Spring 2013

The Stonarian

Please note the next Old Stonarians’ Open Day will be held on Saturday 28th

September not as previously advertised

23rd March - London Reunion

18th May - Stonar Open Morning

18th/19th May - Inter-Schools One Day Event

22nd June - Speech Day and Prizegiving

22nd June - Old Stonarians’ netball match

22nd June - The Stonar Ball

21st Sept - Stonar Open Morning

21st/22nd Sept - Inter-Schools One Day Event

28th Sept - Old Stonarians’ Open Day

Dates for your Diary

2013

www.oldstonarians.com

Trophy for Old Stonarian

Well done to Old Stonarian Amber

Woodhouse who was the first winner of a

new trophy for future JAS Championships in

memory of Kenneth Clawson who passed

away in December 2012.

Congratulations to Old Stonarian Boo

Borsberry-Woods who has recently

won the Deloitte Schools Best Business

Brain competition.

Boo was chosen from over 3,000

entrants nationwide.

NEWS FROM STONAR

Mid Somerset Festival 2013

This year showed an amazing set of

results at the Mid Somerset Festival for

Stonar with five first places and many

other performers placed in the top

three!

Director of Riding Awarded Fellowship

Stonar is delighted to announce that Darrell

Scaife FBHS, UKCC & British Eventing

Accredited Coach has been awarded the

highly respected Fellowship of the British

Horse Society.

Darrell is only the 77th Fellow to have been

recognised since 1949 when the first award

was made.

The Fellowship is the highest recognition of

professional standing within the equestrian

industry. The BHS state that “only by

dedication, hard work, open mindedness,

fairness and a willingness to never stop

learning, will you pass this prestigious

examination”.

Dear Old Stonarians It is a huge pleasure to be writing for the

first time as Head of Stonar.

I feel strongly that the Old Stonarians are

extremely important members of our

community and will be a vital part of the

future of the school. I was delighted to

meet with alumni in Hong Kong last month at a reception at the Langham Hotel. The

turnout was excellent and an impressive

range of careers were represented. I was

charged with taking photographs of ex-

pupil groups from different eras back to

see which staff would still recognise them.

Amazingly, some teachers had no problem

putting names to faces!

As an old pupil there is often a great

fondness for your school that is rooted in

memories of the past. These are precious

and it is great to be able to reminisce with

old friends and colleagues. I also know

from personally experience how difficult it

can be to see things changed and it can feel

as though history is being lost. However,

the real history of a school lives in the

people that it has produced and the

memories they share. My task as Head of

Stonar is to ensure that the school moves

forward to be the very best it can be and

attract families whose children will really

benefit from an education at Stonar.

Whatever else may change the very

essence of what makes Stonar so special is

something that I will fiercely protect. The

relationships between pupils and staff, the

value placed on every individual, and the

shared values of respect and support are

what make such a difference to the

personal development of all the pupils.

I would like to thank Emelia Sowels for her

excellent work in modernising the school’s

alumni communication and organising such

well-attended recent reunions. If any of

you would like to play a part in the

development of the school I would be very

happy to hear from you.

With very best wishes.

Toby Nutt

Head

Page 2 The Stonarian

STONARIAN NEWS

After leaving Stonar Suzie studied at

Brighton and Exeter Colleges of Art. She

left in 1982 with a degree in ceramic

sculpture and became a designer for Devon

based companies for several years before

establishing her own workshop in 1986.

Suzie is a member of the Royal British

Society of Sculptors.

Suzie has become well known for her

animal sculpture and in particular her

portrayal of the domestic cat. She sells her

work through shops and galleries and also

undertakes private and business

commissions which have included exhibits

for a museum in Taiwan and a public

commission of Nelson the Seal at Looe

Harbour in Cornwall.

Much of Suzie’s work helps out charities that are dear to her heart. She donates a

percentage of each sale that she makes to

the Cats Protection League. She has also

established a link with the Turgwe Hippo

Sanctuary in Zimbabwe and has adopted

four of their hippos.

Suzie has produced a range of sculptures

featuring animals under threat of extinction

for the Zoological Society of London,

royalties from the sales going to help the

Zoological Society preserve these animals.

She has also produced many sculptures of

Moon Bears to help raise funds for the

Animals Asia Foundation, who rescue and

rehabilitate Moon Bears from bile farms in

China and Vietnam, and she designed a

Moon Bear which was placed on the

Animals Asia elephant in the Elephant

Parade 2010.

In 2011 Suzie visited the Moon Bear

Rescue Centre in China which is owned

and run by Animals Asia and saw for

herself the rescued bears who have gone

to hell and back all their lives, living under

constant torture but who are now happy,

healthy and cared for by the Rescue

Centre. Following this trip she produced

sculptures of the bears she met whilst at

the Rescue Centre and these were

exhibited at the Moonstruck Exhibition in

April 2012, together with works from

artist Richard Symonds.

The exhibition, held at the Menier Gallery,

was hugely successful and amongst the

guests were Jill Robinson, founder of AAF,

Rula Lenska, Martin Roberts (Homes

under the Hammer), Simon Cowell and Jim

Incledon (Wildlife SOS). 50% of all proceeds of the sale of the drawings and

sculptures were donated to Animals Asia

to help end bear farming in China and

Vietnam.

Last year Suzie’s work was at the Hampton

Court Flower Show and in October she

was at an Evening of Talks called “Healing

without Harm” at Royal Geographical

Society in London which was a joint

evening for Animals Asia and the David

Shepherd Wildlife Society (DSWF)

More details about Suzie and her work can

be found on her website

www.suziemarshsculpture.co.uk or for

more information about AnimalsAsia visit

www.animalsasia.org.”

Travel Bag

What did I do after Stonar? I joined the

Diplomatic Service in 1974, straight from

school. I have since done most of the

things you can do in an Embassy, including

starting one from scratch (in Tajikistan). I

have served as British Ambassador to

Armenia and as British Ambassador to

Mongolia twice. I can wire a satphone and

a PC. I can run 100 metres in full body

armour. I once knew the life cycle of the

coffee bean. I have been stuck in a lift with

Margaret Thatcher. I saw the Berlin Wall

fall. I have driven both an armoured

Defender and a Rolls Royce Phantom for

my country. I have eaten locusts, bee

grubs and sliced pig fat. I have drunk fermented mares' milk and bootleg

vodka. In between I have worked in the

Foreign and Commonwealth Office in

London.

Reef (Hogg - my other half) is a lawyer and

stays in London when I travel, but visits as

often as he can. He is happy to stand by

my side and shake hands with 150 people

with whom he has no common

language. We do not have children. When

we retire we will have dogs.

Have I got all the answers? No. But here’s

a list anyway. Keep your integrity, but

temper honesty with tact. Remember that

those senior to you are as sensitive to

perceived criticism as those junior to

you. Work hard, but do not allow yourself

to become a dumping ground for unwanted tasks. Ask for what you need, but do not

become shrill. Do not be afraid to criticise

poor performance, but be honest about

your own. Be firm, but not

unkind. Remember that however senior

you become it is not about you, it is about

what you contribute.

Suzie Marsh (1971-1976)

Thorda Abbott-Watt (1967-1973)

www.oldstonarians.com

Page 3 The Stonarian

The Old Stonarians have a range of

clothing and gifts online at :

www.fantasticfreds.com

DVD - ”Stonar Through the Ages”

A photographic history of Stonar

£5.00 plus p+p

Copies of “Stonar Through the Ages” can

be purchased from Emelia at Stonar or online at www.fantasticfreds.com

You may have seen Faye on BBC1

recently competing in last Summer’s

series of “Total Wipeout”. Although

Faye’s time did not qualify for the

second round, she successfully

managed to conquer 3 of the 4 famous

“red balls” - no mean feat! Well done

Faye.

Faye Johnson (2001-2006)

I left Stonar in 1992 after five years of

learning that I was not a born scientist,

was maybe a good artist, but was most

likely (judging from my grades) a rather

good history and politics student. It was

a great time to be learning both: Margaret

Thatcher had resigned and the Cold War

was ending. Gorbachev had captured the

ether!

I went on to study both subjects as a joint

degree at Leicester University. It seemed

fitting to go somewhere with a

multinational student body, similar to

Stonar. Again, it was a great time to be

learning: the apartheid regime was

crumbling in South Africa and Nelson

Mandela walked free after 27 years in

prison.

Despite the inspiration, I graduated three

years later without really knowing what I

wanted to do as a career. But there was

one thing I was sure of – I wanted to see

the world. Now that I think of it, it was

my friends at Stonar who inspired me;

there was Julia from Oman and Anna

from Hong Kong and countless others

with tales of their summer holiday

adventures. What was I doing riding my

bike round Atworth?

In the end, I decided to fuse my passion

for my subjects with the possibilities that

a career in teaching might give me and set

off to London to get my PGCE in History.

Now, after 13 years in the secondary

school classroom, I think it’s fair to say

I’ve been on a journey that has opened

my eyes to cultures and civilizations

around the world.

My first three years of teaching at an

orthodox Jewish school and a large

comprehensive in London whipped by.

Then, despite never having been to the

Middle East before, I took a blind leap of

faith and went to teach at an Indian-

Arabic school in Abu Dhabi. I found

myself double-checking where it was

prior to my interview in London. I was

close in my estimation, but not as close as

Mr Webster might have liked.

On arrival, I was driven through the city

and through the dust-specked windows I

absorbed the sights and sounds of the

Arab world. All the drama of not having a

visa at the airport was worth it. I knew

this was the best thing I had ever done.

And the visa situation was eventually

sorted out.

After two years I was beckoned by the

Far East to a large international school in

Hong Kong where the students loved to

learn. Thanks to the school holidays, I

also managed to explore other exotic

places, such as Vietnam, Laos, Thailand

and Malaysia.

The number 8 is an auspicious number in

Chinese culture so after 8 years I decided

to do something very different. Even

though I’d been teaching my students

about the history and politics of China

and was living on the cusp of the

Mainland, I had reached a point of

realisation: I actually knew very little

about Mainland China and the people

who live there. Hard to know 1.34 billion,

but at least I could make the effort.

So, in an act of calculated randomness, I packed my bags and went to Beijing to

work as a news reporter for China’s state

television network, CCTV News. As the

name suggests, this was risky. Would I be

used as a tool to orchestrate mainland

propaganda to the world? The answer is

in the programs we produced and it’s

even more complex than meets the eye.

For me, I met with people from all walks

of life; from migrant workers to party

officials. I visited places and lived out

experiences that few could dream of, let

alone comprehend. I lived a real-life

adventure and if it wasn’t for the smog, I

might still be there.

Which brings me to where I am now;

luxuriating in the home of brussel

sprouts, chocolate and cherry beer

(Brussels) and back in the international

school environment, where I feel at

home. I can’t wait to see where life’s next

adventure takes me!

Verity Aylward (1987-1992)

www.oldstonarians.com

Page 4 The Stonarian

Since leaving Stonar at sixteen I have done

some exciting things, training first at

Cordon Bleu in London, and then as

Montessori Nursery teacher.

Later I trained as a rowing coach, working

at clubs and schools, including Westminster

School in London, following which I was in

charge of rowing at the Royal Grammar

School, High Wycombe. Whilst coaching I

also did a BA Honours degree in Sport

Performance and Management, and got a

2:2 (not bad for someone who is dyslexic

with no ‘A’ levels!)

Since 2007 I have worked at Leander Club

in Henley-on-Thames, the largest

international rowing club in the world. I

started as a volunteer for six months, then

in 2007 I was given a part-time job at the

club, and my crew won The Thames Cup at

the Henley Royal Regatta.

In 2008 I was offered a full-time position as

the Foundation Coach, in charge of the

Novices. My remit is to find and test

youngsters from non-rowing schools, to

see if they have potential to become the

next Redgrave or Pinsent: i.e. to find future

possible Olympians. I have coached crews and athletes who have represented Great

Britain in various rowing finals.

My work at Leander allows me to meet a

wide variety of people, and many Olympian

athletes, including the England cricket team,

with whom I did team building at the club. I

have travelled to Spain on coaching trips

many times, and to Poland with athletes to

race in a national televised event.

Recently I organised the row past of the

Olympic torch carried by Sir Steve

Redgrave, along the river at Henley. Two

of my young athletes were lucky enough to

be selected to row with Sir Steve.

Will Satch, who started as a Novice with

my group, won a bronze medal in the

men’s coxless pairs at Eton Dorney in this

years Olympic Games.

My take on life is that if you work hard, you

can achieve anything you want; and so far I

think I‘m doing quite well.

Livinia Cowell-Sherriff

High Performance Talent

Identification Coach

Leander Club, Henley-on-Thames,

Oxfordshire

Livinia Cowell-Sherriff (née Cowell) (1986-1995)

Life at Stonar in the 1960’s was a happy

affair. A school of only 120 pupils, boarding

and day, who were nurtured to become

“good all-rounders”. Academia was only a

portion – Stonarians were groomed in

social skills, with an appreciation of shared values, and made aware of a wide range of

cultural and other interests. Personalities

were stimulated by physical, mental and

spiritual application, and the emphasis was

on equipping each with the confidence to

step out into the world. Such was my time

as a happy boarder.

Speech and Drama was my special love. As

a rather quiet, inhibited teenager, it gave

me the confidence I needed. We had a

wonderful teacher – Miss Ethel Webb,

known affectionately as “Webbie”. I

entered for exams and festivals. In school

productions, my first part was the Prince

of Arragon in A Merchant of Venice,

where I quaked each time I made an

entrance but, on leaving school, it was

clear to me that I wanted to provide the

same build of confidence for others.

Webbie took on six students a year for

Teaching Diplomas for the London

Academy of Music & Dramatic Art

(LAMDA) and, what was then The

Guildhall School of Music & Drama. I spent

three years with my own lessons and

lectures, visiting schools and private

Studios to gain teaching experience. I

passed my LAMDA teaching Diploma first

time after two years, and took my

Guildhall Diploma a year later. I hated

Shakespeare at school – it was analysed

and pulled apart and the beautiful language

distorted. In training I read all his plays –

and couldn’t get enough. I was absorbed,

amazed, and fully-involved. Suddenly I

could appreciate the brilliance of his writing, plots and characterisations.

After marrying and having two daughters I

began my career by opening my own

Studio. From small beginnings, but with

swift growth, I had over 100 pupils. In 2000

I was approached by LAMDA to examine

for them. At the interview I learnt there

were 65 applicants for six training places,

and was overwhelmed when I was offered

a place, despite more exams! It was a

gruelling experience being examined

examining candidates! But it is a privilege

to work in such an esteemed area. To

assess candidates of all ages performing

poetry, prose, acting, public speaking,

mime, reading, the classics and

Shakespeare, has to be enriching. My

ethos is to encourage and strengthen the

confidence of all, and to give praise and

recognition where due. I feel proud to

have been given this opportunity. Power

isn’t my master, it is a tool to nurture the

next generation.

I have also gone on to put a Speech and

Drama side to what was a small Music

Festival in Wootton Bassett, and am Chair

of the Speech & Drama section of the Mid-

Somerset Festival in Bath.

In the summer of 2011, I returned to

Stonar to examine. The dunce returned

with a new hat on! It was a unique

experience returning in this way and I

received a warm welcome. The pupils

were brilliantly trained, and I saw some of

the most outstanding work I had ever witnessed in the UK. Stonar, without

doubt, developed my early years, and

equipped me to take the opportunities in

life.

Sandra McDowell (née Goodacre)

*****

I look back on my days at Stonar with fond

memories. Art and Drama were my

favourite ‘A’ Level subjects, but when it

came to my final year in the Sixth Form, I

was still uncertain about what to do, and

opted to take a year out and explore other

opportunities.

It was through a friend at school that I

heard about Gap Activity Projects, (now

Latitude Global Volunteering), an

international youth development charity.

Although not my first choice, they offered

Sandy McDowell (née Goodacre) (1960-1962), Katie McDowell (1989-1996) and

Lucy Barbour (née McDowell) (1986-1993)

www.oldstonarians.com

NETBALL PLAYERS NEEDED

We are looking for netball players to

play on Saturday 22nd June in the Old

Girls v Current 1st Team netball match –

if you are free and willing please contact

Emelia at Stonar

Page 5 The Stonarian

me a 6 month placement teaching English

in a remote coal mining town in Poland. It

was an enriching and challenging

experience. Later I was selected to

represent GAP at their 25th Anniversary

celebrations, and had the honour of

meeting Princess Anne, a Patron for the

charity.

In September that year, I enrolled on an

Art Foundation Course at Winchester

School of Art and loved it! It allowed me

to explore all mediums of art, eventually

finding my niche in textile design. I ended

up staying on for a further three years to

complete a Textiles Fashion degree,

specialising in Knitwear Design.

During the second year, I applied for a

three month exchange at the Art College in Helsinki, Finland with a friend, and we

were thrilled to be accepted. It was an

exciting experience as we learnt new skills,

explored the Helsinki art scene and took

regular trips to the bordering countries,

including Russia and Estonia, not to

mention our daily fun challenge in the

snow!

After graduating, I was keen to live and

work in London. With little experience of

the fashion industry, I applied for two

positions, one of which allowed me to

design and create all the knitwear pieces

for a collection that was later shown on

the catwalk of London Fashion Week.

As an aside, I worked as a retail assistant at

Liberty, a place I have great admiration for.

Their exquisite designs and products never

fail to entice and inspire me. It was a

platform into fashion and eventually I

became the Personal Assistant to the

Personal Shopper.

I left Liberty after three years and briefly

worked as a PA for a small fashion house in

Shoreditch. Sadly, after a year, the

company could no longer afford me and I

found myself temping in all sorts of fashion

jobs. One memorable week I worked as

the PA to the Chairman and Director of

Jaeger and Aquascutum, and three weeks

later I was stunned and thrilled to receive a

phone call inviting me back to work for

them on a permanent basis as their

Executive Assistant. It was a fantastic

opportunity and one that has proved to be

a rewarding and life changing experience.

I learnt a lot during the six years I worked

in this role. I was exposed to some

wonderfully colourful characters and

intriguing business matters, while the

Chairman gradually took on more

responsibility and became involved in many

business ventures. In 2008, he became

Chairman to London Fashion Week,

something that had long inspired me and

suddenly I found myself closely working

within. My first season of attending shows

was surreal but the buzz was captivating, it

honestly felt like a dream had come true.

However, as time passed, I began to lose

my passion for fashion and found myself

leaning more towards interior design. I

enrolled to do an interior design course in

2010, but it became impossible to do

whilst working full-time. So, last year, I took a 4 month sabbatical to complete my

Diploma and embark on a 7 week trip

across South America. The time away was

a truly rewarding and worthwhile

experience, and helped me to gain a whole

new perspective on life.

I now no longer live the high life of

London, but instead I am fully focused on

becoming an interior designer and

returning to my original love for design,

which I hope will allow me to be creative

and hands-on once again.

Katie McDowell

*****

I left Stonar in the summer of 1993, after

‘A’ Levels, with a place to study Media Arts

& English at the University of Plymouth.

Over the summer I decided to defer for a

year and concentrate on achieving my

Speech & Drama LAMDA Teaching and

Acting Diplomas. The course which

required full time study, including running a

series of workshops for children for my

dissertation.

A year later and qualified I started at

university. I loved my time in Exeter and

met some wonderful people who inspired

my love of the arts. One summer I

travelled alone to

Canada with

BUNAC where I

lived and worked in

Vancouver before travelling to New York

for my flight home.

I graduated in 1997 and after a brief period

in the world of PR, I was offered a job as a

production assistant for an advertising

photographer. I soon realised I'd found

something I loved. I'd always enjoyed

photography - doing my GCSE in the

Lower Sixth many years before, but I knew

I was not a very good photographer! In this

role I helped produce the shoots without

having to get involved with all the

equipment!

After 2 years I decided to move to London

– always an ambition - particularly to

nourish my love of arts. I found a job in an

advertising agency but a large company was

not for me. After I left and freelanced for a few Photographic agents, I decided to

move into tv commercials. I worked in a

small production company in Soho starting

as a production assistant before becoming

a production manager.

During this time, I took a sabbatical to do

some more travelling with a friend and

went to South America for 6 weeks. We

arrived in Peru and via the Inca Trail, La

Paz and the Pantanal arrived in Rio de

Janeiro for the Carnival. It was a thrilling

and enriching experience.

While the world of tv commercials is

deemed glamorous, it is also very hard

work and very long hours. I started to lose

my ambition for it and I missed

photography. I also wanted to do

productions on a smaller scale! So, I

decided to set up my own business as a

Photographer's Agent. I started my own

company in 2005 and have never looked

back. I love it and feel very lucky to have

had success in a notoriously difficult

industry.

In 2009 I married and had a girl, Edith, in

2011. After many memorable and fun

years, we recently moved out of London

and now live in Godalming, Surrey.

Lucy Barbour (née McDowell)

Calling all Cooks! Some of our Alumni are keen to produce an updated version of the 1970’s Stonar hit “Stonar Cookery Book”. It is proposed that the modern version will be “The New Cottles Cook Book” and will hopefully contain recipes with an international flavour to demonstrate Stonar’s global alumni following.

If you would like to contribute please forward your favourite recipes, along with your name, photo (optional) and school dates to me and I will pass them on for collation. Please could all recipes submitted be tried and tested and known to work. e.sowels@stonarschool.com

www.oldstonarians.com

Opportunities for a

brighter future –

Sarah’s work with

Ellotte Future

Building

Hi! Just a bit about me

for those who don’t know me… I am

originally from Salisbury, and was a pupil at

Stonar from 1998 to 2000. After finishing

my education there I travelled in Southern

Africa and fell in love with the amazing

scenery and diverse way of life.

I returned to the UK for a short period of

time to work before setting off again to the

lakeside town of Nkhata Bay in Malawi

where I’ve been living since 2007 and where I run a small backpackers called Big

Blue Star.

I became very aware of the major

hardships faced by people here, which is

why in 2011, I started the Ellotte Future

Building project with my partner Gabriel

Phillips.

The EFB child sponsorship programme was

formed to help improve the life chances of

children in the Nkhata Bay area of Malawi.

The HIV/AIDS pandemic has left many

children orphaned and we aim to provide

support in order that they can stay with

other family members, which both enriches

their lives and gives them more hope and

opportunity for a better future (the World

Health Organisation estimates that there

may be up to 650,000 orphans due to HIV/

AIDS in Malawi). The outlook for orphaned

children can be bleak but even relatively

small sums can really make a difference.

Sponsorship allows children to continue

their school education and to be retained

within the kin networks often looked after

by members of their extended family.

We are currently building our new HQ and

day care centre which will encompass our

vocational skills centre and sports centre.

Here children will be able to attend, learn

and receive support as well as at least one

nutritional meal per day. We are also

planning to open up a vocational learning

resource where children and young adults

can participate in a diverse range of

courses which will be offered throughout

the year. Prospective students will not be

charged fees, but will instead be assessed

over a set of interviews to determine

attitude and aptitude and will need to

demonstrate commitment throughout the

period of study. We hope to offer courses in car mechanics, practical electrics,

tailoring, computing, CV writing and

cookery, extending the subjects on offer as

and when we are able. Finally, we also offer

a sports facility where young people can

train: Gabriel is the vice secretary of

National Amateur Boxing Association and

takes a keen interest in training and

personal development of the youths, as

well as coaching many amateur boxers.

The new day care centre (a work in progress!)

Can you help?

We’re really pleased by progress so far and

are both optimistic about the future. There

is always much to do, and we hope that

some of you will feel able to lend your

support to our work. You can find out

more by visiting www.ellottefuture.org or

by joining our Facebook group.

To get more involved, we’re always looking

for new child sponsors. Sponsoring a child

is a fantastic way of helping and integrating

with the community. One of the most

rewarding parts of sponsoring is that you

can see directly where your money is going

and what it is doing. Child sponsorship can

offer a valuable cultural exchange. We can

try to match up a candidate child’s age with

that of a donor’s children’s age which can

further the educational and fulfilling

relationship for both child and donor. Sponsors can remain anonymous; but you

are also more than welcome to visit us in

person if travelling in Africa and the

children would love the opportunity to

meet you.

And we also hope to raise more fundraising

events in the UK, following the very

successful African Drumming

workshop we organised in

Salisbury last summer. If you

would like to help us

organise further events, you

can write to me at

sarah@ellottefuture.org.

Thanks for

your help!

Sarah

McCombe

Page 6 The Stonarian

Kate Anderson and her pony Josh were at

school from 1985 – 88. A keen cross

country runner she ran for the county and

this inspired her to run the London

Marathon in 1992 in aid of Save the Rhino.

Kate moved on to Cherwell Tutors

Oxford and Miss Sprules Secretarial

College Winchester before taking up her

first job in London working for Ker &

Downey in the international travel

industry. Various PA roles followed

including 4 years as a Lady Clerk in the

Royal Household. Her last London job was

as PA to the Deputy Chairman of

Christies.

She returned to her family estate, Hamptworth in the New Forest, in 2001 to

help develop the business and assist her

family in bringing the estate into the

20th century! The main house was

developed as a wedding and events venue

and with her father she established a farm

shop, a falconry and brought a full time

gundog trainer onto the estate.

Hamptworth has also seen her bring open

air theatre each year as well as garden

opera. Her greatest success however was

to start a country show from scratch

which has now been running for eight

years. Over 3000 visitors come each year

to what has become a celebration of

country life and country sports. The show

is always on the third Sunday in August.

Starting the show also changed Kate’s life

as it was at her first one where she met

her future husband David.

Now in their fifth year of marriage David

and Kate have branched out on their own

and have bought

Crowcombe Court

in West Somerset.

The house is Grade

1 listed and is

described by

Pevsner as the

“Finest house of its

period in

Somerset”. Unsurprisingly they are

“working” the house and host weddings

and events throughout the year. During the

winter months they host shooting teams

and hunting parties. After the success at

Hamptworth Kate is also bringing Opera

Brava to Somerset on the 21st and 22nd of

June. Hobbies these days include shooting,

sailing and travel.

To find out more visit

www.crowcombecourt.co.uk

Kate Kenyon (née Anderson) (1985-1988)

Sarah McCombe (1998-2000)

www.oldstonarians.com

Page 7 The Stonarian

REUNIONS

The highlight of my year has been the

opportunity to join our new Head, Toby

Nutt, in Hong Kong for a reception with

parents and alumni.

We were joined for the evening by former

Stonar girls spanning twenty years for

cocktails and canapés at the Langham

Hotel in Kowloon, including girls from the

1990s, early 2000s and late 2000s.

Hong Kong Reception 2013

……. and from the late 2000s Stonar girls from the 1990s …….. from the early 2000s

Samantha Hickman (née

Cappleman) (1990-1992) and

Christine Yip (1988-1992) meeting for the first time since

leaving Stonar …… with Toby Nutt Emelia with Claudia Law (2003-2008)

Whilst in Hong Kong, we also met up with

former Stonar riding instructor Sarah

Corner.

After leaving Stonar in 2008 Sarah took up

a position as Director of Instruction and

Stable Management at Clearwater Bay

Equestrian Centre in Hong Kong. Her

initial role was to be instrumental in the

set up and building of the stables, which

included finding suitable horses and re-

training them ready for use in the riding

school.

Over half of their horses are

Thoroughbred racehorses that have had

careers in racing, normally in Australia,

New Zealand or the UK, prior to coming

to race in Hong Kong. When they retire

from racing they are given to the various riding schools to be used either in the

school or for livery. The Equestrian

Centre are fortunate to have a fantastic

team of instructors and grooms. Owing

to their time, skills and care, they are

continually producing fantastic riding

horses, many of which have gone on to

have successful competitive careers in

Dressage and Show jumping .

They have approximately 50 horses and

ponies ranging from 9h2 - 17h2, they

teach for six years and up and many of

their horses are on the various livery

schemes that are available at CEEC.

Sarah is now the General Manager –

Equestrian, and her role involves teaching,

riding and managing a team of instructing

and yard staff. They have now been open

for 4 years and have recently turned into a

private membership club. This transition

has been an exciting time for all the staff

and they are looking forward to being able

to offer more opportunities to their

members.

www.ceec.hk

*****

The Stonar Ball

2013

Saturday 22nd June

For more information please

contact Emelia at Stonar

Please come and support our

Charity Ball. One of our chosen

charities this year is the Ellotte

Future Building Charity

Sarah Corner

www.oldstonarians.com

Page 8 The Stonarian

“Around the World in 80 Ways”

Lydia Hammond returned to Stonar in

October to give an informal talk to the

current pupils about her career and

experiences in the International World of

luxury hospitality.

After leaving Stonar Lydia studied French

with Economics Subsidiary at Royal

Holloway & Bedford New College near

Windsor.

Four years later she travelled to Japan on

the Japanese Exchange Programme and

lived two hours north of Tokyo teaching

English.

After returning to the UK, she worked at a

market research company before

embarking on her career in the hotel

industry.

She is now Director of Business

Performance at The Leading Hotels of the

World, a prestigious collection of global

five star hotels, responsible for hotels in

UK, Ireland, the Nordics, Eastern Europe,

Russia, Switzerland and Israel.

Lydia’s work travels have taken her as far south as Sydney, west to San Fransisco,

east to Hong Kong and beyond.

Lydia advised the girls that Languages and

communication have been invaluable and

opened doors and opportunities that

would otherwise have been closed.

She shared her advice and

recommendations with the girls - all the “if

only I knew then what I know now to help

the girls on their career journey”.

Lydia Hammond (1982-1989)

Lydia performing for Sir Michael Tippett when he

visited Stonar to lay the Music School foundation stone in the 1980s.

STONAR REVISITED

Year of 1975 Reunion - 31st March 2012 The class of '75 had a fabulous reunion at

Gail's (née Tugwell) home in Wiltshire in

March 2012. 25 of us celebrated our first

big reunion in over 20 years.

It was wonderful to catch up on everyone's

news and to reminisce about our time at

Stonar, There was much laughter and

hilarity especially at the old photos! We

realised that we have a wonderful group of

friends with whom we can quickly relax

and enjoy and appreciate each other's

company.

We are planning our next reunion for

Saturday 10th May 2014 at my house

near Bath. We are keen to find

anyone who was in our year at

anytime during their schooling at

Stonar, If they had stayed on to

Upper 6th they would have left in

1975.

Please contact us through Stonar or

through our Facebook page - 'Stonar -

Class of '75'.

Ann Hunt (née Connell)

www.oldstonarians.com

Again, the weather was a prominent

feature of this year’s London reunion

only this time it was not rain but

snow! However, being Stonarians, my

guests were not put off by a bit of

snow, and descended upon London

from different corners of the country,

to meet for a leisurely lunch at Julie’s

in Holland Park.

As with last year, we had guests from all

generations attending, including some who

have now become my “regulars”. It was

also lovely to be joined by a group of

leavers from the late 1990s.

This is one of my favourite reunions. I

always enjoy the relaxed and friendly

environment, good company and

excellent food - it is one of those

occasions where guests can

come without knowing anyone,

and leave with new friends, having had a wonderful day.

A big thank you to everyone who braved

the elements to be with us and I hope to

see you again next year!

Emelia

London Reunion 2013

Page 9 The Stonarian

BUSINESS MATTERS

Kathryn Smith-Cowap (née Smith) (1993-2000)

Congratulations to Kathryn who has recently been

named as Wiltshire Young Solicitor of the Year by

the Gloucestershire and Wiltshire Incorporated

Law Society.

Kathryn is a solicitor at Wansbroughs, specialising in

Wills, tax, trusts and probate.

Kathryn’s profile can be found on Wansbroughs’

website

www.wansbroughs.com/site/people/profile/

kathryn.smith@wansbroughscom Kathryn being presented her

award by Justin Tomlinson, MP

for Swindon North Constituency

Sammy Baptiste (2010-2012)

Congratulations to former Head Girl, Sammy

Baptiste, who has been awarded the Lord

Kitchener National Memorial Scholarship 2012.

Sammy was selected for the scholarship from a

field of 120 applicants.

Worth £750, the scholarship is awarded to

children of forces personnel who are entering on

their first degree. Sammy completed her A Levels

at Stonar last summer and was awarded a place at

Leeds to study Medical Science. More information

about the scholarship can be found

at www.lknmf.com

Building Your Brand – Theresa Foote

When I think of Stonarians a few words

come to mind: warmth, high quality work,

commitment to results, care for others, individuality and a sense of fun. An

impressive set of words for the Stonar

brand.

It was a huge pleasure to return to Stonar

in February, meet the students and

facilitate a presentation/skills session. As

well as sharing some of my own

experiences, we had great fun in exploring

the students’ unique talents and qualities.

Using interactive experiential exercises we

explored self-perception, awareness of

others and how they can deliver key

messages about themselves with impact.

We’re not always good at promoting our

strengths and it was wonderful to see the

students (alumni and parents!) gain further

confidence in this area.

A few other strengths I’m known for:

Curiosity – an interest in a whole range

of topics in how we facilitate positive

change interventions. Pragmatic – I’m a

doer and results orientated and my clients

love the changes their people make and the

impact this has on their business

performance and commercial outcomes.

Inspiration – It’s always an honour and

very humbling to hear others say I’ve

inspired them.

Motivating people is an integral part of

what I do. As an active psychology practitioner, combining theatre

techniques in voice, I’ve created and

delivered a wide range of

assessment, selection, development

and coaching interventions, across

the globe. Over the past 10 years

I’ve had the privilege of working

with circa 20,000 people and

specialised with those at the early

stage of their career, graduates and

those transitioning into senior

management. Following a successful

Director level corporate career, in

2009 I stepped out independently. A

couple of other special Stonarians have

supported a large-scale client campaign

with me for the past 3 years. Thanks to

Amanda Copinger-Symes (née Marsh) and

Samantha Lambert (née Hartland).

Happy practicing everyone!

Best wishes

T

www.aurora.gb.com

P.S. Thanks goes to Pam Turner and

Graham Billing just two of the great

teachers we were lucky enough to have.

Theresa busking in Bath with her year group in 1989

Theresa (right) with Stonar friends Amanda

Copinger-Symes (née Marsh) and Samantha

Lambert (née Hartland)

Theresa Foote (1981-1989)

For more details contact Karen Ibbott, Stonar School,

Cottles Park, Atworth, Melksham, Wiltshire SN12 8NT

k.ibbott@stonarschool.com/01225 701740

Open Mornings at Stonar

18th May 2013

21st September 2013

Stonar has recently launched new websites for

the School, Alumni and Enterprise

Departments:

www.stonarschool.com

www.oldstonarians.com

www.stonarenterprises.org

www.oldstonarians.com

Page 10 The Stonarian

Business Directory

If you would

like your

business to be

listed in the

Business

Directory

please send

details to

Emelia at

Stonar.

Charlotte Boulton (1998-2002), after graduating from the

Royal Academy of Dance, is now the Principal of Centre Stage

Academy of Dance in Devizes. Charlotte has also recently

qualified as a Zumba and Zumbatomic instructor. www.centrestageacademyofdance.co.uk

Jo Brookes (Former Staff)

Buses to Bouquets!

After 5 gloriously challenging years as the Stonar Travel

Secretary, I am now running my own business Wiltshire

Flowers, an online floristry business dedicated to servicing

private clients, businesses and events. In January 2013 I

launched my website and online shop providing the

opportunity to order exquisite bouquets, gift and table

arrangements both conveniently and securely. I'm really

enjoying the challenge and the creativity of running my own

floristry business and pleased to have maintained an important

link to Stonar School, one of my first business clients!

Jo Brookes

Wiltshire Flowers

www.wiltshireflowers.org.uk

info@wiltshireflowers.org.uk

Tel: 07756 912134

Alexandra Drewitt (1978-1992) runs her own graphic

design company, A Drewitt Design, specialising in high-end

brands for the auction, antiques and art market and for travel

and property companies. Through strong design we will

improve the impact of your brand, giving your marketing a

consistency so that it becomes recognisable. A Drewitt Design

works closely with clients, from the initial brief and throughout

the design process, to print and publication. Clients range from

large international companies and charities to small local businesses and individuals including auction houses,

photographers, artists, art and antiques dealers, travel and

property companies such as Wilton House, The Good Safari

Guide, Imagine Africa, Cushman and Wakefield, DTZ and

Sotheby’s.

www.adrewittdesign.com

Deborah Fensome (née Maslyn) (1980-1985) undertakes

commissions for engraving pictures or "Art on Glass". They

are all unique, which makes them unusual gifts. Deborah’s

work can be viewed through her Facebook group or she can

be contacted via Stonar.

Natalie Froud (1980-1991) has her own accountancy

business in the Frome and Trowbridge areas.

www.fromeaccountant.co.uk

Amanda Page (1980-1987) produces blank Christmas and

Birthday card designs, wrapping paper, and a variety of

colourful, cartoon t-shirts which sell throughout Botswana,

Southern Africa and Namibia. Amanda also produces design

and marketing concepts for corporate and private clients and

provides counselling for individuals based in Botswana.

www.passion-monkey.com

Amanda Perryer (1995-2001) has her own boutique

specialising in handbags and jewellery. Explore the brand and

shop at www.theperryercollection.com

Erika Sweet (née Schafer) (1978-1990). After getting married in Africa followed by a self-drive Honeymoon in

Tanzania, Erika and her husband Paul took the plunge, packed

their bags and started a new life together in Africa. They now

own and manage Shaw Safaris and Twiga Lodge providing

guests with a personalised luxury safari holiday including a

choice of luxury accommodation, first class camps and the

freedom of utilising their self-drive safari camp equipment, or a

combination of both.

www.shawsafaris.com

Michelle Vickers (née Longstaff) (1984-1986) owns Ras

Mbisi Lodge, a luxury retreat on the island of Mafia in Tanzania.

www.mafiaislandtz.com

Lucy Ward-Smith (née Tebbs) (1977-1982) has been

creating handmade cards and gifts for friends and family over

the years, and has now decided to make it a business.

www.wscreations.moonfruit.com

Nicky Wragg (née Martin)

(1974-1978) owns an award winning pub in Market Lavington

called The Green Dragon offering cask-marque ales, good food

and bed and breakfast.

www.greendragonlavington.co.uk

Steph Dewing (née Goodridge) (1981-1986)

www.oldstonarians.com

Page 11 The Stonarian

RIP

Diana Barlow (Stonar Housemistress 1966-1968) in March 2012;

Mary Ann Casey (née Carmichael) on 22nd December 2012. Mary Ann was at Stonar in the early 1950s.

Diana Cross (née Sutcliffe) who sadly passed away in April 2011;

Gitta Sereny (Stonar 1933-1935) on 14th June 2012;

BIRTHS, MARRIAGES AND DEATHS

“One thank-you I have never expressed

but must, now, is to Lee Hindley Chadwick,

who at Stonar House School in Sandwich,

Kent, taught an eleven-year-old child to

love the English language and make it her

own. Nothing I have done would have

been possible without that start from this

inspired teacher”. This tribute appeared

in the Gitta Sereny’s widely acclaimed

biography of one of Hitler’s henchmen

Albert Speer : His Battle With Truth,

published in 1995. Speer had escaped the

death penalty in 1945 claiming he knew

nothing of Nazi plans to exterminate the

Jews. Gitta’s book proved for the first

time that he had known about the plans as

early as 1943 but went along with them

because of his love for Hitler. Gitta died

on June 14, 2012 after a distinguished

career as a writer and journalist, who was willing to explore the nature of evil

in face to face contacts with Nazis and child

killers.

She attended Stonar House School for

some time in the 1930s, though none of

that generation whom I met at Old

Stonarian meetings in Sandwich

remembered her. When we met her at

school in 1996 she claimed that she had

been marched round several more

prestigious schools, refused to

contemplate them and immediately felt at

home and fell in love with Stonar. Her

visit to us was memorable. She described

the famous incident in 1934 when she was

being escorted back to school for the

beginning of term under the auspices of

the German Red Cross. Her train broke

down and her hosts took her to the

infamous Nuremberg Rally. The

thirteen year old schoolgirl, swept away

by the atmosphere and pageantry,

described the scene in a school essay

about “The happiest day of my holiday”.

One of her teachers (Lee Chadwick ?) gave

her a copy of Mein Kampf to read. A very

few years later she lost any admiration she had for the Nazis when she witnessed the

humiliation of a great physician who had

been responsible for saving her life from

diptheria. After the war she devoted

herself to caring for the children of the

Holocaust including child prisoners from

Dachau. The rapt attention from a later

generation of Stonar girls and staff and our

pride in welcoming such a distinguished

old girl were rewarded with her concluding

remarks: “Do you still have the same

motto” she asked, “ Sincerity, Honour

and Service? I have remembered these

words all my life and tried to live by these

principles”.

Sue Hopkinson

Ullapool 2012

MARRIAGES

Zoë Snell (nee

Everard)

(1996-2002)

Congratulations to Zoë

who got married on 13th

October surrounded by

her Stonar friends!

ENGAGEMENTS

Amanda Perryer (1995-2001)

Amanda has recently announced her

engagement to Robert Spinks at

Sunset Bar, Shangri-La’s Tanjung Aru

Resort and Spa in Malaysia.

Amanda says “I was proposed to at

the Sunset Bar of the Shangri-La, as

the sun went down over Borneo with

a beautiful ring, followed by a

surprise seafood dinner on the beach

with the Perryer (and sis) and Spinks

parents. Best surprise ever!”

Very best wishes to Amanda and

Robert for their future together.

Gitta Sereny with Sue Hopkinson autographing

her book “Albert Speer - ‘His Battle with Truth’” during her visit to Stonar in the 1990s.

Gitta Sereny (Stonar: 1933-1935)

1921-2012

Margaret Weston (née Sedgwick) (Stonar 1934-1940) on

23rd October 2012. Stonar had a huge influence on Margaret as

she was growing up. She later served her local Borough Council

for 27 years, had a mayoral year 1989/90 and started the process

during that year to start St Michael’s Hospice in Basingstoke

which celebrates its 20th anniversary this year. She was caring,

tenacious and achieved in what she believed in.

OBITUARIES

www.oldstonarians.com

LEAVERS’ DESTINATIONS 2012

Page 12

Buckingham Law

Cardiff Criminology

Cardiff* Business Management

Cardiff* Mathematics

Edinburgh* Law

Imperial* Medicine

Leeds* Medical Sciences

Manchester Psychology

Manchester Metropolitan Accounting and Finance

Northampton* Photography

Nottingham* Veterinary Medicine

Plymouth Occupational Therapy

Royal Holloway* Geography

Sheffield* Education, Culture and Childhood

UCA Architecture

UCL* Information Management for Business

University of China, Hong Kong Law *First choice University.

Then ………..

….. and now

….. now a Science block opened

in 2004 by Anna Grayson.

The swimming pool in the 1950s. Stonar Riding Stables in the 1940s.

…. now York House (Sixth

Form Boarding) opened in 1988.

The School Field in the 1980s.

…. now the astroturf (2001), sports

hall (1990s) and equestrian centre.

www.oldstonarians.com

WHO TO CONTACT

If you have any queries please contact Emelia Sowels at Stonar.

You can keep up to date with the latest news and events from our new website - www.oldstonarians.com.

Stonar School, Cottles Park, Atworth,

Melksham, Wiltshire SN12 8NT

01225 701740

e.sowels@stonarschool.com www.stonarschool.com

www.oldstonarians.com