School Magazine 1993

59 Pages·2016·49.61 MB·English

School Magazine 1993
~no
Editorial
Publishing the School Magazine is both rewarding and
challenging. Preparations for this issue of the magazine got
under way last October, as soon as 1992's version was hot
off the press. My first daunting task lay in choosing an
Editorial Committee, a task made doubly difficult by the
high standard and enthusiasm of the many applicants: the
calibre of the magazine is a testament to their ability and
industry.
As the year progressed 'the team' chased up and
recorded the many events which take place over the school
year. This task involved considerable persistence and
patience as there were many promises of articles which took
some time to materialise! Nevertheless, the committee
gradually amassed a wealth of material which they then
typed up themselves - thus leaving the office staff free,
only to be called on for the last minute rush.
The next stage was getting the material off to the printers
by the end of the summer term. At this point we had to look
into our finances and discover just what we could afford -
would we be able to stretch to colour art work? Magazine Committee
Finally came the paste-up session where we made difficult
decisions on what to put where and, reluctantly, what to Editorial Form Representatives
omit. You see the result before you. Subhani Amerasinghe low
(cid:9) Anjuman Kang
I should like to thank all who were involved in the Eleanor Hitchman los
Claire Cassar
production of this magazine: the committee for their Azmina Ladha
lOG Sarah Heritage
unstinting devotion of time and energy; Mrs Aplin and the Pamel Mangat
Art Department for their wonderful illustrations; and Rebecca Manson 9W(cid:9) Magda Ross
especially Worrauam Visutrakaew for the striking cover Philippa Ouvry 9S(cid:9) Rosemary Redmond
design; Mrs McKeigue for keeping our finances in order; the Natasha Price 9L(cid:9) Vera Tang
office staff for their typing; Mr Mander, the printer, for his Lizzie Tyrell 8C(cid:9) Rachna Uppal
friendly encouragement; Mrs O'Keeffe for her help with Roving Reporters 85(cid:9) Ashima Anand
proof reading and finally you, the readers and contributors. 8B(cid:9) Claudia Newbegin
Isobel Branczik
This is your magazine: your contributions make it
Jane Cottle 7P(cid:9) Katharine Wolf
entertaining, informative and enlightening.
Lorraine Hamid 7M(cid:9) Carola Browne
Elaine da Costa, Editor Marie-Lise Quaradeghini 7T(cid:9) Jessica Codrington
2
Foreword to the School Magazine 1993 (cid:9)
-3jK
In September, the school celebrated its 120th birthday. The
second school founded by what is now the Girls' Public Day
School Trust, it is the oldest which still goes through to the C± O rr
age of 18. There have been a number of changes over this

time, but despite the move to Ealing in 1931, and a
continuous programme of enlargement and development, it
has maintained its character of a warm and friendly
community in which girls can develop their academic,
creative and cultural potential. The official opening of the
OCTOBER
enlarged Junior Department and new dining room in July
marked the latest phase of development, which will no
Thur 1st Senior Harvest Festival
doubt continue in the future.
This magazine celebrates the activity of the school and all Mon 5th Year 13 Mock Interviews
the people within it. On behalf of us all, I should like to Junior School Parents Evening Years 1,2,3,4,5
thank the Magazine Committee, and Mrs da Costa who has Junior School Prospective parents p.m.
undertaken overall organisation of the magazine this year. Tues 6th Year 13 Mock Interviews
Their hard work has paid off magnificently, and given us a Junior School Parents Evening Years 1,2,3,4,5
splendid record of the year, which is a great pleasure for us Senior School Prospective parents p.m.
all to read. Wed 7th Year 13 Mock Interviews
Susan Whitfield U15 Trust Hockey Rally
Junior School Parents Evening Years 1,2,3,4,5
Thur 8th Year 13 Mock Interviews
Fri 9th Year 10 trip to Ypres
Tues 10th Junior School Prospective parents p.m.
Parents Guild A.G.M.
Wed 14th Staff Show
Thur 15th Staff Show
Fri 16th HALF TERM BEGINS
Staff Study Day
German Trip to Cologne (-21st)
Sat 17th- Spanish Trips
24th
Sun 18th- Geography 'A level field trip
22nd
Mon 19th- HALF TERM
Fri 30th
NOVEMBER
Mon 2nd OGA Meeting 7.30 pm
Junior School Parents Evening Year 6
Tues 3rd Senior School Prospective parents p.m.
U15 Trust Netball Rally
Junior School Parents Evening Year 6
Wed 4th Junior School Prospective parents p.m.
2nd Hand Ski Wear Sale
DIARY 1992/93 ISCO follow-up interviews
Junior School parents Evening Year 6
AUTUMN TERM Thur 12th Junior School Prospective parents p.m.
Senior Choir - 'Die Fledermaus'
SEPTEMBER
Sat 14th Parents Guild Jazz night
(cid:9)
Tues 1st Staff Study Day Mon 16th Junior School Prospective parents p.m.
Wed 2nd TERM BEGINS Year 7 Parents & Form Tutors
(cid:9)
Fri 4th! Used Uniform Sale/Jumble Sale (by appointment 4.30 p.m. - 6.30 p.m.)
Sat 5th Tues 17th Senior School Prospective parents p.m.
(cid:9)
Tues 8th Parents Guild Careers Committee meeting Wed 18th 'A' Level Fair - p.m. for girls,
8.00 pm evening for parents.
Mon 14t(cid:9)h ISCO questionnaire starts Thur 19th ISCO follow up individual interviews
Tue 15th Parents Guild General Committee meeting Fri 20th ISCO follow up individual interviews
(cid:9) 8.00 pm Tue 24th Senior School Open Afternoon
Fri 18th OGA Annual Meeting and supper Years 10 and 11 Parents Discussion Evening
Wed 23(cid:9)rd ISCO Morrisby Tests Thur 26th Music Room Concert
Fri 25th Year 12 English trip to Lyme Regis Fri 27th ISCO follow up interviews
Wed 30th Junior School Harvest Festival Mon 30th ISCO follow up interviews
3
DECEMBER MARCH
(cid:9) (cid:9)
Tues 1st (cid:9) Senior School Prospective parents p.m. Mon 1st (cid:9) Junior School Parents Evening - all years
Wed 2nd(cid:9) Junior School St. Nicolas Celebration Wed 3rd Ealing Youth Speaks Out - Town Hall
Thur 3rd 10.30 am. Year 7 Drama/French trip to (cid:9)
Thur 4th Trust Senior Netball Rally
Lyric Theatre
Ealing Youth Speaks Out - Town Hall
Junior School St. Nicolas Celebration (cid:9)
(cid:9) Fri 5th Eailing Youth Speaks Out - Town Hall
Fri 4th Junior School Book Fair
Wed 10th Trust Senior Hockey Rally
Drama Evening (cid:9)
(cid:9) Fri 12th Year 9 weekend away
Sat 5th Christmas Bazaar (cid:9)
Drama Exams Sat 13th Parents Guild Craft Fair
(cid:9)
Mon 15th Year 12 Parents Evening 7.15 p.m.
Mon 7th Play Technical Rehearsal 4.00 p.m.
(cid:9)
Thur 18th 120 Anniversary Concert at St. John's,
Tues 8th Play Dress Rehearsal 2.00 p.m.
(cid:9) Smith Square, Rehearsal 10.00 am. - 1.00 p.m.
Wed 9th Play Preview
Performance 7.30 p.m.
Thur 10th Public Performance - 12th Night (cid:9)
(cid:9) Sat 20th Ui 1 Trust Netball Rally
Fri 11th Public Performance - 12th Night
(cid:9) Tues 23rd Trust Day of Dance
Sat 12th Public Performance - 12th Night
Thur 25th West London Rotary Club Youth Speaks
Used Uniform Sale a.m.
Semi-Finals (Hall, Gym, Dining Room)
Mon 14th Public Speaking Heats (cid:9)
Fri 26th Parents Guild Barn Dance
Tues 15th Public Speaking Finals
Year 9 weekend away
Wed 16th Carol Service
Tues 30th Year 10 Parents Evening 4.15 p.m.
TERM ENDS
Wed 31st am. Years 9/10 Interform hockey
SPRING TERM 1993 Drama Evening
JANUARY
(cid:9)
Tues 5th Staff Study Day
Madrigal Choir at St. Paul's
(cid:9)
Wed 6th TERM BEGINS. Mock exams start
(cid:9)
Fri 15th Entrance Examination
Year 7 outing
Tues 19th BPW Public Speaking Competition
(cid:9)
Fri 22nd Years 12 & 13 'Top Women' event
(cid:9)
Mon 25th Instrumental teachers/parents p.m.
Thur 28th Year 11 Parents Evening + girls 7.00 p.m.
FEBRUARY
Thurs 4th ESU Public Speaking Competition
Music Room Concert
Sat 6th(cid:9) Parents Guild Quiz Supper
Mon 8th(cid:9) Careers Convention
Tues 9th(cid:9) Year 13 Parents Evening + girls 7.00 p.m.
Wed 10th Year 8 - Afternoon of Australian culture
Drama Room recital/workshop
Thur 11th Trust Gymnastics Rally
ESU Public Speaking
Mon 15th- HALF TERM
Fri 19th(cid:9) Ski trip
Tues 23rd Sixth form scholarship and prospective
Sixth form interviews (all day)
Wed 24th Year 9 Parents Evening 7.15 p.m.
Junior School Parents Evening - all years
APRIL
Thur 25th ESU Public Speaking
Junior School Parents Evening - all years Thur 1st (cid:9) Drama Exams - all day
Fri 2nd(cid:9) am. Years 11/12/13 Interform hockey
Year 10 Geography Field Course
Sat 3rd(cid:9) BPW South East Finals
Used Uniform Sale a.m.
Promise Auction
Mon 5th(cid:9) Spring Drama Festival - Guest Performance
Music Festival
Tues 6th(cid:9) p.m. Interform Netball
Wed 7th(cid:9) Spring Drama Festival -
School performance a.m.
4
END OF TERM PRIZE WINNERS 1993
SUMMER TERM 1993
Mon 26th Theatre Studies practical
French Exchange
Niranj ala Abeyasinghe Strachan Prize for Sciences and
Tues 27th French Exchange Mathematics
Staff Study Day
Umeeda Bhaloo Friends of the Trust Prize for French
Theatre Studies practical
Kathleen Kerr Prize for Mathematics
French Exchange
Anna Chamberlain Marriott Prize for Services
Wed 28th TERM BEGINS
to the Music Department
French Exchange
Jennifer Coleman Prize for Speech & Drama
Thur 29th Rotary Clubs Youth Speaks out finals
French Exchange Bindu Dasoju Kinn Prize for Biology
Howcroft Prize for Mathematics
MAY Nicola Doidge Barbara Holmes and Patricia
Lanegan Prize for Humanities
(cid:9)
Sat 1st Parents Guild Jumble Sale Isobel Evans Pelham Brown Prize for History
(cid:9)
Mon 3rd May Day Holiday Maria Furogori Kinn Prize for Biology
(cid:9)
Wed 5th Year 7 Parents Evening 7.15 p.m. Prize for Religious Studies
Mon 10th Year 12 and Parents Higher Education meeting Parent's Guild Prize for Spanish
Tues 11th 7.15 Oratorio rehearsal Victoria Glover Friends of the Trust Prize for Art
(cid:9)
Parents' Guild Prize for Public
Fri 14th Year 11 end school
(cid:9) Speaking
Sat 15th Oratorio rehearsal
Faith Hagerty The Price Prize for English
Mon 17th Year 8 Parents Evening 4.15 p.m.
Parents' Guild Prize for Theatre
Tues 18th Junior School Concert Studies
Wed 19th Junior School Concert
Isobel Hammond Marriott Prize for Services to the
Thur 20th Music Room Concert - Pitshanger Manor Music Department
(cid:9)
Fri 21st Year 13 end school Hala Helmi Pelham Brown Prize for History
Mon 24th- 6G Trip to Charney Anna Hutton Gregory Prize for PE.
28th
Mahin Irani Barbara Holmes & Patricia Lanegan
Tues 25th Year 10 Biology Field Trip - Epping Prize for Humanities
Thur 27th Drama Room Evening Sarah Jones Gaia Prize for Geography
Mon 31st HALF TERM Pelham Brown Prize for History
Fri 4th Aileen Lauder Graham Prize for English
Prize for Speech & Drama
JUNE
Helen Minasian Seville Prize for Science
Mon 7th- 6H Trip to Charney Laura Moloney Parents' Guild Prize for History of Art
11th (cid:9) Parents' Guild Prize for Spanish
Fri 18th (cid:9) Year 9 Biology Field Trip - Epping Monica Nath Friends of the Trust Prize for French
Sat 19th Parents Guild Tennis Club Barbeque Susan Page Friends of the Trust Prize (for
Tues 22nd Trust Swimming Rally outstanding services to the school)
Wed 23rd- Year 12 Biology Field Trip Rupalee Patel Jolowicz Prize for Physics
30th
(cid:9) Annabel Phillips Marriott Prize for Services to the
Sat 26th Parents Guild Strawberry/Champagne evening Music Department
Wed 30th Trust Tennis Rally - Victoria Poster Kathleen Kerr Prize for Mathematics
Queenswood School, Hatfield Levitt Prize for Chemistry
Years 7-9 concert Julie Stafford Cup for Services to
the PE. Department
JULY
Jasvinder Rai Chick & Wood Prize for Science
Thur 1st (cid:9) New parents evening Cecile Sartain Friends of the Trust Prize for French
Mon 5th- Year 13 play Seema Srivastava Sacerdoti Prize for Chemistry
9th(cid:9) Public performance Angellica Bell Old Girls' Association Prize for
Thur 8th(cid:9) Drama Evening Deputy Head Girl
Fri 9th(cid:9) Junior School Open Day Anna Murphy Old Girls' Association Prize for
Sat 10th(cid:9) Drama Exams Deputy Head Girl
Mon 12th Junior School Sports Day (?) Miss Merrifield Prize for English
Leavers' Ceremony 7.30 p.m. Pelham Brown Prize for
Government & Politics
Tues 13th Junior School Sports Day (?)
Speech & Drama cup awarded for
Summer Drama Festival - School
services to the Drama Department
Performance a.m.
Music Concert 7.30 p.m. Sarah Cohen Head Girl's Prize
Gilmour Prize for Classics
Wed 14th TERM ENDS
Prize for Religious Studies
Summer Drama Festival - Guest Evening
5
Staff News - 1992/93
In September 1992 we welcomed many new faces to Noting
1-fill. Miss Ashley came from Copthall School to be our new
Deputy Head and Miss Butterfield joined Mrs Turk in the
Geography department. We got to know Mrs Gatwood when
she came to help in the Maths department while Mrs Howcroft
was having her baby, and we were delighted when she came
to join us on a permanent basis in September. We also
welcomed Miss Goon-Chew and Miss Rowe who came to
help part-time in the PE. and Music Departments and Mrs
McGoldrick who assists the Art Department.
The end of the year saw the departure of some well loved
members of staff. Miss Goon-Chew could not renew her visa
and so decided to continue her travels before returning to
Australia and we shall miss her enthusiasm and willingness to
join in school activities. Mrs Hoare retired in July 1992 but
came back for a year to finish teaching her A level classes and
we will miss her experience of the detailed running of the
school.
Mr and Mrs Pullin
Mrs Liddicoat is well known to girls in both the Senior and
Junior parts of the school. She taught first in the Junior
Although we have not had Mrs Pullin very long at NHEHS,
Department and then used her experience of dealing with
of course she has been with us for many years as Mrs
teaching and spelling problems to run an extremely successful
Watkins. She first came to the school in 1975 as a modern
spelling club for Junior and Senior girls. She has enabled
languages teacher and soon shared the supervision of the
many to deal with their problems and to go on to face fuller
department with Mrs Cuthbert-Smith. The girls have been
academic challenges with new confidence and I am sure that
able to enjoy her inspired teaching and outstanding
many girls will always be grateful for the help she provided at
linguistic skill. Even her colleagues on the staff have been
a crucial point in their careers.
permitted on occasion to join her Italian classes. Over the
years she has taken the girls on numerous trips abroad all
It is hard to imagine NHEHS without Angela and Gordon
over Europe.
Pullin who have contributed so much to the academic and
But her talents of course have not been confined to the
cultural life of the school. Many girls will take away memories
language department. For many years she has been
of concerts and operas of a high standard, many with costumes
wardrobe mistress for school dramatic productions and she
produced with flair and technical skill. We will miss them, but
herself has entertained the troops as a singer and actress in
we are sure that they will make great contributions to their
the staff shows.
new schools and we hope that they will enjoy village life.
Then in January 1985 Mr Pullin joined the staff. Those of
us who attended choir practice on that fateful day when he
Mrs Porter has also made contributions to many areas of
arrived for his audition, as it were, will never forget the
school life. Her two daughters attended the school, she taught
moment when some sixth-formers drifted in late. They were
in the Junior Department and finally became a valued
invited into the rehearsal in icy tones, their tardy arrival
member of both the C.D.T. and English departments in main
receiving caustic comment. We knew that the music
school. We thank her for the unobtrusive way in which she
department was destined for something special! And of
has helped and inspired so many girls, and for the way in
course it has been, during the past few years, in Mr Pullin's
which she has always been such a supportive and loyal
capable hands. The School's music has gone from strength
colleague.
to strength, and those of us privileged to sing in the choirs
have enjoyed wonderful rehearsals and concerts. I
Mrs Turk retires after a successful period as head of the
personally have travelled with the Madrigal Choir on its
Geography department and we will miss her unfailing good
numerous foreign tours and feel there are few European
humour and willingness to become involved in school
cathedrals left in which we have not performed. Not many
activities. She has many interests, and as well as gardening and
schools can boast the production of two grand operas, but in
embroidery she is preparing to take up painting so I am sure
Mr Pullin's hands we have seen outstanding performances of
she is looking forward to having more time to pursue her
The Marriage of Figaro and The Magic Flute.
interest.
Mr Pullin is also a talented linguist and has helped in the
teaching of Latin in the Classics Department. He has
For many girls a part in one of Ann Powell's plays has been organised, written and produced many successful staff
the highlight of their school careers. For many others her shows in addition to the serious music, and almost all the
imaginative and inventive productions have provided a new staff in the whole school took part in the most recent one.
angle on a well-loved play. The 6th form pantomimes have The great moment came when the Pullins' marriage was
become a local tfadition and many have provided the first announced. For many of the girls, this was the most
experience of live theatre for generations of children. She has romantic thing which could happen to two of their favourite
many exciting plans for her retirement and is looking forward teachers, and there was much happiness all round. Those of
to taking on new activities. us who know them well are sure that they will be very
happy in their new life in Suffolk, but we seriously wonder if
We will remember all the leavers with affection and we wish the school can ever be the same again.
them luck in the future. We look forward to seeing them in Angela and Gordon, we shall miss you terribly, but all the
school in the future and hearing about their new experiences. same we wish you Bon Voyage.
L.R. Veronica Evans
6
Margaret Porter
Margaret Porter first became asssociated with NHEHS, when
her elder daughter went to Redlands in 1969. When her
younger daughter left to join Upper School in 1977, Margaret
joined the Junior School Staff.
She taught general subjects for the first seven years and
eventually took responsibility for Maths for 2L and 3L, then
in 1984 she took her first steps into the unknown and agreed
to be responsible for computing for the up to 9 year olds.
In 1989, she transferred to Upper school to teach her own
subject of English and to take up another challenge and teach
CDT to Years 7 and 8. Her career then turned full circle and
she returned to the junior school for a double period each
week to teach CDT to Year 3.
Her talents are many and varied. She has produced and
directed Junior School plays; her flower arrangements have
brightened many occasions in school; she has made props
and costumes for the Upper School plays; helped out at the
school jumble sales for as long as she can remember; is a
potter and maker of soft toys of note and a member of the
Senior School choir. Her poems have found their way into
published anthologies.
Margaret and her talents will be greatly missed, not least by
members of her flourishing, twice weekly, CDT club.
C. Jenkins
(--)(cid:9) O
Ann Powell
Mrs Ann Turk
Who knows what roles Ann Powell would have performed
to acclaim had she continued her career on the professional Ann Turk joined the staff in 1978 to teach geography
stage instead of switching to teaching? What we can be part-time. Within a few years, such was the response to her
certain about, is that her roles of teacher and Head of enthusiasm for her subject and the excellence of her teaching,
Speech and Drama have been performed to great acclaim the numbers taking 0 level and A level Geography increased
since she joined the staff at NHEHS in 1974. and she was needed full-time, eventually becoming Head of
As a teacher, Ann has performed up to eight times a day, Department in 1989.
with small but demanding audiences. Requiring them to As a form mistress, her skilful and sympathetic advice has
participate, she has given them not only her talent, but also made the transition to senior school life easy and successful
her boundless energy, commitment and enthusiasm for for hundreds of 3 Uppers/Year 7's. countless A level
Drama. geographers have been inspired by her love of physical
In the last twenty years, some of Ann's students have geography and far more have experienced the delights of
gone on to become professional actresses themselves. field work under her tuition.
Many, many more, however, are grateful to Ann for giving Her talents in other fields have also contributed much to
them the confidence to express themselves, for giving them school life. She has been a stalwart of the staff netball
a love of the theatre, for giving them memories to cherish of teams and her dressmaking skills have graced not only her
school productions. own wardrobe, but many a school drama production,
For of course, in recent years, Ann has directed a string of especially in her beautiful costumes for The Magic Flute and
school plays, all of them stamped with her expertise and Twelfth Night. Many girls will also remember her delightfully
inventiveness. Moreover, they have involved hundreds of gormless performances as Dr. Watson and Black-hearted
girls: believing that a play should be a community project Luke in staff productions. She has run knitting and
for the whole school, Ann has explored every means of embroidery clubs and initiated the school "wormeries".
enabling pupils of all ages and talents to participate. Her 'retirement' promises to be no such thing - she is
From "Lark Rise to Candleford" to "Twelfth Night" the already half-way through a professional course in
major school productions have been in inspired and embroidery; her small but highly productive garden (largely
inspiring hands. But what of all the small scale productions organic, of course) will benefit from yet more attention; she
and drama festivals that have benefited from Ann's initiative is taking up watercolouring and, released from the
and enthusiasm? And the public speaking teams that have constraints of academic terms, she will be able to travel more.
enjoyed triumph after triumph? It is impossible to Recently two girls who left school several years ago
enumerate them. returned from a journey to India and came into school to
Ann has brought a cultural richness to the school that will say that what she had taught them had made their travels
be missed by the students and her colleagues alike. We all more interesting and worthwhile. There are hundreds of
wish Ann and her family, with its ever-expanding troupe of others whose knowledge and understanding of the world
grandchildren, many years of happiness in the future. and its problems will have been enhanced by her teaching.
7
Travels with my Bear Born five years too late?
"Travel?" "YES!" "Alone?" yes." "To the other side of the Early in 1964 we moved and for a short while I was able to
world?" "Well, may be I could go to that nice little island in watch television. On Thursday evenings a show came on
Scotland that I've only been to 22 times before and where I called 'Top of the Pops' with '5-4-3-2-1' by Manfred Mann
know lots of friendly people." But I didn't say that, instead I as its theme tune. This hit me like a bombshell; up to then
just went on and answered my husband's questions by my record collection consisted of 'British Bird Song'
saying "Fine I'll go to Australia for a few weeks and then fly recorded by Ludwig Koch. Suddenly here was music from
on to New Zealand and see you there on Boxing day." the Kinks, Beatles, Who, Yardbirds and amongst others the
So there I was in the 'plane en route for Australia via Rolling Stones. Remember that the excitement generated
Thailand and Hong Kong on December 5th 1992 by Rock and Roll in the '50s had died down, now we had
accompanied only by my travel teddy bear. No, not my
British groups who had been listening to American blues
defection to the education system of other lands but just me
music and were converting it. For us unsophisticated fans
taking advantage of the fact that the G.P.D.S.T. reckon that
this was electrifying, the first Stones LP with its raw, vibrant
if you work for years and years in one of their schools you
music was a bombshell to us in those days. I HAD to learn
are entitled to a four week sabbatical.
to play the guitar. It became a bit of an obsession - from
So, what exactly did I do in the seven weeks? Like every
acoustic to electric. All the time I listened to not only the
good traveller I kept a diary and of course there are all the
British blues based groups but also the American originals
photographs (over 7 rolls of them) so I could give you a
like Muddy Waters, Albert King, Buddy Guy, Willie Dixon,
very detailed account but the magazine committee sounded
the list is long. As the sixties progressed this slightly wild
slightly less than enthusiastic "We wondered if, er... it, er...
improvised guitar based music developed and guitar heroes
could be, er... slightly shorter." Fine, no feelings hurt I can
were worshipped at college gigs and elsewhere. The live
always find some other unsuspecting set of victims to bore/
scene was still in its infancy, great players could be seen in
make envious (1 did try very hard with the staff. While I was
small venues. People like Eric Clapton with John Mayall's
away, I sent large and attractive postcards on which I
Blues Breakers, his playing on the so called 'Beand album
enthused about the sun, food, wildlife, nightlife etc. and on
is the best he ever recorded. I struggled to play like that.
my return stuck up a daily photograph of some exotic
Then I saw Jimi Hendrix and felt like throwing my guitar
beach, mountain or activity on the staffrom notice board
away. Live and sober in '67 he really was brilliant, few
until they begged me to stop. Ealing in January in term time
recordings do him justice. By this time I was playing in
is not the same as Bondi beach.
groups on a small scale myself, usually on electric bass. Paid
So this is what you've been waiting for, one short(ish)
in ten shilling notes I never really made any money, but it
excerpt from the diary. (Another NHEHS magazine exclusive,
was all good fun, hanging round with the long hairs of the
in spite of the tempting offers made by The Sunday Times).
late '60s and very early '70s - playing and listening to that
Wednesday 16th December, Cairns, Queensland
kind of music. In a sense my musical development stopped
Got up at 6 to catch the Kuwanda mountain railway. The
in 1970. I like to think that when Jimi Hendrix died in that
town itself was very crowded with would be Bungy jumpers
year there was no more rock music - nonsense of course,
and a big craft market. Skipped those two and made for the
but for me the old blues stuff is what I like best. Even now I
butterfly house to find it filled with huge specimens -
pick up my guitar and pluck a few blue notes for old times
birdwings, olympuses etc. Discovered boomerang throwing is
sake.
not my forte but enjoyed Jak fruit. Peanuts from local factory
If you want to listen to some blues try the Paul Jones
a bit overrated even the pickled ones. Oh, Kookaburra
show on Radio 2 at 9pm most Thursdays and search out
laughed at my boomerang attempts but at least I saw it.
records of Muddy Waters, John Mayall, Jimi Hendrix and
Other wildlife included black cockatoos and huge ant hills.
early Rolling Stones.
Atherton tableland - very rich volcanic soil lychees, mangoes,
avocados, you name it, they grow it. Swam in lake in old P Warne, 1993
volcanic crater with cormorants and pelicans. Drank XXXX,
SB and Cowpers with a lively crowd in Perome. Back to hot
Cairns after sunset.
Well that extract certainly proves that I'm no Pepys or
Boswell but if you multiply that day by 49 you will realise that
I fitted in a lot. So I haven't got space to tell you about the
whale watching, conservation projects, personalised leech
feeding, white water rafting, Thai temples, rain forest,
snorkelling glaciers, Maori tongues, penguins, meeting up
with my husband after 3 weeks apart, visiting Mrs Ashby's
sister, youth hostelling...
Would I do it again? YES!!!
Should you do something similar? YES, but it would
probably keep your parents happier if you took along a more
responsible travel companion than a teddy bear.
H. Strange
8
Parents' Guild The Christmas Bazaar
My report ... I now have 8 months experience as Chairman I arrived just a few minutes after the bazaar had started and
of the Guild and sincerely hope I'm achieving as much as I after the choir - of which I am a part, had begun to sing. I
think I am! had brought some Indian dishes for the 'International Stall'
My committee's certainly put enormous efforts into all the which had food and articles from China and Japan as well
functions provided for the school, and for that I thank them as India. As usual many people were queuing for entry, and
all. the whole event was in full swing.
The Social and Fund Raising, expertly guided by Val We sat on the steps leading up to the music room, singing
Stephens, continues to raise large sums of money. The carols very informally whilst parents and other people
Junior School tea-towel, masterminded by Vivien Dymock passed by delighted, and sometimes stood to watch with
was a major success and we presented it as a framed gift to their children, some of whom seemed almost enraptured.
Miss Mellow. Our treat was actually to see the girls using the The sound of the choir resounded quite a way off so we
apparatus with Mrs Bond. The annual craft fair contributed could not be missed by anyone wherever they might have
over £1,000 to our funds. Thanks to Ann Watkins for been!
another successful year. In the way of stalls, there was a food stall with cakes and
mince pies selling quickly, face painting, which was a
The Guild has donated:
children's favourite, and also 'win a goldfish' which showed
£7,100 to the Junior School gym its popularity.
£1,300 to various purchases in the Senior School This year Santa's Grotto was not such a principal feature
£9,000 towards a new mini-bus for the Senior School as last year, but still there was a long queue of children
The Careers Committee held a well attended convention waiting to see him. There were also home made cards and
decorations for sale, as well as a good range of second hand
which was highly beneficial to the students in regards to
books.
career guidance. Thank you to Edwina Messer and the
careers team. The mock interviews will be next on the There was a very good sense of overall enjoyment and
agenda and the work and effort put towards the event is, relaxation for both the young and the old, helpers and
indeed, enormous. The group can always use extra ideas visitors alike.(cid:9) Monica Nath, Year 13
and help.
The Tennis Club will be announcing its plan for an active
summer holiday and hopefully a relaxing and tasty B.B.Q.
in July.
All in all it's been busy and I'm enjoying it very much. I'm
here as Chairman with the main aim of our daughters
benefiting. Surely, as a result, so do we!
Jan MacLeod, Chairman, Parents Guild
The Craft Fair
On Saturday 13th March, the N.H.E.H.S. annual Craft Fair
was held at the school. Many craftspeople, both girls from
this school and their parents, and outside craftspeople
exhibited many different crafts, from children's clothes to
cakes, pottery to pressed flowers. Many people visited the
Craft Fair enjoying the chance to buy beautiful gifts and
meet friends in the cafe, organised by members of the
Quiz Supper 1993 Parent's Guild. All crafts exhibited were beautiful, but for
me at least, the prize for the most memorable object has to
After an excellent supper with just enough wine to ensure go to Mrs Porter's foot long papier mache sheep!
that our answers were imaginative without being too
E.H.
inaccurate, this year's quiz supper got under way. The first
Christmas Bazaar
problem was to decide which group of questions to play our
joker on and thereby double our score. After some For all of Santa's helpers, the day started early and from
discussion we managed to select the group on which we then on it was work, work, work setting up all the stalls,
eventually achieved our lowest score, but this was of course from the successful year 7 stall, selling hand made goods,
a device to give our table a moral victory without being to the magic of Santa's Grotto. The air was filled with Yule
granted the dubious privilege awarded to the winner of tide songs by the Madrigal Choir and the exotic smells of
organising next year's event. Moments of frustration Indian foods. This year the school contributed to the Bazaar
included being one day out for the date of decimalisation, and the Junior School Craft Club is to be especially congrat-
and getting several American states embarrassingly ulated for filling the Fiction library with their wares.
transposed on the map. We also suffered on several The younger children were delighted with this year's
occasions from the 'change-your-mind-once-too-ofterf unique face painting. This ranged from Sonic the Hedgehog
syndrome, changing our answer at the last minute from A to to Mr Clock and from Beauty to the Beast. The cake stalls
B, only to find that A had been right all along. We naturally and games were a roaring success, as always. Christmas
took such calamities with stoic calm. cheer ran rampant in the "Green Room Cafe", which
Our congratulations to the winner (we hope they do not tantalised our taste buds with traditional treats.
regret it!), all those intrepid organisers, chefs, announcers, All in all, the Christmas Bazaar was a great success and
electricians etc., etc., who made it such a success. Now its thanks must go to everyone who was responsible for the
off to the library to start memorising the Encyclopaedia organisation and running of this annual event.
Britannica - let's hope all the subjects for the questions next
Zosia Kulesza and
year begin with A.
Subhani Amerasinghe, year 12
Michael Evans
9