Robyn Taggart – taking time to plant new memories in Flower’s House F or nearly 20 years, Robyn Taggart has tidied up after boarders, smoothing and folding sheets and discovering a myriad of student-related items in dormitories. Now, it is her turn to ignore the alarm and pull the duvet over her head and go back to sleep. At 70, Robyn has called time on her role with the domestic staff team in Flower’s House. Despite enjoying the atmosphere of boarding life, she is ready to dig into her garden and see more of her grandchildren rather than restoring the state of the various dormitories and social spaces of the busy Christ’s College House. During her time at College, she has welcomed five Housemasters – Dave Scott (now the Medbury School Headmaster), Arthur Wood, Andrew Levenger, Ben Vink, and, finally, Lionel Randall – and thousands of boys. “I have enjoyed seeing those boys grow and continue to follow their post-College achievements over the years,” Robyn says. “And the boys today are largely well- behaved and not the pranksters of many years ago. There was one group of boys who set up a speaker that loudly and repeatedly called out my name.
So all I heard was calls for ‘Robyn’ around the House. “While the Year 9s are wary about talking to staff, the Year 10s are much more confident. However, by the time the boys are in Years 12 and 13, you can really enjoy their approach.” While several boys have stood out, Robyn particularly recalls Flower’s House boarder Damian McKenzie, describing the All Black as “a friendly boy right from the start”. Robyn arrived at College in 2004, initially working for Spotless before transferring to College domestic staff from about 2006. She recalls stepping into the new Flower’s House after managing her role around the campus when the boys “were sleeping all over the place while the original House was demolished and replaced”. “While the new House was being built, we had boys sleeping in dorms under the Assembly Hall and the gym, and the Head of Boarding had a sleeping space up
in the Tower building next to the Dining Hall,” she says. “Boys were also living in College buildings in Armagh Street.” She also recalls “a group of Year 10 students who were often missing from Congers”. “I was in their dorm, tidying up under the gym, and thought the line of suitcases carefully set up on a ledge was unusual. After further investigation, I discovered the boys and their hiding space behind the suitcases.” While it has largely been the same duties every day, Robyn has never tired of seeing fresh faces walk into the House on their first day. “I have certainly enjoyed my time at College – and in Flower’s House. When I think of some boys, it seems like they were here just a few years ago but often 15 years have actually gone by. This school has been very good to me but, at 70, it is time for a rest.”
COLLEGE 2024
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