2019 - back to Folkestone
Miss Warren came to our reunion at the Clifton hote on 13 Aprill, attended by 31 Old Girls. We focussed our invitations on those living in the south-east of England, but it is such a nice place that we plan to invite everyone next year and book a bigger room, so pencil 25 May into your diary. The tea was scrumptious but too much in spite of doggy-bags!
Geraldine Richmond wrote: "What a wonderful afternoon we all enjoyed yesterday.It was so good to meet up with so many contemporaries and to celebrate yet another year of the Old Girls Society. So interesting to listen to your resume of the early days of the Hasson dynasty. Dudley would certainly be proud of how we have kept his school alive with our annual reunions.Much must be attributed to Maureen O for her unfailing enthusiasm and now through yourself as web mistress. Your combined determination to keep its " lamp for ever burning " is I know very much appreciated by all the Old Girls who attended our tea party.Thank you so much for bringing us all together for another afternoon of reflection and nostalgia.I look forward to next year and many more returns."
Those attending were: Susan Barker, Carola Barrett, Marigold Bassett, Jennifer Bateman, June Bonniface, Jillian, Mary and Muriel Burridge, Delia Collett, Sheena Coombe, Julie Cotton, Parry Ebrahimzadeh, Norma Feldwick, Margaret Harrison, Johanna Lack, Gillian Lucas, Jane Newman, Pat Norris, Maureen O'Sullivan, Rosalind Pembroke, Louise Perse, Shirley Pierson, Zan Port, Geraldine Richmond, Diana Salter, Mary Standeven, Caroline Thomas, Louise Thomas, Pat Underwood, Wendy Woolliams and Miss Elizabeth Warren who taught Form 1 when we are about 7 years old!
2022 Two years of COVID had to be endured before we could meet again, and then it was back to the Clifton Hotel in Folkestone. We had 26 there, including Dudley's son James Ross, who brought some of the albums from our archives in his custody. We were so very sad that our Founder Maureen O'Sullivan was not well enough to attend. We had hoped to welcome Jane Merrow for the first time as our Guest of Honour, and to hear about her wonderful acting career kick-started by Mr Hasson's drama coaching, but she had to cancel a few days previously. We had three Girls from O-level years 1950-53, eleven from 1957-59 and eleven from 1962-65. After the tea-party, Caroline escorted James to Earl's Avenue and Grimston Gardens to see the School's buildings and developed sites for the first time, You can see 'then and now' photos on the History page.
2023
We met again at the Clifton Hotel on Sunday 24 May, with 24 Old Girls and Honorary Old Girl James (Dudley's younger son). To our delight, Maureen was with us and clearly enjoyed herself. Jenny Hanley spoke to us about her acting career, though she was too young to benefit from Mr Hasson's tuition as she was only in the Junior School. Geraldine Richmond brought her electric piano keyboard, which Caroline Thomas played for the singalong of "Always Wear a Smile" from our 1962 pantomime "Puss in Boots". And before we went home, we sang "Lord Dismiss us with Thy Blessing".
Indeed, this was probably the last general reunion Caroline will be organising. However she is happy to help anyone wanting to organise a reunion for their own 'year' by providing contact details off our membership database.
