CHATELARD SCHOOL YEAR BOOK

BOOK TWO

SURNAMES E TO H                                                                                        

   

Joan Eager Name Now Joan Symington Date of Birth 21 June 1947 Dates at School 1959 to 1965 Life at Châtelard Where was the school located? Les Avants Why were you sent to Châtelard? For the opportunity of experiencing life abroad while being educated Any teachers you can remember? None specifically Positions of responsibility held House prefect Highlight your best and worst memories None specifically Who have you kept in touch with? Valerie Bowley (nee Child) Life after Châtelard Education after Châtelard Eastbourne Domestic Science course; Orthoptics Career Orthoptics (Oxford Eye Hospital; Cape Town, South Africa) Home Life Married 1975; Widowed 2005 What are you doing now? Farming

Elisabeth (Kinsie) Elsmie

Name Now Kinsie Rose Date of Birth 28 September 1948 Dates At School 1960 to 1965 Life At Chatelard Pretty good, lovely place, not a great education (but I didn't know that at the time!) Good friends, learnt to ski. Where was school located? Les Avants Why were you sent to Chatelard? Not sure, we lived in Germany at the time. Also my Mother went to St. George's in Vevey in the 1930s. Any Teachers you remember? Misses Ashley, Zoss, Hodgson, Henderson, Boss, Masters, Breeze, Howatson, Sewell, Hume, Griffen, Phillips, Guttsel, Summerhayes. Mrs. Yates, Monsieur Parisode, Bishop Beever, Miss Blacklock - Headmistress. Positions of Responsibility Held? Prefect Highlight - Your Best & Worst memories Making the Ski Team, winning the overall sports cup, walking up the Tooth to see the sunrise! Who Have you Kept in Touch with? Celia Seccombe(Lewis) Miranda Archdale(McLean) Anthea Porteous(Hughes) Life After Chatelard Six Months in Austria learning German. Education after Chatelard Secretarial College in Edinburgh. Career Secretary for a short while. Then full time Ski Instructor in Scotland, Austria, Australia. Home Life Married Jimi Rose in 1970. Son, Angus born 1973. What are you doing now? We moved to Australia in 1971 and then to New Zealand in 1982, live in Arrowtown in the south of the South Island, work part time in a shop.

Margaret Ann Elkins

Name Now Margaret Ann Elkins Lang Date of Birth 8 September 1953 Dates at School 1970 to 1972 Life at Châtelard Where was the school located? Les Avants Why were you sent to Châtelard? Mother Swiss, Father English: my parents had always thought to send me to Switzerland at one point of my schooling. Châtelard was selected since I could continue the GB curriculum Any teachers you can remember? Fräulein Lenz (German) Mademoiselle Lehman along with another very dear French teacher Mme Mattatia, an excellent English teacher who lived in the village (Mrs. Vicario); Miss Swanston (Domestic Science); Mlle Zoss, Miss Refoy (Drama). Positions of responsibility held None that I can recall - unless being very popular after Cookery class handing out goodies and feeding fellow 6th formers counts! Highlight your best and worst memories Being absolutely mesmerised hearing Arthur Rubinstein play Chopin at a concert we were taken to in Lausanne (Spring 1971). Singing extracts from Handel’s Messiah in the English Church in Territet. (a very nervous Miss Refoy sang solo). Trudging in the snow down to the Heliodan for hot chocolates.. Trying to skate on the natural ice rink created at the back of the school. I was a lousy skater but what a magical setting. Day dreaming at nature through the library windows during study periods, catching glimpses of the squirrels, or being captivate by the first snows on the fir trees beyond. Being accosted by Fräulein Lenz directly after having finished the last of my German A level examinations and being made to go through the whole paper with her, having all my probable errors being sternly remarked upon: what joy! Ill-fitting lace-up ski boots and crushed boiled eggs in bum-bags on weekend ski trips. Who have you kept in touch with? More or less ever since leaving Châtelard: Anne MARCY (Belgium) Since I returned to Switzerland in 1976, met Susanne Muir (day-girl lived in Glion) until her departure for the States (early 80’s). We were in touch briefly about 3 years ago and it is thanks to Suzanne who tracked me down just recently, that I heard about the reunion. (Unfortunately, however, Suzanne is no longer able to attend). Life after Châtelard Education after Châtelard The Langham Secretarial College (including commerce, law and economic studies) one-year diploma. Returned to Switzerland in 1976 to study but was offered a job at the Montreux Tourist Office and remained in Switzerland Career Various top administrative roles with international companies in Lausanne; set-up and coordination of 3 commercial offices in Lausanne; negotiation/coordination of licensing activities for the European HQ of a U.S. entity; 5 years International Olympic Committee, Lausanne, plus, for the past 15 years, responsible for the A-Z coordination and running of an English-speaking business-networking group based in the Suisse Romande. Home Life Met my husband, Hans in 1981, helped raised his two children and we were married in 1993 - now at the grandchild chapter (5!), I divide my time between the shores of Lac Léman and Provence. What are you doing now? Luxuriating in Provence and enjoying life!

Janet Everett Name Now Janet Robson Date of Birth 8 August 1935 Date at School 1952 to 1953 LIfe at Chatelard Where was the school located? Les Avants Why were you sent to Chatelard? Any teachers you can remember? No. Positions of responsibility held. None.. Highlight your best and worst memories Skiing. Who have you kept in touch with? No-one Life after Chatelard Education after Chatelard SRN at the Middlesex Hospital London W1 Career Nursing . Home Life. Married to a Consultant Chest Physician. 3 children. 2 sons and 1 daughter What are you doing now? Retired. Done a lot of volunteer work with many Charities. Love gardening, and salmon fishing in Scotland.

Carol Fairclough Name Now Carol Mills Date of Birth 7 November 1938 Dates at School 1950 to 1956 Life at Châtelard Where was the school located? Les Avants Why were you sent to Châtelard? Living in Switzerland, my mother wanted me to have an English education Any teachers you can remember? Miss Pendred, Miss Stewart, Miss Pike, Miss Stephenson, Miss Wooldridge, Mlle Zoss, Miss Godfrey, Frl. Gottstein, Miss Collie, Miss Graty, M.Parisod, (tennis & ski-ing), and of course Miss Braginton Positions of responsibility held Prefect, Head of House 2 Highlight your best and worst memories It was a very happy time for me, can’t think specifically of best or worst times. Who have you kept in touch with? Several, mostly class mates: Toni Guttmayer, Annabelle Morris, Sue Parry, Sue Burton, Su Jones, Angela Drummond, Jane Reichwald, Christine Wilkins, Hilary Brown, Elspeth Whitley, Jane Wreford, Julia Cornwall-Legh, Lizzie Enfizioglou, Jane Burton (currently married to my brother) Life after Châtelard Education after Châtelard Secretarial College in London, later Birmingham University (Bachelor of Social Science), followed by Leicester University (Certificate in Applied Social Studies) Career Secretarial positions in London. After university, social work positions, initially in London. Moved to Canada in 1968, marriage & family counsellor, and other social service positions. Home Life Single until married in 1985, to David Mills (also British). No children, but enjoy sharing his children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren (all in England). What are you doing now? Retired. Have had various volunteer responsibilities, mainly for health or social service agencies. Have travelled to many interesting places.

                   

 Brenda Jane Field

Name Now Brenda Jane Smith Date of Birth 22 July 1930 Dates at School 1943 to 1946 Life at Châtelard Very happy Where was the school located? Started at Aberdovey - moved to Switzerland 1945 Why were you sent to Châtelard? Any teachers you can remember? Positions of responsibility held Highlight your best and worst memories Who have you kept in touch with? Life after Châtelard Education after Châtelard Career Home Life What are you doing now?                                  

Diana Feeney Name Now Diana Webb Date of Birth 30 November 1939 Dates at School 1954 to 1958 Life at Châtelard Where was the school located? Les Avants Why were you sent to Châtelard? My mother, having lived in China then S. Africa, had previously sent me to Cheltenham Ladies College, but I hated it. She was determined I was to learn French Isabel Hamilton, my cousin and her sister Elizabeth were both at Chatelard already. So I joined them and loved my time at Chatelard, and made many friends. Any teachers you can remember? Miss Collie,Latin,Senora Pilar de Vera,Spanish. Mlle Gottstein, Miss Harris games teacher, M Parisod and M Mury skiing instructors.Father Boots, the vicar who always wore hiking boots which showed under his surplice! Positions of responsibility held School Prefect, vice head of House 3 Captain of House 3 Lacrosse team, victorious in ‘57 -58. Highlight your best and worst memories Many great memories, best was being chosen to represent Chatelard at Champery 1958, for the Ecoles International Skiing Competition. I was not a star but happily came home with a cow bell, - which I still have! Elspeth Whitely “ Mensa” was the best individual skier that year. The worst memory was being caught riding the horse that belonged to the owner of the dairy, where we bought yaorts Miss Harris and Miss Stevenson caught me, Head Girl -Huzaima Mahmoud in all innocence, was in it up to her neck as she had just taken a photo of me on in full uniform, on the horse. Cantering back, I managed to warn her of the approaching gym hag, Huzaima hid in the dairy shop: there was no escape for me. Huzaima and I got away with “hookey” one Saturday. We walked from Les A to Montreux,to see the film “War and Peace”.We reckoned that seeing the film,even in French, was a lot easier than reading the set book! Catching the train was too risky, so we set off over the fields. We didn’t reckon on the length of time the return journey would take, and just managed to squeak in with muddy shoes by evening roll call. From my diary 7 May 1955 “ medical inspection by Hertzhog. UGH!”“Borrowed Douglas’s bra. Too big!!!(Having only tiny pimples, the bra fell to my waist, failing to cover my embarrassment in front of the Doc. They looked after our morals with a banned book list.: Illicit titles circulated at 10 centimes a read. Margaret Irwin’s “ Royal Flush”, full of saucy love scenes, got confiscated in the Library, even though I covered it in brown paper and labelled it Macbeth.In Latin, Vergil’s “Aenied” stopped at Book three, just when the story of Dido and Aeneas started to get tantalising. Miss Collie refused to enlighten me, as it was off the syllabus. My mother got me a copy from Foyles, which also circulated at 10 centimes a time! Who have you kept in touch with? Fuzzy Wilkins, Huzaima Mahmoud, Nickie Haydon Lane, Georgette Goldman but unfortunately have lost touch with Georgette. Life after Châtelard Education after Châtelard Oxford School of Art, St. Martins School of Art London. Career Graphic Design. Worked for Cowells of Ipswich, BBC Publications, Blackies Childrens Books then Freelance Home Life Married for 38 years to John Webb ,an art photographer.One son lives in USA and have boy, girl 6. Widowed 7 years still in Cheam, Surrey. What are you doing now? Enjoying life. I have an Albin Vega sailing boat, 8m long, which I have had since 1986. For 22 years I was UK secretary for the Vega owners association, and sailed widely in European waters, especially the Swedish Baltic. Two and a half years after my husband’s death, entered a Vega regatta and met Tony who also has an Albin Vega. For the last four years we have sailed her from England to Croatia. She is now in S. Italy. Next year it’s Greece and then Turkey. With two ageing Persian Cats and a large garden, I still find time to Sketch. I last skied and skated aged 16. Last year to my surprise, in Canada I had the chance to ski and skate again, it all magically came back, Thank you Monsieur Parisod.      

Kixi Ferguson Name Now Kixi Creek Date of Birth 4 November 1933 Date at School 1948 to 1951 LIfe at Chatelard Where was the school located? Les Avants Why were you sent to Chatelard? My parents were divorcing. I was at a Convent . Any teachers you can remember? Miss Stevenson, Miss Dickie. Miss Sproat, Miss McLaren, Positions of responsibility held. None. Highlight your best and worst memories How beautiful Switzerland was and how free I felt. Who have you kept in touch with? No one. Life after Chatelard Education after Chatelard Attended the Alexander Hospital in Brighton. Graduated in 1960. Career Nursing at a private school Nr Victoria. BC. Where I met my husband. He was one of the teachers Home Life. Busy. Married in 1963 in Canada. 4 children. Making a home. What are you doing now? Retired.      

Sally Ferguson Name Now Sally Brousson Date of Birth 29 June 1941 Dates at School 1950 to 1957 Life at Chatelard Where was the school located? Les Avants Why were you sent to Chatelard? Don’t really know Any teachers you can remember? Miss Alison Bradley, Art. She was a brilliantly inspirational teacher, who taught me the value of working with my hands. Miss Stephenson, Maths, who gave up on me, understandably! Positions of responsibility held None Highlight your best and worst memories Skating, I adored being on the ice. Lacrosse, I was put in as Goalie, I have no idea why – or that I ever stopped a goal being scored! Who have you kept in touch with? Judith Blackstone, who was Godmother to one of my daughters. She died a few years ago after a monumentally stoic struggle against her disability. Caroline Stranack, a very dear friend Life after Chatelard Further education Career Odd life. I have variously been a secretary and PA. In my shop in Argyllshire, I was Interflora member 1214. Organised a massive charity relief project to Poland in the 80’s and visited on a goodwill mission thereafter. Have published a book on cross-stitch designs. Am addicted to Bargello tapestry work, which I have taught. Undertake making wedding and special occasion cakes and demonstrating the principles of Royal Icing work. Am a keen gardener and have made and left 3 large gardens. Home Life I have 3 wonderful daughters. My 5 equally great grandchildren range from 30 years old, down to 5! What are you doing now? Am enjoying living in Malta and am still a workaholic.

Amanda Fisher Name Now Amanda Vaughan Date of Birth 28 October 1939 Dates at School 1953 to 1955 Life at Châtelard I wasn't that happy, but I enjoyed the area. Where was the school located? Les Avants Why were you sent to Châtelard? I had left the Royal Ballet School, and my mother didn't want me to continue dancing, so sent me as far away from England as possible! Any teachers you can remember? Not really. I remember I liked my history teacher, but I don't recall her name. Positions of responsibility held None Highlight your best and worst memories Best was skating in the winter term........worst was not being able to continue dancing Who have you kept in touch with? Sue Parry Davies, Jane Wreford Kiel Life after Châtelard Emigrated to the U.S.; started dancing again, and became a professional ballet dancer Education after Châtelard Some college courses, but decided to dance instead of continuing my education. Career Professional dancer, and teacher; later Holistic Counselor, and Fashion retail Home Life Happily married to my second husband and living in Arizona. What are you doing now? Working in a fashion boutique in Scottsdale, Arizona

 

Leslie Forrest

Name Now Lesli Paterson Date of Birth 5 September 1953 Dates at School 1964 to 1970 Life at Châtelard Where was the school located? Les Avants Why were you sent to Châtelard? I was a bit of a rebel at my Junior School in Glasgow so my mother, who had been a pupil at Chatelard, thought it would settle me down. Any teachers you can remember? Miss Ross (house mistress), Miss Vicario (English), Miss Hodgson (Biology), Miss Fowler (Arithmetic), Miss Wheeler (Latin). I still have all my school reports, so can list all my teachers. Positions of responsibility held Deputy Head of House (Chamby) Highlight your best and worst memories Highlights - meeting so many different nationalities and making friendships that have lasted over 40 years. Worst - leaving and not saying goodbye to all my friends as I decided not to return for my last year. Who have you kept in touch with? Vicqui Orenstein, Heather Bonner, Audrey Dhillon, Seza Ouzounian, Jane Shipstone. Life after Châtelard Education after Châtelard Trained as a beautician then as a secretary. Career Secretary to Lord Provost of Edinburgh and later to the Company Secretary of John Menzies plc Home Life Married to Ian for 28 years then widowed 5 years ago. Two children, Victoria (27) and Richard (23) What are you doing now? Tour Guide at New Lanark World Heritage Site.

 

Patricia Foster Hall Name Now Patricia Hayward Date of Birth 29 January 1931 Dates at School 1946 Life at Châtelard Where was the school located? Les Avants Why were you sent to Châtelard? Because the school I was at in Wales, amalgamated with the day-girls back in Middlesex and there was a good deal of friction, so I followed a friend - Elizabeth Joan Hamilton, to Les Avants Any teachers you can remember? Only really Miss Bragington Positions of responsibility held None! Highlight your best and worst memories I loved the skiing, skating on the lawn and the food! Going down to Montreux to shop. The building and the lovely bedrooms. Swotting for my School Cert. by lying in the bath with an eiderdown over me at about 3 am every morning and then proving that I could pass when everyone said I’d fail! Who have you kept in touch with? Anna Lambert (nee Sampson). We have lived abroad most of our lives so keeping in touch was not easy. Life after Châtelard Education after Châtelard State Registered Nurse from the Middlesex Hospital in London Career Nurse, wife of a Diplomat, mother to 4 children Home Life Various committee’s, Volunteer driver What are you doing now? Keeping in touch with friends, keeping in touch with our 4 children, their husbands and wives, our 9 grandchildren, one great grand-child with another 2 due this coming September. Member of 2 NADFAS groups and going to Art galleries.

Bridget Hackett Name Now Bridget Hope Date of Birth 27 April 1935 Date at School 1947 to 1949 LIfe at Chatelard Where was the school located? Les Avants Why were you sent to Chatelard? My parents were abroad – Army. Any teachers you can remember? - Positions of responsibility held. -. Highlight your best and worst memories Winter sports M. Parisod. Who have you kept in touch with? Pat Schmieglow, Mary Young Life after Chatelard Education after Chatelard Malvern Girls College. Edinburgh University. Career - Home Life. Married 1961. Husband in the Army, now retired. 2 sons. What are you doing now? Sorting Archive material for King’s College London. Military Archive of our father’s estate: after a distinguished military career. He became Principal of King’s College.

Clare Hambro Name Now Clare Hambro Date of Birth 4 June 1957 Dates at School 1973 to 1974 Life at Châtelard Where was the school located? Les Avants Why were you sent to Châtelard? I went to do A levels, my parents sent me to expand my horizons! Any teachers you can remember? Miss Durent Positions of responsibility held None Highlight your best and worst memories None Who have you kept in touch with? Claudia Newall, Debbie Samson, Jessica Bottomley, Stephanie Dunning, Theresa Wallis Life after Châtelard Education after Châtelard None Career Corporate Finance banker for 10 years with Hambros Bank until 1989, including 3 years in Sydney Australia. Assistant Sec at Takeover Panel 1989 -1991. Home Life Married to Eivind Rabben, (Norwegian national) with whom I have 2 sons aged 20 and 19 What are you doing now? Chairman, Cities of London & Westminster Conservative Association Director, EC Hambro Rabben & Partners Based in Central London, but spend substantial time in Gloucestershire and Norway

Sarah Fraser-Thomson Name Now Sarah Barnes Date of Birth 12 March 1950 Dates at School 1962 to 1966 Life at Châtelard Where was the school located? Les Avants Why were you sent to Châtelard? For a finishing school type education Any teachers you can remember? Miss Sewell, Signorina Angellini, Miss Ashley, Miss Blacklock, Phillipe Favre (Ski instructor) Miss Urquhart (matron of Chamby House) Positions of responsibility held Highlight your best and worst memories Best: The friendships made. Listening to the radio after lights out. Skiing. The Italian Class trip to Florence. The amazing lightening storms at night. The end of term feeling! Worst: The fire alarm going off in the middle of the night and the drill that went with it. The food – it was dreadful. Latin lessons. The Spartan facilities and lack of any creature comforts! Who have you kept in touch with? Patty Grant-Norton now Brennen Life after Châtelard Education after Châtelard 2 years in the 6th form at Hautlieu School in Jersey, Channel Islands Career Catering Bursar for 31 years at Independent boarding/day schools Home Life Married with 2 sons and 6 grandchildren What are you doing now? Retired

Vera Furshova

Name Now Vera Ann Peters Date of Birth 20 May 1932 Dates at School 1947 to 1948 Life at Châtelard Where was the school located? Les Avants Why were you sent to Châtelard? To learn English, as I was attending the English Gymnasium in Prague and better knowledge of English would have been beneficial. Any teachers you can remember? Not really Positions of responsibility held None Highlight your best and worst memories Who have you kept in touch with? With the exception of Doon Plunkett in Ireland in 1949 I have not been in touch with anybody apart from Esme recently. Life after Châtelard Education after Châtelard Gregg Secretarial college, Dublin in 1949. RADA 1950 to 1952. Career Worked in theatre until 1960 until married and was quite successful before and after husband died – see Vera Fusek on internet. Gave up acting in 1982 and concentrated on finishing BA and BSc with OU. Married again and went to live in Alaska where husband is professor of Philosophy at UAF. Home Life Now retired and live in Alaska. My son lives and works in UK as a poet and I spend 3 months a year there. What are you doing now? Gathering mushrooms and caring for a lovely house and garden in the summer and dogs. Otherwise trying to continue living with serenity and contentment into what looks like a protracted old age.

Terry Furst Name Now Terry Furst Date of Birth 10 November 1955 Dates at School 1968 to 1970 Life at Châtelard Where was the school located? Les Avants Why were you sent to Châtelard? My parents lived in West Africa and wanted us to have an education in English. Any teachers you can remember? Miss Ashley (You may have a black mark!), Miss Potts? (liked my father!), Miss Fearon (Geet off that balcony!!!), Science teacher (I must never, never, never, under any circumstances whatsoever, talk after lights out—500 times!) Positions of responsibility held I was Rounders captain! Highlight your best and worst memories Midnight snacks with Sylvia Pritchard, skiing, ski instructors! Ice skating great fun with friends/roommates, playing one of the boys in Oliver, many good memories... Food and being forced to eat it! Who have you kept in touch with? Somewhat with Amal Dakhil Still would love to find Sylvia Pritchard. Life after Châtelard Education after Châtelard Returned to US for 2 years, then 2 years in boarding school in New Delhi, then back to US. University in Washington, D.C. Masters in Social Work in D.C. Career Medical Social Worker—Hospice, hospital, palliative care Home Life Married 30 years to Bob Nichols, 1 daughter age 27, 1 son age 24. Live in Olympia, Washington, USA What are you doing now? Hospital and outpatient cancer clinic palliative care social worker, plan to stop working in about 3 years to travel and enjoy having no responsibility! Trying to travel as much as possible before retirement also.

Ann Gorge Name Now Antoinette Jackson Date of Birth 19 September 1950 Dates at School 1963 to 1967 Life at Châtelard Where was the school located? Les Avants Why were you sent to Châtelard? Being Swiss but having been educated until then at English schools in various countries, my parents decided to send me to an English boarding school in Switzerland when they were posted to the Belgian Congo. Any teachers you can remember? M Parisod, Miss Sewell, Mlle Zoss, Miss Hodgson, Val Hume, Mme Vicario Positions of responsibility held House and School Prefect Highlight your best and worst memories Skiing and trips away with the ski team must rate as among the best memories. I have probably erased the worst memories from my mind as none come to mind! Who have you kept in touch with? Patti Grant Norton and Linda Khalastchi; Val Hume Life after Châtelard Education after Châtelard Edinburgh University, Lausanne University (BSc in Psychology and Social Sciences) followed by MSc in Social Administration and Social Work at LSE London. Career Social Worker (ICAN, and NSPCC but eventually specialised in working with the terminally ill and their families in general hospitals and hospices) Home Life Married to Keith and living in Goring-on-Thames for past 20 years after living in Malaysia and Argentina. Two daughters and a son, all qualified doctors, the eldest a GP in the Home Counties and the two others hospital based in Scotland. One grandchild. What are you doing now? Justice of the Peace (Berkshire) since 1993. Church bellringer. Bridge. Very hands-on grandmother. Two large dogs. Gardening. Regular trips abroad, primarily to Switzerland where we have a chalet in the Valais mountains.

Elizabeth Grant

Name Now Elizabeth Jubb Date of Birth 11 September 1950 Dates at School 1968 to 1969 Life at Châtelard Where was the school located? Les Avants Why were you sent to Châtelard? My parents had a row with the headmistress of my school in the UK as a result of which I left! Any teachers you can remember? Mlle Zoss, Madame Matatier (can’t remember spelling), Miss Orme Positions of responsibility held Head Girl Highlight your best and worst memories Memorable but not necessarily the best or worst: working on my balcony with a bottle of sherry to hand listening to Joan Sutherland singing from her chalet up the hill. An earth tremor whereby my bag shot across the room hitting the opposite wall and waking me up. Having an English lesson from Miss Orme and learning the next day she had given birth! Who have you kept in touch with? No-one, although I did see Roz Savill (now a Dame) a few years ago. Life after Châtelard Education after Châtelard Cordon Bleu Cookery School; Mrs Hoster’s Secretarial College Career PA Foreign Office, Marks and Spencer (PA to Chairman), Reckitt and Colman, Oxford University Home Life Married aged 40 after a fantastic career. Moved from Surbiton to Buckinghamshire and about to move to Dorset (hopefully!) What are you doing now? Retired but actively involved in music, photography, walking and voluntary work.

Patty Grant-Norton Name Now Patty Brennen Date of Birth 21 February 1950 Dates at School 1961 to 1966 Life at Châtelard Where was the school located? Les Avants Why were you sent to Châtelard? I don’t really know! My parents had friends whose daughter, Penny Lintine went to the School. Any teachers you can remember? Miss Sewell, M Parisod, Miss Orme, Miss Ashley, Miss Hume, Miss Weir, Miss Hall, Miss Gutsull, Mrs Yates, Miss Urquhart, Mrs Hodgson, Miss Picton, Dr Hertzog Positions of responsibility held House Prefect Highlight your best and worst memories Best - The sports all year round, especially the Saturday skiing expeditions Worst - Fainting on the railway line at Vevey Station after going to the circus and hitting my head on the rail. I remember coming round and being pulled up by my arms. I believe the Station Master was blowing his whistle and there was a lot of commotion. Not long after an express train came through! I was taken back to school and spent a week, I think, in a darkened room in the San cared for by Miss Weir with Dr Hertzog visiting daily to check I was OK. It was my first term and very frightening. Who have you kept in touch with? Sarah Fraser Thompson, Flora Duff Torrance, Francesca Peel, Vivien Askin, Lindsay Johnson, Linda Kalastchi, Paula Smid, Amanda Murphy, Antoinette Gorge, Georgina Williams, Jane MacDougall, Jenny Pentecost, June Whittall, Caroline Wood Life after Châtelard Education after Châtelard Domestic Science course Lucie Claytons Secretarial and Modelling course. Career PA Secretary mostly in Public Schools Home Life Married, 2 sons and 3 grandchildren What are you doing now? Retired, living in Poole, Dorset and travelling as much as possible

Esme Gregory Name Now Esme Watson Date of Birth 8 March 1931 Dates at School 1947 to 1948 Life at Châtelard Where was the school located? Les Avants Why were you sent to Châtelard? To learn French. Did not happen! Any teachers you can remember? Only Monsieur Parisod the skiing instructor Positions of responsibility held None Highlight your best and worst memories Playing tennis, skiing and learning lacrosse, going for walks, eating peaches. Seeing snow flakes fall for the first time, enjoying the fun and laughter. Who have you kept in touch with? Occasionally Anne Broadbent, since the announcement of 2012 reunion, have met Susanne Twiston Davies, Valerie Seccombe, spoken to Sally Harper and Vera Fusek. Life after Châtelard. Went to another finishing school in Lausanne to learn French, success! Education after Châtelard Nil Career Nil Home Life Married for 55 years, have a son and two grandchildren What are you doing now? Trying to overcome the death of my husband last year, meeting friends, Painting, and gardening

Natalie Greenly Name Now Natalie Greenly Date of Birth 21 August 1960 Dates at School 1975 Life at Châtelard Where was the school located? Les Avants Why were you sent to Châtelard? I was living in Geneva and keen to go to boarding school. My parents wanted me to be educated in English. Chatelard seemed the friendliest of the schools we looked at Any teachers you can remember? Ros Refoy, Gillian Webb, Anne Durent Positions of responsibility held None Highlight your best and worst memories Best memories: picking narcisses to send home, Saturday excursions, getting my own room in the 5th form (just weeks before the school closed, very disappointing) Who have you kept in touch with? Lost touch until recently with everyone but connected on Facebook with Kiendl Dauphinot, Linh Ong, Eugenie Knight Life after Châtelard Education after Châtelard Uppingham School BA (Hons) Oxford University M.App.Ling. Macquarie University Career 8 years in Marketing with ICI. ESOl tutor, teacher trainer and materials developer since 1993. Home Life Married for 20 years, with two daughters, 16 and 9 What are you doing now? Living in New Zealand, enjoying the lifestyle and wild places.

Julia Groves Name Now Julia Walker Date of Birth 10 July 1960 Dates at School 1968 to 1974 Life at Châtelard Where was the school located? Les Avants Why were you sent to Châtelard? My parents lived in South Africa, grandparents in France and Italy. Any teachers you can remember? Miss Ashley, Miss Blacklock, Mrs Vicario, Miss Durent, Miss Refoy, Miss Swanson, Monsieur Parisod, Phillipe, Positions of responsibility held None Highlight your best and worst memories Best: the friendships, skiing trips, sending narcisses back in boxes, movies in the theatre on Sundays, Skiing on Wednesday afternoons. Worst: None really! that I can remember. Who have you kept in touch with? Eugenie Knight- Carol Bennett Life after Châtelard Education after Châtelard Went to St Georges Clarens to complete my O levels (1975)- UK for A levels (1977) Sotheby’s Fine Art Diploma, London College of Printing – Journalism course. Cordon Bleu School of Cookery, SATI – member of South African Translators Institute. Career Publishing- Conde Nast Editorial Assistant + Translator. Working knowledge of Italian, French and Spanish. Home Life Married with three children, boy, girl, boy. Living in South Africa at the moment. What are you doing now? Foreign Language teacher. Working with ENZA –outreach program in local community SA.

Maisie Guakil Name now Meyzi Barin Date of birth 17 May 1943 Dates at school 1954 or 1955 to 1960 or 1961 Life at Chatelard Good Where was the school located? Les Avants Why were you sent to Chatelard? Because it was an English boarding school closer to Home (Milan, Italy) than the UK Any teacher you can remember? Miss Gottstein, Miss Bradley, Miss Stevenson, Mlle Zoss, Miss Fearon. Position of responsibility Prefect Highlight your best and worst memories Best - Ice ream on Sunday and my friends. Worst – Miss Blacklock and gym Who have you kept in touch with Gigliola Zecchi, Dani Drikos, Marina Germi Life after Chatelard Went to University then moved to Turkey where I stil live Education after Chatelard Bocconi University and Interpreter school in Milan Career Worked in the cinema, then as a simultaneous interpreter And later on created my own Travel Agency which I managed during 20 years Home life Divorced; had 2 children a girl now 35 and a boy now 33 I also have a granddaughter of nearly four What are you doing now? Retired. Do some travel consultancy and take care of my Granddaughter.

Marietta "Bee" Guidon Name Now Marietta "Bee" Grundlehner Date of Birth 1 January 1943 Dates at School 1955 to 1961 Life at Châtelard Where was the school located? Les Avants Why were you sent to Châtelard? My father was Swiss Any teachers you can remember? Rufenard. Zoss, Evans, Stevensen, Gotti, Moran Positions of responsibility held I was co-Head Girl Highlight your best and worst memories I liked Chatelard Who have you kept in touch with? I have recently met Anna Langdon-Davis, Christiana Hazekievitch (?spelling),Gay Bickerton, Marga Collonetti ,Caroline Stuart, Lynda Marcum Penny Taylor Life after Châtelard Education after Châtelard I went to medical school Career Nephologist Home Life Husband and 2 grown children What are you doing now? Retired, travel, returned to university to study (a little) for fun

Heidemarie Günther Name Now Heidemarie Günther (married Prinzessin zu Schaumbug-Lippe – after being divorced 1973 again taken my maiden name> Günther) Date of Birth 31 August 1945 Dates at School 1959 to 1961 Life at Châtelard Where was the school located? Les Avants Why were you sent to Châtelard? Education and learn English Any teachers you can remember? Headmistress Blacklock, mdme Gottstein, Mistress Walshe, J Neeley, Philllps , Zoss, Stephenson, Howatson, Morgan, Smith, Gutsell, Sewell, Owen, Yates, Tucker, Tod, Turner, Erskine,, Cordess Positions of responsibility held None Highlight your best and worst memories Friendship, punishment Who have you kept in touch with? After a long time, about 4 years ago found again and renewed my friendship to Sonia Cholakian Life after Châtelard Education after Châtelard Started working as secretary in our own car-distribution and was at last in the management until my retirement in 2002 Career Secretary to management Home Life 2 children, 3 grandchildren, What are you doing now? Enjoying retirement, taking care for my family and living places.

Isabelle Hamilton Name Now Marilyse de Boissezon Date of Birth 17 December 1939 Dates at School 1952 to 1956 Life at Châtelard Absolutely spectacular setting, great food, wonderful outdoor activities.... Where was the school located? Les Avants Why were you sent to Châtelard? Most of the girls living in Singapore and Malaya (British Colonies) were sent to Chatelard.....maybe because it was possible to stay during the holidays. We only went home once a year because of the high cost of the air fare. Any teachers you can remember? Many teachers come to mind...... Positions of responsibility held None Highlight your best and worst memories Best....beautiful setting..... Who have you kept in touch with? Diana Feeney (cousin), Jane Burton, Nicky Hayden Lane, Nancy Rodosley. Life after Châtelard Education after Châtelard Domestic Science studies. Secretarial studies. University of Natal, South Africa - B.A. in English Literature /Speech and Drama. Teaching Inst. of the Upper Valley in Vermont U.S.A.. Career Secretarial work. Public Relations work. Implementing creative pre-school study programmes in Coloured Township in Grahamstown in South Africa. Working in pre-school positions in U.S.A. Own business as private Nanny for three families in U.S.A. Retired. Home Life Married twice, dirvorced twice, no children. Volunteer work with children in hospitals. Volunteer work at animal shelters. Volunteer work in local cultural activities. Vegan since 1992. Life shared with many beloved dogs and cats. What are you doing now? Retired, working Part/Time, supporting various charities, pursuing various interests.....

Jane Harrison Name Now Jane Salt Date of Birth 21 September 1954 Dates at School 1963 to 1971 Life at Chatelard Where was the school located? Les Avants Why were you sent to Châtelard? I asked my father and he said “ To learn to speak French and to ski!! “ Any teachers you can remember? M. Parisod. Refoy, Evans, Vicario, Durant, Webb, Blatter, Gerrard, Selbie, Swanston, Taylerson, Hodgson Positions of responsibility held Aberdovey House Prefect, Captain of Netball and Rounders. Highlight your best and worst memories Best: All sport, ski team meant you missed some school! Swiss Gold medal and picked for Junior British Championship. Meeting Noel Coward, David Niven and Charlie Chaplin. Worst: Breaking leg skiing aged 10. Pneumonia and in the San for ages! Who have you kept in touch with? Priscilla Lancaster. Maria Abercrombie, Mary Jane Siebens and for a while Jennifer Pritchard and Corinna Meggit. Life after Châtelard Education after Châtelard Winkfield Cordon Bleu School, Directors lunches. Moved from Cheshire to London aged 18 Career None to speak of!! Home Life Married Nigel on my 20th Birthday. Married for 38 years. Two boys Tom, aged 34 and Edward aged 23. Two Grandchildren Jack aged 4 and Poppy aged 18 months. What are you doing now? 5 years ago bought a place in the mountains in Valais, close to Italy and France. This was a direct result of my 8 years at Chatelard and love of the mountains. Still ski and play tennis. Always had a love of politics and been involved over many years. Been fortunate to have done a lot of travelling.

 

Lucy Hailey Name Now Lucy Barnes Date of Birth 21 May 1958 Dates at School 1974 to 1975 Life at Châtelard Where was the school located? Les Avants Why were you sent to Châtelard? For 6th form studies to do French, Spanish, Geography A levels Any teachers you can remember? Miss Refoy, Miss Webb, Madame Lehmann, Miss Gilmour, Miss Evans, Madame Blatter, Madame Zoss, Miss Sanders Positions of responsibility held None that I can remember!! Highlight your best and worst memories All good memories but not a lot from the academic side – the changing seasons, amazing views, the first snowfall in Les Avants, skiing every afternoon in Winter (Olivier the skiing instructor that everyone fancied), the amazing teas of French bread, butter and jam! I was so thin then I could make my way through a whole baguette. Two hours later it was supper!! Making a Perrier water last all afternoon at the Troika so that we could smoke our cigarettes, plays with Miss Refoy, and the White Horse in Montreux. Making excuses for being late back from Montreux because I had lost my contact lenses!! Sharing a room with Mahnaz Ispahani and Sandy McMorran. We hated the mornings and used to hide under the covers until the last bell, the fire alarm going off! Learning to ice skate in Winter and playing rounders in the Summer. The sunrise walk in Summer 1975 – amazing experience that I will never forget. Also the Rolling Stones recording the Black and Blue album in the studios at Montreux and meeting Mick and friends in the White Horse!! Who have you kept in touch with? Over the years Denise Lea, Jane Sunderland, Alexandra McMorran, Mahnaz Ispahani, Jessica Lee. Have lost contact with Charlotte Busi, Sarah Streeter, Debbie Samson, Eve Read, Pepe and many more that I hope to catch up with soon! Life after Châtelard Education after Châtelard Shelford Lodge, Cambridge to complete my A levels Jan 76 to July 76 Institut Francais du Royaume Uni, South Kensington for 1 year to study Bi lingual Secretarial Studies and Business Skills Career Secretarial at first at Courtaulds in Hanover Square, then progressed to a graduate trainee programme for Courtaulds and ended up in Fashion Forecasting/Product Development/Trend and Lifestyle Consultancy for Debenhams, Conran, BHS, Virgin Retail, PQ Associates, Holbrook & Hailey (own company 1989 - 2003) Holbrook Studio (2006 to present) Home Life Married with two daughters Alice and Madeleine What are you doing now? Working for Holbrook Studio – sole UK agents to Peclers Paris trend and lifestyle consultancy as Head of Sales and Marketing for the UK and Ireland. Looking forward to retiring one day but love my job and it keeps me up to speed with the fashion world!

Bridget Hallett

Name Now Bridget Reynolds Date of Birth 3 July 1947 Dates at School 1964 to 1965 Life at Châtelard Where was the school located? Les Avants Why were you sent to Châtelard? My parents thought it would be a good opportunity to study A Levels in an environment where I could improve my French and skiing skills. Any teachers you can remember? Miss D. Cunningham (PE), Mme. Mattatia. Miss J Blacklock Miss J Orme (English), Mlle Zoss, Miss M Kilty (Spanish), Miss D Condon (Spanish) M. Parisod (skiing) Positions of responsibility held Librarian and later, prefect in Autumn term of 1965 Highlight your best and worst memories Highlights:The new friends I made. The experience of being in such a beautiful part of Switzerland – too many icecreams at the Helioda! Skiing trips, the icerink, my Spanish teachers Worst:We were called students but I felt restricted by too many rules. Putting on weight! Who have you kept in touch with? Tina Thomas, Margrit Krenz, Sue Barford, Sally Blakeney, Suzanne Followes and Liz Shuttleworth Life after Châtelard Education after Châtelard Tri-lingual secretarial course and a few years later trained as a speech and language therapist Career Travelled and worked in offices in London, Madrid and Adelaide. Speech and Language therapist in Hampshire. Home Life Widowed, with one daughter and one grandson who live abroad What are you doing now? Living in Spain, retired but occasional locum speech and language therapy in Gibraltar

Sally Harper

Name Now Sally Harker Date of Birth 13 December 1930 Date at School 1940 to 1948 LIfe at Chatelard Where was the school located? Aberdovey and Les Avants Why were you sent to Chatelard? To get away from the Bombing Any teachers you can remember? Miss Stevenson, Miss McLaren, Miie Gottstein, Miss Hibbert. Positions of responsibility held. Prefect Highlight your best and worst memories. Who have you kept in touch with? Valerie Payre, Sonia Leask, Jane Owen(dec’d), Gilli Betts(dec’d) Life after Chatelard Education after Chatelard Attended a secretarial college. Career Very minimal because I got married in 1951. Home Life. I am now a widow. What are you doing now? Not much. I keep in close touch with my 3 children, all of whom are married and live in the UK. I have 7 grandchildren and 5 great grandchildren.

Nicolette Hayden-Lane Name Now Nicolette Mustafa Date of Birth 23 November 1939 Dates at School 1952 to 1956 Life at Châtelard Where was the school located? Les Avants Why were you sent to Châtelard? Recommended school for girls. Any teachers you can remember? The Misses Braginton, Stevenson, Fairlie, Collie, Gottstein, Lucarelli, Heath, Zoss, Bradley, Martin, Pennington, M. Parisod. Positions of responsibility held Form Captain Sub Editor School Magazine ‘En Avant’ Highlight your best and worst memories Best memories: the friends I made Worst memory: Dislocating my knee when skiing Who have you kept in touch with? Isabel Hamilton, Georgette Goldman, Lucinda MacKay, Camilla Chance, Tessa Spencer Pryse, Di Feeney Life after Châtelard Education after Châtelard Institut Français à Londres Career Lived and worked in UK, France, Switzerland, Hong Kong, Turkey, Cyprus, Spain and Costa Rica in various organisations in administrative capacity, as an Associate Director and ending as Vice President Corporate Communication with a Middle East corporation. After retiring, established and ran a private zoo in Spain, bred parrots for the pet trade, and for a short while ran an employment agency. Home Life Widowed, no children. What are you doing now? Live in France. Obtained qualifications in proof-reading, copy-editing and TEFL and give occasional English lessons. Look after my remaining animals and birds.

Wendy Heatley Name Now Wendy Clinch Date of Birth 10 April 1934 Dates at School 1944 to 1950 Life at Châtelard Where was the school located? Aberdovey and Les Avants Why were you sent to Châtelard? Father in RAMC (Royal Army Medical Corps) – no permanent residence during the war. We lived with various relatives living in Ireland and England during the holidays. War over we stayed on. My parents thought that we would learn to speak French! Any teachers you can remember? ‘Brag’ of the tip-tap shiny shoes. Was it true that her feet had been squashed in an accident?! Pretty ineffective although I dreaded being sent to her after a sin had been committed. ‘Stevie’ - fierce and frightening but great maths teacher. Miss Watts – History - unkindly reduced to tears when we fell about laughing when she said her ambition was ‘to be married’. ‘Clarry’ of the shaking hands – (Art) – called us ‘Little boilings’. Miss Hibberd, matron, and her awful corgi. Miss Micklewright – encouraged my interest in Biology. Explained the facts of life by means of crickets kept in the lab. I wrote to tell my mother, adding that Val, my sister, had not been told the secret yet! There was an unfortunate Clergyman who taught Scripture –we bullied him unmercifully –piling books on desks and pushing them off at a signal – barricading the way to the front of the room so that he was unable to get to his desk. Positions of responsibility held None! Highlight your best and worst memories No particular best generally enjoyed school once there though there were always tears before we left home. Even the dog was miserable when the trunks came out – he used to climb into them once they were open and ready to pack! – loved the winter sports and many trips at the weekends. Remember happy time when Val, my sister and I, were in quarantine in the ‘San’ for a couple of weeks one winter – did a bit of schoolwork, and were, surprisingly, spoilt by Miss Hibbard. I think Val was a bit of a pet as she was the youngest in the School. Had really good friends. Unfortunately we arrived home one Easter with nits and skin problems - horrified parents sent us to new schools and we never had a chance to say goodbye. Worst was some of the unkindness – On one occasion one of my Class was called out in front of the whole school when weekly grades were announced. It was to point out that she was the first girl to have and average E. Awful food! Horrendous train journeys to and from School. Who have you have kept in touch with? Jennifer Chandler spent some holidays with me as her widowed mother lived in Kenya. About 15 years ago I had no reply to letters. I still feel sad as I have been unable to find out about her. Life after Châtelard Education after Châtelard Trinity College Dublin – B.A., M.Sc. in Natural Science Career Worked at the Foot and Mouth Disease Research Institute in Pirbright, Surrey. Home Life Married James Clinch in 1960, a Gynaecologist was in RAMC, stationed in Aldershot then Singapore. After Army service from 1964 lived Cardiff, Aberdeen and Galway before settling in Dublin in 1970. Four children. What are you doing now? Retired couple. Play golf, hobby genealogy.

Priscilla Hedley Name Now Priscilla Coley Date of Birth 10 July 1937 Dates at School 1953 to 1954 Life at Châtelard Where was the school located? Les Avants Why were you sent to Châtelard? I had been at St George’s Ascot, since I was 9, and was given the opportunity to take my A Levels and advanced Speech & Drama examinations in fresh surroundings. Any teachers you can remember? Miss Braginton and her Vice-Head, who was German and played the piano. Mlle who did the Monday evening lectures entirely in French, she took embouchement very seriously. Drama & English Teachers were good – sorry the names have quite gone. Positions of responsibility held None Highlight your best and worst memories Best: Sixth form and a taste of freedom, plus the fun of learning to ski, School trip to Venice. Going into Montreux for concerts and theatre. Having to speak French, or at least Franglais, at breakfast was quite demanding. Worst: Smell of garlic surrounding our older ski teacher. Two years’ work effectively in one as Exam board was different. Who have you kept in touch with? Jenny Weeks. Met Louise Durdey until after we moved to Woburn Sands. Flavia Pelham Burn; sadly died recently. Lost touch with Jane Rush. Life after Châtelard, Education after Châtelard A Levels - Bristol Coll. of Technology Dept. of Women’s Subjects (with Jenny Weeks), Secretarial skills, HNC Commerce - Bristol Aeroplane Co. School Career Montreal - Variously Secretarial; diagnosed with a TB spine in 1958 on return to UK and whilst working with BBC in London. After 10 months in hospital plus convalescence, worked for BBC in Bristol in the early 60’s. Joined Regional Opt Out Unit, headed by Charlie Boorman’s Dad, John. Fairly full on, but great fun, gallery work in Studio to going out filming. BBC TV PA; whilst the children were small headed up a (profitable and semi-professional) sewing group: later secretarial again, and then some marketing. Home Life Married Derek in 1966, and our twins, Jon & Kate, were born when we lived in Matlock Bath in 1968. Moved to Abbots Bromley and then in 1976 to Woburn Sands. Gardening, keep up my skills doing the job of PCC Secretary, Church Warden for 2 terms, and fund raising for St James’ Church and disabled children’s charity SCOPE. Have terrific fun taking Morgan 4/4 2 seater to Le Mans for the 24 hour race. Continue to enjoy happy visits to Morris and Jenny le Fleming’s holiday home on the Cher with my sister. What are you doing now? Widowed two years ago. Son, Jon was very ill last year, thankfully now recovering. Sorting through 20 + years of acquisitions. Thinking of moving nearer the M4/M5 corridor to be near my family in South Glos. to enjoy my 5 lovely grandchildren, before I get too ancient to move anywhere!

Didi Herbert

Name Now Didi Curry Date of Birth 17 May 1943 Dates at School 1953 to 1961 Life at Châtelard Where was the school located? Les Avants Why were you sent to Châtelard? Since my parents lived in Northern Italy it was closer and much easier to get to rather than going backwards and forwards to UK. Any teachers you can remember? Miss Brown – English, Miss Stephenson – Maths, Miss Tucker – Biology, Miss Kenningham – History, Mlle Google – Kitchen, Mario – Kitchen Chef, Miss Ferron - Matron, M Parisod – ski instructor, Mlle Gotstein – Italian also Vice Head. Positions of responsibility held Prefect in 6th Form Highlight your best and worst memories Best: skiing and skating so Spring term would never come fast enough, end of term dinners (great food and music) theatre events, Queen’s Coronation 1953; Princess Margaret’s wedding; never ending beauty from season to season, walks and excursions. Worst: loneliness when dealing with conflict and how this would follow to the bedroom, meal times, classroom and sports field. However it was good preparation to be resilient and have courage in adult life. Who have you kept in touch with? Kept in touch with about a dozen classmates over the years. Life after Châtelard Education after Châtelard Secretarial School, Accounting at local college in Vancouver Island. I year Hotel Management when 50! Career Secretary Hotel Management, Self employed bookkeeper, Organic vegetable farming Home Life Lived in Kenya when married and had 2 daughters. Ran and then sold a small hotel at the base of Mt Kenya where people came to climb the peaks or ramble up to 13,000ft. Moved to Canada since May 1977 and became organic veggie farmers in 1994. What are you doing now? Retired from farming and trying to sell farm as planning a move closer to our daughters in Toronto. Now a Vipassana Meditator so need to be near the Centre to volunteer time to help run courses.

Deirdre Hort Name Now Deirdre Peartree Date of Birth 28 December 1931 Dates at School 1946 to 1948 Life at Châtelard Where was the school located? Aberdovey then Les Avants Why were you sent to Châtelard? When living in West Wales for a short time during the war got to know the Fisher family and both sisters were at Chatelard in Aberdovey and I wanted to keep friends with them. Any teachers you can remember? Miss Hamilton (Music) Miss Sparlinger (spelling?) (Domestic Science) Positions of responsibility held Nil of note Highlight your best and worst memories School was enjoyable, particularly when the school returned to Switzerland after the war with rationing still in the UK. However, the best and worst memories were combined when we (the 6th formers) were asked to spend a day with war time casualties mainly suffering from horrific burns who were recuperating in Switzerland following treatment at East Grinstead Hospital. Who have you kept in touch with? Elizabeth Fisher, Susan Bristed, Carol and Barbara Atkinson Life after Châtelard. Education after Châtelard Secretarial College in Cardiff Career First worked in the City of London followed by 2 years working and travelling in Canada. Took temporary job as Medical Secretary in local hospital after getting married and stayed for 35 years working in the A&E Department! Home Life Married in 1964 (no children). Spent considerable time in India due to my husband’s work. Voluntary work in local Elderly Care Home. What are you doing now? My husband died 2 years ago. Hobbies include social bridge and golf. Past Captain of the Ladies Section of the Golf Club and now President of the section. Very fit and fortunately have many friends (mainly widows) and lead a busy social life.

Sheila Hort Name Now Sheila Huntley Date of Birth 14 February 1927 Dates at School 1943 to 1944 Life at Châtelard Where was the school located? Aberdovey Why were you sent to Châtelard? Lived in Wales and knew all about the school. After Matric went there for four terms to ‘finish’. Any teachers you can remember? In particular the French teacher Mademoiselle Marot (not sure of spelling) Misses Stevenson, Hamilton, Carr or Kerr. Positions of responsibility held Head Girl for last term Highlight your best and worst memories Best: Games playing in hockey, netball and tennis 1st teams. Worst: reporting mice in the bedroom cupboard Who have you kept in touch with? Barbara and Carol Atkinson – also Elizabeth Fisher via my sister Deirdre Peartree. Life after Châtelard. Education after Châtelard Triangle Secretarial College, London Career Secretary with Lloyds Insurance Brokers until I married and had children. When children away at school became a medical secretary to Consultant Neurologist at Lister Hospital in Stevenage. Home Life Married with two sons (both in their 40s and no longer at home) What are you doing now? My husband and I trying to cope with the garden! I am struggling around the golf course! Just getting old!

Charlotte Houghton Name Now Charlotte Houghton (married name Bates but only occasionally use this) Date of Birth 10 November 1954 Dates at School 1971 to 1972 Life at Châtelard 1 year in VI General. Where was the school located? Les Avants Why were you sent to Châtelard? I had become bored and restless with my secondary school and needed to have a new challenge for the 6th form. I'd really enjoyed French since an early age so the idea of a year in Switzerland seemed to offer the right solution. Any teachers you can remember? Mme Blatter, Mlle Zoss, Mme Mattatia, Miss Swanson, Miss Hodgson, Mme Vicario, Mon Parisod, Miss Evans. Positions of responsibility held Can't remember I'm afraid! Highlight your best and worst memories Best - skiing and the ski instructors (!); Helioda ice-creams and assorted chocolate - squidges and frozen mars bars from the vending machine at the station in winter; making some lifelong friends Worst - the taste of the milk when the narcissus fields were in full bloom! Who have you kept in touch with? Millie Clarke, Sarah Oliver, Priscilla Lancaster but looking forward to re-connecting with others who are on the list as attending the reunion. Have re-connected relatively recently via email with Caron Myers, Suzanne Muir, Sue Edgehill, Mary-Jane Siebens. Life after Châtelard. A levels followed by teacher training at the Froebel Institute but only taught for very short time. For over 20 years worked as an HR Manager in one of the large international law firms in the City of London (Slaughter and May), heading up the Graduate Recruitment and Development. I hung up my boots in March 2009. Education after Châtelard Cambridge Tech for A levels, University of Roehampton (Froebel Institute). Career HR Manager (although left in March 2009) Home Life Married but no children. Split between Chiswick in London and Lytham in Lancashire where my husband works/runs his small business. What are you doing now? A lady of leisure

Janet Hubbard Name Now Janet Warren Date of Birth 31 December 1951 Dates at School 1962 to 1968 Life at Châtelard Where was the school located? Les Avants Why were you sent to Châtelard? Lived in Milan, Italy and friend (Odette Herbert) was already attending Any teachers you can remember? Miss Marsh, Miss Orme, Miss Howatson, Miss Brindle, Miss Verstage, Miss Hall, M. Parisod, Miss Sewell, Mlle Zoss, Miss Beynon, Mrs. Stephens (matron), Miss Wear (Nurse), Miss Ashley, Miss Urquart (matron), Miss Talbot, Miss Hodgson Positions of responsibility held Prefect Highlight your best and worst memories Best: skiing Worst: fire drill Who have you kept in touch with? Odette Herbert, Mary Jaques, Marcia Shaw, Elizabeth Bless, Taline Ouzounian, Angela Jucker, Susie Whitehead, Sonam Yuthok, Liz Dingley, Angela Wilson Life after Châtelard Education after Châtelard St. Margaret’s Bushey (1 year) St. Godric’s Secretarial College (1 year) Career Secretary Home Life Married with 2 children, and 4 grandchildren What are you doing now? Retired

Victoria Huffard Dauphinot (Tori)

Name Now Victoria Dauphinot Date of Birth 29 June 1957 Dates at School 1969 to 1975 Life at Châtelard Where was the school located? Les Avants Why were you sent to Châtelard? Parents felt that education would be better there than in the Bahamas and wanted us to have an international education Any teachers you can remember? Too many to list Positions of responsibility held Co head girl... captain of most sports teams Highlight your best and worst memories Loved the views from the windows and the great friends I made Who have you kept in touch with? Theresa Wallis ,MC Wuthrich, Mary Ann Cosner Life after Châtelard Education after Châtelard Trinity College, Hartford Connecticut Gemelogical Institute of America Career Macys, Tiffany and Company, Brilliants (my own Jewelry Company) Home Life Married to Ken Hubbard. Two children West (21) and Skye (19) and two step children Paul (35) and Suzanne (33) What are you doing now? Still selling high end Jewelry to private clients

Valerie Heatley

Name Now Valerie Wilson Date of Birth 8 March 1937 Dates at School 1944 to 1950 Life at Chatelard Where was the school located? Aberdovey and Les Avants Why were you sent to Chatelard? To learn French!! Any teachers you can remember? Miss Hibbard - severe matron with nasty corgi that bit ankles Miss McClaran - art teacher with shaky hands who gave us bottles to take back to UK in our trunks. Miss Breeze - large friendly assistant matron/teacher Miss Poole - kind and gentle young form teacher who we loved but, I am still ashamed to say, we bullied.. Miss Braginton, quiet but awe-inspiring with her hand-made, highly polished shoes and green or grey-green suits. Miss Stevenson - Although she did not teach the junior forms, was ever-present and terrified us. Positions of responsibility held None - left Chatelard too young. Highlight your best and worst memories Best - skiing, skating, excellent friends, playing hop scotch, high jumping (dreadful bruises and torn knees when we fell), and racing snails on the balcony. The joy of one cake on Sundays! The beauty of Switzerland and the lovely school building. Worst - lengthy rail journeys across war-torn Europe to get to school. Homesickness. Some bullying teachers. Wearing a single gym tunic for the whole term everyday and for games (tennis, netball and lacrosse)! How cold it was in winter with very little heating none in the bedrooms - and the dreadful chilblains suffered by some people restrictions on taking sterling out of England post War meant very little was available to pay heating bills. We were always hungry. Who have you kept in touch with? Pat. Schmiegelow (now Patti Price) Life after Chatelard Education after Chatelard Returned to school in Ireland Read Natural Sciences at Dublin University (Trinity College) Career Worked in market Research in London for 2 years Taught Geography at Dean Close School, Cheltenham for 17 years. Housemistress and Senior Mistress. Home Life Married Brian Wilson in 1960. One daughter and one son. What are you doing now? Retired. Involved with Church work and local Mother's Union Branch.

 

Hilary Horne Name Now Hilary Mackay Date of Birth 10 April 1958 Dates at School 1970 to 1974 Life at Châtelard Where was the school located? Les Avants Why were you sent to Châtelard? My parents were living in Italy at the time and the school was only 4 hours away by car and I had been in very unhappy in a boarding school in the UK. Any teachers you can remember? Miss Blacklock, M Parisod (Tennis and Skiing), Miss Evans (PE), Miss Durent (CA), Miss Webb (Geography) Miss Hodgson (Biology) Mrs Vicario (English) Miss Ashley, Miss Kitchen Positions of responsibility held None that I can remember! Highlight your best and worst memories Best: Joined summer term of 1970 at the same time as Nicole van Drimmelen and was in Chamby House. It was a fun school and I remember the midnight feasts at the end of term and the staff on the whole turned a blind eye to girls giggling and running up and down the stairs. Picking narcissi and sending them in a box. Cow bells during the summer. Skating on the iced over hockey pitch and learning to ski. Tennis and endless drills of hitting forehand. Excursions at weekends. Visit to Chateau de Chillon. Seeing Charlie Chaplin come to watch Jane skiing. School plays in the theatre and films on a Sunday. Meeting Joan Sutherland whilst on a Sunday walk in Les Avants, Noel Coward in his pink house, bottom shops and top shops. Worst: Caught getting one of the Spanish cleaners from school to buy me some cigs and then sellotaping them to the bottom of the chest of drawers! Who have you kept in touch with? Mylene Michaca, recently met up with Liili Schnitzer then through FB contacted Poci Balladelli, Fatti Vuarnier, Jane Schalch, Rose Anne Hall, Fannette Downie, Aiida Ben Barka, Suzanne Penn. Sadly lost touch with Liz Harrower, Val Milburn, Mibi Obregon, Helen Kozich, Bridget Riley to name a few. Life after Châtelard Education after Châtelard Just finished ‘O’ Levels and my parents moved from Italy to UK. Took opportunity to go to Bolton School and experience the Sixth Form as a daygirl where I completed my ‘A’ Levels. I then read Hispanic Studies at the University of Hull which was a 4 year course including a year abroad teaching in Coimbra, Portugal and Valladolid, Spain. Following my degree I took a 1 year Post Grad teacher training course in Hull. I then went on to do an MBA at Cass Business School. Career My first job was grad trainee at Harrods and then taught Spanish, French and PE for a couple of years. Following my MBA worked in the City of London within the investment Banking industry as a Human Resources specialist. Home Life Married first husband whom I met at University and we had one son who is now 18 and has started at Durham Uni. Sadly that ended in divorce when my son was 6. However, met someone used to work with in banking and we have been happily married now for 8 years. What are you doing now? Living in Southfields, South London and working on a part time basis as an HR Consultant and Career Transition Coach. Play tennis 2 or 3 times a week and walk the dog!

Gillian Housden Name Now Gillian Dew Date of Birth 30 November 1935 Dates at School 1952 to 1953 Life at Chatelard Where was the school located? Les Avants Why were you sent to Chatelard? After schooling in England my parents thought one year in Switzerland would be interesting and fun before nursing Any teachers you can remember? Miss Collie and Miss Bragington of course Positions of responsibility held None Highlight your best and worst memories Best Listening to Queen’s coronation on wireless – during a snowstorm June 1953. Worst: travelling by train from England to Switzerland overnight. Who have you kept in touch with? Friends I have kept in touch with most closely – Gillian Bradley and Anne Helliwell have both died. Have met many girls from Chatelard over the years. My sister Jennifer (Teddy) also there. Life after Chatelard Further education Trained as a nurse at Guy’s Hospital for 4 years. Career Nursing in England and France – eventually sister at Middlesex Hospital. Home Life Married in 1980. What are you doing now? Retired. Love travelling (particularly to Les Avants and surrounding area)    

Jennifer (Teddy) Housden Name Now Jennifer (Teddy) Beach-Thomas Date of Birth 27 January 1937 Dates at School 1952 to 1954 Life at Châtelard Les Avants Why were you sent to Châtelard? To take my ‘O’ and ‘A’ levels and learn French! Any teachers you can remember? Miss Colly, “Gotty” Miss Braginton Miss East Positions of responsibility held Prefect Highlight your best and worst memories Who have you kept in touch with? Marjorie Bower from S Africa Life after Châtelard Education after Châtelard SRN Career Theatre sister Helping my husband with his business (we eventually employed 100 people) making farm equipment and cabs for fork lift trucks Home Life Married 3 children 7 grandchildren What are you doing now? Gardening and looking after grandchildren!

Fiona Hughes Name Now Fiona Hervey Date of Birth 5 June 1944 Dates at School 1956 to 1961 Life at Châtelard Where was the school located? Les Avants Why were you sent to Châtelard? I had been at the Lycee Francais in London for my early schooling and my parents wanted me to keep up my French and join the English curriculum Any teachers you can remember? Miss Stephenson - Maths Positions of responsibility held None Highlight your best and worst memories Worst – Very First Term Best – The Rest Who have you kept in touch with? Polly Anderson (nee Wolford) Imogen Baden-Powell Kay Bamford (nee James) Alison Bell (nee Armitage) Judy Bell ( nee Bickerton) Suzette Burkhard (nee Cambden) Janice Chester (nee Macintyre) Didi Curry (nee Herbert) Diana (Spenders) Fawcus (nee Spencer Philips) Davina Galica Nancy Grant (nee Smith) Thrine Hely Frances (Fanny) Jones (nee Treckman) Juliet Lacy (nee Ackroyd) Patsy Ward (nee Putnam) Carole Perry (nee Hermanson) Toni Potter (nee Treckman) Elizabeth (Binty) Wintgens (nee MacHardy) Meyzi (Maisie) Barin (nee Guakil) Life after Châtelard Education after Châtelard None Career Home Life Married for 43 years 2 daughters and 2 grand daughters What are you doing now? Enjoying being the above