Susannah Hutchinson's (nee Butcher) TGS 120 Chapter.

Thank you for your email, you will open a floodgate! I could write all day about what TGS meant to me then and now.

I was at Tonbridge from 1952-1960, then went to Newton Park Teachers Training College in Bath, to do music and geography.
I remember us all arriving with a shoulder purse and indoor shoes, ghastly green knickers, green serge tunic, white blouse with herringbone embroidery round the square neck.

I was in Elizabeth Fry house of which I was very proudly sports captain in my last year.

School was everything to me. I was in school tennis and netball teams, and played cello in the school orchestra.
One year we did the opera Alceste by Gluck, very ambitious. My mother made me a black velvet dress to play cello  in the performances, which kept me going for performances at college.
The orchestra took part in schools together once a year( in photo fwd after I am one with black plait).

With tennis teams and Miss Perowne went everywhere in east Kent, Benenden, Mayfield, Maidstone, Coombe Bank etc.

We went on wonderful field courses to Juniper Hall for geography and botany. Remember for botany ALevel practical had to go to London.

Uni on the train, very scary. Our teacher was unusually a man who also taught at Tonbridge School.

Staff I remember most dearly was Miss Wilson for geography . Also Mrs Eames, Miss Debney ,Miss Dodds(something about her brother transplanting the bible?!)
Miss Mallard very scary, and of course Miss Arnold who we all so respected.

My main friends were Ailsa John, Carol Walker, Elizabeth Gay ( all boarders).and Annabel Page, who I still speak to regularly.
Some of my family who went are Lucy Whibley( she visited school for her 100th birthday in 2015)
Cousins Julie Butcher, Anne Martin, Catherine Whibley,Jessica Bear, Laurie Bear, great niece and great nephew Madeleine and Harry Butcher.

From school days I still have a love of wild flowers, calligraphy ( which was part of our A level art with Miss Wilding) I taught Piano until I was 79 and still play all 4 different recorders in U3A groups in Evesham and Pershore.

Will send photos in following emails.
Goodness you are going to get so much info I am sure, enjoy.

Thank you Susannah Hutchinson( school days Butcher)