When were you a student at Waldegrave? I was part of the first cohort of students who came to Waldegrave when it was formed from the merger of Twickenham Girls’ and Kneller Girls. That was in 1980. I remember we were a large cohort, with 8 form groups. I was in 1T and my form tutor was Miss Allsop and we sat in alphabetical order, I sat next to Rebecca Shaw and our form room was a languages classroom. What were your first memories of Waldegrave? It was big! And I was a bit frightened if I am honest. I was relatively shy at primary school and so coming to a larger school was quite daunting.
What are your fondest memories of Waldegrave school when you were here? The music department was my haven. I played the violin and recorder at that time and so it was a great place to be. Our Music teachers were Miss Sylvia Junge and Miss Joan Hale. Between them they were quite a team, Miss Hale being quite formidable! I think my fondest memories are linked to music but also to specific teachers – I had a wonderful English teacher in 3 rd Year (Mr Brown) and the best History teacher who was also Deputy Head (Mrs Callaway). Another memory I have is of the first Waldegrave Young Musician of the Year. I played the flute as well and competed on that instrument. I didn’t win but felt an immense sense of achievement at having participated and the judge told me ‘You have a very big sound!’
What did you decide to do after you left Waldegrave school? I went to RUTC in Twickenham to do A Levels, I didn’t enjoy it much and didn’t do so well. I retook my A levels at West London Institute and ended up at Aberystwyth University, initially reading Classics and Music but finally doing Drama. How did your career progress? I finished my degree and stayed to do Teacher Training, though I have never actually taught in a school. I decided to go back to college to train as a Stage Manager and worked in Theatre for 10 years before meeting my now husband and having 2 wonderful children. I now teach Sing and Sign to parents and carers and babies and I work at the school where we live, where my husband is Head of History. My daughter is at the school and my son also went through it to 5th Form (Year 11). What were the things that you took from Waldegrave into your adult life? The influence of Music and Miss Hale have been immense – I played in Richmond Youth Orchestra for many years and have always loved live music. This is something that I was encouraged in through school. I was a little different at school – I liked music, did Latin and wore NHS specs. Other students were sometimes unkind, but I feel that has made me a kinder, more compassionate person. I also think I learnt to follow my dreams and not worry about what others thought of me.
If there was one piece of advice you would give any of our students at Waldegrave what would it be? That is hard as there is so much advice to be given to students but I think it would have to be: Be kind and compassionate to all, it is a skill often missing in the world, will stand you in good stead and will always come back to you in heaps in the moments you least expect it.
Made with FlippingBook Digital Proposal Creator