Dear Friends,
Yes, it's that time of year again. Our school term has just finished with the Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols (and fifteen choir items!) and Parents' Day. This year it was Roger's turn to accompany Andrew to consult various colleagues about his progress. Andrew has returned to the sixth form in Kitchener House with his distinctive blazer badge and maroon jumper. He did really well in his GCSEs. Rebecca chose to stay in Clive House (rather than being with her mother in Marlborough House) and has become part of the new third Senior Girls' House. She also received a pleasing end of term report and has begun her exam courses in Year 10 (Fourth Year in the old currency).
With two new Senior Girls' Housemistresses, Barbara is after four terms the longest serving Senior Housemistress at DYRMS. This term has been one of complete contrast. She was pleased to receive an excellent intake of girls in September with a very supportive Head of House in the person of Louise Ketchin. However, two of her tutors went down with long-term illness in the second part of term which saw Barbara covering most of their duties as well as her own. Needless to say the end of term has brought welcome relief. Roger too has had his workload increased by eight lessons which has meant more marking and preparation. However being part of a successful RE department of two with excellent exam results in the summer has brought its own rewards making the hard work worth-while. We were particularly complimented by the visiting school inspection team in mid-November.
This summer we found ourselves camping in Biarritz close to the Spanish border. This gave us the opportunity to visit John and Violet Smith who have retired to the Gers. Violet is a former French teacher at DYRMS who retired three years ago and now runs a very successful B&B in that lovely part of France. We used the Motorail service from Calais to Toulouse and found it excellent although somewhat expensive. Next summer we are intending to go camping in the Dordogne, our first holiday away from the seaside.
We were also pleased to spend a weekend up in Liverpool at the end of August and it was good to see a number of friends including Mike Smout the Rector who retired after over twenty years at Aughton Parish Church in September. It was good to see Barry, Jen and Lizzie Broughton for a few hours as well as meeting up with Andrew's friend Carl who was at Carr Mill Junior School with him five years ago. We stayed at the Premier Lodge in Sefton which was pleasant enough so long as you didn't mind the wedding reception that went on till one o'clock in the morning.
It has been good to hear of your news. For some of you it has been a year of tremendous change whilst for others life seems to have gone on its usual pattern. Whichever the case we wish you a Happy Christmas and a Peaceful New Year. As we say every year, we are only five minutes' drive from the Port of Dover so let us know if you are passing and wish either to call in or even stay the night.
Best Wishes.