125th Anniversary Celebrations

This has been an important year, both for the Old Girls’ and the School. As well as celebrating 125 years as part of the expansion of the Foundation Schools in Birmingham, we have celebrated 50 years on the Kings Heath site.

It was a year ago when the Old Girls’ Association Committee dedicated the annual summer meeting to be a 50th Anniversary Celebration Lunch, which took place on Saturday, June 21st. In wanting to make this a special event, the Committee sought to find former Head Girls or Deputies to speak at the Lunch and highlight their memories of the School in the particular decade they experienced. We also worked closely with Mrs. James and School to research and produce an exhibition of photographs, artefacts and other materials to reflect school life over the last 50 years. This included gymslips, prefects’ girdles, exercise books, school reports, some of which were a source of great interest and amusement to present pupils. The Committee worked hard in contacting Old Girls of many generations; in preparing and organising the catering and drinks; in diplomatically organising the seating plan to make everyone happy on the day.The response to this event was not disappointing. 236 plus old girls and several current senior pupils arrived on the day; registered in particular rooms and started to fill up the corridors, wait for friends and enjoy the exhibition. Once everyone was settled, Anne Lockyer, Acting Chairman of the Committee welcomed everyone. Canon Susan Hayton (née West) said grace and everyone enjoyed the lunch and drinks which were delicious and extremely well organised.

The atmosphere, food and drink were flowing so well that the AGM was very brief and straightforward, with current holders of posts remaining in office. However, the best was yet to come!

There followed an address by the present Head, Dru James, who welcomed everyone and gave former Camphillians an update on School life, with some details of the appeal to extend the school buildings and facilities. Nostalgic speeches followed by former Head Girls and Deputies. We heard a reading from Miss Mandville’s final address to the School before it left the old Camp Hill site; everyone had been a long time waiting.

Two former students recalled their life in the old Camp Hill building; elegant but increasingly inappropriate and cramped. July 14th, 1958 was hailed with victory as we remembered the day school started in the leafy suburbs of Kings Heath. “We’ve arrived and to prove it we’re here!” read the banner, as the girls paraded their arrival very publicly around the new site, especially in front of the boys! Other speakers of the last 50 years brought their own personal reminiscences to the audience. These included the ‘smell’ of certain areas of school; being or not being a prefect; indoor and outdoor shoes; the idiosyncrasies of staff; Form and House activities; community service of many kinds and oh those funny items of uniform and the trouble girls got into over them. Significantly, all were delivered with fondness and the recognition of what school had done for them, even if they only realised it years afterwards! What was comforting to see in all were the lasting friendships we had all built up and sustained. The Head Girl, Vino Manivasagam, was able to absorb all these stories and emotions and reassure us that the essence of Camp Hill remains the same – of effort, commitment, fun and friendship. Running well over time, we then enjoyed singing some of ‘those Friday songs’ together. Margaret Hill played the piano beautifully and the singing improved. From ‘Glad Hearts Adventuring’, where sisters were still “following that star”, to ‘The Ballad of London River’, professional and not so tuneful voices sang out ‘one with your flood are we, blood of your blood we be’. By the time we got to the School Song,“Forward”, there was much emotion and searching for tissues for ‘Old Edwardians, young Edwardians’.

It was a splendid day and occasion to celebrate. We can only thank everyone – all who attended; Mrs. James and staff; the caterers and caretakers; members of the Committee. As the School looks forward as well as back, we asked all guests to contact us if they were able to help with future events and/or committee work.

None of this would have been possible without the tireless work of Doreen Hancox, who masterminded all the preparation, catering, contact with speakers, programmes and menus. We thank her for her dedication and commitment.

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