processing course but I remember that when the first computers were introduced to Sibford we were encouraged to play the game Solitaire on screen so that we could get used to moving a mouse! We had little way of keeping


track of where pupils were during the day without actually going along to the classrooms and so it was with Chris Cox, head of science, that I helped to write a database package that worked alongside the finance and bursar’s packages and meant that we could look up instantly to see where pupils should be. We used this for two or three years before adopting the pre-built system of PASS, thankfully our package merged easily with PASS and our data went from strength to strength. Indeed it has only been in the past couple of years that PASS has taken more of a back seat at Sibford … and it was the introduction of another system, SIMS, that led me to think that perhaps my days at Sibford were coming to an end. I have so enjoyed this job. Every


day has been so varied. I have taken delivery of sheep’s eyes for the science department; looked after live mice for pupils; sent the maintenance and gardening team off to try and catch a pot bellied black pig; and retrieved various items of clothing from all sorts of strange places. The children and some of the staff thought we had everything and everyone hidden in reception. I remember when senior master Tony Skeath came in one afternoon complaining about how busy he was. To ensure we all understood he fell to the floor mimicking a dying fly … just as the door opened and some visitors walked in! Then there was the time a young woman came in to say she had an appointment in the Junior School. I walked her over, chatting away, thinking I vaguely recognised


14 / The Sibford Rocket


Wendy and Mike pictured at the 2011 Reunion.


her. It was only later I realised she was an Oscar winning actress! Still, I suppose it could be thought I was upholding the Quaker tradition of all being equal! When I reached my 20 years’


service at Sibford, it was another Head, Sue Freestone, who presented me with flowers. Sue moved on in 2004 and Michael Goodwin took over the helm. I vividly remember his interview day. He arrived in casual dress and trainers and it was only when he changed into his suit he realised he had left his shoes behind. Brian Holliday found him a pair from lost property but they were a size too small and by the end of the day had split! Michael later introduced the Golden Shoe Award, presented annually to staff who had made a goof! Michael retired in the summer of 2016 and so it was Toby Spence who was Head of Sibford when I finally retired. Sibford is very special, we all


know that. It offers so much support to its community. There have been occasions when I have not found things easy. When Mike died in 2016 it was obviously a


very difficult time for me but the staff were all there offering me support. There is something about Sibford which can’t be explained. We get many visitors who talk about its feeling of warmth and friendship when they leave. Most people would determine support at Sibford as being ‘educational’ but I believe that it is total support. I have often said that when you come to work at Sibford you either come for a short time or, if you traverse that line, then you are here for life. We truly are a ‘society of friends’ – a family who look out for each other. My Father, who was a lovely,


gentle man with high morals, always said that we were all put on this earth to help one another and that is what he had tried to do during his life. I have been so fortunate to have been able to share some of what Sibford gives to its family and for that I am truly grateful for it has taught me many things – compassion, tolerance, patience and the fact that there is always some good to come of everything.


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