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A celebration of 50 years of co-education

The afternoon of Saturday 24 September 2022 saw former girls and female members of staff gather together for a celebration of 50 years of co-education at Oswestry School.
27 Sep 2022
School News

Nearly 100 people gathered together for the celebration with some travelling from as far as the USA.

The event began with drinks on the Refectory Terrace before the Headmaster, Peter Middleton, formally welcomed everyone who had returned to the school. Over a light buffet lunch girls and staff members chatted and caught up as a book of memories was passed around for people to complete with their name, school dates, and a memory of their time at Bellan House or Oswestry School.

Following lunch everybody convened at the bottom of the hill, next to the Jubilee Bench, where the first girl, Jane Rainer (née Bartlett), planted a weeping cherry tree to commemorate the occasion. Looking on was Mrs Potter, the Prep School Headmaster's wife who was one of the first people the Pioneer Girls met on arrival at Oswestry, her son, Ian Potter, and Headmaster, Peter Middleton.

Sixth Form pupils then took large groups for tours of the school before returning to the PHC for a well-deserved cup of tea or coffee and to listen to a selection of talks from former girls.

Fiona Lloyd (née Donlan) 1972-79, Sian Stockford (née Hubbard) 1986-1992, Abigail Jones 2002-2009, and Sian Grice 2009-2018 talked about their experiences at Oswestry School and Bellan House, each incredibly different from each other.

Fiona left Oswestry to study music at the London College of Music before marrying Old Oswestrian Tony Lloyd (1972-1979), travelling and living all over the globe, having two sons with one grandchild who is a current pupil at Bellan House.

Sian Stockford was a boarder in Guinevere who was incredibly sporty and relished the competition that sport offered. Winner of the Vixtrix Ludorum every year and captain of the 1st XI hockey team, Sian also left Oswestry with the maths and choir prizes! She now works as a veterinary manager for a global animal health pharmaceutical company and is married with two teenage boys, two dogs and two cats.

Abigail was a day pupil at Oswestry who lived on a farm just over the Racecourse. She now lives in Cambridge working as a Chartered Surveyor and recently won the Young Surveyor of the Year Award. Wanting to 'give something back' to School, Abigail has given a talk to the sixth form about her career and has since guided some pupils with advice on a possible career path.

Sian Grice ended her education at Oswestry as Head Girl. A super keen sportsperson Sian's favourite sport is netball - not someone you want to come up against on the Founder's Day sports competitions! Sian is currently serving full time in the Royal Air Force and specialises in cybersecurity.

Special thanks must go to all the people who helped to make the day such a success. In particular, thanks must go to Sue Leonard for her tireless efforts in supporting and gathering people to attend the event.

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