We had some very special guests at this year’s Birthday Reunion on Saturday (15 November) which celebrated the 145th birthday of Wimbledon High.
Guests included many former Junior School staff; Kate Mitchell, former Head of Junior School who left in 2019; Natalie Kelly, former Deputy Head of Junior School; Annie Casey née Lee, former Head of Music in the Juniors; Madeleine Garczynski née Holmes, former Head of Junior Science until 2020; Stephanie Pojak, former Junior teacher until 2010; long-serving Pre- Prep teacher, Margaret Hunt née Poole who left in 1996 and, last but by no means least, Enid Thornton- Smith, Head of Prep from 1960 to 1993.
It was lovely to have current Junior staff Mrs Leaning present to update all on the latest Junior School news and we were all delighted to be able to join in Mrs Thornton – Smith’s 90th birthday with a rousing sing-song and a beautiful cake ( green icing of course) aptly cut my herself and fellow (soon-to-be) nonagenarian Margaret Hunt.
Senior School staff included Sigi Eiberle, Head of German, then Head of Languages until 2014; Monique Smith Nullens, Head of Year / SHINE Co-ordinator and Spanish teacher until 2020 and Norman Yee, Head of Physics until 2014.
As well as many alumnae ‘lifers’ who had come all the way through the school, we were particularly pleased to welcome back former Head Girls from the ‘anniversary’ years – Vathany Chrishan née Vijayaratna (Head Girl Class of 1995), Cecelia John née Hughes (Head Girl Class of 1975) and Elizabeth Hilton née Boyne ( Head Girl Class of 1955) (see below) and also ‘Old Boy’ and Reunion regular, Norman Richardson.
A special thank you to Anthea Fry for her piano accompaniment to the School Song and to our wonderful Year 12 volunteers, in particular Ro, who shared her favourite memories of Junior School and Rania, Hannah and Katherine who looked after our Archive table.
Thank you all for coming and hope to see you next year!
Class of 1995
It was a brilliant turnout from the Class of 1995 and a great opportunity to hear their news.
Head Girls return
It was such a pleasure to see former Head Girl from the Class of 1955 Elizabeth Hilton (née Boyne) – shown here wearing an original school hat and with a photograph of herself presenting flowers in 1955. She came to the reunion with longtime schoolfriend Wendy Hamilton née Davies.
Former Junior School Staff
Junior staff reunited – from l-r Jacqui Thompson, Stephanie Pojak, Annie Casey née Lee, Kate Mitchell, Madeleine Garczynski née Holmes, Natalie Kelly.
View the full photos here:
