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St Hilda's School Reunion 7th - 9th September 2007
Theme "We'll meet again..."
More than 90 people attended the reunion of past pupils of St Hilda's School which was evacuated in early September 1939 to Halswell House, at the outbreak of World War II. The school later make its home at Hill Park, Otterhampton until its closure in 1974. Some participants came from as far away as Australia and Canada making it a truly memorable gathering after so many years.
In 2005, the Mercury covered the launch of the book "Childhood in Somerset - The St Hilda's story, evacuation, war and beyond" by Jacky Madel, at the Arts Centre in Bridgwater. Two years later this historic return to Halswell House has been marked by the launch of a second book - Memories of Halswell - by the St Hilda's Evacuees, edited by Jacky Madel.
On arrival on Friday evening the St Hilda's old girls were greeted by a specially commissioned flag of the School which could be seen flying from the roof of Halswell House. Upon entering the magnificently restored interiors, they were greeted by nostalgic displays of war time memorabilia, with mannequins dressed in the clothes of the times, accompanied by the sounds of the musical hits of the day.
The weekend's activities included a Sports Day with all taking part in races such as egg and spoon and book balancing and a team zig-zag race. The highlight of the day was a special fly past by Sarah Upfield, a past pupil of St. Hilda's School in her 1961 Piper Colt plane, whilst on the ground the group assembled below formed a line up in the shape of SHS which could be seen from the air.
Prizes in the form of Olympic style medals were presented at the Sports Day by Mrs Jane Temple of Otterhampton, who together with her late parents had a long association with St Hilda's School being neighbours at Hill Park. Other guests at the dinner included Mr Ron Page of Lower Hill Farm Otterhampton, who remembered delivering milk to the school in the 1940s and 50s.
The formal dinner was held in the magnificent banqueting hall at Halswell House and the St Hilda's Fellowship invited Grahame Bond owner of Halswell House and Mark Cranfield, Event Coordinator as special guests and a number of special items were presented to Mr Bond in gratitude for his generous invitation.
These included a framed picture of the school taken in June 1939 just 3 months before the evacuation to safety in Somerset, a special album of memories and photos of Halswell from 1939-1940, a signed copy of the book Memories of Halswell and a signed picture of Dame Vera Lynn who sent her very best wishes for the occasion which was themed "We'll meet again.." Lord and Lady Biffen were due to attend the dinner, however, this was prevented by the sad news of the death of Lord Biffen just 3 weeks before. Everyone attending the reunion signed a special card of condolence to Lady Biffen and a donation is being made in his memory for Kidney Research UK as he was a dialysis patient and a patron of the National Kidney Foundation.
On Sunday, the weekend culminated in a moving Service of Thanksgiving at St Edward's Church in Goathurst presided over by the Reverend Stephen Campbell, who also attended the Saturday dinner with his wife. This service included favourite hymns of the Evacuees, prayers led by members of the St Hilda's Fellowship and an address by the Reverend Campbell.
All in all, the evacuee pupils, together with their fellow old school friends were able to enjoy a wonderful country house weekend in the comfort of the luxurious bedrooms being able to enjoy the splendor of the magnificent ballroom and reception rooms. Catering for the weekend was provided by local caterers Hallett & Hay and the house was decorated with flowers from The Flower Factory of Bridgwater with the floral decorations in the colours of the school - green, gold and lilac using flowers that would have been available in 1939.
Pictures include the Evacuees, sisters Julie Stiff and Shirley Lawson, and Shelia Richardson and Antonia Doye with their brother Maurice Peel - the only Old Boy at the Reunion; Ann Clampham, Pam Dormer, Romany Van Bosch and Fiona Howarth who was just 4 years old when she arrived at Halswell.
Halswell House and St Hilda's would like to express their heart-felt appreciation to Martin Hill for his splendid photography. For further details of Martin's work please go to www.martinhillphotography.co.uk
If you would like further information relating to St Hilda's please contact Mark Cranfield on 0845 204 1066 or write to him at:
Halswell House
Goathurst
TA5 2DH
