The "New" Old Blue

[englishangel]

certainly seems to work well. thank you John.

I want to go to the Philippines Old Blues Day next year, how do I get an invitation?

[Great Plum]

Yes it was as ever excellent - thank you...

Housey on the other hand...

[Angela Woodford]

I'd like Miss Tucker to write something along the lines of "My Memories of Hertford".

Her contribution reminds me of those Round Robin letters that one dreads at Christmas.

[J.R.]

Mine arrived this morning.

Thanks John - Brilliant.

[Katharine]

Mine arrived today too. Great stuff, thanks John.

I have two questions from page 8, was Matthew Oates the one who gave his caterpillars the names of poets, and what, pray, is alternative sheepdog training?

[englishangel]

Perhaps it is corgis, they are alternative sheepdogs.

[Angela Woodford]

Liz - explain! You're the dog expert -

[icomefromalanddownunder]

Corgis are cattle dogs.

[englishangel]

But they are Welsh!

BTW I thought that was a reference to Liz but it seemed a little out of date so I thought it might be some-one else and didn't comment.

[icomefromalanddownunder]

But they are Welsh!

BTW I thought that was a reference to Liz but it seemed a little out of date so I thought it might be some-one else and didn't comment.

I'm confused, but perhaps all will be made clear when my copy arrives (possibly not until the New Year).

xx

[Jo]

I think some of the copy for the Updates is collated from sources such as "Who's Blue" and Friends Reunited, so this might affect the currency.

[fra828]

I'd like Miss Tucker to write something along the lines of "My Memories of Hertford".

Her contribution reminds me of those Round Robin letters that one dreads at Christmas.

I agree! Lovely as she is, Miss Tucker never really changed things at Hertford. Do others there in her time agree? She had the chance between 1972-82 ,to bring the dated institution DR left behind, into the 1970's; but the place was firmly stuck in 1940's/50's, until the inspirational Miss Morrison took over in the early 80's and 'guided' the girls to the merger at Horsham. Maybe this is the reason Miss Tucker chooses not to put her memories of Hertford in print.

[Jo]

I'd like Miss Tucker to write something along the lines of "My Memories of Hertford".

Her contribution reminds me of those Round Robin letters that one dreads at Christmas.

I agree! Lovely as she is, Miss Tucker never really changed things at Hertford. Do others there in her time agree? She had the chance between 1972-82 ,to bring the dated institution DR left behind, into the 1970's; but the place was firmly stuck in 1940's/50's, until the inspirational Miss Morrison took over in the early 80's and 'guided' the girls to the merger at Horsham. Maybe this is the reason Miss Tucker chooses not to put her memories of Hertford in print.

I think Miss Tucker did more than we perhaps gave her credit for. Life became more humane and some of the petty rules like letter lists seemed to disappear, but at the time I didn't recognise her humanity and mistook it for weakness. I feel a bit bad about that now, although I don't think it would have shown in my behaviour towards her. I also wonder if you are overestimating Miss Morrison's influence? We were obviously long gone by the time she took over as head, but my understanding was always that Miss Tucker didn't - for whatever reason - want to be involved in the merger, and left when it was already a done deal. Miss Morrison may have done a good job as the transitional head it but it certainly wouldn't have been her idea nor would she have been totally responsible for planning and project managing it all.

I suspect we are all overestimating the impact that the Headmistress - any Headmistress - had, given that I think they were all fairly tightly controlled by the Foundation.

[fra828]

You are proabably right Jo! My memories are very hazy. Some years ago I was reading a an old CHOGA mag, (unfortunately now chucked out) about Miss Morrison's involvement in the merger-it seems from that account that she took more-or-less sole charge of the transition; listening to all concerns, ensuring it all went smoothly , taking all the Hertford girls under her wing so to speak, and then 'settling them' in Horsham. Maybe someone, Maria or Vonny ? who were at both schools will put me right on this! I wish I'd kept these old CH Hertford mags now, they would make fascinating reading 25+ years on.

[Fjgrogan]

I still have all my CHOGA magazines - including a few that I typed! I shall rummage and see what I can find!