Hazel Jellfs greets arrivals through the famous Blue Door

Almost 50 Old Girls attended a Golden Day Reunion for the class of ’54, celebrating 50 years since they had left King’s in 1961. Old Girls had travelled from far and near including Australia, USA, France and Italy. Arriving through the famous blue door into Landor Hall, the Old Girls were greeted by two of their classmates who had been instrumental in setting up the day, Hazel Jellfs (now Taylor) and Viv Watts (now Owen). After coffee and currant buns, they set off on guided tours led by a team of prefects, visiting their old sixth form classrooms - now deputy heads’ offices - and even the Headmistress’s study, where a number of the more daring alumnae posed as Miss Hare for the camera! They were amazed to see how well the current sixth formers are treated when they visited the sixth form centre, with its comfortable easy chairs, kitchen complete with microwaves, and many other creature comforts. Miss Hare would never have allowed it!

Souvenir Group Photo

After a group photo was taken as a memento of the occasion, lunch was served in the newly refurbished dining hall. After lunch, the assembled company voted on who had changed the least in the intervening 50 years - joint winners Gillian Ostler and Jill Knight. All were then asked to vote for ‘The person in this room of whom I was most in awe at school and why’. Surprisingly, Miss Hare received a few votes, so perhaps her spirit was present in the room. Joint winners were Pat Steadman, because of all she has achieved and done with her life, and Hazel Jellfs because she could do games and was Leamington Spa ladies swimming champion!

Judy Dibb (right) travlled all the way from Australia

Reminiscing went on late into the afternoon and all agreed it had been a very special and thoroughly memorable day.