Issuu

SUMMER 2018

Lara Arnott

Speaks about her very special Royal commission

Summer

Magazine team Editor-in-chief Content Designer

Michelle Scott Alexandra Barlow Satvinder Orton

Update your details online Have you recently moved, changed your email address or phone number? Visit the new Downe House Foundation community online network: https://foundation.downehouse.net or email us at: foundation@downehouse.net

Mrs Sally Scott (Head of Art), Saskia Gall (DH 2000), Mrs Kirsten Mortimer (Teacher of Art) and Mrs Michelle Scott (Assistant Headmistress – Foundation)

Saskia returns to Downe House It was wonderful to welcome back alumna Saskia Gall (DH 2000) who shared with us exciting news about her project in Goa. Mrs Scott and Mrs Mortimer enjoyed catching up with Saskia over lunch in the Main Dining Room.

Find out more about her project in Goa here. www.thetribegoa.com

DH LINKS

Leavers’ Day

Founder’s Weekend

Focus on Success

Focus on Conservation

From the Archives

Focus on Reunions

Obituaries

#DHOGS reunite

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The Foundation Office was delighted to receive a photograph of six of the class of

2002 girls recently, with a message from Olivia Scott-Webb (DH 2002).

“I just wanted to send you a photo of some old Downe House girls as we all met for lunch today and it brought back such happy

memories! We all have babies almost the

same age!”

From the left: Eddie Cazenove, Willa Hustler, Margaret Henry, Georgie Capron, Sophie Capron and Olivia Scott-Webb

NETWORKING A Career in Casting

Olivia Scott-Webb shares her career path with Upper Sixth girls In the latest DH LINKS event bringing DH alumnae together with girls interested in a specific career sector, Olivia Scott-Webb (DH 2002) met with a group of 20 girls from the Upper Fifth and Sixth Form to talk about her career as a Casting Director. Olivia told the girls that when she was at Downe House her ambitions lay in the world of acting, and so after her A Levels, she went to the Royal Central School of Speech and Drama in London. However, over time, her thoughts changed, and when an opportunity arose to be a runner with the acclaimed Casting Director, Lucy Bevan, she jumped onto a new career path and really hasn’t looked back since. Her recent credits include ‘The Mercy’ starring Colin Firth and Rachel Weisz, ‘Lime house Golem’, starring Bill Nighy, Douglas Booth and Olivia Cooke and ‘The Journey’, which starred Timothy Spall, Colm Meaney and the late John Hurt. To give the girls a practical insight into the role of a Casting Director, Olivia devised a game based

on which actors and actresses might be suitable candidates for a particular role in Cinderella. Olivia then gave feedback on who had actually got the part and explained how she works very closely with the producers and directors to make sure they find the right actor for every part. In the Q & A session, Olivia advised the girls to take opportunities as they come along and to prepare thoroughly for interviews so that they present as knowledgeable and well-informed. She also told the girls that it is not essential to go to drama school and that Casting Directors come from many different backgrounds. Whilst at Downe, Olivia took the opportunity to take a trip down memory lane by visiting her old boarding house, Tedworth, to meet up with staff and pupils. We are enormously grateful to Olivia for taking the time to return to Downe House to share her experiences with us.

LEFT: OLIVIA SCOTT-WEBB CENTRE: CLAUDINE COLLINS, CATHARINE WIPPELL, ANNABEL ROEST, OLIVIA SCOTT-WEBB, ANNA HEWITT, GRACE DEVEREUX AND ELIZA HORN RIGHT: ANNA HEWITT, GRACE DEVEREUX AND ELIZA HORN

Save the Date AUTUMN EVENTS

DH LINKS CLUSTER GROUPS WEDNESDAY 10 OCTOBER 2018 EVENTS AND HOSPITALITY Join us for the first DH LINKS Events & Hospitality networking event that is taking place in London. If you work in either of these professions or would like to meet alumnae and parents who do then please email foundation@downehouse.net to sign up. WEDNESDAY 14 NOVEMBER 2018 CREATIVE ARTS This will be the second networking event for the creative arts sector. If you work in a creative profession or would like to meet alumnae and parents who do then please email foundation@downehouse.net to sign up.

We hope to see you there!

DH LINKS offers careers-based networking opportunities for current pupils and alumnae – if you can offer support with providing work shadowing or internships, hosting a Cluster Group or giving a careers talk, please do get in touch.

Please contact the Foundation Office if you wish to discuss ways to support DH LINKS. Mrs Alexandra Barlow DH LINKS Coordinator Email: dhlinks@downehouse.net Tel: 01635 204740

FOUNDATIO

Wishing the 2018 Leavers all

ON DINNER

l the very best for the future

LEAVERS’ DAY 2018

With their exams all finished, it was time to say farewell to the Upper Sixth and to celebrate all that they have achieved at Downe House with their parents and teachers. Leavers’ Day kicked off with the Leavers’ Assembly and Prize Giving for the whole School, which was held in the Farr Centre. This year’s prizes were presented by DH alumna, Theodora Clarke (DH 2003). Theodora went onto Newcastle University and is currently Chief Executive of the Coalition for Global Prosperity as well as being a successful entrepreneur and campaigner for gender equality and we are very grateful to her for joining us. Theodora encouraged the girls to make the most of every opportunity and inspired the girls with her words, “Be positive, be confident and really do believe that you can and will contribute to the world. If you work hard, if you set achievable goals, if you are motivated and enthusiastic, you can do anything. Be bold and dare to dream, aim as high as you possibly can.” In the well-established tradition, the Bagpipe Player led the procession of Upper Sixth girls, soon to be DH alumnae

themselves, through the School to the Chapel for a blessing by Chaplain, Reverend Anthea Platt. Drinks and canapés on the terrace followed and a sumptuous three-course lunch was served to the girls and their parents in the marquee. A surprise awaited the girls after lunch as the Foundation Department had organised a confetti moment for them on the Cloister Lawns. Five confetti canons fired over a million pieces of coloured confetti creating a burst of colour and excitement for those allimportant last photos of the girls at Downe House. Although it was time for the girls to say goodbye to the School, they were all heading for the riverside Westminster Boating Base in London for the Downe House Leavers’ Ball for the girls and their guests.

More drinks, a delicious meal, endless reminiscing and dancing followed to mark the end of their time at Downe House. Assistant Head (Foundation), Michelle Scott said, “It has been a wonderful day of celebrations for our Leavers and we are very proud of each and every girl for all that they have achieved and contributed to Downe House during their years at the School. As the girls become part of our alumnae community, we look forward to hearing about their adventures at university and beyond and to seeing them again at a reunion or event in the not too distant future. I would also like to take this opportunity to say thank you to our amazing Support Departments who have once again done a fantastic job behind the scenes in making today such a success.”

the adventure begins

LEAVERS’ FAREWELL 8

LEAVERS 2018 LEAVERS’ DAY 2018

FOUNDER’S WEEKEND 2018

Bringing the Downe House Community Together Founder’s Weekend is a very special weekend in the School’s calendar bringing together the whole community of girls, parents, alumnae, staff and friends for a wonderful weekend of dance, drama, music, displays, fundraising, sport and so much more.

The weekend kicked off with a competitive (but fun!) Family Tennis Tournament, Rounders match, Archery and a fantastic Bike Pump track on the playing fields which were all very popular and fun activities for the whole family. Alongside the sports activities, a whole raft of hands-on activities and workshops took place across the School. Of course, the Music, Drama and Dance performances brought some of the highlights of the weekend for girls and parents alike. On Saturday afternoon, the much-anticipated finals of the ‘Bring the House Downe’ musical ensemble competition took place – every performance was a winner but in the end, the Judges gave their vote to the Robinson Singers, and Legally Blonde won the Audience’s Vote. The Drama Department surpassed itself with their awesome production of ‘Singin in the Rain’ performed by girls from the Lower Fifth and Lower Sixth, the Founder’s Concert was a vibrant musical feast and the weekend culminated with the Dance Show, ‘A Night at the Movies’, a spectacular performance from girls across the year groups. 12

FOUNDER’S WEEKEND 2018

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All three of us were blown away by the events of the day, especially the music. Downe was a very musical school in my day and I was so delighted that it has gone from strength to strength. The three of us certainly enjoyed taking part in the Founder’s Concert as we all love singing! The Foundation Office were delighted to welcome back Gillian Feary (Brundell DH 1956) to Downe House on Sunday 1 July for Founder’s Weekend. Her two granddaughters joined Gillian and they enjoyed a variety of events throughout the day.

focus on success

A Royal co The opportunity to photograph the Queen is surely a dream job for any photographer and for DH Alumna, Lara Arnott (DH 2010), the call came earlier this year from the Outdoor Trust to ask if she was available to photograph the Queen unveiling the Commonwealth walkway in London

We spoke to Lara to find out more about her career to date and her very special royal commission… How did you get into photography? I have always loved taking photos and particularly enjoyed learning to use the dark room at Downe House during my Photography AS Level. In my first week at Bristol University, I was asked to photograph a club night, so I quickly went out to buy a flash and googled top tips for taking party photos. It all went well and soon led to a weekly booking with free drinks and free entry to all the clubs – surely the best possible job for a student! Although I spent lots of time

ommission… doing photography for other uni events and working for Nikon as a nerdy ‘Camera Specialist’, training store staff on how to sell Nikon cameras, I never dreamed that I could make a full-time career in photography. After I finished my degree in the History of Art, I got a place on the Teach First graduate scheme, which I decided to defer for a year. Friends asked me to photograph their wedding and then very quickly, one job led to another until I realised that making my love of photography into a proper business could really be a viable option.

How did you find getting started in the photography business? Although there are now more photographers than ever, I think I was lucky to start my business at a time when there was more demand for photos than ever - particularly in the events world, where getting a great set of photographs and documenting the party is now usually a top priority. The growth of digital communications and social media has definitely played its part too, not only because people are constantly needing new content, but also as a means of personal marketing - I remember the first time I put an album of my photos of the Bristol Fashion Show on Facebook and within hours, 15,000 people had viewed it. But really my business has very much grown through word of mouth and I’m lucky that one job very often leads to another.

What do you like best about your job? The thing I love best is that I get to photograph such a cross section of life – family portraits, weddings, parties, school photography, corporate events – and I get to meet so many interesting people from all walks of life along the way. I still find it such a privilege that I get to document some of the most important moments in people’s lives, and I love the variety that comes with the job, with no two days being the same. I also love that it allows me to travel, do something creative and of course be my own boss!

How did the commission to photograph the Queen come about? I got a call from a journalist I know who asked if I would be interested in taking photographs of the Queen unveiling a plaque for the new Commonwealth Walkway, a project organised by the Outdoor Trust. It was very exciting hanging out in Buckingham

Palace and meeting the Queen was an amazing opportunity – what an incredible woman – so friendly and with exemplary small talk. I’ll be pleased if I have just half her energy and stamina aged 92!

What are your best memories of Downe House? I joined Downe House in Upper Fourth in 2005 and have endless happy memories of my time there. When I come back to do photo shoots for the Foundation, I love remembering how much fun we had and it makes me really appreciate how lucky we were. Downe House taught me to have a strong work ethic, to enjoy being busy and fitting a lot into every day. The School did a fantastic job of nurturing the individual, whether you were creative, sporty or academic and I am so grateful for my amazing time there.

focus on charity Marathon Success

The Downe House alumnae were out in force at this year’s London Marathon joining the 40,000 runners to take part in what was described as the hottest race on record with temperatures as high as 24.1°C. Elizabeth, Emily and Phoebe share their stories of the day with us. Congratulations to all our runners – truly inspirational.

Emily Pullan (DH 2009) The London Marathon has always been on my bucket list and after several years of unsuccessful ballot applications this year I was lucky enough to gain a charity place to run for Mind, the mental health charity. Mental health awareness is something I feel really strongly about and is at the centre of everything I am passionate about: midwifery, motherhood, family, fitness and food! We don’t give an equal level of respect and encouragement to our physical and mental health. Therefore through my training and fundraising I wanted to raise awareness of what we can all do to improve our own mental health, making it as much of a priority as our physical health. During my Midwifery training I have seen how mental health, both good and bad, can affect pregnancy, birth, the postnatal period, bonding and family dynamics significantly, therefore running for Mind was an obvious choice for me. Being a keen sportswoman, keeping fit has always been my release to clear my head. I have always wanted to run the London Marathon, not only to raise money for such a great cause, but also as my therapy to keep me focused on training and an outlet to de-stress at the end of a long day on the wards. I really enjoyed my training, although this winter’s cold, rain, snow and wind did not prepare me well for the hottest London Marathon on record! The race did not go as I hoped or trained for, but I am proud of myself for just finishing when many people had to stop to receive medical attention due to the extreme conditions. I could not have done it without the crowds of spectators who lined the course to support, not to mention some loud cheers from lots of old DH girls! I have now raised over £3000 for Mind and my medal is hung in pride of place. Being the competitive person I am, another marathon is definitely on the cards to try and finish in the time I’d hoped for…but not for a few years yet!

Phoebe Jervis (DH 2010) I ran the marathon with three other Downe House girls, Francesca Devas, Isla Pullinger and Laura Burnett. Isla Pullinger and I were running for Place2Be, which was part of the Heads Together campaign and we ran most of the marathon together. I absolutely loved the whole day, in particular the first half of the race. Running with the vast number of people out raising money for their own individual causes was an incredibly special thing to be a part of and made all the training completely worthwhile! Francesca Devas, Isla Pullinger, Laura Burnett and Phoebe Jervis (all Class of 2010)

Elizabeth Galbraith (DH 2012) It was a tremendous honour raising money and running the London Marathon for Marie Curie, a brilliant charity which brings so much comfort and reassurance to so many. The training was gruelling and since I had managed to avoid exercise all my life until about a year ago, I had to start from scratch. It turned out that I actually enjoyed running and looked forward to my runs about three times a week around St. Andrews. After almost a year of building up my fitness, I felt marathon-ready and was thrilled to have completed all 26.2 miles in 4 hours 57 minutes, raising £4529.09 for Marie Curie. This would not have been possible without the amazing support and generous donations I received from so many family members and friends. Running the London Marathon was no easy feat, but I am so glad to have experienced the atmosphere, challenge and achievement that I felt during my training and on the day and to have done this in aid of a charity close to my heart.

focus on conservation

Dr Rosemary Groom (DH 1998) Rosemary lives and works in Zimbabwe, running a conservation charity called the African Wildlife Conservation Fund. What career did you envisage for yourself when you were in the Sixth Form at Downe House I grew up in Zimbabwe, and ever since I was about four, all I wanted to do was work in wildlife conservation in Africa, so I knew what my career path would be even before starting at Downe. So it’s been a clear career path for me, and I have been very fortunate indeed to be able to do pretty much what I have always wanted to do.

Did you always have an interest in conservation? Yes! I don’t remember ever wanting to do anything else - except briefly to be an astronaut! It’s always been my dream to work in conservation.

What has been your career path since leaving Downe House? I took a gap year after School where I went backpacking round Kenya, Tanzania and Zimbabwe for three months with a school friend (Nicola Pigott) and then spent six months in Central America (Belize and Guatemala) on a Trekforce Project. Then I went to Bristol to study zoology - I graduated from there with a first class degree in 2002 and then went to work in Botswana for two years. Here I worked in the Makgadikgadi National Park on a zebra and wildebeest migration project and then a lion conservation project. In 2004, I moved to Kenya, to live in the Maasai homelands of the Amboseli-Tsavo Ecosystem, where I did my PhD on the conservation implications of the Maasai land subdivision, also through Bristol. My boyfriend at the time was studying lions, so I spent a lot of time working on lions as well, and that set me up well for a future career in large carnivore conservation. I finished my PhD in early 2008 and on 1 April 2008 I moved back ‘home’ to Zimbabwe and started up the African Wildlife Conservation Fund (AWCF). I landed in Zimbabwe four days after the first elections of 2008, in the middle of a political and economic crisis and

mass hyperinflation (one loaf of bread cost billions of Zimbabwe dollars - if you could even find bread at all!). It was an interesting time and place to establish both a new life and a conservation project, but fortunately I’m very persistent! AWCF started with a base camp (equipped with one single mattress), one vehicle, two field scouts who hadn’t been paid for three years, and a mandate to study the endangered African wild dogs in the Savé Valley Conservancy (SVC). Today, it’s a huge multi-disciplinary project, covering all large carnivores in both SVC and neighbouring Gonarezhou National Park (over 8,000km of wildlife habitat) and incorporating managementoriented research, hands-on conservation, education, community engagement, human wildlife coexistence and policy dialogue. I’ve worked myself up from being the single ‘researcher’ to the Founder and CEO of the AWCF Trust which employs 14 full time staff (13 of whom are local Zimbabweans), has supported numerous students and published numerous scientific papers. In 2013, driven by the need to earn a salary of some kind, rather than just a cost-covering stipend which was all I paid myself through AWCF, I took another job with the Zoological Society of London and the Wildlife Conservation Society (a joint initiative) as the Southern African Coordinator for the Range Wide Conservation Program (RWCP) for Cheetah and African Wild Dogs. For this, I have eight southern African countries in my portfolio and work with governments, NGOs and scientists to develop and support the implementation of National Conservation strategies for Cheetah and African Wild Dogs. This is often through big landscape level, transboundary conservation projects, as well as policy and legislation coordination and land use planning. The workload is extremely varied, but always exciting! Together with maintaining high level oversight of the AWCF field teams, this keeps me pretty busy.

“

So long as I am still making a significant positive difference to wildlife and people’s livelihoods in rural Africa, I will be happy.

Describe a typical day for you There is definitely no such thing as a typical day! Some days can simply be computer work all day, starting at around 7:00am. Some field work activities (spoor surveys etc) necessitate a 4:30am start, and keep me out in the field all day, often camping wherever I end up in the evening. Sometimes a day will start with a plan and change immediately once a call comes in over the radio, and I have to drop everything and rush off to dart a wild animal caught in a snare trap or injured by a snare wire. A normal evening of work, dinner and relaxation can equally as easily be interrupted by a call to come and dart a hyena to remove a collar, or a lion just seen carrying a snare etc. With the ZSL Range Wide job thrown into the mix, there is also a lot of travel; last month I was in Angola, Botswana and Zambia for a week each, all in the space of three weeks. So it’s really all very varied and unpredictable and that’s part of what I love about it. Never a dull moment and certainly no such thing as a routine! When your jobs take you from the most hands-on level of conservation (immobilising wildlife) to the highest level of governments to talk conservation policy, and everything in between, there really is no such thing as a typical day.

What has been the biggest challenge with your current job role?

”

Aside from trying to set up shop during the mass hyperinflation and empty shops that was Zimbabwe in 2008 (not to mention the current economic crisis where there is no money in the banks), the biggest challenges are as follows: For AWCF, our biggest challenge is fundraising. We have no permanent or long term supporters and have to fundraise for every cent, including all salaries, operational costs and overheads. This is both very time-consuming (we spend far too much time trying to raise the funds and not as much time as we would like to on the work itself) but also detrimental to progress because we are never secure enough in our basic operating costs to take the next leap forward. For the regional job (RWCP), the biggest challenge is probably dealing with the inefficiencies and quirks of eight different southern African governments, and all the politics and bureaucracy that goes with that! It’s also pretty challenging trying to do two full-time jobs, which are both very demanding, but since I love what I do, it’s a challenge I gladly take on.

Where do you hope to be in five years’ time? Pretty much exactly where I am now, just with a bigger team working with me, so we can achieve more. And ideally for AWCF, some sort of more stable funding environment to allow us to advance our programs with confidence and perhaps even achieve some of our big dreams which are currently too constrained by funding shortages. So long as I am still making a significant positive difference to wildlife and people’s livelihoods in rural Africa, I will be happy.

What words of advice would you give to young girls who wish to pursue a career in science? Go for it! I don’t know about all sciences, but field-based conservation is wonderfully rewarding. It is extremely hard work and personally challenging, but totally worth every minute. There is nothing you can’t do if you put your mind to it and are prepared to work super hard to achieve what you want to. It’s a fantastic career where you can really make a difference that you can see on a daily basis.

For further information about the African Wildlife Conservation Fund please visit their website:

www.africanwildlifeconservationfund.org

FROM THE ARCHIVES

New PE Kit

2018

Downe House uniform comes of age Change is in the air! First came the Downe House rebrand in January 2017, now the new broom sweeps through the School uniform, as the bottle green, so long associated with generations of girls, makes way for subtle changes of style and colour. Out goes the outmoded boxy green blazer with red stripes which has been ‘Downe’ for approximately four decades, and in comes a tailored blazer edged with pale blue piping. The block colour skirt will be replaced by a rich tartan in dark greens and blues, complemented by a pale blue blouse and dark green V-neck jumper. Black socks or tights complete the look. Since its beginnings in 1907 until the 1970s, Downe House girls dressed in a woollen djibbah, a loose garment with a deep hem which was let down as the girls grew. It was a mark of prestige to have a patched hand-me-down. The dark green, teamed with the purple of the blanket coats and hat ribbons, were the colours of Scottish heather, representing founder Olive Willis’s pride in her Scottish heritage. A 1950s packing list from the School archives itemises uniform essentials: Mackintosh, cloak, field hat, headscarf (woollen) and djibbah, as well as blouses, cardigans and summer dresses. Girls loved to customise their garments with patches and embroidery, repairing them diligently in preference to buying new. In summer, tunics and blouses in an array of colours replaced the woollen djibbah, all supplied by Sheba of Sloane Street. Red replaced purple as an accent colour when Miss Farr joined the School as Headmistress in 1978. Green remained as part of the Downe identity.

1930

As for the Sixth Form, records reveal that Miss Farr introduced a new uniform consisting of kilt, shirt and V-neck. The kilts were family tartan or any tartan that appealed to the girls. Only in the last decade did the black skirt and blazer emerge, giving the older girls the sleek, more mature look that carries them half way from School to the world of work. Back in the djibbah days, PE called for nothing more than a change to plimsolls. Proper sportswear, introduced some four decades ago, incorporated the same bottle green that is part of the School’s heritage. 2018 will see the first major modernisation of the PE kit a vibrant jade colour becomes widely adopted, along with black and white, to create a smart all-School look, quite distinct from the main uniform and from other schools.

1990

Curious as it may seem, the red Venetian striped blazer and dark green kilts worn all around the School, will soon be laid down to archives, to be gazed upon nostalgically in the future, just as those from previous generations mourn their scratchy, heavy, shapeless djibbah, “that ingenious garment sans hooks, poppers, buttons or zips…We have no other. We need no other. There must be no other.” Thankful we must be, however, that time moves on and that fashions in School uniform keep pace. Just imagine…!

1994

focus on creative

Rose Lloyd Owen (DH 2001) After a ten year career in media, Rose fulfilled her ambition to run her own business and utilise her creative skills. Peardrop was created in 2013 from Rose’s flat and has flourished ever since.

“

I’d love to write a book one day and open a florist division of the company

”

“

What career did you envisage for yourself when you were in the Sixth Form at Downe House? Certainly not catering! At that age, I was completely obsessed with the world of show business and was desperate to work behind the scenes on films. Which is what I did – during my twenties I was lucky enough to work for one of the top talent agencies, looking after actors. When did you start the business? Exactly five years ago this month, so 2013. I was turning 30 and wasn’t excelling in my job. What I hadn’t really understood back then was that my real strength was being creative – not an admin-based job. I was passionate about cooking and had an urge to work for myself, having watched everyone else in my family do so. In the end, I had to scratch that itch. Describe a typical day for you? If we have a breakfast event on, I may be up early to deliver and be rushing into central London to set that up. Otherwise I might get a chance to go to the gym before driving to our kitchen in Acton. We have a big commercial unit with an office above so I move between my desk and the kitchen talking to my chefs about the food, working on recipes or managing the production team (we now produce sandwiches and wraps for Planet Organic). We usually have an event on in the evenings and if it’s a big one, I’ll be there doing the cooking and managing the kitchen. Otherwise I might stay late in my office free from distractions and work on menus. I’m aware that we need to constantly innovate to stay ahead of the game… I love to dream up exciting new dishes and can get lost in that until quite late sometimes.

What has been the biggest challenge with your business? I think everyone in the catering world would agree that staff the biggest challenge for us all. After Brexit, the pool of competent people in the lower pay bracket are diminished as many Europeans are leaving due to uncertainty and less are coming here. On top of that, the industry is attracting less young chefs so it’s difficult to find both skilled and unskilled workers. And then there’s the problem of cherishing and nurturing the good people you do have in an industry where costs are rising but prices are not yet reflecting that. Where do you hope to be in five years’ time? I have so many dreams and ideas for Peardrop; I’m constantly curtailing them and telling myself to focus on the now. I’m excited about developing our product range further. And then I’d like to split the business into three – the product range, the lunch deliveries and large events and ultimately have three production kitchens as we’re already falling over each other. I’d love to write a book one day and open a florist division of the company. I also dream of opening a café that employs homeless people. Argh, see! Too many ideas! For more of Rose’s mouthwatering creations, please visit Peardrop online:

http://www.peardroplondon.com/

LASS OF 2013

focus on reunions

focus on success

We were delighted to welcome guest speaker Annie Hillier (DH 2008)

5 Year Reunion:

CLASS OF

2013 The Carlton Club, London

LUMNAE SUCCESS

focus on one year on

India at the Sakura School in Cambodia

India Laidlaw (DH 2017) Deputy Head Senior 2016-2017 I cannot believe a year has gone by already. After finishing my Upper Sixth year in 2017, I went on several summer trips with friends which was so fun and just what we all needed after the stress of exams. Once September came along, I started working full time at a busy doctor’s surgery in South Kensington. It was incredibly hard work and long hours but I really enjoyed the challenge of it. I finished there shortly before Christmas as I was off on my first adventure. On 4 January 2018, Jasmine Coulson (DH 2017) and I flew to Cambodia through the gap year organisation, The Leap.

India at the Golden Temple in Amritsar with Is and Eliza Downes

focus on success

We spent the first six weeks working in a water project in Siem Reap; week seven was spent in the Starfish project at Sakura School and the final week at an elephant conservation. It was incredibly eye-opening visiting some of the poorest areas in Cambodia, the children we met had nothing and it was really rewarding to be able to help them with sports and painting lessons. From Cambodia, I flew onto Delhi and spent time in India with Eliza Downes (DH 2017) and Issy Eversfield (DH 2017). We travelled extensively enjoying short stops in lots of different locations. It was great fun and lovely to relax. My favourite experiences from India were: a week in Darjeeling drinking tea and eating cake, visiting

ssy Eversfield

“

Leh, which is the capital of the Himalayan kingdom of Ladakh, now the Leh district in the India state of Jammu and Kashmir, and finally Varanasi. On 1 May, I flew home and spent two weeks in London before jetting off again but this time to Chile to join Florence Elliott (DH 2017), Jasmine Coulson (DH 2017), Octavia Leahy (DH 2017) and Sophie Manners (DH 2017). We spent time discovering Chile and visited Bolivia. I loved the Atacama Salt Flats, which is one of the main attractions of the Los Flamencos National Reserve. I am now back in London and working hard, saving up for more summer adventures. My highlights of the year have been India,

I cannot believe a year has gone by already.

India at the Atacana Salt Flats with Florence Elliott, Jasmine Coulson, Octavia Leahy and Sophie Manners

the freedom of travelling and making your own decisions. The challenges were being away from home for four months with limited access to good Wi-Fi and also surviving on my own which has tested my resilience at times. I am still in touch with all my friends from Downe House. It is so easy to see people in London and meet for a drink after work. Some girls I had not seen for months but we have just picked up from where we left off. In September I am off to Newcastle University to study History & Politics and I am looking forward to picking a pen back up again! I have had the best year and made so many fantastic memories.

India pictured at Leavers’ Day 2017

focus on news and achievements

DH ALUMNA ELECTED BLUES CAPTAIN We were delighted to hear that DH alumna, Tora Fleming, (DH 2016) who is studying Chemistry at Worcester College, Oxford, was elected Captain of the Oxford University Blues Equestrian Club (OUEC). Under her captaincy and for the first time in the history of OUEC, the Equestrian Club will be embarking on a transatlantic equestrian tour in September. Ten team members will travel to the East coast of the USA for two and a half weeks to compete against Ivy League universities including Yale, Cornell, Brown and Dartmouth in dressage and show jumping. Between competitions, the team will be trying out a number of sports centred in the US such as western riding and hunt seat equitation. The entire tour will be featured in a blog on the Horse and Hounds website starting at the end of August and finishing the week after the tour.

OUEC is aiming to make sure that each rider can compete in this international competition, an opportunity most would never otherwise have by making the trip free for everyone. Tora is involved in an active fundraising campaign to cover the costs of the trip for the ten riders who come from all backgrounds, from European Youth Medallists to those who have never owned their own horse. The whole team have been working tirelessly to make this aim a reality, whether it is working to secure sponsorship, fundraising in and around Oxford or helping to organise an online charity auction. We wish Tora and the team every success in their venture and look forward to following their progress with the fundraising appeal and the US tour in September.

HEN CELEBRATIONS FOR NELL Downe was the third stop on Nell’s ‘this is your life’ hen-do, organised by a wonderful bunch of friends and family. Nell Fane (DH 2000) celebrated her wedding on Saturday 26 May

DH ALUMNA AWARDED MBE IN QUEEN’S BIRTHDAY HONOURS LIST A strong sense of community is a hallmark of a Downe House education and DH alumna, Rosemary Powell (James DH 1932) has certainly demonstrated that quality as well as fortitude and resilience in her life beyond Downe. In recognition of her considerable charitable services to the Royal British Legion, Rosemary was awarded an MBE in this year’s Queen’s Birthday Honours List. Rosemary, who trained as a Voluntary Aid Detachment (VAD) nurse during World War Two and went on to provide civilian nursing care to the military, has recently retired from selling poppies. After 97 years of active support for the Royal British Legion’s Poppy Appeal, she is thought to be Britain’s longest serving and oldest, poppy seller. Rosemary who is now 103, first helped her mother sell poppies on Richmond Bridge for the very first Poppy Appeal in 1921. Rosemary said, “The Poppy Appeal has always been a very important cause for me. We did it in memory of those men who were killed for their sacrifice”. Her father Charles Ashton James was left wounded after being shot in the head during the Battle of the Somme, and she lost two godfathers and three uncles during World War One. Mrs Powell’s first fiancé Robin Ellis, who was a commander in the Royal Navy, died in 1944 when the Lancaster bomber he was flying in crashed. She also lost her younger brother Peter, a major in the Army, during World War Two. Two of Rosemary’s granddaughters followed in her footsteps to come to Downe House – Emma Powell (DH 2010) and Rachel Powell (DH 2009). Emma told us, “I am certainly a very proud granddaughter – Granny has led a fascinating and very inspiring life and it is absolutely wonderful to see her efforts recognised in such a fabulous way. She is over the moon about being awarded the MBE and being the oldest recipient of an award in this year’s Queen’s Birthday Honours List!”

Going for Gold!! Our congratulations go to Eliza Horn (DH 2018), Eleanor Tarling (DH 2016) and Izzy West (DH 2018) who were amongst the 3000 young people awarded their Duke of Edinburgh Gold Award at a special day of presentations at Buckingham Palace, hosted by the Earl of Wessex as Trustee of the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award.

Centre for Learning

A centre for imaginative, innova

Exterior May 2018

Massive progress has been made on the Centre for Learning over the past few months and the building is starting to really take shape, both inside and out. Up on top of the building, the construction team have finished work on the roof covering, the ‘chimney’ stack’ for the hightech ventilation system and the roof lights, which will flood the new library and front lobby with light. The roof is partially covered with PV solar panels, which will play a very important role in minimising the Centre for Learning’s carbon footprint.

Centre for Learning Roof

The scaffolding which wrapped the building up until Easter has now come down to allow the curtain walling and windows to be installed which has made a tremendous difference to the appearance of the Centre for Learning. As the envelope of the building is nearing completion, work on the interior is in full swing. The first fix of electrical, mechanical and engineering services is well underway throughout the building as well as the screeding of floors, installation of the acoustic ceilings in the library and auditorium and the building of stud walls, fitting underfloor heating and laying flooring. The current plan is for the Centre for Learning to open for ‘testdriving’ in the second half of the Michaelmas Term with an official opening at the beginning of the Lent Term 2019. The Centre for Learning is the most significant new building project that Downe House has undertaken in its history and its whole rationale is based on the aim that it will touch and transform every girl’s education. Now that the building schedule is reaching its final stages, everyone’s thoughts are turning to exactly how we are going to use this fantastic stateof-the-art building to facilitate the enhancement and enrichment of learning for all. That might be a lecture, rehearsal or performance in the 250-seat Auditorium, individual learning in the well-resourced Library, socialising in the café or taking part in a collaborative learning experience in the communal areas.

ative and inspirational learning

Centre for Learning Café

Centre for Learning Library

The Centre for Learning will provide an environment and a framework of resources to instil a love of learning and a curiosity about the world around them in the girls across all year groups - there will be outside speakers and workshops, new book clubs and discussion groups, exhibitions and performances. To follow the progress of the Centre for Learning over the next few months, please visit the website https:// www.downehouse.net/10yearvision-latest-projectupdates.asp or follow us on twitter @DowneHouse1, facebook or instagram

#CentreforLearning #DHCfL

OBITUARIES We fondly remember the following alumnae Rose Daubeny (née Davis) DH 1957 Rose had breast cancer for twelve years and went through the full range of treatments available for this condition. She died peacefully in her own home with family and friends beside her. She was not the type to indulge in any self-pity and during those years, whenever treatment permitted, she just got on with living life to the full as she had always done. We have lived here in Warsash on the Hamble River at the same address throughout our married life of fifty four years. Rose played a very active part in the local community – school teacher, church choir and warden, sailing club where she became Commodore - and was very well known here. At her memorial service in Warsash village church, well over three hundred family and friends crammed in with standing room only at the back. A collection was made in her name for a special major appeal at the Portsmouth Hospital, which she had so often had to attend for treatment. The collection raised

I do not know a great deal about Rose at Downe but I do know she was Head Girl in 1957. There is a picture of her in the Downe centenary book on page 36, as Captain of the shooting team in 1957. I was at Pangbourne at the same time as she was at Downe and spent all my working life at sea in the merchant service. Rose was an extremely busy, competent and capable woman entirely able to deal with everything including her two children when I was away. An ideal sailor’s wife! Her only contemporary from Downe with whom we are still in touch, is Patricia (Kerr) Wakeford who was bridesmaid at our wedding and is Godmother to our daughter. over £1000. Recently my daughter and I attended a function at this hospital where a small plaque with Rose’s name on it as a major donor was placed, with others, on a memorial wall in the main entrance of the hospital. I think Downe can be proud of her.

IN MEMORIAM Sarah Bradbury (née Hillier) DH 1951 The Hon Elizabeth Fraser (née Methuen) DH 1945 Jill Leek (née Latham) DH 1964 Gillian Lewis (née Bradfield) DH 1937 Sheila Saxby-Soffe (née Paton) DH 1940

Written by: Barrington Daubeny

S T D

SAVE THE DATE 1998

Calling the classes of 1998 and 1993

2008

Calling the class of 2008 10 YEAR REUNION THURSDAY 1 NOVEMBER 2018 The Atlas, London

1993 20 AND 25 YEAR REUNION THURSDAY 4 OCTOBER 2018 Hollywood Arms, London

ARE YOU CELEBRATING YOUR GOLDEN BIRTHDAY THIS YEAR?

Calling all 1986 girls

Head Senior, Emma Wippell (Wirgman DH 1986) would like to establish contact from girls in this year group with the aim of celebrating their 50th birthdays during 2018 with a reunion in London.

Email Emma Wippell at emma@wippell.net to register your interest

AT I

SE N

DHSA

NE HOU S OW

’ A SS O

NEWS

AGM Report – February 2018 Registrars’ lunch at Downe House Rescheduled from March, this will now be held on Saturday 15 September 2018 at 12.30pm at Downe House. Invitations have been sent to all Registrars and we look forward to seeing as many as possible on the day.

Class of 1975

Reunion

1975 Reunion “Now we are Sixty” Fifteen of us from the Class of 1975 met for dinner at CJ’s house in Fulham for a ‘Now We are Sixty’ reunion and never stopped talking! It was great to see so many of us. We are in touch with 33 from our year in total but would love to hear from any other leavers who left or would have left in Upper Sixth in 1975. Do contact CJ (Catherine Palmer) via dhsa@downehouse.net if you are, or know of anyone, in our year group who would like to be in contact. Jane Cleave (Heywood-Lonsdale), Amanda Margadale (Fuller), Gilly Goldsmid (Guy), Ghislaine Kennerley (Galbraith), Jo More (Cherry), Anabel Temple, Jo Mains (Woodhouse), Julia Hassall (Jacomb-Hood), Lucia Borradaile (Vivian-Neal), Mary Sewell (Fraser),Clare Burrows (Alsop), Amanda Milne (Clezy), Catherine Palmer/CJ (Jackson), Shuna Colville (Denholm), Louise Bober (Pearson)

THE CLAN OF 1975 36

Dr Jo Vellacott Dr Jo Vellacott (DH 1939) was awarded a DHSA grant in 2017 to assist with the publication of her memoir: Living and Learning in Peace and War

Jo is 96 and lives in Toronto, Canada. She visited Downe House in 2014 with her son and his wife. Here Jo writes about why she applied for a DHSA grant. I’ve lived a long life. I never kept a journal but I have a good memory and from time to time I have jotted down memories of times past. I’m a historian, and I have come to realise that my early days are so long ago that they qualify, in a way, as social history, so I pulled some of the earliest memories together and wrote a memoir of the first 25 years, about a quarter of my life. As I wrote, I saw more and more clearly how important to me my time at Downe had been, just before the war, during the last years of Olive Willis’s leadership, a time in which the world gradually began to pull itself out from under the shadow of the First World War, only to darken again under the rise

of dictatorships and the Second World War. Despite the difficult times, writing the book was fun, easier than my usual carefully documented scholarly work. Spokesman Press, which had republished two of my historical books – about opposition to war, and the struggle for women’s rights – accepted this new venture, but pointed out that the market might be limited, so a subsidy would be needed. Just before that time I had read on the Downe House website something about a grant available to Old Seniors to help with ongoing work. I had been struck by its rare availability regardless of age. Long story short, I applied and was delighted to receive a generous grant, sufficient to help with digitising plenty of photos and pictures and to enable publication to go ahead. I hope many Old Seniors (and others) will enjoy it.

How to purchase a copy. Living and Learning is available on Amazon and through www.spokesmanbooks.com for £10.99 plus postage.

FAREWELL TO

COLLEAGUES At the end of the academic year, we bid farewell to the following members of staff. Thank you for your hard work and commitment during your time at Downe House and good luck for your future ventures. Kyia Grandi - Acting Director of Performing Arts Rhiannon Bland - Teacher of Drama, KS3 Drama Coordinator Taylor Thompson - Graduate Music Assistant & Resident Tutor (Aisholt) Claire Gatward - Teacher of Mathematics Orla Cahill - Head of Business & Economics Rebecca Thomas-Snell - Teacher of English Pauline Cox Smith - Teacher of Classics Amy McPherson - Assistant Director of Music Rachel Stoddart - Assistant Housemistress (Tedworth) & Teacher of PE Phoebe Dry - Pastoral Tutor (York) Felicity Minns - Assistant Housemistress (AGS) & Teacher of History Eloise Bartholomew -Teacher of EAL, Coordinator of EAL David Bowker - Teacher of Classics & Geography Roy Batters - Teacher of Classics Rod Nash - Design & Technology Technician Anthea Nash - Assistant Head of Lower School Adam Treadaway - Housemaster (AGN) & Teacher of Music

DATES FOR THE DIARY 2018 THURSDAY 4 OCTOBER 20 & 25 YEAR REUNION, LONDON WEDNESDAY 10 OCTOBER DH LINKS CLUSTER GROUP, LONDON TUESDAY 16 OCTOBER MEDLEY LECTURE WITH DR SIMON SEBAG MONTIFIORE

Gift Fair

FRIDAY 19 OCTOBER GIFT FAIR, DOWNE HOUSE

THURSDAY 1 NOVEMBER 10 YEAR REUNION, LONDON WEDNESDAY 14 NOVEMBER DH LINKS CLUSTER GROUP, LONDON

HAVE YOU SIGNED UP TO DOWNE HOUSE FOUNDATION? Over 300 of your fellow alumnae have already joined the online Downe House Foundation community https://foundation.downehouse.net sign up today ► ► ► ► ►

RE-CONNECT UPDATE EVENTS DH LINKS ALUMNAE NEWS

ANY QUESTIONS? Call the Downe House Foundation Office on 01635 204719 or email

foundation@downehouse.net

Celebrating 110 years

Cold Ash, Thatcham, Berkshire RG18 9JJ T: 01635 204719 E: foundation@downehouse.net www.downehouse.net

Downe House School

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