natural inclination has always been to have fun and nudge boundaries. My rationale is that it helped me anticipate what students might be up to! In Nansen Girls’ House, secret midnight feasts and late night swimming in the old school pool were favourites with boarders. I remember crazy cleaning binges on the last day of term and chasing away the ‘Hooky Hards’ who came on their mopeds to ogle at Nansen girls. School trips always brought at least one or two infamous moments ... like a ski trip where we nearly lost a member of staff one night in a snow drift. A memorable excursion was a tennis trip to Italy with Stella Wilson when we were surprised by a visit from Chris Guy and Mike Spring who had travelled on Chris’ motor bike to Lido Di Jesolo near Venice. The pupils simply greeted them in the usual way at breakfast with ‘Hello Sir’, not realising they had only just arrived. On our final tennis morning Stella and I went to the courts early to play, just before the pupils were due to arrive. We heard them coming with peals of laughter and discovered that they had all swapped clothes – boys in tennis skirts with ‘enhanced’ sports bras was a sight! ‘Living Adventurously’ is my


favourite passage from Quaker faith & practice and one which inspires me every day. The trip to Uganda with our Sixth Form students in 2010 was memorable in so many ways - all agreed that it had been a life changing experience volunteering at Sanyu Babies Home, RETRAK street children’s charity and teaching at our partnership school, Mbarara Preparatory School. White water rafting down a grade four waterfall and flipping over was perhaps the


10 / The Sibford Rocket


most terrifying experience along with hippos visiting our campsite when on safari. However, the most memorable moment came when Ed Rossiter and I had to exchange a large sum of cash leaving the bank as Ugandan millionaires clutching black bin liners full of cash.


I was also challenged to do a sky


dive to raise funds for Uganda. As the plane was climbing to 13,000 feet my nerves started to really kick in; however, free falling at 120mph was simply awesome. I would happily have done it all again.


I will, perhaps, be remembered


for bringing ‘show and tell’ objects into meeting for worship – Jenga blocks being a favourite. But seemingly random objects were frequent choices asking pupils to follow my links. For me, a meeting when I was pregnant with my first child and clearly blooming, is memorable. I spoke about the qualities of our inner child (literally and metaphorically) and the ability to love someone who you had yet to meet. You see, it is not just the students who learn, but staff also learn and grow during their time at Sibford. Having both my girls, Jennifer and Philippa, at Sibford gave me a unique insight into their lives – apologies to their friends or boyfriends who inadvertently ended up in my office for a ‘telling off’. My children would say that their worst, most mortifying memory is of me in black leathers doing a duet with Tony Skeath on the set of ‘Grease’!


I will end with a quotation from ‘Advices & Queries’ 1.02 ‘Think it possible that you may be mistaken’. This advice is invaluable – I have many memories in my role as Deputy Head of changing my view of a young person having really listened and reflected on their story. Many Sibford pupils remain in my


Maggie having completed her charity Sky Dive in 2014


Our long association with Mbarara and the Head, Winnie, has developed into a strong personal friendship. This school has grown from strength to strength and I am deeply gratified to know that many colleagues from Sibford have helped this fine school flourish. Sibford has a second home/school in Mbarara thanks to our 15-year friendship.


heart as the inspiration behind my 33 years of dedication to pastoral care. I am sure there were many times when I did not get it right, but I always aimed to be available and fair. After all - behaviour is simply a type of language. Pastoral care takes time, energy and compassion as well as the knowledge that it is impossible to ever get it 100% right. Memories define not only who


we are, but who we love to be. My most precious memories of Sibford are just that, the moments of challenge and joy in the unique community that is Sibford.


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