Christmas Newsletter 2009

Old Fairleyans from the 80s

James Hanscombe left FHS in 1984 to go to Bredon School. He says “I am no longer driving a white van I've upgraded to a grey one!!! I am still running my landscape gardening business as well as buying and selling properties or renting them out, whichever is the most profitable at the time”. James says he is very happy with life in general. He is married with 3 children. If you would like to contact James email me. CL

Johanna Kalli (now Cuthbertson) went to St Anne's Convent when she left FHS in 1985 and then to St Augustine's Priory, both in Ealing. After leaving school she went to East Berkshire College, Langley to study Childcare. She gained an NNEB and worked in several nursery including ‘Teddies' in Twickenham. She is at present on maternity leave from a nursery to look after her 6 month old son Archie. She is looking forward to seeing her husband who will be on leave this Christmas from his admin. job in Afghanistan. Johanna's lasting memory of FHS was of Mr Romanov, she said, “He was one of those teachers you want to work with. At my later schools you felt that some of the teachers just couldn't be bothered.” If you would like to contact Johanna email me. CL

Lucy Travis left FHS in 1988 to go to Warminster School. On leaving school she went to Portsmouth University where she was a keen member of the Hockey Club. She started work at The Department For Environment Food and Rural Affairs and then for Raleigh International with whom she went to Ghana where she survived “the dangers of the wild in Africa...the crocodiles, getting chased by elephants, snakes, scorpions and the like”.

 She would love to get in contact with Bill Jones, Guy Elson or anyone else she knew at FHS which “completely changed my life. Most fun memory....playing bumper cars in Hyde Park and going to Hindleap, lunch breaks in Hyde Park especially when it snowed.....Remember "Star of the week!" Lucy has also been actively involved in Charity work as a volunteer for Raleigh International, this has included working with deprived kids, renovating warehouses for Crisis for Christmas and facilitating new recruits. Lucy is Project Manager of Raleigh London. She now loves her job at ‘Business In the Community'. “In between travelling I hold down a very interesting job!

Charlotte Park (Charlie) went to Stonar School in 1989 and gained 13 GCSEs and 1 AS level. She then went to Westminster City College where she studied for her BAC in Art Theatre YPT. She later joined the Battersea Arts Centre and was part of the YPT group Theatre, Development Theatre and Fringe Theatre. She had 7 acting roles in professionalproductions. Her first job after that was as an Office Coordinator for an estate agent. Charlie has also done some modelling and she now works as aself-employed Private PA with some celebrity clients. Charlie remembers the people at FHS with great affection “They were all great, I got on better with them than at any of the other schools I went to”. Charlie is still friends with several O Fs including: Marcus Blundell, Timmy King, Hugo Fairey, Clare Stephenson and Lee Prior.

Alexi Vaigncourt-Strallen left FHS in 1989 to go to Edgarley Hall (Millfield Junior School). She then went to Stonar School with Charlie (see above) and after that to South Bank University. She says “I am working for L'Occitane at the moment so get to spend half my time in London and the other half in France, which is great because I get to do loads of ski-ing! Would love to hear from people but warn you I am useless at keeping in contact. See ya.

Old Fairleyans from the 00s

Ben Lang went to Portland Place School in 2002 where he got A levels and then went on to read Physics at Bristol the University.

Nick Lang (Ben's brother) went to Portland Place School in 2004. He and his family moved to Singapore and he is at Tanglin Trust School where he is studying for his A levels in maths, physics, drama and psychology.

John Letsinger also went to Portland Place School in 2004. John me emailed to say “I am doing really well. I am currently at Southbank International school. I moved here because I wanted to do the IB. I am currently still in touch with loads of people from FHS and a see them very often. I think what you are doing is a great idea. Good luck!” 

Ian McCarthy left FHS in 2004 to go to the Moat School where he got 7 GCSEs. He then went on to the Brit School for Performing Arts and Technology where he still is. Ian would like to be a Lighting Technician. When Ian was at FHS in his last year Mr Bentall asked him if he would like to operate the lights for the school show - “At this point I discovered a passion of mine. That was the first show in which I had been a part of the back stage team. Since then I have been involved with lighting Girls Aloud and most recently Pink at the O2 arena”. Ian is still in touch with O Fs Nick de Camaret, Ela Harwood and Chelsea Brown.

Roxane Bakker left FHS in 2004 to go to Putney ParkSchool. Roxane says “Not much has happenedsince I left Fairley House except that I have now become Head Girl of Putney ParkSchool. I am currently studying for my GCSE's and I have applied to several sixth form colleges for Further Education. Thank you very much, I really appreciate the idea of a newsletter for ex- FHS pupils”.

Here is the newsletter as promised. Many thanks to those who replied. I was hoping that some of you might have been delaying your reply with the intention of doing it over Christmas! If you hate filling in forms - as I do - then I would be grateful for just a few lines telling me what you have been up to since leaving FHS. It can go into the next edition as soon as enough people reply. Happy Christmas!

My email is cl@fairleyhouse.org.uk Caroline Lillywhite – Editor

Get together /party around Easter time at Causton Street, Pimlico. I will email you all as soon as a date can been arranged.