Putney Highlights
Spring 2014
Old Girls’ Association Congratulations to Aicha – 2013 GDST Alumna of the Year We are thrilled to announce that Aicha McKenzie (1995) has been chosen as the GDST Alumna of the Year in recognition of her many professional achievements and for being an inspiring role model to younger women. Aicha collected her award at the GDST Annual Reception, where the Putney High School Junior Choir, runners up of the BBC Songs of Praise School Choir of the Year, also performed. As part of her award, Aicha was presented with a cheque for £500 which she has split equally between two charities, DanceAid and Cash & Rocket. The competition for this award was intense, with Aicha beating six other extraordinary women to take home the accolade.
Aicha McKenzie, GDST Alumna of the Year 2013
Aicha enjoyed fantastic success in her last year at Putney, winning three medals at the 1994 Commonwealth Games in Canada and becoming the first ever black British Rhythmic Gymnastics Champion. In 2005, Aicha founded AMCK Management, an international talent agency specialising in creative directors, choreographers and dancers. The highlight of her career so far was choreographing the Sports Presentation at the London 2012 Olympic Games, creating and directing routines which were watched by millions.
Dr Lodge with members of staff receiving long service awards for over 20 years’ service to the school. L to R: Ms Nicholls, Mrs Carmichael, Miss Heap, Miss Sharp, Miss Simmons, Headmistress Dr Lodge, Mrs Dyos, Mrs Patton, Mr Bright, Mrs Witty and Ms Holl. 1
Old Girls News Calypso Kontouris (1999)
Ailsa Bosworth (1967)
Entrepreneur Calypso Rose has just Ailsa is the Founder and Chief launched the indytute, a website Executive of the National Rheumatoid offering masterclasses in unusual Arthritis Society, the voice for sufferers lessons, enabling users to indulge in the UK. She was on the Expert Panel their creative side. You can learn the advising the National Audit Office in ukulele or improve your cake respect of their landmark report decorating, among the many classes published in July 2009. She was also on offer at www.indytute.com. Joint Chair of the Rheumatology Futures Project Group which was responsible for Jocelyn Fleming (2005) commissioning the King’s Fund Report into RA and the subsequent inflammatory arthritis commissioning pathway. NRAS supports a huge amount of academic research in the UK. Caroline Raphael (1976) Caroline is the commissioning editor for comedy at BBC Radio 4, and has played a key role in the success of comedy hits such as Alan Partridge, League of Gentleman and Little Britain. Caroline recently returned to speak to PIE (Putney Ideas Exchange) where she talked about her work as a commissioning editor and was also able to offer practical advice to girls considering a career in radio.
The girls of Austen House presented Jocelyn with a cheque for the National Brain Appeal, a charity which helps sufferers of brain damage of which she is one.
Henrietta Wake (2011) Etty, who is studying Trumpet at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, has won a Student Apprenticeship with the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra and will be touring India with them in March. This is an exceptional achievement for someone still in only their 2nd year of undergraduate study.
Sandie Okoro (1983)
Sandie has rare insight into the legal profession as she trained as both a barrister and a solicitor and is currently General Counsel at HSBC Asset Management Limited. Sandie is involved with the Black Lawyers Directory, mentoring students and giving Sadhbh O’Sullivan (2011) talks. She is also a director of International Lawyers for Now a student at Cambridge, Africa, and of pro bono charity LawWorks, working with Sadhbh has appeared on BBC chief executive Rebecca Hilsenrath(1983). Woman’s Hour and in the Observer Weekend magazine talking about the Rebecca Hisenrath (1983) launch of Ladybeard. This is a new Rebecca has been appointed chief feminist magazine which she colegal officer at the Equality and founded and edits which aims to Human Rights Commission. Writing provide an alternative to the under the name of Jane Diamond, glossies. Rebecca has had her novel, Visiting Tara Watkiss (2013) Sins published as an e-book by Amazon. She is donating all the Tara, who is studying medicine at Newcastle University, royalties to LawWorks, a national has successfully auditioned for the University Symphony charity of which she is CEO, which supports strategic free Orchestra and been appointed Principal Cellist. legal advice services for those in need. 2
Old Girls’ Annual Open Day and Reunion - Saturday 17 May 2014 The Annual Reunion will take place at the school on Saturday 17 May when we look forward to welcoming back as many of you as possible. The day will be an extra special anniversary for those of you who left 10, 20, 30, 40, 50 and especially 60 years ago! However, whichever year you left, we hope you will return for a day of catching up and reminiscing. The day will start with a champagne reception at 10.45am and the AGM at 11am. Lunch will be served in the newly refurbished cafeteria at 12.30pm and after lunch there will be tours of the school and archive displays as well as plenty of time to catch up with old friends. Why not encourage a group of your old school friends to come to the Reunion together, and see how much the school has changed over the years—and how little you have? To book your place simply complete the reply slip below and return it together with your payment to the school’s development office by no later than 10 May 2014. If you have any questions or would like further details please contact Deirdre Young at the school on 0208 788 4886 or d.young@put.gdst.net. We look forward to seeing you on the 17 May! Sara Garnham, Mrs Cowie (PHS 1970-1977) Chair, Putney High School Old Girls’ Association The 2013 Old Girls’ Open Day. ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….
Old Girls’ Annual Open Day and Reunion Reply Slip To reserve your place at the Old Girls’ 2014 Open Day and Reunion, please complete this form and return it with a cheque (made payable to ‘PHSOGA’) to the Development Office, Putney High School, 35 Putney Hill, London, SW15 6BH. Alternatively, you can make an online payment to Barclay’s bank account number 70369160, sort code 20-72-17 in the name of ‘PHSOGA’. If making an online payment, please state your name in the reference so that we know the payment is from you. Please also complete and return this reply slip. If you require any additional information please contact Deirdre Young at d.young@put.gdst.net or on 020 8788 4886.
Yes, I would like to attend the Old Girls’ Open Day and Reunion on Saturday 17 May 2014 between 10.45am-4pm I enclose a cheque for £18 (made payable to PHSOGA) I have made an online payment and included my name in the reference We shall not be posting tickets for this event. If you would like email confirmation please tick this box. 3
Five-Year Reunion for the Class of 2008 On Saturday 9 November there was a fabulous reunion for the class of 2008. Over 60 Old Girls plus several of their former teachers had a wonderful afternoon reminiscing over bubbly in the Senior Library. Flo Ware, former Deputy Head Girl, welcomed everyone back and thanked Dr Lodge warmly on their behalf. In reply Dr Lodge proudly brought the girls up-to-date with events at Putney and reminded them of some of their fun times when at school. The afternoon rounded off with the Old Girls touring the school. All in all it was a wonderful and memorable afternoon. The next Five-Year Reunion for the Class of 2009 and staff will take place at Putney High School on Saturday 8 November 2014 . We will be sending out more details nearer the time so please save the date!
Putney High School Boat Club Annual Dinner Putney High School Rowing Supporters' Association is holding its annual Masquerade Dinner and Ball at the London Rowing Club on Friday 28 February at 7pm for a 7.45pm start. The evening is a great occasion for Putney rowers, both past and present, to come together and share stories from the river. Tickets cost £40 per person (£35 for current members). Guests are welcome. Please contact Peter Brewer at p.brewer@put.gdst.net for tickets and for further information. Left: Putney racing crew 2013
Annual Fund We are absolutely committed to providing every resource essential for an outstanding education for our girls so we plan therefore to build a new Performing Arts Centre which will be worthy of all our talented pupils. This will be a state-of-the-art facility for all, from the Junior School to the Sixth Form. Unfortunately, fees alone cannot provide the resources required for the Centre and we are therefore delighted that this year the Annual Fund will be supporting this exciting project. For more information please contact our Director of Development,
Keep in Touch We would love to be able to publish more news from Old Girls. If you would like to share any news be it news of a new job, qualification, publication, addition to the family or anything else - then please send us details. We look forward to hearing from you!
Deirdre Young on d.young@put.gdst.net or 0208 788 4886. Full details can be found our website www.putneyhigh.gdst.net. Thank you to all of you who supported us last year, we are always so grateful for your generous support. 4
Catherine O’Kelly (Newton) (2002) Former Head Girl