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News
concerning
any
of
the
areas
listed
to
the
left
can
be
emailed
to
news@ashfordschoolassociation.co.uk;
or
fill
in
the
downloadable
form
here
and
email
to
news@ashfordschoolassociation.co.uk
or send
as
hard
copies
to:-
Carolyn
Chamberlain,
Rue
de
la
Résistance,
24550
Villefranche
du
Périgord,
France
When
sending
news
about
yourself
or
other
past
pupils,
please
give
maiden
names
first
with
married
names
in
brackets,
and
the
year
you
left
eg
Sara
Mather
(Mrs
Nixon)(68)
Thank
you.
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BIRTHS |
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Our
congratulations
and
best
wishes
go
to:
Nicola
de
Fresnes
(Mrs
Drain)
and
Greg
on
the
birth
of
Daisy
Mathilda
at
St
Thomas’s
Hospital
on
12th
May
2008.
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MARRIAGES |
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Congratulations
to
the
following
on
their
marriage:
Gemma
Brown
on
her
marriage
to
Ben
Jones
on
20th
June.
Tara
Dhillon
on
her
marriage
on
12th
July.
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| DEATHS |
April 2010
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Sheila Beadon (Mrs Humphrey) 1948
We are very sorry to hear of the death of Sheila Beadon who joined Ashford School as a boarder when she was 7 years old in 1939. She was one of three sisters, the other two being Mary and Carline. Sheila was evacuated with the school to Devon where she stayed in 'The Hotel'. She was a member of Alfred House and fellow pupils remember her being tall and slim with fair hair and a very competent worker. We understand that Di Dodridge and Penny Finlinson were amongst her group of friends.
On leaving school Sheila went to a Secretarial College followed by gaining a position as a Dental Nurse. In 1958 Sheila married Robert (Bob) Humphrey who died 4 years ago. They had three children, Sarah, Rupert and Joanna, and nine grandchildren. Obviously children were a significant part of Sheila's life as we hear that she did much work for the N.S.P.C.C. becoming Treasurer and Chairman within the Kent Branches.
We are pleased that Sheila was able to live an active and healthy life for almost all of her 77 years. We extend to all of her family our sincere condolences.
Dorothea Young 1941
Dorothea, known as Thea, has died after a period of ill health which prevented her from living her normal active life; she was fortunate to have a good friend who looked after her. Thea was at school during the war years and was therefore amongst the evacuees to Devon. She was in Alfred House and when the school was still in Ashford and Thea was a young pupil, Doreen Irwin remembers Thea's parents inviting the class to the Whitstable area for much enjoyed picnics.
On leaving school Thea went to the Rachel MacMillan Froebel College and studied to be a teacher eventually becoming the Head Teacher of Beauherne Primary School in Canterbury. She was a very strong head and expected much of her staff and pupils; she always supported her staff in public where there were discussions as to what actions should be taken. On her retirement Thea remained in Canterbury where she became a Cathedral Children's Guide--incidentally with Pat Earlam's cousin-in-law. Thea was well known in The Precinct, being a member the Cathedral's Friends and a character to be noticed.
Dr. Allan Wicks CBE
Listening to the car radio whilst driving along the Kent and Sussex roads I heard with sorrow of the death of Allan Wicks, aged 86, Organist and Choir Master of Canterbury Cathedral for many years and whose daughters, Lavinia and Joanna, were at Ashford School in the 1970's.
We do not normally write on this website about the relatives of our members but there must be many old girls who will remember going on an outing (arranged by Miss Perry?) to Canterbury Cathedral in the mid 1960's where part of this event consisted of a session in The Chapter House along with about 300 students from other schools. Allan Wicks led everyone in a composition involving singing and movement inspired by the words:
"Freedom to love, and Freedom to hate, and Freedom to just be Free."
If I remember correctly they were made up by a Hungarian boy marking the troubled lives in his country at that time.
Allan as a teacher was electrifying and we were all mesmerised by this song and the movement. We were definitely all very privileged to have had the attention of such an extraordinarily gifted teacher.
Another person to have benefited from meeting Dr. Wicks was Shirley Gee, who came to teach music at Ashford for just one term after Miss Rowe left. Shirley was such a gifted musician that Allan invited her to play the great Cathedral organ.
The world became the richer for Dr. Wicks; his many talents must have given pleasure to countless people everywhere; and to Lavinia and Joanna with their mother we offer our kindest thoughts at this time.
An announcement from The Daily Telegraph reads:
"Wicks--Dr. Allan (CBE). A Service of Thanksgiving to celebrate the life of Dr. Allan Wicks will be held in Canterbury Cathedral on Friday 21st May at 2.30 p.m".
Olivia Bouillé (2001)
Sadly, Olivia was killed in the Haiti earthquake. Her parents had arranged a holiday, to celebrate her success in her Fashion and Design programme, with friends who own an Hotel in Haiti. Her parents decided to move on the Dominican Republic for the last few days, but Olivia stayed behind, which was when the earthquake struck.
Herr Bouillé managed to get a seat on a light aircraft back to Haiti, and, after painful digging through the rubble, discovered Olivia's body. Evidently, the trauma and effort involved overcame him, and he died 11 days later. Both bodies were cremated, and there will be a service of interment on Friday 12 March, followed by a Requiem Mass, in Munich.
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February 2010
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Corisande Coombs (Mrs Hewitt) 1949--1956. We send to Corry's family our sincere condolences on hearing of her sudden death in February, 2010, following a road accident in which she was an innocent pedestrian.
'Corry came to Ashford Junior School in 1949, from her home in Wrotham, and was a boarder in Bridge where she continued her home friendship with Fanny Goldsworthy. In 1950 they both moved up to the Senior School entering Cranmer House under Miss Churchill and Miss Miles. Corry was a good 'middle of the road pupil' and quietly enjoyed her classroom lessons, and playing 'slag-wag', which was a type of chase, between 4 and 5pm on the asphalt and, together with most of the JCR pupils, she spent some time skating perilously around The Rink. Corry was a very popular girl and added Letty Anderson and Rosemary Harvey with others to her group of friends. When she left school she went to College and took up Social Work. She married Tony Hewitt and they lived in Withington near Manchester, later moving to Fulford near York where she met Lizzie Fleetwood and they were amazed and delighted to find that they lived only a few doors apart in the same road. Tony and Corry have two sons; Paul, who works in law in London, and Mark, who is an architect in Leeds. There are three grandchildren who were a very important and proud part of Corry's life. Corry was very involved with her local church and she and Tony also much enjoyed their hill walking. Corry did not have enough spare time to attend all of our '1957' Reunions but she and Lizzie came to the mainly Cranmer gathering in London in 2008. Corry will be remembered as a quiet, industrious and always pleasant member of the community.' |
Autumn 2009
Elizabeth (Betty) Cheadle (Mrs Gamble 1945). We are sorry to learn that Betty died in the Autumn, 2009. From a very young age, Betty was a friend of Jill and Jean Davidson as their parents knew each other well and from school Rosemary (Felix) Stevenson also became a lasting friend. Betty's, and her brother Colin's, parents had a chemist's shop in Whitstable. At school she was in Somerville House and spent many of her schooldays in Devon when the school was evacuated to Countess Wear. She progressed steadily through all the lessons and activities, being particularly good at painting and drawing. Betty married Jim Gamble and they had two sons, Rob and Harry. In Suffolk where they lived Betty was a very keen and successful golfer, winning many prizes. In her later years Betty was fortunate that her son, Harry, was able to return from Holland to care for her although she did eventually reside in a nursing home. Jean and her friends enjoyed dropping in on her when they could; and, as lifelong Ashford friends, they attended her funeral service.
We are sorry to learn of the death of
Nisha Walia (Mrs Harries) on Friday 25th September 2009.
Nisha's funeral will be held at Thornhill Crematorium, Wenallt Chapel, Cardiff on Wednesday 7th October 2009 at 11:45am.
The family has respectfully requested no flowers and would instead ask that any donations in lieu be made to Marie Curie Cancer Care c/o James Summers & Sons Funeral Home, Lavernock Court, Penarth, Vale of Glamorgan. These will then be added together into one payment to the Marie Curie Hospice which cared so wonderfully for Nisha in her final weeks.
From Nisha's husband Martin
'I have posted some pictures of Nisha and our two wonderful children from happier times on my Friends Reunited page.' http://www.friendsreunited.co.uk/MartinHarries
You will be able to post a message to Martin and his family on the link to 'Friends Reunited'. |
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We offer our sympathy to Ann Robertson (Mrs Nichols) 1959 on the death of her husband in the summer of 2009.
We are sorry to hear that Violet Jeavons (Mrs Robertson) 1937 died in April 2009. Her friend, Doreen Evans (Mrs Davies) 1936, tells us that Violet was a bright and artistic member of the school. She was in Cranmer House and on leaving Ashford she pursued a secretarial career working for the Prudential Insurance Company in London until she married her husband, a business man. They had two sons and, sixteen years later, two daughters. They lived in a large house in Somerset and were able to take in about 6 or 7 boarders from Millfield School.
We are sorry to learn of the death in February 2009 of Rosemary Irwin (Mrs Martin) 1948, sister of Doreen (Mrs Wilson-Haffenden) 1947 and aunt of Tanya, 1967. Rosemary was at school both in Countess Wear and in Ashford. We hear from Margaret Vallintine (Mrs Carr) 1948 that Rosemary was a Somerville; she was a quiet and determined member of the community and became a School Prefect. Entering university in the 1940's was not always easy and Rosemary went to a secretarial college and soon after she married David. They went to Sudan where their nearest neighbour was 20 miles away. Later they moved to Australia before returning again to England where they had a mink farm. Their lives were enriched by their son and by their daughter, Belinda, who studied art. Rosemary enjoyed being a choral member of the Handel Society. At school Rosemary was the first girl whom Margaret met and their friendship together with Mimi Beattie lasted for over 60 years.
We are very sorry to hear of Dell Filmer's death after a period of illness. Dell was in Cranmer and made many friends before leaving in 1950 to study Book Illustration and Graphic Design. Dell's enduring work was with 'Moral Re-armament (Initiatives of Change)' working on their magazine layout in Switzerland. In 1965 Dell married Hugh Williams and they travelled widely in Africa before returning to England where Hugh worked at the WestminsterTheatre and Dell became involved in the design of posters, leaflets and programmes, but they still found time to travel extensively. Hugh and Dell's two sons are both artistic, one a wild life artist and the other a photographer.
We extend our very sincere sympathies to Josephine Headley (Mrs Rado) 1961 and Rosemary Roper (Mrs Finnis)1956, both of whom have lost their husbands this summer.
We extend our sympathy to Heather Rule (Mrs Lovesy) 1943. In the spring of 2009 Heather's husband, Ian, died and at the end of the summer her son, John Stroud, a well-known comedy television director died following a 2 year illness.
February 2009
We are sad to have news of the death Old Girls and former members of staff
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Mrs McIntyre who taught Domestic Science from the late 70's to the mid 80's. Rosemary's lessons are remembered as being 'fun and enjoyable' by her pupils. Rosemary retired to a village near Taunton to be nearer to her sister.
Janet Payne who, with husband, Robert, 'were' the Art Department from the late 60's to the late 80's. Janet was immediately pictured in her lovely 'Laura Ashley-type' dresses by one of her pupils and she will be remembered by many for her never failing pleasant demeanour and quiet industriousness. Janet's particular skill was in patchwork quilting and she was commissioned by special customers to make these quilts. Robert and Janet moved from Headcorn to Derbyshire to be nearer their family where Robert is looked after as his health is not very good.
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Jennie Liveing (Mrs Hamnett) 1948 Jennie's school friend, Jane Shephard, tells us that, owing to her health, Jennie left school early to go to Switzerland and eventually trained to be a psychotherapist. At school Jennie was a quiet, very attractive, dark haired Cranmer girl, known for her lovely voice, her talent with a paintbrush and her good sense of humour.
Carmen Bowen (Mrs Kaufler) 1944 Carmen was at school in Countess Wear during the war years and we hear from Jean Newport that Carmen travelled widely and but lived in Ripon as her home area in England. Carmen was a noted singer and as such was a great fan of Linda Rowe.
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2008
We are sorry to learn of the death of Jean Hackett nee Maddieson on 10th November 2008.
The following was sent by her sister:-
Jean was born 3rd Nov 1940 in Hertfordshire where the family was evacuated from its Kent home. The family returned to Kent in 1945 when the family property was derequisitioned. Jean was a lively bubbly and intelligent child always inquisitive and retaining information but she had difficulties at school since she was dyslexic – a condition which was not recognised in those days. In 1947 she joined her sister, Beryl, at Ashford and went to Bridge House and stayed at Ashford in Alfred House until she left in 1959 to go to Chelsea College where she trained as a PE teacher. During her time at Ashford she represented the school in athletics, tennis, netball, hockey and swimming.
Jean taught first in Reading and then in Australia but did not settle there and returned home after a couple of years. She remained in the UK for only a short while as she hankered after warmer weather. She obtained a post in Barbados at St Michael’s school and taught there for many years, eventually retiring in about 1990 and retraining as a teacher of dyslexic children for whom she had a particular understanding. She was a very popular and much valued member of staff at St Michael’s.
During her time in Barbados she played, hockey, tennis, netball and golf for the island and made many friends there and throughout the Caribbean and amongst the visitors who stayed in Barbados during the winter. In 1980 she married Bruce Hackett a Barbadian and subsequently took up Barbadian nationality whilst not giving up her British one,
Jean died on 10th November 2008 after a two year battle with a brain tumour, she was courageous and persistent in her efforts to overcome the disabilities which the operation left her with, her husband survives her as does her step-daughter. She had no children of her own.
We are sorry to learn of the death of Barbara Millen (Mrs Bugg'e) 1933, on February 26th 2008 aged 91 years.
Barbara married Erasmus Bugg'e; he owned Bugg'e's Insecticide Factory on the London Road in Sittingbourne where Barbara worked in the Laboratory. After her husband died in 1978, Barbara sold the factory and went to live in Newcastle upon Tyne near her cousin whose mother, Moira Whiteman (4 years older than Barbara), also went to Ashford School and we understand they spent much time remembering their experiencies there .Barbara's cousin writes:
'Barbara often talked about her happy days at Ashford High School and as her executor I know she would want me to thank the Old Girls Association on her behalf for the school news she received from them over many years '
We are sorry to learn of the death in early March, 2008, of Mrs Fahy, 1970's Matron of Brooke Place, aged 91 years. Mrs Fahy was a strong and lively lady who much enjoyed her retirement Pub. lunches with Miss Earlam. Mrs Fahy spent her later years in Stelling Minnis living with her daughter, Jocelyn and husband, to whom we send our sincere sympathy.
We are sorry to hear that Edna Geer, who left Ashford School in 1922, died in the Autumn of 2008. Edna was over 100 years old and as such she must have been our most senior member. She spent her latter years in a Residential Home in the New Forest area.
The following have lost their husbands: Pat Barrettt (Mrs Beacon) 1946, Rozel Lattimer (Mrs Poole) 1957, and Jane Cheshire (Mrs Kinsley, 1953.
We were sorry to learn of the death of Valerie Lush (Mrs Baxter) 1961 on 9th May 2008 after a heroic battle against cancer lasting over eight years. We send our sympathies to her family.
We were also sorry to learn of the death of Mrs Clare Orchard who passed away on 14th October this year.
We are sorry to learn of the death of Barbara Millen (Mrs Buggé) 1933, on February 26th 2008 aged 91 years. Barbara married Erasmus Buggé; he owned Buggé's Insecticide Factory on the London Road in Sittingbourne where Barbara worked in the Laboratory. After her husband died in 1978, Barbara sold the factory and went to live in Newcastle-upon-Tyne near her cousin whose mother, Moira Whiteman (4 years older than Barbara), also went to Ashford School and we understand they spent much time remembering their experiences there. Barbara's cousin, David Martin, writes:
“Barbara often talked about her happy days at Ashford High School and as her executor I know she would want me to thank the Old Girls Association on her behalf for the School news she received from them over many years”
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