News of our Members

Moved house?  Got a new email address? Finished your studies?  Newly qualified? Got a new job?  Got married? Had a baby? Published a book or just come back from a trip around the world - do send us your news and your photos so that we can tell everyone what you are up to!

Where are they now?

Can you help us to get in touch with Guild members who have lost touch with College?  Please go to the new page Where are they now? where you will find 1500 members in three lists spanning 1930-2008, if you can put us back in contact then please email the Guild Office with updated details of the Guild member.

CHAIRMAN AND VICE CHAIRMAN OF GUILD

At the Guild Biennial Meeting in 2010, Katie Robyns (Etchells, 1981, Glenlee) was voted in as the new Chairman and Maggie Henderson-Tew (Tew, 1976, St Margaret's) was voted in as the new Vice Chairman, Maggie and Katie have switched roles - having previously been Chairman, Maggie is going to concentrate her efforts on International Guild.   To find out more about Katie and Maggie please click here.

PARABOLA ARTS CENTRE LAUNCH EVENT FOR GUILD AND GUILD HON MEMBERS - FRIDAY 11 SEPTEMBER 2009

The Cheltenham Ladies' College Edinburgh Fringe Play, Thérèse, written and directed by Fiona Ross, was performed for Guild and Guild Hon members on Friday 11 September in the newly opened Parabola Arts Centre.  A drinks reception preceded the production and gave members the opportunity to look around the newly opened Arts Centre. 

PROFESSIONAL GUILD LUNCH - MEDICINE
A lunch for Guild members working in the Medical professions was held on Wednesday 22 April 2009 at Chandos House, London W1.  We were thrilled that Mrs Clare Fane (Marx, 1968-1972, Roderic) generously agreed to speak after the lunch.  A report can be found in The Slab - Autumn 2009.

CHAIRMAN AND VICE CHAIRMAN OF GUILD

At the Guild Biennial Meeting in 2008, Fionna Cardale and Dragana Hartley retired from their positions of Chairman and Vice Chairman respectively and Maggie Henderson-Tew (Tew, 1976, St Margaret's) was voted in as the new Chairman and Katie Robyns (Etchells, 1981, Glenlee) was voted in as Vice-Chairman.   To find out more about Maggie and Katie please click here.

 

 

2007 Leaver Alice Bonifacio appears in 'Eight' at the West End

Having wowed audiences in Edinburgh and New York, ‘Eight’ is coming to The West End this summer, playing at Trafalgar Studios from the 6th – 25th July 2009.

Hickson’s eight endearing characters offer deliciously cynical yet touching snippets of life in contemporary Britain, questioning what it is to be ‘normal’ in a generation where everything has become acceptable.

From 7/7 survivors ("One of the finest pieces of writing I've yet heard about the aftermath of that terrible day” Joyce McMillan, The Scotsman) to ex-squaddies making friends in morgues, ‘Eight’ looks at Britain’s youth from a refreshingly offbeat angle.

The format of the show lets the audience “choose their company” and vote to determine which four of the eight
monologues are performed each night, creating their own bespoke hour of theatre.

Tickets are now on sale from www.ambassadortickets.com or on 0871 297 5454.
For more information see www.eight-theatre.com
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WINNER: Carol Tambor 'Best of Edinburgh' Award and transfer to New York
WINNER: Fringe First 2008
WINNER: NSDF Emerging Artist's Award 2008
Rave reviews of the show's run in Edinburgh included:
"Stunningly well performed - a huge writing talent...a truly impressive and exciting hour of theatre, you’re blown away.” The Scotsman ****
“One of the most self-assured, startlingly well-written and moving pieces of theatre around.” The Herald ****

The production received high praise in New York also, including a review from the New York Times which called Hickson "a playwright who has already found her voice - and it's a powerful one."
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Your very last chance to see the original cast and award-winning production - book early.
Written and directed by: Ella Hickson
Cast: Ishbel McFarlane, Alice Bonifacio, Holly Mclay, Gwennie von Einsiedel, Simon Ginty, Henry Peters, Michael Whitham and Solomon Mousley.

The 2008 Dorothea Beale Debate between Guild and College was held for the third year running on Saturday 6th December and was won by Guild.  The motions for the debate were This House would nationalize rather than privatize and This House would ban cosmetic surgery.  Construction lawyer Liz Jenkins (Smith, 1976, Glenlee/ Eversleigh) who is Chairman and Partner of Shadbolt LLP London office and Cathy Pitt (Olgeirsson, 1991, Fauconberg/Elizabeth) who is Partner Corporate Finance at Norton Rose LLP, represented Guild in the first debate against Lauren Daum and Rachel Sullivan.  The second inter College debate was a valiant battle between Effie Stoodley and Tabitha Ward against Clemmie Hobson and Evie Paterson. 

Both debates were extremely provocative and inspired every age group from the LC1s upwards wanting to be involved.

Guild Award 2008
We are delighted to report that the Guild Award for 2008 has been awarded jointly to Holly Marven and Tabitha Ward.  Competition for the award this year was particularly strong and it was decided to award three highly commended prizes to Hanna Strang, Cecilia Roos and Celia Underhil.  The winners were announced during Prayers and they joined the Principal, members of the Guild Executive Committee and last years winners Yemisi Khalidson and Flora Sowerby for lunch afterwards. The prize money was paid to the girls themselves rather than by way of deduction from their school fees, since it was felt that the money might help finance gap year opportunities or even student costs!

Fringe benefits lead to a New York trip for actress
Alice Bonifacio is dreaming of an acting career 2007 leaver Alice Bonifacio is dreaming of an acting career

Published Date: 30 September 2008 By John Edwards

BROADWAY beckons for a young actress from Bridlington who is looking for a 'pizza' the action. Alice Bonifacio is used to working at her father's Italian restuarant in the town, but early next year she will be treading the boards in New York.

She is currently studying divinity at Edinburgh University and performed in a production at the city's Fringe Festival

The 20-year-old starred in Eight, a collection of monologues by up-and-coming writer Ella Hickson.

Part of a cast of eight, Alice performed in the four-week run and the company collected one of only 15 Edinburgh Fringe First awards.

It led to an invitation to take the show to London next month and then on to America in January.

They will spend three weeks off Broadway with an all-expenses-paid trip, and Alice hopes this will be the launchpad for a career in acting.

She also appeared in a Stephen Sondheim musical called Company at this year's Fringe and it enjoyed five-star reviews.

Proud mum Merilyn said: "She works so immensely hard and hopefully her story will encourage other youngsters and show them, hard work and focus on what they want in life, can help them achieve so much.

"Alice has worked like the blazes at university and before that she worked hard to get her scholarships at Cheltenham Ladies' College.

"She has a beautiful singing voice and wants to work in theatre and film. She is very versatile. At the Fringe, the tenderness she put into the monologue, about an abused young girl, was just incredible.

"And then in the evening she'd be in a musical."

Alice was born in York and was a chorister at York Minster, as well as being a member of the National Youth Theatre.

A CLC uniform is made to last!

My career in media started in 2002 as a breakfast presenter and newsreader on Cheltenham's Star 107.5FM. After years of 5.30am starts, I thought it was time for a change and so I joined BBC Radio Gloucestershire.

I have taken many roles at the station including presenter, online journalist and producer.  I currently work as the CSV Action Manager, producing on air social action content and encouraging volunteering through on air promotion.

My relationship with Pudsey Bear started in 2006, when I produced Children in Need for BBC Gloucestershire in collaboration with London HQ. This year presented a challenge when we were asked to wear school uniforms for the day. Could I find my CLC outfit? Would it still fit?!! Well I did, and it did!

I spent a whole day dressed in my green attire reporting live for BBC Gloucestershire and BBC Pudsey from around the county. Having turned thirty this year, I can't tell you how thrilled I was still to fit into my original uniform (save for a safety pin on the netball skirt which I had substituted for the knee length day skirt, on the grounds of more hip room in a flared skirt)! Striped socks, although definitely non-regulation, added comic value!

Just goes to show that Cheltenham Ladies' College is never far from your side!

Camilla Bassett-Smith (1989-1996, St Clare)

Guild Award 2007
We are delighted to report that the Guild Award for 2007 has been awarded jointly to Yemisi Khalidson and Flora Sowerby. The winners were announced during Prayers and they joined the Principal, members of the Guild Executive Committee and last years winners Rosie Edwards and Alice Tudor for coffee afterwards. The prize money was paid to the girls themselves rather than by way of deduction from their school fees, since it was felt that the money might help finance gap year opportunities or even student costs!

In celebration of Dorothea Beale 1831-1906

For reports on the Centenary Debate and Dinner please click here.

Mary Eyre receives MBE

Mary Eyre MBE (1929-1942 Day Girls)

Recognition comes in many forms and we are delighted to offer our congratulations to Mary Eyre who was awarded the MBE for services to Sport over the last 60 years in this year's New Year's Honours list.

An audience of over 50 people welcomed Henry Elwes, Lord Lieutenant of Gloucestershire to East Glos Club on 21 April 2006 to watch him present Club President Mary Eyre with her MBE. The citation read as follows:

"Miss Mary Eyre is a highly respected and outstanding ambassador at all levels of the game having played at club, county and national levels. She has given a life-long service to hockey and, at the age of 81, still continues to devote her time and energy in a voluntary capacity to East Gloucestershire Club. She was a major contributor to the well-being and success of the Western Counties Women's Hockey Association where she played for 30 years and was President for twelve years.

She was a formidable goal scorer and was selected to play for England during the 1946-1949 seasons. Totally dedicated to any roles she undertook, she became a leading international umpire, putting her playing experiences into these duties in a total of 28 internationals, ten of which were played at Wembley Stadium. She also umpired at Wimbledon for fifteen years.

She played for Gloucestershire Women's Hockey Association and was Secretary for 53 years and President for seven years. She is currently President, Trustee and Executive Committee Member of East Gloucestershire Club and is still organising league and junior teams on a day-to-day basis.

Over the years she has encouraged and supported everyone with whom she has been involved, and has shared her knowledge and experience by coaching and training players and officials at all levels of the game.

For many years she served as player selector and was appointed an umpire selector and assessor. She has coached generations of children in schools and continues to be a very strong supporter of junior hockey, having encouraged many schoolgirls into the game.

She has brought energy, dedication and commitment to all her work and her enthusiasm has been an inspiration to those who had the privilege of receiving her coaching and working with her, where she set high standards for everyone".

Following a lengthy applause, Mary made a short speech in which she thanked East Glos Club and its staff for hosting her investiture. She commented how grateful and proud she was to be receiving her MBE. Mary also paid tribute to her mother, the late Margaret Eyre, her family and Sheila Davson for the wonderful support they had given her over the years.

 

Oxford v Cambridge Women's Boat Race 2006

This year we are delighted to have three Guild Members rowing for Women's Crews at both Oxford and Cambridge. Congratulations go to Rebecca Patton (Beale 2000-2002), who rows at number four of the Oxford Women's boat, Rose Bosnell (Glengar 1985-1993) who rows as stroke of Osiris, the reserve boat. At Cambridge Kaia O'Hare (Farnley Lodge 1998-2004) rowed at number two in Blondie, the Cambridge reserve boat. Guild is delighted to have sponsored Kaia's seat in the Cambridge reserve boat this year. At the Varsity Race at Henley on Saturday 1st April, Oxford beat Cambridge by half a length and Osiris beat Blondie by 2 1/2 lengths, for Kaia's account of "A Day in the Life of a Cambridge Rower" click here.  For further information on the Cambridge boat click here and here for Oxford.