Old Girls’ Newsletter

Volume 8: Issue 2

Term 2 2014 Chit-Chat

TWC Old Girls Guild

Founders’ Day 2014 Saturday dawned bright and clear. Annual General Meetings were held but there was also time to watch sport, enjoy a delicious tea, and spend time with the many Old Girls who flocked to the campus. A meaningful service was held during which we were reminded by Michelle Lesur, Chairlady of the Old Girls Guild, about our founding schools and the early days of The Wykeham Collegiate.

The Foundation Car Raffle draw ended months of hard work by Foundation Officer Pru Deenik, and anticipation by raffle ticket holders, that ‘theirs’ would be the winning ticket. The Old Girls luncheon was very well supported. Held in the school dining-room, it was a most lively, happy affair. The food was delicious and the conversation stimulating with many hilarious stories and anecdotes being shared.

Flick Wright - Headmistress

Founders’ Day Speech Today is Founders’ Day – an important day in the history of our school. It is my most exciting day on the school calendar. I get to catch up with past pupils from a variety of different eras within the school’s history. A very warm welcome to you all! It is wonderful to have you here today….and it is especially wonderful to have the old Wykeham girls who have been brave enough to venture onto the TWC campus this year. I hope you enjoyed your tour to the old property earlier this morning.

You see, girls, it is very hard for you to understand what it is like for Wykeham School girls to have their old school close its doors, move off the property, join with a rival school and metamorphosize into a whole new school with a new vision and a new ethos and a totally new identity – The Wykeham Collegiate. Imagine how you would feel if Miss Tasker announced on Monday that at the end of the year TWC would be closing its doors and moving up to St Annes’ School….

Mmmm…..that is exactly what it felt like for the Wykeham girls. And, I was there is Grade 10 when the announcement was made to both schools. Both Headmistresses decided to tell the staff and pupils of their respective schools at exactly the same time so no school would hear before the other. Thank goodness they didn’t have cellphones in those days because they would have had to be much more precise with their timing. Mrs Varney and Miss Hogg chose 12 noon on a sunny Maritzburg day to make this massive announcement. The teachers were told just before the pupils and Mrs Varney writes:

“The girls were stunned– you could hear a pin drop in the school hall. Their first emotion was anger then disbelief and sadness. Very few were excited about the merger and very few could see the logic in their decision – the Wykeham girls had to leave their beloved school which held so many memories for them, and the Collegiate girls had to share their “home” with newcomers who wore strange big hats.” Collegiate immediately became one big construction sight which added to their displeasure.

But look around today girls, and old girls, two woman had a dream, two educationalists had a vision and look what their dream has become, look where their vision has taken us…!

26 years ago, they went out for supper early in 1988 as two friends who first knew each other as student teachers at Maritzburg University. Mrs Varney writes that over a glass of wine they began to share their concerns about their schools. Mrs Varney confided in Miss Hogg that her school was in the wrong location if it was going to flourish in the future. And Miss Hogg confided that Collegiate did not have the resources to turn Collegiate into a school that could face the enormous challenges of the technological revolution that was facing far-sighted educationalists. Little did they know what a revolution it was going to be…..laptops, IPads, IPods and IPhones hadn’t even been invented yet!

At the end of a very late dinner, they decided to call a meeting with the Boards of both schools and put their idea of amalgamating the two schools to them. Mrs Varney writes that they all met under an historic oak tree in the most beautiful garden at the home of Clive Henderson.

Girls Collegiate

And it was in these incredible surroundings, with great foresight and courage that the concept of the Wykeham Collegiate was born – a school for young girls and

women which would offer a broad curriculum that would ensure that the pupils were prepared for the real world of work and where they could make a significant contribution to their communities and live fulfilling lives with their families. What a dream……! Their motto was going to be ‘Forward in Faith’ because that is what they were doing. They believed in their dream but they had no guarantees that their dream would be realised.

Throughout the Christmas holidays of 1989, everyone worked tirelessly to get the school ready for the girls. All furniture at Wykeham was marked with a sticker – green if it was going up the hill and red if it was staying. New furniture was bought for the Junior School. The Library, Art Block and Boarding Halls had to be kitted out. It was an exhausting but exciting time – their dream was becoming a reality. The day finally dawned in January 1990 and as the Boarders started to arrive through the front door, the last of the beds for the newly refurbished dormitories were being delivered through the back door. Mrs Varney writes that it was a wonderful sight to see all the girls arrive in their new Wykeham Collegiate uniform – the beautiful fresh yellow sprig dresses and of course THAT HAT! The excitement was contagious …..The Wykeham Collegiate had finally opened its doors for the first time!

Girls, there is another remarkable lady who was part of this dream. It is all very well to have a dream but you have to make the dream a reality. For the past 20 years there is a very special lady in the Junior school who has been the custodian of this dream and put an enormous amount of work into making it, not just a reality, but making the dream bigger and brighter. Mrs Wright leaves us at the end of the year to follow a new dream. Together with Miss Hogg and Mrs Varney, we salute her for her gracious determination to make The Wykeham Collegiate the truly wonderful school that it is.

Today on Founders’ Day, as we remember all these special women and their army of hidden masterminds who gave us the Wykeham Collegiate, my wish for you is that if you have a dream, you will learn from our Founders and have the courage and dedication to make your own unique dream a reality now or in the future.

Here at the Wykeham Collegiate you are fortunate to be surrounded by an abundance of possibilities and opportunities and it becomes difficult and sometimes scary to decide what is you unique vision and what it is that you really want. Now is the best time to develop yourself so that when you “sail” out of here into the big oceans of the world you will be able to thrive

regardless of the storms that you go through.

Thank you.

Michelle Lesur (Chairlady Old Girls Guild – 31 May 2014)

Wykeham

The Wykeham Collegiate

Sport on Founders’ Day Events scheduled before the formal part of the day were Inter-House Hockey, Netball, Skipping and Cross-Country. A fun Soccer match was played between staff and pupils where the Lady Principal Sue Tasker was seen showing off her amazing ball skills.

Hockey – Campbell vs Crookes Netball – O’Brien vs Crookes

Soccer – Staff vs Pupils

Skipping – Moore House

Cross Country

Wykeham Old Girls visit their old school,

St Nicholas. A 22 seater bus was booked for 8am on Saturday the 31st May 2014 to transport some 20 Wykeham Old Girls down town to St Nicholas for a tour of their old school. The ladies, ranging from matric classes of 1953 to 1988, assembled around the statue of Rosie at TWC for the first photo of the day, then climbed on the bus for a trip down memory lane to a destination that, for some, had

not been visited in thirty years. There was a lot to catch up on and flashbacks of rowdy school girl bus trips were uppermost in everyone’s minds.

We were met by Luke Perkins, the current headmaster, at the front entrance in Loop Street. He is doing an admirable job at maintaining the grounds in peak condition and is passionate about keeping the history of the school alive and it was comforting to see many relics of the old Wykeham still preserved. (A testament to this is the book of the history of Wykeham, which he keeps in his office.)

The ladies then dispersed into smaller groups and wandered around the school in a sea of nostalgia, while each rekindled memories (both good and bad!) evoked by familiar smells and sounds which still linger today. As we passed through the famous T.C.’s music room, the dining room with eerie ghost stories of Mary Moore, the swimming pool, the (tiny) hall, the tuck shop and matric cubicles there was much laughter as the ladies shared anecdotes of their own personal journeys and experiences at Wykeham. It was heart-warming to see that our beloved school with our identity and our memories are still intact.

We then climbed back on the bus back to The Wykeham Collegiate for a delicious tea and the beautiful Founders’ Day service, to sing the school songs and to hear with pride the senior choir sing as only our girls can, in celebration of our remarkable school with its rich heritage and bright future as we all go ‘Forward in Faith’.

Gill Lotze neé Phipson

Girls Collegiate Class of 1974 – 40 Year Reunion

Having a school song entitled ’Forty Years On’ prompted the Girls Collegiate class of 1974 to organise a reunion. Over the past few years small groups have met all over the world to re-establish contact and trace class members and teachers. We managed to trace 31 of the 36 people who were in our class and 26 of these were able to attend the reunion on Friday 25 April 2014, travelling from all over South Africa with several from the U.K. The events started with an informal drinks evening at Shirley Button’s beautiful home in Hilton. Shirley is a Collegiate Old Girl herself and the mother of Rosemary (class of 1974) and Diana. The next morning we met at the school and were welcomed by the Lady Principal, Susan Tasker and Pru Deenik, Old Girls Liaison Officer, who put on a wonderful exhibition of memorabilia and a morning tea. We were also joined by Sister Green who looked after us in sick bay, and Mrs Joan Kyle who was our Maths teacher. After singing the ’Forty Years On’ song, accompanied by Mariette Harwood neé de Villiers, from the class of 1974, on the piano, Aileen Metherell, Senior School Deputy Head, took us on a tour of the impressive facilities of the school (amazing progress has been made in the 40 years since we left and there were also plenty of memories recalled as we walked around). We then went on to a relaxed lunch at the Fat Aubergine restaurant in Pietermaritzburg. Several girls made stunning contributions such as placemats with everyone’s photos (then and now), serviette rings in the sprig design and a profile booklet with entries from 31 class members to take home. Diane Dalgarno (Girls Collegiate 1974)

Community Service Autumn School at Nogida High School Muden During the April holidays, five Grade 12’s and one Grade 10 pupil spent a week with Pam Esterhuysen in the Muden Valley teaching at Nogida High School. They had to teach Mathematics, Maths Lit, Life Orientation, Life Science and Physical Science to two classes of Grade 12 pupils. These are some of the comments from the girls who helped with the teaching: ‘The trip to Muden was a truly humbling experience. Coming from a privileged school, I now understand some of the challenges that many people in South Africa face. I really enjoyed teaching at the school and it makes me happy to think that I helped others to further their education’ says Jessica Junge. Emma Last had this to say: ‘Teaching children who have so little but aspire to be so much, was an amazing opportunity. Each child touched my heart, and a part of me will never forget and I will always have those moments to remind me how privileged I am’.

Moyo Lawal-Solarin and Emma Hubble

teaching Maths Lit

Emma Last and Bianca Jones helping with Core Maths

An appreciative hug!

Jessica and Bianca

Marking a Maths test! Bianca, Sandi and Emma

Lesley Tongoona giving baby Mtombeule Xhosa and his granny, Xhosa, an Easter egg.

Girls waiting to distribute Easter eggs at Northdale Hospital. L to R: Pumla Mtshali, Lerusha Moodley, Chelsea

Walden, Claire Christophers and Emma Wayt.

Scholarships The following girls are the winners of the Scholarships to The Wykeham Collegiate for Grade 8, 2015. We congratulate them on their fine achievements and wish them every success in their senior school careers at our wonderful school.

SCHOLARSHIP NAME SCHOOL

Rose Ella Waring Nicola Wheeler Mtunzini Primary

Major Boarding Hannah Volker Grantleigh School

Minor Boarding Melissa Dutton Wembley College

Major Day Girl Emma Huxtable The Wykeham Collegiate

Minor Day Girl Luzaan de Wit Pelham Senior Primary

Academic Merit Aaliyah Sacoor The Wykeham Collegiate

Academic Merit Paige Mackenzie The Wykeham Collegiate

Closed: Laddsworth Tomelilla Gopp Laddsworth Primary School

Closed: The Wykeham Collegiate Kate Archibald The Wykeham Collegiate

Major Sport Callan Nel St John’s DSG

Minor Sport Sigrid Aadnesgaard The Wykeham Collegiate

Sport Merit Emily Koenig Durban Girls’ College

Major Music Erin Muirhead The Wykeham Collegiate

Minor Music Taylan Mornet The Wykeham Collegiate

Special Events Term 2 2014 Saturday 30 August

The Wykeham Collegiate 1994 – 20 Year Reunion

Saturday 30 August Mums and Daughters morning

Friday 1 August

The Wykeham Collegiate Choir – competing in Pretoria at the AKTV Choir Competition – bookings computicket from 20 June 2014

Choir Competition

The Wykeham Collegiate Senior School Choir has reached the final of the ATKV National Choir Competition. They are one of just two Choirs from Kwazulu-Natal that have been selected. They will be competing on 1 August 2014 at the ZK Matthews Hall at the Unisa building in Pretoria. Tickets will be available at Computicket from 20 June 2014. Please come and support this amazing choir if you are in the area.

Old Girls News Felicity Raleigh neé Henwood Wykeham 1970 News: I was so pleased that Lou Kelly (Mc Crae) pulled me into the loop of TWC after all these years. Although I’ve always lived in KZN, this will be my first Old Girls Day and I’m really looking forward to it. I’m one of the lucky grans whose grandchildren are still in the country and the three give me great pleasure. Chris and I have just toasted our 41st Wedding Anniversary. We started “going out” when I was in Std 8 (grade 10)at Wykeham. Katherine Ann Watson neé Barry Wykeham 1979 News: Canel timber farming in Albert Falls area. Our eldest son Justin is getting married in October 2014. Shirley Bryant neé Poynton Wykeham 1953 News: I’m very happy to have my Granddaughter, Lucy, at TWC. Yvonne Harris neé Ganteaume Wykeham 1957 News: So enjoyed seeing old friends and The Wykeham Collegiate on Founders Day. Anthea Mason neé (Hillestad) Collegiate 1984 News: I’m living in Cape Town, two daughters, Catherine and Lauren, now Vice Consul at the British Consulate general. Tracy Flanagan neé Phillips Wykeham 1988 News: My daughter Morghan started this year in Grade 9 at The Wykeham Collegiate. My son Liam is in Grade 11 at MHS. We live in Durban North. So wonderful catching up with old friends at Founders’ Day.

Glenda Hay neé Ralph Wykeham 1977 News: Living in the Channel Islands with husband Stephen. Twin boys – James living in UK and Robert, Noosa, Australia. Pamela Willard neé Sclanders Wykeham 1977 News: I have been working in Zambia for five years now. My eldest Kyle doing a PhD at UCT, youngest, Craig an air mechanic in Oudtshoorn, both passionate about their jobs. Sandy van Rensburg Wykeham 1977 News: I’m living on a dairy farm near Ixopo. I have four children, Andrew 27, Jono 25, Megan 23 and Richard 16, is in Grade 10 at Maritzburg College. Karin Precious neé Kniger TWC 2001 News: Intern teacher at TWC and living in Pietermaritzburg. I have a baby girl 17 months old, happily married.

Kendall Kay Marwick TWC 2004 News: I am happily living and working in Durban and currently working as the Executive Assistant to the CEO of the Sugar Milling Research Institute.

Sarah Burns TWC 2004 News: I am currently a Grade 3 teacher at Northcliff Primary in Johannesburg. Lynda Wheeler neé Harrison Wykeham 1972 News: Lynda and Terry live in Louisiana, USA. Their oldest son Bruce and his wife Erin have three children, Mya (8), Emma (4) and two month old Harrison. Their younger son, Derek, has a Masters degree and is teaching at a private school in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.

Maria Morphopoulos Wykeham 1968 News: I am still working in London. We life on the Isle of Dogs (East London). I work for a banker for whom I have worked for about 23 years now, ever since we were at Morgan Grenfill/Deutsche Bank, although now I am self-employed. He is now 75 so as soon as he gives up work, I will gladly retire! The work is varied, but focussed strongly on South and East African project finance, and the boss is also non-exec chairman of a Moroccan bank. We have had a steady stream of South Africans just lately, all looking for investment in various projects. My journey to work is great, as I come in by Thames Clipper, a fleet of commuter boats which run between Woolwich and the London Eye. My stop is Blackfriars, and the pier is just a stone’s throw from the office. It is more expensive than travel by Tube or Bus, but I go half-price with my “old-age” Freedom Pass and of course in far greater comfort. Jane Browne neé Smithyman Wykeham 1969 News: I’m married to Ted and we live in Hillcrest. I taught Junior Primary for many years and was lucky enough to be able to retire about 9 years ago. We have 3 children, Tim, married Bianca, has a nearly 3 year old son – Sam. He is an actuary. Mike is married to Amy. He is a a financial analyst. Lara is single. She is in marketing and branding with Spur/Panarotti’s. They all live in Cape Town. We won’t move down there until my husband stops surfing (Cape Town has sharks and the water is too cold!!) His mother body surfed into her 80’s – so it won’t be any time soon.

In Memoriam Soaring with Eagles

Barbara Pennefather neé Winter Girls Collegiate 1947