Newsletter 2012 - Francis Holland School

is godmother to our son Henry. Henry gave us our first grandchild in February 2012
– Milly – it’s great being a granny. Our daughter, Laura, is a sound recordist and works
regularly on ‘Antiques Roadshow’ – it is great fun going to recordings. I have retired
from nursing after 10 years on Day Unit at Colchester. I can now put to good use sewing
skills taught to me by Miss Dickie and my love of music from Miss Ashby. Lovely to see
that FHS is flourishing – I hold dear happy memories and a wonderful education.”
Dana GILLESPIE (left 1963) “I am all over the world, as usual, singing either
Blues or my India style music and in 18 months it has taken me to America and Russia
several times, as well as to Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan and Kyrgistan. I just had a new
Blues CD released called ‘I Rest My Case’ and I am still running the Mustique Blues
Festival which is an annual charity festival held on the paradise island every January.”
Geetoo KIRPALANI (nee ADVANI) (left 1960) “I split my time between
London and Bombay. I would love to hear from any old girls visiting India. I am in
touch with Susan Dobbs (nee Koppel) and Gail Wellings (nee Owen). I enjoy coming
to the March parties if I am in the country.”
Sue McALPINE (nee WALKER) (left 1962) Sue writes: “I am working at
Hackney Museum as Curator, specifically in charge of exhibitions and collections
management. The first is huge, creative, challenging, stressful and hard work and
there’s hardly enough time for the second part of the job. I’m currently working on
an HLF funded project called Mapping the Change, looking at how people respond
to the changes in their part of London as a result of the 2012 Olympics. We also
have funding for the next three years from the Paul Hamlyn Foundation to work
closely with local people, finding out what makes communities tick. It’s going to be
fascinating which is why I am going to hang on there until I am 65.”
Lesley NELL (nee ANDERSON) (left 1969) “I am now semi-retired, training
as a Reiki practitioner and building a business with The Pampered Chef – both of
which enable me to take life at a more relaxing pace. Our son Ed is the drive time
presenter at Hallam FM and is getting married in September. I thoroughly enjoyed
the Old Girls’ lunch to celebrate 130 years.”
Jane ORR (nee DORMAN) (left 1969) “I enjoyed my first Old Girls’ Committee
meeting representing the ‘Out of Towners’. It is wonderful being semi-retired
now and having more time. A trip to the Galapagos last year was an amazing and
inspiring experience.”
Maggy PIGOTT CBE (left 1966) “In 2011 I retired after a 37-year career in
the Ministry of Justice (and its predecessors the Department for Constitutional
Affairs and Lord Chancellor’s Dept). My last post was Joint Chief Executive of the
Judicial Studies Board (the judiciary’s training organisation). I had job-shared for
23 years with the same partner in seven different jobs – a wonderful way to work
and have time to bring up my (now grown up) two children (a civil servant and
an accountant). Since retirement I am keeping busy seeing friends, dancing the
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