SUTTON VIEWS - Sutton Valence School

Goodbye to ‘the best of senior managers’
Mr Andrew Hutchinson, our Bursar, has
been with us for 16 years and retires in
August. This consummate professional was
really thrown in at the deep end when he
came to the School. A new Headmaster to
figure out and the merger with the Prep
School were but two of the challenges in his
initial years here. Our very own Chancellor
of the Exchequer, Andrew has distributed
funds very fairly and as generously as
possible. He has always been an
approachable, highly sympathetic facilitator
to our academic departments.
He has been project manager and heavily
involved in a large number of constructions
in recent years. The Sports Hall, Maths Suite,
Swimming Pool, Theatre, Prep School Dining
Hall and the Athletics Track to name the
most recent. The staff under his leadership
have been responsible for maintaining the
environment in which we work: our gardens
provide, without doubt, a magnificent back
drop to our endeavours. Our buildings,
despite their age, are in good decorative
order, and now each department of the
support staff is a strong unit in its own right
and each knows that the work it does is
highly valued.
To Andrew and Alison we say thank you for
all of your support, friendship and advice
over many years and we sincerely hope that
as you lose the gown and become purely
town, you come back and visit us often.
Other Support Staff farewells
We would also like to say ‘goodbye’ to Mr
Stuart Harris (Estates Bursar), Mr Barry
Rodwell (Head of Maintenance, Prep School)
and Mrs Julie Excell (Matron, St Margaret’s).
Stuart has been with the School for three
years and has created an excellent
management structure to cope with the
gardens, grounds, cleaning and maintenance
of the School. He is leaving us to be Bursar
of Babington School in Chislehurst, where we
wish him every success.
Barry has given unstinting service to the
Prep School for over 14 years. He has
worked for four Headmasters who have all
been secure in the knowledge that the Prep
School buildings were safe in his capable
hands. He will be missed by teachers and
pupils alike and we wish him and his wife a
long and happy retirement.
Julie Excell has been associated with St
Margaret's house for some 14 years. She has
done sterling service looking after the needs
of several generations of schoolboys who
have grown enormously fond of her, as have
many of their parents; particularly those of
overseas students who have been able to
trust in Julie to look after their children.
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