Claire Cousens By Richard Mayo
Eleanor Walters By Katie Harding
Eleanor joined Dulwich College in September 2017 from Colchester Royal Grammar School, where she was a teacher of Classics as well as being the SENCO, having earlier graduated with a 2:1 in Classics from Cambridge. Eleanor quickly set about making her mark, bringing her legendary organisational skills to the Learn- ing Support Department, which
a fabulously varied event. The Boarding House teams will miss Eleanor’s enthusiasm, her willingness to be involved in House events, and her wonderful manner with staff and students alike. Not one to limit her work contributions to the classroom or the curriculum, Eleanor has always been the first to volunteer, having participated in Creative Saturday School, residential trips and many Duke of Edinburgh trips. She has been a valued member of the Scouts, working tirelessly to ensure the boys get the most out of their time. She is also an accomplished choral singer, and enjoys ballet and Pilates! Eleanor is a kind, thoughtful and knowledgeable col- league whom we will miss greatly. We wish her huge success at the King’s School in Rochester, where she will be Head of Learning Support. ◎
Claire joined the College in Sep- tember 2017 as a teacher of Mu- sic, having previously been Head of Music at Rochester Grammar School. She had a distinguished education, attending Methodist College, Belfast and then Emma- nuel College, Cambridge, where she read Music. Claire is a fine organist and has been awarded the prestigious
singers from both JAGS and the College. The group per- formed a number of times at the Hideaway, Streatham. She also conducted the Madrigal Choir in a highly successful performance of John Rutter’s Feel the Spirit, and the Year 7 Concert Choir in a Beatles medley. This performance was intended for the Winter Concert at Ca- dogan Hall in 2020, but had to be postponed because of Covid. Claire’s musical capabilities meant that the change was managed seamlessly, with the Year 7 choir producing a highly spirited performance at All Saints Church, West Dulwich, early in the Lent term 2021. Claire’s contribution to the College included being a form tutor in the Middle School, something that she very much enjoyed, and she was also involved in the teaching of the Wellbeing programme. Additionally, she worked with the Drama Department on the Senior School play, The Recruiting Officer . Claire’s marriage to David Robinson in 2018 has since seen the happy arrival of Sophie (now two) and Ollie (now one). Dave’s appointment as Head of Chemistry at Tonbridge School has seen the family move back to Tonbridge. Claire’s work across the Department has been invaluable, particularly for Academic Music. Her ability to find and see something humorous in any given situation was always welcome, and she will be much-missed. We wish Claire, Dave, Sophie and Ollie every success and happiness for the future. ◎
she led brilliantly for several years, only stepping down after bravely and stoically fighting cancer. On her return, Eleanor courageously took on the Access Arrangements Coordinator role and took great care to ensure that all boys receive the access arrangements to which they are entitled. She can often be found working at the weekend to make sure all the boys’ access arrangements doc- uments are fully up to date. It might be noted that the Access Arrangements inspectors fear Eleanor, rather than the other way around! Eleanor is also an enthusiastic teacher of Classics. Over her time at the College, she has passed on her love of Latin to students in the Lower and Middle Schools, as well as teaching Classical Civilisation to Year 12 students. Although very much a part-time member of the Clas- sics Department, Eleanor has been highly valued by her Classics colleagues for her unflappable approach and fierce intelligence. She is always very keen to accompany a Classics trip, especially to sunny Italy! Eleanor has been a wonderfully proactive and engaged Visiting Tutor in Blew House. She quickly positioned herself as a taster in the inter-house baking competitions, demonstrating wilful disregard for her own personal safe- ty! Her calm manner has helped the boarders feel at ease in her presence, with many taking time to chat with her or ask for advice. Eleanor led a successful inter-house quiz for the Gordon Bowl competition, using University Chal- lenge -style buzzers and keyboard dexterity to orchestrate
Fellowship of the Royal College of Organists. She was Organ Scholar at Emmanuel, and later at Truro Cathedral, and she played regularly for College assemblies and for the Chapel Choir, notably at St George’s Chapel, Wind- sor Castle, and at Southwark Cathedral for the College’s Carol Service, as well as for the Foundation Schools’ per- formance of Benjamin Britten’s War Requiem at the Royal Festival Hall in February 2018. Claire brought to the department a clear, no-nonsense teaching style, and her appointment as Head of Academic Music was a natural promotional step. Under her lead- ership, the Academic Music programme saw its schemes of work modernised, with a clear integration of music technology and a new contemporary focus for Year 9. She worked closely with Cecilia McDowall, the College’s Visiting Composer, and nurtured the student composers at the College, ensuring that the Composition Compe- tition became an annual fixture in the College’s musical calendar. This particular competition has provided pupils with positive constructive critiques of their expressive capabilities, from distinguished adjudicators. Claire’s care and attention to all those who studied GCSE and A-level Music provided them with lasting skills and confidence in the subject, enabling a high proportion to go on to study Music at university. Claire’s wider contribution to the department saw her run the Light Blues, a vocal ensemble which included pupil
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