Old Girls' Association - Malvern St James

10
1931
Nancy Poole is 94 and says she is now ‘a wheelchair case’.
She sends her best wishes to all OGA members.
1939
Dina Brown (Russell) says that they are still enjoying their
motor home in France and UK and is thankful for being so
agile at 86. Seeing the subscription rates page she comments;
‘when I left MGC the life subscription for OGA was £5’.
1941
Rene Dale (Gilston) fi nds that children, grand-children
and great-grandchildren provide her greatest resource and
interest. She is still in touch with Peggy Smith (Tyson).
1942
Sheila Hutchinson (Parkes) is trying to ‘retire’ but is still
giving a few talks and photographic travel presentations
in her area for charity. She went on a ‘Saga’ cruise to the
central Mediterranean, visiting many countries and ports
that she had not seen since her days as a part-time cruise/
port lecturer for P&O in the 60’s and 70’s, and also spent
a week with friends in the Italian Lake District. Pamela
Kidner (Whitaker) had Ann Helliwell (Barnes) to stay whilst
Ann was attending a Worcester Library County Reunion.
Pamela also hears from Frances Whitehead who is still
working in London at All Souls, Langham Place.
1943
Lois Williams (Johnson) says she has become a kind of
bionic woman with replacement knees and a hip. Her
hobby is creative writing, attending classes and courses
‘and meeting so many interesting people’. She has a son
(and great-granddaughter) in Hong Kong and a daughter in
Sydney. She is in touch with Meriol Buchanan (Whittaker)
in New Zealand and Ursel Hirsch in New York. She reports
that sadly Pam Chester (Claff ) and Audrey Hawkins (Bligh)
have both died.
1944
Joan Hill (Coulter) and her husband feel very settled
in Stratford and enjoy the theatre and other activities
including being members of U3A and going to concerts in
Birmingham’s Symphony Hall. They had recently cruised
in the Caribbean. She would love to hear from Barbara
Robinson, Gillian Elliott and Barbara van der Straaten.
Elizabeth Beetschen (Johnson) has retired from teaching
Art & Ceramics and her hobby, singing. She now enjoys
handicrafts, encouraged by fi ve grandchildren. Her sister
Lois Williams (Johnson) remains close in both senses of the
word – she lives opposite!
1945
Eileen Atkinson (Sales) is retired and feeling the eff ects
of getting older, but is able to see more of her daughter
Marian Brebner (Atkinson). Anne Fraser (McLean) is much
enjoying being in Tunbridge Wells again after years in the
north of England and retirement in Eastbourne.
‘My sister Gwen & I are living in a very nice retirement
home near my family, who were wonderful getting us
through the awful moving procedure – never again we say!’
Elisabeth (Achurch) is waiting to have a back operation,
but if successful, she hopes to attend a future OGA Reunion
in Malvern. Her sister Patience sadly died in February 2008.
1946
Anne Hilditch (Drummond) has been busy with domestic
pursuits, grandchildren and various charities; a highlight
had been a visit to Rugby’s submarine ‘Tireless’ in Plymouth,
including a dive. She had heard from Elizabeth Thomas
(Wall), Clare Holden (Simmons) and Anne Schwarz
(Sellars). Judy Russell (Whitcher) is long retired and
widowed, but has joined up with her son and his family
to venture into the ‘good life’ near Bridgwater. Jacqueline
Seymour (Kerr-Paterson) has recently moved from the
North Yokshire moors to Cleasby and has just had Val
Byrom-Taylor and Carol Pike, both teachers from St. James’s,
to stay for a few days. She is in touch with Isabel Denyer
(Kerr-Jarrett) and Sarah Jarrett-Kerr (Kerr-Jarrett) and also
Alison Voelcker (Edwards).
1947
Elsie Tongue (Edwards) has moved near to Kingsbridge
in Devon after over 40 years in the north. Despite the
problems of moving she is pleased to be near her daughter
Louise and two sisters. Jen Murray (Carter) is hoping to run
down her small business and close the national society and
trust she has looked after for 40 years. She is still very busy
with her Norfolk holiday cottages and village activities.
1949
Olga Evans (Griffi ths) was looking forward as always
to exchanging Christmas news with Shirley Turner,
Lizzie Cook, Pat Broad and Daphne Worraker once
her busiest season is over. She collects for presents and
special bouquets for the lunch club helpers and devoted
organizers, ‘who all join us “oldies” for a Christmas dinner
locally’. Then she is asked to preside at a mince pie and
auction evening.
1950
Elizabeth Duncan (Plumb) has moved from Wiltshire
to Oxford and is busy developing the new garden and
painting.
1951
Jane Bates (Dann) is enjoying a busy and happy retired
life. Rosemary Hoyes (Mason) retired after 36 years with
PGL and is now busy doing voluntary work. She enjoyed
crossing the Atlantic on Queen Mary 2 in April.
1952
Angela Durrer (Sheraton) wrote that her mother Marjorie
Gibaud (Davis) died peacefully in her sleep ‘after 96
wonderful years’. Marjorie was best friend of Osra Garrish
who was Angela’s godmother, and of Pippi.