 1930 – 2000.

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Remembering Mrs Pamela Beglin

When she retired in 1996, the following farewell was included in the School Magazine “Mrs Beglin has been Housemistress at Pipers for the past six years and has, on occasions, been in overall charge of the boarding community. Her quiet sense of authority and firm but fair approach has won the respect of boarders past and present. Nothing ever phases Mrs Beglin and she has shown herself capable of dealing with all sorts of situations, from homesickness and lost laundry to cows in the swimming pool. Mrs Beglin’s terrific sense of humour and heart of gold have been in demand night and day. She will be sadly missed by girls and staff and we hope she enjoys her retirement, her family and her travels.” cornerpost 2013

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Memories of Pipers Do you remember your annual School Magazines?

“Seeds were sowed after the Easter holidays, and most of them germinated despite the drought and the birds. An organising committee was elected. The school gave us £5 for some forks, trowels and a watering can: Mr Thompson loaned us large forks and rakes, so we were well equipped” – Rosemary Price, Gardening Club, 1975-1976 edition.

On these pages we have delved into the archives to bring you images of Pipers Corner Magazines from 1974 onwards. Annual School magazines have long been a feature at Pipers and continue to be an important part of the school today. Since 2010 the editorial responsibility has been in the hands of a Sixth

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We’d love to hear from you if you have any memories of articles you may have submitted or what you thought about the magazines you received each year.

“With the passing of each year it becomes increasingly evident that standards are being consistently raised at Pipers Corner... The 1990 edition is rather special too since it celebrates Pipers’ Diamond Jubilee. Miss Jessie Cross, our founder Headmistress, would have been proud indeed to have seen that her creation has withstood the test of time and gone from strength to strength” Mary Wilson, Letter from the Headmistress, 1990 edition.

“The Stock Exchange was visited by Secretarial students during January 1976. This fine modern building is in the centre of London, close to the Bank of England and surrounded by many other important buildings... Twenty thousand pounds of stocks and shares are bought and sold on the Stock Exchange each day. In 1973 women were first allowed onto the floor.”

Julie Preston VIB, The Stock Exchange, 1975 – 1976 edition.

“On Thursday 17 March, 2A and I went to the British Museum... In one of the rooms was a skeleton called ginger. He had ginger hair, and he still had some on his head when he died.

He was not wrapped up as a mummy, but I don’t know why.” A visit to the British Museum, 1976 – 1977 edition.

Form Magazine Editorial Committee who now write and produce the magazine from a pupil’s point of view. The magazine has also been renamed “Aquila” to tie in with the school motto.

“This has been an unusual year in that there have been two of us to share the job of Head Girl... The year has been full of varied events.

The growth of the Sixth Form has led to two new A Level subjects being added to the curriculum: Chemistry and Economics. There has also been immense development in the Secretarial Department.” Katrina Miles, Rae-Louise Barcilon, Head Girls 1986-1987, Head Girls Report 1986 – 1987 edition.

“Last September we celebrated the 60th Birthday of the school with two most unusual events... On Tuesday September 25th everyone gathered in the Landau Hall to watch the Birthday Cake being cut. Miss Olsson, who had been with Miss Cross almost from the founding of the school, was there to cut the cake... The next day the entire school boarded eight large coaches and set of for Woburn Safari Park... On Saturday October 6th to conclude our main celebrations, a special Service of Thanksgiving was held in St Mary’s Church, Old Amersham.” Audrey Hewison, The Diamond Jubilee Celebrations, 1991 edition.

“The software available for educational use has become more sophisticated, and acquisitions have enabled pupils to experience Desk Top Publishing, Aircraft Route Planning, Musical Composition and allowed them to simulate the control of a Robot Arm and Chemical Experiment... We have now been given a total of three IBM compatible machines that will allow the girls to experience commercially used software” Patricia Dickinson, Computer Studies, 1990 edition.

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What are you doing now?

On the following pages are some updates we have received in the last year through the post or through the Cornerstones webpages since the last edition of Cornerpost was published.

We love to hear what you have been up to.

Please visit the webpage, www.piperscorner.co.uk/cornerstones or write to us at: Pipers Corner School, Great Kingshill, High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire, HP15 6LP.

1956

Mirella Hale

I decided to remain at home when my husband passed on in 2008. I am a proud grandmother to four boys and one blessed granddaughter.

Unfortunately family (my daughter’s) all live in Melbourne. It is four hours flying time from Perth. My son’s family luckily still live in Perth.

I see my grandsons fairly regularly, depending on their work schedules. The eldest is a submariner and the youngest a paramedic.

I keep busy as a voluntary guide on our holiday island, 18kms off our coast. Not too sure if the years I was at Pipers are correct. Memory hazes over with age. It is worth a visit – if you come this way. Would be very glad to meet anyone. (July 2013)

1959

Elisabeth Davey

After leaving Pipers I did a diploma in Business Studies and worked for several years in different jobs as a PA. I married in 1966 and lived in North Shropshire for 5 years. I had two children – a boy and girl who are now married with their own families. I moved to Carmarthenshire to farm for 2 years and then to a lovely costal farm near Llangrannog, Ceredigion, West Wales in 1975 where I still live. I went down the path of running a bed and breakfast for many years and letting a self-catering house. Since my divorce a few years ago, I now rent out the land. I completed a Joint Honours Degree (full time) at Lampeter University 1996-1999 in Anthropology and Archaeology. Since 2001 I managed the

heritage centre in Cardigan and was a volunteer administrator for Cruse Bereavement Care for Ceredigion (I gave this up in 2012). I am now retired but spent a great deal of time visiting grandchildren who all live over 200 miles away in different directions. I have contact with Margaret Herman (Hole) and we have been on several holidays together (Peru, Patagonia etc). I also keep in touch with Diana Kyle and Fenella Barrett. (Also of course contact with my Davis cousin – Faith). It would be great to have contact with others who were in my year class.

(August 2013)

1959

Julia Brown (née Hutton)

Married twice. Moved around the world. Two children. One child settled in Bucks. Three grandchildren. Two girls, one boy. I enjoyed my time at Pipers Corner. I did go to ten schools and the only school which made an impression was Pipers. So I am interested in Pipers for my grandchildren. (March 2013)

1960

Penelope Anderton (née Johnson-Davies)

I have two sons and 4 grandchildren and I currently live in Galicia where my son and I have renovated three traditional stone houses which can now be rented for holidays.

(Dec 2012)

1965

Alison Macleod

About to retire for the second time, just finishing working on research into enforcement of contact orders (England/Wales). This was with the University of Exeter, the first time I have worked for them. Before that, I did many years of research into aspects of family justice at Bristol and Oxford. We live in Somerset in a miasma of dog hair and either dust or mud depending on the season. Our two sons, now married, descend at intervals. I maintain my links with Scotland with a share (with my brother) of a bothie in Argyll. (July 2013)

1969

Judith Campbell-Taylor (née Emmett)

I currently live in Cornwall with my husband Barry. I have a son called Lucien, 22 who is at university in Bath. (May 2013)

1970

Hazel Riley

I was a member of Pipers Corner School from the age of 13 in 1967, and left in 1970 to attend Wycombe Technical College for one year. Following this I completed my three year nursing training at Wycombe General Hospital.

After qualifying I left to work at Lloyds Bank, High Wycombe for a short time before moving down to Devon where I still live. I continued to work for Lloyds Bank, this time at Topsham, Devon as a Cashier/Supervisor for a couple of years, before moving on to work for London and Manchester Assurance Co. Ltd when they relocated down to Devon in 1977. I stayed with this company for 13 years before leaving to dabble in property development which I still do.

I often wonder what happened to my fellow school colleagues and these thoughts brought me to this website. (Dec 2012)

1972

Fiona Warner

I’ve done a lot of travelling. I’ve worked in retail, secretarial and reception work. I’ve been married and I’m now divorced with no children.

(July 2013)

1974

Susan Brown (née Stone)

Well, I left Pipers and completed a one year secretarial course at Borehamwood College of F&H Ed. Worked at various office jobs. Then I met this American GI, fell in love, and moved to

the USA. I have been living in the US now for over 30 years. I have two grown kids, one 28 year old son and a 21 year old daughter, they are such a joy. Two years ago I got married to a great guy, who loves the outdoors as much as I do. I’m kept busy at home tending to the garden and care for our four toy poodles, a cat, six hens and a rooster. I love it, it’s like being on a farm. We live quite close to the mountains and go hiking/backpacking most weekends.

(April 2013)

1976

Elizabeth Lambourn (née Harrison)

I left Pipers in 1976 and after two years at Wycombe High (at the time there was no Sixth form at Pipers) I trained to be a nurse at Hammersmith Hospital and worked as a research nurse at the Brompton Hospital in London before going to university. I then trained to be a Lactation Consultant and now work supporting breastfeeding mothers.

My mother still lives in Hazlemere. I went back to Pipers with my children and husband a while back to relive some great memories. The discos were legendary, and we had so much fun meeting the opposite sex. I loved wearing my boater and having extra French lessons in the ‘hut’. I still have my progress certificates.

(Jan 2013)

1976

Lisa Duff (née Prendy)

I trained as registered nurse in 1987 and have worked in a number of prisons and immigration centres since 2001. I have been married to Tom for the last 14 years and I now have two children and three grandchildren. I am also a keen amateur archaeologist, working on a Roman villa site throughout the summer and doing conservation and other work out of season. (May 2013)

1977

Georgina Casas (née Dix)

I am mummy to five year old Lily and three year old Jack and living in West Dulwich, London.

Having met and married an Australian I spent a number of years living in Sydney and returned to the UK in 2003. I have been working as a Director for Hays Specialist Recruitment for eight years. (March 2013)

1978

Karen Oberti-Carpenter (née Carpenter)

Mer, near to Nice Airport. My company, OK Design Solutions is doing fine, we are solution providers in construction and renovation, decoration and design. Sorry to hear about Audrey, such a lovely person. (April 2013)

1979

Annette Petersen (née Retief)

My name is Annette Petersen, nee Retief and was at Pipers from 1974 – 1979. After leaving school, I studied Hotel Management in Basingstoke and then went on to work in the hotel industry until 1984 in England, first in Bournemouth and then on to London. In 1984, I had a serious car accident which hospitalised me for four and a half months and another four months recuperating. Following my recovery, I was married in 1985 and followed my husband, Clef, out to Phoenix, Arizona so he could take his Masters in International Management at Thunderbird School. We had no intention of staying as he had a leave of absence from his job in a bank to which he was going to return after his Masters. As it turned out, the climate in Arizona was so beneficial after all my broken bones, that we ended up making Phoenix our permanent residence and raised our three children there. We were fortunate that we were able to get our green card/permanent residency allowing us to live and work in the US. We have our own Investment Advisory/Money Management company, and while Phoenix is not the best place to be in the US for this business, it has been a wonderful place to live for my health. It really is a totally dry climate, which means no arthritis and for eight months of the year it is amazing. We just have to manage the really hot months which can easily exceed 110 degrees but you learn to live with it. Even though two of our children are now studying in Copenhagen, and our daughter has already accepted a position at Bain Consulting in Denmark, I see our primary residence always in Arizona with travels to Europe on a more frequent basis. Our middle son has just graduated from Boston and has joined us in the company. Would love to hear from anyone that might be living in our neck of the woods. With fond memories, Annette. (April 2013)

1981

Christine Hoad (née Ells)

Studied for my A levels at Buckinghamshire College of Higher Education. Then worked for my father at his London branch. I married in 1995 in Mauritius and have two children Alex aged 14 and Katherine aged 13. I now work as a management accountant at Burford Golf Club. (Sept 2012)

1982

Rachel Rauchwerger

After studying History of Art and then Heritage Management, I worked in the art shipping industry and set up Art Logistics Ltd in 1994, a Fine Art Shipping company. Since then I have built up the business. (July 2013)

1988

Louise Simpson (née Farrow)

As an Army wife, I am now on our ninth move in 13 years and looking at the tenth real soon. I have two children – Harry (11) and Freddie (9) and they are at a boarding school in Northamptonshire (due to all the moves). I have recently taken over as the Evidence Director for the Army Families Federation – I love my job.

Always in contact with Jane Rostron (Janey Garrard) who is living in Gloucestershire with two children, my gorgeous goddaughter Olivia and Henry. (April 2013)

1989

Lucy-Claire Duckworth (née Gosling)

Since leaving Pipers I’ve had various jobs, from working at Conservative Central Office through to an advertising agency in London. I got married in 2001 to Neil and have gone on to have four children; George 9, Tom & Eve 7 and Cecelia 4. I’ve been very lucky to be able to revisit my lifelong passion and have started photography, photographing children and families. With four young children returning to conventional work is not really an option. I can’t quite believe how lucky I am to be doing a job I love so much. As Confucius says “Choose a job you love, and you will never have to work a day in your life.” I am in touch with lots of old friends via Facebook. Sarah Keen is still one of my lifelong best friends, and we are going on holiday together in June......Can’t wait! (May 2013)

1990

Caroline Clark (née Plumridge)

After nearly 20 years of working as a PA/ Secretary at Director Level I am now the mother of a two year old little girl. At present I am looking after her full time as there are few jobs around that suit the hours or pay the fees that full time Nursery demands! On the other hand this time I have with her is precious and I’m making the most of it. (Nov 2012)

I’m still in the South of France in Cagnes sur

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1990

Norhazurati Salleh

All four of “The Salleh Sisters” (as we were known back at Pipers) are now back in Malaysia. I am currently working with a local telecommunication company and have one son aged 6 1/2. Life at Pipers as a foreigner and a boarder though tough, when you join not knowing the language, was a great experience.

It has contributed immensely to my character building and I thank each and every one of my teachers/staff and management and of course my peers (some of whom I do still keep in touch with). The memories will never end.

(July 2013)

1991

Sarah Keen

Since leaving Pipers, I have travelled a fair bit and backpacked around the world. I attended Southampton Poly for three years. I worked for Thames Valley Police in their local intelligence office and I am now working in the family business, Hypnos beds where I have been for around 15 years. (July 2013)

1994

Genevieve Cruddas-Hewitson (née Cruddas)

Bruce and I were married in Richmond in 2008.

In August 2010 we had our son, Casper, who is now a thriving and cheeky two year old.

More recently we moved to Walton-on-Thames where I am now balancing my efforts between motherhood, doing up our house and my part-time job at a marketing company in London. Would love to hear from ex-Pipers girls in the area.

1996

Malisa Collyer-Tomas (née Collyer)

My partner and I moved to a little village by the sea in Cornwall two and a half years ago, and spent 12 months renovating our home.

18 months ago we adopted a little boy, called Dexter. (June 2013)

1997

Katie Barr (née Callaghan)

I became a Beauty Therapist at the age of 18. I looked after my friends business in her house for 18 months. In 1995-1996 I worked on cruise ships and travelled around the world. In 1997 I went travelling for six months on an overland truck in Africa. At the end 1997 – April 2000 I worked for Regis International as Senior Beauty Therapist, then Assistant Manager and then Manager. In May 2000 I arrived in New Zealand still doing beauty therapy and a year later met my partner who is now my husband and I have two children, Samantha born April 2006 and Mason born Sept 2008. Between 2003 and 2007 I had my own Beauty Salon but now I am working for CACI clinic about 30 hours a week and loving it. (Nov 2012)

After leaving Pipers I went on a gap year travelling around Australia and New Zealand with Victoria Richmond (an old Pipers girl). I then studied English Literature at Loughborough, where I continued to play lacrosse, I went on to play for the BUSA team and East Lacrosse. I then lived in Japan for a year, teaching English on the JET programme.

After this I decided teaching was my vocation and completed a PGCE, which is where I met my husband. My first job was at Stowe School, where I taught English and ran lots of the lacrosse and netball teams - we even played Pipers, which was fun. I have now been teaching in a London day school for eight years and I am Head of Faculty and was Head of House. I am still friends with lots of Pipers girls, in fact three of them were bridesmaids at my wedding. I still play club netball at a competitive level, a love of which was nurtured at Pipers.

(Nov 2012)

1994

1999

1993

Rachael Greig (née Dean)

Alison McCulloch (née Budgen)

After Pipers I went to the University of Surrey to study a BSc in Sociology, Mrs Jefford inspired that. I am now married with two amazing children (9 and 6) and I am currently Head of Retail Human Resources and living in Bedford, enjoying a busy life. (April 2013)

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Amy Vaughan (née Whatman)

I graduated in law in 2006 and worked in a national law firm for two years. I decided to leave my position to travel in April 2009 and spent three months in South East Asia before moving on to Australia. Here I met my husband. I moved permanently to Queensland, Australia in February 2010 and was married in June 2010. We have a daughter called Chloe and run our own business breeding and training horses. (Dec 2012)

1999

Jude Widdowson

I am now living back in the UK after working for seven years in New Zealand. I have three degrees under my belt and now I am the Website and Intranet Manager for Interserve, a large global Construction and Support Services organisation with over 50,000 employees.

My experience at Pipers definitely helped build my confidence, creativity and technical skills to enable me to manage all Group online communications in a very complex B2B business. I always think back to my days at Pipers with a smile. (March 2013)

2009

Daisy Sandford

I’ve got a place at Middlesex University studying midwifery. I start on the 16 of September. I have been working as a HCA in the Paediatric Decision Unit (essentially children’s A&E and observation unit) since January. It has been invaluable experience that was priceless in my midwifery interviews.

(May 2013)

2013

Alice Knight

I am going to Falmouth University to study acting for 3 years. (June 2013) Lucy Bramall

After Pipers I went to college and now I am in my second year at university. (May 2013)

2010

2012

Leigh Gange

2013

I plan to study Human Sciences at UCL London, and then possibly go into research.

(June 2013)

Since leaving Pipers I have completed my degree in Equine Science, however while at university I had a change of mind over my future career and I’m going on to a masters in Sports Coaching at Hartpury College which I’m incredibly excited about starting in September.

I have also qualified as a level 1 assistant swimming coach and lifeguard in the last year, and swim and coach with the Gloucester Masters Swimming Coach and hope to represent them at senior/masters nationals next year. (Aug 2013)

2013

2010

2013

Takhmina Ayupova

My dearest Pipers, I spent two wonderful years doing my A levels and being part of the boarding community. I still remember each and every one of the boarding house, school, staff members and students with whom I shared some memorable moments of my life. After I have left school I went to the University of York to continue onto higher education. I finished with a BEng degree in Electronic Engineering with Nanotechnology. I cannot describe how grateful I am to be a member of Cornerstones, to be part of a big family and to carry on the experience I have gained. Thank you so much for giving me opportunities within the walls of the school. (June 2013)

Annabel Hobden

Annabel Tuvey

I am planning to study French and Politics at University of Exeter. (June 2013)

2013

Brooklyn Thirkettle

I am going to University of Exeter in September to study for an MPhys Physics degree for four years. (June 2013)

Cassie Hughes

I am planning on going to university (Oxford Brookes) and to study International Hospitality Management. (June 2013)

2013

Charlotte Mogridge

I am planning to go to University of Birmingham to study English Literature, then perhaps go into directing, playwriting or journalism. (June 2013)

2013

Ellen Hitchman

I am going to study Law with French at University of Birmingham. This would mean I’d be living in France for a year. (June 2013)

2013

Emma Bolton

I am hoping to go to University of Exeter to study Theology. (June 2013)

2013

Harrisah Hussain

I am planning to go to Oxford Brookes to study Primary Teaching. (June 2013)

2013

Kathryn Hind

I am planning on going to University of Birmingham to study Maths. (June 2013)

2013

Kathryn Roberts

Next year I am planning on going to Cardiff University to study Theology and Philosophy.

(June 2013)

2013

Katie Hill

Staff Leaving Pipers in 2012-2013 The following staff have sadly moved on from Pipers during the course of this academic year: • Hillary Murphy, Deputy Head (Pastoral), leaving after 17 years at Pipers to return to teaching.

• Cathy Wallis, Early Years Foundation Teacher.

• Mike Green, Teacher of Geography, moving on after 8 years at Pipers.

• Elsje Maasen, Head of Boarding and Teacher of English and PSE, leaving after 5 years at Pipers.

• Pauline Wyllie, Teacher of English, moving on after 2 years at Pipers.

• Sue Williams, Librarian, retiring after 7 years at Pipers.

I am planning on going to Chichester University and studying an Early Years Studies course.

(June 2013)

2013

Lucy Bracher

I am planning to start my 3 year degree course of Primary Teaching Education (BA Hons) at Oxford Brooks University. (June 2013)

2013

Natalie Alders-Stokes

I am going to Kings College London to study English Literature and Film. (June 2013)

2013

Natasha Lindon

Next year I hope to start an LLB Law Degree at the University of Bristol. Following this, I hope to either work as a solicitor at a city law firm or work in finance or politics. (June 2013)

2013

Phillipa Furey

I am planning to study Sport and Exercise Science at University of Chester. (June 2013)

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Dates for your diary •

School Open Day for Prospective Parents Saturday 5 October 2013, 1000-1300 hours

•

School Open Evening for Current Parents Thursday 3 October 2013, 1830-2000 hours

Pipers Corner School, Great Kingshill, High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire HP15 6LP telephone +44 (0) 1494 718 255 | email theschool@piperscorner.co.uk | visit www.piperscorner.co.uk @PipersCornerSch www.facebook.com/PipersCornerSchool