Withington Onwards 2023-24 by wgs5

Welcome to the 2023 edition of Withington Onwards - your publication for Withington alumnae, friends and former staff. We were absolutely thrilled to be able to hold our first largescale, in-person event since the pandemic in September. Our Decades Reunion for Classes who left Withington in a year ending in ‘3’ really was a fun and lively occasion and it was great to see so many alumnae back at Withington. Next year, 2024, we look forward to welcoming the ‘Fabulous Fours’! If you’d like to come but feel a bit unsure, take a look at the encouraging comments of those who attended this year (p.19). As a team and as a school, we never cease to be amazed by the very varied achievements and careers of our alumnae - as evidenced by our Ad Lucem Award winners 2023 (p.10). They are all worthy winners and fantastic ambassadors for Withington. The same can be said of those featured in this year’s Withington Onwards. We always enjoy hearing about your news, updates and successes and being able to share those with your fellow alumnae, so do keep us posted in 2024.

We know that our pupils gain so much from all of you who give up your time in person or online to share your career insights and experiences - thank you. It makes a huge difference to current Withingtonians to have such amazing former pupils to inspire them. Thank you also to all our donors, including those who gave during the recent telephone campaign and spoke to our callers (p.14). As always, we were thrilled with the response, with the campaign raising nearly £53,000 for the Marjorie Hulme Bursary Fund. Your generosity is even more appreciated as we know many households are feeling the current increased cost of living. The cost of living is also having an effect on our bursary families and we have seen the average level bursary required increase over the last two years. So, your support is even more important. If you are a regular reader of Withington Onwards, or coming to it for the first time, we hope that you find it an enjoyable read and wish you the very best for the coming year.

MRS LESLEY DOWDALL DIRECTOR OF DEVELOPMENT

We were very pleased to hear on 1st December that The Sunday Times has named Withington as North West Independent Secondary School of the Year for Academic Performance 2024. It is the fifth consecutive time and seventh time overall that we have received a Sunday Times accolade. Such success is not inevitable but is the result of the hard work, imagination, skills and attitude of those who make up our community, present and past, and who create the special chemistry that inspires us all to give of our best. This year, Upper Sixth students firmly demonstrated that their impressive range of talents beyond the curriculum are underpinned by strong academic credentials, with 95% of all grades achieved at A* - B and 32.6% at A* grade in the 2023 A Level examinations. I hope that the Class of 2023 are settling well into life after Withington and we welcome them as our newest alumnae. Whilst The Sunday Times recognised Withington’s academic performance, as alumnae I’m sure you will agree that there are so many additional experiences that make up school life here. After the restrictions of recent years, we were thrilled to be able to stage our first full-scale Senior School musical. Following many months of anticipation, Sister Act and the Junior School’s Mary Poppins Jr brought such joy to all, performers and audiences. The exuberant feel-good nature of the shows, uplifting singing and dancing and the outstanding quality of the productions meant that the shows did not disappoint and we were delighted to be able to bring these fantastic experiences to our pupils, their parents and the wider Withington community.

Our Founders’ Day celebration took place at the Bridgewater Hall in May, just before the Upper Sixth began their study leave. Our Founders’ vision and our school’s aims are as relevant to our world in 2023 as ever, and our commitment to our young people and to inspiring fulfilling futures remains undaunted. In 1925, the first Founders’ Day was held in the gym at school; the only regret was that the lack of a sufficiently large hall meant that alumnae could not be invited! I am happy to say that was not a problem this year and it was wonderful to be able to celebrate the achievements of alumnae through the presentation of this year’s Ad Lucem Awards. We were also delighted to be able to welcome back alumnae to our Decades Reunion in September and to see connections being renewed or still going strong. It was a fabulous day filled with laughter and conversation and we’re very much looking forward to welcoming those year groups who celebrate a special anniversary in 2024. Our school is not large and our community is a close one. When we lose somebody, it is felt by us all. In September, Mrs Catherine Ositelu died after a long illness. It was a great comfort to her family and to us here at Withington to receive so many fitting tributes to Catherine from former pupils and former staff and we have included as many as possible in this magazine. Our thoughts remain with her family. Our former pupils all play a vital role in our school. Whether you give your time and expertise to support our current pupils and staff or donate to the Marjorie Hulme Bursary Fund so that future generations might benefit from the kind of education that you have had, thank you. I wish you all the very best for the coming year.

MRS SARAH HASLAM HEADMISTRESS

LACROSSE INTERNATIONALS

ILLUSTRATION COMPETITION

There has been a strong presence of Withington alumnae, pupils and staff members in international lacrosse this year. Nine members of the Withington community across all age categories represented England, Scotland and Wales in both the men’s and women’s tournaments at the Lacrosse Home Internationals at Nottingham in April. This included four alumnae. Steph Roberts (Class of 2003) WGS Teacher of PE, represented Scotland, along with Chess Gray (Class of 2015), whilst Ailsa Stott (Class of 1998) is Head Coach of Scotland’s Senior Women. Charlie Bell (Class of 2022) represented England, as did Drew Bickerton, WGS Lacrosse Coach. Drew also played at the 2023 Men’s World Championship in San Diego, California where England placed sixth out of 30 teams.

The theme for this year’s Ruth Bayley Illustration Competition was ‘labels’. There was a real variety of interpretation of this theme and pupils demonstrated high levels of skill and creativity. This year’s guest judge was illustrator and comic maker, Emmeline Pidgen. Alumna Ruth Bayley was a successful illustrator of many children’s books and the competition was set up in her memory. We are very grateful to the executors of Ruth Bayley’s Will who continue to support this competition.

Charlie Bell

Drew Bickerton

Chess Gray, Ailsa Stott & Steph Roberts at the Home Internationals

OVERALL WINNER 1: Beatrice Year 7 4

HIGHLY COMMENDED 2: Ava Year 7 3: Eilidh Year 9 4: Manal Year 11 5: Bella Year 12

ONE AMAZING SISTER ACT! Withington’s first large-scale Senior School production since the start of the pandemic, Sister Act, ended the academic year 2023-24 on a high note. The upbeat, uplifting musical production delivered the feel-good factor aplenty, at the same time celebrating powerful themes of sisterhood, support and care for one another that lie at the heart of Withington’s ethos. Brought together by Withington’s Director of Music, Mrs Sargent and Head of Drama, Mrs Berry, the show involved almost 100 members of our school community, including cast, musicians, stage crew, production teams and other volunteers coming together in a joyous and fun celebration staged over three evenings at the end of June, with an additional afternoon matinee performance for Senior Citizens. The skilfully choreographed combination of suspenseful drama, high-energy dance routines and Motown-inspired mood-boosting music had audiences clapping, tapping and dancing in their seats. WGS Headmistress, Mrs Haslam, said the show ‘will live long in the memory’, adding: “The quality of the show was superb, the spirit of the production and the atmosphere in the Arts Centre was inspirational. We all felt we had been part of something very special indeed.” Pupils involved in Sister Act spoke of new friendships having been formed across year groups, as well it being a lot of fun, echoing sentiments that we are sure will be familiar to alumnae who have taken part in previous whole school productions.

“I could not have imagined a better way to conclude my Withington journey than with this magnificent production. The memories will forever be deeply treasured.”

ANNA Year 13

NEWS OF FORMER PUPILS SARAH FOOT

(Class of 1979)

In July 2023, the Very Revd Professor Sarah Foot took up her appointment as Dean of Christ Church, Oxford. She is the first woman to be chosen for the role in Christ Church’s almost 500-year-long history. Before becoming Dean, Sarah was the Regius Professor of Ecclesiastical History at Oxford University and a priest serving as a Residentiary Canon at Christ Church. Her teaching and research have focused on women in religion, medieval monasticism and the early history of the English Church. She is currently working on a study of the life and work of the Venerable Bede. In addition to her Faculty position, from 2021-2023 Sarah has served as Censor Theologiae of Christ Church.

“It’s been such a fun experience and I’ve made so many precious memories and friends I never thought would happen. I will definitely look back on it later as one of my fondest memories.”

TANNISHTHA Year 8 2

FOUNDERS’ DAY 2023 The theme for this year’s Founders’ Day, held at the Bridgewater Hall on 2nd May, was Inspiring Futures. It was a joyful occasion filled with motivational speeches, wonderful music, poignant readings and heartfelt tributes also to the school’s 2023 Ad Lucem Award winners. The afternoon’s event opened with the Chair of Governors, Mr Malcolm Pike’s speech, including the traditional Recital of Founders. Guest speaker for the occasion was Dr Louise Maynard-Atem (Class 0f 2004) and current governor of the school. After presenting this year’s leavers with their chosen books, Louise went on to speak with great passion of her ‘non-linear’ career which, she said, had been inspired by her time at Withington. She outlined her journey from her WGS days to studying Chemistry to post-graduate doctoral research level, then working in Data and Artificial intelligence. This led to the position she now holds as Deputy Director of Data and Insights with Central Government, which includes working with the Cabinet Office. Her current role involves responsibility for the Government’s digital output across a wide range of tech areas. She had the audience captivated as she revealed that the national emergency alert that went out on 23rd April to UK smartphones fell to one of her five teams to execute. Urging current pupils to be open to change, she told them, “This year’s theme is Inspiring Futures and hopefully this small snapshot of the things that I’ve been doing over the past 20 years demonstrates that you can’t predict what’s going to come next. Be open to those changes and you will

be well equipped with the skillset, knowledge and values that Withington gives you to navigate the unpredictable.” In the Headmistress’s Speech, Mrs Haslam spoke of the blend of qualities that makes Withington such an inspirational place and which had resulted in the school being recognised by The Sunday Times as North West Independent Secondary School of the Decade and named as North West Independent Secondary School of the Year for the fourth consecutive time. “Such success is not inevitable but is the result of the hard work, imagination, skills and attitude of those who make up our community, present and past, and who create the special chemistry that inspires us all to give of our best. There is little that cannot be achieved with a commitment to ongoing learning and to what is right, a commitment to determination, great teamwork, kindness and a willingness to go the extra mile.” Mrs Haslam then went on to present the 2023 Ad Lucem Awards (p.10). The final speech of the afternoon was by Head Girl, Georgia Campbell, in which she likened her time at Withington to elements from the 2018 Abba inspired film Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again; a perfect blend of stories, music and friendship that had “shaped and inspired my future beyond the school walls.” She described her Year 13 peers as ‘an incredible mix of even more incredible personalities’, adding: “ Whatever our futures have in store for us, whoever we are inspired by and inspire in return, there could be no better starting point than the foundation we have created here together.”

NEWS OF FORMER PUPILS BROADWAY & BEYOND: A NIGHT FOR THE GAMBIA This year’s cohort of Lower Sixth pupils taking part in the annual WGS trip to The Gambia organised a fundraising concert at Manchester Cathedral in September. At the heart of the many wonderful performances by WGS pupils and other young talented people that delighted the 150-strong audience, was the desire to continue the many years of partnership between Withington and educational development projects in The Gambia. The event raised an amazing £8,000.

CHRISTINE RICE

(Class of 1988)

One of the leading mezzo-sopranos of her generation, Christine Rice was awarded an MBE in the 2023 New Year Honours list for services to opera. She has performed at all the major European opera houses, including Covent Garden, Bayerische Staatsoper, ENO, Oper Frankfurt and Teatro Real, as well as appearing in concert. She was nominated for an Olivier Award in 2022 in the Outstanding Achievement in Opera category for her performance as Phaedra in the Royal Opera House’s 4/4. Mrs Haslam said:

TWENTY YEARS OF CONNECTION WITH THE GAMBIA! 2024 will mark 20 years of Withington’s long-standing relationship with The Gambia. Kaeren Browning, Withington’s Gambia Co-ordinator, would love to hear from those who have taken part over the years with any significant memories of the trip - funny, serious or poignant, or the impact that the visit may have had on things you went on to do in the future. Please email development@wgs.org. Kaeren Browning, WGS Gambian Coordinator, says: “It is wonderful that an exploratory trip made in 2003 has turned into a 20-year relationship between Withington and the projects we help to support. There is no doubt that we have learned as we have gone along, realising the need for sustainability and improving what has already been established year-on-year. We are so grateful for the ongoing advice given to us by Lamin Jammeh, charity project manager in The Gambia, who works with local elders to ensure that we remain sensitive to the needs of the local community. I’m looking forward to celebrating our Gambia partnership with pupils, alumnae, staff and parents in 2024.”

“We’re extremely proud of Christine’s achievements and her visit to Withington in 2009 was truly incredible. We hope that we have the opportunity one day to welcome her back to school so that a whole new generation of students can be inspired by her wonderful talent.”

Photograph © Patricia Taylor

On Tuesday 2nd July 2024, we are planning a special celebration evening at Withington for all those, past and present, associated with The Gambia over the last 20 years. More details to follow, but save the date for what we hope will be a colourful, joyful Gambia-styled occasion! If you were part of a trip, we’d love you to join us. 2

02 ST ANDREWS 07 NEWCASTLE 02 YORK 02 SHEFFIELD 02 NOTTINGHAM

03 LEEDS

05 OXFORD

01 LANCASTER

03 CAMBRIDGE

03 LIVERPOOL

05 LONDON

06 MANCHESTER

01 SURREY

01 LEICESTER 02 BIRMINGHAM 01 WARWICK 02 BATH 04 BRISTOL

8 GAP YEAR

DEGREE SUBJECTS

1 BIOLOGY

1 ARCHITECTURE

2 COMBINED HONOURS

5 COMPUTER SCIENCE

2 DENTISTRY

6 ECONOMICS

4 ENGLISH

2 GEOGRAPHY

1 SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT

1 HISTORY

1 INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS

2 LAW

1 L EGAL DEGREE APPRENTICESHIP

1 L IBERAL ARTS

2 M ARKETING & MANAGEMENT

2 MATHEMATICS

16 MEDICINE

1 MFL

1 ORTHOPTICS

1 PHARMACY

3 POLITICS

1 PRODUCT DESIGN

2 PSYCHOLOGY

1 VETERINARY

For more detailed information on the Class of 2023, please visit https://www.wgs.org/admissions/sixth-form-admissions/ Universities are grouped by location.

Following nominations from the school community, a shortlisting process in which our Head Girl Team 2023-24 were asked to participate and a final vote by all girls in the Senior School, the recipients of the Ad Lucem Awards 2023 were announced at this year’s Founders’ Day on 2nd May. Our alumnae are an amazing group of women, excelling in so many different ways and in so many different areas and the Ad Lucem Awards are a way of celebrating some of these achievements, as well as inspiring current pupils.

The recipient of an Ad Lucem Award is a Withington alumna who has made an outstanding contribution to society, or who acts as an inspirational role model, either in a professional, voluntary or philanthropic capacity, or through their personal endeavours. Their achievements, outlook and conduct will demonstrate that they continue to reﬂect the school’s ethos and values, making them an exceptional public ambassador for our school community.

AD LUCEM AWARD: SARAH BURTON Class of 1993 Following her studies at Withington, Sarah Burton studied Fashion and Print at Central Saint Martins School of Art in London. She joined Alexander McQueen in 1996 and was appointed Head of Design for womenswear in 2000. In May 2010, she became Creative Director of the brand, having worked alongside Lee Alexander McQueen for more than 14 years.

During her time at the helm, Sarah produced critically acclaimed collections with a focus on handcraft, establishing herself as a highly accomplished designer with both artisanal and technical expertise. She supervised the creative direction and development of all the brand’s collections: women’s and men’s ready to wear and accessories. In April 2011, Sarah Burton was revealed as the designer of Catherine Middleton’s wedding dress for her marriage to Prince William of Wales. In June 2012, Sarah was made an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) for her services to the British fashion industry.

AD LUCEM AWARDS TROPHIES The trophies for 2023 were designed by current pupils as the result of a competition by the Design Technology Department. Congratulations to Year 7 pupils Zaynah and Annabel and Evie from Year 9 whose designs were imaginative and innovative.

YOUNG AD LUCEM AWARD: KEA BELL Class of 2020 Kea attended Withington from 2009-2020 and was appointed Head Girl for 2019-20. She is currently studying Film Music Composition at Leeds Conservatoire. During the pandemic, a time of disruption and challenge for us all, Kea was determined to support her community where she could, becoming a volunteer with the Caribbean & African Health Network (CAHN) and the Life & Friendship Group Burnage. She also sat in on community board meetings as a young representative for the Greater Manchester Combined Youth Authority, a board that allows young people to use their voices to inﬂuence policies in GMCR, and for the CAHN Young People Forum.

In August 2020, Kea was awarded with the Young Person trophy at the Outstanding Social Behaviour Awards (OSBA’s), which celebrates the positive impact people have made to the lives of others in the community. She was also awarded a Young Citizen of the Year Award for the Manchester borough by the High Sheriff of Greater Manchester for her volunteering during the pandemic. The Young Citizen Awards celebrated the kindness, thoughtfulness and actions by young people that made a difference to local communities during that year. In September 2021, she featured in an episode of BBC Radio 4’s The Listening Project, in conversation with another guest talking about their different experiences of education. Kea spoke highly of her experiences at Withington and of the ongoing support from the alumnae network once students move on from school. She also spoke about the importance of bursary provision in independent schools and how, as a WGS Bursary Ambassador, she had had the opportunity to speak to young, bright girls still at primary school and encourage them to think about applying to schools such as Withington. Kea continues to be a powerful advocate for bursary provision at WGS, sharing her experiences at events and in publications and helping to raise funds for those who follow in her footsteps.

ROSE ACTON AD LUCEM AWARD: SUSANNA THORNTON Class of 1986 This award was created in memory of alumna Rose Acton who died in 2020. It is presented to a Withington alumna who has displayed the qualities that Rose herself displayed throughout her life and that are valued highly in our school community; qualities such as courage, curiosity, kindness, humour, determination, resilience and a desire to improve things for others, as well as inspire them. Susanna completed her PhD in Chinese History at the University of Oxford, and later an MBA at Manchester Business School. She then worked for Thomson Reuters in Hong Kong, working her way up to Head of Equities Business, Asia, before returning to the UK and later changing careers to work in TV production, using her knowledge of Chinese and of Chinese history. One of Susanna’s greatest passions is cycling and when Susanna relocated to the UK from Hong Kong, she decided to do so by bike, alone. She wanted to take the time to adjust from Asia to Europe. It was an adventure, of course, not without risk. She coped with food poisoning and altitude sickness and even experienced a serious physical attack. But Susanna says she focuses on all that was good, “which far outweighs the bad”.

Passionate about sport and its power to shape lives and build confidence, especially in girls, Susanna raised enough money through the trip to build a sports centre for street children in Cambodia. A few years ago, Susanna started riding a Brompton bike (a small-wheeled folder) and then, in 2017, started touring on her folding bike, camping wild. This was prompted by an invite from a Withington friend to attend their fiftieth birthday party. Susanna decided to ride to the party, taking place in the Netherlands. She chose to ride a Brompton, because it seemed the easiest bike to put on the ferry and would be small enough to hide under coats in the hall when she arrived. She found she loved the simplicity of touring on a folder, and now has a successful Youtube channel where she documents her Brompton adventures. She doesn’t go fast. She says that for her ‘a journey by bike is about going slowly, and stopping a lot, to look at a ﬂower, a bird, a leaf, and have a coffee and a bun.’ Susanna has had some serious health battles which she has not allowed to dim her enthusiasm and enjoyment of life. Rather the opposite. Now, more than ever, she says she knows that small pleasures are actually not small at all. Susanna is a great example of someone who has a curiosity and enthusiasm about life and the world about her. She continues to combine many of the qualities valued in our school community today and embodied in the Rose Acton Award - courage, kindness, humour, resilience and a sense of adventure. 2

Penny loved her time at WGS and loved Maths and Science. And she loved her time studying Natural Sciences at Cambridge. So how has she come to be running a tech start-up in San Fransisco?

In response to this, in 2021, whilst Penny was still studying, Byterat was launched. The company offers a cloud-based solution to the issue around data: clients can log in and see all their data in one place in real-time, thus allowing them to unlock new data-driven insights and ultimately spend more time innovating and creating better products. In January 2023, Byterat was accepted onto the Y Combinator programme. This is an accelerator programme for tech startups and previous companies have included Stripe, Airbnb and Dropbox. Along with the $500,000 investment in the company, inclusion in the programme also necessitated a move to San Fransisco, as the Y Combinator provides access to the top tech entrepreneurs in the world, many of whom live and work in the Bay Area.

When Penny was studying for her Masters at Cambridge she collaborated with a young Fellow, a former child prodigy, working on batteries for electric vehicles. Her PhD research involved work on analysing batteries and how to optimise their performance. She had also been inspired by the work of Professor Clare Grey in battery technology. Penny wanted to have a positive impact on the world, in terms of combatting climate change, and she thinks that batteries are a good way to do it.

At this point, Penny found herself on a plane, moving to San Fransisco and scrambling to finish writing up her PhD on the ﬂight. The Y Combinator programme is an intense 10 weeks of meeting and learning from successful entrepreneurs which all builds up to ‘Demo Day’. This is when the start-ups get to pitch to thousands of venture capitalists in the hope of raising seed investment. This can include ‘angel investors’ - founders of successful companies who want to invest in next-generation technology.

“Batteries are really important for helping to combat climate change. More innovation is needed to support the design and manufacturing and bring products to market more quickly. Companies such as Apple, Tesla, Meta and Amazon are all involved in battery development.”

For Penny, it was a steep learning curve; thus far, she says, she had not had a ‘real job’, let alone run a company.

During her PhD research, Penny worked with companies trying to improve battery lifetime. She came to understand that within the industry there were big challenges around extracting the data in an efficient way. Progress was being impeded by the lack of a pipeline for the data.

“Understanding the terms in the funding round documents was in itself a challenge - I’d never heard of some of them! But it was fun not quite knowing what I was doing, having to push myself and being constantly out of my comfort zone.” From the ‘Demo Day’ they raised the $4 million from investors to take Byterat to the next stage. Only the week before the seed round, Penny had successfully sat her PhD viva.

“Companies are striving to improve the performance of their batteries. To do so, their scientists need to understand how any changes they make will impact the performance of the product. The problem is to connect the dots between design and performance; the process to extract and collate the data is not straightforward and is a laborious manual task.” 1

NEWS OF FORMER PUPILS

Penny Jones (Class of 2015) has a PhD in Physics from the University of Cambridge and is the co-founder and CEO of tech start-up, Byterat, an innovative data platform for battery scientists that allows them to manage battery data in one place.

DR LOUISE MAYNARD-ATEM

(Class of 2004)

Earlier this year, WGS welcomed alumna Dr Louise Maynard-Atem to the school’s Board of Governors. Louise (Class of 2004) completed her PhD in Materials Chemistry in 2013 at the University of Manchester. She then worked in the Civil Service before setting up the Futures Innovation Team at BAE Systems Applied Intelligence and, subsequently, the Data Innovation team at Experian. She is currently Deputy Director, Data & Insights for the Government Digital Service, part of the Cabinet Office. Louise is also a Director and Research Lead for the non-profit organisation, Women in Identity, which seeks to promote diversity and inclusion in the digital identity sector. She also recently became a director for the Akama Fund, a charity that develops higher education scholarships.

“It’s been an incredible experience. Living here in the Bay Area is amazing there are so many entrepreneurs and start-ups. There is so much inspiration and motivation - it’s great. I feel so lucky to be in this position. “It was my dream to study Physics at Cambridge and my dream to research in an area that is important for climate change. It was my dream to have a company that will have a positive impact, so I feel very fortunate.”

On her appointment, Louise said: “As a former pupil, it’s such a privilege to join the Board of Governors for WGS and to get to know the school from a totally different perspective. I hope that my expertise in data, technology and STEM will help to drive the school’s innovation and digital transformation agenda.”

Penny says she also feels fortunate to have had such amazing teachers at Withington - Dr Vilela, Mrs Bradshaw, Ms Maher, Mr Parry, Dr Terrill, Mrs Gavin, to name but a few. And great mentors both during her time at Cambridge and now with her business. Her vision is for Byterat to be the go-to company for battery scientists and engineers to support their innovation and to be working with the biggest companies. Byterat already has clients in Australia, the US and Germany and being cloud-based means that they can have clients anywhere in the world. She recognises, however, that start-ups can be risky and Byterat is still in its early stages. “Ultimately, it might not work but the journey is amazing. I love San Fransisco, especially the people and the energy; so many people are doing ambitious things and are interested in learning new things. If I go into a coffee shop, for example, probably 80% of the people are building some sort of start-up - there are some wild conversations!” She says it’s interesting to observe some of the cultural differences in the US where people tend to be proud of and tell you about their achievements, as opposed to the UK where people tend to be a bit more self-deprecating. Penny also noticed that there is still a gender imbalance in the world of tech entrepreneurs. Less than 10% of those on the Y Combinator programme are women, but Penny says she has already formed close friendships with other female tech entrepreneurs following a similar pathway. “I’m excited to see what these amazing women are going to accomplish with their companies. Although there are fewer of us, we can still do it and we shouldn’t let any apparent barrier stop us. As women we can choose to be part of the change; by pursuing something like this we are helping to create an environment for the future that allows for far more female tech entrepreneurs.” N.B. In case, like us, you were wondering about the name of the company Byterat is an anagram of ‘battery’!

WITHINGTON CALLING 2023

AD LUCEM FUND

Thank you to all those who gave time to speak with one of our calling team during our telephone campaign in August. Every single one of our eleven-strong team, made up of current students and recent leavers, felt that they had benefitted from the experience and wisdom of all those to whom they had spoken. As well as offering valuable university and careers advice, we are truly grateful to everyone who decided to make a gift or increase their regular donation. Your generosity is much appreciated and will make such a difference to the lives of those students whom we support. We are delighted to say that, over the two-week campaign, just under £53,000 was raised for the Marjorie Hulme Bursary Fund, bringing us that little bit closer to our aim to increase bursary provision from 1 in 6 Senior School students to 1 in 5. Thank you!

Thank you to alumnae who continue to support the Ad Lucem Fund. This enables us to support learning for all pupils in the school. This year, your donations have supported the following:

• A Succah for the Jewish Festival Sukkot for Religious Studies • 3 colorimeters for Biology • E-harps and amps for the Music Department • Mandarin extra-curricular sessions for Years 7-9 • Creative technology equipment for the Art Department

THE FIRST WGS IFTAR Last March, the very first WGS Iftar took place at Vermilion Restaurant, Manchester, raising an incredible £32,000 for the Marjorie Hulme Bursary Fund. This will fund more than two years of a full bursary and will support a talented girl who would otherwise miss out on all that a Withington education offers. We are extremely grateful to Withington parents for their support in organising this event and for their suggestion that we take the opportunity to raise funds for bursary provision at Withington. One of our Sixth Form Bursary Ambassadors and Diana Bruce (Class of 2009), current WGS Head of Religious Studies and Head of Year, spoke about their experiences of being a bursary holder at Withington and the difference that this has made to them. Thank you to all those who so generously donated on the night.

“Withington has provid ed me with unforgettabl e memories which will stay rest of my life. I have experi with me for the enced first-hand how much Those who have the potent of a difference a bursar y can make. ial for excellence should be given the opportunity Withington, irrespective to flourish at of external factors, includ ing financial situations - just like I was.”

ZAHRA Class of 2023

WHERE GIRL S SH

INE

ESTATE PLANNING SEMINAR In April, former parent, Richard Bate, a partner at leading UK law firm, Weightmans, presented an online Estates Planning Seminar for members of the Withington community, including parents, alumnae and staff. The seminar, which was very wellreceived by those attending, was held to coincide with our newly produced publication for those considering making a gift to Withington in their Will. Gifts in Wills are invaluable in helping us to continue the school’s aims to provide talented girls with the opportunity to shine through all that a Withington education can offer, irrespective of financial situation. The brochure can be viewed via the QR code or, if you would like a printed copy, you can request one in confidence by contacting Lesley Dowdall on ldowdall@wgs.org.

NEWS OF FORMER PUPILS CAL MAJOR

(Class of 2006)

LAUNCH OF THE 1890 CIRCLE

WGS Alumna and adventurer, Cal Major, released a three-part series of her extraordinary journey around Scotland’s wild and dramatic coastline; Scotland: Ocean Nation. Cal, who is also a trained vet and an ocean advocate, has made the series to examine our human connection with the sea and to highlight the importance of the ocean’s role in the light of the current climate and biodiversity crises. The series is still available to anyone online in the UK and can be accessed via STV Player:

We recognise that today’s donors continue to play an instrumental role in continuing the founding ethos of Withington to offer educational opportunities to all girls who have potential, despite economic circumstances, and to provide all our pupils with the best educational experience possible. In April, we launched the 1890 Circle. This honours those donors who, over the years, have given significant support that helps uphold this founding ethos. At a lunch at the school, a plaque was unveiled by two current Sixth Form Bursary Ambassadors and donors were presented with a specially commissioned picture of the school created by alumna, Alex Sykes (Class of 2021). We would like to express our thanks to all our donors, without whom 1 in 6 of our Senior School students would not have the opportunity to attend Withington.

https://player.stv.tv/summary/reelsoulscotland-ocean-nation

WHY DID YOU BECOME A GP?

the perimenopause, the actions that we take, are incredibly important in supporting our well-being in later life. However, this can be quite a challenge for some women generally we all have busy lives and the ‘quick fix’ to make symptoms disappear is appealing. And it can be a challenge to make those lifestyle changes that become good habits for the rest of our lives.

I think the fact that I became a GP was down to attending WGS. I feel that I wouldn’t be in the same position if I had attended a different school. Withington helped me to develop the determination to keep striving, as well as a life-long love of learning. In the early days, I didn’t feel very confident in my abilities but gradually, with the fantastic support of my teachers, I started to feel as if I was getting there. The day I came top in a History test marked a real turning point for me and after that, I didn’t look back. Building up that resilience and not giving up, has really stuck with me and helped me to be in the position that I am today.

HOW HAVE YOU DEVELOPED YOUR WORK?

One of the things I did was to start a menopause clinic. I was unsure at first how popular it would be, but I needn’t have worried; I’ve been inundated, proving again, that women are seeking answers to their questions around menopausal symptoms. Symptoms like ‘brain fog’ and mood changes can occur way before periods have ceased and I would recommend that anyone in that position should see their GP to see if HRT may help. I also undertook more training to become a clinical sexologist, doing my last exam at the age of 51, and am now a Fellow of the European Society of Sexual Medicine. The physical, psychological and sexual repercussions of hormonal problems are often not given the attention needed. Women, and indeed men, feel that they just need to soldier on. Meeting my business partner at a conference in Prague and a subsequent conversation over a warming drink of spiced pear tea, was the catalyst for us to set up our business, Spiced Pear Health. We realised that not only were we passionate about the same areas of healthcare, but that we shared the same values and the same passion to improve the lives of those dealing with the menopause. Our approach is holistic and provides a space for patients to feel heard. It is wonderful to see women in my clinic; it is an hour for them to have some space to consider their symptoms and take a holistic approach in terms of lifestyle, diet, exercise and ageing and talk through all the management options. I have been a GP partner for the last two years and am heavily involved in operational decisions around the running of the practice to ensure that we are doing the best for our patients, which I love.

HOW DID YOU COME TO SPECIALISE IN THE MENOPAUSE? Although I’ve been a GP for 21 years and am now a partner in my practice, becoming a partner did not come easily. Along the way, I decided I needed to redefine what success meant for me. After spending time on self-development, I came to the conclusion that it meant creating something of my own and also to be able to practice medicine in the way that I felt that I would like to do so. Most of all, for me, success meant making a positive difference. It was my husband, who worked in pharmaceuticals, who first suggested that the menopause was an incredibly important area that wasn’t perhaps being given the attention it should. This resonated with me, having experienced my own difficult menopause journey. If that had been my experience, I reasoned that other women must be going through something similar. Where were they, though? I was not seeing them in my GP surgery, so who was looking after them and supporting them in the way that they needed? Having overcome my own symptoms, which made an incredible difference, I completed further training under the then Head of the British Menopause Society to become an accredited Menopause Specialist and now run both an NHS clinic in my surgery and set up my private clinic - Spiced Pear Health.

WHAT ARE SOME OF THE SIGNIFICANT THINGS YOU’VE COME UNDERSTAND THROUGH YOUR WORK?

HOW IMPORTANT IS YOUR VOLUNTARY WORK?

One of the most significant is that being proactive in dealing with the menopause also has long-term health benefits for women as they enter later life. Through reviewing the health of female patients in my practice over the age of 65, I realised that there were common factors for the ones whose health was good in older age. Speaking to them, the common factor seemed to be that someone had told them about the importance of healthy bones, exercise, and perhaps HRT in keeping well and healthy. I think this is a vital conversation to have, given that we could live up to a third of our lives post-menopausally. What we do during 1

I am passionate about giving something back and this is an important core value of our business; it’s important to use the knowledge I’ve gained to help inform and educate others. Maggie’s is a cancer support charity that provides free expert care and support in centres across the UK. I have been working with Maggie’s Cambridge as part of a pilot scheme to provide support and advice on the menopause to those undergoing cancer treatment. We also provide support on issues around sexual intimacy that might occur because of ongoing treatment. I now run this menopause workshop every month O

NEWS OF FORMER PUPILS

Angela Sharma (Class of 1990) is a partner in a GP practice in London. She is also an accredited menopause specialist, clinical sexologist and coowns her own company, Spiced Pear Health, an online menopause and sexology clinic. She recently became a trustee of the Menstrual Health Project. She is passionate about sharing her knowledge to make a positive difference to the lives of her patients.

DENISE PARNELL

(Class of 1979)

During the summer, Denise was named as the next, and first ever, female Championship Referee in the history of the Wimbledon tournament. Professional tennis referee Denise visited Withington last year and shared with students that to be the first female referee of one of the major tournaments was one of her career ambitions. We’re delighted that this will be fulfilled.

in Maggie’s West London and slowly this initiative is being rolled out across Maggie’s centres nationally. I am very proud to play a part in this initiative. I am also a trustee of a charity, the Menstrual Health Project. It’s a relatively young charity that promotes information around menstrual health and menstrual health-related conditions. The charity, run by two incredibly enthusiastic women, holds values similar to my own around giving sound, useful information to those who need it. They are developing a series of easy-to-read, free downloadable toolkits, including one for young women under 18 which they hope will be taken up in schools as part of their curriculum. I also sit on the charity’s medical advisory committee, looking over their information and supporting with future toolkits. It is so important for teenage girls to understand how their bodies work and what is normal and what isn’t. Likewise with the menopause, we need an informed understanding of what to expect and when we should be seeking help.

WHAT NEXT?

I’ve been on an amazing journey over the last two years. It was a steep learning curve starting a medical business from scratch, satisfying all the statutory requirements, as well as learning new business skills and tackling social media. We now have over 16,000 followers on Facebook. Another arm of our business at Spiced Pear Health is corporate work doing presentations and talks on menopause and women’s health for corporate clients, taking us into a new area. My vision for the future is that Spiced Pear Health would go global and we will be able to take our knowledge and support to as wide an audience as possible. There are so many countries where the conversations around the menopause are only just beginning. Even here in the UK there are significant numbers of women who are part of ethnic communities that are incredibly difficult to reach with important information about their health. It’s really important to me to share my knowledge with others to help them to make changes that will have a positive impact for the rest of their lives.

Visiting Wimbledon this summer, Susan Vinther (Class of 1982) was thrilled to have a chance meeting with Denise and to be able to congratulate her on her appointment.

JASMIN LANE

(Class of 2011)

Jasmin married Elliott Hobbs in July at Dorfold Hall, Nantwich. They had a wonderful day celebrating with family and friends, including a number of Withington alumnae. Sarah-Kate Eyre and Annie Jefferies, both from the Class of 2011, were bridesmaids. The three of them have been friends since Transition, so perhaps it’s no surprise that they all got married in the same year!

Angela’s suggestions for dealing with menopausal symptoms: 1. Try to make good lifestyle choices, such as: a. A healthy diet with a Mediterranean influence and low alcohol intake b. Exercise - a good mixture of cardiovascular, weightbearing, flexibility and balance c. Try to maintain strong bones - make sure you have enough calcium and Vitamin D - weightbearing exercise will also help 2. Exercise self-care - it is easy to prioritise everything or everyone else but it’s also important to take care of yourself. Think of it like being on a flight and putting your own oxygen mask on first so that you can help others. 3. Talk to your GP about your symptoms and whether HRT might help.

menstrualhealthproject.org.uk

spicedpearhealth.co.uk

3 IS THE MAGIC NUMBER! In September, we held our first Decades Reunion for those year groups celebrating significant anniversaries of leaving Withington. It was great to see alumnae from 1973, 1983, 1993 and 2003, especially as some of those attending hadn’t returned to Withington since finishing their last A Level exam! There was a real buzz as everyone greeted old friends and recognised and reconnected with those they hadn’t seen for years. Guests were also reminded of the depth of skill and talent that exists among Withington pupils as we were treated to contrasting but equally superb performances by Year 11 pupil Ziva,

accompanying herself on the guitar, and Natalie from Year 10, who also captivated the audience with her piano performance. Much reminiscing and catching up took place over lunch, followed by a tour. This brought back many memories of time at school, where a few tales caused much laughter. There was also much exclaiming about the new developments and additions to Withington facilities that have happened over the years. Thank you to everyone who attended and made our first full event since the pandemic such a fun occasion.

EMILY SIMON LUNCH

ONLINE ANNIVERSARY REUNIONS

The Emily Simon Society is made up of friends of the school who have pledged to leave a gift in their Will to Withington. This year, the annual Emily Simon Society lunch took place on Wednesday 7th June. After lunch, guests were treated to a lovely afternoon’s entertainment, having been kindly invited to attend one of the final rehearsals of the Junior School’s show, Mary Poppins JR, which was thoroughly enjoyed by all!

This year, we helped the Classes of 1968, 1978, 1988, 1998 and 2008 meet up online to celebrate significant anniversaries of leaving Withington that ended in a ‘5’. Although not meeting in person, this did create the opportunity for alumnae to sign in from all over the world, including India, Australia, Canada, France, Norway, Switzerland, France and USA.

CLASS OF 1989 REUNION

NEWS OF FORMER PUPILS

In October, the Class of 1989 organised a reunion held at The Pen and Pencil, a stylish Northern Quarter bar in Manchester. Nearly half the pupils from both the X and Y forms travelled from all over Britain and even as far as the Netherlands to catch up after 34 years, while others sent their regrets at missing it - in some cases due to train strikes and ﬂoods! Friends of old enjoyed a vegetarian buffet and plenty of drinks to ensure nobody felt hoarse, after so much chatting.

LIZZY BURDEN

(Class of 2009)

It was a case of full circle for Lizzy in October when she was invited to be a judge for the Royal Economic Society’s Young Economist of the Year Award. Lizzy, who is currently the UK Correspondent for Bloomberg TVUK, was the winner of the award herself sixteen years ago whilst still at Withington. She was delighted that the winners this year were also from a school in the North West.

Full of chatter and laughter, everyone seemed to be enjoying themselves, as old friendships were rekindled and promises to do it again soon made.

“Lovely to catch up with everybody” “Wonderful reunion - so much warmth” “So many amazing women in one bar” “A lovely trip down memory lane”

“Everybody was lovely, and nobody was even slightly boastful, no matter how successful they’d become!” “Let’s not leave it so long before the next one”

Saturday 21st September, 11am.

Next year, we look forward to welcoming anyone who left Withington in a year ending in a 4! If that is you, and you are still in touch with others in your year group who may not be in contact with us, please pass on the date and encourage them to contact the Development team so that we can keep as many alumnae as possible abreast of the plans. If you are wondering whether it will be worth attending, here are a few thoughts from attendees of this year’s reunion. “I felt quite apprehensive about going along, but within a minute of arriving, I was so glad I’d done so. I was really surprised how comfortable I felt about meeting everyone again, how friendly everyone was, and how quickly we just slipped back into our old ways.”

“Do go! I almost didn’t go but am so pleased that I did!”

“Do it! even if you haven’t been back to WGS for years or at all. There will definitely be people there that you know.”

Online Reunions 2024 • Class of 2009 15 years Wednesday 31st January • Class of 1999 25 years Wednesday 21st February

“It’s very relaxed & informal friendly setting, nothing to lose, nice to reconnect and share old memories and new news!”

• Class of 1989 35 years Wednesday 17th April • Class of 1979 45 years Wednesday 15th May We’ll be sending out more details at the beginning of 2024.

“You will be surprised at all the memories you have between you and the years just slip away. You are back as pupils of WGS.” 2

AS A PUPIL

AS A MEMBER OF STAFF

Many years ago, my Junior School teacher suggested I be entered for WGS entrance exam so my mum duly dropped me off on the bus. They asked my name and said I wasn’t on the list, so I said those immortal words, “Is this not Withington Girls’ School?” and that is when I found out that I’d been dropped off at MHSG. Fortunately, although I arrived 45 minutes late, WGS took pity on me and did let me sit the exam. They do now have Open Days so that families like mine have the opportunity to check out where the school is...

What fun I’ve had; what a privilege to teach such talented, engaging individuals. I hope that I persuaded some of them of the importance of learning languages; how it is about understanding that others see things in a different way and about promoting empathy. It is about experiencing the joy and enrichment that learning another culture brings and the intellectual challenge of puzzling out the code of another language and then using the patterns to create your own answers. What fun I’ve had working alongside such inspiring individuals who have supported and encouraged me along the way and agreed to go on all those trips in their holidays and at weekends... who have done the night walk, paddled up ghylls, endured roller coasters, made and eaten home-made picnics on coaches. I’ve organised and been a staff member on so many wonderful trips: many French exchanges to Paris; exchanges with the Lycée des Flandres in Hazebrouck in partnership with MGS from where we enjoyed trips to Belgium - Ghent, Brussels, Ypres. The Year 8/9 French trip when I tried to fit in as many theme parks as possible into six days - Disneyland, Parc Asterix, Puy du Fou, Futuroscope: the Spanish exchange to Barcelona, visits to the Rhine Valley, Moscow, Leningrad, the Battlefields, DofE expeditions. And last, but definitely not least, 18 trips to Ghyll Head! Many, many wonderful memories! Two other particular highlights of my career at Withington include organising the language careers event: ‘Passport to a Brighter Future’ in 2016, supported by colleagues from the Languages and Classics Department. It was a true celebration of the exciting opportunities enjoyed by WGS alumnae who explained the role that learning languages has had on their very

FOND MEMORIES AS A PUPIL • Light lunches - we felt so grown up as Sixth Formers when we could choose this option which was basically two cream crackers and a square of butter and one of paste!! • Lower Sixth Trip to Rome, Florence and Venice - a real highlight which inspired my love of Italy. I recall setting off with three friends to visit the Colosseum and we invested in a bottle of Asti Spumante on the way back - so reckless! • Lacrosse - I must admit I was not the sportiest and we were not allowed to play lacrosse with balls, so I’m great at cradling. If you got changed quickly you could get lax sticks 4 and 12 and you could wedge the balls in them. • Domestic Science - not my forte. My mum used my breadmaking effort for a while to keep the lid on the bin. And I’m still not sure why there was a Yorkshire terrier in the food storeroom... • Pets Club - longing to be allowed to look after Ermintrude the guinea pig and always being on stick insect duty. • Getting tied to the bus by the ties on the hood of your gaberdine.

NEWS OF FORMER PUPILS Yorke Menzies (Class of 1982) has experienced Withington as a pupil, a parent and as a member of staff and Head of French. Madame Menzies will be a familiar face for many alumnae. Last July, after 20 years teaching here, she bid Withington au revoir. We asked her to reﬂect on her time at WGS and share some of her memories.

ALISON HAY NÉE COXON

(Class of 2011)

“On 16th September 2023, George and I got married at Dorfold Hall, Nantwich. George, a former MGS pupil, and I met at PhilSoc dinner in 2009 - and have been together ever since! We had the best possible day celebrating with friends and family, including many guests from WGS and MGS. Two of my bridesmaids were Withington pupils, Julia Edbrooke (née Rose) and Faye Lewington (née Sheldon), both Class of 2011, as well as the Mother of the Bride, Ruth Coxon (née Parish), Class of 1976. It was also special to see María López, my former Spanish teacher at Withington and a close family friend of George’s family, also there to celebrate with us.”

different and varied careers. The second was successfully applying for 72,000 Euros funding for The Erasmus Project which allowed 29 members of staff to attend language learning trips in France, Germany, Spain and Italy, bringing their new-found knowledge back to Withington and resulting in one member of staff deciding to retrain as a language teacher. I’m incredibly grateful to all my colleagues, especially the MFL Department, as we’ve negotiated endless course specification and technological changes. I’ve had such fun, not only on trips, but singing in the choir, helping with shows and musical events, and who can forget the staff pantomimes? There are such funny memories, like the time my shadow Form Tutor ate a full packet of Walkers crisps during Founders’ Day; or when a previous exams officer practised her fencing moves whilst invigilating in the Language Lab…only at WGS; when I slipped in the river at Ghyll Head, up to my chin in water, only to be asked by a concerned student if the camera was OK whilst I emptied out my wellies and waterproof trousers! As we all know, the school motto is Ad Lucem - towards the light; Withy Girls know no boundaries and I am proud to be one. On my last day at the end of this year’s Summer Term, a very poignant moment was singing Go Forth with God. It’s always such a special moment which still makes me cry. My parting words to the pupils at my valedictory assembly included the lines, ‘Make of earth a paradise, the substance of your dearest dreams’ and ‘Bring laughter to your great employ! Go forth with God and find His joy!’

N’OUBLIEZ PAS… Soyons reconnaissants aux personnes qui nous donnent du bonheur Elles sont les charmants jardiniers pour qui nos âmes sont ﬂeuries Let us be grateful to the people who make us happy They are the charming gardeners who make our souls blossom Marcel Proust

HOW DID YOU COME TO BE A MASTER OF WINE?

WHAT CAN BE DONE TO HELP WINE BECOME MORE EASILY UNDERSTOOD?

I got into wine quite by chance really. I’d studied Geography at Emmanuel College, Cambridge, which in hindsight was great preparation for the wine industry. As a subject it touches on everything such as soil, climate, but also people and culture. It also fuels your curiosity and I’ve always been a curious person. I then gained a Masters in International Studies. Having worked for a few years, I decided that, at the grand old age of 25, I should learn something about wine. This changed my life. Having been to a few wine tastings, I suddenly realised that there was so much more to it than just drinking wine: how come no-one had told me before? I started to find out as much as I possibly could - I was a big fan of Saturday Kitchen in the early days and read a lot of books, made a lot of notes In the end, I decided that I wanted to work in the wine industry and managed to find a position at Berry Bros. & Rudd. Naively, I didn’t realise that they were the oldest wine company in the country! The great thing is though that in the wine industry everyone has to start off at the bottom. I started out supporting the events department and absorbed as much as I could, gradually working my way up to Head of Events, managing over 1200 events a year. It’s thanks to Berry Bros. & Rudd that I became a Master of Wine, as they supported me in gaining my qualifications.

I’m passionate about making the world of wine more approachable. My work in events and subsequently working in marketing and communications as Head of Content has encouraged me in that people really want to learn about wine. But they are also anxious not to appear too ignorant. They worry a lot about what they should drink with what food, etc. My approach is to suggest that they should drink what they enjoy. As a company we have developed a podcast which is a series of conversations that hopefully helps to educate people but in a relaxed kind of way. I’m currently working on the next series which will hopefully bring some new perspectives too. Wine is about hospitality and sharing the experience. It should be something enjoyable and fun, not something that causes people to worry or feel inadequate.

WHAT ARE THE CHALLENGES OF BEING A FEMALE IN THE WINE INDUSTRY?

WHAT IS ENTAILED IN BECOMING A MASTER OF WINE? I think it is one of the hardest professional qualifications in the world! There were 210 people sitting the final exams at the same time as me, some of them for the fifth time (it is so difficult, you are allowed five attempts). That year, there were only 14 of us who passed. There is so much to learn; technical details about soil types, different terrains, yeast strains, the shipping of wine, the economics of the wine market place. Then there are tasting skills - you need to be able to blind taste a wine accurately, in some cases not just the grape or the region, but right down to the particular vineyard or village of origin. The final exams take place over four days and include both theory and tasting papers. You also have to undertake a piece of original research that will bring a new insight to the wine industry. My project was on the wines of Italy and the effect of how we talk about wine and how this affects consumers. The very specific industry terms we use can be a barrier to consumers engaging with and enjoying wine.

There is no doubt that the wine industry has been traditionally a male-dominated industry and that can still be the case in some areas. It is definitely harder as a female but I think that is slowly changing. For example, out of the 413 Masters of Wine in the world, 148 of them are women. The current Chair of Berry Bros. & Rudd is Lizzy Rudd, and more than half of the board members are also female. In fact, the company was started in 1698 by a woman, a widow who established a grocer’s shop opposite St. James’s Palace. This eventually evolved into the wine & spirits merchant of today, which is still a family-run business.

NEWS OF FORMER PUPILS VALERIE TOMLINSON

(Class of 1958)

In last year’s Withington Onwards we reported that Valerie, in an effort to provide a habitat for the frogs of Frogpool, Cornwall, had built two ponds in her garden. We were delighted when Valerie contacted us earlier this year to let us know that that she had spotted tadpoles.

Barbara (Class of 2004) is one of 413 Masters of Wine in the world. She works for the oldest wine merchants in the country, Berry Bros. & Rudd in London, where she is currently Head of Content.

“Here is a current snap of the little ‘second pond’ (created because newts ate all the tadpoles in the first one). Delighted to report that even in the first one which is crowded with newts today, there were several tadpole survivors hiding away in the ranunculus. Note the crowd of them eating magnolia blossom! Three cheers for the natural world!”

HOW SUSTAINABLE IS THE WINE INDUSTRY, ESPECIALLY IN THE FACE OF CLIMATE CHANGE? Lizzy Rudd, our Chair, champions sustainability as one of the company’s core values and has committed the company to long-term environmental goals. Essentially, the problem for the wine industry is the increasing unpredictability of the climate. You can get a warm early spring that nudges the vines into growth, followed by late cold snaps and then heat spikes in summer and then storms. Producers are hugely worried and it’s also a challenge for small companies to deal with this variability each year. Producing wine is a long-term venture it takes between 20 and 30 years to produce the best grapes. Because it is so difficult to make a profit as grower, there is no certainty that younger members of the family will want to take over. Environmentally, the wine industry is trying to make significant and muchneeded changes. The problem is that vines can be very susceptible to disease. In France, wine accounts for 3% of the national agricultural product, but the industry accounts for 10% of the national use of pesticides and fungicides. However, over the last ten years, producers are getting very much better at introducing organic and sustainable initiatives. It is a delicate balancing act in terms of being sustainable and not losing their crops but they are working hard at making changes, especially the smaller vineyards. Although we like to have quite a romanticised view of vineyards and wine making, it is worth bearing in mind that, for the big brand wine makers, it is a big industrial production process.

WHAT ABOUT LIFE OUTSIDE OF THE WORLD OF WINE? I think I must enjoy tricky challenges! At the same time that I started studying to become a Master of Wine, I took up running ultra-marathons. I decided I needed a counter-balance to all the studying. Recently, I completed the Isles Ultra which involved running 300km in six days, from the tip of Vatersay to the Butt of Lewis in the north, the entire length of the inhabited isles of the Outer Hebrides, and it was tough! I like to remind myself though, that I can do difficult things; humans are built for challenge. My next running challenge is running the length of Ridgeway non-stop - 86 miles. I think you get better at these sort of challenges the more you do; you come to understand that it is a psychological resilience that is needed - you know from experience that you will be able to keep going.

HOW DO YOU SEE YOUR CAREER DEVELOPING? What I love about my job is engaging with consumers and helping them to enjoy and understand wine and all it entails. Also, I always say ‘yes’ to the things that interest me. It’s a great environment for someone like me. I think it suits me because I’m a bit of a Withington nerd - my natural curiosity means that I love developing a comprehensive understanding of something that piques my interest. Fortunately, the world of wine is huge; there is always something for me to learn! You can listen to Barbara’s podcast here: https://www.bbr.com/podcast/series3

CAREERS SUPPORT help with mock Oxbridge interviews. This year Elin Donnelly (Class of 2018) attended the Year 12 Oxbridge Information Evening in March to talk to pupils and their parents about the different elements of the application process. This was followed in July by a talk involving three alumane, Emma Wilson (Class of 2021), Safa Saeed (Class of 2021) and Maryam Mahmood (Class of 2022), about studying Law at Oxbridge. Sitara Bartle Davies (Class of 2017) shared her advice with students at the interview workshop in October. In June, many of the Class of 2022 returned to talk to Year 12 about the university application process and their experiences since they left Withington, whether that be gap years or their first year at university. This was followed by their first official reunion since leaving school. It was great to see them back at Withington! We would also like to thank all of the alumnae who supported the mock interviews last November for aspiring medics, dentists and vets. We are incredibly grateful to everyone who is kind enough to support current students through volunteering. If you think you might like to give back in this way, please contact the Development Team, development@wgs.org and we will register your interest.

The contribution made by alumnae and other friends of Withington to share their experiences and expertise with current students is incredibly valuable and much appreciated by Withington pupils and staff. It makes a huge difference in supporting the students in their decision-making around the future and acts as incredible inspiration for them to pursue their own dreams. It was great to welcome back Clare Sibley (Class of 2005), Head of Quality and Manufacturing Engineering at Formula One’s Williams Racing, to launch STEM week at Withington with an insightful assembly about her journey in engineering, sharing interesting tips on the industry and helpful advice on work and career aspirations more generally. Students interested in exploring engineering then had the opportunity to speak with Clare in more detail. Deshna Shah (Class of 2017) also returned to Withington following her year studying at Princeton University to share insights into her artistic career so far (see Withingon Onwards 2022-3). Pupils who didn’t already know Deshna were delighted to discover that she is the artist behind the vibrant circular artworks still on show in the Hub. Dr Vilela, Head of Chemistry and Withington’s Oxbridge coordinator, is always keen to express her thanks to alumnae who respond to her requests to share their experiences or

DofE GOLD AWARDS AT THE PALACE

NEWS OF FORMER PUPILS

Eight Withington alumnae from the Class of 2022, attended a Gold Award celebration at Buckingham Palace in May 2023. During the week, His Royal Highness The Duke of Edinburgh welcomed 9,000 Gold DofE Award holders to Buckingham Palace Garden across two days - his first celebrations as the charity’s Patron.

BLOSSOM HIBBERT

(Class of 2018)

Congratulations to Karma Kabbani, Charlie Bell, Maya Davies, Niamh Coyne, Sofia Risino, Hannah Whiteson, Silvia McCarthy and Sarah Chan.

Blossom, now qualified as a vet, had her first book of poetry, suddenly, it’s now, published this year. Blossom let us know about the poetry book and expressed her thanks to former Head of English, Mrs Christine Davies, for the support she gave during Blossom’s time at Withington. Blossom says that Withington was paramount to her becoming the person that she is today: “I hold very fond memories of Withington and always enjoyed coming into school. Pets Club was my refuge; I had a little group of friends and we practically lived there! Then I went on to become a vet.” Her book is published by Leafe Press.

GIVING DAY 2024 WGS Giving Day returns for 36 hours only on Wednesday 20th March! It’s an opportunity for the whole Withington community to come together in celebration to raise funds for the Marjorie Hulme Bursary Fund. Pupils will be taking part in challenges during the day and we’ll be asking the Withington community at large to encourage them by making donations to help to unlock match funding pledged in advance by fellow alumnae and other friends of Withington. House challenges will definitely be back! This proved to be an extremely competitive and fiercely contested part of Giving Day 2022, with pupils and alumnae alike determined that their house would top the leader board! Last time, thanks to a late surge in donations, Scott emerged victorious but it could be a different picture in 2024. Once again, we are looking for individuals to become Giving Day Ambassadors in order to spread our digital communications to fellow members of the Withington community in the run up and on the day itself. If you feel that you would like to support our aims to see 1 in 6 become 1 in 5 pupils of the Senior School benefitting from a Withington bursary, please email development@wgs.org.

Kate Russell (Class of 1989) owns her own natural capital consultancy. She explains what attracted her into a career in land agency and how her work now supports farmers and land managers to find sustainable ways to re-invest in the natural environment that we all rely on.

Agricultural Valuer, winning the award for top exam results in my region at a time when there were very few women in senior roles in the profession. I knew a handful of other female trainees but hardly any female qualified practitioners, yet it never occurred to me to question whether I could do it - just the opposite of the mantra we hear today which holds that “you have to see it to be it”. I credit my Withington education for developing my self-belief and an expectation of achievement; at school, I don’t remember much debate about being female or what that meant - just the expectation that we could all go on and do whatever we wanted to do, provided that we worked at it. For me, that created the self-confidence to push forward in this somewhat traditional profession.

Not many WGS girls go to agricultural college but for me it was the natural environment to learn about… the natural environment! Having been brought up in rural Cheshire, I wanted a career in the countryside and chose to study rural land management. You could say it was the profession I was born in to: my father, grandfather and great-grandfather were all agricultural valuers and livestock auctioneers and my mother’s family were farmers. This family link is still pretty common in the property profession in general and rural practice in particular: careers in property don’t have the same profile as those in law, medicine, teaching or engineering, so many people simply aren’t aware of the great range of opportunities which are out there unless they know someone in the business.

Over the next fifteen years, I worked in a variety of roles in private practice and even returned to Cirencester as a lecturer in rural estate management for a few years, before landing a fascinating job with one of our professional bodies, the Central Association of Agricultural Valuers, as a technical and policy adviser. I spent more than a decade briefing practitioners across the UK and becoming involved in policy work on subjects as varied as residential property, telecoms masts, property taxation and compulsory purchase and compensation, working with civil servants in Westminster, Edinburgh, Cardiff and Belfast. Part of my role was in picking up new subjects which would affect the profession in future and, about ten years ago, one of these new subjects was the natural capital approach to land management. I immediately found this new subject engaging, appealing and challenging and the more I learnt about it, the more I felt that this was where I wanted to direct my energies.

In the early 1990s, when I headed off to university, land agency (as it is colloquially known) was very much a maledominated profession. The Royal Agricultural College, Cirencester was the home of the largest and most longestablished rural land management courses and there was a strong likelihood that whoever interviewed me for my first job would be an RAC alumnus. There was clearly an “old boys’ network”, so I took a calculated decision to join it in order to boost my chances of a good job on graduation and off I went to the Cotswolds. I can’t pretend that life at Withington prepared me particularly well for an institution which had only admitted women a decade earlier, where the ratio of men to women was 6:1 and with more than its fair share of over-confident, hard drinking, rugby playing public schoolboys! Fortunately, I had been in the Young Farmers organisation as a teenager, so I soon found my feet and I found my tribe in the drama and debating societies. Three years later, I graduated with an honours degree in Rural Land Management, a prize for the best potential land agent of the year and a job as a trainee land agent in the Lake District.

I blame what happened next on a combination of mid-life crisis and Covid lockdown! Although I had worked from home for many years, I had always travelled around the country to meetings and very much enjoyed getting out to see people, but suddenly I was stuck at home doing those meetings on a screen. I had time to think about making a change and, all the while, the natural capital approach was becoming more widely discussed in policy circles. I began to wonder if I could forge a new career as a consultant in this exciting new subject, so I picked the brains of some trusted friends and in a matter of weeks, Tellus Natural Capital was born, in Spring 2021.

In Cumbria, my education continued; I learnt how to manage rural estates and clients, how to value land and property and how to negotiate a rent review with a hard bitten hill farmer or a compulsory purchase compensation claim with an equally hard bitten District Valuer. I passed two sets of professional exams to qualify as a Chartered Surveyor and an 2

So, what is the natural capital approach and what exactly does a natural capital consultant do? Our “natural capital” is the environment that we all, ultimately, rely on: the soil, water, air and biodiversity that supports the human, O

NEWS OF FORMER PUPILS AMY MCKEOWN

(Class of 1998)

When she went on a retreat for women entrepreneurs last Autumn, Amy hadn’t realised that she would be taking on the Wim Hof Method and an ice bath! Amy, an award-winning mental health and wellbeing strategist and mentor, confesses that she is happiest in much warmer temperatures. However, she was determined not to leave at the end of the retreat annoyed with herself for not taking on the challenge, so she ‘got out of my own way and did it’. The video she shared on LinkedIn shows her being submerged in icy water for two minutes but, demonstrating what could be described as true Withington resilience, she emerged rightly proud of herself, feeling transformed and ready to take on any new challenges.

economic and social capital underpinning our society. We have been drawing down on our natural capital for decades, if not centuries, and we urgently need to start re-investing in it. We need to invest in healthy soil, clean water, fresh air and abundant biodiversity, but traditional economic models don’t recognise these environmental “goods” - they are mostly delivered imperfectly, if at all, as by-products of food and timber production or recreation and tourism markets. We are now starting to see new markets emerge for carbon credits, biodiversity net gain and natural ﬂood management - they are nascent, imperfect markets with all sorts of ﬂaws and challenges, but they are a start. With support from government grants we are trying to find ways to make those markets work for farmers and land managers, so that they can be properly rewarded for reinvesting in nature alongside growing food, fibre and timber. It’s an exciting and fast-paced world and I am thoroughly enjoying the challenge of running my own company.

Amy is always happy to hear from old Withingtonians - get in touch via her website, www.amymckeown.com.

Why “Tellus Natural Capital”? Because Tellus was the Roman goddess of the earth, the original Earth Mother as Tellus Mater and cousin to Ceres, goddess of agriculture. When you pray to Tellus, you do so with your hands stretched down to the earth, so she is the perfect deity to watch over my business! I just hope that Mrs Hill, who tried to teach me a little bit of Latin all those years ago, would be pleased. Kate Russell and her business, Tellus Natural Capital Ltd, can be found on LinkedIn and X, formerly known as Twitter.

Many esteemed guests have delivered speeches at Founders’ Day and within our assembly halls and classrooms. Often, they have taken the opportunity to speak about the role of citizenship in our school as well as across Greater Manchester, nationally and globally. The importance of community, compassion for others, mutual support and social responsibility has always been at the heart of our school. From small gestures to working with large organisations, over the course of our long history, pupils, staff and friends have contributed to acts of kindness and philanthropy. The following stories and snippets from Newsletters and school publications, demonstrate how small acts of fellowship and cooperation have made a difference to our local community and beyond. Our Founders understood the importance of equal educational opportunities for girls and on 16th October 1889, the very first meeting was held to discuss the formation of our school. On commemoration of the very first Founders’ Day in 1925, it was stated that, ‘It was felt that education ought to take account of the bodies as well as the souls of the children, and that it should aim at an all-round mental development and outlook. It was felt, too, that education, to be of value, should be valued by the child, and that the child should be interested in its work.’ Our school has been fortunate to receive many distinguished guests over the years. Such guests have included the Bishop of Birmingham, whose father-in-law was the former Chairman of Governors, Sir Adolphus Ward. During his address to the school in 1930, Dr. E. W. Barnes expressed the following to pupils, ‘Well, now, you girls will be the women of the future, and women to whom will come, rather naturally, no little importance in your own community. You will have had a valuable education. Are you going to use it right? Are you going to do your part - as much as in you lies - to create this better England of which one can quite legitimately dream? I hope you will play such a part in the re-moulding and re-shaping of the community.’ Later, in an address directed at parents, the Bishop of Birmingham explained that Sir Adolphus Ward, ‘wished the girls to develop beautiful manners and true sympathies, to have the spirit that never forgets others, to work for spiritual unity and to fight unswervingly that battle of intellectual freedom.’

Our school community has consistently engaged with international affairs and provided where possible, aid and financial contributions during conﬂicts such as The Boer War, World War One and World War Two. The 1914 Newsletter explains about a creative fundraising activity that raised money for wounded Belgian soldiers as well as the British Red Cross Societies, ‘The Arts and Crafts’ Exhibition was held on Tuesday and Wednesday, October 27th and 28th. The girls suggested utilizing the opportunity to contribute something to the National need through their own work, and so many of the exhibits were for sale. Parents and visitors were most generous, and, by the end of the second day, the pleasing sum of £14 18s. 8d. was realised.’ The Arts and Crafts event continued each year, aiming to raise money for charities supporting the war efforts. Pupils and staff also aided the maintenance of a bed at the Lawnhurst Red Cross Hospital, raised money for St. Dunstan’s Home for Blinded Soldiers and Sailors and girls made woollen goods, clothes and sandbags for those in need. Different Headmistresses have demonstrated what it is to be a good citizen, too. Upon her retirement in 1938, Miss Grant shared her wishes for Withington pupils past and present saying, ‘I hope they will look on Freedom as singularly precious, in the sense of Freedom being the power within themselves to do what is right, reasonable and courteous.’ Miss Grant hoped that pupils would, ‘get understanding in the things of the spirit, evolving the qualities of judgment and mercy, that will enable them to enter into the thoughts and feelings of their fellow-men.’ It appears that Miss Bain showed acts of kindness as part of her daily routine. Written in her memorial in the 1979 School Newsletter, a past parent is recorded as saying, ‘the doctor had ordered our daughter away from the then smoky atmosphere of Manchester to cleaner air. While she was still at home, however, Miss Bain came regularly to sit with her. It was a time of severe rationing, and Miss Bain brought her own cheese ration to the child, claiming that she herself never ate cheese. I have no doubt that other parents and girls will remember similar “acts of kindness and of love”. I like to think of the Head Girl who sat down to face her first paper in the Oxford Entrance Examination and was cheered to find standing on her desk a jug of daffodils from the Headmistress.’

Many international collaborations and worldwide friendships have been forged over the years and Mrs Kenyon oversaw a fantastic array of opportunities. In the School Newsletter from 2000, Mrs Neal documented that Mrs Kenyon, ‘always sees the school in the bigger perspective of life beyond its walls. Opportunities to welcome visitors were all taken - whether it was HRH Princess Anne at the time of the Centenary, or a Headmaster from Beijing who asked her, through a translator, what she was looking for when she interviewed prospective staff. Her support of the groundbreaking Withington/MGS exchange with Wenhan High School in Wuhan, China did much to ensure its success.’ Mrs Kenyon was also responsible for communicating with former pupil, Ann Lipson, to organise fundraising initiatives for the construction of a special needs classroom for Sosio Primary School in Kenya. We continue to conduct trips abroad that enable students and staff to work with others to bring about impactful change; the Gambia trip being a prime example. During her first Founders’ Day speech in 2000, Mrs Pickering continued to impress the value of responsibility and using our education for good, ‘Schools should be providing the materials and the environment to, in the words of the recently revised National Curriculum, enable all pupils to respond positively to the opportunities and challenges of the rapidly changing world in which we live and work. Academic achievement should be complemented by the capacity to apply knowledge, responsibly, and by the development of personal qualities and skills.’ Citizenship Day was launched in 2007 and continues to be an important and celebrated day in the school year. This is an opportunity for pupils and staff to work in partnership with local charities and community organisations. Activities include car washes and cake sales to raise money for The Christie, the annual Senior Citizens’ Christmas Concert, sports activities with young children, work shadowing, painting murals and gardening at local primary schools. Each year there is a dedicated team of pupils who record the activities of Citizenship Day through the production and publication of ‘The Citizen’. In the 2016 edition, the Headmistress, Mrs Marks, was interviewed and said,

‘I’ve always thought that this is one of the most important days of the School year because it does not have anything to do with exams and it is not to do with preparing for exams or grade sheets or reports. It is to do with us remembering that we are a part of a wider community and that whilst we have the privilege of an education that others cannot dream of having, that brings responsibility with it and a responsibility to the people in our community in particular.’ During the challenges of the pandemic, the sense of our school community played a significant role in our lives. Pupils and staff supported elderly neighbours by cooking meals and tending to gardens. Our community members sewed masks and scrubs for NHS workers and the Art Department staff and students created portraits of alumnae who were key workers. The 2021 Citizenship Day theme was titled ‘Equality, Diversity, Inclusion and Citizenship’. In the Headmistress’s report for the 2021 Newsletter, Mrs Haslam said, ‘Withington pupils care deeply about their world and are keen to make their own valuable contribution to it. Their engagement with the themes of Equality, Diversity and Inclusion on our Citizenship Day in July was inspiring and many Withington pupils have also taken part in community and partnership activities this year, raised funds for charity, and raised awareness of issues facing our society and our world.’ The feeling of camaraderie and mutual respect makes our school a happy place to study and work. There are multiple community initiatives that now run each year. These include the brilliant Manchester Sings event, Anti-Bullying Week, foodbank collections, Science Communicators, SHiNE Together, as well as Feel Fab Feb and our Culture Day. Our school community has the desire to make positive change where we live, and reﬂects the sentiments in the 1948 Founders’ Day speech, delivered by the first woman to be Lord Mayor of Manchester, Miss Mary L. Kingsmill Jones, ‘Finally, they should know and practice all that was implied in being a good citizen. They must ask themselves: “England has helped me - how can I help England?”’

MISS HANNAH BROWN SCHOOL ARCHIVIST

MRS YORKE MENZIES language and making new friends - this is what Yorke truly does best. This was a very successful experience: many staff now integrate elements of their experiences into their own teaching. An integral member of the pastoral team, the girls have always benefitted from her warmth and empathy, her sound and pragmatic advice, good sense of humour and her kindhearted nature. As the Head of Year 7 for several years, Yorke went above and beyond to ensure the best possible start at Withington for our pupils, ensuring they were warmly welcomed and the school ethos and values were celebrated and understood by our youngest girls. Over the years, Yorke became known as something of a Ghyll Head legend by the staff up there: her selﬂess enthusiasm has ensured that all our pupils had the opportunity to get to know their new friends and staff in the beautiful Lake District. The Ghyll Head staff join us in wishing Yorke all the very best for her retirement. A very keen and talented singer, it has always been a true pleasure to see Yorke singing with the choir at concerts and services. There is much that Yorke has planned now that she has left WGS. She will no doubt swiftly become the most efficient church warden that her local church has ever had and she is volunteering with a local Christian charity for people affected by drug and alcohol addiction. Whilst fitting in time to keep up with her hobbies of crocheting and cross stitching, most of any free time will be spent with her beloved horse Jasper and Archie the dog. There are so many pupils and colleagues who have so much to thank Yorke for during her 20 years at WGS. She will be much missed by girls and the staff alike and we wish her every happiness in the many varied and exciting projects she has planned. We thank her warmly for her years of outstanding teaching and valuable contributions to the life of Withington.

Yorke has known WGS as a former pupil, a parent and returned as a teacher in 2003. She became Head of the French Department in 2006. There are many pupils who have benefited enormously from being taught by Yorke. French has always attracted large numbers of pupils to study the subject to GCSE and a smaller number of A Level pupils enjoy the linguistic challenges of not only speaking French but analysing literature and French culture. Yorke tirelessly kept abreast of all current issues and any new cultural trends in French-speaking countries so that these could be passed on to her colleagues and classes. Yorke brought French alive with her numerous trips and activities. Joining exchanges and trips within the wider Modern Foreign Language Department, Yorke was involved in setting up the Spanish exchange to Barcelona. In 2023, she joined with the History Department for the Battlefields Trip and the History team were particularly grateful for her language skills when the coach became lost, and a local French driver began explaining where we needed to go! In every trip in which she was involved, Yorke has always been the perfect colleague. She is lovely to spend time with, always the first to step up to help organise both pupils and activities, and always so enthusiastic about everything on the trip. It is very fitting that for many years Yorke was the school’s Educational Visits Coordinator, a role which involved her overseeing systems for school trips, and one which she fulfilled with great efficiency. Enthusiastic for more staff members to improve their understanding of different languages, York made a bid titled ‘Empathy, Enrichment, Enhancement’ for an Erasmus award which enabled 29 staff to take part in language learning trips to France, Spain, Germany and Italy. The opportunity to spend time immersed in the culture of the country, speaking the

MRS JILL BOWIE In the summer of 2023 we bade farewell to Mrs Jill Bowie who left Withington after 27 years of teaching. Jill started her career as a Teacher of English at Withington in 1996 and, since then she has been tireless in her commitment to the school and its pupils. A passionate and dedicated English teacher, Jill has inspired countless pupils with her love of English Literature and her extensive knowledge of the canon, which far exceeds the set texts which frequent the English specifications. Jill’s subject knowledge is superb and her teaching engaging - many pupils have developed a love of reading and drama in Jill’s classes through lively and thoughtful discussion and Jill’s commitment to finding something that could unlock potential and commitment in all of her pupils. Many of Jill’s A Level students have gone on to read English and related subjects at university, often taking this forward into their careers. Soon after she joined the staff at Withington, in addition to her English teaching, Jill was responsible for founding the Psychology Department here at WGS and soon established it as a growing department and Psychology A Level a popular area of study within the school. It is difficult to imagine our Sixth Form without Psychology today and we are very grateful to Jill for sowing the seeds and establishing this key area of our Key Stage Five curriculum. Jill has always been a caring teacher who has understood how the academic and pastoral combine. An excellent Form Tutor with experience across the school, Jill developed particular expertise at Sixth Form level and was a Sixth Form Tutor for many years, encouraging the girls to build their confidence and self-belief as they prepared for life beyond school. An excellent UCAS referee, Jill supported many Sixth Form pupils through the university application process, helping them to see the opportunities ahead. Beyond the classroom, Jill enthusiastically encouraged pupils in English related co-curricular activities. Residential trips to Stratford-upon-Avon and to the Arden Trust were always very popular and pupils benefited tremendously from Jill’s enthusiasm and ability to inspire a love of learning. She also led many WGS teams through the local Mock Trial competition, imbuing many girls with a passion for pursuing a legal career, and giving all the opportunity to develop their speaking, listening, writing and debating skills and gain the invaluable experience of presenting in a courtroom. There was much success and always great fun. Jill has been a super colleague and her caring and nurturing nature ensured that she was an incredibly popular member of the Withington staff. Her exquisite handwriting has also been admired and emulated by generations of pupils! A teacher who has no doubt made an impact on generations of pupils and shown many how the power of literature can so positively enhance our lives. On behalf of pupils and staff, present and past, who have worked with Jill, we thank her most warmly for all she has given to the English Department and to the wider life of the school.

AMNA MOHAMMED (Class of 2004) Died December 2022 Amna was the oldest daughter of Ayub and Lubna Mohammed. She loved her time at Withington and was very proud of being a Withington alumna, benefitting from the skills and attributes the school developed within her. Her parents still have her original offer letter for Junior School sent to the young Amna, aged 7, by the then Headmistress, Mrs Kenyon. It is fitting that later Amna would support the Bursary Fund at Withington through sponsoring a brick for the Ad Lucem Walk at the front of the school, thus providing a lasting tribute to her memory and of her time at Withington. She studied Speech and Language Therapy at the University of Manchester, graduated in 2006, and later went on to work for a long time for Trafford Council in an administrative role, as well as working for a time as a support worker for looked after children. Amna met her husband whilst on a holiday to Turkey and, after settling in Manchester, the couple had their daughter, Melissa, in 2016. Amna had always wished for a daughter and was incredibly proud of her little girl and loved her very much. Amna was full of life and had so much love to give to everyone she met. Along with her family, cupcakes were Amna’s passion. She had her own secret recipes and made them for events, including her brother’s and cousin’s wedding. After she died, her younger sister baked cupcakes from Amna’s secret recipe book to support an event kindly held by Amna’s colleagues at Trafford Council, in her memory, to raise funds to support research into brain tumours. The family plan to keep the tradition of Amna’s cupcakes going and will one day hand the recipes on to Melissa. Amna was diagnosed with a brain tumour in late 2020 and received wonderful care at both Salford Royal and The Christie. The first operation, chemotherapy and radiotherapy to remove the tumour initially appeared to have succeeded but, unfortunately, the tumour returned 6 months later in early 2022. She faced her illness with great fortitude and acceptance, due in no little part to her strong faith in Islam. She never once complained or let the tumour dampen her spirits. She fought bravely until the end and even managed to complete a family holiday to Turkey after her second brain operation in 2022, travelling through 15 different cities and ending in Istanbul, which she had always wanted to visit. In the latter stages of her illness, Amna was lovingly cared for in her family home where she passed away very peacefully surrounded by everyone who loved her. She left a sparkle wherever she went and touched the hearts of many. She will be greatly missed and remembered by all who knew her.

Catherine’s approach was always holistic - she promoted and lived the values of mutual understanding, interest in other cultures, in travel and in lifelong learning. Her presence on school trips, whether locally or further afield to France or to The Gambia, helped to illuminate those experiences for pupils and staff alike and she was a genuine role model who epitomised the importance of pursuing your talents, developing new interests and making the most of each day in your work and with precious family and friends. Catherine developed Withington’s expertise and participation in the Young Enterprise programme so successfully that WGS is today recognised as one of the leading Young Enterprise schools in the North West. Bringing her professional, dedicated approach to the organisation, teaching and guidance of the school’s Young Enterprise teams, Catherine oversaw tens of WGS Enterprise companies on their entrepreneurial journeys, learning so much as they participated, and often winning accolades and recognition in regional competitions. And it was in her mosaic and glasswork that Catherine’s fantastic example of the power of lifelong learning and zest for life were particularly apparent in school. Pupils and staff attended her classes and all admired the way in which she pursued and nurtured her interests and very evident talents, showing us all how we should never stop learning or trying new things, and how to make time and space for creativity and exploration in our lives. We will treasure the pieces of Catherine’s glasswork we have in school. Catherine enhanced the lives of all who knew her and all who had the privilege to be taught by her or work with her. Catherine lit up a room with her laughter, her warmth and with her genuine care for and interest in others. She has been taken from us too soon but none of us at Withington will forget the contribution she has made to our school and the impact she has made on us all here. A wonderful teacher, colleague and friend. From us all, with our warmest thanks, respect and affection, Catherine.

This autumn school members, present and past, have come together to mourn the loss and celebrate the life of much loved and greatly respected Withington teacher, Catherine Ositelu. Catherine died in September after a long illness and many pupils, alumnae and colleagues have shared their memories of Catherine’s dedicated teaching, wonderful character and inspiring talents. Catherine joined the staff of Withington Girls’ School in 1994 as a Teacher of French, a role she fulfilled for 29 years with great distinction. A superb classroom teacher, Catherine prepared her lessons meticulously, marked her pupils’ work and wrote her pupils’ reports with such attention to detail, she wanted all of her pupils to recognise the value of learning a foreign language and to enjoy their learning. Catherine worked hard to understand her pupils so that she could help them to make progress and this knowledge of her pupils as individuals reflected her caring and principled nature. She wanted to do things well and she set high standards which all respected and from which all benefited. But this did not mean that there was no fun in Catherine’s lessons - far from it - her smile and infectious laugh lit up her classroom and indeed the staffroom, making her a pleasure to spend time with. Many of her pupils remember with great affection the warmth that she brought to her teaching, and her sense of humour which was never far away. Pupils in Catherine’s classes made excellent progress and Catherine brought this care, nurture and professionalism to all areas of her work. An outstanding Form Tutor, Catherine supported generations of Withington pupils as they made their way through the school, helping them to develop personally and socially as well as academically. The pastoral care she gave to her pupils was outstanding and Catherine’s firm but fair approach, clear but empathetic, supported and encouraged many pupils as they were growing up.

Sarah Haslam Headmistress

When I first started teaching, initially Art History, at Withington Girls’ School, Catherine was one of the first members of staff who welcomed me. In the following years, I came to know her and very much enjoyed our conversations about art, travel, teaching and culture. She was a brilliant friend with an interest in other people and would quiz me on the progress on my PhD thesis, as well as discussing her own interest in making art, which developed into her glassmaking business. Her glassware has pride of place in our home and serves as a lovely reminder of our friendship. Catherine is a positive, creative and wonderful woman whose friendship we value and celebrate.

Dr Malcolm Speakman Former Teacher of Art

Madame Ositelu was the person that instilled in me a love of French, which paved the way for my future studies and eventually career. She was also very kind and as my Form Tutor supported me through some difficult teenage years, which I am grateful for. Indeed, she is one of those teachers that I can truly say made a difference.

Liz Elliott

Class of 2002 I am very sorry to hear that Catherine has died and will always remember her as a vibrant, energetic colleague. A particular memory is of the beautiful albums of her holiday photographs which she brought to the staff room to share with us all. She had a real gift for composing interesting pictures.

I was lucky enough to have Madame Ositelu as a Form Tutor for 3 of my 7 years at Withington and a French teacher both lower down the school and at A Level. She was instrumental in developing me, not just as a person, but instilling a love of French in me that exists to this day; even if I was guilty of adding ‘Franglais’ to all my essays! I remember her sharing stories of her daughter and her love of Brittany, as well as guiding my team through to the regional finals of Young Enterprise. She was patient and kind, firm but fair. I shall cherish those memories.

Madame Ositelu was the most wonderful teacher: endlessly positive and fun, with an amazing sense of humour. I have a vivid memory of my mock GCSE French oral, when I forgot a crucial piece of vocabulary and stared at Madame Ositelu in horror - to which she repeatedly whispered the first letter, with a huge smile on her face, until it came back to me! Her ability to put everyone at ease and bring out the best in them was at the heart of everything she did.

Alison Hay

née Coxon, Class of 2011 My daughter, Lara, and I knew Catrina well. She is remembered and in our hearts as a special, multi-gifted, kind, generous and smiling, bubbly, happy, elegant lady . She was always my special “Coco Catrina.” We are so upset to hear this news. Our prayers and heart-felt wishes to her daughter, John and loved ones.

Aneesha Harris

née Malik, Class of 2007 From Year 7 to Year 11, I was taught French by M. Ositelu and still remember her classes vividly. It became a running joke that she would always ask our class “How’s the weather?” to which I would always answer on behalf of the class “Le ciel est nuageux” because as an 11-year-old, I knew that phrase and would confidently announce it whilst always receiving a smile from M. Ositelu, despite the fact I must have said it every day for a year. My passion for French grew, as I realised how dedicated and passionate she was about helping us learn. She really cared about the language and that for me was a huge reason why I enjoyed her lessons. It’s also the reason why I continued to learn French as a young adult and have the language skills that I do now. I’m genuinely sad to hear this news, but grateful to have been taught by her.

Soraya Bate

née Gill, Class of 1978

Lara Bate

Class of 2018 Madame Ositelu taught us French in year 7; she had only recently started teaching at Withington at the time. I remember her vigour and passion in teaching which made our French classes really enjoyable. My condolences to her family and to all the staff at Withington.

Farheen Naqui Class of 2007

Felicity Elder Class of 2008

Ruth Neal

Former Teacher of Biology

I will always remember Mme Ositelu as a courageously kind person who instilled a lot of confidence in me during my two years of French A Level. I remember one afternoon when our lesson had finished, and on her way out of the classroom she suddenly paused, looked me in the eye, and said ‘Never stop smiling.’ It’s fair to say that it was hard to be negative when in a room with Mme Ositelu. Her charm, quick wit, and passion for teaching had me looking forward to our every lesson. I can certainly say that she is a huge reason for my pursuit of French at university and continues to act as a reminder of resilience as I currently embark on my year abroad.

I was only taught by Madame Ositelu in Year 7, but we would always smile at each other and stop and chat. She made me feel comfortable at school when things were hard and I will always remember how cool, funny and kind she was. Thinking of her family during this difficult time. She will be greatly missed.

Alexandra Abelidis

Catherine was one of the loveliest people you could ever wish to meet; I feel so fortunate to have worked alongside her at Withington for over 20 years. She could literally light up a room with her smile, her positivity and her sense of fun and she was loved and valued by everyone who knew her. We shall all miss her terribly.

Class of 2021

Jackie Walker

Mrs Ositelu taught me French for several years at Withington, including for GCSE. Having studied English Literature and French at Oxford University, I now work for the French Government. I live just outside of Paris, having married a Frenchman and obtained French citizenship. Both Mrs Ositelu and Mrs Adams played an important and formative role in my life. I remember Mrs Ositelu giving me top marks for an oral test in the Language Lab as though it were yesterday. Mrs Ositelu was a kind-hearted and talented teacher. My thoughts are with her family.

Marji Spurgin

Former School Secretary I am very sorry to hear the news that Catherine has died. I remember well when she arrived at Withington, so young and beautiful. I am sure that she will be remembered by many generations of pupils and colleagues that, like me, have known Catherine’s very happy smile.

Sitara Bartle Davies Class of 2017

I am very saddened to know Catherine has died, she was indeed a well-liked colleague.

Jane Couper

Francisca Wheeler

Former Head of Religious Studies

Caroline Cartmill

I can remember when Catherine first came to Withington and just how well she settled into her role and became much loved by the girls and other staff members. When when she first moved to Cheadle, I would often pick her up on my way through to school. She was always pleasant and a joy to be around.

Madame Ositelu’s vibrant presence throughout WGS was felt by all. She occupied the corridors with a love and passion for life and inspired so many of us to continue studying languages to A Level and beyond. Thank you, Madame Ositelu, for the positivity and kindness you spread amongst others throughout your life!

née Bodek, Class of 2002

Madame Ositelu was my form tutor and French teacher when I was in Year 7 at Withington. She taught us a song in French and we all had to dress up as trees to perform it to our parents at the Year 7 performance night. It’s a memory I will never forget and I am grateful to have known her. Class of 2015

Former Teacher of History & Exam Invigilator

Natalie Cohen

Jen McPherson Class of 2008

Class of 2010

Myrto Kaltsidou

I am very sorry to hear the news that Mrs Ositelu has passed away. I remember her warm presence in my French class. I wasn’t a natural at French, but she patiently helped me get better at it. She was a wonderful French teacher who will be greatly missed by pupils.

Teacher of Physics

Madame Ositelu was my French teacher. But like most teachers, she was more than just a teacher. I struggled with the subject, but not only did she take the time to try to help me with my academic progression, she always had the time to listen and talk to me when I was low. She will always be appreciated beyond words in my memories; the laughter, the emotionally supportive talks, and the (deserved!) telling off will never leave my fond recollections.

Lydia Horn Class of 2017

We are totally shocked and devastated. Our year group had such a strong bond with Madame Ositelu. She was an excellent French teacher and she mentored many of us through Young Enterprise process, taking us to the national and regional finals. We wouldn’t have been able to succeed without her knowledge, expertise and passion. She really did put in an unbelievable amount effort with the whole year; she had such a big heart. Madame Ositelu will be deeply missed.

Natasha Arora Class of 2021

It is now over 15 years since I retired but my enduring memories of Catherine very much reflect those qualities you mention. She was greatly respected as an excellent teacher both by the pupils and her colleagues but her involvement and enthusiasm for so many other aspects of school life were admirable. I think it’s quite hard to balance these skills and remain totally professional, but Catherine managed it beautifully. Even though there was a big difference in our age, I found Catherine to be so very warm and friendly. She always had time for a friendly word and it was delightful to hear about her family.

Rowena Owen

Former Teacher of Biology

Madame Ositelu was a wonderful and inspiring teacher and I still have great memories of her lessons. I am currently a Specialty Registrar in Medical Oncology at The Christie Hospital and I crossed paths with Mrs Ositelu during one of my shifts. It was lovely to see her again after so many years, but of course I wish it had been under different circumstances. I was honoured that she still remembered me. After this, I visited her a number of times during her hospital admissions and we reminisced about memories of WGS and she also told me about her passion for glasswork. She frequently talked about her loved ones and her wish to comfort them as much as possible. I was moved by her bravery, kindness and selflessness at such a difficult time. It is an absolute privilege to have known her and she will always remain in my memories.

Mme Ositelu taught me French throughout GCSE and A Level. She was truly a phenomenal teacher and phenomenal woman; my whole class absolutely adored her. Please let her family know that the hundreds of pupils whom she taught loved her dearly and will be so upset by this news. She had a huge impact on all our lives. Some of my best Withington memories involve her, she was simply wonderful.

Sam Cooke Class of 2015

Mrs. Ositelu was not just a teacher to me; she was the best French teacher and Form Tutor one could ever ask for. I had the privilege of being her student up to A Level and her loss saddens me. She was a remarkable, happy, peaceful, and truly motivating teacher. I must admit that I wasn’t the most naturally gifted student, but Mrs. Ositelu’s unwavering support and encouragement made all the difference. It was under her guidance that I excelled in A Level French. I decided to pursue French at that level solely because of the inspiration and belief she instilled in me.

Roya Behrouzi Class of 2008

We both taught at Withington, but the last time I met Catherine was at a craft fair where she was selling her lovely glass pieces. She was always such a very lively, enthusiastic and positive force, always ready to greet you with a big smile. Catherine will be greatly missed.

It was a privilege to attend the service to celebrate Catherine’s life, carefully planned by Catherine herself, and a huge joy to share memories of Catherine with ex-colleagues. When we arrived, in heavy rain, we took a seat in the reception area. A lone man was already seated. I asked if he was also attending Catherine’s service and he said his wife was taking the service. He went on to say how ironic it was that it was pouring down outside because Catherine was one of the sunniest people they had ever met. I thought this was a perfect summary sentiment for all of us.

Former Head of Art

Headmistress 2000-2010

Atmarpit Priyanca

Priyanca Mehta, Class of 2005

Janet Pickering

Diane Connell

I am absolutely heartbroken to hear that Catherine has died. She was doing so well and was so positive and upbeat about her progress. My thoughts are with her family at this time.

Angela Adshead

Former PA to Headmistress & Exam Invigilator

The Development Office, Withington Girls’ School, Wellington Rd, Fallowfield, Manchester M14 6BL T: 0161 249 3494 E: development@wgs.org W: wgs.org Registered Charity No. 505207

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