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BAFPA
– Battle Abbey Former Pupils Association keeps former
pupils in touch with each other and the school. A Founders
Day service is held every year on the first Saturday in October
in St. Mary’s Church, Battle, followed by tea in the
Abbey. Archive photographs are on display in the library on
this occasion and the whole photographic archive is available on the school computer network,
In October 2006 Lorna Powne, nee Sheehan-Dare, niece of the two Founding ladies, gave the Tribute on Founders’ Day. Lorna was at Battle Abbey from 1936 until 1946 although from 1940 until 1945 she was evacuated with the School to Killerton Park in Devon. She spoke with great affection about her aunts, May Jacoby and Helen Sheehan-Dare and of how they ensured that the School would have a warm, homely and caring family atmosphere where every individual counted and was to be treated with courtesy. Also of their vision and innovativeness in introducing the Dalton Assignment System which encouraged independence from direct teaching and helped to foster curiosity and self-sufficiency. Mindful of the 18th-century writer who said, “Education is what remains when the things we have learned have been forgotten”, Lorna concluded by saying “Learning fills us in, education draws us out. I am forever grateful to my two aunts for not only helping me to acquire necessary skills but, more importantly, to develop standards and precepts which have helped me through life, whether in the bringing up of my own family or in the teaching and guiding of others.”
In October 2005 the tribute was given by Dr. Christopher Wheeler (top left) - the first tribute from an Old Boy! Chris joined the school in 1991 and rose to be Head of St, Mary's. His first degree was in mathematics but he gained his doctorate in 2005 having studied Quantum Chaos. He now works for Barclays.
The other photos show Miss Parker with Mr and Mrs Clark, and Lunch on Founders' Day.
In 2004 the tribute to the school was made by Sarah and Hannah Mercer, who both attributed their success as career women to the grounding received at the Abbey. Sarah was at the school during the 1980s and is a very successful freelance translator, having specialised in legal work in German. Hannah, who joined in the late 80s and left in 1995, studied accountancy at University but is now a professional actress.
In 2003 the guest speaker was Monica Steward, who retired as
Deputy Head after 31years service. Many former pupils and
staff returned to Battle Abbey and had a great time
catching up on their news and reliving old memories! In the
picture below Monica is photographed with Miss Parker,
Mr. Teall and Mr. Clark, the three Head teachers she served
with during her long career at the school. She is still teaching A level German two mornings each week.
A Newsletter is published annually in late summer with news of former
pupils, which is available at a minimal cost of £2 per
year. The 2005 school magazine is in stock. This costs £5, but is free to paid up subscription members. Please call the school office if you would like a copy.
For
further information regarding BAFPA, please contact BAFPA Secretary at the school or click here to e-mail BAFPA.
There
is a reunion website containing news from many former pupils
as well as the Friends Reunited site which can be found at:
http://groups.msn.com/battleabbeyreunionsite
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