NORWICHHIGH SCHOOL OLD GIRLS’ ASSOCIATION

Chairman’s Report 2011-2012

If like me,you read the EDP you will be aware of the continued success which NorwichHigh School pupils are achieving in so many different fields. I have asked for the sporting successes of the past year to be included in our Newsletter as many of you will be interested and will be impressed with the range of sporting activities which are now available in comparison with what you experienced. (perhaps some of you would like to write something on this theme for next year) You will also be able to read about the visit of the School musicians to Florence so there is another topic for recollections. You do not need to wait till the summer of 2013 to start writing-I am happy to receive articles of any length at any time during the year.

I would like to offer our congratulations to Mrs. Esme Stimpson who celebrated her 100th birthday on May 3rd this year. I wonder if she is our “most senior Old Girl”. Perhaps someone can let me know if this is so.

Please do read the Treasurer’s report with care and come to our AGM on November24th if you possibly can. The situation is serious and we must find a way to improve our financial situation while still providing our members with a chance to meet. We are hoping to attract more people to our Summer event by holding a buffet lunch on a Saturday to give those who have to travel to Norwich a bit more time. We hope that year groups whose anniversary falls in 2013 will hold a reunion that weekend.

I would like to thank the Headmaster for welcoming us to school for our events and for our committee meetings.

I look forward to seeing many of you at the AGM on November24th (Tea and cake will be provided)

Margo Benns
Chairman, Old Girls’ Association

Report on the School Academic Year

2011-2012

It was another busy and exciting year for the school and I am delighted to have the opportunity to share some of the highlights of the past twelve months with you.

The summer once again produced a strong set of examination performances and enabled the Upper Sixth leavers to progress to university or the next stage of their education – eight girls successfully confirming their places at Oxbridge, as well as two to the London School of Economic and Political Sciences and two to Central St Martin’s College of Art, among other leading institutions. For the sixth year in a row over 90% of all A level results were at grades A* - C and, while nationally the proportion of A* grades fell, at Norwich High it rose by over 7%. The performance at GCSE was similarly pleasing with over 40% of all grades at A* and 70% at A – A*. We were equally proud of other individual students who showed real determination and tenacity to secure good results in subjects they found difficult or who had wider challenges to cope with and yet persevered to perform credibly in their examinations.

The co-curricular life of the school has also been exceptionally rich and inspiring over the last year with no fewer than nine drama productions across the year (the highlight of which was a rousing production of ‘Return to the Forbidden Planet’ at the Playhouse), a dance show, a fashion show and many, many wonderful musical performances in school, at both the Anglican and Roman Catholic Cathedrals in the city and, once again, in the Royal Albert Hall and at Wembley Arena. I was also lucky enough to participate in the Music Tour to Tuscany in July when over 80 girls and staff visited the region and gave stunning concerts in Florence, Montecatini, San Gimignano and Pescia. It is such a joy and privilege to witness so much talent and creativity across the whole school and we are very fortunate to have such committed and talented staff and pupils to deliver such a vibrant programme.

We are holding an Inaugural Winter Arts Festival at the school in February 2013 to celebrate and showcase this aspect of school life and I hope that many of you will be able to join us for some of the events. The past accomplishments and on-going contribution of so many former pupils to regional and national artistic and creative life is certainly one of the proudest aspects of our heritage which we seek to share with the current generation of pupils.

We were able over the summer to complete a major and much needed refurbishment of the MusicSchool to create a space befitting the quality of Music the department provides. We also began a programme of classroom refurbishments with twelve rooms in Eaton Grove being transformed based on ideas from a working group of girls and staff. A beautiful new outside play area was created for the Infants in Stafford House and the staffroom was also redecorated. It was, therefore, a very busy summer for the Estates team at the school, but the improvements have already had a positive impact on the experience of both girls and staff this term.

It is always so good to hear from former pupils or to have the chance to meet and arrange for a tour of the school, so do contact the school if you would like to arrange such a visit.

Jason Morrow

Headmaster

October 2012

From the Treasurer

Every year events prove that the following items are frequently overlooked:

Your subscription may be due on 1st September

£7.50 is now due from all members with an Annual Membership (except this year’s Sixth Form Leavers).

Are you moving house?

Please put the OGA on the list of people who need to be advised. Remember, your membership is forfeited if envelopes cannot be delivered.

And talking of the postman ......

Would you allow us to use your email address rather than use Royal Mail?

Please contact me if you are willing to make this change, but please don’t forget to tell me should you change your provider.

Sue Prutton
Hon Treasurer, NHS OGA

Old Girls’ News

Joan Sarah Goodwin (nee Evans) Left school 1938.

She does not know if any of her contemporaries are still about! Audrey Capon was in her year and a good friend, and of course died a year or so ago.

Languages were her great interest – French of course, taught excellently by Miss Stoner and later Mrs Smyth. She had one term in the sixth form reading Virgil’s Georgics and then went to Geneva to an International school of 20 girls of whom she was the only English girl. They studied French Literature, European History, Artists and their pictures from a book she still has and refers to. During the Spanish Civil War the pictures from the Prado were housed in Geneva for safe keeping, and in 1939 (when that war ended) the Prado treasures were on view for the first time outside Spain in an exhibition. She learnt Latin, German and Spanish in French as well as European History.

When Joan joined NHS it was housed in the old school and the smell of chocolate from Caleys pervaded the playground. She remembers they had allotments and grew vegetables in plots. When the school moved to Eaton Grove she had a year at Stafford House. Her mother bought a house in Branksome Road and she cycled to school each day. Joan will be 90 next year and is busy compiling a Family History and a Family Cookery Book going back about to 1894!

Her mother gave a home to Frances Bettelheim who was a very successful pupil at the High School. Frances wrote to Joan’s mother every month to thank her throughout her life.

When Joan returned from Switzerland in July 1939 she went to Hosters’ SecretarialCollege (evacuated to Tonbridge Wells) and took French shorthand as part of the course. At the end the Principal told her that most of her girls came with degrees, so she could not help her to get a position but wished her well. She then moved to London, staying in a Girls Friendly Society Hostel and registered at the labour exchange. They had a vacancy for a shorthand typist at the French Transport Mission where she joined on 4th May 1940 (the day the French capitulated) before De Gaulle appeared on the scene, and some of the staff went back to join the Vichy Government.

Schools from Norwich were evacuated and in early September she went up to Barbon Manor where her mother had gone with Town Close School and gave French lessons to the older boys, and helped with the younger ones while Joan waited to be called up for the WRNS. She joined in 1941 and served in FortWilliam as a Secretary in the Captain’s Office. In October 1942 she joined a troopship sailing from Liverpool on a six week journey avoiding U boats operating from Freetown. They called at Bahia in Brazil to get water, and she was chosen as one of the dozen from the draft of 50 wrens. They were entertained by the local ladies and given dolls dressed in local costume, one of which Joan has given to one of her daughters. The Wren contingent disembarked at Capetown or Durban where she worked for 18 months, and then was sent on her own to Malta as Captain’s Secretary. She went by train to the Suez Canal, boat and train to Cairo and waited for air transport to Malta where the office had moved beforehand.

The flight was delayed, and then engine trouble in the desert caused her and another WAAF to be delayed in Tobruk for a week waiting for a replacement plane to complete her journey. She served in Malta until December 1944 and then came home to be a cadet Wren in Greenock where she met her husband to be. He was sent to the Mediterranean while Joan went to Greenwich for her two weeks office training passing out as top of her class. She then went to Rosneath as a third officer until June 1946. She married in December 1946 and now has 4 children, 11 grandchildren and 12 great grandchildren.

Sarah Mapes (1990-1997)

In 2012 Sarah obtained her Post Graduate Diploma in General Pharmacy Practice, gaining top marks in the East of England region with 90% for her portfolio. The qualification has opened lots of doors from teaching new pharmacists at UEA, becoming a research lead for Community Pharmacy across Norfolk, improving her clinical knowledge to discuss matters with GPs, and of course improving her patient skills. She loves working with the public, always finding something unexpected in each working day. She lives in Sheringham close to the sea with her chickens!

Elizabeth Taylor (nee Spalding) (1943-50)

Elizabeth is still performing. This year the cast of ‘Walter and Agnes’ were asked to attend the Spring Festival ‘Spring Loaded’ at ‘The Place’, a contemporary dance centre, where the Richard Alston Dancers are based. Their performance was advertised in ‘Time Out’ magazine for London entertainments.

‘The Place’ is just off the Euston Road, not far from the British Library. Their performance on April 26th was very well received and they took two curtain calls. On Friday July 6th they performed the dance drama again at Lichfield for their festival. Bookings have been taken for a six week tour at the end of September, following award of a grant from Arts Council to the Smith Company. Details of the tour will have to wait until the next OG magazine.

Felicity Titley (nee Ayton) (1944-55)

Felicity is still busy kept young by seven grandchildren. She is involved in church and local mission projects, and has been known to accompany services when there is no organist, despite increasingly arthritic fingers. She and Emily (16) support Leicester City FC, with season tickets. (It doesn’t half take years off your life!)

She is also a member at Leicestershire County Cricket Club, and revelled in their T20 victory – drawing a veil over the club propping up all the other league tables last season…… She still writes poetry when the muse takes her, but also produces quite a few to order, for special church services. Sophie (12) is an aspiring writer, so perhaps some of the genes have been passed on. Finally Flicky takes great delight in keeping in touch with all her old friends she rediscovered when organising the 2005 reunion. Thanks NHS OGA!

Bridget Elliott nee Bowers 1948-56

Bridget has completed her book “A1940’s childhood in Breckland and Norwich”. She has tried to re-capture the atmosphere of that time with her description of village life in North Pickenham, near Swaffham on the Glebe Farm, in the house, in the home, and the dramatic impact of the Americans during World War II. She re-counts living with her grandparents and aunts post-war in Heigham, the Earlham district of Norwich and bridges experiences between country and city life. Bridget reveals a deep love of Breckland where her family had lived for more than 200 years. Her hope is that our precious environment can be protected and appreciated for the future with schools and the public well-informed about their value.

Elizabeth Jack (nee Hanton) and Ruth Tillyard are trying to organize a reunion at the summer supper in 2013 for those who joined the senior school in September 1963 (leaving Upper 6 in July 1970) as next year will mark the 50th anniversary of this date. Anyone interested should contact Elizabeth at her e-mail address:

Obituaries

Janet Adams is an ex pupil (1968-70) of NHS. She made a good friend during her 2 years there, who she kept in contact with after she left. Her name was Charlotte Brown. She attended the school from 1963-70. Sadly she died on April 28th 2012 after a long battle with cancer. Many of her fellow pupils would remember her vivacity and charm. She was particularly good at acting. She leaves her husband Richard, a brother and two sisters, both of whom, Dilys and Heather, attended NHS.

Grace Cook (1953-60) has informed us of the sudden death of Maggie Andrews (Cook). She was in the Lacrosse team and had three sisters Jane, Mary and Christine (who died suddenly a year or two ago from heart failure) and brother Patrick.

We received, too late for last year’s magazine, the following letter from Val Sarah in Australia.

Miss Bartholomew

Miss Bartholomew was an extraordinary person of high intellect tempered by the common touch -the ability to relate to everyone she met with dignity and humour.

Her leadership made a tremendous impression on me as a student, and her genuine interest in the individual and individual aspirations was one of her core strengths.

I imagine that she has achieved a somewhat legendary status throughout the school community, who will mourn her passing.

Our family's thoughts will be with you all in spirit at her funeral, especially with Miss Ogden whose friendship with Miss Bartholomew had lasted for so many years.

Dawn Mullany (Watkins)

We have received the following sad news from Lesley Allard (nee Henning). I expect you will recall reading about the drowning in Lincolnshire earlier this year of a grandmother and her six year old grandson. Dawn Mullany (nee Watkins, aged 71). Dawn was a pupil at NHS all her school life. Her father had been killed during the Second World War when she was three. On leaving school Dawn was a librarian with Norfolk County Library Service.Dawn and Lesley played together in tennis tournaments in the mid 1950s but then lost touch. Dawn was widowed when in her 30s as her husband, Feroz, died of a heart attack when only 35. They had one daughter, the mother of the little boy who drowned.

Ann Brady (nee Bush) died in August this year aged 78. Six of her year at school attended her funeral at WalcottChurch in North Norfolk.

Ursula Bryan 1915-2011

Ursula was born in Norwich in 1915 and she attended NorwichHigh School from 1922 to 1934.After leaving school she went on to study at Bedford College of Physical Education from 1934 to 1937.She qualified in 1937 and gained membership of the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy. She taught briefly at Beckenham County Girls’ School but then went on to Queen Elizabeth Girls’ Grammar School in Barnet. By 1952 she had become the Head of PE and was to go on to become Deputy Head Mistress. In 1975 she retired but remained in Barnet and became a pillar of the Guild (their Old Girls’ Association) supporting them in so many ways and although frail she had attended their AGM in November 2010. She died in hospital on 24th January 2011.

Forthcoming
NorwichHigh School Events

We would be delighted to see you at the following events.
Please call the school for details (tel: 01603 453265).

Winter Arts Festival - February 11th – 15th – a variety of events, please contact school for a brochure.

Open Week – March 4th – 8th 2013. Come and see the school.