Figure 1.--
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Figure 1.-- |
In the wookrrom we bade farewell to our two junior matrons. Ann Simpson, the Westfield matron who who cared for the boys but not for labradors, returns to her beloved home in Kent to begin training for child nursing. Sheena the Orchard House matron left us in July after a year, in order to follow a secretarial course in Oxford. We shall miss her cheerful good humoured approach for wherever she went there was laughter whether it was capzing a dinghy or doing overtime in the workroom. As befits her personality she left at the end of Summer term in some style in the passenger seat of her father's 1926 Austin twelve four tourer -- a vintage cargo. They are succeeded in the workroom by Sarah Nigtingale and Vanessa Lloyd-Jones.
Lambrook Chronicle, 1980.
For a retiring staff member,
"Thank you for helping me to be strong while my arm wasn't mending. It was a great help." -- Sarah Ford
Thank you, Mrs Scott, for taking us down at Walstead House. I liked the nice stories you read and things luke that. -- Stewart Morris
Great Walstead Magazine 1987.
She was known as 'Edith' to generations of boys at Bramcote Hall, and 'Miss Upson' to further generations after the school's move to Gamston. She joined the staff in 1942, the same year as Mr. Polhill, nd finally retired in December 1983 after forty-two years of devoted service to the school. In fact, 'retired' is not strictly correct as she is giving a helping habd on two days a week, and clearly enjoys doing so. Somehow Bramcote without her wouldn't be right!.
I shall not attemp to put down all the duties and tasks she carried out in her time; I think it would completely fill this magazine if I did! Perhaps I should mention justva few to stir the menories of all the boys and latterly, girls, who came under her influence and for whom she worked so tirelessly.
For six days a week (she always took Friday off and went out), from the 'rising bell' in the morning to past 9.0pm she served the school with total selflessness. Nothing was ever too much trouble and never did she forget to do something she had been asked to do -- her memory today is just as good as it was when I first met her twenty-five years ago! She must have packed and unpacked thousands of trunks, washed even more heads and ears -- fathers' and sons' -- cut countless toenails -- given out innumerable pairs of shoe-laces, found mountains of lost clothes -- she is still the best finder of lost property in the school -- and mended more holes in socks and pullovers than I dare think about.
Perhaps the parents will remember her best behind the tea table pouring out innumerable cups of tea on Match days, Sports Days and other special occassions. She must have earned her tea pouring colours a thousand times over!
Many a new boy over the years has been comforted by her cheerful smile and a friendly word, and there are not many Old Boys visiting the school whom she doesn't recognize and put a name to.
We are all delighted that she has settled into her new home so hapily -- a flat beside the library and opposite East Retford Church. Long may she enjoy her retirement: todescribe it as well-deserved would be the understatement of the century.
THBB, The Bramcote Magazine, Autumn 1984.
