Memories of the Garden Parties and watching Wimbledon

At the north end of the current site, in the 1970’s (The Girls’ School end) was the ‘New’ Music Centre as well as the houses used as the Bursar’s Office (previously used for the caretaker) These overlooked Fowberry Crescent. In the main building was the Art room, the girls’ Gym changing rooms, and opposite the door to these was the lecture theatre. This room proved very popular to Wimbledon fans on the day of the annual school Garden Party as it was always Men’s Finals Day (Saturday). The big names were Stan Smith, John Newcombe, Ken Rosewall and Nastase who began the decade then came Borg and Connors. Tennis fans who were helping on stalls, or organising buckets of water and wet sponges to throw over the school prefects in stocks in the quad (making sure to avoid the Stevenson screen), would disappear to watch the final live on the television provided in the lecture theatre, reporting back the score to others! How different now, with instant live coverage available on mobile phones! The new building will no doubt provide amazing modern spaces for future pupils to make new memories.

Helen Richardson (1976)

We'd love to hear about your school days. Please email Katherine Leonard development@dameallans.co.uk to share your memories.