Pre 1949 Decade Reunion Report
"When in College during the War, I was always impressed with the apparently efflortless organization. I was not disappointed with the Reunion. Now over sixty years on, I realise that no organization is effortless!"
Full use of every moment
Mickey Mouse, the BBC and the discovery of penicillin, were all current affairs in the late 20s when, amongst many others, twelve young ladies left College. Seventy two years later those same twelve women returned for a reunion of Old Girls who had left College pre-1949.
It was October 5th 2002, a balmy late-summer morning, when almost 200 Old Girls re-registered at College. They came by plane from Scandinavia and Scotland, by train from Taunton and Teeside, by taxi from Plymouth and by Morris Minor from everywhere!
"I'm sure that those of us who came for our pre-1949 gathering, prompted by a sense of duty and with some trepidation, could not have been more delighted than I was to experience such a thoroughly happy, enlightening and re-affirming occasion - totally rewarding and enjoyable in every way."
The day started, as it has always done, with Registration and then Prayers in the Princess Hall. Rows of straight-backed Old Girls, with legs and feet aligned and knees clamped together and not daring to cough, contrasted starkly with the fluid green sea of today's girls, but united in excitement as they anticipated the day ahead.
The journey into the past began with a walk down the Marble Corridor which most swore had shrunk over the years. They revelled in the joy of actually being able to talk as they walked and the walls reverberated with cries of "It's the Bunny Run", "Don't talk in the corridor" and "Do you remember when ... ?"
Lower Hall was the HQ for the morning's activities and, in true Cheltenham Style, there was a balanced programme of alternative activities and events to enjoy or participate in and opportunities to learn something new about College - archives, choral classes, video shows, photography displays and tours of College. The morning ended with a photograph on the lawn, a glass of sherry and lunch.
"It was good to see that College, while clearly having moved effectively into the 21st Century, maintains the strengths from which we have all benefited and that there remains the well-remembered atmosphere of purpose, dignity and grace."
As the morning wore on and gallons of coffee disappeared, the years rolled back and the colour returned to hair greyed by time. Old friends chatted, recognised and reminisced. Some remembered a difficult time during the War when College life was hard and sometimes harsh but everyone spoke of happy times. We all made use of every single minute.
The day was completed by visits to former houses in the afternoon, which gave some Old Girls the opportunity to visit the very dormitories they had slept in some 50 years ago. The originals were sometimes unrecognisable but greatly praised and admired. This was followed by tea in drawing-rooms, once forbidden to the girls.
It was a joyful day. Like the marble in the corridor, the surface of memory
was slightly scratched but once buffed with the solid tiles of friendship and
shared purpose still in place and stronger than ever.
From the Archives
We very much enjoyed the time we spent with the Guild Members on October 5th. As always, talking to them and listening to their stories proved both entertaining and instructive. Only they can tell us what life in College was really like in their day, and the things we hear never cease to amaze us! We were also delighted to be offered a number of items for our cherished collection of old uniform and memorabilia. The forthcoming new History of College attracted a good deal of interest, as we had hoped, and there is already a steady flow of orders at the special pre-publication price.
An Exceptional School
The reunion was undoubtedly the highlight of the Autumn Term and was enjoyed as much by you as by your hosts. We were touched by the "thank you" letters which you sent and I quoted from many of them when 1 addressed the girls in Prayers shortly afterwards on the art of letter writing. You will be pleased to learn that the full inspection which followed your visit went very well and I know you will feel proud that the written report begins with the words,"This is an exceptional school". I hope you will continue to support us and help us to make our 150th Anniversary exceptional too.
Mrs Vicky Tuck, Principal
"Wonderful to see how people turn out. One girl who was not particularly distinguished and hated games seems to have been very successful and not only that, she told me she goes to a gym every day."
Chairman of Guild
It was a great privilege to be able to meet so many Guild members and former pupils who left College during or prior to 1949. My lasting memories of the day are of glorious sunshine displaying College at her best, together with a joyous and exhilarating atmosphere generated by the pleasure of old friends being reunited and the huge bond of shared experience which binds all "old girls" together. They represented a gerieratioti brought up to give of their best and to serve their fellow man. Many of them had done just that and had broken the glass ceiling of women's achievements long before anyone had invented the expression. It was marvellous to watch how much the current College girls gleaned from talking to the participants who enjoyed the many activities that College had on offer. It was a very memorable day.
Mary Blackburn, ex-Chairman of Guild
"Coffee in Lower Hall was so nostalgic. I kept fearing Miss Blandford would be creeping up behind me to whack my knuckles with a ruler or tug my plaits!"