St Monica

In 1970 the school play was "I Have Five Daughters" based on the novel "Pride and Prejudice". The daughters were: Elizabeth - Cathie Mills, Jane - Jane Orchard, Mary - Helen Skene, Kitty - Lydia Knight, Lydia ?? ( or maybe Lydia played Lydia!) Susan Skene was Darcy. Our thanks to Helen Padgett nee Skene who kindly send these photographs.

3 The new Committee: Julia Dimon, Chris Andrews, Mary Greene (Chown) - Treasurer, Jane Hughes (Swaffer) - Secretary, Sue Young (Barlow-Wheeler) - Chairman, Anthea D'Ancey (Cowan). Standing - Eleanor McRae (Staples), Joy Sang (Coleman), Lynne Swink (Simpole)

6 Greg Waters, Head Teacher of the Bishops' School, receiving framed prayers for display in the school. There is our school prayer and a more modern version written for the younger children but with the same theme. In the centre there will be a photograph of a mosaic depicting the prayer and being constructed on the school wall by the entrance. These are our gifts to the school to commemorate the 75th birthday and to show our affinity and friendship with the school.

8 Mrs Payton, our President, and Margaret Gilling, one of our most senior
members and a past Secretary of OGA, cutting the cake

October 2011 - Photographs recently unearthed by Pam Priscott (nee Saunders) Click on the images to enlarge

1. UIV East Probably 1961. Miss Mason talking to Margaret Sibbald, Rosamund "Gozzy" Godfrey, Brenda Frost by open window in shirt sleeves. Left front with head down is Pam Saunders, Ann Jackson Jenny Murray, Cherry Hick, Jackie Cook - by radiator, and in front Susan??

3. Back row: Sandra Sansom, Unknown, Jane Thomason. Front row: Sandra Kinet, Gill Williams, Sue Garner, Pepita Shaw.

4. Left from top: Sandra Samson, Sandra Kinet, Gill Williams. Right from top: Unknown (maybe a French student) Pepita Shaw, Pam Saunders.

March 2011 - Photographs recently received from Helen Whittingham (nee Gillespy Smith) Click on the images to enlarge

4. School Birthday 1947 - Helen thinks the names were Judy Morris? and further round Una ? and the fancy-dress "doll in box" was the youngest Phillips girl.(Lorraine and ? - their Mother later helped with games?)

5. The Duchess of Kent leaving Washford with small girls forming a guard of honour

6. The Remove 1950 - Judy Hopkins, Oriel Hadfield, Shirley Franklin, Noel Blindell,

Bridget Capron, Helen Gillespy-Smith and Rosemary Davies.

7. The Chapel

St James’s Church where we usually attended the Sunday morning services. Sue was able to go in as there were three men there fitting masses of new organ pipes into the top right hand arches. In the 1960s Mr Burley was the vicar and his wife Elsa, who was Belgian and very stylish, taught French at the school. Elsa's mother, Madame Byles also taught at the school during the 1960s. Revd Burley died many years ago and Elsa passed away two years ago. Thanks to Nicky Bovey (Hine) for this updated information.

The photo of Linkwood was taken at the same time. The present occupier bought it direct from the school in the 1970s. The house is for sale if anyone is interested in taking it on. Sue wonders if they store their "water boots" under the stairs like Cavell did. Who remembers the Saturday morning chore of pairing them up and putting the right peg on each pair? Was that better than collecting the tray of sticky buns from Washford?

Cowie - it was difficult for Sue to get a view of the whole house as the large tree overwhelmed everything. Sue and Jane Hughes spoke to the present owner and he knew nothing of the name , its use or previous owners in the 1970's. Sue hopes they found the right building – no doubt some other old girl will correct us if not. She spent a little time in there as did others who were contagious when it was the San. Anderson used it as an extra boarding house at some point in the 60s, and the kitchen was also used for domestic science.

Finally there is a picture of the inside of St John's Church, where some of us used to go for early Communion. It had a lovely atmosphere and was less formal or high church than St James. It had been derelict for some years but is now beautifully restored with under floor heating and a small kitchen area. The building is well used and they were just clearing away after a Mother and Toddler session.

Celebratory Lunch October 2006 Here is a selection, click on image to enlarge. Please let the Webmaster have any more names.

Activity in The Gym in the summer of 1961 and shows (from the left with faces showing) Billie Townrow, Judy Pick, Catherine Rose, Pat Heath, Elizabeth Kerr, Sue Barlow-Wheeler, and Susan Miller

Geography lesson with Miss Shipton (Shippy, House Mistress of Cavell) in Classroom H, Upper V West, summer of 1961. From left: Judy Pick, Sally Smith, Catherine Rose, Monica Spittal, Penny Macbeth, Janet Erskine, Miss Shipton with Elizabeth Kerr and Sue Barlow-Wheeler.

The same geography lesson a bit further round the room. From left, Penny Macbeth, Janet Erskine, Miss Shipton with Elizabeth Kerr, Sue Barlow-Wheeler, Mary Simpson, Susan Miller and Susan Kingsman

Members of The Rainbow, part of the cast of Hiawatha performed on Speech Day 1960. Those shown are (Back) Jenny Sexton, ? Sue Barlow-Wheeler, Verity Lewis (front) ? ? ? and also Jane Ablett there somewhere!

Miss Shand, lovingly known as Kipper, held in a lot of affection and respect. This is her last Speech Day in the summer of 1960. Those were the days of gentlemen's suits and hatted ladies

Lower 6th General outside the Portacabin classroom situated by the library. There were 12 of us and we stayed on one year to take more O levels but did not want to do A levels.

Those shown are (back row) Susan Chaston, Elizabeth Kerr, Janet Erskine, Penny Macbeth, Verity Lewis, Hilary Bowesman, Mary Patten. (sitting) Monica Spittal, Judy Pick, Frances Treweek, Sue Barlow-Wheeler and Amanda Fuller.

We called ourselves "The Brothers" as it was the time of The Rag Trade on TV with calls of "Everybody Out" at times of strike.