TGS Chapter Nina Theoharis (nee Cuthbert 1989 - 1996

I started at TGS in September 1989, in 1S with Mrs Smith. I made my best friends for life in that first week and I count myself very lucky to have met them.

1S was one of a 4 form entry and back then we would have inter form sport competitions. Over the course of that first year, we would win the Netball, Gymnastics, Hockey, Tennis and Swimming. We never managed to win the Rounders or Athletics but 5 out of 7 was pretty good!

The school made a change when we moved into Year 2 as it became 8 and we were 8S again, but with the lovely Mrs Sweet who we kept until Year 9. The skirts got shorter but our class was still the same. At the end of that year there were many tears as we knew we would all be split in Year 10. Miss Gibbs was the unfortunate recipient of our class for the next two years… and she was great fun, allowing us to decorate our hut with Take That posters all along the back wall. (Much to the chagrin of those members of the class who didn’t care for this boyband).

We performed in every Gym and Dance display, Parent/Teacher/Pupil entertainment (as Take That of course), played tennis every lunchtime on the grass courts and found time to jump into the swimming pool fully clothed...

There were teachers no doubt long suffering of us (Mr Foreman, Mrs Buckle, Mrs Middleton), teachers who we made up songs for and performed them at the start of lessons (Mr Pitts), teachers who inspired me (Mrs Clarke who started with me as Miss Hewitt), teachers who were eccentric (Dr Horrocks, Mr Windy), teachers who were lovely (Miss Debney, Mrs Burton, Miss Montague) and teachers who were scary, but probably not scary at all (Madame Taylor, Madame Williams, Mrs Credland, Mrs Whitwood…)

We started with Miss Mitchener who I would describe as a cuddly little granny and then had Mrs Carey who brought dynamic chance and whom we all liked very much. The new uniform was great too as by Year 9, we were ready to relinquish our grey shades and embrace the green!

The sixth from common room with its old armchairs and well-used toaster was a perfect place to hang out. The fields were lovely in summer to walk across and the statue outside the front of the main building reminded us of being the girls at the school on the hilltop.

Too many memories to put in, so many good times - TGS is a very special place that I hold very dear.