Chailey News, Summer 2012.pub - Chailey School...

Chailey School News, Summer, 2012which buzzed unless aweight was placed on it.So the resources managerissued a brick with theVCR. But some teacherswould forget to return it,so were told to make theirown arrangements. But notJoyce: her trustworthinessensured her videos werebrick-assisted – and buzzfree!Joyce’s sense of fun hasalso been a constant. Eventhe suspicion that she hadrats in uncomfortably closeproximity to her tent – shecould hear nocturnalgnawings – didn’t stop herplaying her full part inmaking an early schoolcamp a great experiencefor all concerned.She was a regular on theschool’s sponsored walksof the 1990s. On one occasion,she was stuck on astile while multiple dogsthrashed around her feet.Typically, she clung onuntil they calmed down –then finished the course.Hundreds of studentshave been fortunate tohave had Joyce as theirform tutor. Her kindness,wise counsel and willingnessto listen have helpedmany to make the best oftheir time at Chailey. Andthere was room for a bit offun, too. She once invitedmembers of her tutorgroup to talk about theirhobbies. One lad, a keenrabbit hunter, produced aferret. Joyce was eventuallypersuaded to comedown from her chairand pose for a photographwith the boy and hisneedle-toothed companion.Her smile was genuine, if atouch nervous.“To say JoyceMurphy will bemissed is a majorunderstatement.”So to say Joyce Murphywill be missed is a majorunderstatement. Why?Because she will be missedin so many ways. “Youdon’t know what you’vegot ‘til it’s gone,” goes thesong lyric. For 26 years,Joyce has always beenthere for Chailey School:collating results on sportsday, shovelling snow fromthe school drive, helping toorganise outings, being apillar of the Humanitiesdepartment...“We worked closelytogether when the PSHE29and Citizenship curriculumswere being developed,”recalls one formercolleague. “What a supportshe was. Knowledgeable,always totally reliable andprofessional. She also hasthe knack of being thevoice of reason.”Another colleaguespeaks of “...her endlesscharity, kind heart andloving nature, always havingtime for even the silliestthings, standing up forherself and not taking anynonsense, the calm andserene atmosphere in herclassroom, marking galore,the excellent, thoughtfulpresents she buys for everyoneand getting on sowell with the children.”Yes, Joyce will bemissed. But on the positiveside her well-earned retirementwill give her time topursue other interests andfulfil a few ambitions. Andmaybe, just maybe, she’lltreat herself to the occasionallie-in!