Remembering Vivien Harrington (née Gadd). TGS 1956 to 1963

By Nicky Hawkwood and Susie Malcolm

We are so sorry to share the news that our mum, Vivien Harrington (née Gadd), passed away at the end of July 2024.

Viv had extremely fond memories of her time at TGS (1956 to 1963), particularly an adventure to southern Spain in the sixth form, which remained the source of much reminiscing and hilarity with her lifelong schoolfriends.

Viv was always keen to make use of her language skills, so after leaving TGS she went to work in the City of London as a Spanish translator for a merchant bank and then for the French company Total Oil Products Ltd.

She married her first husband Geoff and left Kent for London. Their daughter Nicky arrived, and a couple of years later the family moved out of the capital to Chelmsford in Essex, where daughter Susie was born.

While we were both at school, our mum took a part-time job in a building society and then found a role typing foreign language exam papers in the Business Studies department of the Chelmer Institute (now Anglia Ruskin University). The students admired the fact that she had used her languages working in the City, and after a while she qualified as a teacher of shorthand and typing, as well as French and German shorthand.

After about ten years, Viv took a full-time job as a personnel and training officer at Essex County Council and then moved to Chelmsford Borough Council to set up a new training section there. She completed the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development qualifications and achieved a Master’s Degree in Employment Strategy. Viv became a member of the Council’s Management Board and took responsibility for developing an in-house BTEC course for staff and introducing National Vocational Qualifications. This was so successful that she was invited by the Local Government Training Board to share her experience with other local authorities.

In 1992 Viv married Tony, an accountant and lecturer, and after retirement they enjoyed lovely family time at their villa near Denia on Spain’s Costa Blanca and at home in Braintree, where they hosted a weekly ‘sausage night’ get-together for their grandchildren, as well as wonderful family meals and celebrations.

Viv didn’t allow a diagnosis of breast cancer in 2007 to stand in her way and she underwent treatment with positivity and strength throughout.

She and Tony discovered cruising and visited places of cultural interest around the world. She loved baking and crafting with their five grand-daughters and one grandson and supported them in school plays, matches and concerts and with exam revision and driving practice (she was also an expert at nametapes). She enjoyed lunches and days out with her friends, as well as with her sister Pat and family in Tunbridge Wells, and found time to volunteer as a mentor to young jobseekers.

Viv leaves behind her husband Tony, now living near his daughter Lindsay, her husband Rob and children Sophie and Josh, not far from Newmarket in Suffolk; her daughter Nicky, who lives in Nayland, Suffolk with her wife Emma and younger daughter Charley, while elder daughter Lucy lives in Scotland; her daughter Susie, who lives in Perth, Western Australia, with her partner Sam and daughters Gemma and Tegan; and stepson David, who lives in Romania.

She will be very much missed by everyone who knew her.

Pippa Blackstone Development and Alumni writes:  

The thriving alumni community of Tonbridge Grammar School gives me the privilege of meeting and getting to know school friends across the years. In January I was thrilled to host our regular reunion event that takes place annually on a Saturday close to the date the school was founded on 24 January. Extra special this year, the school's 120 anniversary. It was lovely that Pat Collins née Gadd came along with Gill Bradley née Wickenden.