The Roedeanian
Autumn 2023
School News
Roedean Color Run
Halloween Fun
Roedean Sunset
CAP at St Marks
Sixth Form Stormy Sheep
Year 7 Samba Workshop
Alumnae News
House 3 ORs from Class of 1974
ORs vs the School Hockey
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Sheena Kandhari Visits Roedean
Liz Kunler, Stephanie Pratt, Kate Bouchier, Georgia Brown, Liz Cooper, Sasha Glynn, Andrea Bull.
Introduction As we rapidly approach the end of term and Christmas, there are lots of exciting events to look forward to, including our Christmas Fair this weekend, and of course the ORA’s annual Christmas Drinks in London next Thursday. The last week of term in School will see our traditional Carol Service, although this is having to be held off site this year due to ongoing building work in the Chapel, it will still be wonderful to see the whole School community come together to celebrate the festive season. This will be followed by lots of fun Christmas activities, including the Staff Pantomime, which I have been assured is always a highlight! This issue sees the end of our special series of articles looking back at the 125 years since we’ve been on our current site. Seeing the timeline of previous Heads of Roedean makes me feel very proud to have taken up the reigns of the School and to follow in their footsteps. You can read all about them on page 10. As you will see in the School News, the Autumn term has been very full. It has been wonderful to see our charity fundraising for the year given such a strong start. Congratulations go to Amelia for her award-winning poem. You can view a link to hear it being read by Michael Rosen on page 5. Our trip to Hong Kong in October was fantastic, it was an honour to meet so many of our community over there, both ORs and parents, and to have had the opportunity to meet with some really strong prospective students as well. We are looking forward to holding more international events, either directly ourselves, or with the help of Regional Reps. The next will be an OR lunch in New York, which I hope to meet many of you at. If you are interested in helping to organise an event in your region, then do get in touch with Grace Chaston on glc@roedean.co.uk. Best wishes Niamh Green Headmistress
Contents School Highlights
4-5
OR News
6-7
Hong Kong 2023
8
ORA Heritage Projects Update
9
Roedean – A History of our Heads
10
Dates for your Diary
11
Obituaries 11-12 Roedean Merchandise Shop
13
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School Highlights
Dr Tessy Ojo at Roedean for Black History Month October saw us mark Black History Month, and it was a great pleasure to welcome Dr Tessy Ojo to Roedean as our guest speaker. Tessy is the Chief Executive of the Diana Award – a charity legacy to Diana, Princess of Wales’ belief in the power that young people have to change the world, with the right support. During the whole school lecture, Tessy spoke about ‘becoming’ as her overarching focus, namely that we are all constantly developing and assimilating ideas, forming the ‘toolkit’ which we can use to effect change. She encourages everyone to be audacious, to say ‘no more – we want a better outcome’, and to be proactive, sometimes irrespective of the consequences. To help illustrate this, she played a video featuring the voices of young black people sharing their negative experiences in schools. It is under Tessy’s leadership, that the Diana Awards’ programme is designed to challenge racism in UK schools, and to help young people to aspire higher. Lastly, Tessy talked about the importance of curiosity, and how we must all ask questions, notice other people, widen our focus, and be determined to be proactive in ensuring inclusion is the norm. Her final statement was that we should collectively call out behaviour which excludes others – ‘Be an upstander – don’t be a bystander!’ It was a truly inspirational lecture, chiming perfectly with this year’s Black History Month theme, ‘Saluting the Sisters’, as well as the School’s ethos.
U16 Netballers Through to the Regional Round of the National Schools’ Tournament Congratulations to the U16s, who have qualified for the next round of the National Schools’ tournament, which is open to state and independent schools across the country. This is a huge achievement, and it is the first time in 8 years that we have got to this point! The squad includes four U16 players and six U15s, so this bodes really well for the future too. The next stage will be in early February, when the top two teams out of twelve go through to the National Finals! 4
Amelia Wins the TES National Poetry Competition We were absolutely delighted to hear the wonderful news after the half term break, that Year 12 student Amelia, had won the TES National Poetry Competition at the TES SEND Show 2023.
Year Group Residentials Just before the half term break, five year-groups embarked on their exciting residential trips. These trips, early in the year, are designed to give the students the chance to bond with one another outside the school environment, helping them to make new friends while fostering a sense of community. Years 7 and 9 visited north-eastern France, Year 8 went to Devon, Year 10 travelled to Belgium and France, and Year 12 visited Bristol. As always, our students acted as excellent ambassadors for both the School and themselves, and the trips proved to be a huge success.
The theme for this year’s competition was ‘Inspiring minds: the difference you make to me’, and the students were asked to write a poem which encapsulates their journey to where they are now. With four different categories, Amelia’s outstanding writing and heartfelt words, earned her the well-deserved winning poem in the Secondary Individual category. Amelia received her award from the head judge, renowned poet and author, Michael Rosen. Not only did he present her with the award, but also read her magnificent poem aloud. No doubt this was a memorable moment for Amelia, and it certainly was a tremendous achievement. You can hear Amelia’s winning poem below.
31 Staff and Students Kick Off this Year’s Fundraising Last year, we raised over £40,000 for a range of charities. The School has set a challenge to beat this total in 2023-2024, and what better way than starting with an 8K run for local charity RISE, which supports those affected by domestic abuse. Students from Years 11 and 12, along with staff members, took part in the all-female race along the undercliffs below School. None of the students had completed the full distance before, so it was brilliant to see them so determined to finish the race, the samba band and choir definitely helped them to keep going! It was a fantastic effort from all involved, and they raised £1300. 5
OR News
Iris Shepherd
Parisah Seyed-Safi
(Kwok, No.1, 2000-04) (No.2, 2002-09) ORs, Iris and Paris were at Roedean at the same time, but as they were in different years, they never knew one another. Years later, they couldn’t believe it when they came across each other, not only working as surgeons in the same London hospital, but also operating together on the same patient! ‘Although Paris and I graduated from Roedean a few years apart (and in fact never knew each other whilst we were at Roedean), we both happen to be working at St Mary’s Hospital currently. It didn’t take us long to find out that we were both old Roedeanians! After we qualified from medical school, we both happened to go into Trauma and Orthopaedics as a speciality, and in fact we both developed a specialist interest within that in Trauma and Foot & Ankle surgery. We had a complex case last week fixing a badly broken ankle - and worked brilliantly together to get the patient fixed up.’ - Iris
Noo Saro-Wiwa (No.3, 1986-94) I first heard about the African community in China in a newspaper sometime around 2008. I was surprised to hear that there were so many sub-Saharan people living over there, concentrated in the southern city of Guangzhou. Though the African diaspora is widespread, we’re usually found in what I would term ‘Atlantic Rim’ diasporan countries where there’s a historical and therefore linguistic, cultural and religious connection. The concept of Africans in Brazil, the Caribbean, France, USA is a familiar one. But in China? It seemed so incongruous. The language, the alphabet, the music are all so different. China is also known for being politically incorrect, saying the type of things that would make Westerners blush (for example, they called the African neighbourhoods in the city of Guangzhou, “Chocolate City”). How do Africans navigate a society like this? I wanted to find out. I also wanted to know more about China itself. While I was lucky enough to have several ethnic Chinese classmates at Roedean, none of them came from the mainland; it’s one of the less visited Asian countries compared to Thailand or Vietnam, but to me it is the most fascinating, a place of constant and dramatic change. I travelled to China before the Covid pandemic, focusing mainly on Guangzhou and Hong Kong but occasionally visiting other cities. Among others, I met a Ghanaian cardiac surgeon, a South African mixed martial arts champion, and Nigerian men whose Chinese wives spoke English with Nigerian accents and had cute Afro-Chinese children. Their stories, their struggles and achievements were entertaining, frustrating and eye-opening. Black Ghosts: A Journey Into the Lives of Africans in China is published by Canongate (2023).
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10 Questions with …
Angela Yang Angela Yang (No 1, 2004-06), started her career in a bank after studying Economics and Law at university, but after several years, she decided to pursue her goal of working in sports marketing. Following a move to New York for seven years, she is now working in her dream job, as a Partnership Manager at the International Olympic Committee based in Switzerland. 1. What is your favourite memory of Roedean? The simple daily life, walking around the beautiful campus, having lively conversation around dinner tables with friends, with so many diverse backgrounds and ideas, not to mention over an amazing food selection. 2. What was the best piece of advice you were given whilst at School? As a non-religious person, I really enjoyed going to the chapel. While this is not a specific piece of advice, this ritual got me into the habit of practicing reflection and gratefulness. 3. When you were at Roedean, what did you want to be when you ‘grew-up’? I took weekly tennis lessons and started writing for a tennis magazine in China when I was at Roedean, as a “free” way to go to Wimbledon. I remember coming back from Wimbledon one year, and everyone was telling me they saw me being interviewed on the BBC to discuss the rise of Chinese tennis! This planted the seed for me that I want to work in sports one day. 4. What are you now you’ve grown up? I’m currently a Partnership Manager at the International Olympic Committee based in Lausanne, Switzerland. 5. What does your job involve? I look after the relationships with some of the IOC’s TOP partners. This is the highest level of Olympic sponsorship, and the revenue funds the Olympic Movement globally. I oversee, manage, and nurture these relationships to ensure the partners’ contractual rights are met, strengthen the value proposition of the Olympic and Paralympic Movement, and grow the Movement together with our partners. Right now, we are in countdown mode to the Paris 2024 Games, and we have a lot of work to do, but everyone is very excited for the first post pandemic Games, with some spectacular landmarks as backdrops and venues! 6. What have you done that you are most proud of? Having the guts to switch my career and moving to different countries to pursue my dream. After Roedean, I followed a traditional route of studying Economics and Law at university before getting a job at a bank. A few years into the job, I decided to seriously pursue my goal of
working in sports marketing, which took me to New York for 7 years and now to Lausanne earlier this year, to start at my dream job at the IOC. 7. What are the three objects you would take with you to a desert island? My running shoes, my sun lotion, and family photos. 8. What books have had a significant influence on you and why? Harry Potter series….that led me to applying for a British boarding school when I was considering studying abroad. Sometimes when people ask me for a fun fact about myself, I will say I went to a British boarding school with four houses, and my house colour was green! (House 1). Career wise, Shoe Dog, the autobiography of Nike founder Phil Knight, made me really appreciate the philosophy and history behind the iconic brand. The ghost-writer is actually my favourite writer, who also wrote Andre Agassi and Prince Harry’s books. 9. What is on your bucket list? Running all six marathon majors, 4 down, 2 to go. 10. If you had one year and unlimited funds, what would you do? Invest in women’s sports: part ownership of a women’s sports team, support a women’s sport foundation, and fund some TV programming to give women’s sports more airtime…but just taking a break and travel with my family would be very nice too.
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Hong Kong 2023
Hong Kong OR Drinks We were absolutely delighted last month to have a long overdue trip to Hong Kong to meet with our community there. Niamh Green (Head), Grace Chaston (Head of Alumnae and Development), Alison Wienekus (Director of Marketing and Admissions) and Mary Henderson (President of the ORA and of the School) joined around 40 ORs for a wonderful drinks reception. The drinks were held at Bar de Luxe, in Central, a venue kindly sourced for us by OR Jenny Wong (No. 1, 19992003). The attendees ranged from leavers from the
1990s, up to just a few years ago, and it was wonderful to see so much chatter between everyone. Most of the attendees are now based in Hong Kong, but we were also joined by some who had travelled in from mainland China, one who was visiting from the UK, and a group of ORs who had been on a girls’ trip to mainland China and returned just in time for the drinks! As you can see from the photographs, everyone had a fantastic time, and we look forward to arranging more events in Hong Kong, and other countries in the future.
Hong Kong Parents Reception Whilst in Hong Kong, we also took the opportunity to hold a reception for our Hong Kong based Parents. Over 70 parents of current pupils, as well as some Former Parent and OR ambassadors joined us for an evening at the Sheraton Hong Kong Hotel and Towers. The evening was a great opportunity for us to meet them and introduce Mrs Green, but it was also a wonderful chance for the parents to get to know each other. Lots of conversations were had comparing which year their daughters were in and their experiences, as well as making plans to liaise in the future about which flights they are booking their daughters on. Throughout the evening, we were well looked after with drinks and delicious fusion canapés from the hotel staff. We are hoping that both events will kick start more future events in Hong Kong, and so if you would like to help organise informal gatherings either for ORs or Parents, then do let us know. Likewise, we would love to have more events around the world so let us know if you would like to help organise something in your city! 8
ORA Heritage Projects Update Long awaited consent (The School is Grade 2 Listed) from South Down National Park has finally been received to carry out the restoration of the sundial on the front terrace. The sundial was the first gift to the school by Sir John Simpson, the school’s architect in 1899. His daughter was a pupil - Clara Carrick Simpson (No.4, 1897-99) and the brass plate carries a touching inscription to her: A FATHER’S HAND, A DAUGHTER’S PIETIE SEE, HAS FIXED MY DYAL THAT YOU THE HOURE MAY AS EACH NEW SUN REVIVES THE LIGHT SO WE, THEE DEAR CLARA, RENEW OUR LOVE AND THINK OF
the ensign may once again be hung in the School Chapel. We are very keen to raise the remaining funds to restore the Sylvia Lawrence frieze that sits over the fireplace in the drawing room in No.1. It is in a very poor state and emergency repairs were paid for by the ORA at the end of last year - but it can only deteriorate further. Any No.1’s out there who would like to get together to make a donation? Thank you to all the ORs and others who have supported us so far – there is still a way to go to enable us to reach the Appeal target. We do hope you might be able to support the ORA and make a donation towards this Appeal. This can be done by following this link to our JustGiving Page: https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/ ora-heritage-projects or by sending a cheque made payable to “Roedean School”, and posting it to the Development Office, Roedean School, Brighton BN2 5RQ, East Sussex. If you want your donation to be used for a particular project, please let us know.
The Old Roedeanians’ Association has instructed specialist stone conservators, Cliveden Conservation to carry out the work which will be carried out early in the New Year.
If you would like more information about the Heritage Projects, to receive an Appeal brochure, or detailed brochure on a specific project, please email Noëlle Chase (heritage@oldroedeanians.co.uk) or Mary Henderson (president@oldroedeanians.co.uk). The brochures can also be downloaded by following this link: https://community. roedean.co.uk/resources/ora-resources.
Our other ‘hot off the press’ news is that we have received donations to fund the restoration of the WW2 HMS Vernon ensign. This historic ensign flew from the school terrace on D Day 6th June 1944. It was presented to the school by HMS Vernon when they vacated, to commemorate their time at Roedean. Local textile conservators, Zenzie Tinker Conservation have been instructed to carry out the cleaning and conservation work, including dry and wet cleaning to remove ingrained soil, mould and degradation products and stitched support for damaged areas. This will mean that 9
Roedean – A History of our Heads Founded in 1885, Roedean has always been led by innovative and imaginative Headmistresses and Headmasters. The School today, stands on this firm foundation, and continues the proud tradition established and nurtured by these pioneering and dedicated women and men. This year, as we mark the 125th Anniversary of Roedean on our current clifftop location, we look back at their lives and their leadership.
1885-1924 The Lawrence Sisters The Lawrence Sisters had the courage to challenge prevailing attitudes about educating girls and built our School to stand as a beacon to all that girls could achieve.
1924-1947 Dame Emmeline Tanner Emmeline Tanner was the first appointed Headmistress. She continued the tradition of the Founders and led the School through the Second World War when girls were relocated to Keswick and Canada.
1946-1961 Norah Horobin Norah Horobin helped the School look to the future after the dark days of the war. She was committed to community and building good relations.
1961-1970 Jean Fort Jean Fort’s intellectual leadership encouraged girls to use their time at Roedean to prepare for the challenges of university and life beyond school.
1971-1984 John Hunt John Hunt was the first Headmaster of Roedean. He not only encouraged academic rigour, but increased opportunities for girls to excel in sport, art, and beyond the classroom.
1984-1997 Ann Longley Ann Longley developed facilities in the School through which all girls were to develop their full potential and came to learn that anything is possible.
1997-2003 Patricia Metham Patricia Metham’s leadership, saw the blossoming of further academic success, while she also developed the current use of Keswick House as a SixthForm House.
2003-2008 Carolyn Shaw Carolyn Shaw had warmth and a collaborative approach that permeated the School. She instigated Founders’ Day, Roedean Day, and Brighthelm scholarships for local girls.
2008-2013 Frances King Frances King helped bring to fruition the successful merger with St Mary’s Hall, which enabled its legacy to continue through continued support for daughters of the clergy and those serving in the armed forces and made possible a major redevelopment of the Houses.
2013-2023 Oliver Blond Oliver Blond was an excellent and visionary leader. Through his commitment and determination, Roedean went from strength to strength, and pupil numbers doubled. His Headship saw him oversee the refurbishment of the Houses, along with the build of the all-weather sports pitch. 10
The visions and hard work of our former Heads have made the School what it is today. Our new Head, Niamh Green will, no doubt, carry forward their visions, build on previous achievements, and work in her own way to see the School flourish. “My vision for the girls at Roedean is to continue the vision of the founding Lawrence sisters when they moved Roedean to this exceptional site 125 years’ ago: a truly holistic education.”
Dates for your Diary Saturday 2 December 2023 10.30 pm – 1.00 pm Roedean School
Christmas Fair 2023 ORs are very welcome to join us at the annual Christmas Fair, get into the Christmas spirit, and even buy some stocking fillers! There is no need to book for this event - we hope to see you there.
Thursday 7 December 2023 6.30 am – 11.00 pm Upstairs at The Antelope, 22 Eaton Terrace, London, SW1W 8EZ
ORA Christmas Drinks 2023 ORs are warmly invited to the traditional Old Roedeanians’ Association Christmas Drinks 2023. Please register here or email membershipsecretary@oldroedeanians.co.uk
Friday 5 January 2024 6.30 pm – 9.30 pm The Last Talisman, 171-173 Bermondsey Street, London, SE1 3UW
Young Roedeanians’ Networking Event ORs aged 18-30 are invited to join Year 13 students and Career Rep ORs for a Young Roedeanians’ Networking Evening on Friday 5th January 2023. This will be a relaxed evening and an opportunity to meet fellow ORs who have similar career interests to you, and to build your OR network as well as catching up with staff. Please register here or email alumnae@roedean.co.uk
Saturday 10 February 2024 12.00 pm –3.00 pm Manhatta Restaurant, 28 Liberty Street, 60th Floor, New York, NY 10005, New York
New York OR Lunch The Old Roedeanians’ Association and Roedeanian Society are delighted to invite you to join the Headmistress, Mrs Niamh Green, the new President of the ORA, Noelle Chase, and Head of Alumnae and Development, Mrs Grace Chaston, for lunch in New York on Saturday 10th February. Tickets for the lunch are free of charge, but booking is essential. To do so, please either register here, email us on alumnae@roedean.co.uk, write to us at The Roedeanian Office, Roedean School, Brighton, East Sussex BN2 5RQ, UK, or call +44 (0) 1273 667398. Please do also advise us of any dietary requirements.
Saturday 22 June 2024 TBC Roedean School
Roedean Day ORs, former staff and their guests, please save the date for our main reunion day. Further details are to be confirmed.
Obituaries
Brooke McCarthy (Wilkinson, No.2, 1947-50) My mother was a strong Christian from the age of around 65, having been baptised then together with a granddaughter in her own swimming pool by members of her Church and her youngest son! She and her husband Mac, who died in 2006, moved to Cheddar from Cookham one year after her eldest son Steven and his family. They lived happily at the centre of the village, in more ways than one, for the next 22 years. She was loved by her many neighbours and friends and delighted in entertaining them regularly with Christmas and Summer parties. She always prepared all her own food for her buffets in generous quantities. She is missed deeply by her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. She passed away while still working at 90, with a granddaughter and architects on building and
renovation projects for a possible future house move based on her own plans. Her 7 great-grandchildren of our family (three daughters) loved her. They all saw her regularly and our youngest daughter was very close, visiting at least once a week.
Steve McCarthy 11
Obituaries
Heather Kay (Black, No.2, 1940-44) Heather was a drama lecturer, voice coach and performer. Born in India in 1926, her father served in the Indian Army. Early life was marked by prolonged separations from her mother and by World War II. She attended Roedean, evacuated to the Keswick Hotel, between 19391944. These were very happy years and provided much needed stability. At school she memorised an extraordinary range of poetry, which she could recite until her final days. In the 1950s, when few professional jobs were available to women, Heather initially put career before children, becoming a lecturer in drama at Central School of Speech and Drama
in London and then at the Institute of Education in London where Heather established the Drama and English PGCE. One of Heather’s proudest achievements was to edit Voice Catcher, a poetry and prose collection published by the Voice Care Network 2008. A celebration of the diversity of voices and languages of poetry for young people and their teachers, Voice Catcher remains a popular resource. For thirty years Heather was a member of the Barrow Poets, a group of performers who brought poetry to pubs, prisons, theatres, concert halls, classrooms, stately homes, bandstands and the BBC and a regular annual childrens’ show at the Queen Elizabeth Hall. Heather had good health all her life. She was predeceased by her husband
and is survived by her children and grandchildren. (Photo was taken by Angus McBean, whose work is in the National Portrait Gallery, in circumstances I am not aware of. He photographed my mother’s favourite actors Vivien Leigh, Laurence Olivier and John Gielgud)
Emma Kay
Jennifer Louise Barbour (West, No.1, 1945-1951) Jenny Barbour, died peacefully on 12 October 2022, surrounded by her family, having just turned 90 years old. Jenny was born on 10 October 1932, in Chipping Campden. She grew up in Deal and then was evacuated during the war, before eventually going to Roedean Junior School, which at the end of the war was based in Keswick. This was followed by Roedean Senior School in Brighton. She had happy memories of the school, teachers and fellow pupils and made life-long friends. After Roedean, Jenny went to St Hugh’s College, Oxford to read Law. Thereafter, she studied for the Bar Final at the Middle Temple and was called to the Bar in 1955. She enjoyed life in London where she lectured in legal history and Roman law and worked for the Land Registry. In 1959 she accepted an invitation from an ex-Roedean school friend to visit her in Darlington, where she 12
met her future husband, Walter. They married the following year and went on to have three children – Iain, Andrew, and Jane. Over the next 20 years, the family moved around the UK, and Jenny became adept at home-making and collecting friends in each new location She continued to do land registry work and became a senior lecturer at the Inns of Court School of Law. She was also a magistrate and a prison visitor and later was to become a prison chaplain. In 1980, a vocation had formed, and Jenny chose to become a Deaconess in the Church of England. She was accepted for training and duly became a full time Deaconess then Deacon, and subsequently was ordained as a priest, being in the first batch of women to be so ordained in the Church of England. Jenny was elected to the General Synod in her capacity as deaconess, deacon and priest and was there for the vote on the ordination of women.
Jenny loved the Cotswolds where she lived, and in retirement she was able to enjoy greatly her love of poetry and the theatre. Jenny led a full and rich life. She was a deep thinker, a very kind and thoughtful person and her spirituality shone through in all that she did. She is greatly missed by her husband, her children, and their partners, her six grandchildren and her great grandchild. Andrew Barbour
Roedean Merchandise Shop Have you visited our online shop? We have a fantastic range of Roedean merchandise available at https:// community.roedean.co.uk/shop The range includes branded items, along with two limited edition items, a keyring and umbrella, to celebrate the 125th Anniversary of the School on our current site. We have prints, greetings cards, and tea towels, featuring a bold and bright coloured illustration by artist Katie Cardew, and with December fast approaching, we also have a beautiful Christmas card with a festive version of the design. Finally, this month, we have two new products in the shop, a fabulous Roedean canvas tote bag, and a rather cute bear named Dorothy, or Dotty for short! UK and International postage are available on all items (except the umbrellas) and you also have the option to ‘click and collect’ from the School. We will also have a merchandise stall at the Christmas Fair on Saturday 2nd December 2023.
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1947 – Lent Term
roedean.co.uk The Roedeanian Society, Roedean School, Roedean Way, Brighton, East Sussex, BN2 5RQ Tel: +44(0)1273 667398 • Registered Charity 307063