Totally Inspirational

The much-loved Doc Groves (CR 1992-2005) is remembered by Ginny Light (NC 1991-96).

Doc Groves, or rather, Dr Rosemary Groves, joined Marlborough when I was in Remove and she instantly made an impact, not just because she took the appointment of Deputy Master at a time when there were no women in the senior leadership team, but also because she so seamlessly became part of the fabric of the College. Doc Groves had a steady and assured air as if she’d been part of Marlborough life for years, and I had many occasions to come across her before I was lucky enough to have her teaching me Politics in the Sixth Form. Among the less auspicious meetings were the blue or pink chit rendezvous in the early hours, though, even on these occasions, there was little gratification on her part, just slick professionalism… or did I detect the slightest smidge of disappointment? Either way, I still walked away with my tail between my legs and vowed to do better. When Doc Groves spoke, be it in assemblies or the classroom, she had an engaging way of explaining anything. Whether it be the structure of the British Parliament or the process for university applications, we listened. From her steady and assured cadence to her pragmatic and succinct choice of words, whether we realised it or not, we were in thrall of a role model.

In the classroom, Doc Groves was always on the move and involving – there was no drifting off in the back row in her scholarly Museum Block room; everyone took part whether they wished to or not. She dragged us all along with her on our Politics course, guiding us (but most definitely not hand-holding) from the relative comfort of GCSE learning to – what felt like – the sophistication and intellect of A level academia.

It is no surprise to me that, after I left Marlborough, Doc Groves went on to spend another 13 years there, including a stint as Acting Head when Ed Gould (Master 1993-2004) was on sabbatical. But it was with great sadness that I later read of her death in The Times obituary pages two years ago, and it was poignant to read of her MBE for both services to education and to the community of Selbourne. This village in Hampshire is where she had settled and was pivotal to the survival of Gilbert White’s House, a local museum that housed Captain Lawrence Oates’ Antarctic memorabilia. I read how it had been transformed and saved from closure under her drive and dynamism, and I wasn’t the least bit surprised to hear that she hadn’t slipped into a quiet retirement. It is one of Doc Groves’ many lifetime achievements and adds a bricks-andmortar legacy to the inspirational one that she instilled in so many of the pupils she taught.

‘Whether it be the structure of the British Parliament or the process for university applications, we listened. From her steady and assured cadence to her pragmatic and succinct choice of words, whether we realised it or not, we were in thrall of a role model.’