Talbot Heath Old girls` Spring 2014

Talbot Heath
Old Girls’ Association
Celebrating another
year of success
Dear All,
Spring 2014 newsletter
Sarah Jackson, former pupil with the
next generation of Talbot Heath girls
Eleanor Nesbitt, former pupil, poet,
writer and tutor of English at
Warwick University will be visiting
the school in the coming months as
will Anthea Bell, niece of Miss Rowe
and translator into English of many
works including the Asterix books
and Le Petit Nicolas. We will be
inviting the whole school community
to come and hear her talk about the
thought process behind inventing
the now legendary names of
‘Getafix’ and ‘ Pickandmix’. A lively
talk is on the cards and we look
forward to welcoming you.
This term the Creative Arts have been at the
heart of events at Talbot Heath and Old Girls
have, once again, been involved. We were
delighted to welcome back Sarah Johnson (TH
pupil - 2001), Eddie Izzard’s tour
manager, who spoke in the drama
studio with humour and insight
about the demands of tour
management
in
the
entertainment world.
She
commented on the fact that it
was her education at Talbot Heath
that provided her with the skills to
take on any challenge, regardless
of the field. It was incredibly
moving when Sarah spoke about
the incredible feat that Eddie,
supported by her, achieved when he raised
over £1 million for Sport Relief by running 43
marathons in 52 days around the UK.
A number of former pupils supported our
production of ‘Frankenstein - a year without
summer’ which we put on in collaboration
with the Arts University Bournemouth at
Shelley Manor in order to raise funds for the
restoration of the theatre. Miss Milner was
able to attend and recount how both she and
Miss Sykes had supported the preservation of
Bournemouth’s literary heritage linked to the
Shelleys many years previously. Both were
delighted that Talbot Heath and its pupils
were once again supporting such an
important Arts project within the community.
I very much hope that many of you will be able
to attend our special event on Friday the 27th
June, open to all pupils current and former,
that will focus on the 1930s architecture and
design features of the school with afternoon
tea and jazz tunes. We will be putting a display
of sporting teams throughout the School’s
history in the new pavilion. This will be officially
opened on Sports Day this year but will be
open on the 27th for those former pupils who
would like to view it.
These are exciting times at Talbot Heath and
we are very pleased that our former pupils can
still be a part of these.
Angharad Holloway, Head.
Celia Wood, Secretary, Talbot Heath Old Girls’ Association
Talbot Heath3
Independent School for Girls aged -18
[email protected]
Peel House, High Street, Tisbury, Salisbury, Wiltshire SP3 6PS
Telephone: 01747 870930 Mobile: 07796680482 Twitter: @seahorse45
CELEBRATING
127
YEARS
OF EDUCATION
Talbot Heath Old Girls’ Association, Spring 2014 newsletter
News of former pupils
Anna Shuttleworth
Now in her 87th year Ms
Shuttleworth writes to me saying that
she is still enjoying life enormously!
Music, on CDs and Radio 3 she still
loves although she finds the TV
difficult to see, especially watching
the tennis (she played in school tennis
in 1942). Reading is difficult but she
still enjoys reading “Purple Land” by
Hudson and is still having memories
of Jane Austen (via Dorothy Rowe)
and Elizabeth Jenkins’ book.
Anna’s husband does not share her
passion for music but fortunately she
has friends who will take her to
concerts including quite recently a
concert by Natalie Clien’s Bach &
Britten when Natalie was feeding her
baby during the intervals!
Anna still teaches ‘cello or helps
anyone who asks her although
arthritis hampers her playing that
instrument herself although she is
able to play the treble viol in a consort
of viols!
Anna is still in touch with TH
contemporaries Angela Bowden
(Scott) and Ursula Townley.
Jill Hopper
Jill Hopper (née Wyatt) Group D2,
left TH in 1959, wrote to me by email
on the 9th September last year. I
have decided to leave it unedited as
it is more powerful that way:
“I decided it might be better first
to send you this note, from which
you'll see why it's been difficult
for me to know quite where to
start after such a long time.
I've been a single parent to my
daughter, Corinne, since 1976
when she was two years old, but
in 2009 my world was shattered.
In August 2009 she became ill and
went
into
hospital.
They
diagnosed bowel cancer and in
October she started treatment,
but unfortunately it was too late.
She was able to come home with
me in November and died as I sat
beside her in December.
Sorry
that
the
previous
paragraph is a brief description of
such a terrible time, but it's easier
for me to let you know like this
and then expand on our earlier
movements, etc, later, and
perhaps have an entry in the
Chronicle. Actually, I've been
thinking a lot about my life
recently and talking to all my/our
wonderful friends, and they often
say I should write it all down!”
I replied to Jill’s email and heard
from her again:
“I'm sure your new librarian's
archive project will bring forth all
kinds of fascinating aspects of TH
life. Actually, I feel grateful to
have lived before Health &Safety
'went mad'!
For the past year I have been
seeing a wonderful Cruse
counsellor who is happy to let me
chatter away each session and she
has helped me make sense of my
altered world and see a future.”
Life deals some cruel blows and
we can only hope we have the
strength and character to deal
with them when they land. Our
best wishes go to Jill for a
recovery to a calmer future.”
Cindy Yau
For coming newsletter, I have some
updates to share.
I have just completed my 1st ever
China project (Chengdu International
Finance Square - IFS) and Mall was
opened in Mid January. Just quitted
from this firm which I spend 3 years
with and now heading towards my
next challenge, moving over to
two
Macau and start working for Wynn as
Senior Architect. Just moved out from
my apartment which I spend the last
6 & 1/2 years of my life in and will
rent that out in March after a simple
renovation. Now for weekend, will be
spending precious moments with
parents (staying at their flat). Hope
this new page of my life will be
prosperous and rewarding. Early
Happy Chinese New Year of Horse to
everyone.
Sarah Miller
I am now Sarah Miller (nèe Gill) and
was at Talbot Heath from September
1978 ‘til 1985. I boarded at St
Margaret’s for the first two years and
my sister Alison Warner (nee Gill) was
at St Kat’s from September ‘79 for a
year or two before we both became
Day Girls. (I think she ran the THOGA
for a while).
We are both in touch with people
from our years/ dorms- I think I am in
touch with everyone who was in my
dorm either by email or Facebook
(which is a lovely way of getting back
in touch with people/ long lost friends
even if, like myself not an avid user!)
In fact next weekend I am meeting
up with Helen Anderson (Fernando),
Nicola Fatica, and Fiona Peacey,
(twins whose maiden names were
Day) and am in very regular touch
with Janine Calkin (Howard) (we
were on the phone for about an hour
earlier today!). Also still in touch with
Kathryn Hamilton (Schofield), who
has moved to Australia with her
husband who is in the Navy and has
been seconded to the Australian
Navy, Theresa Weston (Pascal- her
sister was Nicola Pascal), Elaine
Gwyther (Scholes) and on Facebook
Julia Kempson (Howard) (all of these
were in St Margaret’s – many moved
to St Mary’s when St Margarets
became the Junior school). I am also
facebook friends with several other
“Talbot Heathens” (Zoe Wilson,
Ansuyah Magan) and am meeting up
with Helen Pickstock (who was Head
Girl in 1986-7 I think (thereabouts)
for dinner tomorrow evening! She
was in my sister’s year and both she
and Alison are god-mother to their
respective children. Helen and I have
become firm friends. It is so nice how
TH seems to forge lifetime- lasting
friendships, even though distance
(often continents apart!) and
different circumstances can separate
you!
Honours for THOGA members
I still exchange Christmas cards/
letters every year with Miss Milner
who was my English teacher and
form teacher in my sixth form (as was
Miss Cubberly or “bubbly Cubberly”
as we used to call her because she
was so lovely and cheerful!) and
always look forward to her news.
Congratulations to (Colonel) Heidi
Doughty (Group O2A, left TH in 1979)
who received her OBE for services to
military pathology on 6th December
2013.
Myself, I am now 47 this September
(arghh!) and live in London with my
husband Stuart, who is a Director at
the International Tennis Federation
(he is head of their Science and
Technology Department). We met
just 4 years ago so don’t have
children but are very happy. I am a
Practice Nurse now having done
several different roles in the
profession since I started my training
in 1986 at Charing Cross Hospital;
the last 18 years have been in the
Community/ Primary Care).
Funnily enough even in the world of
Tennis, which I have got to know
somewhat since meeting Stuart,
Talbot Heath crops up- one of Stuart’s
colleagues (well he is on the Board of
the ITF and is Chair of the Technical
Commission which Stuart is also on)
and I were talking about where I
grew up and went to school and
when I said “Talbot Heath” it turns
out he knows Miss Vernon Brown
well who was one of the games
teachers! Sadly I never excelled at
sport at School and was particularly
rubbish at Tennis!! I still have my old
school reports which my Mum had
kept and which I found when she
died and we cleared the house!!
Both Heidi and Fiona have
expressed an interest in returning to
school to talk to the students about
their lives and experiences since they
themselves left school.
Col. Heidi Doughty
Heidi currently works as a Consultant
in Transfusion Medicine for NHS Blood
and Transplant having trained in general
medicine and management. She is
interested in overseas work and trauma;
although she is finishing a 30 year career
in the Territorial Army – she will be
continuing her support to Defence.
Dr. Fiona Marshall
Dr Fiona Marshall (Group P2, left TH in
1982) is also to be congratulated on
winning the 2012 WISE Women of
Outstanding Achievement Award for
Innovation and Entrepreneurship.
Sandra Bull
Congratulations also to Sandra Bull
(née Bayley) (Group D2, left TH in 1957)
who is the Correspondence Officer,
Royal Household who received her MVO
(Member of the Victorian Order) at
Buckingham Palace on the 28th March
2014.
Mirabel Stuart
Fiona is the Founder and Chief
Scientific
Officer
of
Heptares
Therapeutics – one of the UK’s most
successful up and coming Biotech
Companies. Dr Marshall is also Chair of
the Cancer Research UK Drug Discovery
committee and Vice Chair of the
Wellcome Trust Seeding Drug Discovery
Committee.
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It has also been a pleasure to hear news
of recent leavers who have commenced
their courses around the UK. Mirabel
Stuart wrote to me, having completed her
course at the Sorbonne and moved on to
the University in Madrid and there has
been a steady stream of pupils popping in
to collect certificates - Fiona Ribbons,
Emma Hockey, Marnie Spicer, Emily Chalk,
Issy Hillard (looking very well after having
completed her sailing in the Southern
Hemisphere). We are delighted to hear
from you.
Talbot Heath Old Girls’ Association, Spring 2014 newsletter
Plaudit for
the Head
A BIG thank you!
Forthcoming reunions
Plaudit to Mrs Holloway from Linda
Blandford (née Sanis) following the
publication of “Inspire” last summer:
Thanks to Gillian Drewitt and the
fundraising efforts of the PSS and the
Sports Committee we are constructing a
new sports pavilion which will be ready
for this year’s sports days. The pavilion will
be named after Wendy Vernon-Browne at
Gillian’s behest. Wendy has been one of
Talbot Heath’s staunchest supporters over
the years and it is very fitting that the
pavilion recognises the contribution that
she has made to TH sport. You may well
recognise yourself in this picture of Gillian
and her tennis team.
I have felt deeply grateful to Talbot Heath
for over 50 years but I have never felt
proud to have been there until yesterday
when I saw the extraordinary magazine
you have created. My ten years at the
school gave me a personal and academic
discipline in spite of myself - and even if it
took another 40 years for me to go to
university and scoop the first class degree,
I should have got all those years earlier,
given the first class teachers I was
privileged to have.
My son, a writer for TIME magazine,
looked at Inspire to make me happy ... but
was then knocked out by it. And in seeing
what the school has become,
I lifted my head that little bit higher.
Bravi, congratulations to everyone
- I know how much work went into it.
2nd July 2013
We’d like to share
these photos of
THOGA members
in 1982, 1985
and 2013.
Searching 1965
H2 leavers
To celebrate 50 years since leaving TH, Group H2 is
organising a reunion in 2015. If you are a 1965 leaver
and have not been contacted about this get together,
please contact Naomi Fraser (nee Axtell)
[email protected] or Anne Baker
[email protected] for further details.
1982
Left to right in 2013 picture, we have:
Jo Barrington (a.k.a. Michaels) (nee
Stokes), Sarah Stribley, Helen WallaceSmith, Anna Madeleine Keys (nee
Wood), Chloe Sutcliffe, Morna Wood,
and Katy Horner (nee Miller).
1985
An event to
look forward to
Professor Susan Carter led an
all-women team to the North Pole in
2001. She is a lawyer, an ordained
priest and professor of
journalism at Michigan
State University.
Do you Love
Talbot Heath?
‘Like’ our official page on
facebook.com/talbotheathschool
This is a great way to be kept up to date
with news and pictures of day to day
life at Talbot Heath School. If you would
like help on how to use this simple
website, call Hayley O’Shea on 01202
763554, Marketing Manager of TH, she
will be happy to help get you started.
1965 sixth form
She will be giving
talks to parents,
students and Old
Girls on Friday
23rd May, 2014.
2013
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They are seeking the following OGs:
Vivienne Beech, Shiona Bell Kathryn Burbidge, Marilyn Case,
Patricia Chapman, Dian Chinneck, Vivian Coulson, Anne
Cunningham, Rosemary Dossor, Lynette Edmunds, Gillian
Flint, Carol Griffiths, Jennifer Grubb, Jackie Heywood, Helen
Langley, Pat Layman, Shirley Loveland, Andrea McFatson,
Caroline Pullman, Anne Ridsdale, Linda Roberts, Gaynor
Roose, Christine Smith, Lindsay Smith, Janet Teversham,
Penny Walls, Judith Warburton, Jane Wells-Furby, Cherry
Williams, Dorinda Wormsley, Angela Yeldham.
If you know where any of these ladies are please get in
touch with Naomi or Anne.
Reunion Tea on 27th June 2014
As it is a normal school day there will be no luncheon.
2.30 pm - AGM Business
3.15 pm - Talk on the 1930s architectural, graphic
and interior design elements of Talbot Heath in
liaison with the Architecture School
at the Arts University, Bournemouth.
This will be held in the main hall
3.45 pm - Tea will be served in the Senior
Dining Room. A chance to wander around
the school, the grounds and the Boarding Houses.
See booking form on back page.
The Class of ’64
– those of the era who left school in 1964, are having a
Golden Reunion on Friday 27th June starting with coffee and lunch at the Haven
Hotel, Sandbanks. We are looking forward to joining other Old Girls visiting the
school for the lecture on the school buildings, tea and a wander round before we
return for dinner at the hotel. Please get in touch if you are of the era and would
like to come! [email protected]
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News from this term
Talbot Heath Old Girls’ Association, Summer 2013 newsletter
TH has developed a reputation
Junior Spring
as being a beacon of excellence
Science Fair
for Geography in the region.
Tributes
SUE MATTHEWS, July 1949 to Nov 2013
After a long battle with
Multiple Sclerosis, Sue
Matthews (Potter) died in
Woodbridge, Suffolk, on 9th
November 2013.
She was born in Oxford in 1949
and joined Talbot Heath in
1060 as a boarder at St Mary’s
House, since her father who
was a Squadron Leader in
1965, Sue went to Westminster
Collge in London to study
College Administration to
become a Bursar. During work
experience in 1968 at Garnet
College in Roehampton, Sue
met Derek Matthews, who was
later to bedome her husband.
During her time in London, Sue
shared a flat with Rosemary
Osmond (Haile) and kept in
touch with many other TH
friends from St Mary’s including
Penny Whichello (Taylor),
Sandra Barnett, Valerie CHantry
(Keel), Netta Wace (Barwood)
and Pat Childs (Thomas).
During the Spring Science Fair,
children enjoyed demonstrating to
their parents what they had been
doing in their Science lessons.
Following her marriage to
Derek, Sue moved to Hastings
for 3 years where Derek was a
college lecturer and she worked
for a solicitor. Their son Tim was
born there. The family then
moved to Birmingham where
Derek worked for Birmingham
Council and Sue as a Bursar in
a special needs school.
In the last years of her life Sue
was completely paralysed and
could only move her head.
In 1976, the family moved to
Suffolk and Sue trained to be a
qualified Montessori teacher
and taught in Melton,
Woodbridge, for a number of
years. She sadly had to give up
teaching in her mid-thirtes due
to the onset of multiple sclerosis
after symptoms of numbness in
her hands and blurred vision.
Sue suffered form this awful
disease for over 20 years and
was wheelchair-bound for 10
years. Her husband Derek
retired early form his job with
Suffolk County Council to look
after her.
Sue was a fighter with a
strength of character that made
her determined to go on.
She was often in denial about
her situation, despite the
indignities and other health
problems she suffered with her
illness. The determination also
helped when her som Tim was
diagnosed with epilepsy at an
early age. Luckliy for the family,
he was able to have (at the
time) ground-breaking brain
surgery which cured the
epilepsy and he was able to
Year One children made a simple
electrical circuit for their lighthouses.
In Year Two, the children showed
their parents how to make lava lamps
and foaming monsters. Year 3
investigated animal skulls, as part of
their topic on Teeth and Healthy
Eating.
continue his career as a
photographer.
For the last 4 years of her life,
Sue moved to a nursing home
in Melton, close to her old
home so Derek could visit her
easily. Sue had many friends,
not locally but futher away such
as thos form TH who had kept
in touch over the years, Sue is
survived by her loving and
caring family especially Derek,
who looked after her so well for
so many years, together with
her son Tim, sister Janie, sisterin-law Beryl, as well as other
relatives form both sides of her
extended family. Our thoughts
are with them all.
Hundreds of Sixth Form students from across Dorset packed Talbot Heath's Main
Hall to listen to Nobel Peace Prize winning Professor Terry Gallaghan speak on
climate change in the Arctic, along with Professor Joe Painter who kept pupils
enthralled with his talk on Geography and Power.
Notifications of Old Girls
who have died since the
last Newsletter
CYNTHIA HOMER Member of Staff 1958-1962
Miss Homer died in
Cheltenham
on
14th
November 2013
Mrs Margaret Iona Bathard
(née Wright)
Group 2A
Mrs Jean Dean
(Brown)
Words from Barbara Milner.
"Miss Homer taught Divinity
and was House Mistress of St.
Margaret's from 1958 to 1962.
She left TH to take up a post at
Cheltenham Ladies' College
because she had responsibilities
to attend to - her parents lived
in Cheltenham.”
Group R
Miss Mary Moore Group J
Ms Nina Moyes
Former PE teacher
Mrs Angela Forbes-Saunders
(née Irving Saunders)Group S
“She will be remembered with the affection and respect of all those whose privilege it was to have known her.”
Mrs Mary (Maureen) Taylor
(née Williams)
Group D2
Thank you for your support Donations can be made into the Bank as follows:- Lloyds Bank,
Bournemouth Sort Code: 30-91-08, A/C Name: Talbot Heath School, Guild of Help, A/C No: 01851395.
You may, if you prefer, send a cheque made payable to “Guild of Help” to Celia Wood or to the school.
It would be helpful if you could let Celia or the school know you have made a donation to keep track.
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Alice
A musical fantasy directed by the Junior
Head, Karen Leahy and her Deputy,
Jakki Rook. Additional music was written
by Gaynor Walrond, a year 3 teacher and
the entire Junior Department staff
worked tirelessly to organise costumes,
scenery and props and the marshalling
of the eager 115, talented seven to
eleven year olds. Whilst the soloists were
magnificent and their confidence in
delivering their lines and songs was
astounding, the true benefit of the
whole production was for each and
every member of the cast. The children
learnt through collaborative working
that no matter what part they played,
each and every participant was
important and valued. Every individual
mattered to the undoubted success of
the whole production. From the very
first rehearsal, to the last lines of the
finale songs, they gave of their best and
were a credit to their school, their family
and, most importantly, to themselves.
A big well done to all!
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The girls
became detectives and by observing
the teeth in the skulls they were able
to decide on the diet that the animal
eats and which category it belonged
in. Year 4 linked their investigations
to their Solids, Liquids and Gases
topic and showcased investigations.
Presentations linked to a recent
Forces topic were shared with
parents in Year 5. These varied from
how you could change the way a
parachute flies to magnetism and
even aerodynamic cyclists.
The Year 6 girls have their lessons in
Senior School and impressed the
parents with their intriguing
woodlouse
choice
chamber
investigation.
All the children were very proud and
pleased to show off their work and
there were many positive comments
as the parents moved around the
classrooms.
Talbot Heath Old Girls’ Association, Spring 2014 newsletter
From the Secretary... looking to the future
We live in exciting times
with much happening on
the School Front with a
new Sports Pavilion in the
offing;
the
recent
refurbishment
of
the
Boarding House and many
other initiatives which
enhance the ambiance of
the lovely 1930s building
which has, in the main,
retained its architectural
integrity.
Whilst holding on to the best
of the old we still need to
look to the future. Methods
and systems which have
served us well in the past
have to be scrutinised and
assessed for suitability as we
go forward.

As an example, hand-writing
letters is much rarer than it
used to be and the young
now
keep
their
communication lines open all
the time on their iPhones,
iPads and other forms of
technology. The speed of
New technology is being
introduced into school all the
time, of course, but all sorts
of other aspects are changing
too. Hardly anyone writes
cheques any more, for
instance.
Banks tried to
phase them out a couple of
years ago (that did not work
at the time but it will
eventually)
and
getting
cheques through the system
is slow and most people are
now used to using their debit
and credit cards to pay for
things. We have to bear all
these changes in mind.
We need to plan for the
future. We need a strategy to
help us stay connected to the
school and to one another.
What I need you to do is let
me know your ideas
of how our
change can be dizzying but if
we don’t try to keep up we
risk being isolated as we get
older. Events at school
sometimes crop up at short
notice and only if an OG has
the internet can I let her
know what is happening so
she can make a choice to join
in or not.
Much as I would like to do
otherwise, I can only send a
paper communication to all
the Old Girls once a year
because of the cost of
postage. Those OGs with
email can hear from me much
more frequently – and if I am
at my computer – get a
response almost immediately
if they contact me.
So, if you are not currently
online, perhaps you could
persuade a young person to
help you (and they usually
love to show you what
they know) it really is worth
learning how to receive and
send emails.
Association can help to make
your relationship with the
School one that is mutually
beneficial. By the end of May
2014 we shall look at all your
positive suggestions and
gauge the feeling amongst
our members.
This is your chance to
influence to continuing
presence of the Old Girls in
the Talbot Heath community.
Please write to me: Celia
Wood, Peel House, High
Street, Tisbury, Wiltshire SP3
6PS
or
email
[email protected]
THANK YOU!
Celia Wood
BOOKING FORM for the Tea at the THOGA Reunion 27th June 2014 and Christmas Tea 2nd December 2014
Name
Maiden name
Group/Year of leaving school
Postal Address:
Post Code:
Contact Tel. No.
Mobile No.
Email address:
Please book me on to:
Reunion Tea, £6.50 per person
Christmas Tea, £7.50 per person
Cost for the Reunion Tea, £6.50 per person, Christmas Tea £7.50 per person, cheques payable to ‘THOGA’ please.
Please complete and return this slip to: Mrs Celia Wood (THOGA) Peel House, High Street, Tisbury, Salisbury, Wiltshire SP3 6PS or email
details to [email protected] Bookings (with payments) would be appreciated by 31st May 2014 for the Reunion and bookings
for the Christmas Tea by the 14th November, although payment for this can be made on the day for this event.
Everyone is entitled to one Newsletter a year, if you wish to receive paper copies of invitations, notices of plays, recitals, etc. during the
year 2014-2015 and do not have email, we politely request £5 to help pay for postage for the year starting September (again, cheques
made payable to THOGA and sent to Celia as above). Finally, if your details have changed since the last Newsletter please let me know
so that I can update the database.
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