Area Activities
Invitations
Berkshire, Oxfordshire
Mrs Meg Atkins (Proud, 1955-1960, Roderic House) invites Guild members and their partners to an informal Buffet Lunch at 12.30pm on Sunday 16 November at her home, White House, Heads Lane, Inkpen Common, Hungerford, Berkshire, RG17 9QS. Please telephone 01488 668253 to confirm attendance.
2000s Decade - Reunion in London for 2000-2008 Leavers
Saturday 15 November from 7.30pm at The Boat House, Brewhouse Lane, Putney, London SW15 2JX www.boathouseputney.co.uk
We have reserved the mezzanine level which is above and behind the main bar. It can accommodate 100 people so I look forward to seeing as many people as possible. For further details and to confirm attendance (not compulsory but helpful!) please contact Katie Ewart 07919 404988 or email katejewart@hotmail.com.
London (Postal Area)
An event will be planned later in the year. Details will appear on the Guild Website when confirmed.
Previous Activities:
Berkshire, Oxfordshire - Sunday 6 July 2008
July 6 turned out to be on one of the busiest weekends of the year, and what with Silverstone, Wimbledon men's finals and pouring rain Erica Harman's tea-party for Guild members was not quite as well attended as it might have been. This was rather an advantage as, unable to sit in the garden and admire the flowers, we huddled in the study and watched thrilling Wimbledon on television. Some of the responses, even from people unable to come, put us in touch with old friends and we all made new acquaintances and shared some remarkable reminiscences of College.
Yorkshire - Sunday 6 July 2008
On a rainy Sunday in July, nineteen of us from the York area gathered for a most convivial lunch, hosted with great generosity by Liz and Gerald Middleton. Everyone had such a happy time that we scarcely noticed the weather. It is hoped that the next event will be in the Leeds area, details for which will appear on the website.
(Patricia Gray, 1952-1957)
Gloucestershire - Thursday 26 June 2008
A group of Guild members enjoyed a delicious Strawberry Tea, hosted by Mrs Fionna Cardale (MacCormick, 1971-1978, Cambray) on Thursday 26 June at her home in Shipton Moyne. The afternoon included a visit to the spectacular gardens nearby at Hodges Barn.
Norfolk - Saturday 21 June 2008
A gathering of 26 plus a tiny baby of about seven weeks old - Michael Coates (who was so well behaved, we expect to see him as a regular attender for the next few years!) met for a delicious buffet lunch at Blackberry Hall.
Scotland - Saturday 7 June 2008
This year the Annual Lunch was hosted by Rosemary Jamieson (Nettleship), St. Austin’s and her husband, Ron, at their home in Newton, West Lothian. Everyone remarked on the fact that once again we were able to enj
oy a beautifully sunny, warm day and many chose to eat in the garden. Rosemary welcomed fourteen guests, four of whom were husbands, three having met at the lunch last year. It was a very happy occasion and quite apart from the delicious lunch the garden was much admired while everyone either caught up on news of the past year or reminisced and even made new friends. It was agreed that the donations (£170) should be sent to St. Hilda’s East this year.
We were all most grateful to Rosemary and Ron for their warm welcome and Mrs. Anne Arbuthnott, Terdre, St. Margaret’s, kindly offered her home for a lunch next year in Forfar, Angus, sometime during September 2009 the date to be decided upon later.
(Ann McCarter, (Iestyn Williams 1953-1957) )
Gloucestershire - Thursday 21 February 2008
At CLC in the 1950s you naturally ate what you were told, but in 2008 how can you be sure of creating a tempting lunch for ladies who now have the luxury of choice? The answer is to arrange an event at a tapas bar, where everyone can eat as much as she wants of deliciously varied dishes. A Guild lunch, organised by Adeline Rucklidge, took place in the Wesley House Tapas Bar in Winchcombe on February 21, which attracted 28 Guild members from the Gloucestershire and Worcestershire areas.
The 1950s were an austere period in CLC history and fifty years later it was reassuring to see so many guests buying a large glass of wine to begin the proceedings! Some Guild members were there to meet old friends, and some to make new acquaintances on the bond of shared experience. It was noticeable that past members of Sidney Lodge always enjoy reminiscing about the deprivations of their youth! Conversation was brisk and animated, new tapas dishes kept emerging from the kitchen, and it was nearly 3pm before Fionna Cardale, the Chairman of Guild, rose to give a vote of thanks.
You know you really are older when the Chairman of Guild, whom you had always imagined to be an ancient and revered personage, turns out to look like rather a charming friend of your children. Discovering that the Chairman of Guild has a very human face was one of the many pleasures of a delightful day.
Marie Forsyth (de la Praudière, 1953-1959)
Scotland
Saturday 29 September 2007
This year the Annual Lunch was hosted by Elizabeth Slack (Bunny), a member of Staff from 1972 -1986 at her home in Strathkinness near St. Andrews. The weather was really beautiful once again, we have been very fortunate every year so far. Bunny welcomed eighteen guests, four of whom were husbands and two year old Andrew who was very patient with 
us! Our ages ranged from 2 to 87. It was a very happy occasion with a truly delicious lunch and plenty of chatter and memories. It was agreed that the donations should be used to purchase a chair for the Performing Arts Centre.
We were all most grateful to Bunny for her warm welcome and Mrs. Rosemary Jamieson (Nettleship), St. Austin’s kindly offered her home for a lunch next year in Newton, West Lothian and we even set a date, 25th October 2008, although a further invitation will be given later on in the year.
(Ann McCarter, (Iestyn Williams 1953-1957) )
Shropshire and Staffordshire
As the new Area Representative for Shropshire and Staffordshire, I was delighted to be able to host two events to welcome Guild members to Weston Park.
Thursday 2nd August 2007
It was a very relaxed sunny evening with plenty of opportunity to chat, reminisce and make new friends. Jill Baron, Nicky Kershaw, Victoria Orchard, Marguerite Brooke, John Brooke, Audrey Ewing (Peta’s mother), Wendy Thompson, Elizabeth Birch, Christine Birch (my mother) and Martin Gee attended and although the numbers were a little low, we had fun getting to know each other. As an initial event, at a busy holiday time, I think it was very success
ful.
Upon arrival at the House, a walk through the historic rooms of the House led to the Library where we enjoyed a glass of champagne before stepping out on to the Top Terrace. Martin Gee, who won the Horticultural Weekly Magazine Professional Gardener of Year Award last year, gave us a wonderfully informative tour of the Formal Gardens, the Shrewsbury Walk, the Tear Drop Gardens, the Conservatory and the Walled Gardens with its newly planted maze and orchard.
We returned to the House where we enjoyed the most delicious three-course dinner prepared by Guy Day, the Head Chef, and his team. The grandeur of the main dining-room made it a very special occasion.
Clearly the evening was successful as the time had flown by and it was after 11.00 p.m. when we left. I felt somewhat concerned about the distance that Jill and Victoria had to go, but they assured me that they were fine.
Saturday 1st September
On Saturday 1st September a party gathered on the Carriage Ring outside the House at Weston and Martin Gee led a tour of the Gardens which included the Temple Wood, with its wonderful vistas from the Temple of Diana, the Temple Pool and Paine’s Bridge. After a couple of hours of leisurely walking through the grounds we returned to the Stables Restaurant, where we enjoyed afternoon tea. Again we had a very interesting time with Martin and we had fun meeting each other and sharing reminisces and our experiences since leaving CLC. The guests included: Margaret Gordon, accompanied by her son, David Gommersall; Margaret Leigh; Jo Cole and her son, William Cole; Isabelle Gourlay; Delia Morris; Sylvia Cowan; Claire Glover; Nicola Kershaw (brave enough to come back again!); Topsy Penn; Shirley Duncan and her husband, Ben and Erica Watson Todd. From my point of view the time flew by and it all seemed to end too quickly!
Jo and William Cole stayed on and the three of us thoroughly enjoyed the production of “The Hound of the Baskervilles” staged in the Park that evening on the Sweeping Lawns.
I would like to thank all the ladies who have contacted me but were unable to come to Weston on these two occasions. I will be in touch with you, personally, soon and very much hope to have the opportunity to meet you in the not too distant future.
(Elizabeth Birch 1968-1975)
Gloucestershire
On Thursday 28th June 2007, Annette Johnston kindly hosted a lunch for Guild members in her beautiful Cotswold garden near Chipping
Campden. Despite an otherwise dismal summer, the sun shone, and the Guild members spent a very happy afternoon meeting new friends and swapping reminiscences whilst admiring Annette’s truly spectacular delphiniums! A collection was made which raised £200 for the Performing Arts Centre. Our thanks to Annette for hosting such a happy and memorable event. It was agreed that we should continue the tradition by having another Gloucestershire lunch next year, which the Chairman will kindly host. Further details will follow in Guild News and on the website.
Berkshire, Oxfordshire
Monday 5 March 2007
Seven Guild members attended the party hosted by Executive Member Ms Julia Ives (nee Morgan) held at the Vineyard Hotel near Newbury. The elegant conservatory was a perfect venue and we all enjoyed a luscious cream tea. There was a wide age group, and it was nice to talk to the younger element, as it was to the more mature! chat was mainly about College, and the different houses - some of us had not been back for some years and others were amazed at the new buildings, and the Art wing. We compared notes with activities in the houses and one of our number owned up to being a College Prefect. All in all a very happy afternoon.
Yorkshire
Saturday 7 October 2006
Sixteen of us, including some husbands, met for a lunch hosted by Patricia Gray and her daughter Deborah Kennedy on Saturday 7 October 2006. Between us we spanned many generations of Guild and everyone enjoyed the chance to meet and chat.
(Patricia Gray, 1952-1957)
Scotland
Saturday 30 September 2006
This year the Annual Lunch was hosted by Janet Craig, Macgregor, Cambray and St. Bridget’s, at her home in Stirling. The weather was really beautiful which was fortunate as it rained both the day before and after. Janet and her husband, Maxwell, welcomed thirty-two guests, seven of w
hom were husbands of Guild. It was a very happy occasion with a lovely lunch and plenty of chatter and memories, green silks seemed to be quite a topic this year perhaps because it was such a warm day for the thirtieth of September! It was greed that any donations should be sent to St. Hilda’s East and a cheque for £250 has duly been sent.
We were all most grateful to Janet and Maxwell for their warm welcome and Mrs. Bunny Slack kindly offered her home for a lunch next year in Strathkiness near St. Andrews the date and time to be intimated later.
(Ann McCarter, (Iestyn Williams 1953-1957) )
Gloucestershire
Saturday 30 September 2006
As new area representative for Gloucestershire I hosted a tea party in late September to meet the local Guild members. There was an excellent turn out from ‘girls’ who had attended College from 1933 to 2002. It was interesting to discover that many of my 
memories of College were little different from those of the older ladies – the walk to Prayers along the silent Marble Corridor, the quirky names of the shortcuts when running late to class such as the milky-way and bunny-run, SOP and PAT. These things are all part of the institution that will always be CLC and give Guild members endless topics for conversation! Having been promised tea in the garden many of the ladies were determined to do just that, despite the frequent showers. I had had a crash course in baking from my mother the day before and the cakes seemed to go down very well. The afternoon came to an end with a raffle and I can happily say that the whole afternoon was a real success.
(Kate Ewart, 1992-2001)
Norfolk
On 24 June 2006, Mrs Inga Symes (née Brazendale) kindly invited Guild members, husbands and family members to her home at Blackberry Hall, Trimingham, for the annual Guild luncheon which was held in the garden. Ten former College girls and ten partners attended, the weather was beautiful and all enjoyed the setting and company.
Suffolk, Essex
On April 27th 2006, Lady Fairbairn (Victoria Henderson) entertained a number of Guild members to a delightful lunch at her home in Newmarket. The sun shone on us and the equine residents of Newmarket, to who
m the traffic must give way. We welcomed a number of younger members and several people went on to visit the gardens of Anglesey Abbey after lunch.
Recently we have conducted a survey of our members, who have been meeting every six months for more than fifty years. This was designed to consider possible changes to our meeting arrangements. There was an enthusiastic 95% response, with most people wishing to continue to meet in members’ homes but occasionally taking the pressure off hostesses, by visiting a restaurant or country pub. It was felt that the most important feature was fellowship and shared memories with other old College “girls”.
Our next meeting is planned for Sept 27th in a village pub in Kersey in Suffolk. Next spring we will be in Dedham where we hope to visit the Munnings Collection. We have a number of members from nearby counties and any guild member is welcome to our meetings. Please contact the Hon. Sec. Lady Fairbairn at Barkway House, Bury Road, Newmarket, Suffolk CB8 8JB.
(Dr Diana Swallow (Nicol, 1950-1957)
Scotland
Saturday 1 October 2005
The annual event in Scotland was held in the village of Torphichen in West Lothian, and was hosted by Sarah Young (née Ross, Farnley Lodge), Catherine Paterson (née Graham, Roderic) and Marsie Ewing (née Main, Cambray). We all met at the Preceptory where we enjoyed a most interesting talk and guided tour led by Sarah, before adjourning to Sarah’s home for lunch and a great deal of chatter! Following lunch a nu
mber further enjoyed going round Sarah’s most unusual and interesting garden, admiring the pond she and her husband had just completed. We numbered fifteen this year, and the sum of £100 was raised for St Hilda’s East.
(Ann McCarter, (Iestyn Williams 1953-1957) )
Norfolk
Saturday 11th June 2005
David and Rosie Eldridge (Granger 1967-1973) kindly invited Norfolk Guild members, husbands and family members to their home, Manor Farm at Happisburgh, not far from the coast. They gave guests a delicious lunch and, as the day was bright but breezy, most guests enjoyed their meal partly in the house and partly in the garden. All enjoyed the setting, company and kind hospitality.
(Audrey Talks, (Sansbury 1951-1954) )
Devon and Cornwall
Summer Event 2005
I was delighted to be able to attend the annual Guild Devon and Cornwall event in May of this year held at the Gabriel Court Hotel, Stoke Gabriel, on the Dart near Totnes.
The hard work and splendid organisation of Maggie McGuire and Gwyn Garner certainly paid off and as usual the lunch was very well-attended. It proved to be a wonderful opportunity for me to inform Guild members of recent CLC news and also discuss future College plans and projects. The delicious lunch was accompanied by engaging conversation which continued over coffee in the hotel lounge.
After lunch we were treated to a guided walk around the village of Stoke Gabriel led by Dr Edward Lovesey, a friend of Maggie’s and a local historian. Edward was the perfect guide and provided the group with most interesting information on the local area; the church, places of historical interest and the waterfront.
Thank you so much to both Maggie and Gwyn for all that they have done as Guild Area Representatives; a role that they have now sadly relinquished. If you feel like you would like to take on this role in Devon and Cornwall then please do not hesitate to contact the Guild office on 01242 256581 or email guild@cheltladiescollege.org.
(Jenny Tudge, Development Director)
Switzerland
A CLC visit to Geneva -June 2005
Jeanette de Vigier (1953 - 1957, Hatherley Court) generously invited both Guild members and some young future pupils (about to start at CLC), along with their parents, to a lunch at her home and art gallery, Galeries les Hirondelles. Jeanette’s beautiful house is just outside the village of Coppet, near Geneva, with stunning views over the lake. Swiss Guild members, led by Ann Titley (Taylor 1970 – 1977, Bunwell) welcomed the Principal, Vicky Tuck and Jenny Tudge (Development Director) from College, and former Guild Chairman Mary Blackburn.
Both past and future pupils had a very enjoyable time hearing about present life in College as well as the various events that were held to celebrate the 150th anniversary, such as the visit from the Queen for example! We also had the chance to reminisce about life in College in the past and to catch up with current news.
(Sophie Joyeux, (2001 – 2003 Cambray))