Unofficial Christ's Hospital Forum

englishangel wrote:At 94 years old she spent 30 years pre-CH, 30 years AT CH and 34 years in retirement.

Is the any chance of a photograph of this Lady, to publish, within this thread, before Thursday?

John Knight wrote:

englishangel wrote:At 94 years old she spent 30 years pre-CH, 30 years AT CH and 34 years in retirement.

Is the any chance of a photograph of this Lady, to publish, within this thread, before Thursday?

Sure is. Check out the Hertford photo thread.

Liz, will check the time difference and be with you all in spirit.

Kerren: bravo, and good luck for the delivery, and, as the Minister said to my Mum at Dad's funeral 'It's OK to cry'.

Love

Caroline

Hello.. yes I found two photos of her under 'Hertford Memories/Photos mid/late 60s early 70s/ page 2.

In the first she is sitting (with curly hair!) in the middle of the front row of a photo of all the Monitresses; in the second she is in front, wearing a hat, leading the Lord Mayor's procession back from Chapel, on Speech Day.

kerrensimmonds wrote:Hello.. yes I found two photos of her under 'Hertford Memories/Photos mid/late 60s early 70s/ page 2..

And this one (down a couple of posts) - Thanks
viewtopic.php?t=1049&start=75&postdays= ... highlight=

There is something that baffled me from DR's Memoirs.

As a newish Headmistress, she relates "I missed regular exercise, and as it was not considered dignified to run from building to building, I had to content myself with playing bears on the large concrete slabs outside the Houses".

What could she have meant?

Aargh! Grr! Grrh!

Munch

Angela Woodford wrote:There is something that baffled me from DR's Memoirs.

As a newish Headmistress, she relates "I missed regular exercise, and as it was not considered dignified to run from building to building, I had to content myself with playing bears on the large concrete slabs outside the Houses".

What could she have meant?

Aargh! Grr! Grrh!

Munch

Could she have meant not treading on the cracks between paving stones? (If you do, the bears come and get you). The usual way is to allow just one step on each paving stone. I think there may be an A.A.Milne poem about it. "Bears! just look at me treading in all of the sqaures."

We still sometimes indulge in the family game of walking like penguins (arms straight, flapping slightly, no bending the knees).

Could have been, Mary?

But would have not-treading-on-the cracks been enough exercise for our Headmistress?

She does sound very sportive in her youth.

Love

Munch

God luck on Thursday, Kerren-I'll be there in spirit
Maggie

Given her family background I reckon that 'not stepping on the cracks' is a good guess about the game re 'bears' - but then I thought.. where were there paving stones? Ermmm?

The Square was gravelled before it turned into pink tarmac - and sad to say I don't remember paving stones betweeen the Houses. AArrggh. Is my memory deficient?

Thanks to EVERYONE for your kind messages and positive thoughts re Thursday. As we get closer I am becoming more nervous - in fact I invested in a bottle of Rescue Remedy today, in the hope that it would keep me calm as I do my delivery. I really do want to do well, for her sake.....

Kerren

kerrensimmonds wrote:Given her family background I reckon that 'not stepping on the cracks' is a good guess about the game re 'bears' - but then I thought.. where were there paving stones? Ermmm?

The Square was gravelled before it turned into pink tarmac - and sad to say I don't remember paving stones betweeen the Houses. AArrggh. Is my memory deficient?

Thanks to EVERYONE for your kind messages and positive thoughts re Thursday. As we get closer I am becoming more nervous - in fact I invested in a bottle of Rescue Remedy today, in the hope that it would keep me calm as I do my delivery. I really do want to do well, for her sake.....

Kerren

Don't worry Kerren, let the knees knock out of sight as long as the face above maintains a calm demeanour, as mine did for my first.

kerrensimmonds wrote:Thanks to EVERYONE for your kind messages and positive thoughts re Thursday. As we get closer I am becoming more nervous - in fact I invested in a bottle of Rescue Remedy today, in the hope that it would keep me calm as I do my delivery. I really do want to do well, for her sake.....

Kerren

Hi Kerren

This info will probably be received to be of too late at the funteral. However, if you're really worried about crying when you don't want to, a hanky with some drops of lemon essential oil is a great solution.

Just take a sniff if you feel the tears coming (I never see people off at an airport without it) - works like magic. Oh, but just be careful not to get any in your eyes.

Love

Caroline

Thanks everyone.....I think it went pretty much OK, probably due to the Rescue Remedy which I had swigged two or three times in the ten minutes beforehand, and the bottle of which I was holding tightly in my right hand as I 'delivered'. I didn't really waver (I don't think!) and I certainly did not cry. Quite the opposite.... I sang lustily!
It was not as much of an ordeal as I had thought it might be (though the Church was pretty packed.. what a testimonial to DR. I reckoned there were around 40 'Old Girls' there - as well as 10 or so who sang in the Choir Stalls).
And Dr. Southern is now looking towards a Memorial Service sometime before the end of the current term. So watch this space!
I'm off to put my feet up for a bit! May DRW rest in peace now.. she deserves it.

kerrensimmonds wrote:Thanks everyone.....I think it went pretty much OK, probably due to the Rescue Remedy which I had swigged two or three times in the ten minutes beforehand, and the bottle of which I was holding tightly in my right hand as I 'delivered'. I didn't really waver (I don't think!) and I certainly did not cry. Quite the opposite.... I sang lustily!
It was not as much of an ordeal as I had thought it might be (though the Church was pretty packed.. what a testimonial to DR. I reckoned there were around 40 'Old Girls' there - as well as 10 or so who sang in the Choir Stalls).
And Dr. Southern is now looking towards a Memorial Service sometime before the end of the current term. So watch this space!
I'm off to put my feet up for a bit! May DRW rest in peace now.. she deserves it.

I'm pleased that things went as well as they could in the sad circumstances Kerren.

I'm sure you were magnificent Kerren, a fine testament to your/our education! DRW would have been proud of you - we are - we read what you were going to say and it was just right.

Katharine wrote:I'm sure you were magnificent Kerren, a fine testament to your/our education! DRW would have been proud of you - we are - we read what you were going to say and it was just right.

The service was most appropriate. Kerren delivered her eulogy in the most marvellous way. Absolutely right.

It was very moving to recite the Nunc Dimittis as the coffin left the Church.

Love

Munch