New book on Howell's History now available!

An illustrated history of Howell’s School, Llandaff, since its foundation 1860 was launched on 23rd June and is available to purchase from school for £20. It is entitled Howell's School Llandaff 1860-2010: A Legacy Fulfilled. If you prefer, a copy can be posted to you for an extra £7, to cover the cost of post and packaging. Please contact Mrs Denise Scourfield in the school office, tel. 029 2056 2019, or email her on d.scourfield1@UK.GDST.NET

The author is Mrs Janet Sully, who has taught at the school since 1978. A former Head of the History Department and Head of Sixth Form, she is now semi-retired and manages the school’s archives.   The book is the result of her passionate interest in the school’s history and we thank her for her dedication to this exciting project.  We all look forward to reading it!   

Hywelian Lunch, Saturday 26th June 2010

There were over 150 adults and children at this year’s Hywelian Summer Lunch.  The ages of the guests ranged from 6 to 94 but they all had one thing in common – they had a thoroughly good time!

The food was delicious, thanks to Ellen Newton and her staff and the Hywelian Committee Members.  The weather was perfect, so that some people were able to dine al fresco, and the sound of laughter was everywhere.

Some Hywelians had not been back to visit the school for 50 years but they instantly felt “at home”! One group of 37 left in 1992 and they were thrilled to meet their former friends again.  Others come every year because they know how much they will enjoy themselves. 

Mrs Sally Davis welcomed everyone and we were all delighted to sit in the Hall after lunch and watch videos of the students performing their music to celebrate the 150^th Anniversary of the opening of the school.

We heard Mrs Janet Sully (Miss Webb when she was first at Howell’s) talk about her new book, Howell’s School Llandaff, 1860 – 2010: A Legacy Fulfilled, and many of us bought a copy.

At the end of the afternoon many vowed that they were definitely going to return next year, such had been their enjoyment!  Long may this tradition flourish!

Joyce Shields.
 

Birthday Wishes From Mrs Gwen Jarvis aged 99 years 10 months:

This is a letter received from Mrs Katherine Spencer, formerly Katherine Phillips:

Thanks to you, Joyce and to everyone who organised such a wonderful Summer Lunch at Howell's on Saturday. It was lovely to meet you and thank you so much for chatting and making us all so welcome.

I came back with my four children and had a super day. I have
recounted so many school-hood stories to them over the years that they were very excited to
ACTUALLY (at last) visit Howell's with me, which I think had become quite a fascination to them!

I loved my school days there having been a boarder between 1976 and 1983. I realise how lucky I was and I was not at all surprised to hear you say  the Hywelians membership is phenomenal.

To return on the weekend, having left 27 years ago, and still feel part of the school and as welcome as I  did, was quite emotional. It was particularly lovely to see Vickie Phillips too, we had so much fun in the old days, sharing a form and playing lacrosse together. Also I chatted to so many old girls whom I had never met before, and it is quite extraordinary how much friendship and trust exudes between us all.

Howell's really is a very special place.

Mrs Catherine Powell speaks to Year 9 class

A Year 9 history class had a special visit on 24^th June from Mrs Catherine Powell, a Hywelian aged 94. As Catherine ("Minnie") Morgan, she was a pupil from 1927 to 1934. She answered questions in an engaging and entertaining way for a whole hour, providing memories of life under Miss Trotter. Mrs Powell was a boarder in Oaklands and was at school during the fire of 1932, and so was able to tell the class about those aspects as well as lessons, teachers and other activities of the day such as League of Nations parties. She also taught drama and diction at school in the 1970s. At the end, Mrs Powell was presented with flowers and had tea and “150” celebration cakes with a few staff and visitors.

Hywelians from the 1930s and 1940s receive school certificates!

On 12^th May, a group of Hywelians who left school many years ago returned for a very belated certificate presentation. Stored away in the Archives Room were many certificates of various kinds – Higher School Certificates, School Certificates, Life-Saving certificates and even Greek Dancing certificates – mainly from the 1940s, which were never presented at the time. The event took place in the Board Room and the certificates were presented by Mrs M Fletcher, Deputy Chairman of Governors. It was a happy occasion, with some of the visitors being reunited with their former classmates of many years ago. The oldest Hywelian present, Mrs Joyce Chapman, is now 89½ years old and was accompanied by her daughter. Two of those present were Hywelians collecting certificates awarded to their mothers and sisters. All the guests enjoyed tea, sandwiches and cakes and were given souvenirs of our 150^th year. Congratulations to them all!

In the photo are (left to right):
Top row: Mrs Barbara Jones, Mrs Heulwen Ashcroft, Mrs Karen Fullerton
Bottom row: Mrs Joyce Chapman, Mrs Judith Hornung, Mrs Iris Jones.

Other Hywelians whose certificates have been found and for whom we have addresses have been sent their certificates.

100th birthday for Hywelian

The school’s oldest known Hywelian, Mrs Margot Desmond, celebrated her 100^th birthday on Thursday, 4^th March. Born Marguerite Milner, she was a day girl in the days of Miss Kendall and Miss Trotter. She remembers Miss Kendall as a “lovely warm person” and Miss Trotter as a good teacher. Her best friend was Mary Walker, who married Bernard Morgan, a descendant of David Morgan of The Hayes. Mrs Desmond married a doctor.

She now lives in a residential home in Barry, where she is very happy. Every day she completes a crossword puzzle. She enjoyed a birthday party at the home, at which she had some surprise visitors, including one who flew in especially from Ireland, and she even made an impromptu speech! Mrs Davis sent along some cup cakes, decorated with “100”, and she was delighted with them. Many congratulations!

Valerie Jack 

  
A former pupil Valerie Jack, who was at school from 1991-1997, has just had her first poetry collection published (September 2009), which is entitled Educational. As well as being a poet she is a teacher of English and Classics, an examiner and playwright. The collection is available from the Tall Lighthouse website: www.tall-lighthouse.co.uk
 
Some reviews:
'Educational is a mature and assured debut from a young writer. Life lessons, death lessons, quirky school kids and scientific experimentation feature in this exciting and contemporary range of poems. Navigating classroom, bedroom and the world wide web, this poet reminds us that with life and love, you never know enough.' Tall Lighthouse
'Valerie Jack's pared-down hyper-realist vocabulary brings the world into high definition. Her poems are like arrows to the mark. We feel their impact. Shunning additional metaphor, they achieve metaphorical status by telling the truth.' Hugo Williams
'These poems are often funny, yet as frequently they create a sense of unease. educational is about children bewildered by growing up, about boundaries crossed between teacher and taught. Little seems capable of final resolution.' Martyn Crucefix