Wycombe high school and guild annual magazine 2017

WHS Annual Magazine 2017

Advertising Opportunities with Wycombe High School

Wycombe High School’s E High Flyer (an electronic newsletter) and annual magazine celebrate past and present life at school. Our publications go out to over 1400 local households and thousands of alumnae.

If you would like to advertise in either or both of these, or know of someone who does, please contact Mrs Dana Morgan on 01494 523961 or e-mail dmorgan@whs.bucks.sch.uk. Our Finance Office will invoice you upon distribution of the publications.

E High Flyer The electronic newsletter is distributed fortnightly. This publication offers a higher frequency of distribution, as well as dynamic links from your advertisements to your website. In each issue, there is one banner and four box ads available to purchase. Advertising rates, layout, artwork and format are as shown below.

Layout

Dimensions

Artwork Format

Rates per edition

Banner

150 px x 560 px

JPEG

£40

Box

150 px x 270 px

JPEG

£20

Content Deadline

Issue Date

24/05/2017

26/05/2017

14/06/2017

16/06/2017

28/06/2017

30/06/2017

12/07/2017

14/07/2017

Annual Magazine Our annual magazine is predominantly PDF, but there are some printed copies for those that subscribe to have a printed version. The PDF copy also offers you links from your advert to your website. You can see examples of previous editions here: https://issuu.com/wycombehighsch The size of the advertisements are based on an A4 format of the finished product. The magazine incorporates margins and therefore does not require provision for a bleed edge.

The annual magazine is distributed in the Summer term. Advertisements are due the first Friday of February. All advertisements are required in electronic format (e.g. PDF and / or JPEG). Please note: We do not accept educational, tutoring or weight reduction advertising for any of our publications.

Dimensions £35 ¼ page £50 ½ page £100 full page Format PDF and / or JPEG Layout Full and ¼ page Half page

Portrait Landscape

Should you wish to contact the Headteacher or any other member of staff by email, please do so through the school office at: office@whs.bucks.sch.uk.

High Flyer is an entirely student-led initiative. A team of students of all ages, led by Sixth Formers, known as the ‘News Crew’ take responsibility for the fortnightly E-Newsletter, news articles on the website (http:// www.whs.bucks.sch.uk/media/news) and the annual magazine.

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Table of Contents

News Crew

Advertising Opportunities

Page 2

Diary Dates Spring Term

Page 3

Message from the Headteacher

Page 4

Message from the News Crew

Page 5

Hawkinsport

Page 6

Mary Christie VIP Reception

Page 7

Mary Christie Grand Reunion

Page 8

Mary Christie Banner Competition

Pages 9-11

Bell-ringing for Mary Christie

Page 12

Education then and now

Pages 13

Mary Christie: This is your life

Page 14

International Week

Page 15

Teachers’ Inspirational Women

Pages 16-18

My Inspirational Woman (Cecil Alexander)

Pages 19-21

My Inspirational Woman (Esther Levin)

Pages 22-23

My Time at WHS (Emma Wace)

Pages 24-25

My Time at WHS (Ellie Tribe)

Pages 26-27

The Student Leadership Team

Pages 28-29

Development Office Update

Pages 30-33

Development Ambassador Update

Pages 34-35

Inspiring Women’s Evening

Pages 36-37

Inspire Lunchtime Talks

Pages 38-39

Leavers’ Dress Up Day 2016

Pages 40

Leavers’ Destinations

Pages 41-47

Bytomic Taekwondo

Page 48

Cineworld

Page 49

Innovate

Page 50

Heads of News Crew Year 13 Ellie Tribe C1 Emma Wace A10 Year 10 Victoria Gothard T7 Year 12 Cecilia Alexander A6 Esther Levin A10 Lead Staff Member Mrs D Morgan Proofreaders Ms C Edwards Miss E Morgan Wycombe High School Marlow Road High Wycombe Buckinghamshire HP11 1TB Tel: 01494 523961 Fax: 01494 510354 office@whs.bucks.sch.uk http://www.whs.bucks.sch.uk/ @WycombeHighSch @WycHighAlumnae

Diary dates - Autumn Term 2017 3 October

'Y7 'Meet the Tutor' Afternoon, Hall, 4.30 - 5.30 pm, Curie & Parks

4 October

Y7 'Meet the Tutor' Afternoon, Hall, 4.30 - 5.30 pm, Bronte & Pankhurst

5 October

Y7 'Meet the Tutor' Afternoon, Hall, 4.30 - 5.30 pm, Austen & Nightingale

8 October

PAFA Photography Event - Lisa Gill Photography, 8.30 am - 5.00 pm, Main Hall & Amphitheatre

10 October

'Y7 Parents' Conference, 7.00 - 8.30 pm, Hall

11 October

Guild (WHS’s Student and Staff Association) Committee Meeting, 7.00 pm, CR

12 October

'Y9 Parents' Conference, 7.00 - 8.30 pm, Hall

13 October

'Open Mic Night' - 6.00 - 8.00 pm, Hall. Doors open from 5.30 pm.

18 October

'Y11 'Into the Sixth Form' Evening, 7.00 - 9.00 pm

31 October

PAFA Meeting, 7.30 - 9.30 pm, The Forum 3

Message from the Headteacher Throughout this academic year, Wycombe High School has been commemorating the life of Miss Mary Christie MA (May 1875 – March 1917), the first Headteacher of our school. Miss Christie was amongst the very first cohort of women to enter university in Scotland and in 1896 became one of the first women ever to graduate with a Master’s degree from St Andrews University. In 1901, at the age of 26, she became the first Headteacher of Wycombe High School.

Her long list of accomplishments is an inspiration to both students and staff alike, and celebrating her life has been an honour. Celebrations have included: assemblies, a drama production, an inter-House competition, a VIP reception attended by Professor Sally Mapstone, Principal and Vice Chancellor of St Andrew’s University, bell-ringing, a music concert and the dedication of this very magazine to her memory.

The celebrations of her life will culminate in a Grand Reunion on Saturday 24 June at Wycombe High School, when we very much look forward to welcoming back hundreds of former Wycombe High School and Lady Verney students and staff. We are delighted that the current Director General of Confederation of British Industry (CBI) and alumna of Wycombe High School, Carolyn Fairbairn (class of 1979), will be delivering the welcome speech. Carolyn is the first female Director of the CBI and, as such, some 121 years after Mary Christie became one of this country’s first female graduates, builds on the pioneering spirit of Wycombe High School.

Wycombe High students continue to embrace a rich array of opportunities. This academic year we have changed how we share school news with you. Our very own News Crew are delivering real time reporting via our website (http://www.whs.bucks.sch.uk/media/news). This feeds a fortnightly ‘round up’ in an electronic High Flyer. Our ‘News Crew’ gives our students experience of the digital skills now integral to modern-day publishing and journalism. I urge you to take the time to read E-High Flyer and its links to our website, where you will find a whole range of articles, including Wycombe High alumnae sharing their careers and experiences.

I cannot praise Wycombe High students enough for their many achievements, their unwavering ability to embrace opportunity, and the very positive impact they have on our school and our wider community.

They make me an extraordinarily proud Headteacher and I feel reassured that the future of our country and society will one day be in the hands of these young women, who approach their lives and work based on our motto Fortiter, Fideliter, Feliciter: Courageously, Faithfully and Joyfully – the values of honesty, mutual respect, tolerance, politeness, hard work and dedication. I know they will take their equal place in the world with a global and compassionate outlook and with the appropriate skills, able and willing to lead.

Without the ongoing support of former and current students, parents and staff we could not do as much as we do. Many volunteer time, others donate money. This money has directly supported the building of the new Music Centre, our Library, supported refurbishment of our science labs, and funded new dance and drama facilities. We are currently raising money for an all-weather sports pitch. Our students and staff are actively engaged in the ‘Play Your Part for Sport’ campaign participating in runs, sponsoring squares, Pedalling 4 a Pitch, Student v Staff Sporting Events, our annual Sports Award Evening and Sports Day. We have already raised over £500,000 but need £600,000. I would be hugely grateful to any individual able to make a donation by following the links in the Annual Magazine to sponsor a square and / or complete a gift form. Without the kindness, altruism and support of current and former students, staff and parents our school facilities would not be as great as they are. Some of you volunteer your time to The Guild Committee, a group of former students and staff who work tirelessly to ensure a student’s association with our School is a life-long one. I am particularly grateful to Rachel Sutcliffe (class of 1955) who until recently was the Vice-President of the Guild. Rachel has given many years of loyal and dedicated service and has been instrumental in ensuring the success of our alumnae association. Rachel has been succeeded by Susie Clarke (class of 1999).

Thank you for your on-going support. It is very clear that Wycombe High School continues to be a very positive force for good and a pipeline of extraordinarily talented women. Together we can ensure it continues to educate young women in the High Wycombe area for centuries more to come.

Sharon Cromie Headteacher and Guild President 4

Message from the News Crew The News Crew is honoured to bring you the 2017 Annual Magazine, which is combined with the Annual Wycombe High School Guild Magazine, the Guild being Wycombe High School’s student and staff association.

The theme of this year’s magazine is Inspirational Women, due to the school commemorating the centenary of Miss Mary Christie’s death. Miss Christie was the first Headteacher of Wycombe High School which, combined with the fact she was one of the first 11 women to graduate from St Andrews University, makes her a truly inspirational woman.

This year we have been a small and resilient team. We’ve worked hard to produce high-quality reading material centred on the theme of ‘Inspirational Women’. We are very grateful to the students and members of staff for their contributions. We hope that this magazine is an accurate representation of all the dedication the team has put in and that it proves to be an enjoyable read.

Purchasing the Magazine All current students who are Guild Members are entitled to receive a free hard copy of the magazine.

Parents of students currently at the school can make payment using ParentPay (www.parentpay.com) our online payment system, choosing the relevant service(s) for example ‘Wycombe High School Annual Magazine’. We would be extremely grateful if you could use ParentPay to make payment. However, if you are unable to do so, please send a cheque made payable to ‘Wycombe High School’ in an envelope, to the Development Office (Room C306) along with the completed form which can be found in the Letters to Parents section of our website. We will also be selling copies at upcoming school events.

Advertising Now that Wycombe High School news in published primarily electronically, there are more opportunities to advertise with us. If you own your own business and would like to reach out to the over 1,400 local students and their families, 140 members of staff and thousands of former students and staff, we encourage you to advertise in our fortnightly E High Flyer newsletter. The frequency of advertising has increased from half termly to fortnightly. In addition, your ads can link directly to your websites. For advertisng layout, dimensions, format, rate and distribution information, please refer to Page 2 of this magazine.

Cover Artwork The News Crew introduced a competition for cover artwork at the beginning of the school year. We would like to thank all those who contributed. First place went to Helena Dye, Year 11, Pankhurst 7, whose artwork is featured on the cover. Below please find a selection of some of the other entries: Second Place: Amy Averill, Year 10, Parks 4

Sacha Michels, Year 7, Nightingale 8 Aminah Faisal, Year 8, Pankhurst 2

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Mary Christie VIP Reception The Reception to commemorate the life of Mary Christie, our first Headteacher, was held on 15 March, and was a great success. Professor Sally Mapstone from St Andrew’s University was the Guest Speaker and gave an invigorating speech on education, particularly single sex girls’ education, and its impact on society. She spoke extremely well. Professor Mapstone is the current Principal and Vice Chancellor of St Andrew’s University, the very university that Miss Mary Christie attended and graduated from.

Professor Mapstone has herself an extraordinarily distinguished academic career, graduating with a first class honours and later a doctorate from Oxford. She then lectured at Oxford, in Medieval English Language and Literature, progressing to be a Reader in Older Scots Literature, and then a Professor of Older Scots literature. She was later appointed as Oxford’s Pro-Vice Chancellor (Personnel and Equality), followed by Pro-Vice Chancellor of Education, before taking up her current post at St Andrew’s.

Our guests seemed to thoroughly enjoy the evening and we were delighted to be joined by so many Buckinghamshire dignitaries including the High Sheriff, the Mayor, Chairman of Bucks County Council, Leader of High Wycombe Council, Chairman of the High Wycombe Society and several Councillors, as well as Guild and PAFA members. We had a superb Year 7 harpist and a member of the Music Staff playing the harpsichord.

The evening would not have been possible without the extraordinary hard work of the Guild Committee: it was their vision and drive that made it happen. Special thanks to all those who so very ably managed the event, co-ordinating with Professor Mapstone’s office and ensuring every last detail was just right. Mrs Jill Boyd’s wonderful displays and write-up of Mary Christie’s life provided much for guests to see and absorb. And of course the grave restoration is complete!

We can now look forward, with much anticipation, to the Reunion on Saturday 24 June, also in commemoration of Mary Christie’s life. Certainly, Carolyn Fairbairn, the current (and first female) Director General of the Confederation of British Industry, and alumnae of WHS, will be equally impressive.

Mrs Sharon Cromie, Headteacher 7

Mary Christie Centenary Grand Reunion 2017 marks the 100-year anniversary of the death of Mary Christie, the first head mistress of Wycombe High School, and so Wycombe High School is hosting a Mary Christie Centenary Grand Reunion on Saturday 24 June 2017, which is for all past students and staff of Wycombe High School, as well as Lady Verney.

Programme 9.30 - 11.00 am William Reid leading a Walk in Wycombe - visiting sites connected to Miss Christie and the history of the school.

11.30 - 12.00 pm AGM 12.30 pm Welcome in the Amphitheatre by former student Carolyn Fairbairn, Director General of the Confederation of British Industry (CBI) 1.15 pm Lunch 2.00 - 3.30 pm ‘Mary Christie - This is Your Life’ performances and Guided Tours of the School 4.00 pm Decade and Lady Verney Reunions 5.00 pm Tea and Cake 12.30 - 5.30 pm Archive Display and Art Exhibition in the Wainwright Learning Centre.

In 1901, at the age of 26, Mary Christie became the very first headmistress of Wycombe High School. She was forward thinking in her approach to the education of girls and her long list of accomplishments is an inspiration to both students and staff alike.

The reunion aims to explore the history of the school, and of Miss Christie. There will also be many former students present, such as Carolyn Julie Fairbairn (born 13 December 1960), a British businesswoman, director-general of the Confederation of British Industry and former non-executive director of the Competition and Markets Authority, Lloyds Banking Group and the UK Statistics Authority.

Booking forms can be found here: http:// www.whs.bucks.sch.uk/media/news If you require any further information, please contact: The Guild Administrator, Wycombe High School, Marlow Road, High Wycombe, HP11 1TB, Tel 01494 523961, Email guild@whs.bucks.sch.uk

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Mary Christie Banner Competition Every year Wycombe High School girls participate in a house competition in which they are encouraged to use their technical, creative and literary skills to develop a piece of content under a particular theme. This year’s theme was of course Mary Christie. Each tutor group was given a set of guidelines to create a banner reflecting the life of the school’s founder that involved both artwork, a written piece of work and a reference to their house.

Austen 2 Marvellous Mary Advocated for women Regardless of race Young and old Committed to her cause Headmistress of Wycombe High Remarkable and bold Inspiring generations Supporting students and staff Teaching and training Intelligent yet caring Exceptional in all that she did

Out of all 60 tutor groups, the bedazzling bronze place was awarded to Parks 9; Bronte 9 got the sparkling silver, and last, but most definitely not least, the glorious gold position was awarded to Nightingale 6! The first placed tutor groups in the other houses were Austen 6, Pankhurst 5 and Curie 7.

Here are the winners and some of the fantastic original pieces of writing!

Bronte 9, second overall Bronte 3 Mary Christie An inspiration to all Reached her dreams Years in preparation Continues to shine in our school Her legacy lives Remembering memories shining In the past and the present Shows her independence To girls that will come to this school In all of our hearts Encouraging us to press on

Nightingale 6, overall winner

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Nightingale 10 Dear Diary, The school is finally coming along. We now have 18 blossoming young women whom I hope will soon be the face of our generation. My dreams of educating young women, once deemed impossible by the general public are now being fulfilled. I am overcome with joy, so profound, that I often have trouble containing euphoric burst of sound!

After our recent departure from the clockhouse, Frogmoor, the girls have settled into their unfamiliar surroundings and are steadily progressing with their paramount education.

Following the employment of Madame Addington, the youthful girls are broadening their sparse French knowledge, a skill regarded highly important in society. Duty calls! I must leave to teach a particularly interesting English lesson based on the literary works of Dickens MARY Parks 9, third overall Bronte 6 Mary Christie, our founder An inspiration to us all Remembering her greatest achievements You will ever be in our memory Courageously, faithfully, joyfully Her first teaching experience at the Municipal High School Reading, writing, and arithmetic I was Miss Christie who chose our memorable motto Swedish drill was what she taught The first woman to win a Master’s degree In 1914 the school became a military hospital Every day while we’re here we think of her Austen 5 Mary Christie was fierce and ambitious, Inspirational, confident, Clever and courageous

Curie 7, winner of Curie

Smiling faces in crowded places, At Wycombe High, you reach the sky, Open doors, you can do more, In A5, we know the score

Nightingale 6 Mary Christie born in 1875 Attended St Andrews University Received a MA in a range of fields Young and respectful

Courageously, Don’t be afraid to accept diversity, Faithfully, Joined together ambitiously, Joyfully, Be helpful and help amicably, Every day is a new day With the Wycombe High School way

Came to Wycombe High School Helped educate 100s of students Remembered by all Initial headmistress Started the school in 1901 Taught entire curriculum Inspiration to all 10

Pankhurst 4 100 Years of Change It came from humble beginnings, 18 students and three teachers, And she was at the helm, She led us from the start.

She was a suffragette, A group fighting strong and bold, To get our rights as women, To get a future world A hundred years has gone, The school’s still here today, And now we stand as equals.

Thanks to Mary Christie Pankhurst 5, winner of Pankhurst Parks 2 100 years since Mary Christie She is a part of WHS history The school opened in 1901 Mary decided work had to be done She went to a school called St Andrews In the first year that women could do To give us an education She started with a foundation Curie 7 Study and leisure and exams and rush Energy and complacency and bustle and fuss Rivers of children flooding in and out Students all ages with smile and pout To remember a time before gadgets and hassle When every confrontation was some kind of battle With war and hate tearing the world apart When you needed your courage, your mind and heart A school of 18 students and three staff Working together in a world torn in half Learning via Miss Christie’s wise intuition To teach and to learn was their sacred mission

Austen 6, winner of Austen

Charity and justice Miss Mary did preach For there is more than knowledge our mentors must teach To be kind and empathetic and wise we should So next time this happens, we can change – for the good

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Bell-ringing for Mary Christie in Josie Godfrey's (Year 13, N6) case, were current students. To up the stakes even further, if we were successful, it would be Josie's first quarter peal at her first attempt.

The eight members of the band arrived at All Saints Church, High Wycombe and the ringing began at a confident pace. For Josie's first attempt at a quarter peal, her ringing was excellent, and despite her getting four blisters in the process, the quarter peal was successfully rung.

However, that is not the end of the story. Bellringing has a long history with grammar schools and especially during the 1950s and 60s, many grammar schools across the country had their own bell-ringing clubs for students and in the 1990s, Wycombe High had an all-student band that rang a quarter peal. Today, there are at least ten students at the school that are learning to ring bells and who knows, maybe in a year or so, Wycombe High School will have a band entirely made up of students able to ring a quarter peal - watch this space!

Church bells have been rung in England for many hundreds of years for a variety of reasons.

Most obviously they are rung every Sunday to call Christians to worship in church, but they are also used to announce important local and national events.

Bells are also rung for solemn occasions, most notably during Remembrance Sunday when bells all over the country provide the haunting background melody for the commemorations to those that have fallen in war, but also at funerals and in memory of local people who have been recognised for the contributions they have made to the town. It was for this reason that I was approached by the church to find some bellringers to ring the bells in memory of Wycombe High School's first headteacher, Mary Christie who died 100 years ago this year.

Mr Peter Jasper, Head of Physics (and Unofficial Head of WHS Bell-ringing!)

Details of the Quarter Peal Rung in Memory of Mary Christie reproduced here by kind permission of "The Ringing World" Oxford Diocesan Guild High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire All Saints Friday, 17 March 2017 (11–0–9 in G) 1260 Plain Bob Triples 1 Sheila Bruce 2 Verity Nicholls 3 David Cornwall 4 Lavinia Sullivan 5 David Sullivan 6 Robert Newton 7 Peter Jasper (Conductor) 8 Josie Godfrey

On special occasions, such as the centenary of Mary Christie’s death, a "quarter peal" may be rung. This constitutes a 45 minute, non-stop performance of ringing whereby no member of the band can make a mistake and must perform the piece entirely from memory. To give an idea of the magnitude of the task, it is the equivalent of asking an 8-piece orchestra to perform a 45 minute orchestral work without anybody having the music in front of them, including the conductor!

Rung by a band that includes present and former staff, students and parents of Wycombe High School as part of the commemorations of the centenary of the death of Mary Christie, the first headteacher of the school.

First quarter at first attempt - 8

When I was asked to organise the group to perform it, I felt it was important to include as many people with a connection to the school as possible. After some phone calls and frantic emails, I had got together a band that included a combination of people who had either worked at Wycombe High School or one of its feeder schools, were parents of former students or, as

To read the full-length version of this article, you can visit our website at www.whs.bucks.sch.uk/ media/news 12

Education Then and Now Women have not always found it easy to have an education. It has not been until recently that women have had access to education as freely as men do, and in many parts of the world it is still not the case that women have access to a quality education. Mary Christie was one of the first women to get a degree, and was the first women to graduate from St Andrews University. At the time - in the late 1800s - this was seen as highly unusual and quite controversial.

When she arrived in High Wycombe in 1901, she again had to be self-sufficient, as she had been in Scotland, and find her “own way”. However, she once again achieved success, and had, within a “few years …raised the school to the highest efficiency, and has left an influence upon the life of Wycombe for which many generations will be grateful”. She was truly fulfilled by her job, which was demonstrated by the way she created an atmosphere at Wycombe High, which was filled with happiness and a mutual respect for others.

She was “trusted by parents and governors, loved by colleagues, pupils and friends”. Once again, many of these individuals would have been male and it would have been difficult for her to prevail throughout, as during the Victorian Era a woman’s job was to be at home, to look after the children and run the household rather than have a career.

Mary Christie had always been a hard-working girl, even from the very beginning her parents wanted her to do well academically. This was unusual at the time for a set of parents to aspire for women to achieve a quality education rather than becoming the traditional Victorian housewife.

By 1891 she was competing with boys for the Edinburgh Angus Club Medal for Latin, and the Jordan Medal for English. Both of these she won, which was a phenomenal thing to have achieved at the age of 16; this is made all the more impressive by the fact that she would have been subjected to discrimination, not only due to her age, but also her sex. There was likewise a stigma that women were un-academic, and too mentally unstable to compete in academic environment.

Even now, many women in the world do not have access to an education because their role in society is to obey men, and are therefore inferior to men. Due to this, they are thought to be too weak to be able to cope with an education.

Although there has been much progress for all children, and women especially to have an education, there are still 57 million children worldwide who do not have an education, and of these 37 million are girls. This is a result of many factors including: discrimination, threat of violence on the journey to and from school, the domestic advantage of having girls at home, child pregnancies and marriages. Fortunately, many girls and children have an education nowadays, but as a society there is still much work to be done, and it is thanks to the likes of Mary Christie that so many girls are able to take education for granted.

Almost unbelievably, there was a belief at the time that women would find studying too difficult due to mental instability, especially during their menstruation. By 1892, she had won an open scholarship to St Andrews University. She entered the university “on the first days that Scottish Universities admitted women to their degrees”. Christie worked so hard at university, that it hindered her from having a healthy social life, as she was determined to live by her motto “ever be the best”. At the university, there were students, who decided to cheat in class as they copied Christie’s work. Ironically, some of these students were men. As one of the first women to enter the university, she had to make her own decisions without any guidance. Her friend wrote that often they had “to make decisions without any certainty of success, and often to face criticism”. She graduated from university, with a degree in Logic, Metaphysics, French, Botany, Chemistry and Mathematics. This in itself is a huge achievement, made more impressive due to the discrimination she faced. Today, earning a university degree is seen as a huge achievement.

Even so, in retrospect, we are able to recognise how much greater that achievement must be in the face of such adversity

Victoria Gothard, Year 10, Pankhurst 7

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Mary Christie: ‘This is Your Life’ Mary Christie Assembly From 13 March until 31 March inclusive, the Heads of Guild, with the help of a talented cast from the drama department, were proud to deliver a unique and informative play in assemblies, to celebrate the life of Mary Christie.

Mary Christie was the first Head Teacher at Wycombe High School, who died 100 years ago on Sunday 19 March.

Miss Christie was appointed by the town in 1901 to open a girl’s school. She had a salary of just £175 a year, and started with 18 students (all of whom had failed the 11 plus incidentally). She chose the school motto, the curriculum, the colours which our girls wear even now, and she herself taught 23 hours a week. She was tragically young when she died; only 42 years of age, from an asthma attack. Her health had been undermined by pneumonia, brought on by the stressful work she had to do in the First World War, whilst living with no heating and on rations.

When Miss Christie died, the town and, most importantly, the students were stunned. She was truly an inspiration, and the assembly delivered, written by Chloe Deane Year 13 Curie 7 and Hannah Still Year 13 Nightingale 6 (Head of Guild), takes interesting archives and eulogies of significant individuals from Mary Christie’s life, and encompasses them all in a dramatic piece, to give students an insight into what she was like.

We would like to thank the authors of the eulogies featured, and also the talented cast who allowed the script to come to life!

Eulogies Featured: Miss Jessie Sprott Bishop of Buckingham Miss Bathie Miss Margaret Bowers Cast: Cecilia Alexander – Year 12, Austen 6 Cassie Green – Year 12, Nightingale 5 Scarlet Halton – Year 12, Curie 1 Rochelle Jack – Year 13, Nightingale 9 Esther Levin – Year 12, Austen 10 Esme Nicholls – Year 12, Nightingale 7 Kara Nugawela - Year 12, Bronte 8 Isabel Priestley – Year 12, Pankhurst 9 14

International Week The week commencing Monday 27 February was International Week. The forum sold dishes from other countries available to all years, featuring food from Italy, Thailand and Mexico.

Additionally, students in Years 7 and 8 were able to take part in a wide range of activities centred around different places and cultures. The activities ranged from learning different languages all the way to tasting exotic foods, and dancing. I personally took part in three of the lunchtime activities available, all centred around the Ancient Mediterranean.

card. With gold and silver pens, we drew out the basic hieroglyphs alphabet, as well as how to pronounce the letters, and what the meaning was. We did the same for the Ancient Greek alphabet too. One interesting thing about the Ancient Greek alphabet is the letter Ѱ – Psi, pronounced ‘puh-sigh’. It is interesting as the symbol looks very similar to the three pronged trident of Poseidon, and the name of the letter sounds similar to the start of the god’s name.

The last activity we did was on Thursday, with Mrs Penzer-Williams. Using Play-Dough, we recreated objects and animals preserved during the Mt Vesuvius eruption in 79AD. We learnt about Pompeii and a nearby town, Herculanium, which were situated close to the foot of Vesuvius and so engulfed by the pyroclastic flows and ash fall. The oppressive heat caused most bodies and objects to burn up, leaving hollow moulds in the rock. Archaeologists then poured plaster into the moulds, forming eerie sculptures of the dead.

Facial features and expressions are still visible, preserved for thousands of years. This greatly helped us to understand what life was like for an ordinary citizen of the day. In response, we made the figurines. I used an ashy brown tone to create a dog. Several dogs were preserved in the eruption, alongside their masters as they were unable to flee. Others with me sculpted coins, pots and even the colosseum!

On Monday, we participated in gladiator fighting in the amphitheatre with Mr Walpole. We learnt about the different types of gladiator (e.g. murmullones and retiarii), as well as how they used to fight and their reasoning. We dressed up in gladiator gear, with short gladiator swords, helmets, breastplates, shields and long spears.

Mr Walpole acted as the electoral candidate putting on the games. He would have funded the games in order to win the general populace over with entertainment. Bribery was not only commonplace, but encouraged, so Mr Walpole would have wanted to put on a very dramatic show. The rest of the group split into: a crowd of screaming fans, some starving wild animals, and the gladiators. The Romans liked to see different types of gladiators fight, so I, with my short sword and helmet, paired up with a girl carrying a slingshot (tea towel). The purpose of this exercise was to understand, in depth, what would have happened in a gladiator fight.

The week ended with our annual International Fair, which for the first time was actually raising money for two charities. Normally we would only support one charity but with the ongoing Mary Christie centenary celebrations the school wanted to support a second that involved education, in honour of our first headmistress.

Therefore, the proceeds from the fair went to both Save The Children (Child Refugee Crisis Appeal) and Women’s Worldwide Web (Education For Syrian Refugee Children).

Two days later, we attended ‘Everything Greek and Egyptian’. We were taught about the Rosetta Stone, an ancient plaque type object, inscribed with three versions of a decree issued

by Ptolemy V, one third in hieroglyphics, one in demotic script, and one in Ancient Greek. The stone was culturally and historically significant because before its discovery, the knowledge of how to read hieroglyphics had been lost for centuries, and we could only partially understand demotic. Ancient Greek, on the other hand, was widely known. This was important, as essentially the same thing was written in three different languages, allowing us to translate the hieroglyphs, unlocking the secret to this ancient language. In the session, we made our own paper versions of the Rosetta Stone using black

Altogether, International Week was an incredibly fun and enriching experience for me and my friends. We really enjoyed exploring other cultures and generally having fun. I cannot wait for next year!

Anna Kate Fischer, Year 8, Curie 7

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WHS Teachers’ Inspiring Women When we think of the women that inspire us in life, we tend to look back in history to the great legends that helped shape our society today. But in doing that we forget the women we are surrounded by, who encourage us, motivate us and influence us almost daily; our teachers.

Therefore, I felt it was particularly important to dedicate this article to the female teachers of Wycombe High School, by asking them the ultimate question “who inspired you?” and presenting their responses below.

Andrée was arrested by the Gestapo, interrogated and imprisoned first in Karlsruhe, Germany and then in the Natzeiler–Struthof concentration camp in the Vosges mountains. Andrée managed to smuggle messages written on cigarette papers out of prison to her relatives.

The end came about a month after D–Day. Along with three other female SOE agents she was injected with carbolic acid and after being pronounced dead her body was stripped ready for throwing into the crematorium. But she regained consciousness and fought back, scratching the face of the guard before she was thrown alive into the furnace. She was 25.

Mrs Robinson – ANDRÉE BORREL (code name Denise) The tomboy daughter of working class parents from the Paris suburbs, Andrée had fought in the Spanish Civil War. After France capitulated she trained as a nurse's aide and joined a Resistance network helping Jews, Special Operations Executive agents and Allied airmen escape over the Spanish border until 1941, when her group was uncovered and she had to escape herself, reaching England via Portugal. There she volunteered for SOE and nine months later, on 24 September, 1942, she became one of the first female agents to be parachuted into occupied France, to deliver messages and train Resistance members in the use of weapons and explosives. Tough and intensely committed she always volunteered for the most dangerous tasks. It was said that she enjoyed nothing better than a good sabotage operation. Her fellow trainees recalled her telling them that stabbing through the ear with a pencil was a good way of killing a German while he slept.

Mrs Ellis – KATHE KOLLWITZ My Inspirational woman is the artist and printmaker Kathe Kollwitz; one of Germany’s most important early 20th Century artists. Her evocative prints and drawings captured the hardships of ordinary people and particularly the suffering of women who lost sons, husbands and brothers to the horrors of WW1. She was inspirational not only for her work but also in the faith her father placed in her by encouraging her to study art and express her fears and emotions, something my father did in turn for me.

Mrs Woodward – JEAN SHEARDOWN My inspirational woman has always been my mum (Jean Sheardown). She was the most supportive and giving person in my life as I grew up, somebody who embodied all that is good. She always wanted the best for us and was there when things were tough. I am one of five sisters

She was so effective that in March 1943 her network leader Francis Suttill made her second–in –command. The following month their group carried out 63 acts of sabotage, derailing trains, killing 43 Germans, wounding 110 and set up 33 drop zones where supplies could be safely delivered.

She was probably betrayed, as on 23 June, 1943 16

who to this day remain incredibly close, a bond that was formed by our mother. My journey down the pastoral role and school has definitely been influenced by the nurturing guidance given to me by my mum.

Gertrude Bell – d.

1926 - another brilliant woman – a linguist who was a writer, traveller, spy and archaeologist who was highly influential in the Middle East before and after the First Word War

Miss Harris – JK ROWLING So my inspirational woman is JK Rowling, this may seem an obvious choice as my students know I am the world’s biggest Harry Potter fan.

However, it was her determination in the face of adversity that makes her an inspiration. She was a divorced, single parent struggling to get by and was diagnosed with clinical depression. But instead of letting this beat her, she used it as the motivation she needed to write the Harry Potter novels. It is a known fact that her ideas were turned away by several different publishers before she eventually got published, again something that I think is admirable. She is currently worth millions of pounds but gives a lot of money to charity and even created her own foundation. So overall I think she’s a pretty inspiring woman!

Miss Snook Where do I start?

How about with the obvious world leaders, former First Lady Michelle Obama, whose style, positivity and gusto make her one of the best role models to women and girls right now. Particularly as she capitalises on her influence in order to create impact. She uses every opportunity speaking publically, or in interview, to raise the profile of girls! She is resilient, confident and a product of her own making. Michelle Obama for President - watch this space, she will run for office!

Or there are those who have changed the world like one of the first female pilots, Amelia Earhart who famously said, "women must try to do things as men have tried". Then there are those who demonstrate enormous resilience, empathy and grace when faced with the worst of circumstances like Mother Theresa and Florence Nightingale; characteristics that define only extraordinary women.

Miss Brash I have always been inspired by women from the past who did fabulous things in what would have been a man’s world. It proves that there is no barrier to achievement if one has talent and works hard. So here are two examples from the world of art and two from the world of travel:

Isabella D’Este – d. 1539 – brilliant, charismatic, cultured, everything!

Leading woman of the Italian Renaissance who was a great patron of artists and musicians, as well as ruler on behalf of her husband.

Of course, you expect me to say I'm inspired by female role models in sport. Paula Radcliffe for her commitment to the curb, Jessica Ennis-Hill for her talent, determination and return to success post-partum. Billie Jean King who won 20 Wimbledon titles, then won $100,000 USD after beating a man who claimed that "men were the more successful athletes"!

Artemisia Gentileschi – d.

1653 – one of the best artists of the seventeenth century Celia Fiennes – d. 1741 - enthusiastic and intrepid traveller and diarist – her diaries are a brilliant and unique picture of what England was like at the start of eighteenth century

But we should also reflect on those in our own lives, considering those closer to home. There's my own mother who at seven years old faced the /Cont’d...

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death of her mother and subsequently experienced a rigid, inflexible upbringing whilst managing epilepsy, then over the course of more than 50 years of marriage (a milestone I recognise I am unlikely to achieve), raised three children, fought cancer and disability.

None of this sounds very inspirational yet.

However, when her husband answered the Pope's call for the Second Crusade Eleanor announced that she would be accompanying him with an army of women (unheard of that women would be attending the battlefield) to tend to the wounded. No-one could tell her no but, after the Second Crusade, all women were banned from future endeavours in the Holy Land.

The truth is, I'm difficult to please, yet easily impressed - sort of a juxtaposition! You know, those people who manage to wear their hat at a jaunty angle without it falling off, cartwheel at super slow speed, or skate on the slipperiest ice in a boot made essentially of a single blade! Daily, I'm impressed by 1300+ students who face academia at an intense pace and challenge within a top-20 Grammar school whilst juggling demanding home learning, hobbies, socialising and in some cases, whilst caring for others at home. Mix in the lure of social media, friendship issues and hormones and you get the hardest job in the world: being a teenage girl! (Parenting of whom I believe to be the second hardest!)

What all these women have in common is the ability to set goals, look to the future rather than the past and pick themselves up when faced with challenge, dust themselves off and move forwards; that is the true measure of a woman!

So if you want me to tell you who inspires me, it's not one person, but many and more than a thousand every day!

She divorced (most unusual) and then married the younger Henry II, who became King of England. This young girl, of whom no-one thought would amount to anything so her date of birth was never recorded, has become both Queen of France and now England, as well as still managing the affairs of the Duchy of Aquitaine.

Her relationship with Henry was a fiery one. She backed her sons in a rebellion against him. Henry imprisoned her for 10 years as revenge. At aged 70 she travelled across the Pyrennes in a time when roads were a luxury to secure a bride for her son, King Richard the Lionheart and at aged nearly 80 she held off the forces of her grandson, Arthur of Brittany, until her son (King) John and his army could reach her and defeat Arthur.

Why is she inspirational? In a time when there are few women to learn about, Eleanor of Aquitaine stands out for her fiery nature, her challenges to the establishment and her ability to rule in a world of men. However, her mother-in-law Matilda was also inspirational but that's a whole other story……

Ms Chamberlain – ELEANOR OF AQUITANE There are so many inspirational women to choose from and so I thought someone from the medieval world may make us all think that women have been inspirational for quite some time. Eleanor's story begins quite normally for a member of the noble-born. She was set to inherit nothing but on the death of her only brother and her father she became Duchess of Aquitaine, a rather large and wealthy area of modern-day France. She became the most eligible young woman to marry in Medieval Europe and so at age 15 she was married to the heir to the throne of France. Within a month of this marriage her husband inherited the throne.

I would like to thank all the teachers who contributed their ‘inspirational woman’ but also take a moment to thank them for inspiring us, the students, each and every day.

Esther Levin, Year 12, Austen 10, News Crew

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Why My Grandma is My Inspirational Woman Tracing back to the roots of the word 'inspiration', you find that it comes from Middle English, via Old French from Late Latin, to mean 'divine guidance'. To have such a person embodied, someone who can appear to be saintlike due to their selfless dedication to helping others, someone who can act as a catalyst for a better world, is a privilege not only for them, but for those who lives they touch and affect.

A lot of inspirational women are celebrities, for example, Emma Watson or Michelle Obama, who are fortunate enough to be in the public eye and use it to make a positive difference. Or maybe they are historical figures, like Florence Nightingale, or achieved something for the first time, for instance, Marie Curie being the first woman to win a Nobel Prize. But I think that it is more than an honour to be able to have a strong -willed hero to know personally, who advocated for what they believed was right 50 years ago, and is still advocating today. In addition to that, I am proud to be part of her family, as my inspirational woman, if you could not guess by the title, is my grandmother, Frances Winifred Alexander.

organisation she founded in 1984: Women Welcome Women. It only started off that way, as before long it became Women Welcome Women World Wide, or the 5Ws. This is an organisation that women over eighteen can join, which allows them to visit any other member, anywhere in the world, and stay with them for free! She wanted to 'encourage international friendship by enabling women to visit one another in their own homes', as their website says. Grandma has said that 'planning to spend a weekend with a member in a nearby country and carrying through that plan, making new friendships, noticing differences of interest in the lifestyles in the foreign country are great ways of gaining self-confidence and becoming articulate', showing how this non-profit Trust benefits women in many, many ways. Over the three decades, thousands of women have been able to travel safely in over 30 different countries, experiencing cultures that are not their own.

Whilst growing up, not only did I witness her recent works of wonder, but I also learned of the extensive and impressive life she had led, which constantly left me astounded. A common theme of her work throughout her years stems from the empowerment of women, especially in politics.

She trained as a nurse, a midwife, and then started a private nursing agency; she went into teaching at Wellsbourne School, and became a girls' career adviser; she was an active member of the Liberals, which then became the Liberal Democrats; she stood for Parliament on more than one occasion, she was elected to High Wycombe's District Council in 1991.

Figure 1 My grandma, Frances With my grandfather, Eric, she has two children, my aunt, Louise, and my father, Phil. Although Louise has no children, I have three older siblings, and Grandma has nurtured all four of us lovingly and equally. She helped home tutor my brother, teaching him the history of High Wycombe, Environmental Studies, and Biology.

She treated us all to a trip to Europe: my two eldest siblings went to Belgium, my other brother went to the south of France, and I went with her and Louise through Paris to Germany, a journey of tracing back our heritage and meeting distant relations. I cannot speak for the other three, but the opportunity to see another country for the first time while also learning about my ancestry was fascinating and I am incredibly grateful to her for the chance.

In 1995, she became the chair of Wycombe's Strategic Policy Board, then in 1997 she was elected Chairman of Wycombe District Council, dedicating her year to promote Local Agenda 21, with the motto 'think globally, act locally!'

Furthermore, she also undertook the role of Mayor of High Wycombe from 1998-99. During these years, Grandma, along with Grandpa, was able to help pedestrianize Wycombe High Street, something used by hundreds, if not thousands, daily!

One thing I had not realised until researching Frances in order to gather dates or extra detail, was that she was nominated for the 1996 Woman of Europe Award – I was not aware there was even such an award! She has used 5W as a way of travelling the world, making /cont’d...

Whilst we were staying in Stuttgart, Aunty Louise and I were in a hotel, but nearby, Grandma was staying with a friend that she knows from an 19

Figure 2 Grandma among the nature that she loves

volunteers. One thing I have noticed whilst helping there, speaking to the many different people that come and go, is the influence she has over them all. She motivates them to work smarter, harder, more efficiently. Her infectious passion is blatant, getting helpers inspired to better the environment. My grandmother’s work is exemplified by this beautifully coined phrase: 'A lot of small people doing a lot of small things in a lot of small places can make a big difference'.

The Environment Centre moved from Holywell Mead after about 11 years to West Wycombe Road, and then again to its own shop space in the Chiltern Centre in Frogmoor. Unfortunately, for the moment it is not up and running, but Grandma has a vision that might prevail for the future of it!

friends, and experiencing cultures, and always talks of fond memories from countless different places.

Figure 4 Grandma welcoming you to the Environment Centre

Aside from women's rights, Grandma's other passion is the environment, for which she has great concern. She started the Wycombe Environment Centre in 2002. There was even a bee hive, allowing a close up view of the hexagonal structure, and the queen bee in all her glory. It was for the public – a place for them to learn: about healthy eating, growing their own vegetables, the importance of climate change and how it can be prevented, sustainable development in the forms of transport, insulation, and so many more.

Many activities ran throughout the year for children: making Halloween masks, Christmas decorations, all using recycled materials, which they loved! Their parents could either join in, or look at the exhibitions, either way their interest was piqued. It was gratifying seeing all the children smile at their parents, proudly showing them their hard work. Being able to see them skip away grinning, having had fun and finding out about the environment gives me an idea of why Grandma was so headstrong in setting up such a place. She sees something that not necessarily needs to be done, but could be done to improve the town or lives of the people, and does it. The problem of climate change is growing, and getting people informed, and sparking the interest in the younger generation is what needed to be done, and Grandma found a way to do it.

In 2013, Grandma was awarded Honorary Burgess of High Wycombe, a prestigious title that dates back 800 years! It celebrates her decadeslong dedication to the town and commitment to being a steadfast advocate for many things across Wycombe. I was very proud to see her commended on such a high scale and it was a moment like that, as I saw her being bestowed with her sash, that I thought to myself, 'I wish I will achieve as much as her someday'.

The Environment Centre has worked a lot with Bucks New University, so much so that they presented her with an Honorary Doctorate. It was a privilege to be in the auditorium with many students and their families, and to hear my Grandma present a speech, as I am sure she has done innumerable times before, instilling hope into the heads and hearts of new graduates as they go out into the wider world.

Figure 3 An Environment Centre exhibition

2015 saw Arriva bring in five new eco-friendly buses, and it was the Council's decision to name them after 'Local Legends'. The general public took to Twitter to cast their votes on who they should be. The final quintuplet consists of: Benjamin Disraeli, former Prime Minister; Gareth Ainsworth, manager of Wycombe Wanderers, Ricki Akhter Hussein, former local Councillor and Deputy Mayor; Peter Cartwright, County Councillor, District Councillor and Mayor; then last but not least, Frances Alexander.

My siblings, our friends and I have all volunteered at the Environment Centre, as it runs mainly with 20

Figure 5 Grandma and BNU's Vice Chancellor

Parliament, so the governing body can accurately represent its electorate. Today, we only have 191 female Members of Parliament, and although it is an improvement since the 20th Century, there is no reason why equality cannot be achieved.

Grandma said the first time she thought seriously about going into politics was when she heard abortion being debated on the radio – debated solely by men. This sparked in her an outrage, how men presumed they had the right and authority to dictate the laws that only affected women. She saw the injustice that was being served to countless women, as men decided their future, and knew that a change was needed.

Furthermore, Grandma decided to celebrate her 80th birthday in true Frances style: a conference for women on what they can do to help stop climate change.

This was entitled 'Can Women Cool It?', though it was not exclusively for women. I attended, and once again her passion and commitment to the cause shined through, as many women left with a plan of action for their communities, whether local to Wycombe or not, and having met many other like-minded women who share the same common goal.

Figure 6 Grandma with the other 'Local Legends' in front of their buses

Figure 8 The logo of the Can Women Cool It conference

Next time you catch the 31 or 33 to Totteridge or Castlefield, check the outside of the bus, as it might say 'Hello, my name is Frances', and on the inside it explains briefly about why she is one of High Wycombe's 'Local Legends': 'Frances is head of the Wycombe Environment Centre and spokesperson for local sustainable issues. In her many years living in High Wycombe she has served the town as Mayor and District Councillor.'

You might have noticed that she is the only woman selected, proving again how she is a beacon of light for women in a male dominated society.

Grandma understands the importance of making her life count. She does it for her family she cherishes, the community she adores, and the planet she treasures. There is a reason countless people have commented to me on 'what a remarkable woman [my] grandmother is'. I hope that her legacy lives on through 5W, all the volunteers at the Environment Centre, and that I may, one day, do all she has done, and is still doing.

Figure 7 Grandma sharing a joke with her new friend Gareth Ainsworth

Through her influence in my life, she has instilled the belief that I, as an individual, can be a strong independent woman in a patriarchal society, challenge injustice, and smash through the glass ceiling.

Cecilia Alexander, Year 12, Austen 6, News Crew

In the 1970s she joined a group called the '300 Group'. The aim to get at least 300 women in 21

My Inspirational Woman When deciding upon my inspirational woman, I contemplated the greats including Emma Watson and of course Michelle Obama; but what came to mind instead was Martha Weiss, a woman I was fortunate enough to listen to this summer when visiting Yad Vashem, the holocaust memorial museum in Israel.

town. Every night Martha’s sister was awoken and beaten; but still she insisted on her Christianity. Meanwhile a woman would speak to Martha, insisting she was a fellow Jewish prisoner and strived to trick her into confessing her religion, until one day a young boy of maybe 16 cried out “Don’t tell her, don’t tell her she’s a spy for the Nazis”. This one boy’s actions prevented Martha from trusting the woman, but as a result he was reported and beaten to a pulp: losing his life to save hers.

However, despite the sisters’ insistence, their nanny denounced the children and they were subsequently sent off to camp.

Once again their lives were saved as a woman implored them to tell the officers they could knit, which the girls obeyed, saving them from being sent straight to Auschwitz where they would have died upon arrival. A month later the girls arrived at the concentration camp and were immediately directed to the male quarters. As they approached they understood two nearby guards joking in German that they should push the youngest into the sewer and see how long it takes for her to drown. Hoping they had misunderstood, the girls continued forward, but true to his promise the officer kicked Martha into the thick sewage. Luckily the thickness prevented her from sinking and a boy from the other side of the camp noticed her struggle and dragged her out, simultaneously risking his life by disobeying the guards and demonstrating utmost compassion.

Martha Weiss, branded 27202 upon arrival in Auschwitz is one of the very few remaining Holocaust survivors. Born into an orthodox Jewish family in Czechoslovakia, Martha was brought up with eight other siblings until the Nazis invaded in 1939 and her family were split apart, after her parents made the difficult decision to send their children to Hungary in hope of safety, each accompanied by a Christian nanny.

Martha fortunately was able to remain with her younger sister who somewhat ironically became friends with the daughter of an SS Nazi Officer . Furthermore, upon discovering the young girl’s talent for chess he regularly visited their household to play, convinced of their Christianity. In fact the officer trusted the two girls to such an extent that he even disclosed the Nazi’s plans to capture Jews on Rosh Hashanah (the new year) in Bratislava, which they were then able to pass onto their parents who accordingly went into hiding along with the other Jews they were able to inform - and were saved.

However, despite their best efforts to maintain their Christian façade, Martha, her younger sister and their nanny were discovered to have missed their rations on Shabbat and were promptly arrested and interrogated in an attempt to force them to confess their true religion. Before being captured the girls tried to call the SS officer who they knew would vouch for their Christianity, but alas he was not in

In the camp, women young and old, were forced to strip in front of leering men and were pushed into the gas chambers which could either be filled with deadly Zyklon B gas, or 22

water. The prisoners did not know which they were about to receive. After showers, they would have to exit naked and were then allowed to change back into clothes. These clothes would deliberately be the wrong size and covered with lice. Prisoners were woken up between 4:30 and 5:30 in the morning for a head count. If someone died during the night, their fellow companions would have to carry the dead bodies out and hold them up for the role call; hot or cold, rain or shine.

not recognisable to their parents at first but once realising that the family were reunited, Martha’s father vowed to do all he could to help the survivors, assisting people in finding their families, lodgings and food.

Martha went on to marry and move to Australia, although she now lives in Israel with her husband, due to her desire to join the Yad Vashem community, in order to educate the next generation about her experience and to pass on the final memories of the Holocaust.

But most importantly she felt a responsibility to keep the memory alive, compelling us to pass her story on so that as generations passed, the horrific event would not be lessened.

In the end, Martha’s sister became sick and was sent to the camp’s sanatorium where SS Mengele was in charge and allowed Martha to visit her sister daily. One day she entered the infirmary to find the bunker redecorated with real beds complete with inmates dressed as nurses which was due to a visit from the Red Cross. Mengele injected the remaining patients in the heart with fatal poison in order to empty the barracks. Horrifyingly, he was successful in convincing the Red Cross inspectors that the sanatorium was upstanding, until one of the ‘nurses’ called out to them swearing it was all a lie and that they could find the dead bodies behind the barracks. But Mengele, grinning from ear to ear, declared the nurse was a mental patient under the illusion she was a nurse, which the Red Cross decided to accept and consequently left without further inspection.

But those who disobeyed had to be punished, therefore this woman was subsequently injected with petroleum and the rest of the camp were forced to watch her die a long agonising death.

On the 18 January, the girls were called to join a march from Auschwitz to another camp in which if you could not continue walking you were left to die. Still riddled with illness, Martha’s sister refused to leave and due to their promise to stay together Martha remained with her. Astonishingly, they were able to survive without food, locked in an enclosure with barbed wires that was to be set on fire in order to kill the remaining Jews before the camp could be liberated. But like a “god-send” it started to rain and their lives were saved.

Instead, the officers dragged them out of the camp to escape but suddenly they disappeared and were replaced with Russian soldiers and freedom.

Therefore, it is only fitting that I share this story and hopefully touch someone with the account of a woman, who despite all odds managed to survive the most brutal genocide of the 20th century. To think that people reject the concept of the Holocaust is frankly disgusting but even worse is the idea that people may just forget like we have forgotten so many events of the past. Although Martha herself inspires me, it is her story itself that I find most influential. The actions of others to save both her and her sister’s lives were not only selfless, but they demonstrated vast courage and compassion, traits I will always strive to achieve. Yet most profoundly, it is the idea that despite the brutality and despair surrounding her, Martha was still able to hold onto hope, that truly inspires me most of all.

Not wanting to join the rest of the Jews being taken to Russia, the girls left the camp and hitchhiked their way to Czechoslovakia, begging for meals and sleeping among animals on their way. They arrived home ironically on the morning of Shabbat to find their parents and brother returning from prayer. They were

Esther Levin, Year 12, Austen 10, News Crew

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My Time at WHS In all honesty, I am finding it relatively hard to comprehend that my time at WHS is coming to an end. Thinking back to the first day of Year 7 seems like forever ago, and yet I also feel that my time at this school has been all too quick.

School events are also prominent in my memory.

The day that vertical tutoring was launched in 2011, was extremely exciting for my Year 7 self.

Participating in Interhouse events over the years has been wonderful, despite my tendency to always be hit in the face by the ball, be it a net ball, a rounders balls, a rugby ball, even a shuttlecock on occasion. Sports days have also been something to remember, as despite the usual drizzle it never seems to dampen the spirit of those involved. The annual Christmas Carol services have always been completely magical to me, and it’s been a joy to have been involved with Chamber Choir throughout my time here.

I began my journey at Wycombe High as a very loud and outgoing girl. Of course I was nervous about being in a new place with new people, but that didn’t seem to hinder my boundless energy.

Looking back, I cringe at the fact that I was often rather annoying to be around due to my exuberance. However, as the years progressed I certainly changed as a person. I have experienced some disruptive personal situations while at Wycombe High, but the safety of school was always there for me. These events changed me, and it certainly altered my personality and the way I expressed myself both in and out of school. Frankly, I became rather shy, a lot more serious and I was also encouraged to give my all into getting amazing grades. What sticks with me though, is the fact that when I was at my lowest point, I actually made some truly longlasting friendships.

This school has also allowed me to go on some truly incredible trips, such as the ski trip where I hysterically cried at the top of the mountain on our first day skiing due to being caught in a blizzard, while the girls around me sang ‘if you’re happy and you know it’. The French homestay, where rather ashamedly I could barely muster saying a word in French to my lovely host family.

The outlook expedition to Zambia, which I’ll never forget, from the quite literal highs of standing atop Victoria Falls, to the rather deflated lows of our safari jeep breaking down due to a punctured tire in the middle of Chobe National Park. I also, couldn't not mention the music trip to New York and the unforgettable experience of singing in Carnegie Hall.

Wycombe High has truly allowed me to become quite the globe trotter.

I genuinely have so many fond memories from my time here, and they involve so many different people, be it friends that I’ve happened to drift away from, friends I’ve made along the way whom are truly amazing, or just general people in my year group, as I think we’re rather a tightly knit bunch. My school experience would not have been nearly as enjoyable if I hadn’t been surrounded by so many lovely people, which includes both my friends and my teachers. I feel I need to mention some of the teachers who really have helped me over the years. Miss Rogers, thank you very much for inspiring my love for literature and reading, as well as for bearing with me for three years. Mrs Brown, as much as I hated maths as a subject, you helped me to achieve an A* at Maths GCSE, a fact that I will always be immeasurably proud of. Mr Nowak-Scase, I literally could not have asked for a better or funnier geography teacher over the years. Finally I must of course mention Ms Chamberlain, for being the best moral support through EPQ and for sparking my interest for politics as a subject, I truly am grateful.

There are plenty more moments that I have enjoyed at WHS, but I couldn’t possibly write them all out, instead I intend to cherish them as being some of the best memories a girl could wish for, in her adolescent years. This school really has served me well, yes I’ve had some horrendous down moments scattered amongst all the happy times, but I move on to university knowing that I have had a joyful secondary school career. This fact means in turn I can be positive about my future, as I know how great life can be when you work hard and have good friends.

Emma Wace, Year 13, Austen 10, Head of News Crew

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My Time at WHS To write retrospectively is harder than it might at first seem. My time at WHS has been fraught with troubles, joys and everything in between.

Personally, Years 7, 8 and 9 seem to have passed in a blur, each a respective zone of neutral inertia, wherein I wasn’t aware of the looming threat of serious exams, nor was I working myself to the bone. I was free to enjoy my time, which at that age meant doing things that now - when I come to reflect on them - are toe-curlingly cringe-worthy.

a strict regime of revision, managing to scrape an A in my final exam (the moral of this story being, if you take the time to revise, you can do it). I’d grown complacent as I’d grown more comfortable. I’m pleased to say this, too, is no longer the case (partly because I dropped Chemistry at the first available opportunity – I’d sooner be dead than be doing any more qualifications in Chemistry than are necessary).

Nevertheless, I’d hate to paint a picture of doom and gloom - I have taken some of my happiest memories from Wycombe High School: the GCSE Spanish trip proved to be nothing but days of endless hilarity (and indeed, every school trip that I can recall having been on was enjoyable), each successive Christmas pantomime and SLT video has been better and funnier than the last, and – at the risk of sounding like a real nerd – since joining the Sixth Form, certainly, my lessons have become incredibly enjoyable; to anyone choosing their ALevels, I’d highly recommend English, History and Politics.

This is not to be disparaging of the amount of work I have found myself needing to do since moving beyond Year 9. If anything, the reduction of my free time has taught me both its value, and the value of hard work in itself. In order to be treated like an adult - which is something I have constantly strived towards since progressing to secondary school - one must act like an adult, and it has since dawned on me that behaving like an adult frequently entails doing any and all work you are given on time, and without complaint.

Nevertheless, I’ll start at the beginning. I came into Year 7 the most timorous child I’d ever met, certain that I would never grow out of my timidity, and jealous of every other girl who appeared more confident than myself (which was all of my peers). Each report and Parents’ Evening always presented the same issue: class contribution. I was small, perpetually afraid, and almost constantly confused about what was happening. Fortunately, this is no longer the case: I no longer live in fear, and certainly feel as though I understand what is going on around me. (On the subject of my size, I’m hardly small anymore – nearly 5’9” and counting!) But Year 7 wasn’t all about cowering in the classroom, or pottering bemusedly through the halls sporting a giant bag: I made friends – some of whom I remain close with (though, unfortunately, I have since drifted apart from a few of said friends, as is prone to happen when you grow up).

In summation, my time at Wycombe High has been an incredible rollercoaster of ups and downs, but if I could do it all again, I certainly would. I’m genuinely very sad to be leaving at the end of this year, and will miss the school with all my heart - but thanks to the start Wycombe High has given me, I’m confident that whatever I go on to will be great.

Ellie Tribe, Year 13, Curie 1, Head of News Crew

Year upon year brought more of the same: middling grades, comments on my lack of class contribution, stuffing my bag to bursting point.

Come Year 11, however, things changed: for one, a lot of my grades dipped. I remember getting Es, and, if I was lucky, Ds, for almost the entirety of Year 11 Chemistry, and then through 26

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The Student Leadership Team We asked the current Student Leadership Team (SLT) to describe their role and what it is they’ve enjoyed most about it, as well as any other school memories they’d like to share. This is what they had to say: Over the last year my duties as head girl have ranged from giving speeches at open evenings, to dressing up as a superhero for the annual pink fair. I have been lucky enough to have fourteen girls to support and help me along the way and I am forever grateful for the opportunity to be on this year’s Student Leadership Team.

Rochelle Jack – Head Girl As deputy head girls our main duty is to run school council. This is the first year that there have been two deputy head girls, which has been very useful, splitting the work load in half and having someone to moan to! We have loved working together this year and we wish our successors luck.

Cat Sturrock and Seema Taank – Deputy Head Girls I am Head of ACAs. ACAs is our school's peer-to-peer tuition scheme which aims to link older and younger students together to provide support in every subject. As Head of ACAs I connect students who require tutoring with students who can offer their time to help.

Beth Wagge – Head of ACAs

I've really enjoyed being part of the SLT this year, I've taken part in some fantastic events and really embraced the WHS spirit. As Head of Environment, I've launched the Environment Society with the aim to achieve the Green Flag award, so far it’s all gone to plan! We've made birdboxes and flower beds for the school allotment as well as making a new notice board and coming up with a new eco-code. I've loved working on the Year 13 Yearbook and getting involved with the leavers’ plans. I wish the new Head of Environment the best of luck next year.

Lauren Allington – Head of Environment My experience as Head of Transition for Wycombe High has been fantastic! I have participated in opening evenings, given speeches about my experience joining the school last year and organised meet ups with current transfer students within the school. This role has allowed me to support individuals during the hectic transition period when joining high school or embarking on A Levels. It has been an extremely rewarding opportunity that I am eternally grateful for.

Aneeka Khan – Head of Transition As the Heads of Charities we organise our charity events throughout the year to make sure they run smoothly and to try to raise as much money as possible. So far we have run events such as the Wear it Pink Fair and SLT sing-o-grams, both of which were great successes. We are also responsible for counting the funds raised for House and whole school charities.

Phoebe Gillett and Chloe Higham – Heads of Charities Although relatively behind the scenes, the SLT Student Ambassadors role shouldn’t be valued at a pins fee. Being organised and punctual are key characteristics, although not always possible! Whether it is organising tours, creating a rota (which will be recreated many times throughout the year) or finding people to help at events, being ‘on it’ is essential. Despite the health warning that comes with the role, it is very rewarding and if, like me, you are the kind of person who likes to be helpful and get things done, this role is perfect. Finally, if you need a boost of confidence before heading off to university or an apprenticeship or anything else you fancy doing, you can find that embedded in this role, it certainly helped me. Yes, it has been a lot of work but I have genuinely had the best time and would recommend to anyone who is considering (or not considering) applying for the SLT in the future.

Jess Martin – Head of Student Ambassadors 28

I've really enjoyed being Austen's House Captain this year! It's been a great opportunity to gain responsibility, and leading my house in inter-house events has been a lot of fun. My favourite moments have been cheering on Austen on Sports Day, and collecting the House Cup and Charity Shield at the end of the year.

Hattie Cross – Head of Austen A House Captain’s job is to ensure that morale and team spirit is a constant in daily school life. The most important events being Sports Day and other inter-house competitions, it is essential that a feeling of inclusiveness and competitiveness is promoted throughout. The sixth former in this role is also seen as an approachable figure, that younger students can come to and feel at ease when speaking to if wanting advice or sharing any problems. As a house captain, being able to share experience about their seven years at Wycombe High can be used by the younger students in order to make their time at the school more enjoyable. It’s been a pleasure to have been awarded this role.

Ella Calder – Head of Bronte

Being on the Student Leadership Team has been an invaluable experience. I have loved attending multiple school events and being an advocate for the school. As house captain for Curie, I have been responsible for organising house events and raising house spirit; this has been particularly rewarding given that Curie is the best house! My role has also meant ensuring that Curie raised money for the fantastic charity Cinnamon Galle, which is based in Sri Lanka. I have thoroughly enjoyed being on the SLT and it will be something about the school I will always remember.

Katie Parry – Head of Curie I have more than enjoyed being a House Captain. The ladies (and Teachers!) in the Nightingale family are some of the kindness and most beautiful people I will ever meet. From raising money for our invaluable charity to our Sports Day success, I have loved every moment and I will definitely miss my Nightingale family. I wish them nothing but the greatest future they all deserve! Stay unapologetic.

Kaiyomi Stewart - Head of Nightingale

As Pankhurst House Captain, I act as a leader for the house. I appear in assemblies, I visit forms on Fridays to collect change for change, and I organise house charity events. I act as a role model (hopefully!) for all Pankhurst members and I'm always available if they need a chat or have any fundraising ideas. I hope to raise spirit in the house, and perhaps my most important role, is wearing the bee onesie on Sports day!!

Ellie Herrity – Head of Pankhurst My role as Parks House Captain has been an interesting one. It is without a doubt that to be given such a position is a big achievement and privilege. The role can be quite demanding with frequent meetings and events that must be attended. However each has provided me with skills and knowledge that I can use later in life. In particular I have hugely developed my communication skills and it's a great opportunity to get networking at school events. The best thing for me has been the relationships I've developed with younger students and the friendships I have made.

Kate Haynes – Head of Parks

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Development Office Update The Play Your Part for Sport Campaign was launched in 2015 to raise money for a new allweather pitch facility consisting of two pitches, flood lights and a pavilion for the school and local community.

Mr Mand Mrs J Ashford Mrs J Aslett Mrs R Athwal Mr M and Mrs S Averill Ms P Baguban Ms S Bais Mr B and Mrs S Balachandran Mr M and Mrs A Banton Mrs S Barrett Ms C Bartlett Mr P Harrison and Ms A Bayliss Mr J and Mrs A Bedford Beehive Treats Mr F and Mrs S Bello Mr H and Mrs S Bhandal Mr D and Mrs S Bhogal Mr A and Mrs C Birkbeck Mr N and Mrs C Birkett Dr G Biswas Mr A Black Ms J Black Mr M Blair Mr K Bonsu Booker Wholesale Mr J and Mrs J Bosley Ms L Bowen Mrs J Boyd Mr R Braddick Mr S and Mrs C Bray Mr D Breckenridge Mr D and Mrs C Bridges Mr G and Mrs J Briggs Miss M Brocklesby Mr J and Mrs A Bromley Mr J Brown Mr K and Mrs K Brown Ms S Bruce Mr P and Mrs A Burniston Mr S Burns Mr J and Mrs C Burt Ms M Busby Mr G and Mrs D Cafferkey Mr J and Mrs H Campanini Ms S Campbell Ms R Caroco Mrs K Caroe The Carrarys Mr A and Mrs L Carter Mr D Carter and Ms L Durno Mr S and Mrs S Caskey Mrs G Cassidy Mr J Cawan Mr S and Mrs S Chandramohan Mrs H Chaston Mrs P Churchill Miss S Cliff

The first phase of the campaign focuses on the first of two pitches. The estimated cost of one pitch is £600,000. £220,000 funds have been allocated from the School fund to the first pitch, leaving £380,000 funds to raise. Last academic year the goal was to raise half of the funds needed for the first of our two all-weather pitches - £190,000.

With the support of current and former parents, students and staff, local businesses and sponsors we met 45% of our goal raising £84,587 for the School Development Fund. Donations from parents to our Future Fund and Play Your Part campaigns make up the majority of donations.

With the help of 371 donors we were able to:  Refurbish the Sixth Form Study Area (decoration, carpet and furniture)  Refurbish the entrance lobby and toilets on the ground floor of the Sixth Form Centre  Extend The Forum (a new sandwich room seating over 100)  Replace broken paving slabs outside Miller with tarmac.  Create an island for an additional security barrier between Miller and Christie  Create a path at the south end of Christie (rear of Labs A & B) to enhance safety in the car park.  Create teacher training facilities (Miller Annexe)  Upgrade wireless and network infrastructure to support BYOD for all year groups.

Wycombe High School is deeply grateful to all those who have supported the school in terms of time, skills and funds. Your involvement is invaluable and strengthens our community.

2015-16 Donors Every effort has been made to ensure accuracy of the following list: Mr I and Mrs T Ahmad Mr I and Mrs A Alam Mr R and Mrs G Alton Mr M and Mrs L Aravindan 30

Mr R and Mrs R Cliff Cineworld Cinemas - High Wycombe Mr L and Mrs N Clube Mr R and Mrs L Cole Mr R and Mrs D Cole Mr T Seed and Mrs C Coleman-Seed Mr C Collins Mr J and Mrs S Commins Mr P and Mrs K Cook Mr C and Mrs Y Cooke Dr A and Mr S Copeman Ms S Correia Country Baskets Mr C and Mrs A Coward Mr R and Mrs S Cowley Mr N and Mrs H Cox Ms G Crew Mr A and Mrs S Cromie Mr P and Mrs C Crosby Mr A and Mrs L Cubbage Mr J and Mrs B Dadacz Mr K and Mrs S Dahlbom Mr M and Mrs J Dallas Mr P and Mrs J Davies Mr A Daw Mr M and Mrs P Desmond Mr A and Mrs R Desmond Dr R Dhand and Dr P Riley Mr M and Mrs I Dollin Ms A Downs Miss J Drew Mrs O Duncan Mr C Dyer Miss S Edwards Mr J Entwisle and Ms S Mitcheson Mr J Erstad Mr D and Mrs J Evans Mrs J Fairall Mr A and Mrs N Farid Mr C Farrell Mr T and Mrs J Farrow Mr N and Mrs L Favager Ms E Felstead Mr S Fernandes Dr R and Mrs J Fernandes Mr M and Mrs E Firth Mr D and Mrs A Fishleigh Mrs M Fox Mr R and Mrs E Fryer Mr M Gardener Mr G and Mrs E Garrett Mr S and Mrs K Garrett Mr B and Mrs S Gillespie Mr I and Mrs L Gillespie Mr N and Mrs J Gillespie Mr R and Mrs C Goddard Mr J Golbrow Ms N Gordon Mr C and Mrs B Gothard

Mr P Graham Mrs G Green Mrs R Green Mr G and Mrs B Griffiths Miss D Grimsdell Mr M and Mrs N Grimsdell Mr D Harper Miss E Harper Mr P and Mrs C Harper Mr R Harris Mr P Harrison and Ms A Bayliss Mrs R Harrison Mr A and Mrs S Hart Ms J Hartin Mr J and Mrs F Harvey Mr P Harvey Mr S and Mrs C Hawkins Hawkinsport & Son Ms P Hayball Mr C Hayfield Mr A Shariff and Dr C Haynes Mr J and Mrs J Heal Mrs S and Mr M Hearnden Miss I Heron Mr E Heron Mr F Heron Mr K and Mrs S Heron Miss G Hollier Mr R and Mrs S Holloway Mr M and Mrs M Holmes Miss J Honigmann Mr J Hooker Mr A and Mrs T Houston Mr J Houston Mrs H and Mr N Howitt Miss L Hutton Mr B Hutton Mr J and Mrs P Hutton Mr P Hutton Mrs E Iley Innovate Prof S Iversen Jaydees Newsageants Mr D and Mrs F Jefferies Mrs L Jones and Mr S Angelides Mr A and Mrs S Jones Ms P Jordan Mrs M Joshi Mr A Kapur Mr H Kauffmann and Miss A Dusting Ms J Kearins Mrs B Kelly Mr A and Mrs M Khaki Dr A Khan and Dr S Raoof Ms M Khasria Mrs E and Mr S Kirkham Dr S Krishnan Mr P and Mrs M Lally 31

Ms K Lane Mr P and Mrs C Latham Mr N and Mrs C Law Mrs S J Layden Mrs D Leahy Mr C and Mrs S Lee Dr M and Mrs C Legerton Miss L Legerton Dr R and Dr P Lenko Mr S and Mrs C Levin Mr C Lewis Mr J Lipman and Mrs K Kisielowska-Lipman Dr H M Lloyd Ms J Lloyd Mr A and Mrs J Long Mr A and Mrs S Macaulay Mr A and Mrs C Macleod Mr D and Mrs K Maddocks Mr R and Mrs S Maguire Mr S Mahmood Marks & Spencers Mr I and Mrs J Martin Mr H and Mrs M Matharu Mr L and Mrs M Maxted Ms M Mbula Dr K McHugh and Dr A Shefler Miss N Meechan Mr C Meechan Mr R and Mrs C Meechan Mrs S Mehat Mr J Mendleton Mrs L Middleton Hill Mr L and Mrs M Miles Miss Y Mills Mr A Mills Mr S and Mrs E Mills Mr D Mitson Mrs N Monteiro Mr R and Mrs C Moore Miss P Moores Rosa Morad Mr N and Mrs A Moraes Mr T and Mrs D Morgan Miss T Morgenstern Morrisons High Wycombe Mr Nava Ms A Nazir Mr M Neal and Ms K Dynes Dr R and Mrs J Neal Mr R and Mrs N Neal Mr C Nevard Mrs D Newson Mr Niroshan Mr J Noad Miss J Nunn Miss P Nunnerley Miss S Oatley

Mrs H and Mr P Oatley Mr J and Mrs S Osborne Miss D O'Shaughnessy Mr B Blackbourn and Mrs M Palich Dr D and Mrs P Palmer Mr G and Mrs D Parker Mr S and Mrs J Parkinson Mrs A Paskins Dr J and Mrs R Passchier Ms P Patel Mr G and Mrs S Peberdy Miss E Pennell Mr M Perrett Perton Signs Limited Dr R and Reverend H Peters Mr M and Mrs A Phimister Mr J and Mrs K Pinner Mr W and Mrs C Plummer Mr G and Mrs V Ponting Mr S and Mrs S Powell Miss W Power Mr J Pratt and Mrs K ClarkPratt Mr L and Mrs T Priestley Mrs C Prince Progress Bakery Mr S and Mrs B Puttick Mr D and Mrs A Ramachandran Mr H and Ms M Ramachandran Mr K Ramachandran Mr R Ramachandran Mrs K Randall Dr A Khan and Dr S Raoof Mr Ravi Mr A and Mrs A Redington Dr J Reed and Dr D Shears Mr M Reinecke Ms A Richards Mr M and Mrs A Rivers Mr N and Mrs E Roberts Miss E Rose Mr J and Mrs N Rose Ms J Rose Miss P Rosewarne Mr S Roy and Mrs C Oliver Sainsbury's High Wycombe Mr N and Mrs L Sanderson Ms B Sanderson Saucy Horse Ltd Mr G Seprico Mr P Sethuraman and Mrs G Prakash Mr A Shariff and Dr C Haynes Z Shariff Mr A Shave and Mrs A Yang

Mr A and Mrs J Sheldon Mr M and Mrs J Simpson J Singh Mr P and Mrs S Singleton Mr W Smethurst Mr M and Mrs M Smith Mr M Snodden Miss A Snook Mr J Staggs Starbucks Coffee Mrs A Steel Mr N Stevens Mr T Stevens Mrs H Stevens Mr A and Mrs E Stokes Mrs C Stuart-Lee Mrs G Sugden Mr Suthan Ms J Swallow Mr R and Mrs O Sydykova Mr N and Mrs M Symonds Ms J Tant Mr D and Mrs A Tapping Mr O and Mrs J Tardif Ms S Tario Mr M Tariq and Dr S De Ms R Tariq Miss J Taylor Tencer Limited Tesco Loudwater Mr N Thomas Mr K and Mrs H Thomas Ms A Thompson Mr A and Mrs D Tilt Tin Kitchen Mr A and Mrs J Tinnelly Mr S and Mrs M Tinnelly Toys-UK Mr N Tshuma Mrs J Tucker Mr C and Mrs L Tucker Mr O and Mrs H Turner Mrs V Tutt Miss L Twine Mr D and Mrs D Twitchen Ms C H Tyrrell Ms T Vaithlagam Miss A Valentine Mr A Varothayan Mrs R Vere and Mr E Baker VINCI Construction Mr T and Mrs T Vitharana Mr R and Mrs M Vowles Mr Vthayan Mr J and Mrs S Wadsworth Mr J and Mrs J Wagge Mr J and Mrs M Wagstaff Ms L Wahid 32

Ms E Wainwright Mr K and Mrs H Wakeling Mr P Walker and Ms Y Sung Mr N and Mrs J Warnock-Horn Ms J Wassell Mr R and Mrs P Waterfield Mrs A Watson-Broughton Mr JC Webster and Mrs J Webster Mr D and Mrs D Weerasekara Mr R and Mrs J West Mr M and Mrs K Wheeler Mrs E Whelan Mr P and Mrs V Widdowson Mrs C Williams Ms V Williams and Ms H Taperell Mrs H Wilson Mr N and Mrs A Winterbourne Ms L Woodcock Mrs F and Mr G Wright Dr M H and Mrs L Ye Mr J and Mrs S Yeatman Mr C Yeung and Ms Y Pang Mr I and Mrs T Young

Play

Your Part for Sport Update So far we have raised £399,000 of the £600,000 required to fund the first of our two all-weather pitches. This year we received a pledge from the Garfield Weston Foundation of £30,000. This was a wonderful gift to kick start our fundraising this year to help raise the remaining £201,000 funds needed.

We have produced a series of fundraising events this year that have helped raised over £41,000 this year including:      

Development Ambassador Fundraising Events WHS Branded Merchandise Sales Alumnae v Staff and Students Events Students v Staff Sporting Events Bag Packing Pedal 4 a Pitch

The Sponsor a Square Campaign is our primary appeal this year. By sponsoring a square, you will be able to add a name, photo and a small message to each square you purchase online and all sponsors will be acknowledged on a donor board at the new facility. Squares vary in price from £50 to £750.

This is a fantastic way to commemorate your daughter’s time at the school and support future generations of students and the local community. You may decide to purchase a square in honour of your family, friends or colleagues.

If you run a local business or work in a large corporation, you may choose to purchase a square or two in the company’s name - a great opportunity to advertise at the new facility.

To Sponsor a Square visit http://www.whs.bucks.sch.uk/PlayYourPart. You can also sponsor a square using ParentPay (http://www.parentpay.com), our online payment system, by choosing the service ‘Sponsor a Square’. Or, you may also complete the gift form which can be found on our website.

We have two more events this academic year which will help us raise money for our new pitches:  

Sports Awards Evening Friday 23 June Sports Day on Friday 7 July.

We look forward to seeing as many of you as possible at both events.

Thank you in advance for helping us to enable every student to enjoy a healthy and active lifestyle, all year round.

Mrs D Morgan, Director of Development and Alumnae Relations

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Development Ambassador Update money for the school. So far this year we have raised £545 from Movie Nights.

The Development Ambassador programme was created in 2009 to address the lack of leadership opportunities available to younger students in school at the time. Since then, thanks to the kind support of students, staff and parents, we have raised over £25,000 which has helped support various projects within school.

Quizzes On 7 March the ‘Big Fat Quiz’ of the Year took place at lunch time open to staff and students.

The quiz, based on the popular television show, featured three teams of staff members battling it out in the assorted rounds including Showbiz and even Wycombe High School. The picture below shows the participants for The Big Fat Quiz of the Year. From left to right: Mr Rushton, Mrs Monteiro, Mr Mackerras, Mr Binks, Mr Bell, Mr Jasper and Mrs Green.

Nearly £19,000 was raised for the Play Your Part Performing Arts Campaign from 2009 to 2015.

This money was allocated to landscaping the Music Centre with trees and shrubs. Last academic year we raised £3,585 for the Play Your Part for Sport Campaign sponsoring several squares for the first of two all-weather pitches.

This academic year we continue to raise money towards the first all-weather pitch.

Open Mic Night The fundraising year kicked off with the fourth annual Open Mic Night on 14 October which featured 30 students and 24 acts including drama, music and singing. With the support of PAFA we raised £530.

Our second quiz of the year followed a ‘Family Fortune’ theme and featured a team of female teachers (Quiz Teama Aguilera - Miss O’Donnell, Miss Heath, Miss Snook and Miss Harris) competing against a team of male teachers (Universally Challenged - Mr Woodward, Mr Phipps, Mr Snodden and Dr Drapacz). Mr Jasper was our Quiz Master entertaining all with his wit and charm. The girls team were the winners in the end after winning the tie breaker question by one point! We are very happy to report we raised £106 on the day.

Movie Nights On 9 December the Development Ambassadors held the first Movie Night of the year showcasing ‘Finding Dory’.

Thanks to the large turnout, through raffle and refreshments, £135 was raised. Our second Movie Night on 27 January screened ‘Me Before You’ was just as successful raising £137. On 17 March, we showed ‘Miss Peregrine’s Home For Peculiar Children’ which helped to raise £162.

Our last Movie Night was held on 12 May and featured ‘Moana’. This event helped to raise £109.50. Our thanks to our Movie Night sponsors: High Wycombe Cineworld for popcorn and Movie Night raffle prizes of tickets to Cineworld, and to the Guild for sponsoring refreshments we sell at each event to help raise

Branded Merchandise In addition to events, Development Ambassadors produce and sell Wycombe High School Branded Products. They have introduced eco friendly water bottles, house lanyards and Squid card holders, a key chain, notelets and reintroduced the annual Art Calendar. To date they have raised over £1,100 through the sale of merchandise.

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Textile Recycling and Tuck Shop Since 2010, the Development Ambassadors have been recycling textiles to help raise money for the school and reduce the amount textiles sent to landfill sites. With the support of students, staff and parents we have managed to recylcle over six tonnes of textiles and raise nearly £3,000 for the school. We not only recycle textiles but our left over refreshments from our Movie Nights, Events and Quizzes to our lovely members of staff who have helped raise over £400 this year alone!

Kieren Ghuman (Head of Development) Year 13 studying Graphics, Maths and History, going on to study Product Design at Sussex University.

Suzy Garrett Year 12, studying Psychology, Biology and Geography.

Rupika Gopalakrishnan Year 12, studying Biology, Chemistry, Maths, Psychology.

Muniba Jahangir Year 12, studying Chemistry, Biology, Graphics, Economics and Core Maths

So far, the 2016-2017 team of 10 Development Ambassadors have worked very hard to help raise a total of £3,341, smashing our target of £3,000 - and the school year isn’t over yet!

Kainaat Qamar Year12, studying History, Maths, Psychology and English Haleemah Sadiah Year 12, studying History, Chemistry, Physics and Maths.

We want to thank everyone who has participated, attended and promoted our events and purchased our products. We would be nowhere near as successful without the strong and continued support of students, staff and parents. We can only thank you greatly for this and hope in the continuing months you can enjoy our upcoming fundraising efforts on Sports Day Friday 7 July on the Field.

Shanara Blatt Year 10, studying for her GCSEs that she will take in 2018.

Aditi Rayanna Year 8, has picked her GCSEs that she will sit in 2019.

Meet the Team

Katherine Smith Year 9, studying early GCSEs in Music and French.

Ffion Morris (Head of Development) Year 13, studying English, Geography, and Psychology, and going on to study Criminology at Durham University.

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Inspiring Women's Evening On 1 February, we held our second Inspiring Women’s Evening, sponsored by the Guild and Costco, which we are pleased to say was a great success! We had five passionate and motivational speakers from vastly different careers to discuss their roles, answer questions and to take part in a networking session with students.

after school and that it doesn’t matter in the slightest if it takes you longer than your friends to work it out. Although a year or two may seem like a long time to think about your career, in the long run it is no time at all - everyone’s perception of age changes with time!

Next, we heard from Charmain Brenyah, a Detective Sergeant in the Metropolitan Police.

Charmain read Psychology at university and embarked on a career in banking before switching to her dream job as a police officer. After three years reacting to 999 phone calls, being shot at in chases and receiving a national bravery award, Charmain made the switch to detective – working with the CID to investigate domestic violence offences, as well as working closely with the Homicide and Complex Crime command. It is possible to feel like your colleagues are family within the Homicide Command. She explained that within Homicide, you work in shifts and when a murder happens, there is an expectation that the detectives react to this. Therefore, this can mean anti-social hours and cancellation of social plans. The majority of the detectives who work on Homicide understand this and are committed to what they do, so it really goes hand in hand with the job.

Our first speaker was Kerry Andrew (class of 1996), a London -based composer, performer, writer and educator. Kerry has a PhD in Composition from the University of York, which she strongly recommended as an option for aspiring musicians, and has won three British Composer Awards. In addition to her music career, Kerry also has her debut novel coming out January 2018. Kerry spoke of her experience at university, and why she decided to continue on to complete a Masters and PhD in her subject; her passion and commitment to music was inspiring to everyone, no matter their interests. Currently, Kerry is composing for the BBC and working specifically on her writing. Although she would like to say yes to all opportunities, she has to be selective due to the nature of her workload. In relation to this, she recommends becoming a free-lance artist, so that you can choose to do what inspires you.

Our fourth speaker of the night was Toni Brodelle (class of 1992), a lifelong humanitarian who is a member of the House of Lords task group on Syria and refugees. Toni feels passionately about raising young change makers who will lead the world to a more peaceful, compassionate and tolerant tomorrow.

Toni began her talk by referencing Nelson Mandela’s quote: “If you talk to a man in a language he understands, that goes to his head.

If you talk to him in his language, that goes to his heart." This inspired Toni to learn eleven languages to aid with her mission to achieve democracy and human rights globally; her talk was captivating and inspiring to everyone who listened.

Second to speak was Former City Solicitor Husnara Begum. Husnara studied Law at university before pursuing her career as a solicitor, spending several years practicing corporate law at the prestigious firm Linklaters, before becoming a legal journalist. Currently, Husnara owns her own consultancy firm and works closely with the University of Law, travelling across the South East to deliver talks and workshops to Sixth Form students. Husnara stressed to everyone in attendance that it is not important if you do not know what you want to do 36

Finally, Sue Knowles, Marketing / Admin Director for Costco Wholesale UK, spoke about being the only woman holding a senior role in Costco and working in a male dominated career for 25 years, and the importance of changing this. To this end, Sue is the International Chair of Journeys, an initiative to educate, mentor, connect and address issues facing women in the workforce. Sue believes that women need the confidence to have a ‘can do’ attitude and advocated saying yes to everything, then figuring out how to do it later. In terms of applying for work experience, she encouraged students to research the company they want to work with first. Next, be specific in your letter stating what you want to achieve (e.g. work in the office, in the warehouse, with customer service etc), your availability, what inspires you to work there and to make sure your letter stands out. Another good tip on the night was rather than asking for work experience, ask to shadow someone for a day, which is much less daunting for the employer.

Please follow this link to see photos from the night: https://www.flickr.com/photos/ wycombehighsch/albums/72157679765062596

Before the networking session began, Mrs Morgan introduced former student Kathryn Boast who left Wycombe High School in 2008 to complete her undergraduate studies in Physics and Philosphy at Oxford. She is currently a PhD student in Particle Physics in her fourth year at the University of Oxford. Kathryn belongs to the Oxford Women in Physics Society, which hosted an amazing event for young women Oxford's first Greenlight for Girls Day! This was a free day of hands-on science fun to show girls in Years 7 - 9 how amazing and important science, technology, engineering and maths can be. If you are interested in going to Oxford, reading Physics and / or attending the event at Oxford, please get in touch with Kathryn at k.boast1289@gmail.com.

Thank you to everyone who supported the evening by attending, asking questions and networking with our lovely speakers. We would like to especially thank Costco for sponsoring the refreshments and the Guild for sponsoring the programme and promotional material Hannah Still, Year 13, Nightingale 6, Head of Guild 37

‘Inspire’ Lunchtime Talks The Guild’s ’Inspire’ Lunchtime Talk Series was launched in 2011. The goal of the series is to invite former staff, students and friends of Wycombe High School to come and speak about their lives and experiences to inspire students with their passion.

well paid, and you can work abroad, using language skills as well as your scientific ones.

On 13 October, Paula Lee (class of 1996), the Chair of the local Liberal Democrat Party and head of conferences came to speak to us about the importance of the role of women in politics.

The most recent talks have included Lucy Forbes, Hillary Wilson, Paula Lee, Natalie Awdry, Frances Sheardown, Dr Catherine Rozier and Ella Blakstad.

Paula began by discussing the progression of female politicians, in the 1940s only 3% of MPs were women, in the 1990s the number had risen to 16% and in the present day 29% of all MPs are female. Although this is brilliant progress, there is still shockingly low representation of women in the world of politics, and Paula passionately believes that the way to combat this is to find a way to motivate young women and encourage their interest in the field far earlier on in life.

Lucy Forbes (class of 2001), former Head of Psychology at WHS kicked off this series of talks last year. Miss Forbes started Wycombe High School in 1995 and was planning to leave in Year 11, until she received her GCSE results which were better than expected!

Something told her to stay at WHS and she decided to give Psychology A-level a try, her love and passion for the subject grew with time, resulting in her acceptance of a place at Bath University. Miss Forbes recommends a sandwich course, which includes a placement year, as it makes for a much more competitive candidate in the world of work. Although entry requirements are high, at least BBB, and either Psychology or a science subject is needed, it is definitely achievable. Miss Forbes inspired us to never give up and to find that one subject that will inspire you to work.

Paula now organises all the conferences for the Liberal Democrat party and is Chairman of the local party, hoping to complete her training as an MP this year.

On 1 December, we welcomed Natalie Awdry (class of 2004), Lead for Research & Analytics within Hands Free Design at Amazon. The turnout for Natalie’s talk was impressive with 62 students, parents and staff attending a very interesting and stimulating talk.

Next, on 5 May last year, we welcomed Hilary Wilson (class of 1985) back to Wycombe High.

Hilary works within the space industry for a company called EUMETSAT, based in Germany and has been following this career for almost 30 years now working as the Project Manager of the Sentinel 3 project.

Something that struck me as being similar to Paula Lee’s talk on ‘Women in Politics’ earlier this year, is the extent of male dominance in this work environment. It is clear that the percentage of women in these important roles is about to change dramatically. Natalie explained that the web is an ever-expanding and changing thing and new jobs are cropping up all the time. She encouraged the students to investigate the varied and multiple roles involved in Web Design and User Research.

Hilary was asked why she chose to pursue a career in Science, and why girls like us should also. She joked that, ironically, ‘it IS rocket science!’ Whilst also listing that it is lots of fun,

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Frances Sheardown (class of 1986), one of four sisters who attended Wycombe High School, came to talk to Wycombe High School girls on 9 February. Frances works with Kantar Media, one of the world’s largest research agencies.

She leads a closeknit team of 28 individuals, who conduct market research, and research advertising techniques and the success, which correlates to these.

Frances’ 27-year career has all been with Kantar Media, and she describes herself as having ‘evolved with the company ‘.The most interesting thing to us was Frances’ definition of ‘media stacking’ - this is where individuals are accessing more than one media form at one time! Unsurprisingly, most of the girls watching appeared to relate to this (with many turning to their friends to agree!).

these texts for 3000 years, and yet we still find our own way of understanding different areas of the ancient world.

Our next and final speaker of the year was Ella Blakstad (class of 2010) on 27 April. Ella is a Digital Consultant at Accenture. Her talk was entitled ‘From Politics to STEM: an unpredictable path into Tech`. Ella took a gap year before studying European Studies and Modern Languages at the University of Manchester. She highly recommends taking a gap year for teaching you independence, gaining confidence and learning to manage your finances before you start university. In her third year at university, she undertook an opportunity to work as a Government Relations and Public Relations consultant in Brussels specialising in healthcare and clinical trials legislation before returning to complete her studies. While in Brussels, she attended ’Getting Techier’ at the Microsoft Centre which sparked an interest in all things digital. Following graduation, Ella joined Accenture as a Digital Consultant where she is now happily working on mobilising the workforce, managing the use of mobile devices and applications across a variety of business areas.

On Thursday 20 April, Dr Catherine Rozier (class of 2006), came to speak to us about the relevance of studying Classics in modern society.

Catherine’s talk was entitled ‘Classics Now’ and the purpose of her talk was to address and change the stereotype of Classics as a subject based on ‘dead white men’, and explain why she believes Classics is more important now than ever. Catherine started by explaining what many people cite as the reason for the importance of Classics: it is the foundation of Western civilisation. This argument is problematic because it is so vague, inaccurate and it encourages classicists to think they are better than others. Furthermore, Catherine argues that calling classics the foundation of our civilisation increases division, and makes the Classical world seem perfect when it was definitely not.

Catherine continues to study and teach classics because the Greek myths have become part of how she sees the world - the Odyssey is so vivid to her that she can see it anywhere. One thing we have in common with this ancient world is that we are all human and do human things.

When we read Homer or Greek tragedy, we are joining a community who have been reading

The Guild ‘Inspire’ Lunchtime talks are organised

by Mrs Dana Morgan, our Director of Development and Alumnae Relations and Mrs Sarah Miles, our High Education and Careers Advisor. We are very grateful to the Guild (Wycombe High School’s student and staff alumnae association) who sponsor the series including promotion, speaker gifts and student raffle prizes.

Chloe Deane, Year 13, Curie 7, Head of Guild.

39

Class of 2016 Dress up Day It is a Wycombe High School tradition, that on one of their final days, Year 13 students are able to dress up according to a fun and often rather hilarious brief. In 2016 the theme was ‘Throwback’ meaning there were certainly some wacky costumes on

display. It’s always such a fun day, and a great chance for the girls to be silly and childish with their friends one last time at WHS!

40

2016 Leavers’ Destinations Name Nadine

Surname Acquaah

University Ravensbourne

Course / Employment Fashion Design Foundation Diploma

Renee

Ademokun

Westminster University

Business Management (Accounting)

Sophie

Ahern

Liverpool University

Chemistry (with research in industry)

Madihah Ahmed

Oxford Brookes University

Business & Management

Ayesha

Ahmed

University College London

Psychology & Language Sciences

Rachel

Albin

Chester University

Food Manufacturing with Business Management

Alisha

Ali

Reading University

Chemistry (with a year in industry)

Sahba

Ali

Leicester University

Criminology

Grace

Allman

Gap Year: applying to university

Voluntary work—Blue Cross, Hughenden Manor

Isobel

Anderson

Loughborough University

English & Publishing

Sophie

Ashmore

York University

Politics & International Relations

Kathryn Baker

Sheffield University

Holly

Barnes

Liverpool University

Materials Science & Engineering (Modern Language) Business Management

Sophie

Beckingham

Sheffield University

Modern Languages (French and Portuguese)

Ciara

Bignell

Southampton University

English & History

Sophie

Biswas

Cambridge University Sidney Sussex

Veterinary Medicine

Reshma Bobby

Nottingham University

English & Philosophy

Kyra

Bola

Bath University

French & Politics

Isabel

Bond

Gap Year: applying to university

Midwifery

Akosua

Bonsu

Hull University

Law

Laura

Botia

Birmingham University

English Literature

Kim

Bowker

York University

History

Lisa

Bradley

Coventry University

Biomedical Sciences

Charlie

Brockington

Gap Year: applying for Foundation Course, ski season, health care assistant 41

Name Laura

Surname University Bromley Gap Year: applying to university

Course / Employment Classical Studies

Georgie

Bryson

Warwick University

Chemistry

Lucy

Burgess

York University

History

Liv

History

Tabi

Carmody Cambridge University - Gonville & Caius Caroe Bangor University

Amie

Carter

Bucks New University

Art Foundation

Roxana

Ciocan

Southampton University

Business Management (with placement)

Lotty

Clare

University of East Anglia

International Development & the Environment

Danielle

Clough

Royal Veterinary College

Bioveterinary Sciences

Meg

Cole

Gap Year: applying to university

Natasha Commins Leeds University

Psychology with Criminology (deferred); Birmingham City University Medical Engineering

Alisha

Dad

Cardiff University

Mechanical Engineering

Katy

Dadacz

University College London

Philosophy

Katie

Dann

Gap Year: applying to university

Nursing

Abbey

Dean

Nottingham University

Architecture

Jaime

Dean

Bucks New University

Art Foundation

Rebecca Deane

Bath University

Modern Languages & European Studies

Ellie

Deane

Bath Spa University

Psychology

Lydia

Denham

Sarah

Denny

Gap Year: applying for apprenticeship Gap Year: applying to university

Law

Florence Dutton

Sussex University

English

Nicola

Easton

Warwick University

Mathematics

Amber

Edwards

Geography

Lucy

Entwisle

Cambridge University - Gonville & Caius Leeds University

Kathryn

Evans

Gap Year - applying to university

Human, Social and Political Sciences Internship with The Strand Group

Eloise

Evans

Durham University

Modern Languages & Cultures

Becs

Farndale

Imperial College London

Chemistry

Salimah

Farquhar King's College London

Biomedical Sciences

Sophia

Farwell

Surrey University

International Events Management

Naomi

Faulkner

Exeter University

Mathematics

Sarah

Favager

Aberystwyth University

International Politics & Intelligence Studies

Harriet

Ferguson Birmingham University

English Literature

Laura

Fewell

Southampton University

Physics with Maths

Sara

Forghani

Cardiff University

Neuroscience

Chloe

Foster

Employment

Supervisor at Kiko Milano, High Wycombe 42

Music

Graphic & Communication Design

Name Robyn

Surname University Fowler Gap Year: applying to university

Course / Employment English

Caitlin

Free

Gap Year: applying to university

Psychology

Emilia

Gaca

Exeter University

Law (European)

Amy

Gant

Gap Year: applying to university

Primary Teacher Education

Hannah

Garland

Gap Year: applying to university

Business

Hannah

Gatfield

Gap Year

Beatriz

Gomes

Loughborough University

Communication and Media Studies

Lois

Gregory

York University

Philosophy / Politics

Hebe

Grout

Durham University

Modern Languages & Cultures

Arwa

Hagana

Imperial College London

Medicine

Annie

Halhead

Durham University

Politics

Holly

Halliday

Swansea University

Civil Engineering

Dominique Hamilton

Employment

Employment & training with Mac Cosmetics

Momina

Hanan

University of East Anglia

International Relations & Politics

Hawa

Hanifi

Aston University

Optometry

Zoe

Harper

Nottingham University

Veterinary Medicine

Megan

Hart

Gap Year: applying to university

Shauna

Hawkins

Birmingham University

Gemma

Hearnden Exeter University

Politics, Philsophy, Economics

Rachel

Hill

Bucks New University

Art Foundation

Ella

Hodge

Sociology (deferred); Keele University

Bethany

Holland

Gap Year: employment at Blackberry Southampton University

Sofia

Gap Year

Tori

Holland Pillado Houston

Leeds University

Politics & Social Policy

Jasmine

Hunt

Aston University

Business & Management

Myra

Hussain

Open University

Psychology

Sumayah

Hussain

Aston University

Science Foundation Year then Optometry

Henna

Iftikhar

SOAS University of London

Law

Psychology

Biomedical Sciences

43

Name Hannah

Surname Isaacs

University Liverpool University

Course / Employment Computer Science

Khadija

Islam

Psychology with Clinical Psychology

Tanzeelah

Jamadar

Goldsmiths, University of London Leicester University

Theone

Johnson

Southampton University

Geography

Channon

Johnson

Employment

Emily

Jones

Birmingham City University

Employment and police training. Applying to join the Police Force Gemology & Jewellery studies

Ella

Jones

Sussex University

History

Fahima

Kabir

Psychology

Avisah

Kadri

Gap Year: employment at Blackberry London Southbank University

Farah

Kauser

Employment

Accountancy Applying for apprenticeship

Laura

Kay

Oxford Brookes University

English Literature

Lydia

Keane-Parry

Brunel University

Anthropology with Professional Development

Jas

Keen

Gap Year: applying to university Primary Teacher Education

Amelia

Kemp

Birmingham University

Fatima

Khan

Gap Year: applying to university English Literature

Umrah

Khan

Science & Engineering Foundation Programme

Mansukh

Khasria

Queen Mary's College London University De Montford University

Amber

King

Employment

Apprenticeship at Softcat

Ellen

Kinsman

Gap Year

Rachel

Klima

Employment

Environmental Geoscience (deferred); Bristol University Training course, Oxford: Personal Training

Emilie

Kraft

University of Arts London

Film Practice

Manisha

Kumar

Birmingham City University

Business & Management

Emma-Beth Lacey

Oxford Brookes University

Mathematics

Isabelle

Lam

Nottingham University

Medical Physiology & Therapeutics

Chloe

Langham

Durham University

Music

Dasuni

Leelasena

Warwick University

Law

Cerys

Leff

Swansea University

Biology with Foundation Year

Holly

Leftwich

Gap year

Work experience in physiotherapy

Medicine

Bioscience

Psychology

44

Accounting & Business Management

Name Evie

Surname Leuzinger

University Oxford Brookes University

Abby

Long

St Mary's University Twickenham Technical Theatre

Sameeyah

Mahmood

King's College London

Biomedical Sciences

Sabah

Mahmood

Employment

Seeking catering training

Raqiya

Majeed

Swansea University

Health Care Science (Audiology)

Hannah-Clare

McGeough

Bath Spa University

Drama

Rachel

McHugh

Durham University

Modern Languages & Cultures

Caitlin

McNally

Strathclyde University

Business

Rebecca

Meyrick

Gap Year: applying to university

Alice

Michael

Nottingham University

Biology

Vitiksha

Misra

Gap Year: applying to university

Medicine

Jess

Mitchell

Employment

Hannah

Molloy

Southampton University

Biomedical Sciences

Lauren

Moorhouse

Bucks New University

Art Foundation

Emily

Morgan

Kent University

Film Studies

Liberty

Mumford

Lincoln University

Nursing (Adult)

Aaminah

Munir

Gap Year: applying to university

Dentistry

Rianne

Neale

Birmingham University

Business Management

Samantha

Newman

Leicester University

Criminology

Saoirse

O'Connor

Cardiff University

English Literature

Tomi

Oludemi

University College London

Economics

Sanjee

Panditharatne Bristol University

Chemical Physics

Becca

Parfett

University of East Anglia

Medicine

Anna

Peters

Southampton University

Aeronautics & Astronautics

Lillie

Peters

Swansea University

Engineering

Munroop

Phagura

Warwick University

Economics

Rebecca

Pope

Brighton University

Sport & Exercise Science

Alex

Poulton

Leeds University

Economics 45

Course / Employment Primary Teacher Education

Name Hannah

Surname Price

University Portsmouth University

Course / Employment Business & Management

Miranda

Price

Cardiff University

Civil Engineering

Lucy

Price

Birmingham University

Drama & Theatre Arts

Emma

Prince

Portsmouth University

Psychology

Georgina Puchowski

Gap Year: applying to university

Psychology

Mary

Pustula

Birmingham University

Medicine

Ruchitra

Raghuraman

Masaryk University (Czech Republic) Medicine

Ellie

Ramage

Lancaster University

Nuclear Engineering

Nicola

Rana

Leicester University

Accounting & Finance

Lara

Reed

Oxford University - Somerville

Medicine

Hannah

Rendell

Bucks New University

Art Foundation

Lisa

Robertson

York University

Psychology

Ariana

Roscoe

Surrey University

Veterinary Medicine

Sophie

Russell

Bristol University

Psychology (experimental)

Bella

Ryall

Employment

Business

Christy

Sadler

Oxford University - St Peters

Chemistry

Shahla

Saeed-Barrett York University

Politics, Philsophy, Economics

Khaula

Safdar

Plovdiv University (Bulgaria)

Medicine

Sanaa

Saghir

Science & Engineering foundation

Maryam

Sajid

Queen Mary's College London University King's College London

Hannah

Sebley

Oxford Brookes University

English Literature & Film Studies

Millie

Sepede

Leeds University

Politics

Kari

Sethi

Royal Holloway University of London Psychology

Comparative Literature

Nusaybah Shafi

Surrey University

Chemistry

Emma

Simpson

Royal Holloway University of London Politics & International Relations

Erica

Smith

Swansea University

Geography

Maddie

Smith

Leeds University

International Relations

Leea

Smith

Surrey University

Performance Technologies & Production 46

Name Paris

Surname Spencer

University Nottingham University

Course / Employment American Studies & English

Izzy

Stansbury

Herriot-Watt University

Mechanical Engineering

Tean

Bournemouth University

Anthropology

Kawita

StewartMurray Tailor

York University

Physics with Astrophysics

Phoebe

Thompson

Kent University

Business & Management

Amelia

Twitchen

St Andrews University

French & International Relations

Radeyah Ullah

Birmingham University

Political Science & International Relations

Zivani

Varanaraja

Warwick University

Chemistry

Rachel

Walker

Reading University

Zoology

Portia

Walters

French & History

Lainey

Wilkinson

Gap Year: applying to university Lincoln University

Chloe

Williams

Plymouth College of Art

Art Foundation

Fleur

Wilson

Central Saint Martins, UAL

Art Foundation

Josiane

Wilson

Portsmouth University

Psychology

Rachel

Wren

Warwick University

Politics & International Relations

Zoology

47

48

49

50

WHS Guild Magazine 2017

1

Subject

“Miss Christie herself taught the first 18 pupils all subjects except art and cookery which gave her a teaching load of 22.5 hours a week.”

Gwen Butler

“I went to WHS when I was 11 in 1905. There were only 10 of us in the first year and it was two guineas a term. I took two golden sovereigns and two shillings.”

Edith Salter (Loosley)

1904 saw the first full inspection of the school.

The inspection of the 41 pupils concluded that “it is difficult to point out in what respects the work of the School can be improved……… the school is thoroughly well managed.”

“Miss Christie was determined that the girls should have some form of gymnastics, so she invested in a set of bar bells, and hummed the tunes herself while she led the exercises.”

Front Cover Mary Christie MA Inside Cover: The whole School in 1906. Mary Christie is eleventh from the left, next to the lady in black.

2

Guild Magazine Contents President: Mrs S N Cromie Vice President: Suzie Clarke Committe: Rosy Amin-Mannion, Lynda Amold, Jill Boyd, Marian Brocklesdy, Muriel Pilkington, Anne-Marie Pringle, Liz Taylor, Dana Morgan - Director of Development Director and Alumnae Relations.

Treasurer: Mrs K.L. Piercey Heads of Guild: Hannah Still Year 13 Nightingale 6, Chloe Dean Year 13 Curie 7 Magazine Editor: Mrs J. Boyd Proof Reader : Mrs C. Edwards

Minutes of the Annual General Meeting 2016

4

Grand Reunion and Annual General Meeting 2017

5

Group Leaders

6

Where Are They Now

6

Original Contributions Mary Christie MA

7

A Special Birthday Celebration

9

Love in Old Age

9

My Nursing Career

9

My First Term Studying Fine Art

11

Wycombe High School to Turf Accountant

12

Take A Gap Year

12-13

In Memoriam

14

Members’ News 1930s

16

Members’ News 1940s

17

Members’ News 1950s

19

Members’ News 1960s

22

Members’ News 1970s

37

Members’ News 1980s

37-38

Members’ News 1990s

39

Members’ News 2000s

41

Member’s News 2010s

43

Member’s News 1953s

46

Editorial Welcome to the 2017 magazine. This year we are celebrating the life of Mary Christie, our first Headmistress. It has been really interesting searching the archives for news and articles from her time. Magazine editors were even then complaining of the difficulty of persuading members to contribute. In 1916 the editor said “we need a more hearty co-operation on the part of Guild members in making our section of the magazine a success”. In those days the Guild and the Magazine were the way members kept in touch, now younger members keep in touch with social media, something earlier editors could never have imagined.

Thank you very much to everyone who contributed to the restoration of Mary Christie’s grave, it is now once again a fitting tribute to her. Thank you to everyone who has contributed news, some very interesting articles and a variety of photographs this year. Also Dana Morgan for all her hard work at school.

Jill Boyd (Patman)

3

Wycombe High School Guild Subject

Abridged Minutes of the Annual General Meeting 27 June 2016 Full Minutes to be agreed at 2017 AGM

Welcome and introductions: 12 members of the Guild were present including the President, Sharon Cromie; the Vice President, Rachel Sutcliffe; committee members Marian Brocklesby, Lynda Arnold, Dana Morgan, Branwen Kelly, Liz Taylor. Sharon introduced two visitors to the school from Taiwan University.

Apologies: Jill Boyd, Carol Merrick, Kathy Piercey, June Nunn, Joan Drew, Joan Fairall, Tony Merrick, Ann Marie Pringle and Susie Clark Minutes of the last AGM (29 June 2015 ):

These were signed as an accurate record after the following corrections:Item 1: Jill Boyd was mentioned twice as attending, therefore one was deleted Item 7d): the date of the Grand Reunion is 24th June not July 2017. These were amended and signed.

Matters Arising Item 8: The new Music Centre was now fully equipped except for the recording studio.

Election of Committee: Branwen Kelly tendered her resignation owing to living so far away. Two new members had joined, Ann Marie Pringle and Susie Clark.

Treasurer’s Report and Audited Accounts - Year ending 31 December 2015: Proposed as accepted by Branwen Kelly, seconded by Liz Taylor and signed by Sharon Cromie.

Guild Update – presented by Dana Morgan Membership : 2,173 - 700 of whom are school members Inspire Lunchtime Talks: There had been five this year and they continued to be popular.

Guild Sponsorships: These include Quiz nights, concerts, plays etc.

Next Committee Meeting Wednesday 12 October 2016 Grand Reunion 24 June 2017 to commemorate the centenary of the death of Mary Christie, the first Headteacher of WHS and the first President of the Guild.

Play Your Part: Dana Morgan reported on fundraising activities for two All Weather Sports Pitches. 39% of funds required had already been raised.

Archive Update: Rachel Sutcliffe reported that volunteers from the Guild continued to work sorting, cataloguing and housing records during term time. She thanked all those involved, especially Jill Boyd and Liz Taylor, as well as Janet Paterson, Kathy Piercey, Penny Waterfield and Muriel Pilkington for the time they were able to help. Hilary Brash had recruited 3 three Year 9 History students as Archive Volunteers. They were very enthusiastic and had been transferring student data from admissions registers to the student database.

News from School: The President reported: The School had held a mock EU referendum on 23 June, voting day, and had voted overwhelmingly for “Remain”.

Building and refurbishing work at school included refurbishing the Careers Library; a new 6 th form café and new 6th form study space and offices in Miller; a refreshed Forum; additional outside seating and umbrellas; a new shade sail in the amphitheatre and new external signage.

A new School Website was launched last September.

All students had personal tablets and e-mail addresses.

Staff had either tablets or laptops.

Summer 2015 examination results were excellent.

The Duke of Kent officially opened the Music Centre on 2 March 2016.

Sport goes from strength to strength.

WHS is a Maths Hub teaching school and has trained 24 teachers this year.

4

Wycombe High School Guild Mary Christie Centenary Grand Reunion 24 June 2017 Programme 9.30 - 11.00 am William Reid leading a Walk in Wycombe - visiting sites connected to Miss Christie and the history of the school.

11.30 - 12.00 pm AGM

12.30 pm Welcome in the Amphitheatre by former student, Carolyn Fairbairn, Director General of Confederation of British Industry (CBI) 1.15 pm Lunch 2.00 - 3.30 pm ‘Mary Christie - This is Your Life’ performances and Guided Tours of the School 4.00 pm Decade and Lady Verney Reunions 5.00 pm Tea and Cake 12.30 - 5.30pm Archive Display and Art Exhibition in the Wainwright Learning Centre.

For details and a booking form please contact ; The Guild Administrator, Wycombe High School, Marlow Road, High Wycombe HP11 1TB Tel 01494 523961. Email guild@whs.bucks.sch.uk

AGM Provisional Agenda 1.

Apologies

2.

Minutes of the last AGM (29 June 2015) and Matters Arising not on the Agenda

3.

Election of Committee

4.

Treasurer’s Report and Audited Accounts 2016

5.

Guild Administration Update

6.

Play Your Part

7.

Archive Update

Keep in Touch!

If you are a Facebook fan, make sure you join the Official Wycombe High School Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/151196355718/ https://www.linkedin.com/groups/4143123 @WycombeHighSch @WycHighAlumnae

Change of Address If you move and change your contact details (including e-mail address) PLEASE remember to inform the Guild Administrator at guild@whs.bucks.sch.uk 5

Group Leaders Subject In addition to original contributions, an important part of the content is news from members. This is collected by Group Leaders who have an important part to play in fostering communication with Guild members. They contact their contemporaries and edit their responses for publication, while we write individually to senior Members for their news. HOWEVER, WE STILL NEED MORE GROUP LEADERS, so if you are in one of the groups listed below and would like more news in the next edition of your magazine, please volunteer your services, so that we have a Group Leader for each year. We supply contact details and printed labels.

Year Groups Needing Leaders to Collect and Edit News: 1958, 1964,1967, 1969, 1970, 1971, 1972, 1974, 1975, 1978, 1980, 1981, 1982, 1983,1984, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2009, 2010.

If you wish to volunteer to do so, please contact The Guild Administrator at WHS.

Where are they now?

Many thanks to members who supplied details for ’lost girls’ listed as missing last year. We continue to look for former students for whom we have no contact information. We would be very grateful if you would send contact details (postal and / or email addresses) to the Guild Administrator at WHS if you have any.

2012 Hayley Adonis 1995 Maureen Allan 1977 Nicola Allen 1955 Elfa Allnutt (Davies) 1973 Marion Astill Limmer (Jackson) 2003 Zoe Barber 1939 Muriel Binsted (Richardson) 1948 Elizabeth Bird (Lilley) 1998 B Blackett 1989 Susannah Bruce 1980 Julia Bryan 1978 Suzanne Budd (Wheal) 1975 Elizabeth Byers (Hills) 1966 Maureen Calver (Simpson) 1999 Hayley Carr 1940 Winifred Cash (Kingham) 2018 Jasmine Charleston 1968 Jacqueline Mary Chatterjee (Nobbs) 1932 Rhoda Clarke 1995 Mary Clements 1968 Jeni Colbourne (Thursby) 1988 Nicola Conron 1998 Rebecca Cooper 1981 Emma Courtney (Hancock) 1965 Susan Coysh (Pearson) 1967 Caroline Crowhurst (Thynne) 1969 Jennifer Curd (Lloyd) 1955 Joan Cyster (Pusey) 1995 P Devenish 1943 Isabel Farnden (Jarvis) 1985 Michelle Fieldhouse (Claesens) 1985 Louise Goodchild 1970 Patricia Graves

1983 Violet Gregson 1975 Gail Griffith 1985 Louise Haisman (Weedon) 1989 Claire Hamp (Sloper) 1944 Patricia Harris (Gilder) 1988 Michelle Hawkins 1977 Ann Heyes 1987 Nicola Hickman 1988 Kirsty Higham 1986 Pippa Hodge 1996 E Holmes 1997 Janice Holmes 1959 Pauline Holton (White) 2007 Flo Hopwood 1987 Nicky Jackson (Wallington) 1994 Elizabeth Kelly 1944 Margaret Le Quesne (Hinton) 1951 Margaret Mahony (Bowler) 1983 Shivaun Mason (Crittenden) 1989 Mary Mclaughlin 1971 Barbara Miles 1998 Sarah Morris 1984 Dorn Nixon (Matthews) 1940 Eileen North (Stuart) 1972 Gillian Otto (Stephenson) 2018 Jasmine Owen 1984 Doreen Perry 1994 Mary Phillips (Griffiths) 1999 Nicola Pickering 1989 Helen Pook 1988 Helen Powell

1975 Lynn Power (Sibley) 1966 Deborah Powton 1938 Zoe Rayner (Boddy) 1944 Elsie Rees (Bristow) 1989 Lindsey Reynolds 1992 Elizabeth Richards (Woodmore) 1949 Dorothy Russell (Gray) 1987 J Rutherford 1974 Barbara Sheldon 1974 Alison Sinden (White) 1988 Sarah Skingley 1954 Sheila Slade (Green) 1988 Deborah Smith 1977 Jane Steynor (Cooper) 1939 Patricia Stilwell (Passingham) 1999 Jane Stoakley 1987 Janice Stockbridge 1987 Rachel Stoneham 1963 Jennifer Thomas (Crangle) 1936 Irene Thomas (Lord) 1988 Charlotte Thompson 1988 Hilary Thompson (Bowker) 1940 Kathleen Urwin (Stephens) 1974 Noreen Valentine 1988 Georgina Vickers 1977 Sharon Walters 1989 J Webb 1962 Jenny Whittle (Morford)

6

Original Contributions Mary Christie MA

In 1902 the name of the school was changed to the County High School for Girls and finally in 1912 it officially became Wycombe High School.

Miss Christie chose the school motto “Fortiter, Fideliter, Feliciter” but allowed the girls to share in the choice of the badge and school colours.

From the beginning the school was praised by inspectors. In November 1902 when the school had already grown to 37 pupils an inspector stated “The progress of the pupils continues to be highly satisfactory. An excellent ‘tone’ exists and there is complete sympathy between teachers and taught. The Head Mistress is systematic, direct and business like while at the same time sympathetic, tactful and full of enthusiasm for her work.” A later inspector in 1908 described her as “a woman of exceptional ability, an able organiser and a very capable teacher.

2017 sees the centenary of the death of Mary Christie the first Headmistress of Wycombe High School. At the time of her death it was said that Miss Christie had left an influence on the life of Wycombe for which many generations would be grateful Mary Christie was born in Arbroath on 9 May 1875 to parents who believed that their children should have the best education possible. Mary attended Arbroath High School for girls and won a scholarship to St Andrews University in 1892 - the first year that Scottish Universities admitted women. In 1896, she gained first class honours in Latin, French, Logic and Metaphysics and was therefore one of the first women graduates in Scotland. She then taught for three years at Nelson High School before spending a year abroad in France and Germany.

In September 1901, aged only 26, Mary Christie arrived in High Wycombe to become the first Headmistress of the new County Day School for Girls. The school opened on 16 September with 18 pupils in the old Science and Art School on Frogmore. Apart from visiting Drawing and Cookery teachers, Miss Christie taught the whole curriculum herself. This included English, History, Geography, Mathematics, Botany, French, German, Writing, Singing and Swedish Drill. In 1902, when a new fulltime member of staff was appointed, Cookery was dropped from the curriculum and Needlework, Cricket and Hockey were added. The school day was from 9am to 12pm and 2pm to 4.30pm.

Despite having the use of additional rooms in Frogmore House in 1903, the premises were obviously inadequate for a growing school teaching a broad curriculum. The County Council agreed to provide more suitable accommodation when a site could be found. Miss Christie worked tirelessly to achieve such a building and the new school opened in Benjamin Road in 1906 with over 100 pupils.

In November 1914 the War Office requested the use of the school buildings as a military hospital.

Miss Christie was given 24 hours to move the girls, staff and equipment to two houses in the London Road. After six months they were allowed to return to Benjamin Road but unfortunately it was a short respite and in October 1915 they were again asked to move. This time the school moved to the old Grammar School in the London Road and remained there until 1919 so Miss Christie never returned to her beloved Benjamin Road.

7

Subject Girls on the Benjamin Road Building Steps 1911

For several years, including the War, the school had boarding facilities for girls living a distance away from Wycombe. In 1916 Miss Christie took over the former Christ Church vicarage on the corner of Amersham Hill and Priory Avenue both as a home for herself and a hostel for girls. In spite of workmen and materials being scarce she took great pleasure in turning what had been used as a recruiting office into a comfortable home which she called KimblytheMont. She said “I love my home more every day and I love having my girls with me”

The Army in Benjamin Road

Many of the strengths of the school today were introduced by a forward thinking Mary Christie, encouraging such activities as drama productions and outings and expeditions. In 1906 the log book reported the first overseas expedition to France. “Ten girls, accompanied by the Head Mistress, spent the month of August at Honfleur in Normandy, taking the Modern Language Holiday Course arranged by the teachers’ Guild of Great Britain and Ireland. They attended Monsieur Albert Bloissiers elementary French class at the college of Honfleur.”

In 1910 Miss Christie “called a meeting of all former pupils to consider a proposal (from a number of the first pupils of the school who were anxious not to lose touch with their old School and with each other) to form an association of Old Girls”. A constitution was drawn up and the Wycombe High School Guild was inaugurated the association for pupils and staff. Since its

foundation the Guild has been an important link between the past and present membrs of the school.

In March 1917, at the age of 41 after only 16 years at WHS, Mary Christie unfortunately died from the asthma that had troubled her all her life.

The Bucks Free Press contained many tributes from the Town Council, parents and people of the town “The little Scottish lady who has left us all so suddenly will leave a gap for many a long day in many a family. She herself had so little to say upon her many successes. Her desire was to make the School, of which she was so proud, one that the pupils would look back upon in the years to come with honour and reverence.”

A parent said of Miss Christie ‘it seems impossible to imagine the High School without her stimulating and gracious presence. A sudden and immeasurable loss has fallen on some two hundred homes around High Wycombe.

Councillor C H Elsom said that her energy, perseverance and tact had brought the School to a high state of efficiency and the school had risen from very small beginnings to a very fine school.

The old girls of the school always looked back with the greatest pleasure, pride and satisfaction that they had benefited from the tuition of Miss Christie.

Details of her funeral were also published in the Bucks Free Press: “The universal esteem in which the memory of the late Miss Christie, the Head Mistress of WHS, was held was exemplified on Saturday last, when all classes of the community joined to make her funeral service one of the most memorable that has taken place in the fine old Parish Church in recent years. Perhaps the most touching sight of all was the very full attendance of the girls and the old pupils whose presence was a living tribute to the memory of a great and beloved teacher. The surroundings of the grave were strewn with tendrils of palm while the grave was prettily lined with spring flowers. A full length cross on the coffin composed of violets, snowdrops, primroses and other flowers was a tribute of affection from the staff and pupils, past and present of the school.

The creation of the school and Mary Christie’s achievements inspired WHS and The Guild to create in 2006, with English Heritage funding, an Archive Centre that remains today an important source of information, not only about all those associated with WHS, but female education nationally.

Mary Christie’s Grave after Restoration 8

A Special Birthday Celebration

Love In Old Age

Love is eternally spring even in the depths of age’s winter; it’s the last splash of happiness and beauty – like the last display of radiance in autumn’s turning leaves before they fade and fall and end in bonfires and in compost bins… for all things age, all people, and the helplessness of age has no cuteness like the helplessness of infancy; no one coos or begs to cuddle these old husks of one-time loveliness, and yet… love is eternally spring; it still brings warmth to a cold landscape, Doris Horne (Maslem) was for many years the 1947 it still brings hope and an unexpected promise of blossoming.

Group leader. After suffering a stroke two years ago she now lives at White Plains Care Home in © Jennie Liebenberg, December 2016 Denham. Last year she bid for and won a flight at 1963 Group the care home’s garden party. On her 86th birthday last September she took to the skies to fulfil a lifelong dream of flying an aircraft. Doris likes to try new experiences and spoke about her excitement at My Nursing Career being in the pilot’s seat.

I started at Wycombe High School in 1945 when I White Plains is next to Denham Aerodrome and was 13 and left in 1949. At that time the school was Doris sees small aircraft taking off every day. This in Benjamin Road. Miss Downs was my gave her the opportunity to do something she had headmistress and the memories of my time at wanted to do for a long time. She said: “When I got school are all good ones. I jogged along happily, into the plane, I was taken through all the safety usually somewhere in the top third of the class for procedures and didn’t have time to be nervous, just exams and form work results, good enough at excited. “I took it all in my stride.” hockey and gymnastics and generally keeping a low profile and enjoying the friendship of my contemporaries. I left with five goodish O levels (GCSEs) to take up nurse training at Charing Cross Hospital In London.

Doris said: “Now that I have done it, I want to plan my next adventure and get on a helicopter.”

I completed my training in 1952 and after a year working as a staff nurse there, I joined Her Majesty's Prison Nursing Service as a Nursing Sister, at the headquarters of the service, in Holloway Prison Hospital. The day that I arrived at the prison for an interview, the weather was suitably gloomy and damp and just the right atmosphere for walking through the gate and hearing it clang shut behind me. On the way to the matron's office, with an officer as my escort, we passed a group of girls who were out in the rain filling hods with coke from a heap in a yard. I felt that I had entered a Charles Dickens 'film of the book'.

Eventually, I moved into my new home at in Parkhurst Road, Holloway. This staff Doris Horne (Maslem) 1947 Group accommodation was outside the prison wall just off Camden Road. There I met the colleagues I had seen during my tour of the hospital after the interview. The uniform was just like some NHS hospital ward sisters in those days - a dark blue dress and large white winged cap. The noticeable difference was the bunch of large, clinking keys hanging from our belts. A huge, heavy key was to 9

Subject

cell doors, another for ward doors, the next one was to move between the gates separating parts of the prison from others and the rest fitted various cupboards. and other doors in the prison.

The hospital building was tucked away in a corner and was a little two storey building near the outer wall. In the main prison we had a hospital wing of cells, part of which was a nursery for the babies who stayed with their mothers for about nine months. Also, there were four wards and a block of cells called “The New Wing”. Some of cells in the basement of the main prison were 'strip' cells, as in ‘stripped’, being empty of bed, chair and fittings. These were for cooling off those who had exploded into anger by smashing up their normal cells. Padded cells were for prisoners who were having severe psychotic episodes with selfharming. Sadly, I had to be involved in taking girls to those cells sometimes.

The prisoners were extremely friendly and helpful to 'the new Sister' and most seemed committed to getting through their sentences as simply as possible and even by making the best of it. Drugs were not an issue then and I am at a loss to see how it is that they get into prisons now. Prison life was more civilised in those days and protests were few. Our patients were mainly those who needed post-operative treatment, observation and continuing treatment. Seriously ill patients and those needing surgery went into the nearest hospitals like The Royal Northern Holloway or The Whittington, Highgate. One of the pleasant duties was taking a patient to these hospital outpatient appointments and frequently with no security officer escorts. The only complication I had was when a lady's husband turned up and sat in the waiting area with us. There we three were, chatting away with me trying to watch that no 'file in a cake' or weapon passed between them and also trying to allow them a moment of privacy without risking my job.

All capital cases in prison awaiting trial were billeted in the hospital in the “New Wing” row of single individual cells. The first famous person in my charge was Mrs. Mavis Mortimer-Wheeler, the wife of a very distinguished archaeologist called Robert (later Sir) Mortimer-Wheeler. In 1954 Mrs Wheeler had an affair with Lord Vivian and after a quarrel, she shot and injured him. She was charged with attempted murder and I was privileged to go with her to the court case at the Salisbury Assizes. Two officers came with us and we were all accommodated in the disused condemned cell of Winchester prison - we weren't locked in - but Mrs Wheeler was. The defence case was that firing the gun was accidental and after a four day trial, she was found guilty of unlawful possession of a shotgun and given six months imprisonment.

family in North London, stunned, strangled and burnt the body of her daughter-in-law. She was sentenced to death and I became her designated nurse visiting her in the condemned cell with her tablets - mainly light sedatives, as I recall and checking her general health until her day to be hanged on December 15th 1954. I can't believe I did that now. The whole prison fell silent on that morning and prisoners were not unlocked until it was over. It was a struggle to get back to normal.

Mrs Christophi’s hanging was followed by the more famous event when Ruth Ellis became the last woman in the UK to be given the death sentence. Although I saw her when she was on remand. I had moved on before she was hanged in Holloway Prison in July 1955.

My next appointment was to Wormwood Scrubs Prison which is just for men. It looks exactly the same on Street View now, as it was then. My home was in the houses to the right of the gate just beyond the Governor's detached house in Du Cane Road, Hammersmith. There, we had a proper hospital with a theatre where all sorts of operations took place. These were restricted to hernias, appendectomies, varicose veins and such like. No brain or heart surgery of course.

Prisoners came to us for treatment from all the other prisons and Borstal Institutions (for young offenders) in the UK. It was great fun with the men who were pleased to get out of the strict regime of the prison to the relaxed atmosphere of the hospital. Our duties were restricted to the hospital there because in the main prison hospital officers were employed.

The exception to this was 'The Basket'. This was where we walked round the main prison cells with treatments for diabetics and others on regular courses of treatment. It was like an Out- patient service and we carried a huge, heavy, open basket with sections containing pills and syringes etc. They won't be doing that now.

It was a really happy part of my life but I left to get married to my childhood sweetheart, Harry and to have two fine sons and seven delightful grandchildren. From then on I combined family life with working on and off as the Factory Sister at Broom & Wade’s Engineering Works, Harrison’s Stamp factory and at Wycombe General Hospital. My last job was at The Kent and Canterbury Hospital in Canterbury, where we lived for 37 years and I retired in 1991. We moved back to High Wycombe in 2013 and now, we live contentedly, in the slow lane.

If this has been worth reading then I must thank Wycombe High School and its teachers for the skills they gave me to enable me write my story.

Elaine Constable (Fay) 1949 Group

A real murder case was of Mrs. Styllou Christophi, a Cypriot woman who, when visiting her son and 10

My first term studying Fine Art at Chelsea College of Art UAL:

adding a great deal of value to my practice. There is so much importance placed upon conversation and analysis, and I truly thrive on this in order to create.

Starting on my Fine Art degree at Chelsea College of Arts was an incredibly daunting experience. Having gone from Year 13 at WHS to a foundation course at Oxford Brookes, I had taken a year to start to understand the workings of an art school and the differences between that and the teaching of your usual grammar institution. My first day at Chelsea consisted of an informal exhibition, introducing myself through my work, and getting to know the other members of my 24-strong tutor group through theirs.

Immediately, I realised that the atmosphere was far from the competitiveness that I expected. If anything encouragement and understanding was a huge part of this immediate baptism of fire. I felt (and still feel) that I was in the right place.

Figure 2 An experimental sculptural piece, questioning the possibility of mass production within art, and the repetition of a singular making process Over my first term I’ve created so many pieces I could not have imagined when I left school in 2015. I’ve been lucky enough to meet one of my artistic icons, Grayson Perry, and have been part of the First Year’s biggest Exhibition of the annum, with more off site, independent shows to come. The collaborative and passionate atmosphere that I work in each day is clearly to blame for my state of content and I look forward to seeing what I make in the coming years.

Figure 1 My sculptural work in situ in the Triangle Exhibition Space To some, it may surprise that art school, and particularly my Fine Art course at Chelsea, is based on our practice being entirely independent.

We do not get a framework within which to work, nor projects or assignments. In briefings, my head of year continually states ‘keep experimenting, keep making’. Although I thought I’d be at a loss with this utterly free way of working, Chelsea has so many resources, including weekly two hour theory lectures, visiting artist talks, practitioner workshops, gallery visits, and more, that I am constantly taking advantage of.

The most important factor of my daily experience is the guarantee of a useable studio space. Even though I may switch from working on sculptures to paintings to video pieces etc. there is always a space for me to work; yet it is entirely collaborative. My tutor group members and I share a large open space where we create, discuss, and critique work (not always in that order), which allows me to feed off of the great minds of other creative, like minded individuals,

Figure 3 An experimental sculptural piece, looking at construction, constraint, and the illusion of weight through a variation of materials For commissions and enquiries please contact: miavaughansmith@gmail.co.uk

07729498145

Mia Vaughan-Smith 2015 Group

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Subject

Wycombe High School to Turf Accountant

My youngest son was five in 1961 which coincided with betting shops being granted licences. I was more than ready to go back to part time work; nurseries were not available at that time. I found employment in a shop that opened locally. I had some background knowledge of the industry through my father.

Maths was one of my better subjects at school and I was interested in horse racing and sport in general which was a help.

My employer suffered serious health problems and I found myself taking more responsibility for the shop. I subsequently became a partner in the business which meant I had, by law, to become a licensed bookmaker. This was granted and I became one of the first women to hold such a licence. Miss Downs would have been appalled!!

On the death of my business partner I took over, employing three ladies of my age to help me.

Our information came in on ‘ticker tape’.

For several years my husband and I owned race horses and although I am now unable to take an active part, my interest in horse racing continues.

Irene Clifford (Jacomb) 1947 Group

Take a Gap Year Before leaving for Asia, I had never been away from home longer than three weeks and had never travelled on my own before. So if you think you wouldn't be able to handle a 'travel gap year', I can tell you right now that you almost certainly can. When I left, I didn't even know which order things happened in the airport: check in, security, baggage and such. Now I've flown, driven, hiked and ziplined across six countries in five months thereby covering much of South East Asia.

I know how easy it is just to shrug off an opportunity and think: "I can't be bothered, it's too much effort". But time and time again whilst travelling I've seen that the amount of effort put in is nowhere close to the size of the pay-off! For example, if I had decided to sleep in rather than wake up - sometimes as early as 3:30am - I would never have seen sunrises filled with colours I wouldn't have thought possible. If I had

I retired in 1985, on the birth of my fourth granddaughter, to spend more time with the family. They have since rewarded me with seven great grandchildren. Wonderful!

Sunrise in Kampot settled for a quiet night in, when I was feeling down one evening, I would have never met the coolest group of guys I have ever had the privilege to know. If I had not ridden a scooter - or got back on it after my inevitable fall - I would have never seen some of the most beautiful scenery on the planet. You will find countless examples like these when travelling...or you won't. The choice is yours.

With my sister Shirley (1950 group) at Nottingham

I enjoyed my career, meeting people from all walks of life. I often felt like an ‘agony aunt’.

Betting shops are very different now. Technology has taken over, as in every other walk of life.

Shops then were not allowed to have television or radios as they would encourage people to bet!

Truly, travel has opened my eyes to how delicate the future is to the butterfly's wing. Small changes have big consequences. As such, travel taught me the importance of letting go of the past. I won't pretend that backpacking was all a piece of cake: plenty of unnecessary energy, efforts, money and stress was burned through during my travels, with nobody but myself to blame. That creates plenty 12

of opportunities for regret. Yet, in truth, nobody knows how events will unfold. Maybe if you did look a little more closely at the timetable, you

wouldn't have missed your bus and be forced to trudge from hostel to hostel, lugging your bag the weight and size of a small child at midnight, in search of a decent bed. Yet, perhaps if you had gotten that bus it would've broken down and left you stranded in the middle of nowhere all night... or any number of wild possibilities that would be a lot worse than simply missing a bus.

Little Entrepreneurs Hoi An (Vietnam) As humans, we can often focus on how much easier or better the present could have been, if we'd just changed the past. But as you never truly know the future, isn't there an equal chance the present could have been made worse by that change, in an infinite number of ways? So, all that is left is for us to be grateful in each circumstance - because you will never find yourself in one that could not somehow be made worse. These are of course things one could come to realise during their 'local' daily life. Yet life during extended travel is such an intense, accelerated form of living, that I have noticed these revelations come much faster and hit much harder than in one's "everyday". Don't you sometimes wonder which ones could await you?

I originally took this gap year, because I wanted a chance to grow up and see that there was more to life than formal education, before I went to University. My elder sister had also travelled much the same route on her own gap year and filled my mind with the possibilities of lifelong friendships, romance and endless fun. And she

Angkor Wat was right! I don't consider myself the most confident or courageous individual, but people are so open and the activities so accessible - not to mention particularly cheap in Asia - that fun and friends are not hard to find for even the most timid and socially awkward among us. As for growing up, I've never felt more excited and prepared for the future, with whatever responsibilities and challenges it holds. For I have proved to myself repeatedly, that I am capable enough, even when I have practically no idea what to do in a novel situation. I am still able to somehow handle it and get to the other side of the challenges - often completely on my own.

Bad things will happen. Your things will be lost or stolen, you will get ill or injured, people will be rude or annoying, and places will be dirty or smelly. Everyone goes through these trials and tribulations when backpacking. Some more than others. Nevertheless, these things happen to pretty much everyone. So when you go: be prepared! Don't take things you really care about, bring plenty of medicine and plasters, practice tolerance - and when it all seems to “go south�, take comfort in the fact you're not completely alone. There'll always be someone not so far away who's been through something similar - or worse. I've not met a single traveller, whose negative backpacking experiences have outweighed their positive ones.

I’d like to end with a phrase a good friend in Vietnam told me, for I believe it is the perfect way to approach travel in a strange and foreign land: If it's not a good experience, it's a good story.

Olivia Hammond 2015 Group

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In Memoriam Subject Sonya Allinson, 1945 Group

Died 2016

Jean Ansell , 1951 Group

Died 2017

Margaret Bates (Holmes), 1934 Group

Died 2016

Julie Bell, 1966 Group

Died 2016

Betty Birkby (Rowley) , 1944 Group

Died 2016

Jean Cooke, Taught RE

Died 2017

Caroline Grant, 1973 Group

Died 2016

Eileen Howes (Thair), 1947 Group

Died 2016

June Hyde (Brady), 1945 Group

Died 2017

Judith Langford (Corley), 1957 Group

Died 2016

Margaret Marshall (Phillips), 1955 Group Died 2016 Marion Metcalf (Davies), 1936 Group

Died 2017

Alice Mary Pickering (Holmes), 1942 Group Patricia Betty Richardson(Maddox), 1942 Group

Died 2017

Jacqueline Turner, 1965 Group

Died 2016

Susannah Uglow, 1980 Group

Died 2014

Joyce Warner (Ives), 1945 Group

Died 2016

Vicky Winks (Dean), 1963 Group

Died 2016

Marion Youers, 1945 Group

Died 2016

Joyce Warner (Ives) 2 Dec.1928-26 Dec. 2016 Joyce attended Wycombe High School during the years of World War II; she was the youngest of five children being a twin to her brother John. Joyce enjoyed school and made some very special friends whom she stayed in contact with throughout her life. Whilst at school and into her adult life she was a keen hockey and tennis player.

Following completion of her school exams she attended Pitmans College in London where she learnt shorthand typing. She held various secretarial roles prior to getting married to Bill in 1957 at Oakridge Road Baptist Church. Joyce and Bill went on to run a successful news agency in

Naphill while raising two daughters Julie and Diane.

Joyce was a wonderful home maker and devoted family person. She lived in the High Wycombe area all her life until 2012 when due to Bill's failing health they moved to Horsham in West Sussex to be near their daughter Diane.

Joyce will be sadly missed by all her family and friends.

Julie Bell 18 Jan. 1950 – 7 Aug. 2016 On a hot, humid day last August three WHS ‘girls’ took the train up to King’s Lynn. It was with heavy hearts that we were going to the funeral of our friend Julie Bell. Six of us had kept in touch intermittently over the years and met for lunch whenever we could.

Julie left WHS at 16 to work at the Ministry for Employment, moving to the London office after gaining her A-levels at college. She briefly started to pursue a career in nursing until the demands of a young family forced her to give it up. About this time, she with husband and two children, moved to Grantham in Lincolnshire.

At the same time as bringing up her children she became a cub scout leader and then as the children became older she started full time work again, eventually becoming Assistant Plant Accountant for Campbell’s Soups, working at times in Brussels and Avignon. By this time they lived in King’s Lynn.

Another move to Manchester in 2003 where she was the Finance Officer for the Vegetarian Society, a role she enjoyed immensely, working with like-minded animal lovers. She remained here until ill health persuaded her to move back to King’s Lynn to be nearer to her daughter Sarah and grandchildren.

All through her life Julie was a committed Christian and always found time to do voluntary work. Besides Scouting she was involved with Green Peace, Amnesty International, the RNLI and was a trained Samaritan. She looked after chickens and ducks, loved her dogs and cats and was a brilliant mum, grandma, daughter and sister to her family. She is very much missed.

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June Hyde (Brady) M.D.

WHS 1939-45

June and I arrived at Wycombe High School towards the end of September 1939. The school was overfull with other earlier evacuees, but Miss Dessin accepted us, for which we both owe her the strong academic basis of our education.

When June, a year later “failed” the 11+, the magnificence of Miss Dessin simply over-rode the decree from Bucks Education committee that she must be reallocated elsewhere, telling the official, we understood, that June was one of the cleverest little girls she had ever come across. June fully justified Miss Dessin’s judgement in the course of her long and dedicated career as a paediatrician and neonatologist. She managed to get accepted to read medicine at Cambridge, where the quota for women medical students at the time was in single figures. She went on to train at Bart’s in London, where she worked at first as a houseman before emigrating to America, having come to the conclusion that promotion to specialist was unlikely in the hospital hierarchy of that time.

She practiced in New York and in New Jersey, before settling in California with George, her surgeon husband. She set up the first neonatal intensive care unit in San Francisco General Hospital and went on to become the Director of Nurseries at the Children’s Hospital in San Francisco for 24 years. As a Clinical Professor of Paediatrics, she was one of the first neonatologists to study Sudden Infant Death Syndrome, (“Cot Death”). She was a lifelong dedicated advocate of breast-feeding.

In her desire to spread care for children’s health more widely, in 1986, she completed a Masters in Public Health at UC Berkeley and a diploma in Tropical Medicine in Liverpool. She and George practiced thereafter in Africa, Kenya, and from 1990 in Zimbabwe, working in paediatrics and in HIV AIDS. They retired to California in 1999. And enjoyed skiing and camping holidays with their three daughters and their grandchildren; at this time they were recruited by a Texan Oil Company to supervise the building of a children’s hospital in Equatorial Guinea. The Oil Company wanted their

gift to be, in fact, a hospital and not some prestigious palace for some quite different purpose! During all this period, June continued lecturing and teaching in third world clinics and medical schools. In the third world, she became increasingly aware that her patients were vulnerable to western marketing of, for example processed baby foods, which in the hands of the illiterate mothers with whom she was working were seriously irrelevant, and often, where there was no clean water, actively dangerous. At home in Oakland, she continued working as a volunteer at San Francisco General Hospital teaching hundreds of medical students how to examine an actual, well baby. In 2014, she received the Hillman Award for Lifetime Service and Lasting Contributions to Global Child Health from the International Health Section of the American Academy of Paediatrics.

In the course of her travelling, she always carried her knitting, creating beautiful sweaters for her family as she went. She started knitting on our daily train journey to school; as she was left handed, her mirror image manoeuvrings used to fascinate any member of the public who might find herself sharing the compartment! Once knitting needles were classified as possible terrorist weaponry, she always carried a few Sudoku puzzles in a pocket instead. This came in handy in 2014 when we and 2 two of our daughters were charged by an apparently posthormonal bison on Catalina Island. The only shelter was prickly pear and scrub, and June slithered down the embankment, not being keen to balance precariously on its edge. When the animal finally got bored and left us, to re-join the herd, we pulled June up to the track. She had been doing Sudoku.

“Just the Medium,” she said, “I didn’t think I could concentrate on the ‘Difficult’ in the circumstances…..”

June loved life and lived it to the full across the five continents; her deepest concerns always for the poor, the disfranchised, and suffering children everywhere. She moved far away from WHS, but I think that Miss Dessin and all those valiant women who taught us, in those severely restricted wartime conditions, that only the best was acceptable, would feel that she proved the strength and the value of example. On her behalf and mine, thank you.

Merril Sylvester (Brady) 1943 Group 15

In Memoriam Subject Jacqueline (Jo) Trott (Burgess) Jo’s death in 2015 was noted in the 2016 magazine but there was no obituary. Sian Hodges (Morris) has sent the following information to be included this year. Ed. Jo was the 1975 Group leader for several years but had been unable to continue when her cancer was diagnosed. At school she was a senior Prefect in the 5th Form and then Head Girl. Her mother taught maths at the school. I was the year below her but went to Guides and Rangers with her and walked to school daily for a couple of years with her and a group of others who lived off Amersham Hill. We then both went on to take degrees at Royal Holloway College but were two years apart because I stayed at WHS an extra term to attempt Cambridge entrance and then take 'a gap year'. We both met our husbands at Royal Holloway.

Jo went on from Royal Holloway to do an MSc at Cambridge and then eventually became a biology teacher at Aylesbury Grammar School Jo wrote movingly in 2007 about going to Claire Boothroyd's funeral (1974 Group). Claire was another one of the group I walked to school with.

Jo lived with Claire's family for a year whilst her father and mother were living in Chicago so they were very close friends - Claire became a GP and I remember Jo writing that her funeral had been filled with many appreciative patients. Jo wrote in her own news that she herself had been diagnosed with a fairly rare form of cancer but that treatment was going well.

Jo was an active member of Union Baptist Church in High Wycombe and of the Girl Guide and Ranger groups based there. When at school her strong Christian faith inspired the fortnightly assemblies she led as Senior Prefect and then Head Girl. She kept the material ecumenical until her last week in the role and then I remember her reading a modern creed which she felt summed up her own faith and introducing it by saying 'Over the last year I have read you lots of things about what other people believe. Now I think it is time I told you what I believe….' Quite a brave thing to do even then, it might not be allowed at all these days. Her faith took more of a back seat during her time at Royal Holloway but came more to the fore again in later years.

Group News 1936 Patricia Churchill (Williams) I am glad you are preparing a celebration for Mary Christie. I was at Wycombe High School when Miss Dessin was head. I left in 1939 from the Third Year Sixth. I keep in touch with Marion Metcalf (Davies), my contemporary. We are both 96.

I should like to pass on to the present WHS students a few experiences of our school days.

Miss Dessin had mixed European nationality. Her parents had brought her to London for her schooling. She then went on to Oxford, one of Rupert Brooke’s generation.

As a “train girl” I missed the worship part of daily assembly but found Miss Dessin’s final announcements interesting. We were told of opportunities for foreign travel, for exchanges with French, German, Danish and even Hungarian students. Miss Dessin had taken a group of us by train to Budapest via Cologne, Frankfurt and Vienna. In those pre-war years we welcomed German Jewish girls and during the Spanish Civil War, teachers and students from the Basque region.

In the last part of daily assembly Miss Dessin would show us a new acquisition of a classical painting that would be on display. Then we trooped out of the hall to the piano solos of the music staff.

1938 Staff

The hall was also the gym. From the top of the ropes we could look down into the classrooms adjacent to the hall. Only the staff had chairs.

When speakers from the League of Nations Union or from other social agencies gave after-lesson talks no-one thought of bringing a cushion.

The school adopted the Dr Barnado’s Secondary School at Barkingside. We had picnics in our 16

countryside and visits to their school. London was near enough to Wycombe for visits to museums, galleries, exhibitions and theatres; a favourite was the Open Air Theatre in Regent’s Park. Our choirs enjoyed music competitions and festivals, locally and in London. Opportunities for games were limited; one tennis court, also the netball pitch, on the school premises. We had to toil up the hill past the cemetery to reach the sloping hockey and cricket pitches and tennis courts from which we all had extracted the stones before the lawn mowers could be used.

The next chapter in the school’s history was wartime. I hope students from those years can provide experiences to share.

1938 Patricia is in the middle row 5th from the left, her friend Muriel Stevens is in the front row 2nd from the left.

I write from a supported housing flat in Surrey, one of seven schemes provided by the Church of England for retired clergy and church workers. I cannot venture out on my own. Deafness and poor eyesight limit my activities but I enjoy Talking Books, radio, community life here and visits from friends and four generations of family.

1944 Audree Abbott (Millidge) My grandchildren provide endless interest at present, as one is living and working in Melbourne - and flew home to surprise his mother and father on Christmas Eve (having laid many red herrings to convince them that he was spending Christmas with friends in Sydney!). The elder granddaughter is excitedly planning her wedding later this year, and the youngest has just returned home from touring India for seven months - then on to Australia to meet up with her brother for a few weeks, finally spending a month in Spain on a course to teach Yoga in London when she settles down again. I always felt that this generation live in a much smaller world and of course their opportunities are

endless. I'm so proud that my three have taken full advantage. My kind regards to anyone reading this who remembers me.

1945 Hazel Lee (Bristow) baizely77@gmail.com The wartime girls march on – albeit to a rather slower drum beat now! I was delighted to have so many letters dropping through my door to cheer up a wet and very cold January.

Sonia Taylor (Herbert) was first off the block again to say she remains in good health, drives locally and the roving spirit she shared with her husband is returning. She took a cruise to Croatia on a small passenger boat in May and plans a great rail journey to Annecy this year. Nearer home she stayed in a lock keeper's cottage on the Avon canal and her sister Greta paid her usual visit in the Autumn. She plans to attend the Re-union this year and looks forward to meeting old friends like Joan Drew who enjoys all her usual clubs and activities in Marlow although at a rather slower pace these days. At the time of writing she was hoping for a successful outcome of her cataract operation so that she can continue giving lifts to friends.

Ursula Gossman has settled in Plymouth and enjoys walking to her brother and niece's home nearby.

June Nunn is still active locally with three music committees but says that she and her friends are settling into a quieter phase of life with rather fewer trips to London. Her memoirs of contemporaries and Staff at School I think remain excellent. She plans to visit School in March for the Baillie Murphy Competition (which she won in 1945) as well as in June for the Re-union.

Pam Eacot (Janes) has been hibernating but feels an injection of sunshine energy will propel her garden-wards soon. She spent a lovely Christmas at Norwich with grandson Ben and family.

Phyllis Wickens (Potter) reported the sad news that their son Geoffrey had died in July (Please accept our sympathies, Phyllis). He was a great walking companion as they explored many disused railway pathways. She has had three happy trips to Shropshire visiting retired farming friends and staying in their converted barn.

Audrey Garnett (McMorran) still enjoys her swimming and visiting her family in Italy and sister 17

Beryl in Germany. She continues to drive and sees Joan Way (Millbourne) as often as possible as Joan is now housebound.

Joy Watson (Wallace) is happy in her sheltered flat at Loudwater. She is still called on to play the piano and, together with Audrey, enjoys the trip to London to meet up with me for our yearly luncheon. London taxis do well out of us these days. Joy is in touch with Daphne Hucklesbry (Morris) who is well and gently active in High Wycombe.

Pat Coveney (Townsend) is settled with her family in Bedfordshire but can no longer travel far after cracking vertebrae in a nasty fall. She enjoys car travel locally with her daughter-in-law.

This morning as I was collating our news I had a very brave note from Gladys Richmond written a few days after the death of her husband. A sympathetic phone call seemed the right response on behalf of us all and we hope for happier times for her. She reported that Marion Youers has passed away in Oregon, USA. Here in Lower Woodford we have explored ideas about downsizing and re-locating nearer public transport in Salisbury (our twice weekly bus service can present a challenge). However the sheltered accommodation available would inevitably restrict hobbies important to us (gardening, art and writing) and, with beautiful countryside around us and our church community nearby, while we can both still drive locally we have decided it was sensible to stay put. We have made very good use of our Senior railcards around the country. Our son and the grandchildren from Devizes visit most week-ends and our rather older grand-daughter in London has excited us by announcing her engagement to a Royal Air Force helicopter pilot. She will be following in my footsteps as an 'Air Force Wife' which, for me, proved to be a very happy, far travelled and most exciting phase in my life.

I look forward to receiving more news from you next year.

1947 Hilary Stephenson After twenty five years of happy and reasonably active retirement, Bill and I decided to down-size to make life simpler. We left a large four bedroomed house with a garage, a shed, and a sizeable garden, and moved into a two bedroomed flat. That was in April last year.

Fortunately our large family helped in every possible way and were happy to give homes to all the precious items we were unable to keep Our flat is in a purpose built retirement block in Shrewsbury. We are on the first floor looking out

onto the River Severn. It's just a short walk to the church, the shops or the public gardens. The residents are all of our generation and we have made some good friends. However, I enjoy mixed company and love being with young people, so I make a point of getting out, a favourite being the Mothers and Toddlers group held at our church every Tuesday morning.

We are fortunate to see our family frequently. Our daughters, Gillian and Wendy-Jane, both ex W.H.S., are both grannies now. The latest addition to the family is Wendy-Jane's grandson Ossian who was born in November.

In September, Gillian's eldest daughter Lucy married her German boyfriend Stephan.

Large family gatherings are frequent and much enjoyed. The most recent of these was very recently to welcome various family members back from Antarctica. Never a dull moment.

Back in the summer Bill and I visited Kath Benson (Avery) who was at school with me, at Priory Road and Wycombe High School, and her husband Roger. This was while on a short stay in High Wycombe visiting old friends and old haunts.

This year we plan to spend a week in Guernsey in May and a week in Scotland in July. We are thankful to still be together and well enough to enjoy life. The photo was taken last year. We were celebrating my 85th birthday with

a trip on the canal with the family. Seven year old great-grandson Orin is sharing the joke with me over a funny birthday card. Best wishes to anyone who remembers me.

Doris Horne (Maslem) last year reported on looking forward to a flight from Denham Aerodrome but had been unable to take it. This year however she was able to celebrate her 86th birthday in the air. An account of her flight including photographs is included in the Original contributions section of the magazine. 2016 was a lucky year for Doris as on a Christmas outing she won a large hamper which she was able to share with the residents of the care home where she lives.

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1948 1949 1950 Mary Ludlow (Haines) maryludlow@tiscali.co.uk

1951 Pauline Brooking 36 Tolverne Rd. London SW20 8RA Much the same as last year, I haven’t received any news from our Group but I’m still in touch with Muriel Agnew, Grace Sherriff (King), Margaret Lawrence (Dodwell) and Betty Lee (Green). I also hear occasionally from Myrtle Church (Simmons). For myself all is well, time seems to fly by. Enclosed is a photo of WHS Staff in 1946 (names on the back) All good wishes to everyone

grounds. Thanks to Facebook I have made contact with Pam Harman (Elston) who was in the same form as me at WHS. This has led to several coffee mornings in Marlow talking over old times.

I am hoping to go to the Grand Reunion in June and hope to see some old friends there. Best wishes to all.

Freda Mulvany (Joynson). Perhaps we are all now octogenarians or thereabouts so our own school days get farther away but are still full of entertaining memories. I am trying hard to take wise advice to cut down a bit but that's not easy when you enjoy those voluntary activities and have to combine them with family. It has been special this year with Kevin and Susie’s architectural miniature of Ham House on exhibition at the NT House at Richmond upon Thames. Walking gets a bit harder on the hills but vital to me. As visitor to the Verne Immigration Centre at Portland I have now mentored a young Algerian for two years and determined to get justice for him. With music still important I play piano / keyboard for a large Dorset Community Orchestra, let my hair down with the Ukelele Group and run the U3A Singing. We have a long way to go with our Labour Party but with lots of enthusiasm as has also the VSO Dorset Group.

My happiest event of 2017 was the privilege of joining Ruth Whitehouse (Why) and all her family to celebrate her 80th.

Gillian Bradshaw (Nash) writes that she keeps well and continues to do the same things in the home, garden and playing the piano for two choirs. Her hands are a bit stiffer so it takes more practice. As she has no computer her family keep in touch by telephone. Her grandchildren all have piano lessons.

1952 Ruth Whitehouse (Why) ruthmwhitehouse37@btinternet.com Margaret Mallott. This year has been interesting in that I have done numerous trips to interesting houses with great art collections and every one so different in its own way. I have had short trips to Budapest, which was lovely, and to Yorkshire, which was great as the weather was very kind. We also went to Longleat to see the Festival of Light. Brilliant! It was so good to be a "kid" again seeing all the fairy tales round the

Leila Tyrell (Bickle) writes via Freda that she and John are still happily living in France. In order to enjoy a family Christmas they rented a bungalow about two miles from Stokenchurch.

The get together was generally good but the bungalow was a bit remote and John succumbed to that long lasting hacking cough and streaming nose which so many seem to have suffered here this winter. With France being somewhat subdued on Mondays she celebrated her 81st by doing the housework!

The highlight of January has been the celebrations for my 80th birthday. Derrick and I were joined by the whole family, including our two half Swedish grandchildren, at a hotel in Dorset.

We had a celebratory lunch and were very pleased that Freda Mulvany (Joynson) was able to join us. On my actual birthday we had an ‘At Home’ for our Northampton friends. I had a very enjoyable holiday last year touring the main cities of Europe by coach. Unfortunately when I 19

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returned home in some pain I discovered that I had suffered a fractured vertebra and the doctor diagnosed osteoporosis. This has put any future plans for holidays on hold as I am unable to walk far without discomfort. I still keep busy at home with my numerous Quaker responsibilities. I recently researched and edited a book with a friend about Quaker conscientious objectors in WW1 in Northamptonshire. It is available on Amazon with the title: The Long Shadow of World War 1. I heard from Averil Dale at Christmas.

She had a small heart operation last September and is still unable to fly but can drive. Thank you to those who sent me news. Ruth Whitehouse (Why)

1953 Wendy Porter (Batts) weporter@talk21.com Please see page 46 for the 1953 group news.

1954 Ann Sharp (Knowles) 50 Rock gardens, Bognor Regis PO21 2LF Ann Sharp (Knowles) No news has arrived from anyone, perhaps I’ll see some of you at the Mary Christie Centenary day. I have had my usual busy year and a second knee replacement in November which is steadily getting better. Judy Clark (Wright), Rosemary Smith (Stimpson) and Jo Hyde (Tubb) still meet for lunch regularly. Do contact me if you are coming my way.

1955 Rachel Sutcliffe (Avis) rachelanne39_1@fsmail.net Joan Fairall (Brett) wrote that she enjoyed the monthly lunches at Little Marlow, though was not always able to join us owing to commitments at the Caravan Park. They had been very busy since Easter last year and were full up over Christmas and the New Year. She had spent the previous weekend painting a new fence on a bridge over a stream and had a lot of gardening to do. She and her husband were fortunate to have their two sons working with them to run the business. They enjoyed the outdoor work maintaining the grounds. She continues to play a lot of tennis and enjoys long walks with a friend. She also sews when she has time, collecting children’s and some adult clothing and making shopping bags.

They are collected at a local Baptist Church and sent to Tanzania. Her next task is to make school bags. She sends greetings to everyone.

Barbara Kershaw (Tabner) e-mailed that she was heavily committed to the local Pantomime, the Pied Piper, and had been making costumes for rats for the previous fortnight. “I still have several to do - exact

number still unknown - and we open on Wednesday (11 Jan). It feels a little like panic stations!” She also sent greetings to everyone.

Diane Simmance (Leighton) wrote in her Christmas card that she was still living in France, enjoying a visit from her sister.

Margaret Lynch (Stevens) is in Australia (Brisbane and the Gold Coast) for three weeks in February visiting her son and daughter and their families.

It was disappointing yet again to receive so few replies to the request for news – a big thank you to those who did make contact. At least some of the lunch group Jill Boyd (Patman), Marian Brocklesby, Barbara Close (Evans), Joan Fairall (Brett), Barbara Kershaw (Tabner), Margaret Lynch (Stevens) - meet regularly once a month. Pam Moores and Branwen Kelly (Davies) join us when they are in Bucks.

David made an excellent recovery after his spell in hospital at the beginning of 2015, so we celebrated our Golden Wedding in August with a lunch at a local pub with family and friends, including our chief bridesmaid, Pam Moores, who was responsible for our meeting in the first place. It was lovely also to entertain some of the guests who had attended our wedding in 1966.

Unfortunately, 2016 ended with my emergency admittance to hospital (Wycombe), though I was discharged the following evening after monitoring and tests, with many pills to take daily. I’m feeling much better, though frustrated that I can’t do as much as before. I feel better, however, when I can walk the dogs. The family were and continue to be a wonderful support, though still busy with their respective careers.

I feel very blessed that they live nearby, in Downley and Terriers, so we see one another frequently.

I am still a governor of WHS and designated governor for the Archive. I enjoy very much working in the Archive and would like to thank those Guild members who give their time to help – Janet Paterson, Liz Tayler, Penny Butcher and especially Jill Boyd - for their support. All the displays of photographs and records at school and Guild events are produced by Jill. More volunteers from the Guild would be most welcome - do contact me if you would like to visit the Archive or find out more about how you could help.

Best wishes to all

1956 Rachel Sutcliffe (Avis) rachelanne39_1@fsmail.net Pam Moores sent a Lurcher Link card containing her “un-news” saying that unfortunately old age and infirmity had taken over. As it was so restricting and boring she would not enlarge. She and Branwen Kelly (Davies 1954) were planning to meet in Wales and when they were both in Bucks. She also tried to meet the rest of her WHS Group for a meal whenever possible. She had no “field animals” now, but seven rescued dogs. They usually arrived as the result of a phone call or a knock on her door.

Jill Boyd (Patman) This year seems full of Mary Christie. I have spent many hours researching her life 20

particularly the years she spent in Wycombe. The WHS Archives have been really helpful and we should be grateful to past pupils and members of staff who contributed to magazines and saved relevant material.

Old magazines are a particularly good source and I fear that because girls now keep in touch on social media there will be less available material in the future.

I look forward to seeing everyone on 24 June.

being laid on by her daughter, who had secretly been looking at her address book. She then managed to invite many people, mostly friends and family, and it was a glorious event. Celia and Ralph still manage to travel around and went to the USA twice last year. Celia also reports the death of Judith Langford (Corley) last year.

Helen Stevens (Boardman) mentions that she has nothing special to report - she is hoping to get to the Reunion this year.

Penny Waterfield (Butcher) also celebrated her Golden Wedding last year, marked with a 24night Saga Mystery Cruise which took them to various European ports and some Atlantic islands. It was thoroughly enjoyable and included many activities. There were other celebrations with the family throughout the year as various landmark birthdays and anniversaries were reached. Of the three grandchildren, the twins are now at university. Penny and Richard also managed an exhausting trip by coach to Lapland and back through Germany and Scandinavia in the summer. A shorter trip to the Dutch bulb fields is planned for this Spring.

Biology Lab. 1956

1957 Sue Neville (Clark) sue.neville@ntlworld.com Margaret Burns (Bowman) reports very excitedly of the December birth of her first greatgrandchild, a boy. A year ago she lost her 14year old collie dog, but she replaced him with an untrained two year old dog shortly afterwards and he keeps her fit. Margaret is still heavily involved in acting Murder Mystery plays. For a holiday last year she enjoyed a Rhine River cruise with Saga and this year she is off to Japan.

Carol Larkin has had a poor year, starting off with a hospital admission for sepsis.

Subsequently things have improved with more support and counselling to help her in the role of carer for her husband. Now she is starting to resume some outside activities and is looking forward to a week in Beverley, Yorkshire, where she will be exploring with others the surrounding places of interest. Later she expects a visit from her great Australian friend.

Coralie Payne (Bickle) is now back in Bucks after 51 years in various places around Britain.

She is now in Aylesbury and much nearer to most of the children and their families. She has grandchildren ranging from 16 years to eight months. Coralie and Kenneth are getting involved with many local activities and reacquainted with previously familiar countryside.

Celia Soden (Blaney) celebrated her Golden Wedding last year with a large surprise party

Naomi Whelan (Davidson) has no news of her own, but she has heard from a friend of Karen Pusey (whose death in 2015 has previously been reported). Naomi reports that Anne Green (Prior) is permanently established in California, where her officially retired husband still works. They have a son and a daughter.

John and I have just quietly celebrated our Golden Wedding anniversary. The family is not close enough to gather together in term time, so celebrations will be in Mallorca at Easter. Our eldest grandson is now at Cambridge, reading mathematics, like his dad and grandad before him.

Best wishes to all in the Group, and I hope to see you at the Grand Reunion.

1958 1958 Group is without a leader. If you can help please contact guild@whs.bucks.sch.uk

1959 Judith Goodchild (Palmer) goodchildjudith@gmail.com All the news this year from members of the 1959 group was gleaned through Christmas letters and cards.

Shirley Dorman (Smith) I received a long and interesting letter from Shirley at Christmas. The past year has had some high points but also a 21

Subject few setbacks. In April, Shirley and Mel celebrated their Golden Wedding Anniversary returning to Portugal, in many respects a much changed country from the time when they spent their honeymoon there. A few months later they attended a commemorative service in Ripon Cathedral where, along with two or three hundred other couples and guests living in the diocese, they renewed their marriage vows during a most uplifting service. Later in July a large family barbecue was held in Kent to celebrate the arrival from Argentina of Shirley’s South American cousin, Betty and her son and granddaughter. Shirley says this visit was a highlight of the year as she had never met this lady before although she had corresponded with her for 55 years, in Spanish. (Betty speaks no English at all!)

Shirley keeps herself busy from week to week with her yoga classes, swimming, exercising her dog and volunteering in the local library. She works three Saturday mornings every month and is now in charge of the story reading team catering for pre-school children. By April of this year the library will be a fully voluntary, community establishment with no County Council professional staff.

In the early part of last year Mel was diagnosed with prostatic cancer and this has obviously caused considerable concern and worry. In October he underwent keyhole surgery and is now slowly recovering. Both Mel and Shirley were cheered by the arrival in November last of their son Stuart, home from Colorado for a holiday and this coming year Sebastian, Stuart’s son, will be coming to the UK looking forward to spending a holiday with his grandparents.

As for me, I have spent a busy year visiting lots of places within our own glorious country and taking full advantage of our National Trust, English Heritage and Historic Houses membership. In July, David and I met with Claire and our grandson Cameron in Barcelona and spent ten enchanted days revelling in each other’s company and enjoying sun and Spanish scenery. We have also spent several happy weeks looking after our granddaughters, Evie and Keira in Barnard Castle where they live, here in Spridlington and we also took them on holiday to Northumberland.

I still keep busy with the gym twice a week, a walking group, a book club, a gardening club, activities within the village Church and anything else that requires my attention!! I heard from Valerie Cope (Hughes) at Christmas, also Joy Palmer (Messenger) and Sandra Ingle (Butters). Sandra told me that she and Charles are off to Hong Kong this February to see their daughter Estelle, who lives there with her family.

From Hong Kong they are travelling further afield on to Australia.

One sad piece of news which some members of the 1959 group may not know was that Jacqueline Turner (Walker) passed away at the beginning of 2016. David and I went down to her funeral in Wheathampstead. Diane English (Hussey) also attended the funeral and she and I managed to have a good long chat. I send my best wishes to all members of our group and I hope the coming year will be a good one all round.

Speech day 1960

1960 Kathleen Gomm (Atkins) thomasgomm@btinternet.com

Only one response to the call for news from the 1960 Group. I know we do not have many old girls in our group but I am sure some of you have done something different in the past couple of years.

Helen Willson (Fryer) Forty Years on?? Can’t believe it is actually Fifty Six!! Having started to delve into the archives which I have kept all these years, I found interesting fragments of long ago WHS existence, among which is a piece of Deutsche Bundesbahn loo paper, a souvenir of the long train journey down to Garmisch in 1960, to see the Passion Play, go up the Zugspitse, have Kaffee und Kuchen with Frau Herring’s mother, see for the first time boys with long hair (very un-Brit-60s!), buy two carved angels in Oberammergau (still in use at Christmas) , have encounters of the unwelcome kind with the Politzei in Innsbruck (not me I hasten to add) ….. …oh and a bit of practice with the German language to Frau H’s relief no doubt! Hats off to any teachers prepared to take a group of teenage girls on a trip like that! Since then and my premature departure from the WHS sixth form, I have, in no particular order, stayed within a mile 22

of where I was born, got married, had two daughters, four grandchildren, completed three A levels, a BA Hons, a Masters, worked in information and education until almost 69, and am now deep into – if not a second career – certainly an enthralling pastime, in art. So, all these years later, thank you to WHS for being part of steering me on the right road for aspiration and self development. I am still in touch with friends Patricia Gibbings in Zurich, Pauline James (Woods) and Pamela Kinnaird (Andrews) but I hasten to stress that we no longer wear our berets hidden in our beehive hairdo’s.

My news is very mundane compared to Helen's.

Tom and I are always busy within the village and Watlington, being part of the Methodist Chapel and our village hall. I am still president of Watlington WI, on the committee of the local Age Concern group and clerk to a local charity. We do find time to go on much needed holidays. Last year we went to France to take a look at the Medieval Castle at Guedelon in Burgundy. It is being built from scratch using all the old building methods and will take about 25 years to complete. I think it is now coming up to around 20 years into the project. It was a very interesting day. The following week we made our way to a chambre d’ote that had featured on Grand Designs. We had been there previously but it is so relaxing right out in the middle of nowhere. For holidays from now on though we are going to explore the UK which we are looking forward to.

Our two grandchildren are still a joy to us. I still see Christine Soulsby (Cannings) and Sue Beuzeval (Cluett) and Sylvia Hancock (Tapping) lives in the next village.

Let's hope when members read this year's magazine they will realize that their news is worth reading.

1961 Sue Filby (Child) sue_filby@hotmail.com

1962 Jo Karl (Harvey) tkarl@charter.net 1025 SW 10th Street, Lincoln City, OR 97367 USA A very Happy 70th birthday to everyone. By now almost everyone from the 1962 Group will have

celebrated in some fashion or another. Can you believe we’ll be celebrating the 55th anniversary of O-Levels this year??

Anne Brown (Cummings) “ Well, what a year to look back on! Rather a lot of shocks and bad news but Martin and I will be able to look back on 2016 with pleasure as we bought a house together in Dorchester and got married on 20 February. My daughter, Emma, and family came from the US and we had a wonderful long weekend of celebrations with family and friends.

Since moving into our house we’ve had a lot of work done, including a new kitchen, built in wardrobes, wall units in dining and living rooms and work on the garden. Martin and I joined the Dorchester Drama Group and have been in some productions with them as well as doing a one act play as part of the Rex Players Summer show and an interesting production, with music and drama, about Thomas Hardy. We enjoyed a couple of weeks in the summer touring around parts of Europe by car, visiting Strasbourg, Munich, Dresden, Prague and Bruges. There was a sailing holiday in our boat, Tomboy, in July and I had a couple of weeks in New York in October. My mother is doing rather well at Icknield Court and celebrated her 94th birthday with a little party with some friends and relatives.”

Anne hopes to attend the big Reunion on 24 June saying that it would be amazing to meet again after all this time.

Bryony Coles (Orme) e-mailed that 2016 seems to have gone by very quickly, from an early spring to an autumn of glorious colours, almost a rival to the Canadian show that John is used to. “We've been mostly home based, and trying out a variety of new things to do and places to go. In June, I went to a conference celebrating the 30th anniversary of the Wetland Archaeology Research Project, which John and I had set up in 1985, and it was great to meet up again with friends and colleagues from around the world.

Other highlights were a visit to the Must Farm excavations near Peterborough, an extraordinarily preserved Bronze Age village on the edge of the Fens, and the completion of a local project which I've probably mentioned before, setting up information boards for our local hillfort. Lots of family visits, and I seem to remember a 70th birthday as well!” (When Bryony sent her news her husband John was recovering from a heart attack he suffered in mid-December and awaiting further treatment. Hope he is feeling much better by now. – Jo) Bryony also hopes to attend the Reunion.

Pam(ela) Cuff (Seymour) 2016 has been a full 23

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and busy year. Unfortunately Pam’s father passed away at the age of 102 in mid-January so as next of kin and having had power of attorney she has been kept quite busy. (Our condolences to you, Pam and your sisters, Jackie and Gill (1963 Group)). The whole family (including children and grandchildren and boyfriends) enjoyed a wonderful holiday in France and later celebrated their eldest granddaughter’s 18th birthday camping in a tepee in N Yorks! Pam and Roger’s eldest son and his wife moved into Pam’s village of Kilve in Somerset after purchasing the Village pub (over 400 years old) with some friends. The pub was opened briefly on Christmas morning for the villagers and is now being completely restored for a Grand Opening at Easter 2017. Their daughter is training as a paramedic and also planning to move to the village! Pam is still taking services on a regular basis, and goes to the occasional meeting, but “the pressure is off now I am PTO [permission to officiate] and in March I become Prebendary Emeritus on reaching my three score years and ten! (Prebendary is the title still used in Bath and Wells Diocese for a non residentiary canon, an honour I was given some eight or nine years ago now) Pam sends her best wishes to everyone but unfortunately won’t be at the Reunion.

Jill Dibling (Stromvquist) sends her best wishes to everyone and e-mailed that it has been a pretty uneventful year. The high point was that everyone managed to get together for Jessica's graduation event (Forensic Science).

Jill continues to work in Mental Health mostly with Mid Powys Mind and is still chair of the trustees.

They still struggle to get funding for services in a situation where Statutory Services can't keep up with demand and the Voluntary Sector end up picking up the pieces. “I have been spending more time on my own creative stuff - after years of doing mostly traditional art (landscapes and things) mostly in watercolour, pastels, mixed media, etc. I have launched into acrylics on big canvasses.” Now Jill says she needs to de-clutter as she is running out of storage space!

Joanna Fink (Waldron) has enjoyed a busy year even though it wasn’t very “glamourous”!

Early in 2016 Joanna renovated and redecorated her bungalow – while she was still living in it! In the middle of all the upheaval she learned that she needed to have her cataracts removed and decided to “go private” to speed up the process.

By mid-August Joanna finished her walls and floors just before having the cataract procedure.

Now she can drive again and hopes to set off on some travels once more. Joanna recently spent time on the phone reminiscing with Millicent Brown (Music) – Miss Brown is now in a Care Home but at 90 is “still as bright and sharp as ever”. Joanna also hopes to attend the Mary Christie Reunion.

Lorraine Grieve (Holgate) sends her best wishes to everyone in the 1962 year Group and she hopes to meet up with some of our Group at the Reunion. “My family is all well and enjoying life. We hired an unusual hunting lodge in Dorset for my 70th and also David’s 73rd birthday for the whole family and later were joined by other friends. It was certainly the most unusual place we had seen with antlers on the walls, a huge chandelier, open fire place, old farm memorabilia not to mention a pool table and piano!! Katie made a birthday cake, with Charlie’s help and he decorated it with Smarties, very artistically! I went to Morocco with friends on an incredible photographic trip - a huge learning curve once I stopped using ‘Auto’. We started in Marrakesh at the famous souk trying out different foods, and later travelled across the Atlas Mountains, staying in different, very traditional guest houses along the way stopping at Ksars, villages and markets.

Our leader pays groups of local people and families for us to take photos - a great opportunity to meet and talk to people who are very kind and friendly (and to practice my French as well). We travelled across to the desert, experienced a sudden sandstorm, rode camels to a Bedouin camp and stayed overnight, whereupon it poured with rain, and crossed the mountains on our return in deep snow! In September, a friend and I went back to Nepal and Tibet to visit the Everest Base Camp. It was very sad to see the devastation that the earthquake of 2015 made in Nepal to families and buildings, but they have worked hard to restore homes, with the temples and monuments now being repaired. Highways have still not reopened after mountainsides came down. The Tibetan people have seen great changes in their society under Chinese rule, with many restrictions being imposed, but their warmth and their friendliness remains. We visited monasteries, watched a very passionate debate amongst some monks, revisited the Potala and Summer Palaces, which thronged with Tibetan people, and saw the most amazing scenery on the way to Mount Everest. On that day, the sky was blue, and Mount Everest was covered in thick snow with the sun shining down on it. The view was spectacular, awe inspiring!” Lorraine still enjoys her allotment, even though 2016 was not a good year because of the weather. Hopefully there will be fewer slugs this year!

Christine Griggs (Bailey) too is planning to attend the Reunion and looks forward to seeing everyone then. “2017 promises to be as busy as the last one! In 2016 there were a dozen symphony concerts in Leicester, Warwick and Banbury. The ‘Reed Warblers’ Oboe Ensemble and our Church Worship Group continue too, and I took part as soloist in four concerts with the Brackley Chamber Music Club. The highlight of the year was on Christmas Eve when Alan and I played in the orchestra for the 'Journey to 24

Bethlehem’ service at Coventry Cathedral. In June we travelled with Leicester Symphony Orchestra for concerts in France, and we had a lovely weekend in Yorkshire for my 70th. Later in the summer we visited Venice, Istria and Croatia, taking a wonderful cruise around the Islands. It was so good that we've booked another tour to Croatia for summer 2017. Our grandson in New Zealand completed his last year in primary school and our younger grandson, now three years old, is a source of great delight - he loves to ‘sing’ and play glockenspiel, and demonstrate how his robotic toys work.”

Jenny Johnson (Steel) noted that 2016 was one for significant birthdays and anniversaries!

“Colin and I both turned 70 - where did all that time go! We have also been married for 40 years so it has been quite a party year here in Wiltshire.

Fortunately we are both in pretty good health.”

Jenny is still involved with the WI, but no longer as President; this has given her more time for the garden. She continues to play Bridge on a regular basis and do Pilates every week and belongs to a Book Club and a Gardening Club.

Being a committee member for the Village hall keeps Jenny busy with various events including, in the early autumn, a very large Horse and Dog Show with about 2000 people attending. Since she and a few other local ladies run the Café for the day, she is kept very busy! Travels this year have included a trip to Italy, South Wales and Kent and visiting several National Trust houses and gardens which both she and Colin have really enjoyed. Jenny’s three children are all healthy and happy and her five grandchildren are growing up quickly. All are doing well at school and three are very musical. “They are still very much part of our lives and come and see us and stay in the holidays, which is a great blessing.”

Sue Lokkerbol (Harding) and her husband, David, stay fit and healthy and take advantage of that by travelling as much as they can. “2016 was quite a busy year with walking, cycling, U3A and bowling and running social afternoons (mainly quizzes and cards) at our bowls club during the winter months”. In early 2016 they visited South America touring through Chile and Argentina and ending with a few days walking in Patagonia.

Then in the Spring they took a guided tour from Chicago to Pittsburgh looking at Frank Lloyd Wright architecture. In July Sue had a wonderful trip to New York with their daughter, Liz, to celebrate Sue’s 70th. A couple of months later Sue took part in their annual bowls tour to the Isle of Wight and then in November she and David spent a couple of weeks in India visiting the Golden Triangle. “We travelled around mainly on trains - very interesting and to add to that we were there when the 100 and 500 rupee notes were made illegal and saw the resulting chaos.” When Sue sent her news in January 2017 they were

getting ready for a trip to Sri Lanka!

Wendy (Lyn) Morris (Ellwood) is hoping to meet up with several Old Girls at the Reunion in June, although she cannot make firm plans yet.

“We had our usual quiet Christmas here, after all the years of frantic work with the butcher’s shop it’s just so nice to not to be rushed and hassled before Christmas.” Life in Dorset remains the same; Ted still advises and sometimes helps on local shoots and Wendy still enjoys her walks both close to home and along the coast. “I enjoy a bit of photography and use my pictures to make my own personal greetings cards and share them on on line forums.” After only taking a short trip to Exmoor in 2016, Wendy and Ted are making plans to celebrate her 70th (belatedly) and Ted’s 75th birthday as well as their Golden wedding anniversary. If only they can make up their minds what to do and where to go!

Gill(ian) Sugden (Sleep) e-mailed that “the only important event was my 13 year old granddaughter Rachael's baptism on Easter Sunday - a wonderful event especially as her father, who is also her minister, baptised her.”

Gill has given up the church treasurer's job after 21 years (not for health reasons) and now hopes to find a little more spare time.

Helen Wharton (Goodchild) sends her best wishes to the 1962 Group and says she is well and enjoying life with lots of holidays and interesting things to do. “Strange to think we are now all 70 years old. Certainly I won't be the only one who doesn't feel a day over middle age, even if I look it!” Helen hopes that those attending the Reunion in June have fun but unfortunately will not be able to be there.

Judi Wild (Poholka) wishes all her old school chums a wonderful year in 2017. After four and a half chaotic years she and Lorne have finally finished renovating their home and are now enjoying the fruits of their labour. This year they hope to put in an English style courtyard and build a drive-thru exit to the roadway. “Last summer was spectacular with many visits from family and friends. One wonderful occasion was joining Jo and Tom Karl here on Vancouver Island for lunch at a typical English pub. This visit was a very emotional time for me.....Jo and I talked about old times at WHS and our husbands Tom and Lorne also seemed to enjoy the chat. Those three school years from 1958-60 (before moving to Western Canada) were very important to me......still are.....they played an important part in who I am today. This winter has been unusually cold and icy on the Island. It has been the perfect scenario for me to become a total recluse, retreat into my cozy, warm studio and finish my welloverdue painting of the “Spirits of the Great Blue Heron”. (visit Judi’s website judiwildartist.com where you can see her amazing artwork – Jo) 25

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Barbara Woodhead (Furby) “Since most conversations with friends now start with a resumé of health issues, I can report that both David and I are in pretty good ‘nick’” Their holidays in France still involve cycling and walking but considering electric bikes for the future! Barbara and David also enjoyed two separate holidays in Spain, one in Andalucia and one in the Basque country where they met up with “old” friends whom they hadn't seen for many years. Barbara commented on the momentous political year of 2016 both in the UK and the USA! Now she and David are making 2017 travel plans for trips to France and wondering how to celebrate their 40th wedding anniversary in September Now for my news We look back on 2016 as a wonderful year of family, friends and fun celebrations of our 50th wedding anniversary and my 70th birthday too. Our family takes advantage of us spending the winter/spring months in Phoenix, Arizona – our oldest grandchildren, Katie and Eric who live on the east coast of the USA both visited us for a few days in the spring; our youngest daughter, Sam(antha) and youngest grandson, Ethan (11) from the Chicago area also enjoyed a week away from the cold. Then in early July our youngest granddaughter, Hailey (13) made her first “solo” trip flying nonstop from Phoenix to Oregon and enjoyed several days on the coast before our daughter, Terri (her Mum) and Brian arrived.

We quietly celebrated our 50th wedding anniversary on the coast along with a visit from Tom’s brother and sister-in-law and later took a short trip to Victoria, BC in August. While we were there we met up with Judi Wild (Poholka) who now lives on Vancouver Island ... you can only imagine the number of “Remember when ...”! We had a wonderful few hours together and hope to do it again. What a good thing the very patient husbands enjoyed chatting too! In September the real Golden Anniversary celebrations began with a trip back to the UK followed by several days in the Netherlands. We visited my cousin first and then travelled through the Thames Valley to stay with “old” friends – all their “children”, whom we had known for years, came along with spouses and grandchildren for a weekend of fun times and reminiscing. Then we returned to the “old stomping grounds” of High Wycombe and Marlow where I grew up. We both enjoyed a trip “down memory lane” by visiting the church where we were married and wandering the town and riverside. One of the highlights was spending one whole afternoon with Esme Harrison (English/ History) and Carole Merrett (French) – they are both still in good health and enjoying life – they hope to be at the Reunion too! Our time in the Netherlands to visit my penpal and her husband was wonderful - once again we enjoyed day trips around their home area along with much family

time with their “children”, spouses and grandchildren everything culminating in a day of celebration for Tom’s birthday when everyone was all together.

In early October, we travelled from the Oregon Coast back to Phoenix, this year driving through the beautiful red rock country of Utah and then visiting Four Corners (where the states of Utah, Arizona, New Mexico and Colorado meet) and the incredible native American cliff dwellings of Mesa Verde in western Colorado. We had only just arrived in Phoenix when I celebrated my 70th birthday ..... and I mean CELEBRATED!! Our family had been planning for several months to give me a surprise party and wow! I was totally surprised - I had no idea! Our oldest daughter, Cathy, husband John and grandson Eric flew out from the DC area and Sam flew in from Chicago what a terrific time and what a fantastic birthday gift!

As for our family.... Cathy and John remain in the DC area with Cathy lecturing at George Mason University and John flying for Southwest Airlines.

Granddaughter Katie is extremely busy with college classes; Eric is living in N Carolina and keeping himself busy although he hasn’t made any definite decisions career-wise yet. Terri and Brian’s business continues to be very successful with jobs in Arizona and in California - as well as keeping up with Hailey (13) and her various activities, especially karate. Sam, Chris and Ethan (11) are still living just south of Chicago Sam is using her nursing qualifications now working for a health insurance company.

Tom and I continue with various volunteer work Tom is very involved still with the Knights of Columbus (an international Catholic men’s organization) and I help out at different events too. Tom compiles three different Knights’ newsletters so I get to wield the editing pencil!

(Seems to have become a habit with me and newsletters!!) We also volunteer in the school district one or two mornings a week and I continue to sing in the church choir whilst in Phoenix.

That seems to bring us full circle...... Happy New Year 2017 and hope see you at the Mary Christie Reunion on June 24th! Don’t forget to return your Reunion Booking Form to the Guild Administrator before May 31st. My thanks to everyone who responded once again this year – I will be making the trip back to the UK for the Reunion so I hope to see many of our 1962 Group then.

1963 Jennifer Liebenburg jennielie1404@yahoo.com This is a special year for the 1963 Group. We 26

started at WHS in 1958 – 59 years ago – which means that virtually all of us have either celebrated our 70th birthdays at the end of 2016 or will celebrate them during 2017. Sadly, we have not all lived long enough to celebrate our 70th birthdays, and in August of 2016 we heard of the death of Vicky Winks (Dean), which was very distressing for those of us who had remained close friends with her over the years since school.

Angela Gatland represented our group at Vicky’s funeral. Rest in peace, Victoria.

Helen Bailey (Oakley) Helen has done a lot of travelling this year including a cruise on the luxurious Hebridean Princess in Scotland at Easter, and a trip to Interlaken in June, followed by a summer trip along the Norway coast, including some days of ‘midnight sun’ above the Arctic Circle. A coach trip to the Edinburgh Tattoo fulfilled a longstanding wish. The longest trip of the year was to San Diego to visit son Mark, TseNga and granddaughter Amelia. Helen, a keen quilter, also visited the San Diego Quilt Show. Closer to home Helen visited Uppark, workplace of H G Wells’s mother and said to have inspired some of his stories. Travels were rounded off in November when the Baileys holidayed with Helen’s sister and brother-in-law in St Hilary, Cornwall, which included a visit to the Minack Theatre. Helen ends by saying, “And there's still been some time for quilting, knitting, and gliding.”

Heather Barwick (Smith) (Heather has had some difficult years contending with poor physical health. Her contribution this year is very selfrevelatory and courageous. Ed.) Life begins at 70. I made a decision to be me.

There's not that long to do it, let's face it! Until now, I had never accepted I had anything much to offer. Suddenly, as I was reading yet another book on Narcissism, an invisible fist came out and hit me on the chin. My mother had 'full-blown' Narcissistic Personality Disorder (NPD) and I discovered I was playing Echo to her Narcissus. It was that which has always stopped me from achieving and being what I want to be. Too late for some areas but not for others. I didn't fulfil my potential at school, nor have I since.

I realised I've been fighting my mother all my life, even after she died. If I succeeded, she was so jealous, she still found fault. If I failed she rubbed my nose in it. She told me I didn't have any friends. She regularly ordered me to divorce my husband. My manipulating, malicious, mendacious, martyr of a mother. It was all my fault.

Ironically, I used my experience of life with mother, to help those Primary school children who had learning difficulties and emotional and behavioural problems, a job which I loved. But I couldn't help me.

And now I've broken through that invisible barrier that stopped me from being me. Two weeks of 2017 have already been so different. Despite my COPD disability (caused by mother when I was six), I am able now to be who I want to be and really am. So there! Next year is our Golden Wedding! Next year I'll write all about this year.

Happy 70th birthday to you all!

Ruth Bowler (Davy) 2016 was quite an eventful year for us. In August I had a left knee replacement so I now have two new knees and one new hip!! Almost bionic!! Mobility has greatly improved although the arthritis continues to spread. In September I celebrated my 70th birthday and also our Golden Wedding!! I continue to enjoy my passion for Family History and War Memorial research having now completed four local War Memorials. I have rekindled my love of Rock'n'Roll dancing but have to accept my limitations!! I meet up a few times a year with Ethne Hawkins (Shepherd), Jane Tucker (Howe), Maggie Jackson (Giles) and Janet Bell (Bowles). I recently joined a Christianity Explored group which is very "thought provoking"! I send all good wishes to the 1963 group.

Judi Bowtle (Burr) We had a good summer (it seems so long ago now!) - I then celebrated my 70th. We went over to Jersey for a few nights; the children arranged a party and then paid for us to spend a night at the Grand Hotel in Brighton. And then it was Christmas! We have two holidays booked this year, we are off to the north part of Cyprus with my brother and his fiancée in May, his friend owns a villa there so we are looking forward to a week there. Then in September we are going to Rhodes with our 2 eldest granddaughters and their boyfriends, they have been coming on holiday with us for the past five/ six years (Hannah is 25 and Rosie 23) and we all thoroughly enjoy ourselves.

Maureen Clarkson (East) Mo's daughter Bec has just given birth to her first baby, a beautiful little girl, whom they have named Katie. Unfortunately Bec was quite seriously affected by post natal depression, fortunately caught early enough for successful intervention and from which she is now recovering. However, Mo is spending a lot of time in her daughter's home, helping Bec towards complete recovery. Meanwhile Katie is doing fine and gaining weight just as she should. Warmest congratulations to Mo on the birth of her new granddaughter.

Penny Gerrard (Coysh) Penny says that the last year of her 60s has shot by - a great year except for her husband Francis having a fall while ‘keeping up with the grandchildren’ on a frosty patio in January, the results of which are still under treatment! Penny’s own health has been 27

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good; an excellent Pulmonary Rehab course has improved her lung function after pneumonia caused damage four years ago.

Penny, who has loved being a magistrate, is now in her final year as retirement is mandatory at 70.

Fortunately, there are other roles in the pipeline – helping to set up and run a Movers & Shakers Group at The Pastures Church, as well as remaining Church Secretary. The U3A also keeps Francis and Penny busy: quizzing, writing and running an Enjoying Shakespeare group.

2016 saw plenty of travelling – to Capadocia in February, and Lanzarote, as well as short breaks to the Cotswolds, Shropshire and Yorkshire. The year finished with an Adriatic cruise, which provided a fascinating three days exploring stunning Venice.

Penny’s family (two children and their partners and four grandchildren ranging in age from three to 22) has also had a good year, and live close enough for them to see one another regularly. As this goes to press, Penny and her daughter Lynda Pearce (Gerard) are in San Diego visiting Diana Jacobs ( Holloway) and her daughter, so that Penny and Diana can celebrate their 70th birthdays together. 2017 will be Penny and Francis’ Golden Wedding, which will be celebrated with a visit to Slovenia with the U3A, a visit to the east coast of Canada and USA, and finally a visit to Spain in the autumn.

Anne Goodacre (Tiffany) Anne keeps very busy, helping her daughter out by looking after her grandson Brody aged three, who has just started at his local playgroup. Anne also picks up his older brother, Lachlan, from middle school a couple of days a week. Sadly, Anne’s youngest son’s marriage has recently failed, through no one’s fault. He is settled and happy in himself with two daughters aged five and ten. Anne is of course there for support if he needs her.

Anne is still trying to move to the coast, preferably Margate, where her son hopes to relocate in a couple of years. It was Anne’s late husband’s dearest wish to move to the sea, where both of them always felt peaceful and happy. However, Anne must wait until someone will do a houseswap with her. She has recently been diagnosed with severe diverticular disease, but looks on the bright side, as she was being tested for suspected bowel cancer or anaemia.

Her daughter’s 40th birthday falls ten days before Anne’s 70th, so they are planning a combined party in June. As a widow since 2009 when her husband died, Anne finds it hard going on holidays as a lone traveller, but has discovered that Warner’s Holidays offer the chance to meet some wonderful people and not feel lonely at all.

Joyce Goodman Joyce reports that she has had an interesting year, working on a renovation

project in Brittany with a friend. Joyce plans to move there later in the year. It’s a smallholding comprising a house, four barns, a field, and a number of rickety lean-to sheds with corrugated roofs. At first there were only very basic services in place, but they have found an enthusiastic architect and all planning permissions are in place, so work has begun. The house and adjacent barn have been joined together and a cowshed is becoming a ‘library-to-live-in’. The builders are piercing through stone to make windows, the roof is off and is being raised to give space for a mezzanine bedroom.

Joyce made a career move some 18 months ago and now has a part-time but permanent University contract that includes writing for publication.

During the course of the year she has been on a long, philosophical reading-journey in search of new ways of writing ‘academic’ history ‘imaginatively’. She is currently shaping what she hopes will be four linked academic books. During the past year Joyce has had invitations to speak in Australia, Japan, and South Africa as well as giving presentations in the USA, Hungary and Dublin. Joyce says, “I follow a ‘writerly’ schedule of getting up early in the morning and working until lunchtime, walking in the afternoons, and email and social media in the evening. I usually go across to the University once a week to use the library, meet people, or go to events. My Twitter account is @joycehisted.

Joyce is in touch with Lynn Michell, who founded the Linen Press, an independent publisher which publishes writing by women. Lynn’s blog can be read at http://linen-press.com/inside-an-indiepress (Joyce’s description of her smallholding reminds me so much of Brenda Trigg’s (Hawes) home in Brittany. For any in the group who aren’t aware of it, Brenda also passed away some years ago after a long fight against a brain tumour – Ed.) Joan Harborne (Joan taught music at WHS and left in 1963.) says, “I am still in Grimsby. Last year was a year of adjustment to my life after losing my husband. Such changes happen to everyone and are not of general interest. I have done nothing earth shattering nor worthy of being talked about.

Life has revolved round my very supportive family, and included a couple of river trips, which I find a really relaxing way of visiting other countries on one’s own. You may remember my subject was music: I have a yearly holiday at a Music Summer School in Sherborne, Dorset, when we have music practically 24/7, and I still sing with the Grimsby Philharmonic Choir. This year we are joining Hull Choral, in Hull, at a concert for the Hull City of Culture year. When the weather improves, I’m planning a railtrip on the continent, mainly in Germany, to get to visit three families, long-time friends, for what may be the last time. We are all getting older! ….and in some 28

cases, feebler. For the record, I am still in touch with Carole Merrett, and Esme Harrison and with Kathleen Jones, (her married name) who taught Classics and who recently lost her husband. We were married on the same day in 1961.

I hope you are all in good health. All the best for 2017!”

Ethne Hawkins (Shepherd) My family and I are all well, all three grandchildren and son and daughter. Unfortunately my husband of 48 years, Colin, passed away last August so things have changed for me, but I am making a new/different life. I regularly meet up with girls from our year and we make trips to National Trust places of interest. Recently I met for lunch with a friend from the 1942 year group and we found we could remember most of the School Song and sang it over the lunch table much to the amusement of the other customers. Hope you are all well and away from aches and pains now we are all 70. At least most of us.

Maggy Jackson (Giles) Several 'old girls' and their spouses went on a wonderful cruise of the Baltic cities last July - Ange Gatland, Liz Siwicka (Bratt), Pam Collinge (Clark), Yvonne Bramwell (Hughes), Diana Jones (Eaton) and me. A few weeks before that we also walked the 90-mile Tarka Trail in Devon. Of course many of the group have turned 70 or are turning 70 so there have been cards and good wishes flying back and forth.

Christine Johnson (Smith) Escaping some of last winter, my husband, Chris and I flew to Sri Lanka for a two week holiday, touring around the island with a local driver. We enjoyed the lush vegetation and the wildlife (plenty of elephants), the high country where tea is grown and the dairy farms are. We amazed our driver by climbing the 182m high Lion Rock at Sirigya in record time for a pair of 68 year olds, one of whom was recovering from a gippy tummy! We spent a few days on the coast as well, doing a river safari through mangrove swamps and having our feet nibbled by hungry fish. We managed a couple of visits to Germany this year, once with a Yorkshire group to the Moselle valley for wine tasting and once to Deidesheim, where a German friend joined us for a few days. I did try out my rusty German and it did come in handy on occasion.

Apart from visits to our French home in southern Burgundy, we spent a few weeks in Canada in July, when my son and family took us to the west coast of British Columbia, passing through some spectacular scenery. Driving back towards Alberta, we stopped for another week in the Okanagan valley with a second cousin of mine and her husband, who own a lakeside house, with all kinds of equipment for water fun. The grandchildren particularly enjoyed being towed

along on an inflatable “tube” at high speed.

We do see our younger son Ross and family from time to time. He lives in New Barnet and we are delighted with his recent appointment as a Deputy District Judge, (part-time), so if all goes well, in a few years, he will leave his criminal defence work behind and become a full time judge.

I am still very involved with my local church, leading the worship on four or five occasions in the year. I never expected to be giving talks from the pulpit, but life continues to be full of surprises.

My husband is equally involved with the local Rotary Club, so when we are at home in North Yorkshire we can be a bit like ships passing in the night. There is no time to get bored during our retirement it seems.

Margaret Jordan I am currently in Barbados spending six weeks with friends and escaping the rigours of the English winter. I have had a very busy past twelve months refurbishing my house in Marlow and as with all such projects one thing has led to another. However, everything is more or less completed now and I am looking forward to a year without hearing the thump of dirty boots.

In September I went to Iran for three weeks. I had a wonderful holiday with so much awe and wonderment and some of the friendliest people one could meet.

Sally Neville (Thursby) My news includes having germinated a pip in a soup mug on southfacing kitchen windowsill during December 2016 which is now a single six inch trunk with serrated leaves and a very long tap root. I do not know what the pip is since it just appeared outside of its own accord. I am contemplating using it in my first attempt to create a bonsai bush. Foxes and various birds visit the garden annoying husband concerning their "calling cards". He shouts and screams at them from his armchair and also bangs on the window if he can get to it (much less painful post-hip replacement but can't walk very far or fast). The upheaval of installing a potting shed in the rear garden last year has been worthwhile. Lavenders are growing very nicely now at the foot of the rockery which is proving extremely difficult to renovate. Lost a few new plantings there possibly grubbed up by squirrels. News from up north from first husband this Christmas to say he has been having treatment for skin cancer on his forehead (not melanoma) Sally also mentioned that a visit to High Wycombe coincided with the WHS carol service at All Saints in 2016 and she was able to find room in the church. She comments, “Choir, orchestra, readings, recorder group – all fab. I enjoyed joining in with the singing.”

Gillian Stellatos (Seymour) Another year has gone by but little has changed. I visited the UK 29

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frequently as my father at 102 was now very frail and had various serious health concerns. Since June he had been cared for in a nursing home in Downley, where his mind and his heart remained strong. On 12th January he died peacefully in his sleep. (We send our condolences, Gill. – Ed.) Anna (our daughter) and family are thriving in London and Spyros (our son) & family are managing to do well here in Cephalonia despite all the ongoing problems and ever deteriorating economic situation. Dionysios and I are keeping well but begin to feel our age! Our greetings to everyone in the group!

Jane Tucker (Howe) (Jane has sent masses of news – I hope I can do it justice in summarising it – Ed.) Both Jane’s sons, Graham (and Debbie) and Neal (and Lou) have moved house this year, and now Jane and Bob are planning to do likewise. This is partly a downsizing exercise, but partly a necessity, as Bob is finding it increasingly difficult to manage stairs, so a bungalow is what they are looking for, not too far away from High Wycombe – in fact, Chinnor is their happy hunting ground.

In the meantime ‘decluttering’ is taking place at White Cottage and both Jane and Bob are gradually releasing themselves from many of the responsibilities they currently hold in community and church.

(Hard to imagine you anywhere but White Cottage, Jane, but we wish you well with the hunting, finding and moving! – Ed.) Jane’s son Neal, a prison officer, has been diagnosed this year with border-line PTSD, related to traumas of prisoners’ attempts to commit suicide, sometimes successfully. He’s had time off work and was prescribed anti-anxiety drugs to help him sleep without traumatic flashbacks, as well as having counselling provided by the Prison Service, none of which has been significantly helpful. Recently he started Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (again funded by the Prison Service) and while it’s early days, there does seem to be a glimmer of success.

As Jane turned 70 this year, the destination for summer holiday was her choice, and they embarked on a river cruise through the centre of France in mid-August. This was the first time they had been river- (as opposed to ocean-) cruising.

Although the Channel crossing via Eurostar had its hairy moments, especially managing the luggage, the holiday itself was most enjoyable.

The ideal place to welcome a friend for tea and cake – and I have welcomed many!

Since my children, grandchildren and greatgrandson all live in South Africa, I rely on friends for company on a day-to-day basis, and have been very fortunate to make some caring and interesting friends in the village, most of whom I’ve met through church and the U3A. During the year I’ve had a succession of old friends coming to stay here (the sea is only a 10 minute drive away!), some from the UK, others from Australia and South Africa. For my 70th birthday this year I’m flying out to the Cape for two whole months and can’t wait to be with the family and reunite with old friends from my years in South Africa.

Here there’s a lot going on at church, where I’m PCC secretary and have just completed authorised lay ministry training (I was a lay minister in the Cape, but that doesn’t count in the C of E!). The church is involved closely with village activities, too. I belong to the U3A creative writing group, which ensures that I produce a short story every month, and this coming Sunday I’m going for the first time to the Grimsby Folk Club, something I hope will become a regular occurrence.

A very happy 70th birthday to all of you in the 1963 group who have had birthdays at the end of 2016, beginning of 2017 or will celebrate them later this year! And don’t forget to put 24th June in your diaries! - Jen

1964 1964 Group is without a leader. If you can help please contact guild@whs.bucks.sch.uk Lynda Arnold 2016 has seen our family increase once more with a new grandson, Jacob, born on 13 November. This brings our total of grandchildren to six! In September we celebrated our Golden Wedding Anniversary with a meal attended by all our children and grandchildren which was enjoyed by all. Malcolm is stable at the moment and we are grateful for every extra time we have.

And finally, news from me: Jennie Liebenberg (Jones) 2016 has been a busy year, starting with the erection of a conservatory/garden room behind the kitchen in February, and the happy task of decorating and furnishing it throughout March. It is now my little ‘retreat’, full of sunshine and very comfortable.

I enclose a photo of all the grandchildren together including the newcomer, they range from 17yrs. to eight weeks.

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1965 Vanessa Douglas-Green (Coombes)

nessadg@yahoo.co.uk Julia Forbes-Leith (formerly Lambert) (Slow) julia.fl@btopenworld.com I had a good year with plenty of time with my children and their families, despite them being spread around the country. Adrian and I had a wonderful weekend in Stratford-on-Avon in the spring, taking in the celebratory version of a Midsummer Night’s Dream at the RSC, which distilled even more humour (a huge amount more) than our Year’s watershed version at WHS. Another highlight was a holiday in Castara, Tobago, for the wedding of Adrian’s half -sister.

We had no particular expectations, but it was quiet, friendly, ecologically conscious and teeming with bird and marine life. The local people and their businesses were totally relaxed, which added a certain frisson, as it was never certain when anything would be open. I’ve started playing bridge again, having been taught originally by Mary Pearce, (Platt-Higgins), when we both worked at Johnson and Johnson in the 1970s. My other challenge has been volunteering as a Money Mentor for Age UK, which I’m finding very rewarding Liz Taylor (Highley) giblets205@gmail.com We still potter on as normal. Going to the flat as often as we can. I still try to do as much as possible at my allotment, but last year was not as successful as usual, but apparently I wasn't alone in that!

families - a common enough thing these days I know but still not what they hoped and dreamed for when they got married. Then John was diagnosed with severe heart failure which was a bit of a shock, as you can imagine, but thankfully with modern medicine, he seems to be coping very well and is even still able to play golf and climb mountains so things aren't too bad! 2017 is starting better as we have bought a new camper van to replace our 10 year old one, so we are planning lots of holidays this year, including 6 weeks or so in Italy this summer. Our 10 year old grandson has just had an audition for the Royal Ballet School (outcome still awaited) which is not something I ever thought I would write! So life goes on, and luckily I am ever optimistic that things will get better!

Vanessa Douglas-Green (Coombes) nessadg@yahoo.co.uk Our highlight of the year was Jonathan and I running the ‘5k Donor Race’ together at the British Transplant Games in Liverpool at the end of July.

I came 5th in the 60-69 age group and Jonathan achieved something I would never have thought possible as he has been so poorly over the years.

We both did our ‘Sofa to 5k’ training with our local Running Clubs. Jonathan has continued to run; he also cycles with a local club, quite an achievement three years after a cadaveric kidney transplant. This year’s Games are in North Lanarkshire so Scotland here we come! Terry cannot walk as far as he once could but we enjoyed a week on the Rhone and breaks in England, in Liverpool for the Transplant Games with Jonathan and Hannah, Norfolk, the Isle of Wight and Plymouth to see Dominic and Jo.

I met up with Margie Morbey (Fowler) last summer, and I took her to see my allotment to compare notes! Oh yes! Ann Mott (Cuthbert) and hubby Barry celebrated their 40th wedding anniversary in September, and we were invited to the celebrations which were held at the Brighton & Hove cricket ground, as they live at Woodingdean. We had a lovely weekend there and it was great to see them.

The grandchildren are a constant source of amusement, particularly the three, soon to be four, year old. The things she says...! As a member of the Guild committee, I've been invited to sit on a panel to judge a poster competition at the school.

Mary Cadman (Herman) mary.cadman@thimble01.plus.com

My news for the Magazine isn't very cheerful I'm afraid as 2016 was not a good year for us. My mother, aged 93, sadly died in August, very peacefully, she and I were good friends so I miss her company. Two of our four daughters are getting divorced, which means that all six of our grandchildren will be growing up in one-parent

Vanessa and Jonathon after the Race Julia Forbes-Leith (formerly Lambert) (Slow), Liz Taylor (Highley), Mary Cadman (Herman) and I had a mini reunion by meeting for lunch in Maidenhead. My sister, Cecilia (1967 Group), members of her family, Sue Tucker (Hedley) (1967 Group) and I went to see ‘Funny Girl’ in 31

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London. I meet my sons as often as possible, somewhere between London and Plymouth.

I am looking forward to seeing you all at the Reunion on 24th June.

1966 Shelagh Williams (Monaghan) shelaghwilliams@dsl.pipex.com Doreen Vine-Chatterton (Russell) doreen.jvc09@gmail.com

I am bravely taking over the reins this year from Shelagh Williams (Monaghan). She is very busy at home as her husband Nigel recuperates from an operation. So here goes…enjoy our news!

Linda Stewart (Sandford) linda.stewart@mail.com Although 2016 has been a momentous year nationally and internationally, thankfully for me the year has been peaceful and enjoyable. We have had two holidays, one in June when we visited Northumberland and Scotland and one in September when we went to north Norfolk. On both occasions we rented lovely cottages and had beautiful weather – well, mostly (it rained hard the day we visited Lindisfarne unfortunately). I would love to go back again to experience this amazing place in the sunshine. We were in Scotland when the Referendum took place, trying to ignore all the news hype as we had already voted. We were informed of the result on my phone from Canadian relatives who contacted us very early in the morning having stayed up all night to watch what happened. They wanted to know how we felt about David Cameron’s resignation. That was quite a surprising way to find out the news! When we were in Norfolk I climbed into the cockpit of a Vulcan bomber – no mean feat I can assure you as the ladder up was very steep! However, it was worth it and the talk given by the ex-engineer was fascinating. Alan and I are keeping fairly well, although with a few more aches and pains. He is still giving talks about Scottish family history and I am still involved with church activities such as the monthly lunch club – making puddings for 40+ people in my kitchen is quite demanding but the people who attend are always very appreciative.

Best wishes to all the 1966 “girls”.

Janet Dowlman (Mead) Most of the last year has been taken up moving my Dad from a three bedroom bungalow into a one bed retirement flat.

Finding a suitable place was the easy part - we found a lovely 2nd floor flat in Twyford overlooking a river and lakes on one side and a pub garden on the other side with laundry, communal room and emergency alarm system -

ideal. However moving these days is very challenging. A long questionnaire about the property being sold really tests the memory.

Dealing with telecom and other companies who seemed to be incapable of getting things right first time was frustrating. There was so much he didn't want to part with....However he moved at the end of May and took a while to settle in. In August we managed to organise 3 events for his 90th birthday and he got to know a lot more of his neighbours. Other than that I'm still working full time which I enjoy and we still go to lots of gigs seeing various bands, we have weekends away and I see my grandchildren about once a month as well as regular visits to my dad....so never a dull moment. Although I didn't get time for a holiday last year I am booked with a friend on a short river cruise at the end of April to Amsterdam to see the bulbs and other places in Holland.

I still meet up with other WHS girls from time to time - Gill Wilkinson (Sears), Christine Goodearl, Linda Chapple (Spicer), Janet Paterson (Pearson) and Janis Mould . It is amazing that we still see each other 50 years on !

Ladies Who Lunch !

L – R, Linda (Spicer), Janet (Mead), Janice (Mould), Janet (Pearson), Christine (Goodearl) Susan Jellis (Grafton) susan.jellis@outlook.com We had a fairly quiet Christmas, but were pleased to see our little grandson Charlie, as well as the sons and wives at various times. We have such a small family now all our older generation has passed on, it’s good that Charlie has increased us by one at least. Graham and I also had a few days in Salzburg in December - first visit, and we really enjoyed it, especially going up in the cable car to the snow. We finally sold my parents’ Isle of Man house this summer - very sad, but it was getting too difficult to deal with so far away. We will still visit IOM as we have friends who farm and rent their cottages. After 40 years it would be hard to imagine not going. We are going to visit 32

Graham’s cousin in Zambia next month - he was a surgeon out there most of his working life and also has a farm. I hope to see the Victoria Falls too! [Maybe I will leave that news till next year for the mag!].

Janet Paterson (Pearson) We had quite a quiet year due to my husband, Ian suffering from a trapped nerve resulting in a spinal decompression operation in July. It has been an amazing success but the rest of the year has been spent not overdoing things. In April, we managed a four night stay in Dublin to celebrate our silver wedding anniversary. Our visit coincided with the annual Handel Music Festival which was great fun with pop-up concerts at lunchtime and wonderful evening concerts. By September, Ian had recovered sufficiently for us to catch up with our feathered friends for long weekends in Hayling Island and then North Norfolk. We spent Christmas in Sicily enjoying the warm sunshine visiting the Duomo in Palermo on Christmas Eve where my great, great grandmother was baptised in 1813 and the nativity celebration in the Grotta Mangiapane, in Coustonaci on Christmas Day afternoon. Chiltern U3A activities keep us very busy every week and recently I have been involved in a church project knitting blanket squares for the homeless. The made up blankets are sent to distribution centres around Slough and London. The last time I did this was in response to an Oxfam appeal when we were pupils at Wycombe High School and every form was supposed to make a whole blanket. Some were more successful than others!

Barbara Barratt (Bowden) barbara.barratt@agresearch.co.nz I am still working as an agricultural entomologist for AgResearch in New Zealand. I still enjoy it very much and I am lucky enough to travel a lot to conferences and meetings, Switzerland, Beijing, Melbourne recently, and Shanghai and Malaysia this year. I work on biological control and biosecurity (keeping pests out of NZ). It will be interesting to see what 2017 brings - Brexit (really??) and Trump (really??). Both have created a lot of interest from scientists wanting to come and work in Australia and NZ. Margaret Payne (Moore) I am continuing to enjoy retirement (eight and a half years now).

Geoff, my husband, finally decided to stop work at the age of 65 this summer. Although originally a GP he has been involved in NHS management for the last few years. He worked in Oxford, but had to travel to Gloucester one day a week. I think the combination of the long journey west in winter weather and yet more NHS changes looming made him decide to enjoy retirement. We have been spending even more time in our flat in Aberdeen as restoration and alteration work was finally completed in April 2016. The flat dates from 1896 and is next door to the house of our

daughter, son-in-law and as from April 2016 two granddaughters. Erin Jessica arrived on 20 April to join her big sister Zoe Charlotte who is now three. The other half of our family – son, daughter -law, grandson and three granddaughters moved to Durham in March. Brendan remains a consultant in Infectious Diseases in Newcastle spending 80% of his time on research. His wife was appointed a consultant in Accident and Emergency medicine in Durham in September and she takes up her permanent appointment shortly. We spend a considerable amount of time driving up the M1/A1 and M6 but enjoy spending quality time with our grandchildren. Luckily, we both remain in good health.

Jane Poels (Hayter) janepoels55@gmail.com After leaving WHS in 1966 I trained as a nurse at St Thomas's Hospital in London. I married Tony in 1973 and we had three children - Jonathan b.1975, who is now a consultant vascular radiologist in York, Kate b.1977 who lives in Reading and is a primary school teacher and budding children’s author and Nick b.1980 who lives in Kansas. They are all married and have seven children between them with ages ranging from six to fourteen. Tony and I live in Malvern which we love. I worked as a practice nurse until I was diagnosed with Parkinsons and I now play a lot of bridge and scrabble as well as walking on the Malvern Hills.

Kathy Walker (Ware) kathrynmwalker@aol.com Hubby Barrie, (retired GP) and I (retired Health Visitor) continue to enjoy our retirement here on the West coast of Cumbria. We have lived here since 1979. We enjoy the close proximity of the Irish Sea and the Lake District National Park. Our nearest valley being the picturesque and very much photographed Wasdale with at its head England’s highest mountain Scafell Pike. We have two dogs so have a great variety of walks to take them on daily. Unfortunately our four grandchildren all live in London so we do not see them as often as we would like. Our eldest William, almost seven, has Type 1 diabetes and we get involved in fundraising for JDRF (Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation). He has an insulin pump and lives life to the full. The remaining three are siblings to my youngest son Simon, and are five, three and five months old.

They all love coming up here and make the most of all that the wild outdoors can offer. I keep in close contact with my best friend from the High School, Marilyn Collins (Ryall). I come down to Bucks every month as my parents are still alive (in their 90s) and now in residential care near Beaconsfield. It means I come off the M40 and drive past the High School each trip, which evokes lots of memories of my time there. Marilyn and I walked up and down Marlow Hill almost every day of seven years there! I do hear from 33

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Shelagh Williams (Monaghan) from time to time and we have met up occasionally. She was in my form 1D through to 5D. If anybody wishes to contact me then I would be glad to hear from them.

Linda Chapple (Spicer) lindachapple@talktalk.net I have nothing startling to say really! I haven't done anything remarkable or made any marks on life anywhere. Having said that, I have always been thankful for the education I gained from being at WHS. I wouldn't have changed that for the world! On a very sad note Linda has written an obituary for Julie Bell which appears in the ‘In Memoriam’ section of the Guild magazine. She will be sadly missed.

Judith Barton (Loten) judithbarton@btinternet.com I’m still enjoying life down here in Southampton and, after two years, have nearly got my bungalow and garden how I want it. I keep myself busy as a volunteer in the village library and as an Assistant Guider at a local Brownie Pack. I still go Sequence Dancing every week and enjoy the social aspect as well as the challenge of learning new dances. Unfortunately there are very few spare men partners, but there are plenty of spare ladies I can dance with! Being in Southampton is very handy for cruising and I went on two last year to Portugal and Spain. Most of the ports I’d visited before, but not for many, many years and it was interesting to see which parts had changed and which I remembered from previous visits. It’s lovely being near both Helen and Sara and being ‘on hand’ to babysit when needed. I now have a grandson, James, as well as my granddaughter, Jessica. To keep me awake in the evenings I’ve gone back to knitting and crocheting, mostly for Jessica and James, but also for the premature baby unit at Southampton Hospital.

Shelagh Williams (Monaghan) 2016 was a year of highs and lows. Our eldest son, Stephen, married Adriana on 29th April in her beautiful hometown of Taormina in Sicily. It was a spectacular occasion and we even had a view of Mount Etna providing a stunning background to the reception. After three cancellations, Nigel eventually had his heart surgery on 15th October (the day before our 40th wedding anniversary). A fairly straightforward mitral valve replacement turned into a triple bypass operation lasting eleven hours. Thankfully he is now making good progress and will only need two minor procedures in March/April to complete his recovery. Our other son, Philip, graduated in December with distinction from his MBA course at INSEAD Singapore and we were able to watch the ceremony on YouTube. I do keep in touch with Doreen (Russell), Susan (Grafton), Jane (Fielding), Kathryn (Ware) and Jenny

(Russell).

Gill Wilkinson (Sears) I take it easy these days and enjoy retirement with my husband Rex. We are active in the Wycombe Society and recently toured RAF Naphill. We went into “Bomber” Harris’s office and it is just like it was in WW11.

We are very interested in history and we went on another WW1 Cemetery Tour to learn about some of the soldiers, who are commemorated on headstones by their families, but whose bodies either lie in foreign fields in war cemeteries or were never found. We like the history of the Vikings and never tire of Ireland and its people.

Our holiday was to the South West of Ireland, visiting Glendalough and Waterford. I have also passed a Food Hygiene course at Wycombe Council. All the family are well. I have a son (Nick, now 47!), a daughter (Liz, now 44!) and four grandchildren, ranging in age from 15-19 years, so never a dull moment! I am so lucky to keep in touch with Janet Dowlman (Mead) whom I met on my first day at Wycombe High School in September 1961.

L – Jacqui (Stokes), R – Gill (Sears) Maureen Terry (Stallwood) maureenpterry@yahoo.co.uk I live near Aylesbury. I am retired but keep busy with voluntary work. I have three wonderful grandchildren. I like gardening but am still learning. I enjoy cooking and travelling too. I have been divorced for nearly three years after 43 years of marriage. I am healthy and keep as active as possible.

Hilary Moore (Evans) moore.hilary@ntlworld.com

I retired from teaching many years ago but still retain some connections by exam marking. Adrian and I still live in Derbyshire and have now been married 45 years. Our two sons, David and Gareth, both live within a mile of us and they both have two daughters. We enjoy travelling a lot in our motorvan and I still enjoy sporting activities.

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It’s been many years since WHS!

Doreen Vine-Chatterton (Russell) Doreen.jvc09@gmail.com

1967 1967 Group is without a leader. If you can help please contact guild@whs.bucks.sch.uk

1968 Anne Greatorex (True): anniegreatorex@hotmail.com

The best news of the year, if not the decade for us was the arrival of our first grandchild in August, a son for our eldest son, James, and his Irish wife, Janine. There was much celebration with a few glasses of fizz, as we never thought we would have grandchildren! He is named Quinn (an Irish name meaning wise) and of course he is the most gorgeous little chappie. Well, not so little weighing in at 9lbs 8ozs when he was born! As they live south of Dublin we don’t manage to see them so often, but FaceTime is brilliant for keeping in touch. We had an old friend from our Canadian days staying with us at the time of Quinn’s arrival, so we all flew over to see him just after he had come home from hospital with Mum. It was so lovely to hold and cuddle a newborn again! During the year we have had several UK cottage stays including Bude in Cornwall, where my parents lived for many years after leaving High Wycombe; the Cotswolds, Snowdonia and Wells. We also thoroughly enjoyed a river cruise on the Danube in the summer from Budapest to Vilshofen. We found it a most relaxing and interesting way to see all the stunning cities and towns along this magnificent river. The big plus with a cruise is that you only unpack once! In Guildford, where we live, there is always a lot going on locally with talks and outings. I also run a ‘Culture Club’ for a local ladies’s group where I organise an outing each month to see a ballet, a play, an opera or a concert, etc. I keep in touch with Shelagh (Monaghan) and Susan (Grafton). I enjoyed a lunch in London with Susan recently. Thank you all so much for your interesting contributions this year. You have all helped me so much with your responses and I hope that you all enjoy reading them!

The Mary Christie Centenary Grand Reunion on 24th June 2017, will be an excellent opportunity for us all to meet up again! Finally we send Shelagh (Monaghan) our kind thoughts for the full and speedy recovery of her husband,

Annie Greatorex (True) Although we are still not quite retired, Jeff and I have managed to get a bit of travelling done in the past year. This included Barcelona in the early spring, followed

by Switzerland, Berlin, Parga in Greece, our usual Turkey trip, and South Africa in the autumn. This year, before we become Grandparents in May, we are squeezing in India, Copenhagen and Andalucia! Hopefully that will fulfil the wanderlust while we are enjoying the baby days of our little Granddaughter-to-be. I am still on the committee of my WI, and enjoy the myriad of outings and activities the WI provides. A visit to the Globe theatre in the summer meant meeting up with Viv Owen, Liz Pickworth (Hopkins) and Sue Deaney (Sherwood). More Globe Theatre visits are planned this year, organised by Viv. I would like to offer my sincere condolences to the members of our school group who have suffered the loss of a parent in the past year.

Liz Pickworth (Hopkins) I am still heavily involved with the Ashby de la Zouch Agricultural Show as a member of the Board of Trustees, acting as a Horse Steward at the annual show in July. I was appointed Secretary to the North West Leicestershire Branch of the NFU Ladies Section last year and I am really enjoying the role. Still an active member of the Smisby WI which is growing from strength to strength. Any spare time is spent riding horses and walking our retired racing greyhounds, both very important, relaxing hobbies for me.

Jan Halson Not much to report for 2016. Spent a lovely ten days in Spain in May well, seven days were lovely, weather-wise. The other three were spent in Granada which was beautiful, but freezing cold and extremely rainy, which rather dampened the effect. I’m still attempting to learn Italian, which surprisingly helped me remember my schoolgirl Spanish during our trip!

1969 1969 Group is without a leader. If you can help please contact guild@whs.bucks.sch.uk

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1970

1970 Group is without a leader. . If you can help please contact guild@whs.bucks.sch.uk

1971 1971 Group is without a leader. If you can help please contact guild@whs.bucks.sch.uk

1972 1972 Group is without a leader. If you can help please contact guild@whs.bucks.sch.uk

of Moving Image - which should open in a few months' time in Kent. See more about the “Museum” at https://kentmomi.wordpress.com/ Marion Limmer (Form A) did her first tandem skydive to celebrate her 60th birthday! She says that leaving that tiny ramshackle aeroplane on 16th December was the most terrifying moment of her life but also one of the most exhilarating. She would seriously consider taking up a freefall course leading to a qualification enabling her to jump solo, but has missed that opportunity as the age limit is 55. So enjoyable was the plunge that she’s planning another tandem jump in the summer, when the weather is a little warmer. In case anyone else is feeling like doing something just a little bit different to celebrate a special occasion Marion would commend tandem skydiving – after all, you’re strapped to an experienced instructor so there is really very little danger (as long as you do as you are told!)

Ruth Brown (Form E) and Mike (her husband) have now retired and started on a building project.

She tells me the house looks like WW1 trenches (complete with a moat when it rains!). The foundations are now in so hopefully once the drainage is sorted the brickwork will go up!

1972 Netball Team

1973 Deb Kellie (O’Connell) deb@jacarandachambers.com.au Not too much news to report this year – but that will be rectified come July 22nd when we are holding a class of ’73 “Sensational at 60” reunion. So far, it looks as though we should have around 50 of our original class group – down on our 40 years on reunion, but excellent none the less! I’ve tried to contact some of our former teachers to join us again, but with limited success.

I did hear back from Miss Gadge (Maths) who unfortunately thinks that travelling to London to join us is a little more effort than she is willing to attempt at 86! Mrs Pinnock (Spanish) will be away.

As we approach 60 many of us are starting new ventures and or trying new things.... as diverse as retirement and setting up a museum!

Jocelyn Marsh (Form D) has returned to England from Indiana University, and is now tackling a major project with her “completely mad film archivist husband” (her words not mine!).

They are actually building a museum and research centre, dedicated to film – the Museum

Kathy Ellison (Form D) has found the house of her dreams, just at the edge of the village of Porlock with fantastic views over the Bristol Channel to Wales (when it isn’t raining). Porlock, for those who don’t know it, is a small village situated in the glorious Exmoor National Park, perfect for long bracing walks along the North Somerset coast, the moors and through ancient woodlands, which I understand is Kathy’s retirement intent once the renovations are done!

Janet Purdie (Form E) has recently returned to Marlow, and after five years in Delhi is enjoying the respite of cooler weather!

Helen White (Form C) has also recently returned to the UK after a stint downunder in bright and sunny Oz! And finally, it is with some degree of sadness that I have to report the loss of one of our girls from 5F – Sandra Herber informed me that Caroline Grant passed away in October last year. Vale Caroline.

I974 1974 Group is without a leader. If you can help please contact guild@whs.bucks.sch.uk

1975 1975 Group is without a leader. If you can help please contact guild@whs.bucks.sch.uk

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1976 Sian Hodges (Morris) sian2.hodges@btinternet.com In the absence of 1976 group members emailing specific news, here is a compilation of my own news and some received at Christmas from exWHS friends:

Gill Derrett (Howard) and her husband James, celebrated their 30th wedding anniversary year with a train trip to southern Spain. She continues in a mix of part-time teaching jobs. She and James spent a lot of the year supporting their son Stephen’s triathlon activities, which included the World Ironman Championships in Hawaii.

Angela Siderfin is now fully retired from midwifery but her gardening career continues.

She has been enjoying travel, including three weeks in New Zealand in Autumn 2016. She posted some great photos on Facebook. Sadly, she is also mourning the sudden loss of her mother from a stroke in March 2016.

Angela Purser (Ailward) continues in the same job and in her involvement in Girl Guiding. As well as running a Brownie Pack, she has, until recently, been Region Chair of Guiding Development, which has involved running a number of large scale events. Naomi (Angela’s middle child) has three young children and lives close enough to allow Angela and Guy to spend plenty of time with them.

Jean Howard (MacDiamid) continues to be busy as a child minder and survived an Ofsted inspection in 2016. Unfortunately, her own grandchild does not live close enough to be one of her clients. (Her daughter is finding it hard to find anyone who provides such a flexible service.)

Margaret Peach enjoys working as a church administrator in North London, which has included involvement in a huge relocation project. She also spends a lot of time and energy caring for her mother, who continues to live independently in High Wycombe.

Amanda Eden (Lait) is enjoying her retirement from the Civil Service. 2016 included her daughter Katy’s wedding and a trip to Versailles.

1978

Susan Dinnage (Wilkinson)’s daughter, Philippa, also married in 2016.

Grace Carter (Kelly) has just started accepting bed and breakfast guests at her house in Lerwick.

She was expecting a full house for the annual Up Helly Aa celebrations.

As for me, the last couple of years have been rather dominated by supporting my parents as they neared the end of their lives. My mother died, suddenly but not entirely unexpectedly, at the end of 2014 and my father in August 2016.

He was 92 and had advanced Parkinson’s disease so his peaceful death was in many ways a blessing. There is still quite a bit to do to clear and sell the retirement home, near Chichester, which they moved to at the end of 2013. Hence, I am quite glad that my work as an Exams Officer is part time for most of the year. My two children are both adults now. Matthew is in his last year at school. Ruth is at Durham doing an MA. My husband is in his 35th year at BP and now only 18 months from retirement so major changes are on the horizon for us all.

1978 Group is without a leader. If you can help please contact guild@whs.bucks.sch.uk

1979 197 Group is without a leader. If you can help please contact guild@whs.bucks.sch.uk

1980 1980 Group is without a leader. If you can help please contact guild@whs.bucks.sch.uk

Jo Fuller started learning Martial Arts at Wycombe High School when they introduced a

1977 Linda Dubber (Hill) lindadubber@dmcager.com Sian also sent news of several of the 1977 group.

She is still in touch with them because they were all at Royal Holloway College together from 1979 to 1982.

Judo programme in 1979. She was a founding 37

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member of the High School’s Judo club. This lead to and inspired her to continue her training at college and throughout her life.

Amanda Eastell-Bleakley

In 2012 She branched out on her own and started Tiger Martial Arts creating a mix of traditional training in a modern way to everyone. She was the first to bring together both abled and disabled families and individuals training together and excepting of all. This brought her knowledge and expertise together with other leading experts around the world to shed light on what true martial arts is all about, which, by the way, is more than punching and kicking.

This master mind group worked together and launched in 2015 BullyProof Unleash the Hero inside your kid book series to help an epidemic plaguing the world today. This is now a charity foundation pledging itself to help people across the world to become BullyProof.

Her mission is to help all families and individuals to become, “ the best you, you can be” through the benefits of using Martial Arts to have unstoppable self-esteem and confidence, powerful self-control and self-discipline, building respect for themselves and others, improve focus and attention span, the “yes I can” winning attitude, and BullyProofing ourselves.

For more Information visit www.tigermartialarts.co.uk find us on facebook at www.facebook.com/TigermartialartsHighWycombe or call us on 0800 612 5670 Jo is one of our speakers at the upcoming Entrepreneur Evening Thursday 20 April 2017. If you are interested in attending, please RSVP to guild@whs.bucks.sch.uk referencing ‘Entrepreneur Evening’ in the subject of the email.

1981 1981 Group is without a leader. If you can help please contact guild@whs.bucks.sch.uk

1982 1982 Group is without a leader. If you can help please contact guild@whs.bucks.sch.uk

1983 1983 Group is without a leader. If you can help please contact guild@whs.bucks.sch.uk

After many years’ involvement in International Retail and making use of my love of languages (thank you Mr Merrick!), I began a new career chapter in academic publishing where I’ve been for the past 15 years. I am now Managing Editor for the academic journal Ethnic and Racial Studies based at the University of Surrey, Guildford.

1984 1984 Group is without a leader. If you can help please contact guild@whs.bucks.sch.uk

1985 Louise Grafton-Mitchell (Grafton) louisegm121@hotmail.com

1986 1986 Group is without a leader. If you can help please contact guild@whs.bucks.sch.uk

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1988 1988 Group is without a leader. If you can help please contact guild@whs.bucks.sch.uk

1989 1989 Group is without a leader. If you can help please contact guild@whs.bucks.sch.uk 38

1990 1990 Group is without a leader. If you can help please contact guild@whs.bucks.sch.uk Toni Brodelle

A lifelong humanitarian and advocate for all that is good and kind, Toni sits on the board of the Pay It Forward Foundation / global movement for kindness. She is also archangel advisor to the Happiness Foundation and a member of the World Kindness Movement. As an activist for democracy and human rights in Syria, Toni is a member of the House of Lords task group on Syria and refugees and advises the All Party Parliamentary Groups on Syria, particularly in relation to besieged communities. She sits on the Council for Christian-Muslim Relations and is a founding trustee of Wycombe Refugee Partnership, a registered charitable organisation which resettles refugee families in High Wycombe, and is a staunch advocate for the huge sense of goodwill within our community.

Passionate about raising young changemakers who will lead our world to a more peaceful, compassionate and tolerant tomorrow, she is also creator of the Incredible Me emotional wellbeing and global empowerment programmes for children, young people and the adults in their lives. www.pifexperience.org www.facebook.comtheworldofincrediblemewww.t hehappinessfoundation.co.uk

My parents (mum also attended WHS back in the 1940s) are significantly ageing now – it’s sad to see the joy of life ebbing away from them.

Meanwhile, my husband changed jobs a couple of years ago, and now works for Great Western Railway – one perk is the discounted travel, especially as I need to go over to Marlow frequently to see my parents. Coincidentally, the MD of GWR is the son of one of my WHS Maths teachers, Mrs Hopwood! Our son is now in his second year of A-levels and considering a career in accounting.

As before, I exchange occasional news with friends from my WHS days – Amy, Catherine, Fiona, Lis, Nicki, Rachel, Sonia, Sarah and Mrs DeVal , some of them may even feature in the photos I’ve retrieved from my last day at WHS (before our A level exams), back in May 1993! I also took a few photos of the buildings and grounds I don’t suppose I’d recognise how they look now…

1991 1991 Group is without a leader. If you can help please contact guild@whs.bucks.sch.uk Mary Deaves (May) I can’t believe it is three years since I last wrote! We’re still living in Swindon, and I’m still working in the fundraising department of an international charity – it’s a busy role and the charity sector isn’t without its own iissues, although very different to the NHS.

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1992

1996

Catherine Aouchiche (Sharp)

Jo Anthony

Catherinesarahsharp@gmail.com

Joanna.anthony@hotmail.com Kerry Andrew is a London-based composer,

1993 1993 Group is without a leader. If you can help please contact guild@whs.bucks.sch.uk

1994

performer, writer and educator. She has a PhD in Composition from the University of York and has won three British Composer Awards. As a composer, she specialises in experimental vocal, choral music, music-theatre as well as community music. Her debut novel will be published by Jonathan Cape, in January 2018.

1994 Group is without a leader. If you can help please contact guild@whs.bucks.sch.uk Jean Aslett Nearly 23 years retired is a long time and I find things to do with the house and garden and do not regret leaving behind all the marking at all. I taught Physics and Maths and Science in General (and a few other things like Gardening and Hard materials technology and Geology as and when required) and was Head of Year for the entry year (when they came in a year older than they do now) for many years. I believe the Head of year now goes up with the year. I had three years off from 1961 to 1964 while I bore my two children, and was part time for several years I see school age children passing in the morning and sometimes wish my own school age grandchildren lived nearer but they also are in or approaching higher education or beyond so my contact with youth is limited. We have six grandchildren and are approaching our Diamond wedding at the end of the year.

We have lived in Milton Keynes since 2000 and find it very convenient. It does not have hills to climb and has very good bus routes to serve the area and take us to the centre where there is very good shopping under cover. To pass the time I do simple clothing repairs for friends, the proceeds going to Christian Aid. We attend our local church which has some weekday activities on and off so we have company when we need it. But we are winding down in our later years. Our daughter lives not far away so she keeps an eye on us. She is an old girl of WHS and will be bringing me to the reunion in June when I hope to meet again some of my old colleagues. .

1995 1995 Group is without a leader. If you can help please contact guild@whs.bucks.sch.uk

Kerry received the accolade of Handel House Composer In Residence 2010 - 2012 and was visiting Professor at Leeds College of Music 2015 2016. Her works have included large-scale pieces for 600 young people in the Royal Albert Hall’s Schools Prom, a vocal / body percussion work for the massed National Youth Choirs at the Royal Albert Hall, a concept drawing and vocal EP for ‘Art on the Underground’, a chamber community opera for Wigmore Hall, a wild swimming opera for the Tete a Tete Festival (a work simultaneously performed by 25 community ensembles around the UK for the Landmark Trust), a piece for the London Sinfonietta to fight for the NHS (including the recorded voices of 60 members of the public) and a work for the national commemoration service to commemorate the 7/7/05 London bombings.

1997 1997 Group is without a leader. If you can help please contact guild@whs.bucks.sch.uk

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1998

2001

1998 Group is without a leader. If you can help please contact guild@whs.bucks.sch.uk

2001 Group is without a leader. If you can help please contact guild@whs.bucks.sch.uk

Trishna Bharadia (Gangotra)

2002 2002 Group is without a leader. If you can help please contact guild@whs.bucks.sch.uk Susanna Fairbairn

I left Wycombe High in 1998 and went on to do a degree in European Studies & Spanish at the University of Manchester. I work as a Spanish translator for an information services company but a great deal of my spare time is now dedicated to raising awareness about multiple sclerosis, disability and chronic illness, after having been diagnosed with MS myself in 2008. I collaborate with various organisations and am an ambassador/patron for several local and national charities. I've also returned to Wycombe High several times for events, most recently as guest speaker for the A-Level Prize Giving evening in December 2016.

When Susanna Fairbairn's operatic career takes her to the Republic of Ireland to perform the role of Galatea in Handel's opera Acis and Galatea, with Opera Theatre Company, Ireland's national touring opera company. The tour will take in 10 venues throughout the country. In July, Susanna's first solo disc will be released on the Naxos label a CD of songs by little-known composers Geoffrey Bush and Joseph Horovitz. There is a huge diversity of repertoire, which will also be available to download in separate tracks on iTunes - by turns dramatic, witty, ridiculous and melancholic. Before the year is out, Susanna will also have premiered three new works by contemporary composers, so 2017 looks to be fulfilling and diverse. Having been a city girl living in London for many years, Susanna has recently moved back out to Bucks and is very much enjoying the relative peace of Marlow.

1999

2003

1999 Group is without a leader. If you can help please contact guild@whs.bucks.sch.uk

2003 Group is without a leader. If you can help please contact guild@whs.bucks.sch.uk

2000

2004

2000 Group is without a leader. If you can help please contact guild@whs.bucks.sch.uk

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2005

2007

2005 Group is without a leader. If you can help please contact guild@whs.bucks.sch.uk

Gemma White Gemmasophie2@hotmail.com

Ally Potter

2008 2008 Group is without a leader. If you can help please contact guild@whs.bucks.sch.uk Kathryn Boast

After leaving Wycombe High School, Ally graduated from Keble College, Oxford. She began her professional career in the Paris office of a global PR agency. From there, her experience has spanned a number of multinational companies managing communication strategies on matters as farranging as nuclear energy, diamonds and stately homes.

In 2014, she followed her curiosity and set off on a round the world trip through Asia, Australia and New Zealand. Ally’s entrepreneurial spark was ignited along the way, and has since been realised through her company Wanderloom.

Wanderloom is a lifestyle brand selling a simple and beautifully functional product ...towels - much more exciting than they sound.

Ally is a firm believer that starting a company doesn’t mean selling all your belongings and moving back in with your parents; being an entrepreneur can be wonderfully symbiotic with the ‘corporate’ day job too (…Ally is also a Brand and Insight Consultant for an award-winning agency in Bristol.)

Ally is one of our speakers at the upcoming Entrepreneur Evening Thursday 20 April 2017. If you are interested in attending please RSVP to guild@whs.bucks.sch.uk referencing ‘Entrepreneur Evening’ in the subject of the email.

2006 2006 Group is without a leader. If you can help please contact guild@whs.bucks.sch.uk

Kathryn left WHS in 2008 to complete her undergraduate studies in Physics and Philosophy at Oxford. She is currently a PhD student in Particle Physics in her fourth year at the University of Oxford and belongs to the Oxford Women in Physics Society.

Kathryn is working on LUX-ZEPLIN (LZ), a direct dark matter detection experiment. Finding terrestrial signs of dark matter would revolutionise our picture of the universe and confirm answers to some of the most important questions in physics today, so LZ is a thrilling experiment to be part of.

Her work has taken her all over the world, from sunny California to the bottom of a mine in Yorkshire! When she isn't in the lab, Kathryn loves explaining physics to anyone who will listen - she talks at outreach days and science festivals on behalf of the department and enjoys working with the university science magazine, Bang!, as well as writing a physics blog when she gets the chance.

2009 2009 Group is without a leader. If you can help please contact guild@whs.bucks.sch.uk

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2010

Kate also works as a private English tutor and is currently in the process of writing two books.

2010 Group is without a leader. If you can help please contact guild@whs.bucks.sch.uk

Kate is one of our speakers at the upcoming Entrepreneur Evening Thursday 20 April 2017. If you are interested in attending please RSVP to guild@whs.bucks.sch.uk referencing ‘Entrepreneur Evening’ in the subject of the email.

2011 Heather Ashford hgashford@gmail.com Kate Tuohy

Maddy Harris has a long history in competitive sports, at the age of 10 she became a competitive club swimmer later going on to compete at both regional and national levels. As well as this, Maddy has also gained her 1st Dan Black Belt in Tae Kwon Do all whilst at studying at school and lifeguarding at a local swimming pool.

Maddy went to the University of Kent to study Sports Management for three years. She then did a year at Canterbury Christ Church University where she did a PGCE in Physical Education.

Kate read English Literature and Language at Jesus College, Oxford University. She had always dreamed of attending Oxford and valued every moment of her time there. Kate so much enjoyed her university experience, that she is keen to share it with others. She understands how intimidating Oxbridge can seem and feels passionately about promoting access, particularly for state school pupils. Kate has, therefore, set up 'That Oxford Girl', a brand which includes both a website: www.thatoxfordgirl.com and Instagram page thatoxfordgirl, providing an insight into both the application process and student life at Oxford University.

Since her university days, Maddy has taken up weightlifting and now competes at a national level. She hopes to inspire girls to do sports that are maybe typically male orientated - pushing the boundaries of what is a ‘usual girl’s sport’.

Maddy is currently a PE teacher at WHS. When the job opportunity arose at WHS she went for it straightaway because of her experience of attending the school, how well behaved the students are and how much the teachers care about them. She really wanted to be a part of this again.

In 2015, Maddy founded CrossFit Aylesbury with Owen Jones, Jane Fox and Adam Williams. It is the very first CrossFit affiliate to open in West Buckinghamshire run by a small group of friendly and experienced CrossFit coaches and competitors who are extremely passionate about the sport of fitness. The aim of CrossFit 43

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Aylesbury is to bring a fantastic community and great results to the people in and around Aylesbury. Maddy first found CrossFit whilst studying at the University of Kent. She attended a strength and conditioning programme and found an instant passion and talent for CrossFit. She then began training at local affiliate, NWK CrossFit. After only one year of training Maddy began to compete in both CrossFit and Weightlifting, to great success. She has placed top-20 at some major CrossFit competitions (including a 16th place finish at last year Battle of the Beasts), mixing it up with some of the best athletes in Europe. She has also achieved great success at multiple weightlifting competitions, including a 5th place finish at the English National Championships but, perhaps most notably, winning the British Students Championships.

helping my boyfriend establish his own magazine for students to document their travels.

Some links to my stories: dezeen.com/author/ lizzie-crook

2014 Saher Jabeen saher_19@hotmail.co.uk Tahmeenah Jamadar tahmeenahj22@hotmail.co Naqeeba Ali

“My goal is to create a positive and competitive atmosphere at CrossFit Aylesbury. I want to help all members achieve their personal goals no matter how big or small! My personal goal is to continue with my success in competitive Weightlifting and eventually compete at the CrossFit Regionals.�

2012 Neelam Tailor neelam_tailor@hotmail.co.uk Charlotte Nohavicka I graduated back in 2015 and have been working as Music Development Manager for a primary school in London since. I am however now applying for postgraduate study for next academic year. I will keep you posted on my progress.

2013 Sara Ahmed sara-ahmed123@hotmail.com

Currently, I'm in the 2nd year of my Bachelor of Science degree in Geography. It's been a great experience so far and the highlight was when I went to Switzerland in the winter. I'm starting my dissertation and often reflect on how little time I have left at university and how i will enter the world of work the year after next. It's crazy to think that I was in school a mere two years ago, but I will forever be grateful for the life skills Wycombe high taught me.

Sarah K Crockford

Anisah Amin anisah99@hotmail.co.uk Elizabeth Crook After leaving Wycombe High School in 2013 and then completing a degree in Architecture at the University of Sheffield, I am now trying to pursue a career in Architecture and Design publishing, and have been working at Dezeen, the world's leading online design magazine, for the last six months. Although I miss my school days, I am really enjoying the opportunity to learn about beautiful buildings the world over everyday, and I am loving working in London as it's very different to anything I have ever experienced! On the side, I am currently

I am studying for my MSc in Educational 44

Neuroscience at UCL. The MSc is currently in full swing and I am in the process of recruiting volunteers for my experimental study. The study is investigating the relationship between multilingual and cognitive abilities in adolescents with and without autism. Not only is it part of my MSc project for UCL but it will also help inform my PhD project next year which - funding permitting will be at the University of Cambridge.

2015 Maddy Millar

maddymillar@hotmail.com Georgia Sanders Georgia_sanders@hotmail.com Frankie Low

I am now in my second year of a Korean degree, meaning I am spending this academic year living and studying at Korea University in Seoul, South Korea. I have now completed two semesters, classes did not stop over the Christmas period, and with just one semester left I cannot believe how quickly the time has gone. The level of study is quite intense and fast pace but I have still managed to get around and see a lot of Seoul and the rest of South Korea. Life as a student in Korea tends to involve lots of studying, lots of rice, lots of kimchi (a national Korean dish of spicy pickled cabbage that they eat with EVERYTHING) and lotssometimes too much- of soju (Korean brewed rice alcohol). Some highlights of my year abroad so far have been 고연전 (The Korea University vs Yonsei University Varsity Games) which really is all about learning the cheer songs and dances, cheering on KU, who are reigning champions, and then celebrating through the night with a massive street party in the area surrounding Korea University; hiking in the mountains around Seoul; and getting out of the -15° temperatures of Seoul and heading to the Philippines for a brief getaway. Ultimately through my year abroad I have met amazing friends from all over the world and have reached a level of language proficiency I never would have expected after learning the language for

just a year and a half, and if I could I would do it all over again at the drop of a hat.

2016 Sophie Ashmore sophie.ashmore@aol.co.uk Annie Halhead annie.halhead@hotmail.co.uk Emily Morgan I would say that life after leaving

Wycombe High School has been eye opening for me.

Though it’s not yet been a year, the months I’ve spent at University have been full of exciting new experiences, friends and, naturally, a bit of stress.

I chose to study film at the University of Kent and, so far, it’s really been a blast. In the autumn term, I made my first ever short film in a collaborative group effort; an exciting and stress filled task. I loved every second of it. I don’t think I ever really appreciated what a task it must be to create full length features. There are so many integral parts to the process, from the initial birth of the idea down to the creation of an elaborate soundscape, that it was a miracle we ticked every box.

Even then, there are always things you wish you could do better. Until the next time!

At University, not only am I studying something almost entirely new to me, but I am also picking up on new hobbies and interests. For example, anyone who’s ever known me would, no doubt, be thoroughly surprised at the amount of sport I’m willingly participating in. As well as how early I’m getting up to do it!

I’ve made some amazing friends, too. Not only through my course or my activities, but also in the people I’m living with. Though the close quarters can pose a bit of a challenge, it’s a great learning experience and a chance to make some close friends for life. After all, they get to know all your nasty habits!

I’ve really been blessed in my time away so far; from the work to the people, everything has been clicking into place. I really look forward to what the rest of my time in further education will hold for me.

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1953 Wendy Porter (Batts) weporter@talk21.com Angela Crew (Richmond) started the year with having to have a new roof on her bungalow, but since then things have improved. Although she has been having physiotherapy for painful osteoarthritis in her knees, she is still able to catch the bus into Bath for shopping and coffee mornings and life is easier now the village shop and Post Office have re-opened. Angela and a friend audit their Branch BT and Royal Mail accounts which they enjoy as this becomes a very jolly coffee morning.

Christmas was spent with the family, enjoying old slides which she had converted to DVD.

ery, including the place where Pompey the Great crossed his troops over a mighty river. I also had the chance to be in the personal railway carriage of Tsar Nicholas II, later owned by Josef Stalin.

I continue to gad around with the local choral society, spending a few days with them in Polish Silesia in the autumn. In July, the choir plan to go back to my beloved Liguria to sing in the music festival there.

Zita Miller (Menday) writes: “A special holiday last year with Josephine was in Venice, including a couple of operas in La Fernice. This summer I shall be in Lucca for a Puccini festival and more operas. I hope to see more of our year and the adjoining ones on 24th June.”

Jean Morley (Foster) writes:” My husband and I are both well but slowing down a little. I reached the big 80 in September and he is now 84. I had over a week of celeCynthia Dean (Smith) writes: “In 2016 I did several inbrations staying firstly with my daughter and family and teresting things. Four of us met up in Dublin for a Bletchthen another week with our son and his wife near Southley College reunion; I went to stay in Filey ampton. The family spoilt me with lovely outings, preJan(ice) Revell (Prior) has a holiday home there; sents and meals out. All very memorable. Earlier in the stayed with my cousin near Bath and, in October, went year my husband underwent a new TAVI ‘R’ operation to on a Warner’s break to Littlecote House Hotel (Henry VIII replace a heart valve at Barts Hospital in London. Amazhad wooed Jane Seymour in the actual Manor House). ingly he was home within four days and soon back garWhile there we enjoyed a walk to a nearby welldening and decorating. Six weeks later he had a cataract preserved Roman mosaic. I’m now looking forward to a operation, so I was chauffeur for quite a few weeks. I am river cruise on the River Rhone in June.” keeping very well, managing my borderline diabetes with just one tablet, thank goodness. I have taken up patchWe send our love and condolences to Joan Fowler (Archer) whose husband passed away last May in his work with a small, friendly group and am hoping to make a single quilt for my eight-year old grandson. It has been 94th Year – they had been married for 53 years. Joan a joy watching him grow and develop into a kind, caring still goes Old Time and Modern Sequence dancing and belongs to several clubs. She keeps in contact with Phyl- boy.” lis Mathews, Pat Stapleton, Valerie Simmons, Muriel Ann Weaver (Saunders): After two years, Ann is very Paris (MIP) and Judy Goodchild. Joan hopes to make settled in her assisted living apartment at Rosebery Manthe reunion at WHS in June. or in Surrey, where she is visited every day by daughter Andrea (Cooke). Ann takes advantage of the many Angela Haigh (Green) writes: “I’m still in touch with social activities on offer and has joined a small choir – not Wendy Porter (Batts) and Cynthia Dean (Smith) and up to the standard of the Wooburn singers, but she enhope to meet up with them and Sheila Wilcockson joys singing again.

(Kirwan), Jo Harrington (Menday) and Zita Miller (Menday) in London in the spring. We had a good get -together in London last year which is easier for most of us to get to than High Wycombe. Brian and I had a lovely holiday in Sicily in September, with a group, being guided round some wonderful archaeological sites. Miss Halton, our Latin teacher in the 1950s must have sparked my interest in archaeology when she used to tell us tales of the ancient Greeks in our classical Studies class once a week (and no exam!).”

Jo Harrington (Menday) writes: “No great news here, just the usual picture of diminishing vigour of sight and hearing brought on by anno domini. I think of 2017 as a year of anniversaries, not just Mary Christie but also for my father’s family, the year of Passchendaele when the loss of one brother and another in 1918 devastated his family. Zita and I hope to attend the Tyne Cot ceremony in July. Last summer I visited Georgia. Plenty of Orthodox churches and wonderful Caucasus mountain scen-

Sheila Wilcockson (Kirwan) writes: “Life in Plymouth continues to be fairly quiet. I’m still involved in various organisations, but not as much as I used to be. I realised recently that it will be 70 years in September since I started at WHS!” Apart from the get-together in London and an enjoyable couple of days staying with Cynthia, I have not been able to go far. After several months of back pain, I was diagnosed with a spinal fracture (osteoporosis) which has slowed me down considerably, but the resulting loss of height (down to 5 ft) has had the most impact on my everyday life. However, Needham Market is a lovely place to live in, with excellent amenities, good transport links, friendly people, plenty of social life, a lake to walk round and often the best weather in the country, so we are very fortunate and I have no problem in keeping busy.

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