SENIOR COMMON ROOM brought to many areas of School life, inside and outside the classroom. In addition to his work in the Science Department, he has been fully involved in sport all year round, as well as putting his energy into boarding duties, the Debating Society and the work of the Careers Department. We wish every happiness to Gary, Kaye and Rebecca at Repton. Our loss is their gain.
Arrivals This has been another year of change for the teaching staff and their families. First we congratulate David Spencer and Helen Mitchell on their marriage over the summer, and wish Chris Hall and Judith Taylor well for their forthcoming wedding. Celebrations are in order for the birth of Bob and Trudi Shread's firstborn, Dominic. We also say hello to several new members of staff: Joanna Marsh, a former Organ Scholar at Sidney Sussex College, Cambridge, joins us from Cranleigh School, where she has been for the past two years. Oliver Edwards, a graduate of Leeds University, replaces Nona Blenkin in the History Department. Maurice Monteith joins the Biology Department after completing a degree at The University of Newcastle and a P.G.C.E. at Loughborough. Rex Negus, an experienced teacher and Departmental Head, is the new Head of Economics and Business. Studies. Joining him in the Department is Nicholas Jones, a graduate of Nottingham University and a keen oarsman. We also welcome Pat Mitchell, formerly Deputy Head at Queen Margaret's, Escrick, who will be teaching A-Level Government and Politics while Liz Stephen is away on maternity leave. We also have a new language teacher, Louise Hamilton, who teaches French and Spanish, and an artist-in-residence, Clare Cockayne. In addition, four people who stepped into the breach during the academic year 1993-4 will continue with us: Maureen Hopkinson, Carole Wilson and Bridget Lewis are part-time teachers of English, History and Mathematics respectively. Mike Jones has been appointed as the mil-time Head of Information Technology. The Reverend Leon Carberry also joins us from York Minster as Assistant Chaplain.
We also say farewell to Nona Blenkin, of whom Peter Taylor, the Housemaster of Dronfield, writes: Nona Blenkin originally joined St. Peter's as Warden of Alcuin; at that time the hostel for the sixth form boarding girls. This was a challenging post: in fact, it amounted to being an assistant to all four of the boarding Housemasters to whose Houses the girls were attached. As one of the four, I can testify to the care and considerable degree of tact which Nona demonstrated during those years. Following the introduction of full co-education in 1987 Nona was appointed Resident Assistant Housemistress of Dronfield, the newly designated girls' boarding house. It was in this role that I was able to observe and appreciate Nona's caring and understanding approach. She played an important part in the success of the house during her six years in residence and will be remembered with affection by the girls in her care. It was also while she was in Dronfield that Nona was able to put her considerable culinary skills to good use during her popular cookery classes. In addition to her responsibilities in Dronfield, for a number of years Nona organised the School's Community Service programme. Outside School, among other interests, Nona enjoys walking and painting. There will be few idle moments in what we all hope will be a long and happy retirement.
Departures It follows from this large number of hellos that there are also a number of goodbyes. Pelham Barton has left us after many years of dedicated service to Mathematics and Computing. Sandra Fox has been with us for two years as Head of Economics and Business Studies. Sandra deserves great credit for her coaching of the 1st XV in Business Studies, which was an uphill struggle at times! She also helped with girls' swimming; we wish her every success. Robert Jeffs is returning to his old haunt, York University, to study for an M.A. Rob has been with us for four years as a teacher of English and History. Rob earned great respect from his colleagues for the way he rose to the challenge of a job which straddled two departments, and contributed to the extra-curricular life of the School in many ways; his contribution and commitment to cross-country and boarding duties in The Manor were especially appreciated. Gary Lawrence has moved to Repton to head the Biology Department mere. In his six years at St. Peter's Gary has inspired us all with the great enthusiasm and professionalism which he has
Richard Drysdale, Head of History, adds: Nona joined the History Department in 1985 and quickly made her presence felt as a sympathetic and erudite teacher of History. Many generations of Sixth Form historians have benefitted from her knowledge and 17
