QUEEN ANNE’S SOCIETY NEWS

Queen Anne’s School2011-2012 Edit ion Number 116

Queen Anne’s Society Committee

Julia Harrington, President(Headmistress 2006-present)

Before joining QAS, I was Deputy Head atPrior’s Field School, Godalming from 2003.I was appointed Head of Lower School in2000 and Deputy Head in 2003. I specializedin History and Government and Politics andhave also taught Religious Studies andCritical Thinking. After graduating fromExeter University with a BA Honoursdegree in History and Politics, I joined the Independent Television CompaniesAssociation, the trade association at thetime for the ITV Companies. It is alwaysgood to meet so many of our QA Societygirls during the course of the school yearand their involvement in the life of theschool continues to be a huge strength.

It has been a very exciting year at Queen Anne’s“ ”

After leaving QAS I spent a year in the US studying formy commerical pilot’s licenses. I then went on to readMarketing at the University of the West of EnglandBristol and then worked for eight years at IBM as amarketing manager. Five years ago I started aphotography business jointly with Joanna Wilkinson,another QAS girl. In June 2008 I moved to Antiguawhere I worked as a freelance marketing consultantfor two years. I returned to live in the UK in January2010 and married my husband, Chris, in May 2010. Icurrently live on the south coast close to Southamptonand work as a marketing manager for a museum. Ihave been Chairman of the Queen Anne's Society fornearly five years and love the challenge of raising theprofile of the Society, ensuring its future and helping toraise funds. I am in touch with many girls from my yearand have loved going to many of their weddings inrecent years.

Clare Chapman, Chairman(Stockill 1991-1997)

Amy Wilson, Treasurer(Verge 1992-1999)

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I read English at Somerville College, Oxford, beforeembarking on a teaching career. Like Peggy Challis, I cameto Queen Anne’s from Cheltenham Ladies’ College, whereI was Head of English. During my thirteen years asHeadmistress, I oversaw many changes since educationalneeds are rapid in their variations! The first big project wasbegun in Miss Scott’s time but I was lucky enough to seethe building and opening of the Centenary Arts Centre.The Morgan Sports Centre followed and I am stilloverwhelmed by the honour of having a Science Centrenamed after me. It gives me great satisfaction to see thedevelopment of the Art Department which was just a planwhen I left. It is often said that headship is a lonely businessbut I was lucky to have such supportive staff andgovernors. Also, my husband, Duncan, and my childrenprovided a strong foundation for me throughout.

Since retirement, I have been doing inspections of independent schools and am a school governor. We havejust moved back to Cheltenham and I miss living near Queen Anne’s, although I like our new house! I enjoyseeing more of family and friends and having time to read. We go frequently to the theatre and concerts andI have been having piano lessons again. Taking Grade 8 last summer gave me great retrospective sympathywith all of you who took music exams. I was horribly nervous!

After obtaining an Honours degree in Modern Languages, I taughtFrench for ten years at King Edward’s School, Witley, leaving in1968 to become Deputy Head, then Headmistress of Limuru Girls’School, near Nairobi, Kenya. I returned to England in 1973 tobecome Headmistress of a Woodard School, Westwood House inPeterborough. In 1976 I was invited to apply for the headship ofQueen Anne’s School, a position which I took up in September1977. After 16 very full and happy years, I retired in 1993 and havesince worked at Glyndebourne, Westminster Abbey andChichester Cathedral as well as studying with the OpenUniversity. I was recently awarded an M.A. in History of Art, anda certificate in Opera Studies with Rose Bruford College, Sidcup, which is affiliated to the University ofManchester. I am also in charge of the information desk in Chichester Cathedral.

Debbie Forbes, Vice President(Headmistress 1993-2006)

Audrey Scott, Vice President(Headmistress 1977-1993)

My memories of the seven years I spent at QueenAnne’s are all very fond ones from being a firstyear boarder in Moore House (evening gymcompetitions and fashion shows), the middle yearsin Maddock House (putting the library inalphabetical order after being caught dormvisiting) and then sixth form in Holmes andMichell (the gorgeous Digby the dog!). My friendsfrom Queen Anne’s are certainly friends for life.After leaving Queen Anne’s I studied Biology atDurham University where I met my husbandMatt. I have worked as a patent attorney inpharmaceuticals since leaving University. InFebruary 2011 our daughter Evelyn May was bornon her Daddy’s birthday!

After leaving QAS I spent a year assisting in alocal primary school. I then went to BirminghamUniversity to study music and drama, followedby an MA in musical theatre. Having beenrejected by almost every artistic establishmentin Birmingham, I decided to enter the teachingprofession, where every day is a new drama! Ihave taught in the same school for 15 years andstill (mostly!) enjoy it. Hobbies include singing,playing the organ, Scottish dancing and JoyceGrenfell impersonations. I have also just beenmade Church Warden. No husband or children(30 at school are more than enough) but stillhave my aged cat, Myrtle.

Kate Cheyney, Editor (1983-1990)

Joined QAS 1980: assistant music teacher and assistant in Michell. 1981took on overflow Upper and Lower girls in Harlech.

1982 appointed housemistress of Webbe - boarding house with 3 daygirls. Day boarding became so popular that Webbe was made a DayHouse (Wisdome following not long after). 1997 relinquished WebbeHouse, returned to being music/piano teacher and charities co-ordinator. Retired 2007.

Jo Harmsworth, Former Staff Representative (1980-2007)

I left QAS in 1970 and after a year’s secretarial course, I undertooknurse training qualifying as a staff nurse at King’s College Hospital. Ihad a varied career in nursing, as clinician, manager and teacherbefore taking early retirement in 2008. Unfortunately I injured myneck just before I retired, so I did not do as much as I wanted towhen I first stopped full time work. I do however work as avolunteer within the Diocese of Guildford helping with all theirCriminal Record Bureau checks, which was a role that I undertookfor the University of Surrey and I am now working as a consultantfor the Institute of Healthcare Management. I married in 2002 andlive in Dorking. Our garden does take up a great deal of time, but asmembers of a French confererie supporting good wine, we do spendsome time each year in France and Belgium.

Jenny Smith(Partridge 1965-1970)

Bridget Evers(Chamberlain 1951-1957)

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After leaving QAS in 1998 I went on to readPharmacology at the University of Bath whichincluded a sandwich year spent working for apharmaceutical company in Slough. Aftergraduation I moved to Imperial College, London,where I read for a PhD in RespiratoryPharmacology. Four years later in 2006, I movedto West Sussex to begin my career in drugresearch and development. I was subsequentlyposted to Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA,where I spent a fantastic year before returninghome in 2007 where I worked in West Sussexfor four years. I am really excited by theopportunity of returning to the USA and startedmy new position in California in January thisyear. I am looking forward to the challenge ofvery early morning QA Society committeemeeting Skype calls!

Ellie Growcott, General Secretary(1991-1998)

After marrying, I spent my life in boys’ prep schools. David, myhusband, was a House Master at The Dragon School in Oxford andbecame Headmaster of Lockers Park School in Hemel Hempstead.On his retirement, he took a teaching post at Farleigh School inAndover where I had the job of running all the tennis and Iintroduced short tennis.

I have two daughters and four grandchildren. David died in 2000 andI spend most of my time these days playing tennis, golf, bridge, goingto the theatre and cinema and enjoy my times with the family. I amlucky enough to be a member of the All England Lawn Tennis Club.

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It has been a very exciting year at Queen Anne’swith the opening of new Holmes House. Theproject was completed in just under one year and,although there were some tense moments whenthe snow fell in January 2011, the project wasfinished within the tight timescale dictated by theschool year. The new house is a wonderful place forour L6 boarders and day girls to live and work, withtheir own large kitchen and sit, workrooms for theday girls and en-suite bedrooms for the boarders.Many of you will have the opportunity of enjoyingall these wonderful new facilities at our SocietyReunion Evening on July 7th this year if you sign upfor the ‘bed and breakfast’ option - moreinformation on this can be found on page 24.

We were delighted to welcome Phillip Schofield toopen the house in October. The girls also plantedQueen Anne’s rose bushes between the newhouse and the Centenary Arts Centre and we lookforward to seeing these bloom for the first time this spring.

Not content with one new house, we are now wellinto the second part of the project with therefurbishment and new build of Maddock house.The Maddock girls have decamped into the oldbuilding used by the Holmes girls last year, butknown to most of you as Michell House. Theproject is well within timescale, although we watchthe January weather forecasts with trepidation! Weare very grateful to the Grey Coat HospitalFoundation for making it possible to undertakethese projects. There is no doubt that without thiswork it would be difficult to offer the boardingaccommodation required by a C21st boardingschool. Work has also started to refurbish MichellHouse (known to many of you as Maddock andFfyler house, at the top of the field) with newkitchen areas, single bedrooms and much improvedfacilities for the U6 day and boarders. The numbersin the 6th Form are growing with the vast majority

of girls staying on from U5 and competition forplaces for girls joining the 6th Form, particularly forscholarship places, being intense. We expect thereto be over 140 girls in the 6th Form next year, whichis very exciting as these girls are very much leaderswithin the school.

We held our biennial thanksgiving service atWestminster Abbey in October and were verygrateful to the Dean, The Very Reverend Dr JohnHall, for speaking to us.

We held our fifth Foundation Art Exhibition at SW1Gallery in November and once again the supportof the Society at this event was greatly appreciated.

We look forward to a number of new initiatives thisyear with the orchestra of St Martin in the Fieldscoming to give a concert at the school on February7th 2012 We will also be having our second concertat St John Smith’s Square on 12 March 2012 to whichyou are all very much welcome. The opportunities

Headmistress’ Letter

After completing a BA in English and Psychology at the University ofCape Town, South Africa, I joined the BatesWells Advertising Group,where I was involved in all aspects of PR, advertising and eventmanagement. I left South Africa in 1987 to travel extensivelythroughout America and the Caribbean islands and then finally settledin London, where I met my husband Richard. Career opportunitiesfor both of us took us out to Frankfurt, Germany for 12 years whereour two children were born. My daughter, Cameron, having completedher A-Levels at Queen Anne’s, is now studying English and CreativeWriting at Nottingham University. She is also now officially a memberof our Society! My son, James, is a weekly boarder at a school inFarnham. As a parent, I was always impressed by the feeling of community and friendship at Queen Anne’s.This impression was completely reinforced when I joined the staff in 2009 in the role of Alumni Relations.

It is a privilege and a pleasure working with all of you and I have really enjoyed meeting so many of you atour various events. I hope to have the opportunity of meeting many more over the course of this next year.

After leaving Queen Anne’s I had a gap year; during whichtime I taught in a school in Cape Town, South Africa. Uponmy return I went to Durham University to studyCombined Social Sciences. I graduated from Durham in2001 and had another year out, travelling and volunteeringin South America. I then went on to study law at theCollege of Law, Guildford. After a brief career in the law (Iqualified as a solicitor in January 2008, specialising in familylaw) I embarked on a PGCE in September 2009 to becomean English and Drama teacher. I believe, and hope, I havenow found my niche! I live near Cambridge and keep intouch with many Queen Anne’s girls. I still play lacrosseand have discovered a passion for running, despitetraumatic memories of inter-house and school crosscountry competitions!

Sarah Clark(1991-1997)

Lauren Troake, Alumni Relations(2009-present)

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Chairman’s Letter

“ ”We expect there to be

over140 girls in the 6th

Form next year

that the professional concert programme, now inits third year, give the girls are greatly appreciatedby them and I am sure contribute to theoutstanding musical standards we are enjoyingwithin the school.

We have also launched a new life and learningprogramme to help the girls to think carefully abouthow they live and learn. The new programmeincludes elements covering thinking skills, learningstyles, the way the brain can be developed, careers,lifestyle, etc Our speaker at Speech Day, Dr IanDevonshire, gave parents and girls a taste of thework going on within the neuroscience sector onlearning and how this can link in to education andwe are enjoying implementing some of the workthat Ian discussed with us.

Our Society Chair, Clare, has continued to worktirelessly over the course of the year and theprovision of guidance and assistance for currentgirls at Queen Anne’s as they decide on andembark on their future careers has beenparticularly appreciated.

We welcomed approximately 80 members to theSociety Day last year. It was, as usual, a great daywith lots of catching up and reminiscing. Clare andLauren Troake, Alumni Relations, together with anenthusiastic Reunion Evening sub-committee, areworking tirelessly to organise our first SocietyReunion Evening on Saturday July 7th, 2012. I amsure that this will be a magnificent occasion and Ihope that you will be able to join us.

I look forward to seeing you over the course ofwhat will, I am sure, be another very exciting year,and to showing you around our new facilities.

Julia Harrington, Headmistress

Welcome to the 2011-12 Queen Anne’s SocietyNews, our 116th edition no less! The past year hasseen the Society continue apace with an ever-expanding events list, increased number of users onour website and exciting plans for 2012 beingdeveloped, but more on those later.

Looking back, Reunion Day in 2011 was anotherextremely successful day attended by many girlsrepresenting a wide range of years. I don’t thinkanyone who helps organise the day will every tireof seeing the excitement created by the girlsreuniting and reminiscing about their days at theschool. The lively and bubbly atmosphere duringReunion Day is like no other, and for anyone whohasn’t attended in some years, I encourage you toattend our first-ever Reunion Evening this July sothat you can experience it for yourself.

2011 saw the introduction of a theatre trip on theSociety’s events calendar. The aim of this was towiden the opportunities for members to enjoy eachother’s company in a variety of environments otherthan always school. My thanks go to Debbie andDuncan Forbes who hosted the trip to see ‘TheKitchen’ at the National Theatre in September. Thetrip was so popular that we could have sold doublethe number of tickets and based on the wonderfulfeedback from those who attended we’re hoping tomake the theatre trip a regular Spring and Autumnevent. Please keep an eye out for details ofupcoming trips, but note the date of May 9th 2012for our next theatre trip.

December saw the second Society Christmas CarolService take place, and as aptly pointed out byHilary Benson, the School Chaplain, if an eventhappens twice it’s now a tradition, so we lookforward to many more in the future. The servicefeatured solos by former pupils, Kate Cheney andJulia Weatherley, both of whom sang superbly. Theservice was followed by mince pies and mulled

wine, and despite the warm temperatures outside,it was a fantastic way to kick off the festive season.Our Society Committee has also seen somechanges this year. Jane Maclean retires from theschool after 31 years and steps down as the StaffRepresentative. Jenny Smith stepped down asGeneral Secretary after many years, however I’mdelighted that Jenny remains on the Committee asher knowledge and guidance is invaluable. BridgetEvers also steps down as QAS Scholarship FundTreasurer, but like Jenny, remains on ourCommittee. These changes have opened up spacesfor new members looking to take up roles. If you’reinterested in becoming a member of theCommittee, please get in touch.

2012 will see a change in our normal program.Instead of the usual early May Reunion Day, thisyear the Society will simply hold the annual AGMon May 12th , at 12 noon, and will then host a veryspecial Reunion Evening on Saturday 7th July. TheEvening will be a one-off occasion and 2013 will seeus revert to our traditional May event. As withevery Reunion Day, we welcome groups who areorganising special anniversaries and if you wouldlike help tracking down old friends please get in touch.

Clare Chapman (Stockill), Chairman

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Alumni Relations

Hello again

Whilst sitting at my desk, channeling my thoughtsand pondering my words for this 2011/12 edition ofthe News; once again I find myself reflecting onthe extraordinary spirit that encompasses allQueen Anne’s girls - past and present.

I have the on-going pleasure of working togetherwith the Sixth Form - our alumni of the very nearfuture - and am always impressed at theenthusiasm and energy in which our girls tackle allthe demands of these last two years of school life.There is a fledgling quality to Sixth Form as they voice their opinions more strongly, debate their futures moreopenly and naturally fulfill their senior status in the school by actively supporting and encouraging the youngeryears. I venture to suggest that each and every one of you, if pressed , could easily name a girl in the year(s)above who was an inspiration, role model and whose lead you wished to follow.

These qualities of confidence, compassion, determination, energy and empathy appear inherent in QueenAnne’s girls and I have had the good fortune of witnessing this in all my communications and meetings withso many of you - both through email and in person. And it’s not always at school that these meetings takeplace; from a comfy, country kitchen in the tiny West Dorset village of Winsham to a conference room indowntown Manhattan, lunch in Leicestershire and now reunion gatherings planned for Australia (whichunfortunately I won’t make) and South Africa (which I definitely can, being a Capetonian!), I am getting tomeet and come to know so many of you.

Our Society is a large, thriving one and will remain so if you all continue to be involved by communicatingwith us: send in your stories, updates, photos, requests, suggestions and most importantly, your up-to-datecontact details (and those of friends who you know have moved/changed details).

July 7th this year sees our first-ever Evening Reunion with potential for 300+ QA Society girls and theirfamilies, former staff and friends all to be gathered. It will be a wonderful opportunity for our widercommunity to enjoy an evening and celebrate the essence of Queen Anne’s.

I urge you to attend and hope to meet so many more of you on the night.

Lauren Troake

Letter from the Editor

This year has been another busy one for the Queen Anne’s Society.Individually, our alumni have continued with their various exploits as youwill read in the many news updates and stories. As a Society, plans are afootfor the creation of a fantastic and extremely classy cookery book - for which we thank all of you who have submitted your tried and tested recipes.

This July will also see the first ever Reunion Evening, where members willhave the opportunity to enjoy dinner, entertainment, dancing (if youchoose, although by no means compulsory!) and a night in the newlyrefurbished Holmes boarding house. Much work goes on behind the scenesto organise events to suit everyone in every venue and corner of thecountry and we hope that this year you will be able to join in with someof them. We also continue to be very grateful for all your news and photos, without which the QA SocietyNews could not exist. I don’t know about you, but I am always inspired by the amazing things which ex QASgirls get up to - although hardly surprised!

Thanks as always for your contributions.

Kate Cheyney

“”

Much work goes on behind the scenes to organise events to suiteveryone in every venue and corner of the country and we hopethat this year you will be able to join in with some of them.

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Reunion Day May 2011President’s Report

Academic year: 2009/2010

This was a year when we have all felt the pressure of livingin uncertain times, but working with young people is aprivilege that allows us to glimpse the future through theireyes: our young people are resourceful, imaginative, creative,enterprising and most of all hopeful. They believe in thefuture and are developing the skills and talents they will needto seize it. It is how we face uncertainty that marks us out asindividuals, and fundamental to this are the values we hold,our expectations for ourselves and those around us and thehope we build on for the future. As Queen Anne’s Societygirls know well, these are the qualities we seek to develop inall aspects of our girls’ lives.

This year, we saw girls leaving us to study veterinary science,law, medicine, physics at Oxford, modern languages at

Cambridge, joining science, humanities, language, performing arts and arts faculties. Each one will have hadthe opportunity during their time at Queen Anne’s to gain the qualifications they needed, alongside theskills to find new solutions to old problems and the values and beliefs that will enable them to use theirqualifications to best effect.

Our 5th and 6th formers again gained excellent results in the public examinations. At A level, 53% of gradeswere at grade A or A* and 80% at grades A and B. One in three students gained three or more A/A* grades.At GCSE, 89% of grades were achieved at A* to B. 66% of grades were A* and A.

In June, we welcomed John Beavis, Chairman of Ideals, a charity that works to help innocent people who arethe victims of war and natural disasters and operate on the front line to provide medical support, equipmentand training. John has worked in Bosnia, Afghanistan, Lebanon, Pakistan and most recently, Gaza and gavea truly exceptional speech, which resonated through all age groups and we were all inspired by his words.Following the formal proceedings of the day, a strawberries and wine reception was held on the front lawn,followed by Sports Day, when the houses, in true Queen Anne’s tradition, competed fiercely for the prizeson the sports field.

Our Carol Service was again held at Dorchester Abbey and we look forward to returning to WestminsterAbbey in October 2011 for our biennial service of thanksgiving following the service that was held in October 2009.

On the sports field, the lacrosse players had a great season. The 1st team finished 5th in the National Schools’Tournament and the U13s were West Champions for the second year running. Hannah Nugent and CamillaCormack represented Junior England and were part of the victorious team that won the Junior HomeInternationals. Five girls represented Junior West and 20 girls represented the U19 and U15 Berkshire teams.

Five girls attend National Centex and 25 attendRegional Centex. Hannah Nugent, Caitlin Baty andCamilla Cormack were selected for the U19 WorldCup Training Squad. On the netball courts, two girlsattended Satellite netball training and the U16 teamreached the final of the Marlborough tournament.On the athletics track, the Junior and Intermediateteams won the Foundation Schools AthleticsTournament for the 6th year in a row. U14, U13 andU12 teams swept the board at the Reading Schools’Championships. 15 girls represented Reading in theBerkshire schools, with six girls reaching the finalsand two winning their categories. In tennis, the U13team reached the Berkshire finals of the AegonCup. The U11s swimming team won the winterswim meet at Downe House and gained third placein the Independent Boarding Schools’ competition.A number of girls have achieved county andregional times in all strokes, while our golfers wonthe independent schools’ golf competition, the firsttime a girls’ team has ever won the competition.And as another first for Queen Anne’s, Kate Swannwas selected from 2,000 applicants to join the GreatBritain Bobsleigh Talent Identification Scheme andwill train with other 2016 Olympic hopefuls.

It was not just current QAS girls who did well onthe sports field last year. Shirley Critchley, who washere from 1945-49, was selected as one of fourladies in the team for super seniors to play forGreat Britain at the World Tennis Championships inOctober. She said that she can recognise that ‘allthose years rushing madly about lacrosse fields andbeing urged never to give up on the courts, reallydo count for something, even at the age of 77’.

Tamara Taylor (1993-2000) represented England inthe Women’s Rugby World Cup final against NewZealand where, after an extremely hard-foughtmatch, they narrowly missed out on victory with 13 - 10 the final result.

During periods of uncertainty, creativity helps tosustain our hope and resolve. Our A Level studentsonce again took part in the Foundation ArtExhibition, which was held in November at the

SW1 Gallery in London. A number of Society girlsattended the Queen Anne’s private view and wehope that some of you will be able to join us at thisyear’s exhibition in what is now an annual event.Queen Anne’s also joined in the local communityCaversham Open Studios and was represented atthe New Greenham Arts Centre in Newbury.

The Science department ran a whole host ofactivities as part of National Science Week in March.We appointed our first Eco School Officer this yearand launched our bid to become an Eco School.This tied in nicely with ‘Sustainable Earth Day’ inJune when we welcomed Sir Ghillean Prance backto the school to help us think about the future andthe part we play in protecting our heritage.

The Drama department continue to amaze us byproducing wonderful performances. We enjoyedthe senior schools’ production of ‘Grease’, themiddle school entertained us with ‘The DemonHeadmaster’ and the junior school transported usto Wonderland to join Alice and her friends.

The Music department continues to go fromstrength to strength. We organised a further seriesof professional concerts, including workshops forstudents from Queen Anne’s and visiting schools.Over the summer, we installed our first musictechnology I-mac suite, which is enabling the girlsto develop their composition skills as well asproviding opportunities for much creativity on themusical front.

The range of trips undertaken over the course ofthe year has again been rich and varied. This yearwe sent teams to the International Public SpeakingChampionships and the World Championships.The year also saw trips to Ypres (history andEnglish), Cornwall (geography), Tignes (skiing),Pompeii (classics), Paris (music and art) amongstmany others.

I am always amazed at the dedication andcommitment of the Queen Anne’s girls on thecharitable fundraising front and this year was no

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Chairman’s Report

Below is an overview of the events and activities theQueen Anne’s Society has been involved in over thelast year. This report is an opportunity to reflect onthe work that has been done in the past year andallows me to thank those people who work tirelesslybehind the scenes to make it all happen.

QA Society NewsThe QA Society News has again come on in leaps andbounds. Huge thanks go to Lauren Troake, AlumniRelations and Kate Cheyney, News Editor, who pulltogether everyone’s news and updates and make theNews such a pleasure to receive and read. Lauren’s workto improve the News with the inclusion of photos and anenhanced design and layout has had a particularly strongimpact on the publication and, as I’m sure you’ll all agree,each year the News improves.

We love to receive your news, so please continue to send it in and include photos. We’ll continue to sendall overseas contacts an emailed version of the News and all UK based contacts will receive the printedversion in the post and a digital copy if we have your email address. If you live overseas and you wouldparticularly like a hard copy please get in touch and we’ll arrange this for you.

Alumni RelationsRecently the Society has seen an increased digital presence with the introduction of our website a few yearsago. I’m delighted to see that so many people have embraced the website and are logging on to updatetheir details. This means that not only can the QA Society stay in touch with you with news and details ofupcoming events but this also allows old friends trying to find you using your correct contact details. Thealumni pages can be accessed through the school website ‘www.qas.org.uk’ and then by clicking on the link‘Queen Anne’s Society’. If you have any problems finding your way around the site please don’t hesitate toget in touch.

Queen Anne’s Society ScholarshipWe continue to provide funding for the Queen Anne’s Society Scholarship, with the strong belief that ourcontribution towards the continuing education of deserving girls at the school is one of the most importantaspects of the work that we do as a committee.

Charities Supported by the Queen Anne’s SocietyThis year the Society made donations to the Peckham Settlement (www.peckhamsettlement.org.uk), theBritish Heart Foundation and Breast Cancer Research. The Society makes an annual donation to the PeckhamSettlement, a multi-purpose community organisation, located in South London. The charity focuses on

exception. The girls raised money for Aid Africa, Afghan Action and Haiti and in August a group of girlstravelled to Malawi with the charity Inspire Malawi and three members of staff, where they helped tocomplete the building of a school in a local village. The annual fundraising event for the Bahowo project tookplace at Sports Day this year. Our parents association, QASPA, was once again very busy and amongst manyother events the Scarlet Ball was a wonderful occasion. The Ball raised £18,800, with which we havepurchased an internal marquee liner for the sports hall, which will be put to very good use.

We are looking forward to the opening of our new L6 Holmes House in September. I am delighted to beable to tell you that the plans for the refurbishment and rebuilding of Maddock House have now beenapproved and we will be starting work on the building in September with a view to opening the refurbishedhouse in September 2012.

We will be very sorry to say farewell to Mrs Denise Dobbie at the end of the year. I would like to thank herfor all her hard work and commitment during her many years at Queen Anne’s and we welcome her intothe community of the Queen Anne’s Society.

We are very grateful to Jane Warner for her generous donation which will be used to provide bursary andscholarships for Queen Anne’s girls.

This year, the Society will be supporting the work of two charities: Breast Cancer Research and the BritishHeart Foundation. These charities have been chosen in memory of Josie Springbett-Ayres and CharlotteMorfitt.

We look forward to another busy year which will, I am sure, reflect all the usual qualities of the QueenAnne’s girls, past and present.

Julia Harrington

Silver Tassie Golf TournamentThis was held at The Berkshire Club on Monday20th June. Unfortunately, two of the best players,namely Alison Kingston (6) and Susan Slater (10)were unable to play this year and as a result theSociety’s golf team did not fare as well hoped. Moredetails can be found on page 28.

2012 Reunion Evening Event2012 will see the usual May Reunion Day replacedby a special one-off Reunion Evening. The date ofthis event is Saturday 7th July. The school will haveclosed for the summer holidays and have kindlyoffered the Society use of two boarding houses forthose wishing to stay overnight. For more detailsplease see page 24 of the News.

Social MediaDon’t forget you can follow Queen Anne’s Schoolon their blog or Twitter page for the latest goingson at the Schoolwww.qas.org.uk/News_Releases/rss.xmlwww.twitter.com/qascaversham

Committee UpdateAfter 31 years teaching at Queen Anne’s School JaneMaclean will be retiring at the end of the 2011/12academic year. Jane has represented the currentstaff on the QA Society Committee for many yearsand will be greatly missed by both the school and

Society when she retires.. However we wish herwell for her retirement and hope to see her atmany Reunion Days in the future. Two otherchanges to the current Committee are Jenny Smithand Bridget Evers both of whom step down fromtheir roles as General Secretary and QA SocietyScholarship Treasurer. I am happy to say that bothJenny and Bridget will stay on the Committee andcontinue to contribute great wisdom andknowledge. One of our newest Committeemembers Ellie Growcott, takes up a new job inCalifornia as of January 1st 2012. Ellie will continueher role of General Secretary and will join us‘virtually’ for our meetings.

I would like to thank all members of the QA Societywho dedicate their time and energy each year tohelp make the Society the very special organisationthat it is. My particular thanks go to our vicepresidents Miss Scott and Debbie Forbes and toLauren Troake who continues to be the heart andsoul of the Society.

Thanks to Queen Anne’sMy thanks go to Mrs Harrington and her staff, withparticular mention of Graham Heffer, GeneralServices Manager, for all his work at our events andhelp with the QA Society cook book. Thanks too,to all the current girls of Queen Anne’s School fortheir continuing support of our flourishing Society.

Don’t forget to add the ReunionEvening to your diary, 7th July 2012.

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developing innovative solutions for the changing needs of the communities they serve including running acommunity nursery, children’s centre and family activities, youth work and vocational education for youngpeople, adult learning, employment and volunteering support, as well as working with older people. Theiraim is to bring people from different parts of the community together.

EventsChristmas Carol ServiceOn Sunday 11th December 2011 the second annual Queen Anne’s Society Christmas Service took place inthe school chapel. Despite the unseasonably warm weather, the service was a wonderful way to kick off theChristmas season. Two former pupils performed beautiful solos, Kate Cheyney sang ‘Once in Royal David’sCity’ and Julia Weatherley performed ‘O Holy Night’, both making the event a truly special occasion and Iwas delighted to see so many former pupils and staff attend. The mince pies and mulled wine after theservice were appreciated by all and it was unanimously agreed that the service is now a firm favourite in theSociety’s events calendar.

The date for the 2012 Christmas Carol Service is Sunday 9th December 2012 at 4.30 pm in the school chapel.

Theatre Trip Debbie and Duncan Forbes hosted an extremely successful theatre trip in September 2011 to see ‘TheKitchen’ at the National Theatre. Twenty girls joined the event from a range of years and many more ticketscould have been sold based on the enquiries we received. Many of those who attended also joined Debbieand Duncan for dinner before the play and had a good old catch up. Getting together in central London gavepeople the opportunity to reminisce about their time at Queen Anne’s outside of our usual May ReunionDay and the clear success of this event has led us to plan Spring and Autumn theatre trips. Details on theselected play for the spring trip can be found on page 34.

Westminster Abbey ServiceThe School held its biennial service at Westminster Abbey on21st October 2011. The School’s association with Westminsterdates back to 1698 when The Grey Coat Hospital Foundationwas established by eight merchants (Simon Boulte, RichardFfyler, John Holmes, Robert Maddock, Samuel Michell, CharlesWebbe, John Wilkins, and Thomas Wisdome), to help educatethe children of Westminster. In the late nineteenth century theGovernors of the Foundation decided to use part of theendowment to establish a girls' boarding school in the country,and on Ascension Day 1894 Queen Anne's School, Caversham,opened its doors to its first pupils. The Foundation Chalice,which is carried to the Abbey's High Altar during the service, isa Victorian silver chalice dating from 1844, and one of severalprecious gifts given to Grey Coat since the beginning of theFoundation. The service was a wonderfully uplifting experienceand the Queen Anne’s choir performed flawlessly. Our thanks goto The Right Reverend Dr John Hall, Dean of Westminster andSchool Chaplain Hillary Benson.

QA Society News 18

Gifts can be designated to the following areas:

Headmistress’ InitiativesAreas of highest priority

QA Society Scholarship FundMerit-based financial aid

QAS Bursary FundNeeds-based financial aid

QAS ArchivesCataloguing, preserving and displaying the school’sheritage

Chair AppealNew chairs for the School Hall featuring the nameand date donor first attended QAS. Moreinformation on this appeal can be found on page 21.

Invest in Queen Annes’s SchoolA couple of years ago the school launched the QAS Fund. This is an annual voluntary giving programme toenrich the opportunities for girls presently at the school.

Our members often find that this is a great opportunity to ‘give something back’ and show their appreciationfor all the school has given them. We would really like to thank all those who made generous donations last year.

Treasurer’s Report for year ending April 2011

QA Society Scholarship Fund

As of 5 April 2011 the Society had a total of £34,747in all accounts.

We received an income of £4,441, which was madeup from Membership Subscriptions of £4,335, saleof lip balms and bank interest.

The Society made payments totalling £5,504. Theprinting and postage of the Queen Anne’s SocietyNews totalled £3,248, compared with the cost of justunder £4500 last year due to a new initiative to emailthe News to some members. Donations of £200each were made to the Peckham Settlement andInspire Malawi. The accountancy fees were £247.

Amy Wilson Treasurer

In 2009 the Holmes Memorial Fund was mergedwith the QAS Scholarship Fund. However bothfunds had differently worded trust deeds whenthey were originally founded in the 1940s. TheCommittee are now reviewing the trust deedsto ensure that they reflect the use to which theScholarship Fund is now being put in the twenty-first century and that they fully comply withcurrent Charities Act legislation.

Any alteration to the trust deed will require aproposal to be placed before the membershipat the Annual General Meeting. Members willbe notified of this proposal via the school’salumni website before the AGM which takesplace on Saturday, May 12th at 12.30pm in theUpper Library at Queen Anne’s.

As explained in last year’s News, the QueenAnne’s Society Scholarship Fund now makes oneannual payment to QAS for the scholarshipawards. Girls apply for the award in a letterwritten to Mrs Harrington, Headmistress and areview panel selects the winning applicant/s.

Bridget Evers

QA Society News 20

Chair on a chair!

That’s exactly what we have here - our lovelyChair, Clare Chapman posing perfectly, on thechosen model of chair!

These new and comfortable chairs are replacingthe existing ones in the School Hall which isnow the venue for regular music concerts dueto the exceptional acoustics of the room andthe all new-improved lighting facilities.

There are still chairs available to sponsor at acost of £75 per chair which will feature a plaquewith your name and the year that you enteredQAS. This fund raising activity is a great way tosupport the school and to have your name ona little part of Queen Anne’s heritage.

If you’d like to sponsor a chair please contactLauren who will advise on the paymentprocedure.

New Recruits - Your QA Society wants you!

Having read through our Chairman’s Report and Letter you will be aware that a number of our currentCommittee members are either leaving/retiring or stepping down from office which frees up opportunitiesfor new members to join our friendly, active Committee.

This is a great chance to be involved in the varied activities of both the school and Society and to help shapethe future of our ever-increasingly-dynamic Committee.

If you’re tempted, interested or just simply curious about what is involved and how much of your time itwould take (not much!) please feel free to contact Clare or Lauren who will happily chat you through it.

Our website is specially designed to help youmake contact with each other via the online‘who’s who’ and also provides weekly newsitems and details of future events.

The first time you access it, click on the ‘register’button and you will receive an email giving you yourusername and a password. Enter these details inthe boxes provided and then click the ‘login’button. You only need to register the first time,thereafter you use the ‘login’ button with yourusername and password.

Once you have logged in, you are able to update allyour own personal details, including newqualifications, engagements, marriages, babies, evenupload photos - you choose just how much youwould like to share with everyone! As the system ispassword protected, only registered QA Societygirls can access the information.

You can then search for old school mates by name,year group, location, etc by using the ‘search forother members’ button. In addition, the site listsdetails of the upcoming events to which all ourmembers are invited. It is possible to book for theseevents with a simple click!

If you have any queries regarding the site do nothesitate to contact Lauren Troake who will happilytalk you through the register/login process step bystep.

The QA Society site is accessed through the schoolwebsite. Go to www.qas.org.uk and click on the‘quick link’ titled Queen Anne’s Society.

Do you know howto use the QAS

alumnus site?

The following are our three main facebook sites:

Queen Anne’s SocietyI went to Queen Anne’sOld and current Queen Anne’s School Girls

And one specifically dedicated to our July 7th 2012Reunion Evening:Strictly Boardwalk Cabaret - QAS Old Girls ‘Day’with a Difference!

You can also follow what the school and Society areup to on twitter at:twitter.com/qascaversham

The Queen Anne's Society will be holding their Annual General Meeting on Saturday 12th May at 12 noonin the Upper Library of the school. The AGM is usually held on the same day as our Reunion Day, but dueto the change in schedule this year where we'll be holding an evening reunion event in July, this is to confirmthat our AGM will still take place on May 12th as usual. The Society welcomes all members to the AGM.

The AGM is an opportunity for the Society to review the year and deal with issues such as the election ofcommittee members and review the annual accounts. It also offers a forum to communicate with Society members.

We have now collected all the recipes for our cookbook so our thanks to all of you who submittedyour favourites: be it your own creation, the oldfavourite that ‘works every time’, traditional familydishes handed down through the generations andeven the tweaked version of a master chef or two!

We have a definite style and theme in mind andthe race is now on to work with variousphotographers, designers and printers to producethe book in time for our Reunion Evening on July7th where we plan to have it available for sale.

We’re sure it will be a QAS best seller - you’ll needto get a copy and see on which page your creationis featured!

Queen Anne’s Society Cookbook Update

QA Society AGM

QA Society News 22

The Foundation Art Exhibition 2011

This presentation of art work from the UnitedWestminster Schools Foundation has now becomean annual ‘date in the diary’ Fortunately this yearthe only inclement weather was a very strong windrather than the ice and snow of 2010. We werewelcomed by a vista of white and black, the whitecoming from the back walls of the gallery and theexhibits placed behind the wide windows whichfront the gallery. The black came from the framesused to surround the majority of paintings and gavea strong theme to the whole exhibition. Behind thegallery’s frontage of floor to ceiling glass were aneclectic mix of sculptures, including ‘Weight ofNumbers’ a series of numbers in the shape of a 7 inwhite foam board, plaster, cotton and NFS by aQueen Anne’s pupil and a fascinating collection ofmasks made by the Greycoat School as part of a bidin their locality to celebrate 2012 in London.’

Michael Norcross, QAS’ Head of Art and Designinformed us that all the Art Departments hadagreed on one less exhibit per school this year andthe effect was quite dramatic - less was certainlymore. This certainly gave all the visitors ampleopportunities to view the contributions either nearto or from a further distance.

A number of the Queen Anne’s artists werepresent and enabled both Miss Scott and I to

understand some of the experimentation andexploration that had led to the final hung picturesor models. Many of the Queen Anne’s pupils hadbeen awarded A or A* for their work in stateexaminations and in their explanations they wereable to articulate how they had come to paint orproduce as they had using the chosen subject astheir guide. It was fascinating to see the number ofdifferent ways the theme ‘contained’ had beeninterpreted, whether in picture or model form andthe artists that had influenced the girls’ thoughts.The Barbie’s world model in response to thecontained theme was quite delightful and in theexact ‘Barbie’ pink!

As ever the Queen Anne’s pupils had excelledthemselves and a number of the works exhibited atthe SW1 Gallery have been submitted for theTelegraph Schools competition on the SaatchiGallery website. We shall have to wait for 2012 tofind out how the pupils fared.

With many thanks to the School for their invitationand all their hard work to make the private viewingevening so successful

Jenny Smith

You are probably all aware that the format for ourtraditional annual reunion is changing this year andwill be held in the evening on Saturday, July 7th.This will replace the Saturday lunch, usually held inearly May, for this year only.

Although initially it was billed as a Reunion Ball, wehave considered all the feedback and decidedagainst hosting a Ball, but rather are planning anevent which promises to be the highlight of ourSociety’s season!

The event will provide the opportunity for you toget together with old friends and former staff,explore old school haunts, enjoy a great meal,wonder at the showcase talents of some of ouralumni - and then even more!

The school have very kindly offered overnightaccommodation in the new Holmes boarding house,offered on a first come/first served basis at a rate of£15 per head, bed and breakfast, for those attendingthe evening. This will be a great opportunity toexperience the brand new facilities on offer. Eachroom has an en-suite bathroom - a far cry frommost of your boarding school memories!

To cater for the wide age range of our Society, therewill be something for everyone: entertainment,music (jazz, classic and ‘big band’), two of BBC’s‘Strictly Come Dancing’ dancers, a three coursedinner and if you’re not in the mood for post dinnerdancing, a quiet ‘sit’ where you can simply curl upand catch up with friends.

Our hard working Reunion Committee has beenvery active in planning the smooth running of theevening/breakfast and it’s now your turn to getinvolved - host a table of 10 or buy a ticket! Theevent is not a couples event, so come with partners,friends or by yourself. The ticket price is £35 perhead with an extra £15 per head if you choose theboarding house B&B option.

QA Society News 24

Queen Anne’s Reunion Evening

All proceeds raised during the evening will bedivided between the Queen Anne’s Society (aregistered charity) and The Lavender Trust whichaims to raise money to help further develop BreastCancer Care's services and information specificallyfor younger women with breast cancer and breasthealth concerns. This was the chosen charity of

Josie Springbett-Ayres - many of you may recallreading the very moving obituary of Josie, writtenby her sister, Zoe, in the last edition of the News.More details will follow regarding timings, and theprogramme of events but for more information atthis stage please contact Lauren Troake. All contactinformation on page 60.

QA Society Golf News

Allan, Sue (Braybrooks),

Anderson, Fiona,

Blanford, Elspeth (Moir),

Boote, Steve (Van Rees),

Bunting, Suzanna

Calder, Elisabeth (Bohn)

Carson, Mary (Weiner)

Comer, Pat (Thain),

Cull, Alison (Singer)

Davies, Jill

Dring, Sarah

Evers Bridget (Chamberlain),

Farmer, Sue (Ommanney),

Fenning, Anne (Liddington),

Foster, Ann (Geipel),

Geddes, Leslie (Webb),

Gibbins, Barbara (Lord);

Gorringe, Jen (Chamberlain);

Grindle, Rosemary (Pafford)

Goodall, Amy

Grey, Liz (Allon)

Havers-Stanley, Georgina (Stanley)

Henman, Jane, (Billington),

Kavanagh, Jo (Massey),

Kerr, Lucy (Hamilton Turner)

Kingston, Alison (Crabtree);

Martin, Heather (Gascoigne);

Parrish, Sally (Brogden),

Robinson, Nell (Truman);

Rowell, Judy (Braybrooks);

Saunders, Cynnie (Stiles);

Slater, Sue (Blandy);

Smith, Iona (Paine)

Somers, Anwyl (Edwards);

Steel, Mary (Thorp);

Watson, Jacqueline

Watson, Susan (Clarke)

Willcox, Helen (Campbell)

Wright, Geraldine (Campbell

QA Society News 26

Thanks to the enthusiastic response to the emailsent out to all our alumni about our QAS GolfSociety we have boosted our membership withapproximately 36 players now on our books. Thesemembers are listed in the table below.

The meeting this year was held at my club,Tidworth Garrison Golf Club. In the end therewere only four of us. However, the beauty of golf isthat numbers and handicaps don’t matter. We hada very good round of golf and the four of us,Barbara Gibbins, Rosemary Grindle, Sue Slater andmyself very much enjoyed ourselves.

We have three dates for 2012. They are:-Hayling Island - Wednesday, 19th September.Brancaster - Monday, 12th October.Hunstanton - Tuesday, 13th October.

In 2013, we plan to go to Hankley Wood.

Do get in touch if you are a golfer and would like tojoin - you have absolutely nothing to lose asmembership is free!

I would like to take this opportunity of askingmembers to reply to my communications, please.

Bridget EversEmail: bridgetevers@sky.com

Tel: 01264 357811

List of members

It will not surprise you to be told that QueenAnne’s former staff are an enterprising bunch!Once a month they meet in each other’s housesfor coffee and a chat. Naturally one of the hottopics is any news any of us have about QueenAnne’s Society members. Susan Twitchettorganises the rota and co-ordinates it, or ratherus, with meticulous skill and endless goodhumour. Inevitably, the meetings tend to be localto the Reading area but when I said I’d really loveto invite people down to Cheltenham, Susan wasundaunted. So it was that one sunny Augustmorning, a dozen or so former colleagues arrivedhere in Prestbury for coffee. Having shared thejourney, they spilled out of cars ready to enjoythemselves. We were all delighted that FrancesBrewitt-Taylor drove over from Malvern to joinus and Margaret Stamp came from Leicestershire.

Given the distance, Susan had asked if everyonecould bring sandwiches for lunch and eat them inour garden and then perhaps I could suggestsome places of interest where they might like tovisit on the way back. Needless to say, coffeemorphed into lunch almost seamlessly apart fromsome rather anxious weather appraisal when thetime came to move outdoors. Unbelievably, thesun came out just in time and we were able toeat outside in a perfect English summer fashion.Picnics were enhanced by strawberries andhome-made ice-cream, but most of all weenjoyed each other’s company. It was 3 o’clockbefore the coffee ‘morning’ ended and it was areal pleasure for me to have a bit of QueenAnne’s in my new home.

Debbie Forbes

Coffee at Yew Tree House

“ ”Unbelievably, the sun came

out just in time and we wereable to eat outside in a perfectEnglish summer fashion

BAHOWO

TheTassie

This was held at The Berkshire Club on Monday20th June. Unfortunately, our two best players,namely Alison Kingston (6) and Susan Slater (10)were unable to play this year. I fear we didn’t dovery well! Next year, with luck, we should dobetter. Hopefully, Alison and Sue will be able toplay, plus Iona Smith, who has a handicap of 10. 34 Schools took part. We came 28th.

Rosemary Grindle, (16), Sally Parrish (17), BarbaraGibbins (14) and Bridget Evers (13) representedQAS.

We were all very grateful to the QA Society whopaid half our entry fee (it is an expensive event).Alison Kingston has kindly agreed to take overfrom me as captain next year.

The competition will be held at the BerkshireClub again in 2012 on Monday, June 11th.

QA Society News 28

‘A Life of Harmony’

This is the title of a very readable andfascinating book compiled by SylviaChumbley, about the life of Ruth Ascher whodied in August, 2010. Ruth taught music atQueen Anne’s from the late 1940s to 1973.She was an extremely able pianist, and wouldhave been a concert pianist if the war had notintervened, for she was a German Jew, andhad had to flee from Germany when the Naziregime was starting to be felt. At that timeshe had completed one year as a student ofmusic at Heidelberg University. Ruth’senthusiasm and love of music shows itselfvery clearly throughout the book, and there isa whole chapter about her life at Queen Anne’s.

I recommend this little book to any whoknew Ruth, and to those who did not, for itis the story of a warm and courageouswoman who influenced the lives of many.Copies are available from Sylvia Chumbley, tel.0118 947 0762 (Price £7 + p&p)

Jo Harmsworth

Few of us will forget the terrible tsunami which caused such devastation on Boxing Day, 2004. It wasparticularly harrowing for Georgia Morgan who was in Sri Lanka when it happened and who saw the greatwaves tear into the coast. Georgia spoke movingly about it and Queen Anne’s responded immediately tothe emergency by raising funds, but the pictures we saw and the stories we heard made us want to dosomething more permanent. The problem was how to get funds to the area without having them divertedor eroded by corruption. Margaret Stamp, then Housemistress of Holmes, was tireless in seeking out a way,as she was afterwards in helping to raise funds and in keeping in touch with Bahowo, the Indonesian villagewhich we helped, even though it was not directly affected by the tsunami. Our contacts in Bahowo werePhil and Paula, who run a tourist lodge there and who have been instrumental in improving the lives ofvillagers. They are also wonderful letter-writers and, on more than one occasion, I read out their lively emailsin chapel since they spurred us on to further effort.

I was invited to St James’s Palace on Wednesday26th October to be introduced to the Earl ofWessex to say ‘thank you’ for my contributionsto the Duke of Edinburgh Awards.

Also at the presentation was one of our Goldparticipants She Mei Kam.

I was asked to bring a guest and as NickStephens had trained our girls at both Bronzeand Gold for many years, including She Mei atGold, I thought it appropriate that he should berecognised for all his efforts too!

Denise Dobbie

The funds we raised for Bahowo went to help withvarious projects: helping to buy a bus; helping toequip the school, which the villagers builtthemselves, recycling wood and nails; and helpingto build a clinic. In honour of our efforts it is called‘Queen Anne’s Clinic.’ Until it was built the villagershad no access to modern medicines, bandages orantiseptics. Again, the clinic was built by the villagersthemselves and a local nurse, who is also a qualifiedmidwife, runs it. Phil and Paula have written a book,called Bahowo Lodge, An Indonesian Affair, abouttheir experiences and here I quote from it: ‘The firstbaby born under Martha’s supervision in the clinicwas a girl, and in honour of her place of birth herparents called her, simply, Queen Anne. The secondbaby was also a girl, and so were the third and

fourth. It was then supposed by everyone inBahowo that, because the clinic was called ’QueenAnne’s, that only girl babies could be born there.Thankfully the fifth baby was a boy, which laid torest this superstition.’

To my great delight Georgia Morgan and FarimaRome went out to Bahowo and brought backphotos which showed the vision made reality.Margaret Stamp and I are still hoping to get outthere to see for ourselves. In the meantime, to thehundreds of you who helped in this venture - thank you!

Debbie Forbes

Gold Presentation

QA Society News 30

In the recent refurbishment of Maddock, the builders discovered a biscuit box buried under the floorboardsand upon opening it found the letters that two Lower Fours had hidden there in 1983.

We’ve scanned and printed the letters for you all to enjoy along with some email communication betweenone of the ‘authors’ and myself.

It does make me wonder whether there is any other ‘treasure’ that as yet has been undiscovered…let me know!

Hidden Treasure

From: Troake Lauren Subject: QAS - hidden letter!

Dear Catherine

I thought you would be surprised and delightedto hear that in the recent refurbishment ofMaddock, the builders discovered a biscuit boxburied under the floorboards, and uponopening it found the letters that you andyour friend, Jessica Maney, had hidden therein 1983! I’ve attached the two letters for youto re-read your creative offerings as youngLower Fourth schoolgirls!

I would love to hear an update on yournews and whether you’ve remainedfriends with Jessica and the other girlsyou mention in the letter.

Really look forward to hearing from you.

From: Catherine MorganSubject: QAS - hidden letter!

Hello there

How funny about the letters, I can’t evenremember doing them, but what a laugh!

I can still only draw the elephantsbottom, and the dog face to this day!!

I still see Eleanor Curtis (now Hammond)and Annabel Fairclough (now Falcon), onthe few occasions we can all meet up. Ellilives in Prague with her family and I spoketo her only last week, and Annabel and Iare due to meet up for lunch soon, as shelives with her family in nr Ashford in Kent!

The house that we were in was calledWebbe when we were there, Iremember Maddock and Ffyler being uppast the fields and pool?

Thank so much for sending me this, itreally did delight me. If you aren’t goingto keep the letters for the schoolmuseum, then I am happy to have them!!!

QA Society News 32

The QAS Biennial Service at Westminster Abbey Recollections of an Errant ‘Old Girl’

Well, maybe I am - an old girl! I mean, I definitelyam a Queen Anne’s old girl - though it seems anunbelievable number of years since I left school,head held high in excited anticipation of what mightbe to come! And errant because this is the firstservice attended at Westminster Abbey in all ofthese years.

I left Cardiff Central in the early hours of thatbeautiful, late autumn morning eagerly anticipatingthe day ahead. I knew I would be meeting up with‘my best friend’ Cynnie en-route to London andthen joining more of my contemporaries for lunchat St John’s in peaceful Smith Square. Most I hadseen from time to time, some more often and whatfun it was to catch up with one after nearly 50years. Such a naughty girl as I remember, nowmother and grandmother.

And afterwards, a gentle stroll around the corner tothe gleaming West front of the Abbey, the gloriousgothic spires reaching skyward, the place ofcoronations, historic celebrations and burials ofmonarchs, politicians and poets.

As we slipped into our given pew along the nave Iconfess that my eyes were busy scanning the facesof those around us for the ghosts of girls I onceknew. Most, not all seemed too young though andI guessed were involved in a familial way with theQAS students.

As I gazed around, memories of the royal weddingjust a few months before, watched from the WestCoast of Canada in the early morning hours,flooded back.

The service soon began followed by the processiondown the nave to the choir stalls hidden from sight.Lost in the organ music as it soared, accompaniedby the pure and joyous voices of the school choirs,I was amazed and not a little surprised at the senseof privilege that overwhelmed me, of being there atthat time in that place. And then there was thatinteresting sense of connection with the QueenAnne’s school girls, they as we once were.

Memories of the chapel choir flooded back; voicesin harmony; Miss Leahy or Miss Ascher in the organloft with Cynnie often turning the pages.

The music this day was wonderful: ‘The Indroit’,The Prayer of Desmond Tutu followed by the

‘Alleluia! Jubilate’; the Very Reverend Dr. John Hallspeaking of Ruth and Naomi. The one-time familiarpoetry ‘Whither thou goest I will go; and wherethou lodgest, I will lodge; thy people shall be mypeople, and thy God my God: Where thou diest,will I die, and there will I be buried’ followed by thestory of Jesus and the Samaritan woman at the well;tales of acceptance rather than rejection, equalitynot oppression.

Too soon the music, the readings, the song and thespoken word passed.

When the West doors opened to the extraordinaryreverberation of the great bells pealing, we sawonlookers and tourists agog with their cameraspoised, some flashing. Although they may not haveknown who we were, it was picture perfect andwho knows, a celebrity or two might just have beenamong us.

Suddenly it was goodbyes and hugs and ‘must keepin touch’; there were buses to be caught, concertsto attend; dinner engagements with family andfriends to be kept.

But I had come from Wales that day so I stayed alittle while. I watched the schoolgirls in their redcapes now worn on special occasions. The redcapes we wore each day, warm to wander downthe field on a chilly day or watch a lacrosse match ona winter afternoon or spread out to lie on in theorchard on a sunny summer Sunday afternoon.Now though there is excitement as siblings call toeach other, parents and girls are reunited, half termis about to begin.

And then, as suddenly the school coach pulledaway; families left with arms entwined. No longerowned by Queen Anne’s, the courtyard was onceagain reclaimed by visitors, tourists and homeboundworkers and the bustle of London life quicklyrestored to its daily anonymity.

Jill Davies (Zerny) 1956-1962

“ ”I was amazed and

not a little surprised atthe sense of privilegethat overwhelmed me

QA Society News 34

Celebrating Doris Asher’s 80th Birthday

Queen Anne’s Society Carol Service 2011

Doris Asher celebrated her 80th birthday in November. However, it was not until December 8th that 31 formerstaff met together at The Crown, Playhatch, to mark this special occasion. Susan Twitchett had organised coffeein a separate room, which indeed we needed, as the noise of 30 former staff, many of whom have not met upfor many years, is a force to be reckoned with! Pat Johnstone had made a fantastic chocolate cake, and whenthe ‘80’candle had been lit and blown out, was very much enjoyed! A card, signed by all present, was given toDoris, and she thanked everyone for the bottles of wine that had previously been sent to her.

Most of those present stayed onfor lunch, and the conversationnever lagged for an instant! Manyreminiscences were exchanged andnews of others not able to attend.Doris was on splendid form, and agreat time was had by all.

There is nothing better than carols in chapel on a cold winter’s evening. Happily, this year’s carol service wasnot heralded with a huge fall of snow, which last year had made it difficult for many Society members toattend. There were a good number present this year to enjoy the carefully chosen mix of readings, poemsand carols. Many staff, ex-staff and Old Girls took part and highlights were a poem read by Mrs Forbes witha picture power point presentation and the beautiful solo by Julia Weatherley of ‘O, Holy Night’. The servicehad been put together to include many favourite traditional carols and it certainly sounded as if everyoneenjoyed getting their voices warmed up for Christmas. The occasion was completed by mulled wine andmince pies in the entrance hall - a fitting end to a festive event which has hopefully become a fixture on theQueen Anne’s Society calendar. Please note the date of our 2012 carol service is Sunday 9th December at4.30p.m in the school chapel.

The QA Society Theatre Trip

Everyone who knows me is aware of my love of going to the theatre and so it was a pleasant surprise whenour Society Chair, Clare, asked me how I’d like to take a party to the theatre. I have to admit that my firstthought was a sinking one as I enquired whether I had better get seats for a musical (remembering Houseoutings!). I am not a great fan of musicals and was delighted when it was agreed that I should choose a playwhich I would like to see. When I consulted Duncan about taking a theatre trip, he did say that he thoughtwe had finished taking trips but once he realised it was Queen Anne’s Society members, he brightened up at once!

The responsibility of choosing the play was weighty but we picked ‘The Kitchen’ by Arnold Wesker at theNational Theatre, as being a play that not many people could have seen and which would provide a goodevening out. The day priority booking opened, I was up early and online in time to get good seats, and thenwe had to wait to see if people would accept the invitation. I need not have worried! We had an excellentresponse and all tickets were taken for our outing on 22 September. Lauren Troake and Clare Chapman, whohad actually done all the hard work, met us at the café in the theatre where we had supper before theperformance. Duncan and I were thrilled that we had a complete range of ages amongst our party and that,in no time, the café was humming with a familiar Queen Anne’s noise of happy chat.

The play was a remarkable experience, especially towards the end of the first act when it became almost aballet in the busy kitchen, as people whisked, tossed, sieved, baked and all the other culinary activities whichfortunately we usually only do one at a time. People rushed backwards and forwards and many a nearcollision was skilfully avoided. We found ourselves holding our breath as the pace hotted up and the actorstwisted and turned with frenetic grace. The second half of the play was more serious with Wesker showingus how London in the 1950s was becoming multicultural; his characters portrayed different nationalcharacteristics which interacted humorously and clashed poignantly.

We’re excited to announce the details of our second outing in the spring: Love, Love, Love by MikeBartlett on Wed, 9th May at The Royal Court, London SW1. Details on timings, pre-theatredinner/drinks and how to reserve your tickets will be released in due course via email. Do join us!

Debbie Forbes

QA Society News 36

overseas posting (1995-1999) wasto Zimbabwe. She was secondedto the Department of InternationalDevelopment(DFID) to administerHealth and Sanitation projects inthe rural areas.

Cynnie Saunders (Stiles) had ahands-on ‘presidential partner’role as a Headmaster’s wife.Husband Chris was head ofEastbourne College 1981-1993 andLancing College from 1993-1998.She served as a Magistrate, becameLadies’ Captain of the BradfieldCollege Golf Club and now runsthe village choir in HampsteadNorreys, Berkshire!

In the highest QAS tradition of our era JennyWilliams (Mann) spent much of her ‘spare-time’serving the community. She is a volunteer for herlocal Meals on Wheels , one of only two left in theCountry where the volunteers actually still cook themeals as opposed to heating them from frozenready-mades. She served on the school PTA, led alocal charity committee that ran fund-raising Dancesfor teenagers- ‘it sounds frivolous but I can assureyou it was pretty hair-raising!’ After QAS Jennywent to the Paris, learned French, trained as aMontessori Teacher then married had four childrenand stayed at home in the East Grinstead arearearing her children and ponies - her children rodecompetitively. ‘ I loved it, and still have an interestin a couple of racehorses today.’ Jenny became apart-time teacher in a Montessori Nursery Schooluntil her pension clicked in. ‘My pension arrivedcourtesy of Tony Blair's scheme to treat non-working mothers as if they had paid NationalInsurance contributions for a maximum of 18 years!I didn't ask for it, they just gave it to me but threecheers for Tony anyway!’

Jill Davies (Zerny) recalled a freezing snowy NewYear’s Eve when we were teen-agers. London wascovered with a blanket of snow. Public transport

ground to a halt and stranded her in London. Jillwas unable to get home for her own New Year’sparty and stayed the night with me and my father.We went to a party at a friend’s house in PortlandPlace and welcomed in the New Year playing in askiffle-band. (My musical instrument was loo-paperand comb.)

After QAS Jill went to teacher training college. Herdream had been to become a journalist. Years latershe discovered that QAS Head Mistress, Miss Challisand Jill’s Mother had colluded to block that dreamand instead channel her into teaching. Miss Challisapparently felt journalism was 'not a suitableoccupation for a young woman'.

At 19, Jill was the first of our class to become amother. She mostly raised her family in Monmouth(with a brief stint in the US). In the mid-70s she wasinvolved in the pre- school playgroup movementand ran a play-group. She worked with socialservices in a joint provision for under 5's and theirfamilies committee. Jill dipped her toes into localpolitics. She stood twice as a candidate for theDistrict Council– ‘thankfully not elected but it wasclose.’ She had a small holding for a few years -goats, calves, sheep, ducks and ponies.

Pre-Westminster Abbey Reunion Lunch (Vintage class of 1956 -1962)

When five of us former Queen Anne’s Schoolstudents (vintage class of 1956-1962) met for areunion lunch ahead of attending the QAS October2011 biennial service at Westminster Abbey, whatvenue could be more apt than a restaurant dubbed‘Queen Anne’s Footstool’? The restaurant, a tenminute walk from the Abbey, is deep down in thecrypt of St John’s Church, Smith Square. The fourchurch towers are said to give the building thesemblance of an upturned footstool. According tolegend, when the architect Thomas Archerconsulted Queen Anne on the design of the newchurch (built in 1758) the Monarch kicked over herfootstool, pointed at it, and snapped 'like that!'

As I walked towards our reunion lunch I mulledover memories of my old stomping territory. SmithSquare is in the heart of Political-land/Westminster.Now I work mostly overseas in developingcountries, but for many years I was closelyconnected with the House of Commons and Houseof Lords, first as a political researcher, then asfounder of the all-Party 300 Group campaign to getmore women into parliament, later as a politicaljournalist. In 1980 when we launched the campaignthere were just 19 women out of 635 MPs, thesame 3% as Afghanistan at that time. A few yearslater I interviewed Member of Parliament TeresaGorman at her home just off Smith Square for mypaperback ‘Women with ‘X’ Appeal’ about the livesof 35 women in British politics.

When I said ‘vintage Class of…’ I need to point outwe were the last of the generations of womenalmost solely bred and educated to be wives ofheadmasters, wives of Government Ministers,wives of diplomats…’ rather than seeking careers ofvalue and importance of our own. At the time weregarded the few exceptions in our class who were

to go to University, almost with pity, as a bit of anaberration - the term ‘blue stocking’ was used as aperjorative. QAS bred into us a strong sense ofcommunity service - we were destined to be nursesand nurturers (not doctors) and to dedicate timeto charitable matters. You can see below CynnieStiles and Jenny Mann’s lives followed very much in this pattern.

Over lunch, in a cheerful camaraderie, we loopedthe loop from our shared school days and sortiesinto the world and back. As we chatted we realisedhow much QAS ethos and doctrine of the late1950s had influenced us. Nowadays, thanks to manyhard-fought women’s rights campaigns, womenexpect to combine successful careers with familylife - this was almost an impossibility for most in ourgeneration. Our work/family life careers wereunplanned and triggered by a combination ofwicked step-mothers, marriages, divorces, birthsand family deaths and other happenstances. Out ofthe five of us, only one, Jane Pearey, achieved a full-time conventional career path. One clue to Jane’slong-term, distinguished and unbroken ForeignOffice career lay in the fact Jane didn’t marry. Upuntil the mid- 1970s a woman working at the FCOor any other Civil Service had to quit the job if shegot married. This rule cut short many buddingcareers for women of our generation.

Jane Pearey joined the Foreign Office in 1969 aftertraining as a nurse at St Bartholomews Hospital andhad a varied and exciting Foreign Office career. Herfinal pre-retirement FCO job (2000-2005) was asHead of Ceremonial Section helping organise Royalevents with the Palace where they involved foreignAmbassadors posted to London, eg RemembranceSunday, Royal Garden Parties and the Presentationof Credentials to HM The Queen. Jane’s final

Lauren Troake, Jill Davies (Zerny), Jane Pearey, Jenny Williams (Mann),

Cynnie Saunders (Stiles), Lesley Abdela

QA Society News 38

As we have done each year since meeting up at schoolagain in 2008, a group of us came together in April,courtesy of Anthea Seward (Harman) who canaccommodate us in her splendid Shropshire house. Webegan our reunion with sparkling wine and nibbles on thepatio in the Friday late afternoon sunshine, followed by ameal ‘at home’. We were thrilled to be joined on thisoccasion by a (significant) member of our class, whommany had not met since the 1970s, and to be able to catchup by phone with another who sadly couldn’t be with us.We walked along Chirk Viaduct (and some braved thespooky tunnel too) and around Chirk Castle on a NationalTrust Open Day, as well as enjoying a pub meal and sing-along at home, accompaniment provided by our twopro-musicians, Lis and Liz. Despite the tragedies that havebefallen the Class of ’68 over the intervening years anddespite getting together only once a year, we are as close-knit now as we were all those years ago and feel verycomfortable in each other’s company. Present: Alison Suter,Ann Mansbridge, Anthea Seward (Harman), Hilary Bailey,Jenni Agricola (Nance), Lesley Oakden, Lis Wilson (Payne),Liz Reilly (Irvin), Moira Mott (d’Eye), Peta Bowyer (Sellick),Sue Amesbury (Winn).

1968 Reunion

Births

Wendy Reid (Brown) - a daughter, RosemaryAbigail born 7th April 2011 to Wendy and husband Douglas.

During the eighties she worked on voluntaryprojects- a Well Woman Centre and support groupfor Women's Aid and freelanced as a journalist. Thisled to becoming a Womens' Studies tutor workingfor University College Cardiff, LEA, WEA.

Eventually Jill built her own business providingconsultancy, training solutions and resourcedevelopment about leadership behaviour toorganisations in the UK and overseas training stafffor household names in manufacturing andengineering such as Marks and Spencer, Corus andICI, and for teachers, probation, health and socialservices. ‘It was a wonderful time, full of learningand doing a job I loved and was passionate about.’

Six years after her husband died of cancer Jill wentto live on an Island on the West Coast of Canada tobe near her young grandson. From January to mid-April she skis at least twice a week with various skibuddies. She cycles and learned to play golf. For twoyears she commuted between Canada and Cardiff.In the UK she worked, ‘when I returned toVancouver Island I played!’ An encounter withbreast cancer in 2007 led to the decision to retire.‘Since then I have loved living in the smallcommunity of Nanoose Bay. My home looks outover North West Bay and the mountains; thesunsets can be glorious and my grandson thinks hehas his own personal beach house! In this amazingplayground there are beaches to be walked,

mountain trails to be hiked and, from time to time,big West Coast waves to be ridden.’ But once againthere is no escape from QAS duty to serve - Jill sitson the board of Directors for her local library andis an activist on conservation projects. She recentlyhelped secure a beautiful coastal, forest andwetland acreage as their newest Regional Park.

The five of us from our year who met up at QueenAnne’s Footstool had rarely seen each other overthe past 50 years, yet we picked up theconversation as though we had never left it. Overthe years we have, worked in various fields, forourselves and for others, for the State and for thecommunity, some paid and some as charity work.We have cried and laughed and worried and lovedand lost and picked ourselves up and started allover again. Toward the end of lunch Lauren Troake,QAS Alumni Relations, joined us for coffee and,though we had never met before, slippedseamlessly into the conversation.

We would love to hear from our QAScontemporaries. Some of us may try to get togetherwhen Jill makes her annual trip back to the UK. Thisis usually in the autumn. Why not join us? E-maillesley.abdela@shevolution.com or jilldavies@shaw.ca

Lesley Abdela

Amy Wilson (Verge) - In February 2011 ourdaughter Evelyn May was born on her Daddy’s birthday!

QA Society News 40

Obituaries

Sally Godfrey1946-2011Sally Godfrey (Johnson), a popular and respectedmember of the Arundel and wider West Sussexcommunity, and a former chairman of the Arundelbench, died on 15 February, aged 64.

Sally was born in Surrey and educated at QueenAnne’s School, Caversham (where she was head girl)and the University of Sussex. She worked in London,initially with the Institute of Race Relations and thenas a social worker, specialising in child protection.

With her husband, Sally moved to Arundel in 1974when John took up a new post with West SussexCounty Council, and she brought up their threesons in the family home in Maltravers Street.In her early days in Arundel, Sally set up a motherand toddler group and became chairman of both theArundel branch of the NSPCC and the governors ofArundel Church of England primary school. She wasalso clerk to both Ford and Clymping parish councilsfor a while and director of Sussex Seen Ltd., a smallcompany which arranged walking holidays, mainlyon the South Downs.

In 1981, Sally was appointed as a magistrate on theArundel bench. At the time, she was the youngestmagistrate in West Sussex. She rapidly became achairman, sitting mainly in adult courts in Arundel,Chichester and Worthing. Her wisdom andunderstanding on the bench, the clarity of herdecision-making and her skill in dealing with people

resulted in her being chosen, by her peers, to bethe last chairman of the Arundel bench. When theArundel courthouse was closed, Sally presided overthe last sitting and was presented by the clerk witha pair of white gloves, symbolising that the court’swork was completed. She retired from the bench in2010, after very nearly 30 years service.

Sally was also active in the health sector. She was anon-executive member of the Worthing healthauthority and then the West Sussex primary caretrust, taking a special interest in the provision ofhealth services to the inmates of HM Prison Ford,where she was for a time a member of the paroleboard. For 15 years, she was a member of themental health review tribunal, determining appealsby patients detained under the Mental Health Acts.This involved considerable travel to psychiatrichospitals all over the south east of England,including Broadmoor special hospital at Crowthorne.

spread to her spine and lungs. She was given 2 - 3months to live. As ever, mum used the timeeffectively. She sorted out her affairs and said hergood-byes. Seven weeks later her desire to diepeacefully at home and not alone was fulfilled. Shehas fought the good fight and run the race. She can

now receive the crown of righteousness that awaitsher in heaven.

With all our love,

Frances, Gwyneth and Rowena (her three daughters)

Deaths

Sadly I have to anounce the death of AnneElizabeth Mount (Hammond) on 10th December2010 from MND. Anne had suffered with this forsome years. She died peacefully at home with herdaughter Jo and her husband with her.

Brian Mount

Monica Atchley, Sturge, died peacefully on 15thApril, in Lymington, aged 93.

At Monica’s funeral and the happy family gatheringafterwards to celebrate her life, there were severalQA Society girls: her nieces, Su Walkinshaw andAnthea Davies (both Percy) and Monica’sstepdaughters, Kate Atchley and Marion Lewis andJudith Hughes-Lewis both Atchley.

‘Dorothy Beach was born in Buenos Aires in 1925but her mother died immediately afterwards. Herearly life in South America, where her father wasaccountant with Shell, infused a love for travelwhich was to shape her life. As she grew up withher aunt now as her new mother, she was sent toQueen Anne's and the family returned to Englandwhen her father retired at the outbreak of WW2.After Queen Anne's, where she was followed byher sister Elizabeth, she joined what was outwardlythe Fannies, but in reality the SOE, and took part inthe allied landings in Italy. On being demobbed, heraptitude for national security, her fluency in Spanishand her interest in overseas travel made her alogical candidate to join the FCO. Her first tour wasto Berlin in 1954, at the height of the Cold War. Hersubsequent appointments took her to Rangoon,Singapore, Mexico, Bahamas, Malta, Santiago,Montevideo, and finally to London on promotion.She remained single and intensely loyal to her work,remaining with the FCO until retirement toRowlands Castle. Yet her love for travel remained,and she visited many off-the-beat destinations suchas the Gallapagos Islands, Uzbekistan, Nepal and

China. She lived frugally and unlike some, neverspoke out about her highly secret work. She wouldalso never accept that increasing frailty should get inthe way of her social life in Hampshire, whichtended to centre around golf, bridge, a NationalTrust steward and, of course, travel. Even in hervery last day she kept a diary appointment withNadfas, but died suddenly at home at the age of 85.Following her wishes, her ashes have been interredinto her mother's grave in Buenos Aires.’

Nigel Smith

Marion Elizabeth Chittleborough (Glanville) diedpeacefully at home on 12 July 2011 after a bravebattle with cancer. Described by a friend as ‘one ofthose indomitable women who was always therewhatever needed to be done, with that heartylaugh and intrepid spirit’ she had a remarkable life.After a very successful school career (head girlexcelling in both music and sport) she served as amissionary in East Africa for 28 years. She returnedto the UK in 1980 continuing to support her family,and playing an active part in the church and herlocal community. A lady who inspired and loved,she has left behind 2 sisters, 3 daughters and 5 grandchildren.

Dear Friends,

It is with great sadness that we write to tell you thatMarion Chittleborough (our mother) passed awaypeacefully in her home around 2.15pm today. Agood friend from church - Jenny Clarke - was sittingwith her in her final hours. In her last days she wasat home supported by Christian carers from Ghana,Uganda and Zimbabwe, a caring team of medicalstaff and wonderfully faithful friends and family.

As many of you know, our mother had beenbattling with cancer for four years, but her situationdeteriorated rapidly this year. At the end of May shewas admitted into hospital in extreme pain. TheMRI scan showed that the aggressive cancer had

QA Society News 42

Compostela in Spain with a group of friends fromthe Cathedral, which she described as ‘anunforgettable experience’. The Precentor ofSalisbury Cathedral spoke of Jenny’s warmth,kindness and a ‘beaming personality’.

Jenny served for many years on the committee ofthe QAS Old Girls’ Society: Chairman from 1969 to1974 - the first Old Girl to hold this position,previously held only by the Headmistress of the day.Then she became a ‘meticulous and efficient’Treasurer during Lin Hutchinson’s Chairmanship,until 2000, taking over from Miss Grove (on thestaff for approx. 35 years) after her death in 1991. In1977, the year of the present Queen’s Silver Jubilee,Jenny began over fifteen years as a Trustee of theQAS Jubilee Scholarship Fund, inaugurated initiallyin 1944 when QAS celebrated its own GoldenJubilee and Jenny was still a pupil. She was clearlyvery fond of Queen Anne’s and proud of havingbeen there, and wanting to give back all she couldto the school. Jenny’s was a life of indefatigableservice to others from very varied walks of life, andshe enriched the lives of many. She will be muchmissed by all those who knew her.

Endellion Sharpe

Jennifer was a lifelong supporter of Queen Anne’s

School. She joined the school during the war at the

tender age of ten, leaving after sixth form to read

Chemistry at Sir John Cass College, London. As an

Old Girl of the school, she subsequently joined the

committee of the Old Girls’ Society, then became

the first Old Girl chairman, the position having

previously been held by the headmistress of the

day. Jennifer was chairman from 1969-1974,

remaining on the committee firstly as treasurer of

the Jubilee Scholarship Fund, then when Grovie left,

as Treasurer, a post she held until 1999, when she

became an ‘elder statesman’, to whom members of

the committee frequently referred for guidance.

Generous, almost to a fault, during her years inLondon where she rose to become a partner ofMAS Survey Research, Jenny entertained guests inher flat which was conveniently situated close toCovent Garden (for the Opera House rather thanthe market, although that also was useful). After herretirement in 1997 her beautiful house in Salisburywas a haven for friends as well as for herself.

In Salisbury she devoted her energy and enthusiasmto a number of causes including the Salisbury Musicand Orchestral Societies and chaired the Salisburycommittee of the Southern Catherdral’s Festivalthree times. Indeed, it was at one of these festivalsin Chichester in July 2010 that I last saw and lunchedwith her. At that time she seemed to be as full ofenergy as ever, but in the autumn she developed acough which she was unable to shake off and shedied quite suddenly in hospital in January 2011. Iattended her funeral in Salisbury Cathedral,together with representatives of her manyinterests, and even former students from Sir JohnCass College with whom she had kept in touchover the years.

Queen Anne’s has lost a very valuable alumna andI personally, amongst many others, have lost a good friend.

Audrey Scott

Aside from her work, her family and friends, Sally’spassion was music, and especially choral music. Shesang in the choir of St Nicholas parish church inArundel and for over 20 years was a member ofthe prestigious Brighton festival chorus, leading thesecond alto section and travelling with the chorusto major concert venues in the UK and continental Europe.

Sally will be remembered as a vital, intelligent,capable and compassionate woman, whosecontribution to the life of the community wasoutshone only by the leadership and inspiration sheprovided (and will continue to provide) to herfamily and friends.

Jennifer Bowen 1932-2011Jenny Bowen, daughter of a Naval officer, attendedQueen Anne’s from 1943 to 1950, and then wenton to read Chemistry at Sir John Cass College. Sheworked for Proctor and Gamble before joiningtheir advertising agency, which had one of the bestmarket research departments, then a new disciplinein Britain. She moved in 1963 to Marketing AdvisoryServices (MAS), one of the earliest market researchagencies in London, very shortly afterwardsbecoming Director - the first woman Director of amarket research company. One of her fellowdirectors said about Jenny: ‘Her principles were

unquestioned and unquestionable and this fromtime to time could lead to fireworks - indeed toquite severe heat… (but) Jennifer’s innate kindnesswould cool things down. Her cheerfulness wouldtriumph.’ Co-incidentally Endellion Sharpe (1958-64)also joined MAS some five years later as a rawgraduate trainee, but in a different team fromJenny’s; which of them was more astonished whenbumping into the other at QAS Old Girls’ Day thefollowing summer is a matter of conjecture. Jennybecame very involved with the Market ResearchSociety, the industry’s professional body, holding anumber of positions including Secretary. In 1977 shewas one of the principal founders of the MarketResearch Benevolent Association - which providessupport and financial help to members of theprofession falling on hard times - serving asPresident from 1983 to 1987 and continuing as amember of its Management Committee and asNational Cases Manager until 1997. Apart frommany friends and family at her funeral in March 2011at Salisbury Cathedral, there were a large numberof her former staff at MAS, full of warm andthankful memories for the influence she had ontheir professional lives - encouraging, loyal,generous, and a great teacher and example.

When MAS was sold to new owners in 1987 Jennyretired to Salisbury and a new life of voluntarywork, including Chairmanship of the Friends of theHistoric Houses Association, travel and enjoyingconcerts and plays with her many friends. She wasfor many years Chairman of the Friends ofHarnham water meadows, an area of historiclandscape in Salisbury and a Site of Special ScientificInterest (SSSI) in need of conservation, and she alsosupported Heligan and the Eden Project inCornwall, where she was born. A keen music lover,Jenny supported the Royal Opera House, EnglishNational Opera and the Aldeburgh Festival as wellas the Salisbury Cathedral Choral Foundation, theSouthern Cathedrals Festivals, and other localchoral societies. Other highlights of Jenny’sinvolvement with Salisbury Cathedral includedmeeting Her Majesty The Queen, and Pope JohnPaul II in 1992, and in May 2002 walking the last 125miles of the Pilgrim Road to Santiago de

QA Society News 44

December's 'Intelligent Life' and 'Schon' magazines.Apart from that there is always gardening, painting,going to the theatre and visiting friends - neverenough days in the week!

My children are all thriving. Claire's boys now 18 atWellington College doing 'A's'. Rose's Grace is atDowne House and Robin has just gone toBryanston. My son Mark is teaching Yoga in India.

Ruth Bright1943-47An update, and glimpse of a very lively personality,as shown through some email communicationbetween Lauren and Ruth Bright (Ockenden)…

Probably not - having left QAS in 1947, you canguess that I am now in my 83rd year, and air travelis not very appealing - as well as horribly costlybecause of the insurance!

Never mind, QAS is never forgotten - theinvolvement that I had there in music contributedto my (successful!) career as a music therapist andwriter, and the tuition in playing the organ - fromMiss Tyrrell - is still useful because I continue to playthe organ for Church services a few times eachmonth, and her teaching is still with me..

And the spiritual aspects of life too, which werenurtured at QAS, are part of my daily life and beliefs.

What a biographical email to send so early in themorning (6.15 a.m. her in Sydney)!

Dear Ruth

How lovely to hear from you - maybe next time!

Lauren

I wish that I could come - but (a) it is a long wayand (b) it is horribly expensive to fly from Australia!

But it is good to know about the service, to readabout it reminded me of the 100 year celebrationswhich I did attend because we were on holiday inEurope and arranged to be in London at theappropriate time.but not this time, alas....!

Best wishes, from Ruth Bright (Ockenden)

1950-1954Ann Fletcher(Mclea 1949-53)Having spent many years in the Middle East andlatterly in Spain, I am now well settled in Surreyafter losing my husband. My daughters DeborahFletcher-Biles (1974-1977), Jacqueline Taylor-Smith(1975-1982), and niece Vicki Prince (Allsebrook,1973-1979) all live not far away. Debbie and Vickilive near Twickenham and Jacqueline and her familyare fifteen minutes away in Westerham. Debbie hasa step-family of three, Jacqueline has two girls andVicki two boys.

I am in touch with Diana Maclean (Solomon) andPhilippa Dupenois (Slade). I have seen Di since herillness and she was doing well, and Philippa moreoften as she lives not too far away.

Life is full. I am Sacristan at my local church havingdone the same 'job' in Spain for a long time, play afair amount of bridge, and belong to various othergroups to go walking, painting and do aqua aerobics.

Dr Ann Camps(Robinson 1945-50)As the Season approaches and it is time forgreetings reality intrudes with the realisation thattime has taken its toll and sadly reduced the ranksof old friends and acquaintances.

Your Updates

1940-1944Joan thomas1941-45I have been meaning to write for a week or two tolet you know that Carol Crombie (Henderson) diedin January this year. You may have already receivedthis information, but I thought I should confirm. Shewas in Maddock from approximately 1941-1944 We were good friends and in the last few yearshave had some great holidays together, and I missher very much.

I am Joan Thomas (Cresswell) and I still live inDevon same address and thoroughly enjoy yourannual Society News. My life has been a bitrestricted because of arthritis and I am nearly allplastic now!!! Had a new ankle about six monthsago!! Would love to see any QAS Old Girls if theyever come to the North Devon area. I am on theedge of Exmoor.

Thanks for all your hard work.

1945-1949Cherry Macdonald-Taylor(Birch) A reply in response to our first theatre tripinvitation:What a lovely idea, but not, these days in my lifestyle, unless I go with my son to see performancesby John Cleese, Tim MinchinIt , The Hairy Bikers,Rob Bryden, or who ever else he is tour managerto at that time. (The most exciting was meeting myson in Sydney in 2000 when he was on tour withRuby Wax. down under!

It is great to be included, or invited to such events,thank you.

My quieter life style means primary school plays inBristol, where I meet my granddaughter's friend'smother who was at Queem Anne's, and is now alecturer at Bristol University. I moved from

Staffordshire, where I was a special educationalneeds teacher for 30 years, and still commute upthere reularly to ring church bells, etc., with my friends.

I am a senior screener for Irlen Syndrome,(www.irlen.co.uk); and help with a 3 year oldgrandson in Corsham. Wiltshire. All this in beautifulareas of the country, and so I am a very happy andfortunate lady. However, at this point, it does notinclude dressing up and intellectual socializing,although I did all this many years ago!

I do appreciate still being a part of Queen Anne's. Iam shortly bringing our 2 generation 'well-worn'red cloak for your museum.

It pre-dates the War when it was worn by BettyCarole, and then her sister, Jeanette. I had it from1948/49 ,and then my sister, June Birch inherited it in 1955.

Daphne Selfe1941-45I still seem to be modelling quite a bit and last yearI did fashion shows, commercials and photo shootsin Berlin, Prague, Beijing, Ibiza, Paris and of courseLondon etc. So far this year I have been to Dublinand Paris too. Seeing new people and places isalways fascinating! What a great job! Everythingseems to be gearing up for the Jubilee so any of uswho have been around 60 years are being includedin magazines and papers! Anyone who is interestedcan look me and my pictures up onwww.models.co.uk daphne selfe or just daphneselfe (the latter can be amusing as there seem tobe people on that which are not me!)

It was lovely to meet old and new friends atWestminster Abbey recently but I was horrified tosee that the famous red cloaks are not 'scarlet' anymore! I keep in touch with Sheila Hogarth andsometimes Joy Maitland but as you can see I amalways very busy! I have recently done a shoot for

QA Society News 46

performances of the New York City Ballet at theirsummer home. No! We did not go to the races -just the ballet. Difficult to get to from Toronto otherthan by road, a group of the Volunteer Committeetravelled together by coach and with a scenic routethrough the Adirondacks. Good company, goodperformances and the novel experience of theoutdoor but covered auditorium built into a hill.Warm but not too hot that weekend and themosquitoes were not a nuisance.

Past Labour Day and slightly cooler weather and itwas time to think about a smaller suitcase and abarge trip in France. This time with a group of 18and a tour manager we flew to Paris and returnedhome two weeks later from Nice (via Munich!). Aday tour from Paris to Barbizon (a village of artists)and nearby Fontainebleau as well as walks throughMontmartre and the Marais preceded a TGV rideto Dijon to board the Caprice. Six nights on thebarge with sightseeing and frequent wine tastings inBurgundy. A knowlegeable guide and an area witha great deal of history was supplemented by superbfood. Disembarking in Lyon we continued south bycoach (with our guide, coach and driver from Paris)with time to explore Avignon and Nice andsurrounding areas. A very busy and interesting tourin parts of France I had not seen in many years.Returning home it was time to remedy the sleepdeficit and to begin to think about the imminentballet season.

Sunday November 20th - the annual ritual of theSanta Claus parade which passes close to the FourSeasons Centre and provided a side-show duringthe ballet intermissions. Cool and sunny forecastbut with temperature to drop by 10 degrees or so.So far despite the overnight frost the geranii stilllook good and the foliage on the trees has reachedthe golden stage.

Now time to close off as December is nigh and yetthe geranii on the balcony are still colourful even at 9 degrees.

Philippa Dupenois(Slade)Ann Knott (Hodgson 1948-53) and I have kept upever since we both left QAS. The last thing we didwhile still at school, was to camp out under Big Benin order to watch the Coronation procession. Wewere looked after by one of the police cordon, whohappened to be a friend of my family from British Guiana.

I went straight out to Guiana after leaving schooland that was where I met my husband Charles. Hehad come over from Trinidad bringing a rugby teamto play a tournament in Guiana.

We came to England to marry, and Ann, who wasat that time studying nursing at Guys, came downthe day before our wedding and ironed mywedding dress!

Unfortunately she was unable to get time off tocome to our wedding.

I have been in contact after many years with AnnFletcher (McLea) and she has been giving me adviceon moving house, which we had not done for 47years since we returned from Trinidad in 1963 Wehave spent most of this last year doing what theycall 'downsizing' and it has been a nightmaremoving from a large Edwardian six-bedroom houseto a 1 bedroom bungalow. Ann had said we mustbe ruthless about chucking things out, and she wasabsolutely right, but we did not do enough of it; soare now unable to get the rest of belongings out ofstore, as there is not room until we have donesome more sorting out and built on another room.

They say we are to have another cold Winter; sowe are particularly interested in receiving the thingsin storage as they still have our winter clothes!

We moved out of Summerdale on 5 August, andtook up residence with Sebastian. He is renting achalet bungalow in Ashtead, which is where wehave just bought an ugly bungalow, which needsquite a bit of work, after which, it will be very nice!The main thing is that it is just over the road from

But life goes on and once again I have kept busy. Myregular volunteer activity continues to be with theVolunteer Committee of the National Ballet ofCanada and a shift a week at Paper Things, the retailfund raising retail store and working at the Boutiquein the theatre during ballet seasons. This year theCompany is celebrating 60 years so they haveadditional activities both to enjoy and to work on.The first night of a new full length Romeo and Juliet(Nov 16 2011) - stiil the Profokiev music but withnew choreography by Alexei Ratmansky (ex RoyalWinnipeg, Bolshoi, Royal Danish and artisticdirector of ABT in New York) and new costumesand decor, was an exciting event. A full house andprolonged applause. The reviews are good and thislooks like a new classic production as well as a goodincome generator.

Earlier, January and February, were busy too andincluded a ballet appreciation course and the ErikBruhn competition. The latter is a competition fortwo dancers from each of four invited companiesto compete for a trophy and cash prize. It is held atintervals by the National Ballet of Canada and hasbecome an exciting event and prestigious award.As well there were ballet and theatre subscriptionperformances and much time spent collecting andorganising tax papers so that my accountant couldfile for me while I was away cruising.

Travel has become something of a habit with meand this year was no exception. And so at the endof March, I flew to Frankfurt and on to Mumbai fortime off cruising. From Mumbai to Cape Town toDover at 20 mph with interesting port calls wasanother exhilarating trip. A visit to Malé (Maldives)coincided with the visit of a formal delegation fromBhutan but we had no problem visiting themuseum of the site of a tree-planting by thedelegate later in the day and wandered the fish andfruit markets without hindrance.

The islands of Mauritius and Reunion providedinteresting contrasts with the former very Britishand the latter very, very French with absolutelyeverything imported from France. Spectacularvolcanoes on Reunion where tours drive across the

active volcano beds, and the only currency is theEuro. The occasional craft/souvenir store does notaccept credit cards - or any other currency.

Game drives from Port Elizabeth and Durban wereinteresting, as always, but in damp weatherphotography was a bit limited. Plenty of smallergame but not lions or elephants this time. Time inCape Town provided for a visit to notable wineriesas well as the spectacular scenery of the Cape andTable Mountain - not to forget Camps Bay!The port call to Walvis Bay (Namibia) was notablefor torrential rain - where it is said ít never rains’. Aboat ride into the bay still showed plenty of localbirds and sea life and ended with champagne andoysters (from the beds in the bay) for refreshments.Bom Bom Island provided a day on a coral atolresort– almost on the equator and with not toomuch to recommend lingering there.

Onward in the Gulf of Guinea to vist Lom in Togo.A long and narrow country on the map that has avery active port that thrives on the export trade ofits neighbours, including land-locked Burkino Fasso.Iomé was celebrating a civic event but we stillmanaged to enjoy(?) the town, the voodoo objectsin the market, the street scenes and a short drive tothe border with Ghana where there was only avery simple barrier but, please, no photos.

Takoradi and Dakar completed the African port calls- interesting towns and villages, colourful markets,with the slave trade history and many old andderelict premises and churches still decorated forEaster. Some new developments including roadsbut also a new and pristine football stadium builtfor the recent international competition - in themiddle of nowhere. Lisbon and a revisit to Fatima(last seen on 1958!) was the last port beforedisembarkation and the flight home while CrystalSerenity headed for Hamburg and two weeks in drydock for renovations.

Home for the summer, it was time to plant thebalcony containers to provide colour and for catchup time. But there was a ballet packed weekendexcursion in July to Saratoga Springs for the final few

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I am sending along photos that were taken duringour visit with Liz and Cal. Take a good look at them- no air-brushing and Liz does not look a day over35, has the figure of a twenty year old, and is stillthe outstanding athlete she always was!!

In family news I have just become the proud Grannyof my third granddaughter (called Zoe - don't askme where the name comes from, I guess it is rightup there with Harper when it comes to beingtrendy!) which now makes me grand-mother of 7which is pretty impressive I think!

If there is anyone else from QAS in North America,or someone who is passing through central Canadaor Mexico (January-March) let me know - I'd loveto get together. All the best to everyone. I know it'sbeen a particularly tough year for some people.Hang in and keep strong. My thoughts are with you.

Janet Hartley(Saunders 1952-59)I was back in the UK in September for TheCentenial Celebration of the St Thomas' HospitalPhysiotherapy School.It started in 1911 and ended in2011, as it is now part of Brighton University.Lunchon the balconies of the House of Commons andLords was great fun, and I think we sounded like‘Sparrows in a tree’ !! I was able to talk to Bridget

Evers but unfortunately we were unable to meet.InOctober my husband and I played 6 games,3courses, of golf in Hawaii Big Island----interesting----lovely green fairways and greens,built on blacklarva with mounds of larva either side!

Mary Pryce(Manning 1956-58)Sadly I lost my husband a year ago. My children andfriends have been wonderful in helping me throughthe difficult process of bereavement. I am still livingin NE Somerset and keep in touch with all that goeson in the Speech and Language Therapy world. I amhoping for a more cheerful year in 2012.

Pamela Buchner(1950-56)Still acting! Summer 2010 saw me in an unusual ‘sitespecific’ production in an aircraft hangar inBentwater Park, Rendlesham Forest in Suffolk forEastern Angles Theatre Company. Having done twolong Summer seasons at the beautiful Theatre bythe Lake, Keswick in ’05 and ’08, I was invited backfor their Christmas show, Tom’s Midnight Garden.The hard winter there was truly magical. The lakefroze, more snow fell on top and it was white asfar as the eye could see - a sparkling winterwonderland. In Spring this year I appeared at YorkTheatre Royal in Arthur Miller’s The Crucible.Somewhere along the line I featured in a couple ofTV commercials, one for Confused.com and one fora strange thing called an Eye-Pet!

I see my sister, Shirley Singleton in Somerset andwhile in the South-West I had a very enjoyable visitto Robert and Judy McLeish (Dorling) in Wareham.I occasionally see Jennifer Radford (Barnard) and mycousin Gillian Howes (Edell), head girl in about 1947!I am in touch, too, with Susan Richards (Powell). Ayear or so ago an enjoyable lunch was organised ata hotel near Diss by Angela Dugdale (Willey) forquite a few of QAS girls in the Eastern Region.

the RC church and only 5 minutes walk to thevillage. The village is very nice and has all facilitiesviz: library, cricket field, pond etc etc.

A charming young couple with one son of 16months and another expected in a couple of weeks,have bought Summerdale and are really thrilledboth with the house and the area; so that is verysatisfactory. Also, they took over our tenants, whichwas one of our big worries.

The move was quite as horrendous as we expectedit to be. Poor Julie and Roger had quite a difficulttime trying to make us understand that vacantpossession actually meant everything had to becleared out. They were absolutely wonderfulhelping us with it all and then Sebastian came tofetch all the things which were not going into store,but up to clutter up his rented property!! He thenwelcomed the whole family for a big curry supper- really we have been well-blessed.

We have spent a couple of weeks in France to havea spot of rest before the next stage. Roger went into the bungalow to knock down a couple of walls,while we were away; so that when we receive thefirst tranche of furniture from store on 21September, we will have a nice bedroom, whichseemed to be something that would be comfortingfor our return.!! The kitchen, sitting-room anddining area are very pleasant, but the 4 little match-box bedrooms painted in cycadelic colours werereally awful - never mind all will be well eventually.

1955-1959Alison Catherall (Gower 1950-57)Many thanks for the latest QAS News.

My husband and I try and return to the UK once ayear, and this year will be there from mid June tomid July to celebrate our Golden WeddingAnniversary, returning by sea and arriving back inAustralia in early September.

After leaving QAS in 1957, and QEC in 60, I wentout to Rhodesia/Zimbabwe in 61 working initiallyas a hospital biochemist, converting to a seniorbiology teacher in Africa, and continuing in Australiawhen we emigrated there in 81.

Southern Africa after 20 years working there isregarded as our second home, where our twochildren were born, and where many of our of ourteaching and mining friends still live.

I see that you graduated from Cape Town Uni andwish you well in your position co-ordinating AlumniRelations and hope to meet up with you one ofthese days. Should any QAS alumni be passingthrough Brisbane please contact me through emailas we live by the sea and close to the airport.

swnymor@bigpond.com

Gerry Castle(Castle-Trudel 1954-59)In September James and I decided to take a tripdown to Colorado and see if we could meet upwith Liz (Francis) at some point during our trip. Toour absolute delight we did and stayed for a nightwith Liz and her husband Cal in their beautifulhome in Evergreen just outside of Denver. It reallyamazes me that you can, not see someone for fiftyodd years, and yet when you do meet again the re-connect is immediate and time slips away.

One of the great things about visiting someonewho lives in a place is that you get to get off thetraditional tourist paths and see some things thatare special - insider secrets if you will. We weretaken by Liz and Cal on a wonderful drive up intothe mountains on a scenic route which givespanoramic mountain views as well as flora andfauna a plenty.

We also enjoyed a couple of meals with them - oneal fresco in a relaxed country style restaurant. Theother in the Brown's Palace Hotel in Denver - if youever get the chance stay there do - it's a great oldstyle luxury hotel with all the extras.

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Jan Goodenough(Higgs 1963-69)At long last after 40 years working for the Ministryof Defence I retired in September having hit the 60mark! We also celebrated our silver weddinganniversary in November and are now planning therest of our lives and will be doing all those thingsthat have been put off for years because of lack oftime. I have been lucky enough to be selected as avolunteer to work at the Olympics and have beenallocated to Wimbledon, so merely a 7 minute trainjourney to work each day! My mother, Jean Higgs(Turner) at QAS from 1934-40 will be 90 next yearbut still lives alone and copes admirably. We meetup with Katie Fay several times a year and explorea new area of the UK.

Joanna Barton(Mount 1960-66)A long time since my last update, I think, but thisyear has seen the end of my 31 years in the MedicalOncology Unit at St Bartholomew’s Hospital. Facedwith a third TUPE transfer, I opted to resign/retire,some 18 months before my 65th birthday, andalmost instantly became a user of the NHS ratherthan a worker within it! A right retinal tear on myfinal ‘paid’ day sent me scurrying to Moorfields,where they have brilliantly dealt with it (and withme) so that I can now, after a month of someanxiety, drive again, and feel ready to get on withmy retirement. We still live in Islington (with aweekend base in Oxfordshire), with a dog to keepus fit. David works from home, part-time, and wecan at last enjoy the many delights London can offerin the way of galleries, exhibitions, etc. There are nodefinite plans for the next stage of my life, butalready I am involved in setting up a choral group ina local day centre - after singing in choirs all my life,I am going to try standing in front of one for achange! I am in regular contact with Diana Malzer(Robinson), with Daphne Horton (Summerson) andalso with Frances Maczinski (Hayter), who plays theorgan for us on Sundays in Oxfordshire! Wediscovered that we were both QAS OGS quite bychance - her dates being somewhat later than mine.It was good to meet up with Lin Johnson (briefly) atthe National Theatre, too, earlier this year.

Sherry Falconer Monson(1961-1966)Worked for the BBC in Edinburgh, New York forfour years and then London till 1976. Met in NewYork and married in September 1976 in Edinburgh,Jolyon Monson, journalist. Bought a wreck of a 100acre farm in East Sussex and worked it ourselvesand rebuilt the house till 1986.

Two sons, Ben born 1977 and Jamie born 1979.Wicked stepson Guy, born 1971. All three great pals!

1984 Bought a small house in Jesùs Pobre, Spain.

Moved to Somerset 1987-1993. Boys at Millfield. I, as ever, still photographing madly. Learntupholstery, resat French and Spanish ‘A’ levels tokeep languages going. Jolyon Acting Editor of‘Today’, then Editor ‘Europhile’. A niece andnephew of Jolyon’s came to live with us en famillefor five years.

1994 Buy house in East Sussex. Jolyon in charge ofgetting the rolling news programme working onReuter’s London Radio 24-hour news station. I startpainting on porcelain, work part-time for anupholsterer, and also work with the partially-sightedone day a week.

Boys leave school, University days: Leeds andCoventry. Then jobs - Ben as EnvironmentalManager at Turner Townsend, Jamie forSportsvision.co.uk .

In 2003 we sell Spanish house and a week beforeChristmas 2004 - move to France. Rent for 6months and in July 2005 move into Val-Douix,Route de Dijon, 21150 Darcey, Côte-d’Or.

Sadly at this point Jolyon gets cancer, which is curedin 2007 but he receives massive radiation burnswhich become ulcerised and for which there is nocure except time. In Jan 2008 at end of hopes, wetravel to London for further aid and courtesy ofChelsea & Westminster Hospital, drugs are changedand the pain lessens so we return home. Thingshave much improved since and we are well settled

1960-1964Alexandra Harding (Lowe-1960-64ish)I've recently changed address (but have got the

recent edition of the News.)

Many thanks--I do enjoy reading about doings--andalways plan to contribute.........one day!

Note from the Editor: Thanks for the updatedaddress, but please do send in your news Alex!

Rosemary Clarke (Adam 1956-61)My husband has now been in the new SupremeCourt for 2 years since its inception, and is findingthe work very stimulating.

As a refurbished building that managed to get itsbudget through before the present financialdifficulties, it is hard to find fault with and completesthe separation of powers that were lacking underthe previous regime of Law Lords.

I am working as a Deputy Lieutenant of Kent toadvise the Lord Lieutenant of Kent on theMagistracy - rather a large job as Kent is such a largeCounty. I also sit on 2 prison charities, one at theOld Bailey and one in the country, which give grantsto people leaving prison to help start a new life.

I still meet up with my Queen Anne's friends,particularly Di Hare (Peters), Sue Cleland (Harman)and Jane Pearey. Caroline Johnson (Albery) kept meinformed of the tragic death of Sarah Holland(Parker) in September this year.

I still play tennis and am becoming an avid bridgeplayer and since my 3 children have all recently gotmarried and are having children I am pretty busy!

Victoria Campbell Kirsten(Kirsten 1954-60)I had a busy traveling year , first to India and allaround Rajahstan, then Kashmir, then to Nepalwhere my son has been for 3 years teachingparagliding, so went up with him, Back to Delhi,

then to Thailand and up to the North to catch aboat for two days down the Mekong to LuangPrabang where I had been 6 years ago, then toByron Bay in Australia, where my daughter lives,then on around the world to San Francisco to stopoff with my son and grandchildren and back to NewYork for three weeks to get my taxes done and gothrough 10 weeks of mail!!!! Then back to Londonfor the Royal Wedding.also to see my brotherCharles who had had heart surgery. Back to NewYork for the summer, but left again to go for 2weeks to Kenya where I had spent 7 years of mychildhood, but never been on a safari, so saw themigration of the wildebeest and all the otheramazing animals. Now I am staying put untill theNew Year at least !!!! Met with Lauren Troake inNew York who had come over to run in the NYCmarathon. Go QAS!!!!

1965-1969Hilary Bailey(1961-66)Had a wonderful year due mostly to a new hip ! Icontinue music lessons from home in Weston,Hertfordshire , and as the village church organist. Itwas good to meet up again with QAS OGs inShropshire in April 2011. Current interests areBulgaria, butterflies, photography and trying tosupport the Greek Cat Welfare Charity(www.greekcatwelfare.moonfruit.com). The pictureattached was a collage I made, had turned into ajigsaw and which raised over £400 for ButterflyConservation !

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Nicky Singer(1969-74)Well, hello from Nicky Singer. First son - finallygraduates. Halleluiah! Second son in second year ofHistory at Oxford. Spends a lot of time doing drama.Daughter doing GCSEs. Husband doing whateverhe's been doing for a long time. Me - I have a newnovel (The Flask - about songs and souls and thingswhich live in bottles) coming in Feb 2012. Also in Feb2012 my first play - Island, at the National Theatre. http://www.nationaltheatre.org.uk/?lid=68380Otherwise - I don't get any thinner (probably thealcohol) and my memory isn't what it used to be(ditto). But then maybe there's stuff one needs to forget now.

1975-1979Jeanette Verhoeven(Holzberger 1975-79)I'm in the process of moving to Coburg in Germany,and working as a mediator and counsellor. We'vekept our house near Munich and try and spendtimer there as often as possible. I still see TionaBowyer, (Smellie) and her family regularly and wealways have a good natter.

1980-1984Caroline Guigonnet(Martin 1974-80)Sister of Alison Heyes (Martin)After university I was a stockbroker in London for8 years until a wonderful skiing holiday when I fellmadly in love with my taxi driver!

I’ve been living in the French Alps for 20 years, inthe ski village of St Martin de Belleville in the 3 Vallées.

Blissfully married (to the aforementioned taxidriver) with a 10 year old boy, Edouard.

My jobs : taxi driver, English teacher (adults andchildren) and translator. Hobbies : All mountain activities (winter and

summer) and I also conduct the local choral societywhich takes up a lot of my free time.

In 2003 I wrote a book ‘Savoie Fair’ all aboutdropping out and fitting into French mountain life.Available on the internet.

Would love to hear from anyone who remembersme ... and am available for all taxi services to andfrom the Belleville Valley!

Clare Latham (Blomfield 1976-82)We now have both children at local grammarschools - Matthew (14) and Caroline (11). AmazinglyCaroline is in the same class as Sue Robinson's(Farrer, 1975?-1982) daughter, Jemima - small world!For two years I have been part-time Clerk to theGovernors of a primary school, which is veryflexible and mainly working from home. Wecontinue fostering a black lab brood bitch for‘Hearing Dogs for Deaf People’, and in June 2011 shehad her second litter of seven gorgeous puppies,which are destined to become hearing dogs. Weare spending the whole Christmas holidays with myhusband's brother's US-based family, skiing inBreckenridge. I cannot believe next year will be our30th anniversary of leaving QAS!

in our super friendly village. Ben is now sorting outKew Garden’s and the Ministry of Justice’s buildingsSustainability programmes, and Jamie is working asone of three UK events managers for Redbull. Guyruns his own successful business, Proporta.com. Wehave a fabulous house with a hectare of garden inthe middle of the village. I have my own kiln, havehad several expositions of my photos (one runningfor 5 months!) and have sold quite a lot, includingone as the Côte-d’Or’s souvenir photoposter of ourlocal statue, Vercingétorix. I help with our village’s‘fleurissement’ programme, gaining our secondflower award this autumn, am on a committeedealing with the local tourism and am laughinglyknown as ‘the village photographer’.

I keep in touch with my sister Shona (now MrsMichael Hollingworth for four years), Sarah JackBrame (godmother to Ben) and Val Doulton, of theLive Literature Company, who is in fact coming forChristmas this year 2011.

1970-1974Christine Zinn (Riddell) Has been living in Scotland for the past year topursue a Masters degree in Health Care, specializingin palliative care at University of Glasgow. It hasbeen a great year academically and personally,spending time with the extended family after livingin the USA for the past 30 years. Now back in theUSA and transitioning into a new research position.Hope to see a lot of friends at our 40th reunionnext year, especially friends from Wisdome, as Ihave lost touch with most of you.

Katie Huckin (Clive 1966-72)I think I have been ‘lost’ for a number of years so Iam writing a potted version of the last nearly four decades!

After leaving school I went to train to be a P.E.teacher and have subsequently taught at variousschools in and around London. I have been marriedto Tom for thirty years and we live in Wimbledon -and have done for all our married life! I amcurrently teaching at Putney Park School, where Ihave been for the last ten years.

I have three children - Robert 26 and Jessica 24,both graduates, living and working in London - andJosh 17, who is in his last year at Wellington College.I see Sally Brogden and Bridget Sellers on a regularbasis and was delighted to meet up with SueHutton at Sally’s last year. In August, 2011, Tom andI went to Vancouver Island to the wedding of MinWolfe’s daughter! I met Tone Millen and BridgetSellers at Anne Catterson-Smith’s for lunch inOctober, to discuss our forty year reunion nextyear. I am also in contact with Pat Long and we haveseen each other fairly recently. Although not directcontemporaries, I met up with Pat when playingclub lacrosse after leaving QAS.

Life seems to pass by increasingly fast - I am reallylooking forward to catching up with everyone in July!

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include Briget Macfarlane (Gilson), Katie Gyss(Owen) and Poppy Barter (Adams). I am also livingnear my sister, Annabel who has 4 children. I amworking as a physiotherapist in a private clinic southof Canterbury while the children are at school. I stillkeep in touch with many QAS girls and recentlysaw Akshu Rao in Hong Kong where my husbandand I were visiting my brother. Sadly I missed seeingJulia Guilks as we were there for such a short time.

Marie Willis(Whitehead 1986-91)Now proud mother to Beatrix 3 1/2 and Alfie 10months. Living in Bath and still running own businessin executive coaching and training with my husbandPeter. My sister Mel is doing well teaching and withher 3 children: Emily (10), Dylan (8) and Amy (5). Mymum (ex French teacher Mrs Whitehead) is alsodoing well and looking forward to even moretravelling once my dad retires in January.

1995-1999Christine Drew(1991-98)I have spent the last year and a half living in NZmaking 3D documentaries for Discovery but amnow back living in London and am the ProductionManager of Top Gear at the BBC. I still see lots ofthe QAS girls (and all of their babies) and recentlywent on a wonderful weekend away with 20 girlsfrom my year.

Katherine Sanders(Crerar 1990-97)On 19th May we had our second daughter, HarrietEve. Big sister, Isabelle, is loving having a little playmate, baby Hattie. In December we are leavingBristol where my husband and I have been sinceUniversity. We are moving back towards Wantage,Oxford and throwing ourselves into the countryliving! Looking forward to seeing friends in Londonmore regularly and sitting by a log fire. Currently Iam on maternity leave but hope to start back as aphysiotherapist in the new year.

Sarah Rutherford (1990-95)I have two major bits of news in my life this year -I've recently got engaged, to be married to a niceCanadian boy. Our wedding will be on 1stSeptember 2012 in the South of France. Secondly,I'm in the process of setting up a children's cardbusiness where I design and create cards and printsfor children. I'm hoping to extend into wall stickersfor nurseries, wall banners, cushions and otheritems. The website that will launch at the end ofthe year is www.sarahrutherford.co.uk.

Selena PetersI thought I would send a quick update for me! I leftQAS in 1997.

I am still working for the Environment Agency inFlood and Coastal Risk Management - it will be 10years in January! I live in Reading with my husbandof 3 years, Jeremy. We had our son, Benjamin, inJune this year (2011). I'm still getting used to

Lucy Binns(Grant-Ives 1978-84)Still living in Somerset with husband Stewart andtwin boys Charlie & Jack (6 years old). Life is busywith our own media business - Big Ape Media(www.bigapemedia.com), the boys and Stewart’swriting for which I handle the publicity. His firstnovel, published by Penguin in 2011, is called‘Conquest’ and the sequel ‘Crusade’ is published in April 2012.

Now the boys are a bit older I’ve started playingmore tennis again and also play netball with othermum’s at the boys school - the main focus being onexercise and having a laugh! We still have our housein France - in the Lot - and get there as much aspossible. Still in contact with lots of old girls - whata great year group we had - must be time foranother reunion soon?!

Lucy Montgomery(Slay 1974-80)Family growing up fast. Daughter Sophie (QAS2004-2008) has graduated from Bristol Universityand is having a GAP year. Son, Sam has just startedat Bristol Uni and Charlie is 16 and doing his AS's.Still living near Henley, close to sister, Karen Tross(Youle 1972-1976) and mother, Dianne Carter (1949-1954) and are in the process of building a housewhich we should move into in 2012. Taking all thefamily to India in December to celebrate husband,Doug's 50th.

Really enjoyed meeting up with so many from ouryear at Reunion Day in 2010 which was 30 yearssince we all left.

Lydian Hughes(Palk 1977-81)After leaving school, I read French with Philosophyat King's College, London, graduating in 1988. Ispent the following 6 years working in London, inFinancial Services and Recruitment. In 1993 I met aNew Zealander, to whom I subsequently becameengaged. In 1994 we moved to New Zealand and Ihave lived in Auckland ever since. My marriage

sadly came to an end in 2001 but by then I had fallenin love with NZ, so I decided to stay here.

I worked in Food & Beverage for some 10 years buthave spent the last 8 years in the IT industry. I amnot a technical person, rather I have been client-focused and now hold the position of ServiceDelivery Manager for my current organisation.

I visit England every 3 years or so - it is lovely tocome home but NZ is a very special country and Ilove living here.

Here's hoping that some of the girls I was at QASwith will also send their updates in so that we cancatch up :)

1990-1994Helen Harris(Waters 1984-90)It has been an exciting year for me and my family inAbu Dhabi, in the United Arab Emirates, but as theyear draws to a close so does my 4+ years here. Myfamily and I are returning to Buckinghamshire sothat my children can join Years 2 and 4 at a localschool. I will be saying farewell to my colleagues ata British school here (Pearl Primary), who I haveworked with for the past 2 years as a teachingassistant. I am now managing the move back andlooking to the future and what I will do next, havingalready done shopping centre management andbeen a teaching assistant. I have in mind a bit ofproperty development so I can squeeze in all myfurniture from over here. I keep in regular contactwith Katharine Domanski (Crawford) and CorinneCollyer (Molyneux) and many more on Facebook.

Kash Lane(Fairclough 1983-90)Just got the QAS email and am always so hopelessat replying but decided to get my act together andwrite something this year!

I am living with my family near Canterbury and wehave twin 7 yearr old daughters whose godmothers

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motherhood and all the joys and challenges itbrings! I'm still in touch with a number of peoplefrom my year and recently met up with SusiSmither, Nadia Biles-Davis, Catherine Crawley-Boevy and Louise Cobb.

Photo of Benjamin and QAS meet up attached(although Benjamin looks a little psychotic in this one!!).

2000-2004Julia Weatherley(1997-04)I am emailing to write about some exciting news Ihave. I have been invited to sing at the Royal OperaHouse as part of their Opera Exposures evenings. Iwill be performing staged scenes from StevenMcNeff's, 'The Last King of Scotland' which is beingwritten for the main opera stage.

I am currently studying at the Trinity LabanConservatoire, as a TCM trust and Drapers deTurqheim Scholar. Recent performances include

working with Simon McBurney and Complicite onthe role of Pamina in the Magic Flute (Mozart) andthe Witch in Hansel and Gretel (Humperdinck) forOpera Holloway. I am currently preparing for myBuxton festival debut, and the role of Madga, TheConsul (Menotti) for Trinity Laban Opera as well asbeing on the mentor scheme at the Royal Opera House.

Note from the Editor: those of you who attendedour carol service will remember Julia’s exceptionalsolo, O Holy Night and you will all have theopportunity of seeing her perform if you come tothe Reunion Evening. We are delighted andhonoured that she will be one of the ‘StrictlyBoardwalk Cabaret’ acts!

Jessica Willmore(Moloney 1994-01)Note from the Editor: Many thanks to Jess forsending in all these updates - very muchappreciated!

I spoke with mum last week and she said that youwere keen for an update as you are in the processof updating QAS old girl info. Well we have had abusy year. After our wedding in December 2009, Ifound out that I was pregnant so Laurence and Iwelcomed Amelie Rose into the world on 9thSeptember 2010. We moved to Southampton inJune as Laurence has started a degree at Soton Uniand I am on maternity leave until September thisyear. I hope to begin a posting in Southampton asthe Army have their Port and Maritime base justdown the road in Marchwood (on the edge of theNew Forest). Until then though I will be enjoyingthe delights of baby swimming and playgroups withAmelie. She is very strong and determined so Iwon't be surprised if she's clutching a lacrosse stickin no time at all!

In November 2010, Lily Gaskill also had a baby girlcalled Isabella Chloe, with her fiance Ben, and theyare getting married in April this year. Her sisterBeani had a baby girl called Jessica a few weeksbefore Lils.

As a year group we have had lots of weddings. I'ma bit sketchy on the years but with help fromfacebook I can tell you their names at least.

The ones I know a bit more info about...In 2009 Sarah Lowden married Morgan Angus (anAussie), and I married Laurence Willmore (SA). In 2010 Nikki Crossman married Tim Smith.In 2011 Lily Gaskill is getting married to BenThompson (April), Sarah Jane Golding is gettingmarried to James Molier (another South African)(June), and Fizzy Adams is getting married to MarkLynagh (September).

With thanks to facebook...

Lucy Sinton is married to Richard Thrower.Jemma Green is married to Daniel Roberts.Emma Yeld is married to Andrew Tarry.

I must admit though, in writing this email, myfeelings for QAS are very mixed. As a child/teenagerI was quite a troubled soul and I don't think I got themost out of Queen Anne's and conversely I don'tthink Queen Anne's got the most out of me. I amstill extremely close to my friends though, which isjust amazing, and we are always chatting andmeeting up despite living far apart.

I do however have many fond memories of mysport there and so i'd just like to say a big hello toMrs Maclean if you see her and also send lots of love.

Sally McMillan(Lloyd1995-02)Well I have not sent in any news before but a lothas happened this year so I thought this is a goodtime. In June this year I celebrated owning andrunning my own art gallery for three years, byhaving an exhibition showing one of London’s 2012olympic artists, on the Isle of Wight where I livedfor the past three and a half years. I also got marriedto my husband Mathew, so I am now Mrs Mcmillanrather than Sally Lloyd, in the little village we live incalled Seaview in a beautiful little church.

I bought the gallery three and a half years ago afterworking in recruitment for two years aftergraduating from Roehampton university with mymain BA in Media & Cultural Studies and additionalcourses of English Literature and Art History. Thisyear I also completed a business course at ChristiesEducation in London (in association with ChristiesAuction House).

2005-2009Miss Kate Ireland (soon to be Mrs Mott!)I attended Queen Anne's from September 2000-July 2007 and I have recently received the QASSociety News which has nudged me into emailingwith an update of my most recent news...

I am completing my undergraduate degree inEducation Studies at Exeter University this summer,before starting a Primary PGCE with English as asubject specialism (also at Exeter) in September. It

was a tense wait for the PGCE place, but wellworth it and I am so looking forward to the course.

I also have some very exciting personal news...onChristmas Day 2010, my partner of seven yearsproposed! My ring is stunning and we are bothabsolutely thrilled! Our big day shall be in July 2013and we are making good progress with ourwedding planning!

I wish all the staff at QAS the very best,

Kirsty MacLean I am an ‘Old Girl’ from QAS and in my fourth yearstudying medicine. This summer (2012) for myelective I will be volunteering in Cambodia andVietnam. During my month in Cambodia I will beworking with a charity called ‘The Lake Clinic’. Thisis a boat that visits the isolated ‘floatingcommunities’ living on the Tonle Sap (the largestlake in South East Asia), that would otherwise nothave any access to health care.

During this time we will be working with people ofall ages, however, medical care is particularlyfocussed on children, women of child bearing ageand screening for diseases. There is also a greatemphasis on education, particularly in food andwater hygiene, as gastro enteritis claims up to twomillion children’s lives each year. This worthy andadmirable charity relies on donations to continueproviding healthcare, services and staff.

I understand that the ‘QA society’ chooses a charityto support each year and I would be ever so gratefulif you could consider this organisation, as I believeit is a truly deserving charity. All donors are addedto the ‘donor wall of fame’, and it would be mostexciting to see Queen Anne’s up there!

Thank you for taking your time to read this. I hopeyou are all well.

If you have any more questions, please email me atk.maclean@uea.ac.uk

QA Society News 58

Val Buranastidporn(-2007)Over the past summer (JUL-SEPT 2011) I've helpedset up a non-profit Lacrosse Program back at homein Thailand and became co-founder of ThaiCommunity Lacrosse (TCL).

The TCL after-school program lets children enjoythe sport of lacrosse, being outdoors with friendsand learning important core values such asteamwork, sportsmanship, respectfulness, sacrificeand healthy living.

Children in low-income areas such as the Klong Toeidistrict are in need of more after school programs,especially physical educations. School often ends at3pm, but their parent’s workday lasts until 5:30pmor later. This idle time turns children towards thestreets where they risk involvement with gangs,drugs and video game addictions. TCL targets thisissue by offering an after school lacrosse programfrom 3pm to 5pm, every Monday, Wednesday andThursday. To minimize risk of injuries, TCL Programteaches a non-contact, co-ed version calledIntercrosse. TCL provides all equipment: sticks,tennis balls, goals and goalie helmets. The programis completely free and open to all students at WatKlong Toei Nai School. It is unfortunate that onaverage kids in Thailand only get 1 hour of PhysicalEducation class per week this is why is is soimportant for us to start making a change andimprove their lives.

At Queen Anne's I played Lacrosse for 5 Years andI can definitely say that it had a great impact on mylife and I am fortunate to have had the opportunityto have been a part of lacrosse at QAS and thatnow I can put that knowledge to good use andmake a difference. Since we are a non-profitorganization we would be really grateful if youcould please help spread the word about TCL andwhat we do and any amount of your donation willreally make a difference in these children's lives.The most important thing for TCL is to be heardso that we can sustain the program we've set up soplease encourage students, staffs, parents to checkout our website and subscribe to our blog.

QA Society News 60

President:Mrs Julia HarringtonHeadmistress, 2006-present

Vice Presidents:Miss Audrey ScottFormer Headmistress, 1977-199310 Birdham RoadDonningtonChichesterWest SussexPO19 8TETel: 01243 784165

Mrs Debbie ForbesFormer Headmistress, 1993-2006Yew Tree House9 High StreetPrestburyCheltenhamGloucestershireGL52 3ARUnited Kingdom Tel: 01242 256014 Mobile: 07810 541 046 deborah418@btinternet.com

ChairmanClare Chapman (Stockill)3 Cox DaleLocks HeathFarehamHampshirePO12 4JWTel: 07799640023clareachapman@hotmail.com

Treasurer Amy Wilson (Verge)3 Elvetham Farm CottagesHome Farm RoadElvethamHookHampshireRG27 8URTel: 07812113362 vergeamy@hotmail.com

General SecretaryDr Elena Growcott growcotte@hotmail.com

EditorKate Cheyney, 1983-1990Canadian CottageWalton PoolClentStourbridgeDY9 9RRTel: 01562 883554Mob: 07736 667468kcheyney@brook.dudley.sch.uk

Former Staff RepresentativeJo Harmsworth, 1980-200743 Green LaneEnsbury ParkBournemouthDorsetBH10 5LETel: 01202 575073j.harmsworth@talk21.com

Jenny Smith (Partridge) 13 Sondes Place DriveDorking SurreyRH4 3EDTel: 01306 884075jbpartridge@cix.co.uk

Bridget Evers (Chamberlain) Ravensfield20 Winchester RoadAndoverHampshireSP10 2EQTel: 01264 357811bridgetevers@sky.com

Sarah Clark10 HighlandsRoystonHertsSG8 9HEMobile: 07717 696635sarahclarkie@hotmail.com

Alumni RelationsLauren Troake, 2009-presentQueen Anne’s SchoolTel: 0118 918 7330Mob: 07765 143113lauren.troake@qas.org.uk

Queen Anne’s Society Committee

Queen Anne’s SchoolHenley Road, Caversham, Berkshire RG4 6DX

Tel: +44 (0)118 918 7300

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