The Stonarian

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Issue 1—Spring 2012 The Stonarian Dates for your Diary 2012/2013 3 rd to 7 th May : Badminton Horse Trials 12th May : Stonar Open Morning 23 rd June : Speech Day and Prizegiving 23 rd June : Old Stonarians’ Netball match 23 rd June : Stonar Ball 22nd September: Stonar Open Morning 23 rd September : Old Stonarians’ Open Day 3rd November : Stonar Bonfire Night 14th December : Carol Service in Bath Abbey 23rd March: London Reunion Welcome to the first edition of The Stonarian, and a big thank you to everybody who has contributed. It has been a busy year here at Stonar. Our second Open Day in September was well attended with over 70 old girls and their guests making their way back for the day, some of whom I have not seen for 30 years! Hopefully there will be more familiar faces at the next Open Day on 23rd September 2012. In October we saw the return of two Stonarians, Katy Hamilton and Zoë Bonner. Katy and Zoë gave an inspirational recital and careers talk to the current girls. Thank you both for giving up your time to come back. Thank you also to all those who have offered to help with careers at Stonar. It is very much appreciated by the girls, and we will be in touch soon. We are always keen to hear from former pupils who are willing to return and pass on news of their career paths to the current pupils and, if you are able to, I would be very grateful if you could complete a careers survey for us. This can be done either online or by downloading a copy via the Old Stonarians’ website. I have just got back from the London reunion at Julie’s Restaurant in Holland Park which was attended by guests from all over the world, including Jeanna L’Esty (the great neice of one of the Founders of Stonar, Miss Crook) from Athens and Deborah Tuzo who flew in from Bermuda to meet up with her Year Group at the reunion. The next London reunion will be on Saturday 23rd March 2013. Stonar will be at Badminton Horse Trials again this year so please pop by and say “hello”. If any of you fancy a trip down memory lane please join us at this year’s Stonar Ball on 23rd June. Plans are well underway and it will be an evening not to miss. I am always very keen to hear what you are up to now, so please do keep in touch. Emelia Sowels (née Grey) (1979-1988) Alumni Development Assistant I hope that you will all enjoy reading this edition of The Stonarian – the first for some time. Since joining the school in September 2010 I have been fascinated to learn something of its history and heritage – it makes for an extraordinary and compelling story. In addition to reading previous copies of The Stonarian dating back as far as 1922, I have had the pleasure of meeting a good number of old girls at our two highly successful Old Stonarian days and on a number of other occasions – both at the school and elsewhere. Former Stonar girls seem to crop up in all walks of life and I have been amazed at how often a mention of the school results in an unexpected previous connection. This edition of The Stonarian highlights the extent to which Stonar girls go on to enjoy diverse, impressive and fulfilling lives after their time at the school. I have also been touched by the loyalty and affection old girls have both for the school and for the deep and lasting friendships forged during their time here. The Stonar girls of today are just as capable, aspirational, adventurous and energetic as they ever were and I hope that you will have seen this reflected in the copies of Stonar News. We are always delighted to welcome Old Stonarians back to Cottles Park and I look forward to meeting more of you later in the year. With best wishes Elizabeth Thomas Letter from the Head

description

The Stonarian

Transcript of The Stonarian

Page 1: The Stonarian

Issue 1—Spring 2012

The Stonarian

Dates for your Diary

2012/2013 3rd to 7th May : Badminton Horse Trials

12th May : Stonar Open Morning 23rd June : Speech Day and Prizegiving

23rd June : Old Stonarians’ Netball match 23rd June : Stonar Ball

22nd September: Stonar Open Morning

23rd September : Old Stonarians’ Open Day 3rd November : Stonar Bonfire Night

14th December : Carol Service in Bath Abbey

23rd March: London Reunion

Welcome to the first edition of The

Stonarian, and a big thank you to everybody

who has contributed.

It has been a busy year here at Stonar.

Our second Open Day in September was

well attended with over 70 old girls and

their guests making their way back for the

day, some of whom I have not seen for 30

years! Hopefully there will be more

familiar faces at the next Open Day on 23rd

September 2012.

In October we saw the return of two

Stonarians, Katy Hamilton and Zoë Bonner.

Katy and Zoë gave an inspirational recital and careers talk to the current girls. Thank

you both for giving up your time to come

back.

Thank you also to all those who have

offered to help with careers at Stonar. It

is very much appreciated by the girls, and

we will be in touch soon.

We are always keen to hear from former

pupils who are willing to return and pass

on news of their career paths to the

current pupils and, if you are able to, I

would be very grateful if you could

complete a careers survey for us. This

can be done either online or by

downloading a copy via the Old Stonarians’

website.

I have just got back from the London

reunion at Julie’s Restaurant in Holland Park

which was attended by guests from all over

the world, including Jeanna L’Esty (the great

neice of one of the Founders of Stonar,

Miss Crook) from Athens and Deborah

Tuzo who flew in from Bermuda to meet

up with her Year Group at the reunion.

The next London reunion will be on

Saturday 23rd March 2013.

Stonar will be at Badminton Horse Trials

again this year so please pop by and say

“hello”.

If any of you fancy a trip down memory lane

please join us at this year’s Stonar Ball on

23rd June. Plans are well underway and it

will be an evening not to miss.

I am always very keen to hear what you are

up to now, so please do keep in touch.

Emelia Sowels (née Grey)

(1979-1988) Alumni Development Assistant

I hope that you will all enjoy reading

this edition of The Stonarian – the

first for some time.

Since joining the school in September

2010 I have been fascinated to learn

something of its history and heritage

– it makes for an extraordinary and

compelling story. In addition to

reading previous copies of The

Stonarian dating back as far as 1922, I

have had the pleasure of meeting a

good number of old girls at our two

highly successful Old Stonarian days

and on a number of other occasions

– both at the school and elsewhere.

Former Stonar girls seem to crop up

in all walks of life and I have been

amazed at how often a mention of the school results in an unexpected

previous connection.

This edition of The Stonarian

highlights the extent to which Stonar

girls go on to enjoy diverse,

impressive and fulfilling lives after

their time at the school.

I have also been touched by the

loyalty and affection old girls have

both for the school and for the deep

and lasting friendships forged during

their time here.

The Stonar girls of today are just as

capable, aspirational, adventurous and

energetic as they ever were and I

hope that you will have seen this

reflected in the copies of Stonar

News.

We are always delighted to welcome

Old Stonarians back to Cottles Park

and I look forward to meeting more of you later in the year.

With best wishes

Elizabeth Thomas

Letter from the Head

Page 2: The Stonarian

Page 2 The Stonarian

Lucy Goodman (1976-1981)

Everyone at Stonar would like to

congratulate Lucy Goodman who has

recently been awarded the Best Mixed

Media Children’s Series at the British

Animation Awards 2012. Lucy was also

awarded her second BAFTA last

November.

As a writer/producer/director, Lucy has

had a string of successful children’s

programmes including Chatterhappy

Ponies, Sir Gadabout, PJ’s Storytime and

Best of Friends which have earned her

various awards.

In 2008 she founded Happy Films and her

first production ‘Bookaboo’ was launched

on CiTV and ITV in 2009. A second series

was completed last year and is currently

airing on CiTV at 12.00 pm and 3.15pm.

The show aims to help literacy by

encouraging more children and parents to

share books together and they have

donated 26,000 books to disadvantaged

children on behalf of Bookaboo and

guests. The show has won various awards

to date including BAFTA and International

Prix Jeunesse, and it is now being

produced internationally.

Lucy has worked in the Film and

Television industry for approximately 20

years. It was something she had always

wanted to do and she remembers

distinctly having a talk by an inspiring

Producer who came to speak at

Stonar. She loved Drama at Stonar,

being taught by Mr Stone initially, then

Miss Turner and Mr Billing who ran the

Drama Club. She has fond memories of

the plays performed at Stonar.

Lucy sends warm wishes to any teachers

still there from her time: Miss Turner, Mr

Stone, Miss Snaeman, Mrs Daniels, Mr

Billing – and she hopes that they feel at

least some of what they taught was

absorbed and put to good use.

www.happyfilms.com

www.bookaboo.ning.com

STONARIAN NEWS

Sarah Jane Clements (1984 – 1986)

Since leaving Stonar, Sarah has been running a Pony Rescue Centre in the Cam Valley near Bath, which she started about

16 years ago. She has rescued over 70 ponies but sadly can only take one in every fifty that are offered to her. Sarah’s rescue ponies usually stay with her for at least three years before they are re-homed into long term loan homes, and sometimes longer if they have particular behavioural problems. She uses the methods of Monty Roberts, the original “Horse Whisperer”, and believes that natural horsemanship is a very effective way of handling rescue ponies. Sarah particularly loves Mountain and Moorland Ponies. As a child her first pony was a Shetland, whom she rode until her feet touched the ground. Her second pony was a Welsh Section C mare. She believes that, when buying a pony,

native breeds are well worth considering for many reasons including hardiness, sturdiness and tirelessness. They do not require lots of supplementary feeding and they usually have good temperaments. Sarah would like to open a British Breed Sanctuary to help preserve native breeds, and teach children about ponies from Britain’s wildlife. Sarah has written her first novel, “Rosie’s Unicorn”, which is a story about a girl called Rosie, who desperately wants a pony more than anything else, and a magical unicorn (inspired by her Welsh Stallion “Crawell Sandpiper” who is pictured as a unicorn on the front cover of her book). She is now writing her second novel about Rosie and her unicorn.

Page 3: The Stonarian

After leaving Stonar, Sophie became a Grand

Prix level dressage rider and freelance riding

instructor based in Wiltshire. As a rider

Sophie has competed with much success

internationally, in both dressage and show

jumping and has represented Great

Britain at World level. She is a highly qualified,

experienced and popular trainer, as well as

being a British Dressage and British Riding Club

Listed Judge. More information about Sophie

can be found on her website

www.ProfessionalEquestrianTraining.com

Page 3 Issue 1—Spring 2012

Sophie Dickinson (1987-1994)

I remember my interview for Stonar well,

the Headmistress, an elegant beautiful

woman, told me "Amanda you need to be

stretched". Being secretly ambitious I said

“yes” and agreed smugly to be put into the

top stream. In 1971 there was streaming,

I wanted to be in the top stream even

though I knew I was not clever enough

and not a top student. I loved singing in

Bath Abbey, which I then thought was

huge. My mother, Caroline Brown, an

opera singer, had little money but had

found a way to get me educated. She

taught singing at Stonar. I remember the

Head of Music well, Edna Blackwell, a first

class Bach player who looked cross

continually. This tough attitude has helped

me though, and when I see her now I want

to hug her. I left with four ‘O'levels, my

excuse was that it was a hot summer in 1976, and I could not work. I left with

ambition and a need to be free.

My mother then sent me to a Finishing

School called Winkfield Place. I learnt to

cook, type, dress well, speak well, and

meet the "right" people. It was an old

fashioned world, which funnily enough

Stonar was not.

Stonar allowed ponies, it allowed freedom

of thought, it had moments of divinity.

I remember my best friends, Janice

Townend and Georgie Shalbourne. Janice

was infinitely cleverer than I was and she

did the whole of my Music 'O' level. She

sadly died when she was very young. I

miss her vibrance. Georgie is an artist who

lives in Marlborough. She was beautiful

with long legs; I wanted to be her. One

day she gave me the confidence I needed -

we were sitting in the garden and she was

asked who would be the prettiest and

cleverest when they were forty. She

turned to me, with my face covered with

spots, and said "AMANDA". This

comment literally sprung me into action to

take hold of my life. I pulled myself

together.

I left school and worked in the world of

stamps, selling houses, Conrans and

Florists. I married twice. Firstly to

Sebastian Riley-Smith of the wine

company, Smith and Taylor, and then to

Johan Eliasch who gave me opportunities

to study drama. Firstly at the Royal

Academy of Dramatic Art, then to The

Moscow Arts Theatre and finally The

Academy of Live and Recorded Arts.

After my first job, running up and down Brighton beach for a summer, I studied

Photography with The Black and White

Photographic School. I loved printing and

went to study with photographers Bob

Carlos Clarke and Michel Comte. Michel

took me to meet the Italian Vogue Editor,

Franca Sozzani who commissioned me to

work on a book about British Artists,

called “British Artists at

Work”. Following its success I was

offered two more books “Made by

Indians” and “Made by Brazilians”.

I am now the Fashion Editor for Genlux

Magazine in Los Angeles. In June 2011 I

exhibited my ‘7 deadly sins’, in a neon

show called "Peccadilloes" at the

Leadapron Gallery.

At the same time my first play co-written

with the ex vice president of RADA, Lyall

Watson, is being performed at The

Chelsea Theatre, Kings Road. This play is

based on 5,000 words that my father

demanded from me, as he said "With your

DNA you should be able to write". When

I wrote it he loved it, and said only make it

into a play when your immediate family

are dead. Sadly they are now, and so I

take the plunge. With two books of

poetry published, “Cloak and Dagger

Butterfly” and “Sins of a Butterfly”, I love

working and life.

I love film, music, photography, fashion and

writing. I also support the British Film

Institute, The Woodland Trust and The

London Symphony Orchestra.

This has a lot to do with Stonar which

allowed freedom of thought, and

encouraged me to be a success. It was

1976 and the Thatcherite years were ahead, when anything was possible!!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/

Amanda_Eliasch

http://butterflame.com/v1/?paged=2

http://amandaeliasch.blogspot.com

http://www.genlux.com/

Tee Thakore (2004-2006) Tee Thakore left Stonar in 2006 and, after

graduating from Kingston University with

BEng (Hons) in Aerospace Engineering,

Astronautics and Space Applications in

2010, is now in the process of developing

her own company Astrome LLC with two

business partners.

She will act as Chief Innovation Officer for

different aerospace and space projects.

She will also be carrying out the

prestigious International Space University -

Space Studies Program in June 2012.

Amanda Eliasch (née Brown) (1971-1976)

Page 4: The Stonarian

Page 4 The Stonarian

Pat Lince (Stonar House/Stonar)

I am at present watching the golf from

Sandwich. Our Stonar dormitory

windows overlooked the same golf course

and we were allowed loose on it

occasionally. I remember we had great fun

rolling down the bunkers.

This was in 1937, pre-war, before we

moved to Cottles Park when war broke

out and it was taken over by the RAF.

They were very happy days. We had a

mini hotel for parents to come and stay

and we sometimes ‘cooked’ for them

(poor souls!).

It was wartime, we were separated from

our families and we were a lively

bunch. We had 15 minutes deducted from

our bedtime on a Saturday night if we had

a stripe for a wrongdoing. I remember I

went to bed 2 hours early one week!

I eventually trained as a nurse at Kings

College Hospital, left the UK for the

Channel Islands, married and had 5 lovely

children. I am now a great Grandmother.

Old Girls’ Netball Match—2011

Well done to the Old Stonarians’ netball

team who won their match against the

school’s current 1st Team at last year’s

Speech Day. The final score was 22 –

10.

The Old Girls’ Netball Match this year

will be held on Saturday 23rd June 2012 –

all are welcome to come along and

support or play! If you would like to play please contact Emelia at Stonar.

STONAR REVISITED

Katy Hamilton (1993-2000) and Zoë Bonner (1985-1998)

On 18th October 2011, Stonar old girls

and professional musicians Zoë Bonner

and Katy Hamilton returned to the school

for a day of music-making. Over the

course of the school day they sang, played,

spoke, acted and adjudicated for pupils

right across the school, from Preps 1 and 2

to the Sixth Form.

The Juniors enjoyed a short devised music

theatre show, complete with pirates, fairy

dust, a fashion-conscious witch and

audience participation – chief protagonists

Lizzie (Zoë) and Captain Jack (Katy) are

pictured here!

That afternoon, the Senior School held

their inter-house music competition, for

which Katy and Zoë acted as adjudicators.

Across the various categories of the

competition, they enjoyed vocal and dance

arrangements of everything from “In the

Bleak Midwinter” to Queen; and took

great pleasure in witnessing the creative

efforts of Ganbrook, Curnow and Hart.

There was also a chance for the girls to get

their own back on their judges thanks to

Mr Goodall’s decision to play a video of

the Stonar Chamber Choir’s Indonesian

television debut in 1996, featuring a 16-

year-old Zoë and 14-year-old Katy in

action!

An evening event, in collaboration with the

Careers Department, combined a recital

for voice and piano with a careers talk for

Senior pupils with musical aspirations.

Performances of works by Strauss,

Debussy, Gershwin and Copland were

followed by a short slide show tracing Katy

and Zoë’s career paths; and girls and

parents had an opportunity to ask what careers in classical music are really like.

It was a really enjoyable day, and both Zoë

and Katy thank Mr Goodall and Mr Curtis

for the chance to spend a day at the

school. It’s clear to them both that a

passion for performance and music-making

is alive and well at Stonar!

Zoë Bonner was a pupil at Stonar from

1985 to 1998 and subsequently studied for

a Biology degree at Manchester University,

and a Masters in Music Performance at

Trinity College of Music, London. She now

works as a freelance classical singer, and

has been critically acclaimed for recent

opera performances, in addition to work

with various vocal ensembles and as a

regular concert soloist. More details

about Zoë’s career are on her website, www.zoebonner.com

Katy Hamilton is the Junior Research

Fellow in Performance History at the

Royal College of Music, where she has

recently completed her doctorate. She

combines a busy schedule of playing,

teaching and researching, and has given

concerts and conference papers across the

UK and Europe. Katy’s website is

www.katyhamilton.co.uk

Going for a Song

Page 5: The Stonarian

Page 5 Issue 1—Spring 2012

BUSINESS MATTERS

Many Stonarians are now running their own businesses:-

Charlotte Boulton (1998-2002), after

graduating from the Royal Academy of

Dance, is now the Principal of Centre

Stage Academy of Dance in Devizes. www.centrestageacademyofdance.co.uk

Victoria Constable (née Johnson) (1987-

1995) designs and makes handcrafted

jewellery in silver and gold at her studio

near Norwich.

www.milajewellery.com

Deborah Fensome (née Maslyn) (1980-

1985) undertakes commissions for

engraving pictures or "Art on Glass".

They are all unique, which makes them

unusual gifts. Deborah’s work can be

viewed through her Facebook group or

she can be contacted via Stonar.

Natalie Froud (1980-1991) has her own

accountancy business in the Frome and

Trowbridge areas.

www.fromeaccountant.co.uk

Sabrina Hazelwood (1983-1988) is

running a domestic consultancy business

in the Bath area called Top Drawer

Services.

www.topdrawerservices.co.uk

Caroline Mallory (1987-1996) owns

Heartland Farm, an online shop dedicated

to Shabby Chic, vintage French and English

country home gifts and accessories.

www.heartlandfarm.co.uk

Amanda Page (1980-1987) produces

blank Christmas and Birthday card designs,

wrapping paper, and a variety of colourful,

cartoon t-shirts which sell throughout

Botswana, Southern Africa and Namibia.

Amanda also produces design and

marketing concepts for corporate and

private clients and provides counselling for individuals based in Botswana.

www.passionmonkey.com

Amanda Perryer (1995-2001) has her

own boutique specialising in handbags and

jewellery. Explore the brand and shop at

www.theperryercollection.com

Michelle Vickers (née Longstaff) (1984-

1986) owns Ras Mbisi Lodge, a luxury

retreat on the island of Mafia in Tanzania.

www.mafiaislandtz.com

Lucy Ward-Smith (née Tebbs) (1977-

1982) has been creating handmade cards

and gifts for friends and family over the

years, and has now decided to make it a

business.

www.wscreations.moonfruit.com

Nicky Wragg (née Martin) (1974-1978)

owns an award winning pub in Market

Lavington called The Green Dragon offering cask-marque ales, good food and

bed and breakfast.

www.greendragonlavington.co.uk

Seated : Jane Manning (Jamming), Rhian Samuel, Alex Purnell, Pullarp Ruangsook (Bow),

Jane Evans, Christabel Clements, Sally Lindley, Charlotte Langford (Lanky). Standing : Assistant Housemistress, Nina Gilchrist, Sue Hutchins.

GENERAL NEWS

Rebecca Ibbott

Congratulations to Year 11 pupil Rebecca

Ibbott who has been offered a place at the

Italia Conti Academy, the oldest theatre arts

training school in the country.

Rebecca has been accepted on a three year

course which leads to the National Diploma in

Professional Musical Theatre.

Rebecca’s talents will be greatly missed at

Stonar.

Where are you now?

Are you in this photo taken outside Fuller House (now Hart) in 1970? If so we

would love to hear what you are doing now.

Thank you to Sally Parr (née Lindley) for supplying the photo.

Page 6: The Stonarian

Page 6 The Stonarian

Old Girls’ Prize - 2011

Congratulations to Sammi Chui who

was awarded The Old Girls’ Prize for

Contribution to School Life at

Speech Day on Saturday 25th June

RIP We were very sad to hear news of the deaths of :-

Barbara Anthony (née Starling) (Stonar: 1939-1941) who passed away

peacefully on 24th February 2012 in Melbourne, Australia;

Beryl Foley-Fisher (née Tritton) (Stonar: 1941-1944) on 29th October 2011;

Sally Cruickshank (Stonar Staff in the 1970s) in 2011;

Jo Parsons (née Scammell) (Stonar: 1953-1958) in May 2011;

Maureen Payne on 24th February 2011;

Ann Radcliffe (née Williams) (Stonar:1947-1951) in December 2010;

Maureen Thomas (née Bailey) (Stonar:1948-1951) in December 2010.

Isabel Martindale (1992-1998)

Isabel Martindale, former England

netball player, Stonar PE Teacher and

Housemistress and Mayor of Bradford

on Avon between 2009 and 2011,

completed a cycling tour covering

4,884 miles across Canada last

Summer.

The purpose of the trip was to raise

money for the local Charity “Zone

Club” which caters for young disabled

people

over 16 and is part of the National

Charity “Hope for Children” for

disabled and disadvantaged young

people.

Isabel cycled an average of over 80

miles a day for 10½ weeks, crossing

through 10 Provinces and 6 time

zones.

More details about the trip are in the

Wiltshire Times.

www.wiltshiretimes.co.uk

Sandy Muir (née Snaeman)

After 34 years at Stonar, we had to

say a fond farewell to Sandy Muir at

the end of the summer term.

Sandy joined Stonar in 1975 firstly as

a Houseparent, then Head of Sixth

Form. She was also a History

teacher and many of you will

remember her as Head of History.

Sandy is sorely missed at Stonar, not

only by the current staff and girls, but

also by us old girls! We wish her a

very happy retirement and hope she

comes back to visit us often.

Louisa Hinxman (née Moore) (1993-1999)

Congratulations to Louisa and Dan

on the birth of their gorgeous baby

girl, Amelia Peggy Molly Hinxman on

27th July 2011, weighing 6lbs 6oz - a

sister for Miles.

Frédérique Dale (1991-1997)

On June 9th 2012 Frédérique (Freddie)

Dale will marry Andrew Messum from

Marlow, Buckinghamshire.

The Wedding will be attended by a

wealth of old Stonarians (Pill, Steph,

Suz, Milan, Caroline, Sarah Ball, Tor,

Claire etc) who are all still great

friends, with Pill and Steph being

bridesmaids.

The Reception will be held at

Andrew's home in Marlow in the

garden.

Freddie is still working in Formula One

and loving it, and Andrew is a yacht

broker.

Freddie can be contacted on

[email protected]

BIRTHS, MARRIAGES AND DEATHS

Page 7: The Stonarian

Ann Radcliffe Deceased (née Williams) (Stonar: 1947-1951)

1934 – 2010

Page 7 Issue 1—Spring 2012

Ann arrived at Stonar in 1947 and stayed

for three years. She was not of an

academic bent, but her artistic ability was

obvious and promoted by our outstanding

art mistress, Miss Gladys Hardwick. Ann

was particularly good at calligraphy which

she went on to put to good use

throughout her life. She made many close

friends with form-mates who she kept in

touch with always and she was pivotal in

keeping us in touch with each other and

ensuring we all knew when the annual

reunion was to be.

After leaving school Ann returned home to

help on the family farm where she stayed

until she married. She was blessed with a

beautiful mezzo soprano singing voice. At

this time she saved up her pocket money

and attended the Welsh College of Music and Drama for singing lessons. Her tutors

wanted her to go to a conservatoire in

Italy to develop her full potential, but

unfortunately circumstances did not allow

this to happen. For the rest of her life her

voice was heard only locally at Chapel

functions and eisteddfodau.

Ann married Andrew Radcliffe, a

neighbouring farmer’s son, and went on to

have three children, first Julian and then

two daughters, Jane and Lucy. Ann had a

very busy life as a farmer’s wife plus her

many other interests including bee-keeping,

dried flower arranging and gardening. She

always had a vast kitchen garden fully

planted to keep her family almost self-

sufficient throughout the year. She also

kept the rest of the garden immaculate,

enabling her to open it to the public for a

good cause every year. Whenever she

could she followed hounds during the

hunting season. Horses were in her blood

with numerous uncles and relations being

both amateur and professional jockeys.

Recently her nephew has made his name as

a racehorse trainer with help and support from Ann.

No one who saw Ann’s amazing energy

could but marvel that such a small person

could pack so much into every single day.

It was therefore doubly sad that she of all

people should be struck down with motor

neurone disease. This hideous condition

took eighteen months to claim her life, but

Ann endured it with great fortitude and all

her natural grace. She is greatly missed.

Barbara Davies (née Bowen)

(Stonar: 1945-1951)

Beryl Foley-Fisher Deceased (née Tritton)

(Stonar: 1941-1944)

We were very sad to hear of the sad death

of Beryl Foley-Fisher on 29th October

2011. Just before her death, Beryl sent us

a letter and photos of her days at Stonar.

“My name was Beryl Tritton and I went to

Stonar in 1941, and I still have a diary

which I kept then. I remember most of the

names as it was the last school I went to.

My parents lived in a village called Eastry, in

Kent, two and a half miles from Sandwich, but I did not go to Stonar then because I

went to a day school in Deal. When the

war broke out and being very near the

channel coast we expected to be invaded

by the Germans at any time, so my parents

evacuated to Surrey and I went to a school

there which had evacuated from London.

After a time my parents returned to Kent,

but as they already knew the school (my

father’s sister went there too!), they sent

me to Stonar as a boarder. We were all

boarders there except for two girls who

came from Melksham each day. One of

these was a special friend of mine (Deryn

Fulljames) whose father was in the RAF.

Another special friend of mine was

Patience Sainsbury, and her family lived in

Trowbridge. She would sometimes ask me

home to Sunday lunch which was a great

treat as we seldom got away from the

school except to walk to the village church

on Sundays.

I remember the ha-ha and the fields

beyond it which were yellow with cowslips

in the spring and where the horses were

grazed. Mrs Beresford-Webb was the

riding mistress and I remember the old

stables so well. I am astounded that there

are so many horses there now and there

must have been new stables built to

accommodate them all.

I remember Pamela Lapham from

Warminster, Pamela Gibaud from

Westbury-on-Trym, Pat Williams from

Wanstead, Patience Sainsbury from

Trowbridge, Deryn Fulljames, Jill Thatcher,

Jeanne Turner, Pat Williams, Jeanne

Heywood, Luscinia Beresford-Webb,

Daphne Rice, Rita Vanderkar, Pat Kiddy

from Street and Joan Eccles. These names

my husband has got from my 1941 diary. I

would be extremely pleased to hear of any

news of them.

The joint Headmistresses were Miss

Crook and Miss Blackwell who founded

the school at Sandwich. “Auntie Jos” was

the Matron assisted by Mrs Turner, who

had two daughters at the school, Jeanne

and Susan, who came from London.

Because of the war it was very difficult to

get domestic help and so we girls were

given weekly duties to do. These consisted

of helping in the kitchen (peeling potatoes

and cutting bread) and also helping in the

laundry and dusting etc before breakfast.

We had a mistress called Miss Pocock

who, whenever she saw us, asked “Have you done your duty girls?” which we

thought very funny and made us giggle!

I did not realise the house was so old when

I was there and this would account for it

being so bitterly cold in the winter – no

central heating! I could tell you other

things but perhaps that is enough for now.”

Page 8: The Stonarian

Bournemouth Events Management

Andover College Art Foundation

Birmingham English Literature and Classical Literature and Civilization

Manchester Chemistry

Westminster Business Management

Southampton Politics and International Relations

Bristol Environmental Geoscience

Royal Holloway Psychology

UWE Business Studies with Accounting and Finance

Keele Biomedical Science

York Environmental Geography

Leeds College of Art Foundation Diploma in Art and Design

Wiltshire College Foundation Diploma in Art and Design

Bournemouth College of Art Art Foundation

Solent Law

Hong Kong Computer Systems

Sheffield Hallam Hospitality Business Management with Culinary arts

University College Birmingham Hospitality Business Management

Cardiff Pharmacy

Plymouth Biological Sciences

Warwickshire College Equine Business Management

Farnham Art Foundation

Imperial Biology

UCL Linguistics

Plymouth Art History

Central St Martin’s College of Art Art Foundation

UCL English and Linguistics

UWE Business Studies and Human Resource Management

Page 8

Leavers’ Destinations 2011

Who to Contact

If you have any queries please contact

Emelia Sowels in the Alumni Department

at Stonar.

The Alumni Department is open from

9.15am until 1.45pm every weekday

during term time.

Stonar School

Cottles Park

Atworth

Melksham

Wiltshire SN12 8NT

Tel : 01225 701740

Email: [email protected]

Website: www.stonarschool.com

Welcome to our Newest Members

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