Newsletter 2012 - Francis Holland School

Glenda WEIL (nee HANNAY) (left 1963) Many apologies to Glenda for the
error in the last Newsletter, her surname was spelled incorrectly as ‘Weir’.
“We have pretty much recovered from our three sons’ weddings spanning July
2010 -July 2011. Our third son, Alexander, and his bride, Galina, were lucky enough
to have a second wedding at the Russian Orthodox church in Sophia in October. It
was a wonderful occasion, and very special for us to get to know another culture
through our extended family out there. I am happy to have more girls around to
keep our daughter, Eleanor, company.
This term I have been working with parents of autistic children and others
who have very challenging family circumstances. I was surprised and excited to
learn that in addition to the Polish translation, my book ‘Raise Happy Children’
is shortly to appear in Arabic! As a mother, however, I’m even more thrilled that
my son’s novel is about to be published. It’s a very exciting read set in Elizabethan
London: ‘Black Arts’ by Andrew Prentice and Jonathan Weil. I can, of course,
recommend it” (http://www.amazon.co.uk/Black-Arts-Books-Pandemonium-Flint/
dp/0385615132)
Kimmy VARMA (nee CHOPRA) (left 1968) “I have lived in LA for the last
thirty years and had my three children whilst there. We moved back to the UK last
October and now live in the Cotswolds rather than in London. I lived in Chelsea
when I went to Francis Holland.”
1970-1979
Ruth BRADBURY (nee Alloway) (left 1971) “What a great pleasure it has
been this year to meet up with women with whom I was at Francis Holland when we
were teenagers. Despite the passage of years, the bond of shared experience in youth
is strong.”
Victoria EVELEIGH (nee BUTLER) (left 1972) If Miss Scrivener, our English
teacher, had been asked to pick out the girl who would become an author from
this photo (taken of my form in
the early 1970s, when I was about
twelve) I know she wouldn’t have
picked me, and I wouldn’t have
either. So it was rather surreal to
visit Francis Holland School again
after forty years and talk to the
junior school about my books. Some
things had changed, but most of the
school was surprisingly similar: the
stained glass near the entrance, the
assembly hall, staircase, dining room (the food has definitely improved, though!)
and playground. Half-forgotten memories came flooding back. I was very touched
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