Forever Friends EX HUMILIBUS 2020/21
F O R E V E R
F R I E N D S
It was with much sadness that we learned this year of the death of former Headmistress Mrs Rosemary Smith. Mrs Smith was a much-loved Headmistress who led the school for ten years from 1982 – 1992, overseeing many positive changes to Wimbledon High School. As a GDST alumna herself, she believed passionately in educating young women and inspiring energy, talent and enthusiasm in students and staff.
She was a student at GDST’s Brighton and Hove High School from 1948-51, going on to read English at the University of London before completing her PGCE. Once retired she lived in Manchester where she could be close to her daughter and OBITUARY grandchildren.
Rosemary Smith 1932-2020
As Headmistress, she led the school through further expansion needed for the school to comply with the new GCSE requirement to have all subjects taught in ‘subject rooms’. The New Block (Piper House) comprising art studios, a new library, and numerous classrooms, for maths and languages was opened in November 1989 and she launched the Sports Hall Appeal in 1990 for the development of the gymnasium into the Performing Arts Centre.
This year, we have said goodbye to four much loved members of the Wimbledon High School staff: Junior teacher and Head of Science, Mrs Garczynski who will be familiar to many alumnae, taught in the Junior School for 33 years. She inspired generations of WHS Juniors with a love of science.
partnership programme SHINE with exemplary care and dedication. We are sure you will join us in wishing her all the best on her move to Spain. And finally, after six years as Head, Mrs Jane Lunnon who will take on the role of Head at Alleyn’s School in Dulwich. Mrs Lunnon saw the school though an eventful six years and was never without a word of encouragement or wisdom, it feels only right to share her final message to the students with you here: “Girls, when I say to you: once a Wimbledon High Girl, always a Wimbledon High girl, it’s because I know you will always carry the heart of this school and everything it represents in your lives: generosity in learning, solidarity in friendship, kindness in sadness, honour in all things and grateful delight in the richness and variety of life. We will be ‘strong in our union of loyalty and love’ and we will take our ‘onward course, cheered by our happy past’, knowing what is right and what really matters and how lucky we have all been to be part of this amazing school.”
Farewell to Long Serving Staff
Not far behind was Mrs Eaves, who taught at WHS for 25 years, as Head of Geography and Head of Year. Her contribution to the community and to the school have been extraordinary. As one of her colleagues aptly summed it up: “She is, and always has been, the epitome of everything Geography. She’s magical like the Northern Lights, sharp like a mountain and fierce like a river.” We also said goodbye to Señora Nullens after 22 years at WHS. An outstanding teacher of Spanish, whose students, past and present, speak enormously highly and warmly of, she was an inspiring Head of Year and an organisational machine who ran our
In recent years, she had returned to SW19 on several occasions to attend school reunions and catch up with alumnae and former colleagues and was guest of honor at the school’s 135th Birthday Reunion.
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