Old Girls' Association - Malvern St James

Spring 2009 

Old Girls’ 

Association

2 

From the Chairman 

Two most enjoyable reunions 

have been attended by OGA 

members during the year, the 

fi rst at School on 17 May 2008 

when colleagues entertained 

us with a Choral Workshop, and 

the second at Corpus Christi 

College, Cambridge on 15 

November, when we welcomed 

the Head Girl Fiona Sedgley and 

the Deputy Head Girl, Abigail 

Sands. Both reunions were 

well attended and members 

thoroughly enjoyed an update 

on MSJ by Mrs Ros Hayes. 

The opening of the Sports Centre was a highlight of the year and 

I would add my appreciation of the quality of music at the Christmas 

Carol service. 

Helen Sommerville, our Secretary left us after 8 years in July and we 

are grateful to her for her support and friendship. I would like to say a 

heart-felt ‘thank you’ to Lindsay Stead who for the last sixteen years 

has been the Honorary Editor and painstakingly compiled the News 

Slips each year. She has made a very important contribution and will 

be much missed. 

During the year strenuous eff orts have been made to contact old girls 

of St James’s and The Abbey and all known addresses have received 

a letter inviting membership of the OGA. Your attendance at our 

reunions has been sparse and we certainly hope to welcome you to 

Malvern on 16 May and Oxford on 14 November 2009. 

The past year has been an active one for me. Visits to Mexico and 

the United States in February and October included a stay at the ‘del’ 

Coronado in San Diego (where Edward fi rst met Mrs Simpson), tennis 

at Enchantment Resort at Boynton Canyon, Arizona, three days in Las 

Vegas where technology now seems to make anything possible, the 

new Hoover Dam bridge, and last but by no means least, the thrall of 

the Presidential election, television debates, white tie speeches and 

the excitement of Obama’s win in November. 

Back home I have become a governor of OBMH our NHS mental health 

foundation trust, a Board member of the Bucks & Milton Keynes Fire 

Authority and have completed the IDeA Leadership Academy at Warwick 

University for Health, Care & Wellbeing. The County Council is up for 

re-election on 4 June so 2009 promises to be another busy year. 

The achievements of our alumnae are an inspiration to the School so 

do please continue to keep in touch and email us your press cuttings 

as well as visit our new Website.. The success of our old girls be it in 

business, the professions, research, politics or the family is all grist to 

the mill in Malvern! Elisabeth Rambridge will be pleased to arrange a 

visit to the school, research addresses of lost friends or supply material 

from the archive. Communication is vital in an old girls’ network and 

we can support your requests for news and information. 

Tricia Birchley 

Malvern St James print reproduced by kind permission of Brenda Barratt (©2009 ). 

Limited Edition Prints available, please call 01825 733885. Further details on Page 26. 

MESSAGE FROM 

ROS HAYES 

I am delighted to announce 

that Elisabeth Rambridge 

has been appointed as 

School Archivist and 

Old Girls’ Secretary from 

January 2009. Many of you 

will remember Elisabeth as 

a very enthusiastic member 

of the House Staff having, 

at various times, worked in 

The Mount, Greenslade and 

as Housemistress of both 

The Benhams and Hatfi eld. 

However, Elisabeth’s true passion has always been History; 

she read Mediaeval History at St Andrews and successfully 

taught the subject for many years. More recently, Elisabeth 

has organised the re-creation of the “Imperial Hotel” as part 

of the Heritage Open Days Cultural Events. Her imaginative 

and historically accurate displays have attracted large 

numbers of visitors to the School. 

At Malvern St James, we hold extensive archives of four of 

the original Malvern girls’ schools: The Abbey, Lawnside, 

Malvern Girls’ College and St James’s School. Each of these 

schools had its own character and parent body and the 

combined archives provides a wealth of fascinating material 

about British social history, especially that relating to the life 

of girls and young women. 

I believe that it is important for our current students to 

develop a respect for our rich and varied history and also 

to make this excellent resource available to Old Girls and 

visitors to the School. Our aim is to preserve the archive 

material and develop an exciting and informative archive 

display recording the history of “Girls’ Education in Malvern 

from 1885 to the Present Day”. 

This is an exciting stage in our new school’s development. 

Now in our third academic year, we are fi rmly established 

as Malvern St James and feedback from our parents in a 

recent telephone survey was very positive and supportive. 

Examination results remain of a high standard and we have 

achieved excellence in a wide range of extra curricular 

activities. But most important, we have delightful young 

girls in school; they are courteous, enthusiastic, energetic 

and aim high. It is a joy and privilege to work with them. 

As an Old Girl, I hope that you still feel a connection with 

Malvern and the time you spent at school here. Malvern has 

a special place in the history of independent education and 

in girls’ education specifi cally. Reunions provide a time for 

you to meet together and refl ect on the friendship, fun and 

common experiences you had, whichever school you attended. 

I encourage you to attend the Reunion in the Summer Term so 

that you can learn more about Malvern St James and see for 

yourself what a special place it is. I am sure that you will fi nd 

some part of the new school that you can identify with, whether 

it is a dormitory, a name on a notice board or just a feeling. 

I look forward to seeing you in May.

MALVERN ST JAMES 

OLD GIRLS’ ASSOCIATION 

OGA Officers 2008/2009 

PATRONS 

Stephanie Kershaw MA, PGCE, Philippa Leggate BA, MEd, PGCE, 

Delme Moore BSc, Elizabeth Mullenger BA, Cert Ed, FRSA, 

Dr Valerie Payne MSc, ARCS, Peter Pollard 

HONORARY PRESIDENT 

Rosalind Hayes BA Hons, MA, PGCE, FRGS 

(Headmistress) 

HONORARY VICE-PRESIDENTS 

Libby Anson, Anne Borrowdale, Pam Cadbury, Margaret Jago, 

Pauline Newton, Joan Roberts, June Roundhill, Patricia Wilkinson 

CHAIRMAN 

Patricia Birchley (Banbury/1959) 

Upper Verney, Bacombe Lane, Wendover, Buckinghamshire HP22 6EQ 

VICE-CHAIRMEN 

Sarah Austin (Skinner/1987) 

Penny Smith (Reay/1980) 

HONORARY SOCIAL SECRETARY 

Hannah Plant (1997) 

SECRETARY TO THE OGA 

Elisabeth Rambridge MA, PGCE 

Malvern St James, Avenue Road, Great Malvern, WR14 3BA 

Tel: 01684-892288 Fax: 01684-566204 

Email: oga@malvernstjames.co.uk 

HONORARY TREASURER 

Margaret Wood (1960) 

Spring 2009 

EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE 

Jenny Arrowsmith (Orwin/1971), Cate Bennett (Lockwood/1994), 

Di Cooley (Pascoe-Williams/1954), Fiona Jenkinson (Wright/1983), 

Patricia Wilkinson (Marsden/1956), Francesca Clixby and Jenny Haighton (2007), 

Alice Wright (ex Head Girl 2008) 

Honorary Editor (News slips): Lindsay Stead (Bibby/1977) 

OGA Council Representative: Charlotte Morrison (Page/1973) 

Trustees: Anne Borrowdale (Lea/1970), Veronica Blackmore (Bashforth/1959), 

Judith Pearman (Kenney/1971), Emma Setchell (Lowry/1987), Rowena Westacott (Evans/1979) 

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Present: 

MINUTES OF THE ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING OF 

MALVERN ST JAMES OLD GIRLS’ ASSOCIATION 

Mrs Ros Hayes (Headmistress of Malvern St James and Hon. 

President), Mrs Patricia Birchley (Chairman), Mrs Helen 

Sommerville (Secretary), 2 Patrons, 3 Hon. Vice Presidents, 

10 Hon Members and 42 Members. 

Patricia Birchley welcomed everyone to the meeting and 

thanked Mrs Ros Hayes for her hospitality and Mrs Stanier 

for the excellent lunch. 

1. Minutes of previous meeting 

The Chairman signed the Minutes having read an extract 

from the MGC OGA Minutes held in 1938. 

2. Chairman’s Report 

Held at Malvern St James 

on Saturday 17th May, 2008 at 2.30pm in the Abbey Room 

Mrs Birchley congratulated the Headmistress and her staff 

for the excellent start at Malvern St James. The girls were 

happy and achieving good results. She explained that whilst 

the OGA was in touch by email the Annual Newsletter 

would continue to keep members informed about OGA 

activities and the school. As Mrs Anne Borrowdale was 

now Chairman of Council she hoped there would be more 

interaction between the Council and the Old Girls. 

Mrs Birchley announced that the Autumn Reunion 2009 

would be held in Oxford. She read out the Trustees’ Report 

and thanked Mrs Clare John who was retiring as a Trustee for 

all her hard work on behalf of the OGA. It was hoped another 

Chartered Accountant would be found to replace her. 

Mrs Birchley invited Mrs Ros Hayes to speak and the 

Headmistress gave an outstanding account of life at 

Malvern St James. In her presentation Mrs Hayes talked 

about the new Sports Centre which would open in 

September 2008 and it was hoped that the OGA would be 

represented on that occasion. Life at the new school had 

never been busier and the girls were fully absorbed in a 

huge variety of sports, musical and drama productions in 

addition to their studies. The school was well received in 

the Press and had signifi cantly increased its intake in the 

local area. The OGA thanked Mrs Hayes for what was the 

highlight of the day and wished her continued success in 

taking the school forward to new achievements. 

3. Secretary’s Report 

Mrs Sommerville welcomed everyone present and had 

displayed the Good Wishes List on the board in Reception. 

Mrs Prophet had also produced a display board on the visit 

to The Gambia and invited Old Girls to contribute towards 

the next MSJ visit at Easter 2009. 

Mrs Sommerville thanked Mrs Birchley for suggesting the 

OGA News be mailed out by Packpost which had saved her 

a huge amount of time. The Secretary had tickets on sale 

today for the Autumn Reunion in November which would 

be held in Cambridge. She also asked the Old Girls for more 

email addresses. 

4. Hon. Treasurer’s Report 

The OGA Secretary read out the Treasurer’s Report. 

Margaret Wood, Hon. Treasurer apologised for not being 

there again in person to present her report. 

“As you can see from the accounts, we had a successful year. 

I should, however, like to draw to your attention the fact 

that our expenses, particularly the costs of the newsletter, 

are no longer covered by our subscription income. 

Nonetheless we shall continue to support the school 

as best we can. 

At the moment we are holding more cash than usual, as 

three of our investments have matured, and have not as 

yet been reinvested by our advisors. I am sure everyone 

is aware of the volatility of the stock market, and can rest 

assured that funds will only be reinvested by the trustees, 

when it is right and practical to do so. 

I hope you all have an enjoyable meeting, and I shall look 

forward to seeing everyone in the Autumn”. 

5. Any other Business 

Mrs Penny Smith proposed adoption of the 2007 accounts 

seconded by Fiona Jenkinson. 

There being no other business the meeting closed at 3.41pm.

Spring 2009 

Letter from Charlotte Morrison OGA Representative on Council 

Dear Everyone, 

As always much seems to have happened since I last wrote 

for the Newsletter, but when I come to write it is diffi cult to 

pin down exactly what has happened. 

Membership of the Council has changed. Paul Guy, whose 

fi nancial acumen has been invaluable in deciphering the 

accounts and keeping us on track, has retired. Luckily, we 

have two new members whose business skills will replace 

Paul’s. Michael Maton is a chartered accountant and is on the 

Council of the Prince’s Trust. Bill Ballard is also a chartered 

accountant. As well as his business activities, he is a fruit 

farmer. He has connections with the school as his sister, Sue, 

was at Malvern Girls’ College at the same time as I was. 

We have a change of Bursar, who also acts as Clerk to the 

Council. Denis Smith retired at the beginning of 2008 and 

has been replaced by Adrian Davis. Adrian has been heard 

muttering about cost centres and training so I am sure he 

will run a tight ship. 

At the time of writing (January 2009) we are still waiting 

to hear whether the Dome, our former sports hall, has 

been listed. For those of you not familiar with its history, 

it is a large dome-shaped building which was constructed 

in 1977 to an innovative Italian design. A membrane was 

laid on the ground followed by a reinforcing network of 

girders and another membrane. In the course of a single 

day concrete was poured between the membranes and 

then the whole was infl ated from underneath so that the 

reinforcing skeleton opened up and a dome was born. 

Unfortunately, there were problems with the structure over 

the following years and it is no longer a true example of its 

type as it has been modifi ed to stop it leaking and falling 

down. Since the construction of the new Sports Centre the 

Dome has become redundant but our planning application 

to demolish it is awaiting the decision of the Secretary of 

State on the listing. If it is listed it will restrict our freedom 

to manage our property portfolio effi ciently. 

Three years after the merger we are undertaking a Strategic 

Review of both teaching and boarding arrangements. 

Quantitative and qualitative research is under way. We 

also have to bear in mind, in common with all independent 

schools, the requirements of the Charity Commissioners 

regarding public benefi t. Independent schools are coming 

under increasing scrutiny in this regard and we have to 

be up to date with their latest proposals. We do think 

constantly about the public benefi t which we can off er. 

For example the Sports Centre is used by other schools 

and groups, and a number of full bursaries are awarded to 

girls who would benefi t from the type of education that 

Malvern St James can off er but who would not otherwise 

be able to come here. 

Visits from Old Girls are welcomed and I hope that you will 

come and see the School for yourself. Please ring before you 

arrive so that you can be properly looked after. If you have 

not visited the School lately or at all, you will notice some 

changes, even since the merger. Boarding arrangements 

are now fl exible to the point of being tailor-made to suit 

each individual girl. Our Junior Department is growing and 

the School now caters for girls aged 5 upwards. We have a 

new full-time Head of Careers, Samantha Marfl eet, and she 

would be particularly delighted to hear from you if you are 

able to assist with work placements of any sort. 

On a personal note, I was away for the whole of the summer 

term driving from Panama to Alaska in an Aston Martin 

with my husband. We were in a group of 16 classic cars and 

three support cars. I have written an article about the rally 

which is on the school’s website. 

With best wishes to you all, 

Charlotte Morrison 

(Page, 1973 - Malvern Girls’ College) 

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MALVERN ST JAMES OLD GIRLS’ DAY SATURDAY 16th MAY 2009 

PROGRAMME 

9.30 am Committee Meeting in the Headmistress’s Drawing Room 

11.30 am Welcome in Reception 

11.45 am Drinks in the Sports Centre, with music and presentation sports activities 

1.00 pm Lunch in the Lawnside Room 

2.15 pm Annual General Meeting of the Old Girls’ Association, to include talk 

by Rosalind Hayes, the Headmistress, followed by presentation by 

Elisabeth Rambridge, School Archivist and Samantha Marfl eet, 

Head of Careers 

3.15 pm Tea 

The Annual General 

Meeting of Malvern 

St James Old Girls’ 

Association will be held 

in the Drama Centre. 

The ESO Summer Concert 

The ESO (English Symphony Orchestra or English String 

Orchestra depending on ensemble) is a classical music 

organisation based in Worcestershire. It was founded 

in 1978 and has since developed its reputation for 

specialising in British music through live performance 

and many recordings. 

The ESO has for a long time shown its commitment to 

young people through a number of ESO organised 

education schemes. We are thrilled that in 2008 the ESO 

decided to make their home at Malvern St James, and 

will present a concert here each term. 

AGENDA 

1. Minutes of previous meeting 

2. Chairman’s Report 

3. Secretary’s Report 

4. Hon. Treasurer’s Report 

5. Any other business 

On the evening of 16th May 2009, the ESO will perform 

their Summer Concert, in the York Hall at 7.30pm. This 

will be a wonderful way to end the day for those who 

are able to stay and join us for an evening of relaxing 

summer music. Tickets can be obtained from the Old 

Girls’ Association Secretary at the discounted price of £15.

Olympic Legend Opens Sports Centre 

The Imperial Hotel was recreated on the afternoon of 

September 13th 2008 after Malvern St James was invited 

to participate in the Heritage Weekend celebrating the 

spirit of Victorian Malvern. John Dixon of The Malvern Civic 

Society described it as a ‘wonderful occasion’. 

Tea was served in Lawnside, the former Ladies’ Lounge of 

the Hotel and the Headmistress’s Drawing Room reverted 

to the original Conservatory with views of croquet being 

played on the Quad lawns. There was a grand display of the 

Imperial Hotel table ware, as well as the original chairs, in 

the ‘top’ of the Hotel Dining room, now the Abbey Room. 

This was a massive area ‘of noble proportions’ described in 

its time as ‘one of the best rooms of its kind in England’. 

Pamela Hurle, the well-known local historian and former 

member of staff , welcomed visitors in The York Hall. 

Amongst the most memorable exhibits were the original 

Hotel Notices lent by George Chesterton of The Malvern 

Civic Society and photographs of Imperial Hotel memorial 

china lent by Brian Iles of Malvern Museum. A plate similar 

to the one shown was found on the Titanic. 

Spring 2009 

British Olympic Champion, Sally Gunnell OBE offi cially opened 

the Malvern St James Sports Centre on Wednesday 1st October. 

The Sports Centre nestles in above the Astroturf on the 

North side of the Barnards Green Road, where it is easily 

accessed from the main building. The new eco-friendly 

building houses a dance studio, fully equipped gym, 

P E rooms, and a juice bar where spectators can observe 

events in the sports hall and on the Astroturf. The sports 

hall is well equipped and marked-out for a multitude of 

diff erent sports including: six badminton, three netball, 

two volleyball, two basketball courts, indoor hockey, 

fi ve-a-side football, tennis and an indoor lacrosse arc. 

The indoor climbing wall is the fi rst of its kind in Malvern 

with fi ve ‘routes’ which off er varying degrees of diffi culty 

to stretch even the most accomplished climber. 

As the only woman to hold four titles concurrently 

(Olympic, World, European and Commonwealth) Sally 

gave an inspirational talk to the children and guests to the 

School. She proved to be an enormous hit with the girls, 

answering their questions after she had looked around 

the new facility. Sally paid a special visit to the Junior 

Department where the girls had an opportunity to get a 

closer look at her gold medal and ask their own questions. 

Heritage Day 

Mrs Hayes said: “In just 10 months we have created a state 

of the art, eco-friendly, modern Sports Centre. The excellent 

facilities and the variety of sports on off er are very much for 

the benefi t of both the girls at Malvern St James and also 

the community in which the School is based”. 

Opening of the Malvern St James Sports Centre on Wednesday 1st October 2008 

Sally Gunnell OBE, Ros Hayes, Headmistress and Anne Borrowdale (Lea), 

Chairman of Council 

Visitors were welcomed by members of the School Prefect 

team and Hatfi eld girls wore Victorian dress and won particular 

praise. Power point presentations traced the history of The 

Imperial Hotel using resources from the school’s archives. 

A postcard was produced for the occasion from an original 

Victorian picture lent by Roger Hall-Jones of First Paige Printers 

and it is available from me at a modest price to cover costs. 

Elisabeth Rambridge 

School Archivist and Old Girls’ Association Secretary 

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Careers 

After a term in post as the new Head of Careers at Malvern 

St James, I am looking ahead to the future and eager to 

foster links between existing students and the Old Girls. 

The girls, both former and current, are the School’s most 

valuable asset and I would love to be able to capitalise 

on the skills and experience of the Alumnae to support 

the current students. 

There are a range of activities during the academic year where 

the Old Girls could play an active role. Work Experience for Year 

11 students is undertaken annually and this year will be from 

the 22nd – 26th June 2009. This will be an opportunity for the 

girls to gain fi rst-hand experience of a career that they may 

ultimately enter, giving them a realistic view of the profession 

and helping them to make informed choices in the future. 

In the same week, Year 12 girls go out on Community 

Volunteers week. We look at this as an opportunity for 

them to enhance their skill base and for the community 

DAUGHTERS OF OLD GIRLS IN THE SCHOOL 

(Mother’s maiden name in brackets) 

Hatfi eld: Cara Homes (Fiona Ballard/MGC) 

Mount: Helen Buchanan (Linda Pollock/MGC) 

Katherine Panton-Kent (Mary Panton/MGC) 

Poulton: Laurel Buchanan (Linda Pollock/MGC) 

1980 Rosemary Tusa (Hattrell) sons Sebastian on 

13/12/1994, Tristan on 30/01/1998 and daughter 

Amelia on 21/06/2000 

1982 Emma Ramsay (Savege) sons Cameron in 1995 

and Caspar in 1996 

1984 Georgina Brown a son James Patrick Duncan 

on 12/01/2007 

Clare Rapier (Stevens) a son Jacob on 30/04/1995, 

daughters Madelaine on 11/02/1998 and Amelia 

on 19/07/2002 

1985 Lisa Cristie daughters Ella on 13/06/2001, Alexandra 

on 01/05/2003 and Eve on 06/02/2008 

1986 Julia Hodgkins a daughter Tara on 30/10/2005 

Rosie Whitaker (Nickerson) a son James on 

12/01/1998, daughter Alicia on 25/03/2000 and 

son Louis on 09/08/2004 

1987 Sarah Austin (Skinner) a son George on 19/12/2003 

and a daughter Lucinda on 20/03/2008 

Caroline Hudson (Blackham) a daughter 

on 20/06/2004 

GENERATIONS AT MALVERN ST JAMES 

BIRTHS 

to benefi t from their enthusiasm and commitment. 

We are actively seeking placements for both opportunities 

and I am hoping that the School’s newly forged links with 

the Chamber of Commerce will also lead to some exciting 

placements for the girls. 

In the Spring Term of 2010, the School will be hosting a 

Careers Fair and this would be a wonderful opportunity for 

those working within a business to provide a Stand and 

help to demonstrate the wide range of options the girls will 

have available to them once they complete their education. 

These are just some of the ways in which you can 

participate. If you would like to discuss these or if you 

have any other ideas of how you may like to get involved, 

I would love to hear from you on 01684 584629. 

Samantha Marfl eet - Head of Careers at Malvern St James 

Email: marfl s@malvernstjames.co.uk 

GRANDDAUGHTERS OF OLD GIRLS IN THE SCHOOL 

(Grandmother’s maiden name in brackets) 

Hatfi eld: Pandora Fowles (Patricia Barrow/MGC) 

Benhams: Clemmie Fowles (Patricia Barrow/MGC) 

Greenslade: Fiona Sedgley (Patricia Greenway/MGC) 

1988 Lisa Smedley (Ip) a son Thomas on 04/09/2004 

1990 Candice Dada (Walker) a son Zac on 28/04/2008 

1991 Janine Clarke (Rymer) a daughter Anastasia Grace 

on 11/04/2008 

1992 Helena Mooney (Johnson) a daughter Emily Olivia 

on 07/09/2008 

1993 Virginia Temple (Watts) a daughter Florence Grace 

on 14/10/2007 

1994 Amanda Cleghorn (French) a son Toby James 

on 16/01/2008 

1994 Abbie Paleologos (Franklin)a daughter Phoebe 

Helen on 12/06/2008 

1995 Sarah Stevenson (Morgan) daughters Mali on 

16/06/2006 and Caitlin on 04/03/2008 

Nicola Wakefi eld (Block) daughters Daisy on 

13/10/2006 and Alice on 13/04/2008 

1998 Emily Dalzel-Job (Hutchison) a daughter Olivia Lara 

on 12/08/2007 

2000 Zakiah Zainal Abidin a daughter Siti Hawa on 

06/08/2008

ENGAGEMENTS 

2001 Lucy Brandon to James Muir on 13/01/08 

2002 Charlotte Prew to Michael Victor-Smith on 13/09/08 

2003 Aidan Parker to Matthew Lakin in June 2006 

MARRIAGES & CIVIL PARTNERSHIPS 

1963 Susan Carlyle to Andrew Fisher on 27/05/2008 

1966 Rosalind Carr (Owen) to Les Johnson on 13/12/2003 

1980 Elspeth Pattison to Allan Cramb on 1/04/2006 

Jane Plaisted to Paul Shea on 22/08/2007 

1986 Julia Hodgkins to Diana Blease on 21/12/2005 

1990 Candice Walker to Chris Dada on 10/09/2005 

1991 Janine Rymer to Jaarlath Clarke on 29/06/2007 

1992 Ruth Earl to Ben Craib on 29/12/2007 

Helena Johnson to Evan Mooney on 29/06/2007 

1994 Abbie Franklin to Michael Paleologos on 21/07/2007 

1995 Rosie Bennett-Rees to Major Alex Burt on 09/08/2008 

Nicola Block to Tim Wakefi eld on 25/10/2004 

DEATHS 

HONORARY MEMBERS 

1946 Peggie May Van Der Merwe (Duxbury) in April 2008 

News from Members 

PATRONS 

Delmé Moore has now moved to Perrins House and 

settled happily. ‘As an inexperienced cook I feel lucky to 

have no more shopping or cooking to do’. She enjoyed 

the May reunion and has been impressed by the success 

of the merger. 

Elizabeth Mullenger is now retired and enjoying the 

precious gifts of time and relative freedom. She is governor 

of two schools (one of them Malvern St James) and sits 

on the Woodard Foundation Board but is also enjoying 

rural life and travel (New Zealand last winter and, as ever, 

regular trips to Italy). She is in touch with many Old Girls 

and would like to see more from St James’s, The Abbey and 

St James’s and The Abbey at reunions and school events, as 

well as contributing to the newsletter. She enjoyed seeing 

Old Girls at Sam Robinson’s wedding and at the “Ten Years 

On” Reunion organised by Georgina Banks. 

HONORARY MEMBERS 

Spring 2009 

MEMBERS 

1923 Lady Marguerite Stirling (Wedderburn-Wilson) 

in December 2007 

1927 Margaret Joyce Robotham (Patrick) in February 2008 

1928 Edna Clements (Eaves) in September 2008 

1930 Marjorie Gibaud (Davis) in November 2008 

1931 Patricia Edmunds (Baxter) in November 2008 

1933 Nancy Joan Waite (Bedford) in May 2007 

1935 Daphne Gaynor Butler (Strong) in February 2008 

1939 Joyce Margaret Tesoriere (Baxter) in June 2007 

1943 Pamela Chester in December 2007 

1942 Audrey Hawkins in 2008 

1943 Joy Davies in 2006 

1944 Shirley Cotton (Davies) in April 2007 

1945 Lois Hunter (Anderson) in May 2008 

1945 Jill Swift (Bundey) in October 2008 

1945 Patience Trueman (Achurch) in February 2008 

1946 Anthea Yeomans (Collins) in July 2008 

1948 Jane Kember (Hayes) in June 2008 

1955 Felicity Armstrong Barnett (Willis) in August 2008 

1959 Judith Chamberlain (Stenner Evans) in June 2008 

1965 Deborah Peta Murray Mowbray (Moncrieff ) 

in August 2006 

1969 Elizabeth Rigg (Mitchell) in April 2008 

Pat Drew says ‘I never imagined that I would return to 

Cornwall but the decision to move back came out of the 

blue over Christmas 2007 when I was in Cornwall with 

family and friends. There were times when I wondered if 

I had made the right decision “coming home” and leaving 

so many dear friends in Malvern but now I am settled in 

Newquay I know it was the best thing I could have done. 

In the quiet of a sunny Cornish afternoon, sitting beside 

a tranquil sea, my mind drifts back over my 31 years at 

Malvern and I see the faces of so many girls and staff 

and am so grateful for all that they have given me’. 

Elisabeth Rambridge has thoroughly enjoyed the years 

spent as a Housemistress, but is now looking forward to 

her new position and living at home which is in Berrow 

at the south end of the Hills. Her husband Andrew is 

still teaching at St Richard’s School, Bredenbury and her 

son Charles is in his fi nal year at Edinburgh University 

reading History and History of Art. 

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1931 

Nancy Poole is 94 and says she is now ‘a wheelchair case’. 

She sends her best wishes to all OGA members. 

1939 

Dina Brown (Russell) says that they are still enjoying their 

motor home in France and UK and is thankful for being so 

agile at 86. Seeing the subscription rates page she comments; 

‘when I left MGC the life subscription for OGA was £5’. 

1941 

Rene Dale (Gilston) fi nds that children, grand-children 

and great-grandchildren provide her greatest resource and 

interest. She is still in touch with Peggy Smith (Tyson). 

1942 

Sheila Hutchinson (Parkes) is trying to ‘retire’ but is still 

giving a few talks and photographic travel presentations 

in her area for charity. She went on a ‘Saga’ cruise to the 

central Mediterranean, visiting many countries and ports 

that she had not seen since her days as a part-time cruise/ 

port lecturer for P&O in the 60’s and 70’s, and also spent 

a week with friends in the Italian Lake District. Pamela 

Kidner (Whitaker) had Ann Helliwell (Barnes) to stay whilst 

Ann was attending a Worcester Library County Reunion. 

Pamela also hears from Frances Whitehead who is still 

working in London at All Souls, Langham Place. 

1943 

Lois Williams (Johnson) says she has become a kind of 

bionic woman with replacement knees and a hip. Her 

hobby is creative writing, attending classes and courses 

‘and meeting so many interesting people’. She has a son 

(and great-granddaughter) in Hong Kong and a daughter in 

Sydney. She is in touch with Meriol Buchanan (Whittaker) 

in New Zealand and Ursel Hirsch in New York. She reports 

that sadly Pam Chester (Claff ) and Audrey Hawkins (Bligh) 

have both died. 

1944 

Joan Hill (Coulter) and her husband feel very settled 

in Stratford and enjoy the theatre and other activities 

including being members of U3A and going to concerts in 

Birmingham’s Symphony Hall. They had recently cruised 

in the Caribbean. She would love to hear from Barbara 

Robinson, Gillian Elliott and Barbara van der Straaten. 

Elizabeth Beetschen (Johnson) has retired from teaching 

Art & Ceramics and her hobby, singing. She now enjoys 

handicrafts, encouraged by fi ve grandchildren. Her sister 

Lois Williams (Johnson) remains close in both senses of the 

word – she lives opposite! 

1945 

Eileen Atkinson (Sales) is retired and feeling the eff ects 

of getting older, but is able to see more of her daughter 

Marian Brebner (Atkinson). Anne Fraser (McLean) is much 

enjoying being in Tunbridge Wells again after years in the 

north of England and retirement in Eastbourne. 

‘My sister Gwen & I are living in a very nice retirement 

home near my family, who were wonderful getting us 

through the awful moving procedure – never again we say!’ 

Elisabeth (Achurch) is waiting to have a back operation, 

but if successful, she hopes to attend a future OGA Reunion 

in Malvern. Her sister Patience sadly died in February 2008. 

1946 

Anne Hilditch (Drummond) has been busy with domestic 

pursuits, grandchildren and various charities; a highlight 

had been a visit to Rugby’s submarine ‘Tireless’ in Plymouth, 

including a dive. She had heard from Elizabeth Thomas 

(Wall), Clare Holden (Simmons) and Anne Schwarz 

(Sellars). Judy Russell (Whitcher) is long retired and 

widowed, but has joined up with her son and his family 

to venture into the ‘good life’ near Bridgwater. Jacqueline 

Seymour (Kerr-Paterson) has recently moved from the 

North Yokshire moors to Cleasby and has just had Val 

Byrom-Taylor and Carol Pike, both teachers from St. James’s, 

to stay for a few days. She is in touch with Isabel Denyer 

(Kerr-Jarrett) and Sarah Jarrett-Kerr (Kerr-Jarrett) and also 

Alison Voelcker (Edwards). 

1947 

Elsie Tongue (Edwards) has moved near to Kingsbridge 

in Devon after over 40 years in the north. Despite the 

problems of moving she is pleased to be near her daughter 

Louise and two sisters. Jen Murray (Carter) is hoping to run 

down her small business and close the national society and 

trust she has looked after for 40 years. She is still very busy 

with her Norfolk holiday cottages and village activities. 

1949 

Olga Evans (Griffi ths) was looking forward as always 

to exchanging Christmas news with Shirley Turner, 

Lizzie Cook, Pat Broad and Daphne Worraker once 

her busiest season is over. She collects for presents and 

special bouquets for the lunch club helpers and devoted 

organizers, ‘who all join us “oldies” for a Christmas dinner 

locally’. Then she is asked to preside at a mince pie and 

auction evening. 

1950 

Elizabeth Duncan (Plumb) has moved from Wiltshire 

to Oxford and is busy developing the new garden and 

painting. 

1951 

Jane Bates (Dann) is enjoying a busy and happy retired 

life. Rosemary Hoyes (Mason) retired after 36 years with 

PGL and is now busy doing voluntary work. She enjoyed 

crossing the Atlantic on Queen Mary 2 in April. 

1952 

Angela Durrer (Sheraton) wrote that her mother Marjorie 

Gibaud (Davis) died peacefully in her sleep ‘after 96 

wonderful years’. Marjorie was best friend of Osra Garrish 

who was Angela’s godmother, and of Pippi.

1954 

Patricia Nicholson (Lewis) is still busy with sewing, 

photography and grandchildren. Her eleventh grandchild 

arrived over a month early on Christmas Day last year. She 

now has 10 grandsons and just one granddaughter! She 

had enjoyed a visit from Felicity Bennett (Fizzy Willis). 

1955 

Deanne Donaldson (Philp) has downsized to a house 

just 100yds from her old one ‘overlooking the 8th green 

rather than the 2nd’. She has been married for four years 

to Euan who was at Dollar Academy with her. ‘We have 

a pretty idyllic lifestyle; summer in Scotland, Fall on Lake 

Ontario where his home is and spring in Florida’. She sees 

Patricia Wilkinson (Marsden) almost annually. Patricia 

herself reports that she is still working, and enjoying her 

fi rst granddaughter with another on the way. Her daughter 

Sarah celebrated her 40th birthday and a number of ex 

MGCs attended the party. Elisabeth is still teaching primary 

and was moving to Norfolk in September. 

1956 

Deirdre Anne Kinloch Anderson (Loryman) is still a 

Director of Kinloch Anderson Ltd, now into the 6th 

generation of family management. From November 2008 

they were celebrating our 140th Anniversary year. Her busy 

year at work includes designing new tartans, one of which 

is a tartan for the new Scottish register of Tartans launched 

at Edinburgh Castle on 26th November. She has also 

been asked to speak on the Panel of the fi rst ‘Everywoman 

Conference’ to be held in Scotland in March 2008. Ann 

Payne (Nash) reported on the activities of the Mid –Wales 

Group: ‘Between 6 and 8 of us have met four times over 

the last two years. We started off meeting for coff ee but 

last time graduated to a lunch and in May 2009 we are 

incorporating meeting for lunch with a garden visit’. 

1958 

Gillian Fuller-Shapcott (Osmond) is still farming and 

managing to ride in the winter and sail on her husband’s 

boat in the summer. 

1959 

Patricia Birchley (Banbury) is a Buckinghamshire County 

Councillor with responsibility for Adult Social Care. Louise 

Pavey (Bird) wrote with the sad news of the death of Judith 

Chamberlain (Stenner Evans). 

1960 

Suzanne Sheff er (Harris) is a self employed physiotherapist, 

planning to retire soon. She is in touch with Carole 

Crossland (Hickinbottom), Helen Wilson (Bass) in the UK 

and Wai Pin Benham (Chan) in Australia. Margaret Wood 

has fi nally retired and is hoping to have more time to 

visit old school friends, number one priority being Frizzle 

Keegan (Freda Hassan) in the States. 

Spring 2009 

1961 

Frances Henton (Morgan) is thoroughly enjoying caring 

for her parents who now live next door. ‘They recently 

celebrated their 70th wedding anniversary; we have many 

family gatherings, lots of fun and laughter and a full and 

busy life’. She would love to hear from old friends in her year. 

1962 

Margot Jacobs (Coverdale) is now retired from maths 

teaching and enjoying doing the school run and after 

school care for her grandchildren three days a week. Her 

driving pony is now 23 years old so sadly they have had to 

cut back on their carriage driving. 

1963 

Susan Carlyle is working as a social researcher carrying 

out interviews for various government departments while 

continuing to exhibit her paintings and fi ne art prints. And ‘I 

fi nally got married for the fi rst time!’ 

1964 

Janine Smillie (Bradbury) recently retired and is enjoying 

more time for painting, exhibiting ‘and sometimes selling’. 

Her surprise birthday treat from her husband was a whirlwind 

trip to see family and friends including Nicola Baxter (Mason) 

and Liz East. Gill Muir (Thomson) phoned while she was 

visiting Liz. ‘It was a brilliant trip only marred by my husband 

breaking his scapula two days before we were due to set off ’. 

1965 

Jenny Hawkins (Tolhurst) is still enjoying retirement and 

playing a lot of golf. Her youngest daughter has just made 

her a grandmother, ‘the best sixtieth birthday present I 

could have wished for’. 

1966 

Rosalind Johnson (Owen) obtained an HNC Building 

qualifi cation as a mature student and works in the asset 

management section of a local housing association. 

She is thinking of cutting hours to help look after the 

grandchildren. She is in touch with Caroline Pygott 

(Mather) and Wendy Thain (Reynolds). Ruth Lewis 

(Elsom) enjoyed a momentous year; reaching Freedom 

Pass age group, seeing her daughter marry, and her 

daughter-in-law produce their fi rst grandchild. ‘Greatly 

enjoyed the Cambridge reunion; hope to see more of 

our year group again next year’. Anne Williams (McLean 

Bullen) had a busy career in agricultural research and is 

still livestock farming ‘but never going to make a fortune!’ 

They have diversifi ed in various ways; self-catering holiday 

accommodation; ‘we have had several OGs to stay over the 

years’; training working sheepdogs; and upholstery ‘largely 

for pleasure but also commissioned’. She is in regular 

contact with Christine Day (Harpham) and also in touch 

with Christine Norman (Wilby) and Nina Mansen (Nixon). 

11

12 

1967 

Sarah Kuipers has been working in the fi eld of Complementary 

Medicine for over 20 years and is now doing a masters 

research study on stress in CM practitioners whilst working 

part time as a lecturer. Now that her three sons have left 

home she is enjoying living in the Hampshire countryside. 

1968 

Joan Orton (Moult) gave up work two years ago and since 

then her fl ute playing has improved. Her sister Angela 

Hollin won a prize at work and in February took her to Las 

Vegas which included a helicopter trip over the Grand 

Canyon. ‘It was a wonderful few days’. With her husband 

David, she enjoyed a week in Northern Ireland, visiting 

various cathedrals with The Friends of Cathedral Music. She 

has also been to Copenhagen to meet former colleagues 

from World Health Organisation days. She also meets Mary 

Partington regularly who taught music at Malvern Girls’ 

College in the early 1950s. 

1969 

Caroline Morgan (Cornes) is now Chief Executive of 

Dyfed Powys Probation Trust and still enjoying working in 

probation after 34 years; ‘no two days the same’. She is 

in touch with Caro Bourne (Jenkins), Tricia Austin and 

Rosie Gerrard. 

1970 

Margaret Bruno (Donaldson) is still a Probation Offi cer in 

Lancaster. Bridget Cowper-Coles (Elliott) is back in London 

after three and a half years in Riyadh where her husband was 

British Ambassador. She misses her gyr falcons that she had 

to leave there but is happy to be back and able to help her 

fi ve children in London. Her husband is now Ambassador 

in Afghanistan where she is only allowed to visit ‘but each 

visit has been fascinating and a real eye-opener’. 

1974 

Marian Brebner (Atkinson) was looking forward to a 

joint celebration of her 50th birthday and 30th wedding 

anniversary last summer. Her mother, also an OG, 

celebrated her 80th in March. 

1975 

Heather Farmbrough (Mills) is still working as a freelance 

journalist living in London. She has one son at university 

and a daughter about to go. 

1976 

Margaret Sharland (Dutton) has now remained free from 

breast cancer for fi ve years, and celebrated her 50th birthday 

with an annual visit to Wimbledon’s excellent pantomime. 

Lindsay Stead (Bibby) and Nikki Henshaw (Marples) marked 

their half centuries by cycling from their homes to Caernarfon, 

calling in at School en route and taking in some mountain 

passes in mid Wales. They were sad to see Summerside empty 

and untended. Lindsay is delighted that Penny Greaves 

(Hobhouse)’s son, a godson, has got a place at Oxford. 

1979 

Claire Hall (Cave) is a full-time haematology consultant at 

Harrogate with children aged 18 and 11. She is kept very 

busy as a mother, wife and doctor as well as caring for an 

aged mother. She has seen Miranda Plunkett (Pascoe) and 

Frances von Bertele (Loudon). 

1980 

Rossy Mclaren (Lock) moved with her family to Devon 

in 2007 after 26 years in Cambridge. She now works as a 

part-time research assistant in the Psychology Department 

at Exeter University. ‘A great, fl exible job that allows me 

plenty of time with husband, two children, a dog, three cats 

and a huge vegetable garden’. Rosemary Tusa (Hattrell) 

is kept busy with three children, singing, golf and charity 

work. She is in touch with Alison Seaton (Jones), Nicky 

Milner (Jones), Samantha Schmiegelow (Clegg), Shelley 

Hughes (Law), Emma Froy (Gurney-Champion) and Pippa 

Ogilvie (Taylor-Young). Alison Robertson (Donaldson) is a 

surveyor in Edinburgh with three children. 

Jane Shea (Plaisted) married Paul in Oxford in August 2007, 

followed by a blessing and christening of their son Michael 

in Bredwardine, Herefordshire. Her sister Lydia Provest, 

Jane Walker, Penny Smith, Rowena Westacott and all 

their families were present. Jane now works as a Travel 

Counsellor for Travel Counsellors and would be happy to 

hear from any Old Girls. Jane Walker (Ashwell) has been 

married to Derek for 19 years. She has three children, 

Victoria, 16, Mark, 14 and Simon, 12, who all take after her 

with their sporting abilities, representing their county in 

various events. She continues to be a lady who lunches and 

keeps in touch with Alison Gardner, Penny Smith, Jane Shea 

and Rowena Westacott. Rowena Westacott (Evans) and 

Christopher celebrated their Silver Wedding Anniversary on 

5th June 2007 and were joined by Jane Walker, Elspeth 

Cramb, Jane Shea, Penny Smith and all their families. 

Elspeth fl ew in from South Africa which was a wonderful 

present. Rowena has spent the last two years converting a 

set of traditional brick and fl int barns into one house and 

fi ve offi ces. She has two children, William, 24 and Edwina, 

19. She keeps in touch with Alice Seebohm (Miller- 

Bakewell), Phillippa Quesnel (le Neve-Foster), Elizabeth 

Shillingford (Lule) and Harriet Pope. Penny Smith (Reay, 

Bowen) lives in Malvern with her family of six children, fi ve 

boys and one girl, aged from 7 to 21 years old. She has been 

married for 10 years to Geoff , who is a graphic designer. 

She teaches Mathematics at Malvern St James and would 

be happy to show any Old Girls around the school. 

1982 

Emma Ramsay (Savage) is a GP in Newmarket married to 

a consultant ophthalmologist. With two sport-mad boys 

she spends most of her free time driving children to cricket, 

rugby and football matches. 

1983 

Fiona Jenkinson (Wright) is still a part-time dentist and 

juggling work with school runs for an eight year old daughter.

1984 

Clare Rapier (Stevens) is working part-time as a Paediatric 

Physiotherapist. 

1985 

Lisa Cristie spent 10 years in the City as a corporate tax 

lawyer then joined HM Treasury in 1995 as a tax policy advisor. 

She has been on maternity leave with her third daughter. 

1986 

Nicola Barker (Blackham) has daughters of school and 

pre-school age and has started working as a playgroup 

assistant, so is now studying for an NVQ in Children’s Care, 

Learning and Development. Julia Hodgkins is still Senior 

Mistress at Godolphin and Latymer School in Hammersmith 

and enjoying life as mum to a 2 ½ year old. She is in touch 

with Anna Preedy and Claire Robinson (Bishop). Rosie 

Whitaker (Nickerson) has been a freelance journalist 

writing for magazines since 1995 and is writing a book on 

shooting to be published in 2009. 

1987 

Caroline Hudson (Blackham) is enjoying being a full time 

mother. She keeps in touch with Sarah Wilkinson (Yates) 

and Caroline Kottler (Little). Sarah Austin (Skinner) had a 

daughter Lucinda last March, a sister for George, now 5 who 

has just begun school. She lives in Wimbledon and regularly 

sees Suzanne Baldwin (Sharkey), Jane Pirrie (Stanley), 

Vanessa Alexander (Bourne) and Lucy Dickson (Shone), as 

well as keeping in touch with Lucinda Asprey (Kinnell) and 

Emma Setchell (Lowry). 

1990 

Candice Dada (Walker) is still working part time for the 

Daily Mail and in contact with Louisa Davis and Charlie 

Raeburn Ward. Janine Clarke (Rymer) retrained as a 

Gemmologist and has been working for a gemstone dealer 

in Hatton Garden. She is now enjoying maternity leave and 

considering the options for returning to work. 

1992 

Ruth Craib (Earl) has been an Army Offi cer with REME since 

2003 but was due to leave the army to relocate to Oman 

where her husband is working. She was awarded an MBE for 

work in Afghanistan commanding the Task Force Helmand 

Light Aid Detachment for 6 months in 2007 and was invested 

at Buckingham Palace last May. The wedding in 2007 was 

attended by Emma Malcolm (Hanson), Katie Garrett (Stow), 

Jude Morto (Young) and Elizabeth Shawcross (Miller). 

Emma Smith, who has been practising as a GP since 2003, 

spent 13 weeks from September, as the expedition medic 

in India for a Raleigh International expedition. 

1994 

Amanda Cleghorn (French) is enjoying life as a full time 

mother and part-time student of nutrition. Abbie Paleologos 

(Franklin) spent 2008 in the UK but was returning to 

Sydney last November. She saw Eloise Aspinall and Fiona 

Norris (Cooke) at a wedding. She is loving motherhood. 

Spring 2009 

1995 

Catherine Meakin (Bennett-Rees) spent four years at 

Oxford and three at Cambridge before getting ordained 

in 2004; she is now curate of Holy Trinity Cambridge and 

married last April. Sarah Stevenson (Morgan) is a GP, 

enjoying being a mum to her two girls and planning to 

return to work in 2009. She keeps in touch with Flutie 

Ravenscroft, Emily Styles (Johnson) who had her 3rd baby 

in March 2008, Amanda Cleghorn (French) and Emma 

Marfl eet (Fray). Nicola Wakefi eld (Block) is a part-time 

solicitor and mum, on maternity leave. 

Samantha Robinson (Vaughan) is setting up her own 

business in Herefordshire. Deborah Thomas combines 

acting with personal and corporate presentation training. 

Gemma Knowles read Italian and History of Art at 

Manchester and has her own Italian property company. 

Mary Seton is a key worker for Camila Batmanghelidjh’s 

‘Kids Company’ in London. Lydia White is a social worker, 

Victoria Murray works as a theatrical agent and Miranda 

Sharp is a professional photographer. 

1997 

Rosie Burt (Bennett-Rees) spent 4 years at Balliol College, 

Oxford and then worked as a strategy consultant with 

Bain; she is now innovation manager at Innocent drinks. 

She is still in touch with Nicky Reames (Thwaites), Celia 

Tedd, Amy Hargreaves (marrying last June), Helen Cooke 

(marrying last May), Edwina Westhead, Lucy Stockbridge 

and Beth Good (Green). 

1998 

Emily Dalzel-Job (Hutchison) married in 2005 with Hannah 

Wright as her bridesmaid. She is a biology teacher. She 

regularly sees Hannah James (marrying last November), 

Jo Jeff eries (Wharton), Louis Sydney, Hannah Wright and 

Helen Abrahams. Fiona Lewis had also been to stay; she 

was getting married last October. 

1999 

Polly Bennion has graduated from Nottingham University 

Medical School and was due to start work at at George’s 

Hospital Tooting. She keeps in regular touch with Claire 

Yates (Alexander), Anna Jones (Phillips), Katie Wright, 

Bryony Whipp and Jo Skinner. Her sisters Georgie Chick 

(Bennion) and Jessie De Phee (Bennion) are both now 

married with children. 

2001 

Charlotte Hutchison is living in Edinburgh and working 

for the Edinburgh Centre of Carbon Management. Lucy 

Brandon is working for the National Trust and training 

towards her MRICS to become a chartered surveyor. She 

got engaged to James on a fantastic holiday in New York 

and is due to marry in July. Sarah Gillies has set up her own 

business www.umicreate.co.uk. which was shortlisted for 

the pioneer award hosted by Girls make your marks awards. 

13

14 

2002 

Samantha Morris has a MA in music and lives in 

Birmingham. Julia Charnock is studying for a Graduate 

Diploma in Law at Birmingham University after reading 

English at Oxford and taking a Post Graduate Music Degree 

from the Birmingham Conservatoire. 

2003 

Aidan Parker completed her BA(Hons)/MSci in Natural 

Sciences from Cambridge, gaining a First. She specialised 

in geological sciences and studied rare mantle rocks from 

the Antarctic Peninsula (in conjunction with the British 

Antarctic Survey) for her master’s project. In October 

she was starting a PhD jointly between the Natural 

History Museum and University College London studying 

meteorites, specifi cally ureilites. 

Antonia Cooper is getting married to Robert Cooke and 

has an NVQ in childcare. Julia Leonard is in her third year 

at Exeter University studying English and looking forward 

to a career in journalism. Gemma Vandome has graduated 

from Southampton University with a BA (Hons) in Music 

and is thoroughly enjoying teaching at St Anne’s Girls 

School in Southampton. 

2004 

Alison Walker says ‘somewhere along the way I caught the 

“bug” that made me want to pursue music and songwriting 

in particular’. She has been working with a number of labels 

and had a tour in South Africa and Botswana where she 

sang at quite a big festival. She is hoping to have an album 

released this year. She also works as a part-time project 

manager for a multi-media education company based in SE 

London. They work mainly with underprivileged or ‘at risk’ 

youth who have fallen out of the education system. ‘The 

courses are generally great fun as they are very creative … 

and it is a project I believe in’. 

2005 

Emma White is a Project Offi cer and Trainee Business 

Analyst within the Children Services at Worcestershire 

County Council. She is also studying for a Local Government 

Foundation Degree. Felicity Houlbrook graduated with 

a BA in English Literature from the University of Sheffi eld 

and is now studying for a year’s Post Graduate Diploma in 

Acting at Mountview Academy of Theatre Arts in London. 

2006 

Jessica Smith is at Bristol University where she has become 

good friends with Charlotte Allan. Alice Bendall has a full 

scholarship for the Musical Theatre course at the Arts 

Educational Professional School in London. She worked with 

the girls at MSJ by choreographing their production of ‘High 

School Musical Hatfi eld Style’, which was a great success. 

Her most recent London role has been as Martha Cox in a 

production of ‘High School Musical’ and she has performed in 

‘A Chorus Line’, ‘The Gypsy King’ and ‘Tess of the D’Urbervilles’. 

2008 

Alice Wright took part in the Prime Minister’s Global 

Fellowship, a pilot project run by the British Council, 

designed to send 100 school leavers to India, China or Brazil 

for six weeks. She went to China and returned ‘with 40 close 

friends and a broader personal understanding of global 

citizenship’. Since then she has been involved in sharing her 

experiences with communities and schools; the Fellows’ 

experiences have also been gathered into a book and she 

was one of those who went to Downing Street to present a 

copy to the Prime Minister. 

Also heard from 

1930: Joyce Craufurd-Stuart. 1942: Ann Helliwell (Barnes). 

1947: Jean Beasley (Latchford). 1954: Mary Boughey 

(Davies). 1975: Helen Clough. 1984: Georgina Brown. 1986: 

Morag Raine (Renton). 1991: Olivia Alderson (Millington). 

1992: Charlotte Lobb (Elstub). 1993: Virginia Temple (Walls). 

1998: Camilla Gregory. Leonie Hart (Osborne) 

OVERSEAS 

AUSTRALIA 

1950 

Diana Rowntree (Butters) would love to have news of any 

classmates, especially if they live in Australia. 

1992 

Helena Mooney (Johnson) is married with a baby daughter 

and living in New South Wales. 

BRUNEI 

2000 

Zakiah Abidin graduated from Dundee Medical School 

in 2005 and is working as a medical offi cer in internal 

medicine at RIPAS hospital in Brunei, and working towards 

completing her postgraduate membership exams. 

FRANCE 

1946 

Denise Smith (Quarmby) and her husband spent 6 weeks 

in the Philippines, visiting their son who has a boatbuilding 

business. At the age of 78 they both enjoyed starting to 

learn to sail and dive. They still enjoy life in France and 

their workload, maintaining gardens and swimming pools, 

seems to increase despite trying to cut down. (Editor’s 

apologies for including this news last year under Denise’s 

middle rather than maiden name!) 

JAPAN 

1959 

Elizabeth Oliver is still running ARK, with an offi ce in Tokyo 

and hoping to build a sanctuary in the Kansai ‘so little hope 

of retirement’. She is in regular contact with Louise Wright 

and Christine Thornton (Chappell).

MALAYSIA 

1966 

Sandie Lenton moved to Penang last year after four years 

in the Philippines. She still maintains a base in Spain but is 

not there often. Her American partner Ted and she have a 

factory south of Manila that treats and processes toxic and 

hazardous waste that once safe can then be mixed with 

sand and cement to make building materials. ‘After a long 

and hard fi ve years or more of R&D and struggling to make 

sales we seem to be fi nally on our way.’ She has just fi nished 

a TESOL course ‘which I found fairly gruelling after so many 

years of no academic study so it was rewarding to complete 

it’. She would be happy to hear from OGs visiting Malaysia. 

MAURITIUS 

1970 

Deborah Wallwork (Kidner) is now Treasurer for the 

Mauritian Wild Life Association which she fi nds very 

interesting. She would be glad to see any visiting OGs. 

NEW ZEALAND 

1962 

Tania Sweet (Simpson) stayed with Theresa Cocks when 

visiting South Island last April, and then with Cindy 

Moorby (Harrington) in England and Gillian Dubois 

(Tanner) in France. 


1944: Pam Sutton (Daley) 

PERU 

1942 

Lucy Temple Seminario is now living in Peru and would 

love to hear from any contemporaries. 

USA 

1936 

Marjorie Williams-Wright (Dix) is still active socially and 

with volunteer work particularly the English Speaking 

Union. She is widowed for the second time and living alone 

and independently. Despite coming to England every year 

‘I never seem to visit Malvern’. She remains in close touch 

with Margaret Green (Thomas). 

Harriet Bemus (Clay) ‘is celebrating 90 years enriched by 

MGC’. In a potted life history she reports: ‘Served 4 ½ war 

years in ATS and was a Junior Commander; returned to 

Leeds University; visited cousins in California; married there 

for 51 happy years; has 3 children, 11 grandchildren and a 

great grandchild on the way; graduated in Social Ecology 

at the University of California, Irvine; started the Victim 

Assistance Program in Orange County and on its 30th 

birthday was again recognized by California Legislation and 

County Government’. She served 12 years on the Juvenile 

Justice Commission and is still on the board of the Public 

Law Center and the Orange County Museum Art Council. 

Spring 2009 

1950 

Jean Sandford (Low) is still working as a Realtor (Estate 

Agent) in Concord ‘where the War of Independence began’. 

She and her husband enjoy travelling overseas, as well as 

living in the town of authors Alcott, Thoreau, Emerson 

‘and many new accomplished writers’. 

1977 

Ameeta Nanji has recently coauthored two books: India 

Sublime, published by Rizzoli, and India Color, published 

by Chronicle Books. She continues to study and teach 

yoga in Los Angeles, and welcomes visitors to contact her 

(www.ameetananji.com). 


1966: Sally Hawkins (Spurgeon) 

SINGAPORE 


1968: Yolande Anthony (Arianayagam) 

SOUTH AFRICA 

1970 

Penny Tyler (Freshney) is based in Johannesburg and would 

love to get in touch with friends from her school days. 

1980 

Elspeth Pattison married Allan Cramb in April 2006 after 

knowing each other for 9 years – they were both married 

before and have children from their previous marriages. 

They have just had a holiday of a lifetime with 22 family 

and friends, including visits to London, New York, Colorado 

as well as the Cayman Islands where Elspeth once lived. 

Elspeth also fl ew over to be with Rowena Westacott and 

Christopher for their Silver Wedding Anniversary. 

1999 

Nhlanhla Ngozi has been settled in South Africa for the 

past 15 years and would love to get back in touch with old 

class mates. She has very happy memories and writes, ‘the 

life’s lessons I learned at school cannot be traded for any 

other life experiences’. 

We welcome warmly all leavers from 2008 

and hope they will send in their news. 

We are also delighted that the following 

have joined the OGA: 

Anne Laubscher (Scott) 

1953 - Malvern Girls’ College 

Jacqueline Seymour (Kerr-Paterson) 

1966 - St James’s School 

Ellen Phelips 

1974 - Malvern Girls’ College. 

15

16 

Area Representatives 

Avon New Representative required 

Berkshire Mrs Susan Wagstaff (Smith/1970) - 50 Spring Meadow, 

Holly Spring Lane, Bracknell, Berks. RG12 2JP Tel: 01344 450576 

Buckinghamshire Mrs Jean Goode (West/1967) - Gable Croft, Chiltern Road, 

& Hertfordshire Ballinger Common, Gt. Missenden, Bucks. HP16 9LH Tel: 01494 837277 

Cambridge Mrs Frances Williams (Royals/1966) - I Coulston Close, Milton, Cambridge CB4 6ZE Tel: 01223 63134 

Cheshire Mrs Anne Richardson (Storey/1963), 21 Heath Road, Timperley, Altrincham, Cheshire, WA15 6BH Tel: 0161 283 2992 

County Durham Mrs Jill Gladstone (Vernon/1958) - Larkspur Cottage, Lanchester, County Durham, DH7 0LF Tel: 01207 528114 

Cornwall Mrs Elizabeth Kennerley (Chivers/1957) - Penhalonga, Constantine Bay, 

Padstow, Cornwall PL28 8JC Tel: 01841 521122 

Cumbria Dr Sandra Cotterell (1960) - The Chair Workshop, 99 Main Street, 

Sedbergh, Cumbria LA10 5AD Tel: 01539 621489 

Derbyshire See Nottinghamshire 

Devon Mrs Veronica Blackmore (Bashforth/1959) - Milestone, Newton Road, 

Bishopsteignton, Teignmouth, Devon TQ14 9PP Tel: 01626 776193 

Dorset Mrs Judy Wheeldon (Fawcett/1954) - The Maltings, 2 Abbots Quay, 

Wareham, Dorset BH20 4EW Tel: 01929 552092 

Essex Mrs Sarah Troubridge (Furber/1982) - 17 Sutton Mead, Chelmsford, Essex CM2 6QB Tel: 01245 469560 

Gloucestershire Mrs Pamela Cadbury (Hunt/1970) - Lawn House, 11 London Road, Cheltenham GL52 6E Tel: 01242 5797770 

Mrs Judith Pearman (Kenney/1971) - Mitton Lodge, Bredons Hardwick, Tewkesbury, Glos. GL20 7EB Tel: 01684 295556 

Hampshire Mrs Elizabeth McDowall (Dunn/1955) - The Priory, Rockbourne, Fordingbridge, Hants. SP6 3NA Tel: 01725 518487 

Hertfordshire See Buckinghamshire 

Herefordshire Mrs Jane Mason (Coles/1970) - Seatons, Horse Lane Orchard, 

Ledbury, Herefordshire HR8 1PP Tel: 01531 633727 

Kent Mrs Judy Hodges (Nott/1951) - Finches, Summerhill, Goudhurst, Cranbrook, Kent TN17 1JT Tel: 01580 212280 

Mrs Christine Drury (Gilson/1965) – Woodside, Potters Corner, 

Maidstone Road, Ashford, Kent TN26 1AE Tel: 01233 627087 

Lancashire 

Leicestershire New Representatives required 

Lincolnshire 

London More Representatives required 

London W/WC Ms Sylvia Francis (1960) - 6 Olive Road, South Ealing, London W5 4JJ Tel: 0208 840 4645 

Miss Katrin Eigener (1991) - 99 Mildmay Road, London N1 4PU Tel: 0207 254 4856 

Malvern Miss Jean Trewin (1941) – The Chace Rest Home, Chase Road, 

Upper Welland, Malvern, Worcs. WR14 8HH Tel: 01684 561813 

Norfolk Mrs Jennifer Murray (Carter/1947) - Mariners Hard, 

Cley-next-the-Sea, Holt, Norfolk NR25 7RX Tel: 01263 740404 

Northamptonshire Mrs Ruth Thompson (Darby/1973) Home Park, Lower Catesby, 

Daventry, Northamptonshire NN11 6LF Tel: 01327 871201

Spring 2009 

Nottinghamshire Mrs Priscilla Ratcliff e (Halstead/1958) - 10 Melford Hall Drive, 

and Derbyshire Compton Acres, West Bridgford, Nottingham NG2 7SP Tel: 0115 984 2565 

Northumberland See County Durham 

and Tyne & Wear 

Oxfordshire Mrs Jane Sweeting (Perry/1954), Conduit Farm, Churchill, Oxon OX7 6NH Tel: 01608 658274 

Shropshire Mrs Jenny Arrowsmith (Orwin/1971) Bridleways Farm Leaton Shrewsbury Shropshire SY4 3BA Tel: 01939 291681 

Somerset New representative required 

Staff ordshire Mrs Jane Martin (Munday/1982) – 156 Newcastle Road, Stone, Staff ordshire ST15 8LG 

Suff olk Mrs Alison Taylor (Brodie/1965) - Harleston Hall, Harleston, Stowmarket, Suff olk IP14 3JQ Tel: 01359 242289 

Mrs Sue Key-Burr(Fyte/1954) - Ridleys, Dallinghoo, Woodbridge, Suff olk IP13 0JT Tel: 01473 737378 

Surrey Miss Helen Vose (1987) – Magdalen House, St. Teresa’s, Effi ngham, Dorking, Surrey, RH5 6ST Tel: 01372 750217 

E. Sussex New representative required 

W. Sussex Mrs Penny Shone (Wood/1970) – Little Orchard, Jeff eries Lane, 

Goring-By-Sea, W.Sussex BN12 4PS Tel: 01903 241330 

Tyne & Wear See Co. Durham & Northumberland 

Warwickshire Mrs Patricia Smart (Hopper/1945) - Heronbrook Lodge, Front Street, 

Ilmington, Shipston-on-Stour, Warks. CV36 4QP Tel: 01608 682509 

W. Midlands Mrs Carolyn Morgan-Jones (Hawkins/1963) - Redcliff e House, 

Compton, Kinver, Stourbridge DY7 5NR Tel: 01384 872782 

Wiltshire Mrs Susan Bourne (Clarke/1952) - Melstock, Nunton, Salisbury, Wilts.SP5 4HN Tel: 01722 329734 

Wirral/ Mrs Barbara Greenwood (Walker/1967) - 10 Gayton Parkway, 

Merseyside Gayton. Wirral, Merseyside L60 3SS Tel: 0151 342 5885 

Worcestershire Mrs Brenda Fox (Cooke/1945) - Dereham House, Willersey, Broadway, Worcs. WR12 7PG Tel: 01386 852691 

E. Yorkshire/ Elizabeth Ticehurst (Major/1966) Rowan Cottage, Main Street, Welburn, YORK YO60 7EE Tel: 01653 619736 

N. Yorkshire 

W. Yorkshire Mrs. Patricia Wilkinson (Marsden/1956) - Syke House, 

Saddleworth Road, Greetland, Halifax, W.Yorkshire HX4 8PA Tel: 01422 372594 

N. Wales New Representative required 

Mid Wales Mrs Ann Payne (Nash/1956) Bethania Cottage, Upper Chapel, Brecon, Powys LD3 3RG jandbethania@care4free.net 

W.Glamorgan Mrs Olga Evans (Griffi ths/1949) - Derwen Groes, Llannsadwrn Dyfed Llanwrda, Dyfed SA19 8LY Tel: 01550 777070 

S. & Mid Mrs Ann Simpson (Dr. Ann Cherry/1971) - The Stanleys, Westra, 

Glamorgan Dinas Powys, S. Glamorgan CF64 4HA Tel: 029 20 512459 

Gwent New Representative required 

Scotland, SE Mrs Gillian Muir (Thomson/1965) - 4 Dick Place, Edinburgh EH9 2JN Tel: 0131 667 6431 

& Edinburgh 

Scotland, SW Mrs Susan Burr(Eve/1965) - Newbarns, 18 Mainholm, Ayr KA7 5HE Tel: 01292 269076 

& Glasgow 

N. & Central Mrs Janine Smillie (Bradbury/1964) - 6 Roseisle Drive, Elgin, Morayshire, IV30 4NS Tel: 01343 540245 

Scotland 

N. Ireland New Representative required 

17

18 

Overseas Representatives 

Argentina & Mrs Jane Wood (Williams/1972) – Estancia Huechahue, 

S. America Aptdo. Esp.8371 Junin de los Andes, Provincia del Neuquen, Argentina, S.A. Tel: (54) 0944 91303 

Australia/NSW Mrs Jennifer Shaw (Scott/1993), c/o Level 28,1 Market Street, Sydney NSW 2000 Tel: (61) 2926 5300 

Email: jenny_a_shaw@hotmail.com 

Australia/ Mrs Joy Sutton (Bowden/1965) – 6 Anita Street, Beaumaris, Victoria 3193 Tel: (61) 03 589 2051 

Victoria 

W. Australia Mrs Jill Sweeney (Mackay/1970) – 6 Dale Place, Booragoon, WA 6154 Tel: (61) 09 364 7231 

Australia/ Mrs Susan Jensen (Thompson/1969) – 4/156 Bonney Avenue, Tel: (61) 07 3262 1434 

Queensland Clayfi eld 4011, Queensland, South Australia Mobile: (61) 04083 21745 

Mrs Susan Wheal (Ballard/1969) – Piccaninny, P.O. Box 95, 

Beachport, South Australia 5280 Tel: (61) 3 62438047 

Australia/ Dr Jean Stevenson (Butler/1950) – Unit 2/3 Yolla Street, Tel: (61) 6243 8047 

Tasmania Rose Bay, Tasmania, Australia 7015 

Belgium Mrs Frances Calder Hemmant (Calder/1967) – 55 Rue du Cardinal, 

Brussels 1000, Belgium Tel: (32) 02 23 05 217 

Bermuda New Representative required 

Botswana Mrs Anne Blackbeard (Matzen/1974) – Box 11780, Tati Town, Botswana 

Canada/B.C. Mrs Lisa Ballinger (Rippington/1988) – 4916 Sea Ridge Dr, Victoria, B C, Canada Tel: 250 704 0559 

Canada/ Mrs Gail Pearce (Smart/1964) – 204 Beech Avenue, Toronto, 

Ontario Ontario, Canada M4E 3H9 Email: gcpearce@sympatico.ca Tel: (416) 690 5562 

Canada/ Miss Margaret Macfarlane (1971) – 1745 Cedar Avenue, Apt.509, Quebec 

Quebec Montreal, P.Q. Canada H3G 1A7 Tel: (514) 935 3074 

Cayman Islands Mrs Sarah Graham(Harvey/1990). PO Box 871, Grand Cayman, Tel: (345) 946 8611 

KY1-1103, Cayman Islands Email: sgraham2b@hotmail.com 

Cyprus Mrs Christine Day (Harpham/1966) BFPO 57 

France Mrs Jennifer Maizener (Willis/1970) – 18 bis Quai Pierre Brossolette, 

94340 Joinville le Pont, France Tel: (33) 01 48 85 40 06 

Germany New Representative required 

Hong Kong Mrs Ronald Y.C. Lu (Stella Yeung/1966) – 11B Chung Hom Kok Road, Hong Kong Tel: (852) 281 32038 

Miss Cassandra Ng (1984) – Block A, Flat 2, 29/F Sunshine City, 

Ma on Shan, N.T. Hong Kong Tel: (852) 2381 3216 

Irish Republic Mrs Julia Lysaght (Hicks/1965), Hazlewood House, Mallow, Co. Cork, Irish Republic 

Italy Mrs Jill Cucco (Whitelaw/1952) – Via Castelfranco Veneto 120/8 Rome 00191, Italy Tel: (39) 06 3335062 

Japan Miss Elizabeth Oliver (1959) – 595 Noma Ohara, Nose-Cho, 

Toyono-Gun, Osaka-Fu, Japan 563-01 Tel: (81) 0727 37 0712 

Jordan Mrs Fiona Al-Omari (McMillan/1982) – c/o Al-Omari Trading Est. 

P.O. Box 786, Irbid, Jordan Tel: (962) 02 232032

Kenya Miss Betty Mwangi (1987) P O Box 30087, 00100 Nairobi, Kenya 

Spring 2009 

Malaysia Miss Izlyn Ramli (1988) – 30-9-2, Jamnah View, Jalan Buluh Perindu, 

Taman SA, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia 59000 Tel: (60) 03 2525925 

Mauritius Mrs Debbie de Chazal (Wallwork/1970) – Allee Campement de Reunion, 

Floreal, Mauritius Tel: (230) 686 0229 

Netherlands Ms Angela Glatston (1968) – Ammonslaantje 28, 

2241 BR Wasssenaar, The Netherlands Tel: (31) 070 5118608 

Miss C Bungay, Wolfhornkampweg 20, 9761 Bh Eelde Tel: (31) 5030 81263 

New Zealand Mrs Tania Sweet (Simpson/1964) – P.O. Box 46-003, Herne Bay, 

North Island Auckland, New Zealand Tel: (64) 09 3766 322 

New Zealand Mrs Clare Murray (Waddington/1987) 21 Knowles Street, 

South Island Merivale, Christchurch, New Zealand 

Nigeria Mrs Ayaba Ayo-Joseph (MacGregor/1978) – 24B, Pelewura Crescent, Tel: (234) 01 5871869 

Apapa, Lagos, Nigeria Home Offi ce Tel: (234) 01 2640140 

UK Address: 57 Flood St., Chelsea, SW3 5ST Tel: 0207 351 1867 

Norway Mrs Jules Crossley-Nilsen (Crossley/1982) Hesthaugen 62B, 5200 Os, Norway Tel: 0047 5630 7074 

Oman Mrs Mary Smith (Williams/1984) Royal Flight, PO Box 40, Sultanate of Oman 

Email: jmsmith@omantel.net.om 

Portugal New Representative required 

Singapore Ms Elizabeth Gwee (1991) 22 Farrer Road, No 06-02 The Wilshire 1026, Tel: (65) 646 93741 

Republic of Singapore 

South Africa Mrs Janet McClarty (Frazer/1970) 3 Sunningdale Road, 

Kenilworth 7700, South Africa Email: jmmclarty@mweb.co.za Tel: (021) 761 9841 

South Korea Mrs Jane Williams (Perrins/1975) Address from OGA Secretary 

Spain Mrs Sandra Forrest (Lenton/1966) – Calle Miramar, 1 Plaza de los Banos Romanos, 

Castillo de la Duquesa, Manilva, Malaga 29692, Spain Tel: (34) 095 2891112 

Spain and Mrs Melanie Conyers (Bowen-Jones/1986) – Appartado 88, 

Balearic Isles Santa Maria Del Cami, 07320 Mallorca Tel: (34) 971 140119 

Switzerland Mrs Audrey Lagasse (Pratt/1951) – Le Rucher, CH-1170 Aubonne, Switzerland Tel: (41) 021 808 6115 

Tanzania Mrs Zulobia Dhala (Shariff /1977) – P.O. Box 179, Dar-es-Salaam, Tanzania Tel: (255)051 119095 

or (255)051 667496 

USA - Mrs Harriet Bemus (Clay/1936) – 2631 Waverley Drive, Newport 

California Beach, California 92663, USA 

USA - Ms June Wise (1945) – 5100 N. Ocean Blvd. Apt. 1019, 

Florida Fort Lauderdale, FL 33308, USA Tel: (954) 786 1172 

USA - Mrs Anna Sturrock (Jones/1979) – 74 Jordan Lane, Stamford, CT 06903, USA Tel: (203) 609 0193 

New England 

USA - Mrs Gillian Wadsworth (Lewis/1966) – 55 Cherry Road, Memphis TN 38117, USA Tel: (901) 767 6428 

Tennessee 

USA - Mrs Sheila Hines (Auckland/1947) – 5303 29th Street NW, 

Washington DC Washington DC 20015, USA Tel: (202) 362 2534 

19

20 

Reunion News Norfolk 

OGA Autumn Reunion at 

Corpus Christi College, Cambridge 

Forty three members along with four brave husbands 

attended the Autumn Reunion at Corpus Christi College 

– a magnifi cent venue. Pre lunch drinks were served and 

followed by an excellent lunch in an adjoining room. 

After lunch the Chairman of the MSJ OGA, Mrs Tricia 

Birchley addressed the gathering and said how good it was 

to see so many Old Girls present and also how particularly 

nice it was to have the current Head Girl and Deputy 

Head Girl from MSJ with us. She said how fortunate we 

were to be able to hold our Reunion in such delightful 

surroundings. Tricia then introduced Mrs Ros Hayes, Head 

of Malvern St James, who gave a most informative and 

interesting presentation. Mrs Hayes said that the past two 

years have been an exciting time for the new school and it 

is evident that girls and staff are clearly proud of their new 

school. Academic results have been very good from GCSE 

through to A level and university entrance. 

The highlight of the year has been the opening by Sally 

Gunnell of the new Sports Centre and girls of all ages 

have continued to excel at a variety of sports. During the 

summer the girls went to Canada playing hockey, lacrosse 

and netball and in December of this year there is a ski and 

snowboarding trip to Colorado, USA. 

Mrs Hayes said that Old Girls’ Reunions provide an 

opportunity to meet old friends and share memories 

but also she hoped that the Old Girls’ Association would 

become an integral part of the School’s development. 

Mrs Hayes concluded by saying that there is no doubt 

that MSJ is now a thriving, successful and happy school and 

she extended a warm welcome to all Old Girls to visit the 

school if they have not already done so in order to see what 

is taking place for themselves and also to take a more active 

part in any aspect of the School’s development. 

Tricia Birchley thanked Ros Hayes. 

A raffl e was drawn for the last MGC teddy bear and also 

an MGC Old Girl’s scarf. After much chatter amongst 

Members the Reunion closed around 4.00 pm when a 

number of Old Girls departed to walk round Cambridge 

and others left for home. 

The Norfolk branch lunch was held on 18th June at The Anchor 

Inn, Morston. It was a very happy gathering and we were all 

able to chat together with those present: Sheila Case (Allen), 

Anne Charlton (Burton), Marion Gaymer, Yvonne Griffi ths 

(Humphreys), Sarah Jewson (Spencer), Sue Key-Burr (Fyte), 

Anne and Louw Laubsher, Charlotte and John Ridler 

(Crossley), Angela and Paul Raywood (Smith), Patricia and 

John Wilkinson (Marsden) and Jen Murray (Carter). 

We had a very enjoyable lunch and stayed at the inn 

talking until well into the afternoon. It was good to have 

Tricia and John Wilkinson with us from Yorkshire – they 

are wonderful the way they keep in touch. We were 

delighted to welcome for the fi rst time Yvonne Griffi ths 

(from Hampshire) and Anne and Louw Laubshner. 

Tishie Bayne had met them near her home, by chance, 

and only then discovered Anne was an “old girl”. 

Sadly, several friends had to cancel due to health problems, 

including Tishie and Chris Bayne (Mackenzie) and Jean and 

Geoff Brewer (Fawkner); they hope they will be with us 

next year. Marianne Fry (Newman) had a clash of dates 

as she has won a holiday abroad in a competition! 

We would be delighted to welcome YOU to our 2009 

lunch and I hope you will telephone me for the details. 

Jen Murray (Carter) Tel: 01263 740404 

Since our lunch, I have received the very sad news that 

Jill Swift (Bundey) died in Holland on 13th November. 

Jill, for several years looked after the Norfolk OGA with 

me and she loved our annual lunch meetings – often 

coming over from Holland to join us after her move. 

The Thanksgiving Service in Norfolk organised for 

Jill’s friends was attended by several Old Girls. 

Norfolk Branch OGA lunch: Back row: Paul Raywood, John Ridler, John 

Wilkinson, Louw Laubscher Middle row: Anne Charlton (Burton), Anne 

Laubscher (Scott), Yvonne Griffi ths (Humphreys), Charlotte Ridler (Gorsley), Sue 

Key-Burr (Fyte), Sarah Jewson (Spencer), Patricia Wilkinson (Marsden) Front row: 

Sheila Case (Allen), Marion Gaymer, Angela Raywood (Smith), Jen Murray (Carter)

Cheshire 

A really splendid lunch was held at the Carden Park Hotel 

near Chester on Sunday August 17th, organised by the 

new Area Representative for Cheshire, Anne Richardson 

(Storey). We were fortunate to have a lovely sunny day 

and there were 18 Old Girls and 2 husbands in attendance. 

We all met for a pre-lunch drink and after lunch there was 

plenty of time for more catching up and a chance to walk 

in the beautiful gardens round the hotel. It was a 

thoroughly enjoyable gathering and we all look forward 

to the next one! 

Cheshire Branch Reunion organised by Anne Richardson (Storey) 

on Sunday 17th August 2008 

OGA Golfi ng Group 

The 2008 Public Schools’ Tassie competition was held on 

June 26th at St. George’s Hill Golf Club, Weybridge, Surrey. 

This year our team of Liz Elliott (Davies), Alison Evans 

(White), Lynne Saunders (MacEwan) and Jane Sweeting 

(Perry) played the 27-hole medal foursomes competition. 

There were 37 schools competing and we were thrilled and 

surprised to fi nd that we had come 5th. Our best result 

for quite some years! We are very grateful for the support 

given to the Golfi ng Group by the OGA. 

Our annual get-together, which this year was to be held 

at The Worcestershire, was unfortunately cancelled as it 

came in the middle of the September rains and fl ooding. 

Hoping that it cannot happen twice, we have made another 

date at The Worcestershire for 2009 and this is Thursday, 

September 10th. We hope that as many golfers as possible 

will be able to come - it a very informal day with a round 

of golf and some ‘light’ lunch. If you would like to play 

in either event please contact Lynne Saunders on 

01233-633916 or email bybrookhouse@aol.com. 

Class of ‘51 

Spring 2009 

A reunion lunch for our year was fi rst held in 2001 to 

mark 50 years since we started at St James’s. It was such a 

success that we have been meeting once a year ever since, 

either in an hotel or at someone’s house, including one held 

a couple of years ago in Vienna at the home of Gertrude 

Harmer (von Heinrich). In 2007, the lunch was held in 

Sussex at the home of Sue Smyth (Swain) and was attended 

not only by Gertrude Harmer who had come over from 

Austria specially, but also by Jane Warne (Cliff ord) who was 

over from Australia. Many of us had not seen Jane since 

leaving school but she has not changed one bit. In 2008 

a very happy lunch was held in Oxford, organized by Pat 

Bowen (Hutchinson). 

Reunion of Old Girls born 1940ish 

We had a lovely time together at Katy Michael’s home 

and thank her so much for her generous hospitality. 

We were able to send donations to two of the charities 

closely associated with our group, so £65 were sent to 

Apnalaya in Mumbai via Annabel Mehta (Lancaster) 

and £65 to Suchana in East Bengal via Angela Stoddart 

(Lillie) – we have previously supported both charities 

which are eff ective in raising living and educational 

conditions for their surrounding communities. 

2009 Reunion - an invitation 

Later this year we have been invited to meet at 

Gail Hewlett’s (Stratton) home in Harrow for lunch. 

This gathering will take place on Saturday October 10th. 

For further details, contact Jill Gladstone (Vernon), 

Larkspur Cottage, Lanchester, Durham DH7 0LF. 

Tel: 01207-528114, 

email: Jill_Gladstone@compuserve.com 

2010 Reunion - Our “Biggie” 

We will (almost) all be 70 - how utterly amazing is that? 

We will have been friends for 60 years – it is truly to be 

celebrated! We are planning to hold a lunch at the RAF 

Club on: Saturday October 9th, 2010. Please make an 

eff ort to come and encourage your own special friends. 

There is a limit of 60 places so if you know that you 

can come please ask Jill to reserve you a place (or tell 

her that you can’t come). The cost will be about £40. 

Her contact details are above. 

21

ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING 

& OGA SUMMER REUNION 

Saturday 16th May, 2009 

Please use this form if you are coming to the AGM and Summer Reunion and return it completed no later than Friday 8th 

May 2009, to The OGA Secretary, Malvern St James, Avenue Road, Malvern, WR14 3BA. 

We hope that all those who are coming will attend the AGM after lunch. 

Maiden & Forenames: ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 

Married Name: ............................................................................................................................................. Title: ................................................................................................... 

Address: ................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................ 

..................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 

Post code: ...................................................... Tel No. ................................................................................ Email: ................................................................................................ 

School attended: ........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 

Year of leaving: ............................................................................................................................................. . 

Please delete where necessary: 

• I will/will not be bringing a guest. 

Name & title of guest : ...................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 

• I /We would like to have Lunch, including reception in The Sports Centre and/or Tea 

Members Lunch and Tea free - Guests £10 for lunch & tea. 

Please send your cheques made payable to Malvern St James OGA. 

Name ..................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 

School Attended ........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 

Nominees must agree in writing to their nomination for offi ce 

• Cheques for ESO Concert £15 to be made payable to Malvern St James. 

22 ✂

Annual Accounts 2008 

Spring 2009 

Revenue account 

Income 31st October 2008 31st October 2007 

Interest received Gross 2,129 741 

Interest received net 433 302 

Dividends received 4,270 5,020 

Subscriptions 5,414 5,642 

Donations and advertising 77 292 

Profi t on sales of OGA goods (2007) 281 

Income from summer reunion 20 

Expenditure 

12,343 12,278 

Newsletter costs 4,993 7,383 

Postage 248 25 

Printing letterheads 403 

Telephone 210 280 

Incidentals 585 380 

Reunions 141 

Domain name 23 

Subscription to AROPS 18 

Loss on sales of OGA goods 108 

Loss on disposal of investments 309 612 

Corporation tax 983 709 

Donation to the music department 170 

Donation to Operation Raleigh (2007 European Latin event) 100 100 

7,724 10,056 

Surplus for the year (2006 Defi cit) 4,619 2,222 

Balance Sheet as at 31st October 2008 

Net assets 

Government stocks and other investments 71,372 89,006 

Stock of brooches, scarves and placques 200 285 

Debtors 544 2,340 

Building society account 47,793 46,632 

Cash and bank 56,122 15,514 

Less 

176,031 153,777 

Creditors and accruals 2,283 1,425 

TOTAL ASSETS LESS LIABILITIES 173,748 152,352 

Financed by: 

General Fund 

Balance brought forward 15,853 13,631 

Surplus for the year 4,619 2,222 

Balance carried forward 

Advanced subscriptions fund 

20,472 15,853 

Balance brought forward 136,499 126,088 

Net subscriptions for the year 16,777 10,411 

Balance carried forward 153,276 136,499 

173,748 152,352 

23

AUTUMN REUNION 

Worcester College, Oxford 

Saturday 14th November 2009 

Lunch 12.30pm for 1.00pm 

We look forward to welcoming you to the Linbury Building at Worcester College, which is a modern building entered 

through a traditional college quadrangle. This is a delightful venue and the cost will be £30 each for a two course lunch 

including a glass of wine. Old Girls aged 25 and under are welcome at a special price of £25. 

Please complete this form to apply for tickets for the Autumn Reunion and return it with your cheque for £30 or £25 made 

payable to Malvern St James OGA together with a stamped addressed envelope to arrive no later than Wednesday 28th 

October to the OGA Secretary, Malvern St James, Avenue Road, Malvern, WR14 3BA 

Maiden & Forenames: ................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................ 

Married Name & Title: ................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................ 

Address: ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 

..................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 

Post Code: ...................................................................... Email: ................................................................................................................................................................................... 

School attended: ........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 

Year of leaving: ............................................................................................................................. 

Full name & title of guest: ....................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 

• I have special dietary needs: ......................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 

Please let Elisabeth Rambridge, the OGA Secretary, know by the date above if you wish to come. 

Your co-operation in this would be very much appreciated. Old Girls who are not members are most welcome 

to join for one year in order to attend and application forms will be sent to them. We do hope that Hon. 

Members and Members living in and around Oxford will support this Reunion. 

PLEASE DO NOT FORGET TO SEND S.A.E. FOR YOUR TICKET 

24 ✂

✂ 

NEWS SLIP 2009 

Spring 2009 

PLEASE take a moment NOW to complete this news slip and return to the OGA Secretary, Malvern St James, Avenue Road, 

Malvern, Worcestershire WR14 3BA no later than 30th November, 2009. Without your news we cannot print a newsletter! 

We also need this information to keep our records up to date. Please encourage friends to send in news and keep in touch. 

Maiden & Forenames: . ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 

Married Name & Title: ................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................ 

Address: ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 

.................................................................................................................................................................. Post Code: ...................................................................................................... 

School attended: ........................................................................................................................ Year of leaving: ............................................................................................ 

Tel: ........................................................................................................................................................ Fax: ...................................................................................................................... 

(Note: telephone nos. will not be given out without your permission) 

Email ........................................................................................................................................................................................................................... Please write very clearly 

Engagement date: .................................................................................................................... to: .......................................................................................................................... 

Marriage date: .............................................................................................................................. to: ......................................................................................................................... 

Births date: ..................................................................................................................................... Name: ................................................................................................................ 

.................................................................................................................................................................. Name: ................................................................................................................ 

(Above applies only to those who have not sent this information in previously) 

Other news - please give details of profession, present occupation, qualifi cations obtained etc. 

..................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 

..................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 

..................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 

..................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 

........................................................................................................................................................................... ......................................................................................................................... 

OGA SUBSCRIPTIONS 

The following are current subscription rates:- 

Annual ..................................................................................................................................... £12.00 

Life Membership for those leaving 2000 - present. ............................. £180.00 

Life Membership for those leaving 1990 - 1999 .................................... £119.00 

Life Membership for those leaving 1980 - 1989 ....................................... £86.00 





Life Membership for those leaving before 1940 ....................................... £22.00 

PLEASE NOTE it is essential to be a Member of the Association in order to attend the offi cial Summer and Autumn Reunions. 

25

26 

Diary Dates 

Saturday 16th May ................................. AGM & SUMMER REUNION 

Malvern St James 

See page 6 for programme and page 22 for reply slip 

Thursday 10th September .............. OGA GOLFING DAY 

Details from Lynne Saunders 01233 633916 

Saturday 10th October ...................... REUNION OF OGS BORN 1940ISH 

Harrow. Details from Jill Gladstone 01207 528114 

Saturday 14th November ................. AUTUMN REUNION 

Worcester College, Oxford 

See page 24 for programme and reply slip 

2010 

Saturday 9th October .......................... REUNION OF OGS BORN 1940ISH 

A special celebration at The RAF Club. 

Details from Jill Gladstone 01207 528114 

School Watercolour 

Brenda Barratt has produced a beautiful watercolour school portrait (pictured 

on front cover) and we are delighted to off er the Old Girls the opportunity to 

own an individually signed and numbered Limited Edition print. 

The print is available in two sizes: 

20” x 16” at £79.50 (framed), £55.00 (unframed) including UK P+P and Insurance 

16” x 12” at £52.50 (framed), £32.50 (unframed) including UK P+P and Insurance 

To order a school portrait, please contact Brenda Barratt, 

10 Higglers Close, Buxted, East Sussex TN22 4HE 

Tel: 01825 733885 • Mob: 07932 060031 • Email: brendabarratt@email.com

Photo Album 

OGs Born 1940ish - Back Row: Stephanie Tilley (Perry), Merrilyn Hywel Jones(Booker), 

Liz Kennerley (Chivers), Jenny Radice (Blagden), Isobel Williams (Simpson), Sarah Tillett 

(Cassey), Helen Lewis (Morgan), Virginia Wigglesworth (Lawry), Louise Pavey (Bird), Sheila 

Castello (Nairn), Deanna Hennessey (David), Suzanne Reese (Bird), Sandra Smith Gordon 

(Farley) Front Row: Gillian Hamilton (Shuttleworth), Jill Gladstone (Vernon), Katy Michael 

(Nairn), Rosemary Spivey (Bennison), Jose Jackson (Cutler), Carole Fitzgerald (Morris) 

Samantha Robinson’s Wedding: Mrs Lynne Lindner, Samantha Robinson 

(now Vaughan), Debbie Thomas, Gemma Knowles, Mary Seaton, 

Miss Elizabeth Mullenger, Lydia White 

Class of ‘51 - Standing L to R: Ros Barnes (Bell), Jill Phipps 

(Boswell), Ros Boyd (McCrone), Libby Anson (Maude), 

Pat Bowen (Hutchinson), Sue Smyth (Swain), Maureen 

Lamberth (Watt), Stephanie Manthos (Serantis) 

Seated: Janet Skilbeck (Munro), Jenna Lougher (Cowie) 

Tishy Ansdell (Ryan) entertaining 

Barack Obama on her porch in 2007 

Cambridge Reunion: Caroline Pygott (Mather), 

Stephanie Ingham, Aidan Parker 

L to R: Jane Shea (Plaisted), Jane Walker (Ashwell), Elspeth Cramb (Pattison), 

Rowena Westacott (Evans) Penny Smith (Rea) at Christopher and Rowena’s 

Siver Wedding Anniversary on 5th June 2007 

Spring 2009 

27

Tel: 01684 892288 • Email: oga@malvernstjames.co.uk • www.malvernstjames.co.uk

Old Girls' Association - Malvern St James

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