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OLD CROYDONIANS DEATHS We have been notified of the following deaths and extend our sympathy to the family and friends concerned. Lucy (Maisie) Craig died in October 2007 aged 92. On leaving school she trained as a nurse, initially at the Norfolk and Norwich hospital where her brother was a junior doctor and latterly at the Middlesex Hospital. She specialised in radiotherapy becoming head of the department at an early stage. She stayed head of the department for the rest of her career becoming widely known in the radiotherapy world both at home and abroad. She was president of the Society of Radiologists for 1957-58 and in 1972 was awarded the OBE for services to nursing. Mary Cutler (Lark) 1935 died in April 2007 Christine Griffiths (Hartley) died in March 2007 Eileen Harris (Thompson) died in April 2007 aged 92. Her son writes “She spoke warmly of her schooldays, of her many friends from those years now mostly deceased also. She reminisced in particular of having played hockey for the school. She went into teaching and worked in Germany (immediately post war) and then had headships in schools in the Bromley area. In her retirement she dealt in antiques and travelled extensively.” Phyllis Nunn (Hunt) died in August 2007 Ann Osborn (Rowley) 1966 writes, “I will always remember Phyllis as Miss Hunt. She was my class music teacher, my A level music teacher and also helped me to improve my singing. I had wanted to be a singer from as early as I can remember, and without Miss Hunt this would almost certainly not have happened. When I was in the first year of the sixth form I was selected to sing the part of Dido in the school performance of Purcell's Dido and Aeneas, and still remember the excitement of learning and performing such a challenging and emotionally charged part. Miss Hunt was the musical director and conducted the performances, as well as arranging soloists, orchestra and choir. She gave me extra time for singing and arranged for me to go and sing to Veronica Mansfield who subsequently became my singing professor at the Royal College of Music. I then became a member of the BBC singers and have continued my music ever since in one way or another. I remember Miss Hunt as a first class musician, an inspirational teacher and a truly dedicated musician - with a fine natural musical talent but also the attention to detail and administration that is so much a part of learning an instrument, teaching and managing groups of musicians. I was always a little afraid of her, which perhaps was not bad thing! Not so very long ago Miss Hunt asked me if I would sing Dido's lament at her funeral and I was most honoured, when the time came, that I was able to do this. Miss Hunt helped to shape my life and I will always remember, and be grateful for that.” Judith Wilsher (Proudfoot 1960, Staff 1970-2001) writes, “Throughout my days as a pupil at Croydon High, I really enjoyed Miss Hunt's piano playing as we came in and out of Assembly. The first piece was always something quiet and reflective, but after assembly we were hastened out of the hall with a rousing march or a country dance. Imagine my pleasure when I arrived years later as a member of staff to find that Miss Hunt was still there and ‘In an English Country Garden’ was still the top favourite! I came to appreciate her dry sense of humour and I also remember the wonderful recital that she and Peggy Guillou gave in aid of the Sports Hall Appeal. There is also a faint memory of Phyllis dressed as a chicken in a staff play.” Jane Pryor a former member of the Mathematics Department for many years until her retirement in 1990, died last June, just a year after moving with her husband to Taunton. “Jane was an enthusiastic and dedicated teacher who inspired and gave confidence to her pupils. She was an efficient head of Year 10/11 in which role she helped set up the work experience programme. Many old girls will remember fondly her firm but fair manner and her sensitive and common sense approach to their problems.As a colleague she was helpful and supportive and above all, great fun to work with. Jane enjoyed all aspects of school life, from counting money on Guild Day to supporting netball, attending concerts and taking part in staff plays. Who will ever forget her performance as a Poppy in the Wizard of Oz? After retiring from CHS, Jane continued to give private tuition and to teach in several other local schools when they urgently need Mathematics staff. She once said that she could not bear to think of anyone not being taught Mathematics! Jane kept in touch with many former colleagues and pupils and we shall miss her greatly. Our sympathies go to Brian and to the rest of her family.” Diana Stainbank, Anne Jeanes and Judith Wilsher Olga Rowe MBE died in June 2007 Gladys Wilson (Clifton) 1932 died in the summer of 2007 Reunions Class
47-56 Susan-Ann Dowle (Jansen) postmaster@sadowletoes.plus.com News
of Old Croydonians Carol Byrne (Gillman) 1998 is living in York and has a baby daughter, Grace, born in April 2007 Helena Palmer (Morriss) 1995 was married in 2005 and now lives in Berkhamsted. She is working as a paediatric physiotherapist and is also studying part time for an M.Sc in paediatric neurology at University College London, which she hoped to complete in 2007 Rachel
Mirfattahi (Leong) 1993 has been
working as a consultant for Redsley for the last seven years. Initially she was
based in the Midlands but now works from home in Edinburgh. She got married in
July 2007. Caroline Laughton (Reay- Jones) 1990 married Neil in 2006 and has a baby son Oscar born in March 2007 and is living in Putney. Judy Gowans (Stebbings) 1977 met up with Carol Smeeth and Lynda Smith (Lout) at the Summer Lunch Party in June. “The lunch was excellent and afterwards, Lorna Ogilvie gave us a most interesting tour of the school. It was particularly fascinating to see the new developments in the gym complex and the computer suite. We all wished that more of our year had been there - where are you all?! Carol, Lynda and I can all be contacted by email on the Friends Reunited website, so let's hope more of us can get together in 2017, if not before!” Deborah Jenkins (Barker) 1973 is now living in Sydney, Australia and would like to hear from any of her year who remember her deb.jenkins@bigpond.com. Gill Ellis (ex Chemistry staff and former Head of Streatham High) writes “I retired in 2002 after a year when I was in hospital 3 times, and the distinct feeling that someone was trying to tell me something. So I decided enough was enough and hung up my gown a year early. I wanted to move away from Streatham so found myself living in the heart of Canterbury. I love it here, and am having a whale of a time - when I am in residence that is! I wanted to travel and that I have been doing - the Galapagos and Ecuador, Chile and Argentina ( never ever thought I would sail round Cape Horn!) Costa Rica, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa and just a few weeks ago, India, where I was on the trail of the tigers before they finally become poached out of existence. It nearly killed me and has taught me that one needs to have a little more respect for one's age! However undaunted I am off to the Antarctic in January, also the Falklands (again) and South Georgia; I will be away for nearly a month most of which time will be spent on a Russian ice breaker. I have also fitted in various short trips to Europe , (Canterbury is exceptionally well placed for such things) . Next trip is Borneo, hopefully followed by South Africa again and Madagascar) In between times I have done some research on for a book that Chris Darwin (yes, great great grandson of Charles) is writing and done a course at the Cathedral to become a guide. I had forgotten what intensive study was like and the exam at the end nearly killed me, but I passed, which I felt was an extraordinary fluke! Recently I caught up with Nicky Ragge who has done terribly well following her scholarship to Kings, Cambridge in 1978. She is now a Senior Research Fellow at St John's, Oxford and holds an American Academy of Sciences Award. Her field is paediatric Ophthalmology, and she consults one day a week each at Moorfields and Birmingham as well as running a very high powered lab in Oxford.” Gill is happy to be contacted by e mail gmellis@onetel.com ” if anyone would like to get in touch/visit (Canterbury is so lovely and now that I have passed my Cathedral exam I can do a passable guided tour….) Susan Harrison (Pearce) 1963 graduated from King’s College London in French and German in 1967 and then gained a MA in French. She taught in London and South Wales taking early retirement in 1999 to become a school inspector until 2005. She has two children from her first marriage and remarried in 1994. She is now “taking life easy being a member of Friends of the Earth and Soroptomists International, travelling, dabbling in antiques (specialising in 19th century marble and bronze sculpture); family tree research; and a bit of writing. How did I ever find time to go to work?” Christine (Chris) Janssens (Martin) 1962 writes “After working a few years in London, I moved to Paris to work for NATO for a year, until Charles de Gaulle kicked the Organisation out to Brussels. I was then engaged to Michel, and moved to Montpellier, where I worked firstly for IBM and then for a further education college for students from underdeveloped countries doing post-graduate studies on agriculture and farm management. I then moved to Paris and spent the next 27 years working at the OECD (Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development) as an administrative officer, looking after recruitment, budget, maintenance, etc. Divorced from Michel, I then married Louis, who is English despite his name, and who eventually became Head of the English Translation Service at OECD. After retirement we moved to Normandy, 30Km south of Cherbourg. Sadly Louis was diagnosed with a form of dementia and now lives in the old people’s home just up the road from our house. He is going on 88 but was still playing golf at 82, so had a very happy retirement. I am very involved in the French equivalent of Hospice Work and am organising our contribution to this year’s Voices for Hospices event in October. We have a team of volunteers who are selected and trained to accompany dying people and at the moment work in Valognes hospital. We have hopes of being accepted into Cherbourg, but it is difficult. Otherwise, we may form a team to do home visits. Other than that I am Treasurer of our local Association Franco-Britannique, I play golf, look after my dog, belong to a philosophical society…. So generally keep pretty busy.” Margaret
Collins (Short) 1957 writes: “Malcolm and I have now been living happily in
South West France for over six years. We are currently moving from our country
home to a medieval town nearby, where we have bought a very old house, much of
which requires restoration. We enjoy many visits from our five grandchildren
and manage to get to England regularly. We both belong to an English speaking
drama group where Malcolm is able to use his graphic design skills doing the
publicity, while I am trying my hand at some crafts which I never had time to do
when working. Summers here are hot and reliable; though full of tourists who
come to enjoy the beauty of the area, as well as the food and wine. I try to
get back to the reunions every five years - my next visit should be in 2010.” Pauline (Gibson) Beeton, Margaret (Longhurst )Hood and Judith (Proudfoot) Wilsher are searching for Maggie, Margaret (Hartley )Pemberton, who left school in 1959, lived in Oxted, studied Geography and was married in Dulwich College Chapel. Where are you now? Anyone who knows please contact jmwilsher@aol.com
The Annual General Meeting of AROPS was held on Tuesday 9th October 2007 at Westminster School. During the Annual General Meeting Margaret Carter-Pegg (Old Crohamian) was elected President of the Association and Bill Gillen (Old Arnoldian) took over from Roger Moulton (Old Pauline) as Chairman. Discussion that followed the AGM included a report from the survey of merged societies and the threat to many of our schools from the legislation involving charitable status. Several schools reported that their associations were now working more closely with their schools to the benefit of all concerned. Tim Wood, the Chairman of the Elizabethan Club, gave us a potted history of the Club and talked of the value of their effective web-site for keeping in touch with former pupils. He commented that the ages of their committee ranged from 24 to 70!! This was followed by an excellent supper. Ann D Stranack (Wagstaff) |