FAIRFIELD OLD GIRLS’ ASSOCIATION

NEWSLETTER SPRING 2017

Headteacher’s Update

To coincide with our launch of Pledges, I decided to commit to my own Pledge. This was a lifetime ambition to undertake one of the most famous and challenging walks in the world; the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu in Peru. This is a walk which combines beautiful mountain scenery, lush cloud-forest, subtropical jungle and, of course, a stunning mix of Inca paving stones, ruins and tunnels. I went with two friends from my school days, Stephen (a marathon runner) and Mark (a regular triathlete). I knew it was going to be tough: one to complete the walk; two to keep up with them! Tough physically and mentally. To prepare I spent time from January to July in training. I worked with a personal trainer three times a week and once a week practised by doing a ten mile walk wearing my dreaded companion, my 10kg torture, sorry, training vest. Although this was very challenging, I knew it was what I had to do to complete the trek and to stand a chance of keeping up with my old school friends. We left Heathrow airport in London on Sunday 31st of July at about 10pm. From there we travelled to Bogota in Columbia, from there to Lima in Peru, and from there to Cusco in Peru. All in all, the travelling took about 18 hours. On arrival in Cusco we were met by our rep who gave us many tips, the primary ones being related to altitude sickness. In extreme cases this can result in fatigue, serious illness or even death.

On the Monday evening we met with our guide, Burly, who talked us through the trek and the equipment we were allowed (only 8kg) and expected to take. He explained how we would be picked up at 7am on Tuesday morning and we would be returning to our hotel in Cusco on Sunday evening. We were travelling to the start of the trail on Tuesday evening, where we would camp,

and we would be starting the Trail on the Wednesday morning. Every night until Saturday would be spent camping. On Wednesday morning, we began the trek at about 7am. We had two international companions from America, both experienced marathon runners and trekkers. Their last trek was the Grand Canyon and now they were looking for something more challenging. At this stage my degree of trepidation increased significantly! The trek itself was hugely challenging but equally rewarding. Between Wednesday and Saturday we covered about 50 miles. Conditions were basic and extreme. Because we were at high altitude at night the temperature dropped to about minus ten degrees. During the daytime it was as hot as thirty degrees with the occasional torrential downpour of rain. Terrain was rough and tough. It was up and downhill all the way. At the peak it was about 4200 metres high. The highest peak in England is Scafell Pike (978m). The scenery was truly amazing. The Inca Trail and Machu Picchu are massive tourist attractions in Peru. According to our guide, Machu Picchu is open 365 days a year. This puts pressure on the environment. Consequently, every walker on the Trail requires a pass and we made sure the company we used to book our tour subscribed to a sustainable tourism charter which helps ensure tourists, like us, could access an amazing place while at the same time minimise the threat to and pressures on the environment. Machu Picchu was recognised in recent years as one of the new Seven Wonders of the World in a worldwide internet poll and it is easy to see why. Most archaeologists believe that Machu Picchu was built as an estate for the Inca Emperor Pachacuti (1438–1472). Often mistakenly referred to as the "Lost City of the Incas" it is the most familiar icon of Inca civilization. The Incas built the estate around 1450 but abandoned it a century later at the time of the Spanish Conquest. Although known locally, it was not known to the Spanish during the colonial period and remained unknown to the outside world until American historian Hiram Bingham brought it to international attention in 1911. It was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1983. It has been estimated that it attracts 400,000 visitors per year.

We arrived at Machu Picchu on Saturday afternoon and returned for a full tour on the Sunday following a well-earned night in a hotel in a local town on the Saturday night. Following the tour, we then caught a train back to Cusco on

Sunday afternoon and I flew back to London on the Monday afternoon, eventually making it back to Manchester by Wednesday night. As part of my Pledge I committed to raising money for charity. Girls, staff, parents, the Fairfield Old Girls Association (FOGA), family and friends all gave very generously to the nominated causes: Breast Cancer Research and When You Wish Upon A Star. We also donated £250 to a Fairfield Old Girl, Rebecca Barlow-Noone, who has been volunteering in the Dominican Republic, helping educate children and adults about managing diabetes. In total we raised nearly £3,000. Thank you to everyone who contributed in every way. You really have helped to make a difference.

What is my next challenge you might be asking? Well, Mount Kilimanjaro and Basecamp Everest have been mentioned but there is nothing in the calendar yet. Not yet anyway…Brendan Hesketh

Committee News

At present the committee is comprised of eight members, following the sad loss of Barbara Fletcher towards the end of last year. Joyce Eves, Midge Morton, Diana Cavanagh, Beverley Moores, Linda Fraser, Julia Eves, Pat Osowu and Helen Weston.

If you were present at the AGM in 2016, you may recall that our long standing secretary Joyce Eves was hoping to retire from her post as the workload was just too great. In response to this, we decided to trial a new system which shared out responsibilities more evenly across the group.

Joyce is to continue as General Secretary. As such she will be the first point of contact for members. She will continue to organise the Autumn reunion and the Spring AGM by sending out invitations and collating the responses. She will also draw up the agenda, minute the proceedings and arrange their distribution to members.

Diana Cavanagh will act as chair at the AGM.

The Treasurer will liaise very closely with the General Secretary and be responsible for maintaining the database of members and keeping account of funds. Beverley Moores is willing to continue in this role. To assist her in her duties, members are kindly requested to pay the annual subscription of £3 at or before the AGM in April. As it is not always possible to come to the meeting, members are encouraged to arrange to pay by standing order or BACS transfer. If you are able to do this, please arrange for the money to be paid in by May 1st. Pru Slater has kindly offered to assist Beverley as required.

The Reunion team will take charge of providing refreshments at both the AGM and the Autumn meeting. Julia Eves will continue in this role assisted by her daughters Rebecca and Erin along with their friend Natasha. Linda Fraser will continue to organise the Bring and Buy for the Autumn meeting.

The Archives group will take responsibility for changing the displays in school. They will also be in charge of collecting items and storing them safely. Midge (Doreen) Morton and Joyce Eves will continue in this role, joined by Pat Osowu and Lorraine Withers.

Helen Weston is to take charge of the Newsletter. She will collate all items for inclusion and be responsible for its production and distribution. As this is sent out to members in March, the deadline for news is early February. Those members who have supplied an e-mail address will receive it electronically. Please do consider this option as printing and postage costs are very high these days. There is also an Old Girls section on the school website, which Helen will keep updated. Deb Ives has offered to help by setting up a Facebook page. This is not exclusively for members of FOGA but is proving popular, especially with the younger generation!

The Old Girls are now represented on Fairfield's Governing Body by Sharman Birtles, Anne McGarry and Helen Weston. All three are also members of the Pupil Issues Panel in addition to serving on other committees.

SHARMAN BIRTLES JP DL

The Office of High Sheriff

If you attended the reunion last October, you may recall that Sharman Birtles addressed the meeting. However, time was against us so her talk was curtailed. You can still read about it though! What follows is an in depth look at the role of the High Sheriff……….

The History of the Sheriff

The Office of High Sheriff is the oldest secular office in the United Kingdom after the Crown, extending back to Saxon times. The exact date of origin is unknown but it has existed for over 1,000 years and certainly since the shires were formed. The word ‘Sheriff’ derives from the term ‘Shire-Reeve’ or the Anglo-Saxon ‘Seir-Gerefa’ and the office probably derived from the Kings Reeve also known as the ‘High Reeve’. It began as a Saxon office and it is understood that some Sheriffs led contingents at the Battle of Hastings. During the 11th and 12th centuries the Sheriff’s powers were very extensive.

For example;

They sat in judgement in cases in the monthly Court of the Hundreds (a sub-unit of the Shire)

They had law enforcement powers and could raise the ‘Hue & Cry’ in pursuit of felons within their Shire

They could summon and command the ‘Posse Comitatus’ – the power to enlist the whole or part of the Shire in the service of the Sovereign (strangely this has never been repealed so I could have raised a Posse – sadly I didn’t know enough people with horses!)

They collected taxes and levies and all dues on Crown lands on behalf of the Crown

They were in charge of Crown properties in the Shire They were also the principal representatives and agents for

the Crown and were very powerful men within the Shire Also from 1254 the Sheriff supervised the election to

Parliament of two Knights of the ShireIt is little known that of the 63 Clauses in the Magna Carta of 1215 no fewer than 27 relate to the role of the Sheriff.

It is no surprise, given the potential for corruption and favour, that some Sheriffs let these powers go to their heads and behaved badly, as witnessed by the well-documented antics of the Sheriff of Nottingham! However, the Sheriff’s powers were steadily eroded over succeeding centuries. For example, Henry 1 organised the Exchequer to take over tax collections and also to audit the Sheriff’s accounts and Henry 11 introduced the system of itinerant justices from which evolved the Assizes. The Sheriff was responsible for issuing writs, having the Court well-run, the prisoners and juries suitably prepared and then executing the sentences which were pronounced.

It was also the Sheriff’s responsibility to ensure the safety and comfort of the Judges. This is the origin of the High Sheriff’s present day duty to care for the well-being of High Court Judges. Then in the middle of the 13th Century Coroners and Justices of the Peace were created.

In the Tudor era Henry V111 created the office of Lord Lieutenant, whose task was to serve as personal representative of the Sovereign in each county or shire. This was probably because the monarch did not trust the High Sheriffs and needed someone to keep an eye on them!

By the acts of 1856 and 1865 all the Sheriff’s powers concerning police and prisons passed to the Prison Commissioners and Local Constabulary; and under an act of 1883 the care of Crown property was transferred to the Crown Commissioners.The Sheriffs Act of 1887 consolidated the Law relating to the Office of High Sheriff and this Act remains in force to this day. It should be reiterated that the Office should be held for one year only, that a Sheriff who was also a Magistrate should not sit during his year of office and also confirmed the historic process of nomination and selection by the Sovereign.By the late nineteenth century the High Sheriff’s historic powers had been largely removed and the role today is essentially symbolic and ceremonial.Of particular interest to Fairfield Girls is the fact that the first female Sheriff was in Lincolnshire, Dame Nicola de la Haye, in 1216 but she only lasted for 5 months. It was four centuries later in 1653 before the next female was appointed, Lady Anne Clifford of Westmoreland, and yet another three centuries before the third female held the position in1967 in the County of Gloucestershire. In 1972 the role was re-titled as High Sheriff in order to indicate that they are the Sovereign’s Sheriffs.

The modern role is

To lend support to The Royal Family, the Judiciary, the Police other law enforcement agencies, the Emergency Services, Local Authorities and all recognised Church and Faith Groups

To entertain visiting High Court Judges To support, encourage & give a platform to the Voluntary Sector To promote good citizenship To support the Lord Lieutenant on Royal visits and on other

occasions as appropriate

How does it happen?

Three years in advance (so for me in December 2012) I received an amazing phone call, completely out of the blue, which was to have life changing repercussions. The caller was known to me, otherwise I would have thought the whole thing a joke when he said to me that a Committee, of which he was Chair, wanted to put my name before Her Majesty the Queen with a view to me becoming High Sheriff of Greater Manchester for 2015/2016 and did I have any comment to make! As you can imagine I was flabbergasted as I knew very little about the ancient office and had never thought of myself as someone who might be approached for such a prestigious role.We talked for a while and he pointed out that, whilst our conversation was highly confidential, I obviously would need to discuss it with my husband Grahame, not least because the role of High Sheriff is totally self-funding and mustn’t be a financial burden to anyone else.

After great consideration Grahame and I agreed that this was an offer I couldn’t refuse and so all the wheels were put in motion. The complete confidentiality was to remain until March 2015, six weeks before my Installation at Dukinfield Town Hall. This is because in the County Palatine of the Duchy of Lancaster, which consists of Greater Manchester, Merseyside and Lancashire, the names of the three chosen ‘High Sheriffs in nomination’ are kept a strict secret until the ‘pricking ceremony’ takes place. As you can imagine this can be very stressful for the candidates as the results are revealed only about six weeks before his or her installation and the preparation for office takes about 12 months.

In March of each year the roll-call of the High Sheriffs in nomination, called the ‘Lites’, is submitted to the Queen in Council who then ‘pricks’ the first names of the vellum scroll with a silver bodkin and thus appoints the High Sheriffs for the ensuing year. The pricked names are then published in the

London Gazette and also in The Times and Daily Telegraph. Those appointed receive their Warrants of Appointment from the Privy Council by post.

An explanation for pricking through the vellum was that the choice of High Sheriff was not always a welcome honour. A mark or tick with a pen could easily be erased with a knife but a hole in the vellum could never be repaired or removed. It was not always a welcome honour as in the past some powerful individuals nominated their rivals as High Sheriff solely in order to bankrupt them. That this was possible was a surprise to me when I first heard of my appointment but, as mentioned earlier, the role is completely self-funding so as my year progressed I came to fully understand!

I should point out that I was the 42nd High Sheriff of Greater Manchester, being the 8th woman and only the second ever to come from Tameside, the first being a man.

UniformIn the Duchy counties male High Sheriffs wear a Deputy Lieutenant’s Uniform which is quite military in style. Lady High Sheriffs wear a suitable outfit that is on similar lines to that of Court Dress and must follow five guidelines:

the outfit must be of a sober colour steel-cut buttons should be used a lace jabot and lace cuffs should be included shoes must have court buckles the hat should include an ostrich feather

Additionally worn is a badge of office which includes the Shrievalty coat of arms showing two crossed swords, one sharp and one blunt which represents justice with mercy.

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Male High Sheriffs carry a sword but lady High Sheriffs are not allowed to carry their own sword and must use a ‘sword bearer’. I’m afraid I took the view that if I wasn’t allowed to carry my own sword then I didn’t want one at all!

A wonderful bonus of being a Lady High Sheriff in one of the Duchy counties is that we receive a personal gift from HM The Queen which is a beautiful gold and platinum brooch. Sadly we are not able to pass the brooch on as it is a gift which must be returned upon our death. I should point out that our house insurance rose considerably to cover this rather valuable piece of jewellery!

A costly business

As mentioned previously (more than once!) the role is totally self-funding so as well as buying your own ceremonial outfit and plenty of other clothes for

when ceremonial is not appropriate, you must pay for a Driver (essential for formal ‘do’s’) all stationery and postage and, in our case, the services of a dog minder!

All entertaining must be paid for including the Installation Ceremony, the Portrait Hanging, the Judges Service, Judges Dinners, Lunches for Mayors, Dinners for former High Sheriffs and several sundry events. An indication of the costs involved (somewhere between £25,000 - £30,000) was given during the initial phone call and I have to say it was pretty accurate.

Engagements

During my year I undertook 459 engagements covering a broad range of events. The following are typical examples:

• Swearing in of new Magistrates• Citizenship Ceremonies in all ten Greater Manchester

Boroughs• Taking the salute at military parades• A wide range of Great Manchester Police events• Presentation of awards to Greater Manchester Fire & Rescue

personnel• Passing Out Parade for newly qualified firefighters• Presentation of High Sheriff’s Awards to community

volunteers• Official visits to various establishments including Prisons and

Probation Services• Attending members of the Royal Family• Entertaining High Court Judges• Visiting a large number of Voluntary/Charitable organisations• Mayor making ceremonies• Attending Civic Events• Presentation of Cheques• Graduation Ceremonies

This list illustrates the variety of tasks likely to be undertaken and the dedication that the incumbent of the Office of High Sheriff is happy to provide.

I am often asked what my favourite engagement was. This is an impossible question to answer but one novel experience was a visit to the new set of Coronation Street where I met some cast members and was let into a number

of ‘behind-the-scenes’ confidences! Of course I was sworn to secrecy but I can tell you that I now watch the programme with far more perceptive eyes!

Other stand-out events include a visit to the fascinating Greater Manchester Police Museum, a day spent with the Mounted Police and Dog Unit and a Christmas Concert where we were fabulously entertained by the wonderful GMP Band. I also spent a truly exciting afternoon in an ANPR Intercept Car with two, thankfully, very experienced drivers.

I couldn’t help but be moved by services like the Unveiling of the Gallipoli Stone in Rochdale, the 75th Anniversary of the 1st Polish Independent Parachute Brigade in Manchester where I met several 94 year old Polish veterans and the VE Day Anniversary Service in Tameside. There were also lighter hearted occasions like the Yanks Parade in Uppermill, the Army Benevolent Fund Big Curry Cook Off in Manchester and a visit to the East Lancashire Railway at Bury.

I mixed with some outstanding young people who belong to various groups, including the cadet forces. In these days when young people are so often criticised, I can confirm that all the young people I met were a breath of fresh air, each of them confident and articulate and a credit to their families and schools.

I also visited many Charities and Voluntary Organisations who all undertake brilliant work in all aspects of life. For instance, I was invited to name and launch a specially built Sailing Dinghy bought with funds raised by Rochdale East Rotary Club. The boat “Gracie” had been adapted for use by disabled sailors and will be used by over 1,000 people.

But perhaps the most thought provoking event I took part in was the Manchester Sleepout in November, an event organized by the Booth Centre to raise awareness of the great difficulties facing homeless people. The Sleepout doesn’t pretend to be an experience of what it's really like to be homeless, but what it does do is raise awareness of the issues faced by homeless people night after night. The event raised over £55,000.

People ask me “Did I enjoy being High Sheriff?” How could I not – I met many wonderful people and was constantly astonished by the generosity of people

who freely give their time to help their fellow citizens. But then Greater Manchester is renowned for its caring folk.

It’s a cliché, but nevertheless true, that for me the twelve months simply flew by. The support of Grahame throughout was unfailing and together we had the most wonderful time and have many marvellous memories which we will carry with us for the rest of our lives.

I was certainly blessed, privileged and honoured to be High Sheriff of Greater Manchester

LILY GRIMSHAW 1937 - 1944

Dear Joyce and Helen,

A ‘note’ for the newsletter.

2016 was a monstrous year – I was 90. I had a number of celebrations, at home and away.

A week with my family in New York was a bonus, with visits to the usual sights, a theatre trip and opera at the N Y Met.

In July, my niece Kay Sandham (nee Grimshaw) FHS in the 50 -60s, invited me to join a family holiday on Lake Lucerne. That included meeting her Swiss grandchildren, a lake tour and a ride on the ski lift to the upper ‘Alps’.

Now I’m back to my usual routine after Christmas in Pembrokeshire, so it’s U3A, theatre and cinema trips, a play reading group and Mature Movers experience class.

I’m looking forward to September 15th to celebrate my first day at Fairfield in 1937. I hope to be at the O G meetings too.

Greetings to all. Lily Grimshaw 1937-1944 School Games Captain and later OG Secretary.

ELAINE DUNKERLEY (nee Bromley) 1966-1973

Some of you may recall my involvement with the Sand Filter Aid project in Uganda, which I visited with my husband Peter in 2010. I would like to take this opportunity to thank those of you who have generously donated to such a worthwhile cause over the years.

This unique project was launched in 2009 by our friend Geoff Carrier to bring clean drinking water to families living in South Rwenzori, an isolated, mountainous area close to the Democratic Republic of Congo border. It has since expanded into a remote area of Rwanda as well other areas around its original base in Kagando.

Geoff has recently visited the area and here he explains how the project has moved on:

"We began by providing a complete solution. Our aim was to provide access to clean water. However, we were overwhelmed by the need. We simply could not provide enough pots. Moving on, we are now working in partnership with our users. Each family builds their own pot, buying the materials for themselves. We provide the training. Our job is now to spread the word and the skills."

"We have a village event planned during which our best engineers build three filters each. A massive filter build-in, if you like. The participants have been selected from among the many villages as outstanding filter builders. These

fine people will receive a certificate to say they took part and are there because of their skill."

If you want more info about the project please go to:-

http://www.sandfilteraid.co.uk/

Geoff also managed to visit the young lady that we have jointly sponsored over the years. Ralence has now almost finished her Business degree - quite an achievement only made possible by hard work and determination in a country that tends to favour boys over girls. I am very proud of our 'adopted' daughter!

Here are photos of Geoff and Ralence, a rudimentary training session, making a concrete pot and the church that St. Matthew's Hayfield have helped to build.

JADE DERMODY 1995-2000

I attended Fairfield High School for Girls between 1995-2000 during which time the new school block was built, with its grass roof, which we all nicknamed the Teletubbies house. I also had a close knit group of friends while at school, including my good friend Helen, for whom this year I gave a speech at her beautiful wedding, Lindsay who I spent a fun day with at Alton Towers, during our final year day out with school and Kelly who lived round the corner from me and would help study with me, after school, in my parents back room, while drinking vast amounts of cola and eating bags of chocolate. I was also involved in many after school and lunch time activities, including singing in the choir in the local Moravian Church and at Manchester Cathedral for special occasions. I also took singing lessons, played on the school netball team as centre and enjoyed working on my GCSE Art Coursework, of which my parents still have the bowl I made and got an A* for in my GCSE’s.

After I left Fairfield High School I studied History, English and Sociology at Hyde Clarendon Sixth Form College. In 2002 I took a year out from education and travelled around New South Wales in Australia. My favourite place was Port Macquarie, where I stayed for several months. In 2003 I returned to England and studied English Literature at Roehampton University. Like many people I didn’t know what I wanted to be but I knew I wanted to live in our vibrant capital and study something I loved. To this day I am still an avid reader. After University I returned to Manchester to work as a Business Administrator in the newly opened Hilton hotel on Deansgate, where I succeeded in achieving another life goal, living in a city centre apartment. From 2008-2009 I again decided to travel and this time lived in Madrid, Spain, working as a TEFL teacher. This started off a 5 year teaching career. In 2009 I returned to the UK and met my partner Wayne. We lived in Leeds for 3 years while I continued my career as a TEFL teacher. During this time I gained my TEFL and CELTA teaching qualifications, became a First Aider and a qualified Fire Marshall. In 2013 I decided to return to Manchester after a 5 year absence and changed careers to become an Office Manager for an Architectural company in Manchester City Centre, where I still work today. In 2015 I gave birth to my beautiful baby girl Josephine. These days being a mother, partner and full time worker take up

most of my time, however I also enjoy running, cooking, hiking in the beautiful surrounding countryside and exploring more of the UK with my family.

KELLY RICHARDSON 1995-2000

I am still working in the oil industry but I’ve moved onshore now and only go to the rigs 4-5 times per year. Still a very interesting job even with the depression in the oil price. I worked 2 years in Angola but have been back in Aberdeen for 2 years. I’m hoping that next year I will get a move to Indonesia or maybe Trinidad – will need to see what happens.

Unfortunately my partner who I lived in Angola with passed away early in 2016 from cancer so I am hoping for a much better 2017.

HELEN WESTON (nee Bardsley) 1966-1973

Since 2010 I have been enjoying sailing in the Ionian with my husband and close friends, so much so that I have now taken the plunge (no pun intended!) and signed up for a course in early May to take my Day Skipper qualification. I will need to learn all about tides and navigation as well as boat handling. If successful I will be able to charter a yacht in Croatia. It has long been one of my ambitions to sail round the Dalmatian Islands. I’m very excited but also full of trepidation. You’re never too old to learn new skills though and I’ve always enjoyed a challenge.

DEBRA IVES (nee Caldwell 1970-1975)

I am hoping that most of you are aware that a Facebook group has been opened. It is proving to be a great success, especially with Old Girls who are now living far away or even abroad.

To date we have 164 members of varying ages and more requesting to join every week.

We are a closed group which means that we can be found by anyone using Facebook but only members can post comments or see what other people have posted. Any member can add someone but this has to be approved by an administrator to make sure that only genuine ‘Old Girls’ become members.

I feel this is a good way to spread news about forthcoming events as well as to keep in contact with the friends we made as pupils.

Anyone wishing to join the group should search for

**** FAIRFIELD *****Old Girl Association on Facebook.

Or search https://www.facebook.com/groups/981264985322246

SPRING MEETING

This year the AGM will take place at 2pm on Saturday 29th April 2017.

In order to facilitate arrangements for the afternoon, it would be appreciated if you could let Joyce know that you plan to come and whether you intend to bring any guests.

Please contact Joyce Eves at 1 Ferndale Close, Oldham, OL4 5NL

Or e-mail at joyce.kingswood@talktalk.net

Or telephone on 0161 678 6515

Many thanks.