Page 69 - OO_2018

STAFF FAREWELLS
Marianne Smith
Geography and PE teacher
Marianne made an exceptional contribution to the life of the School, having been involved in a wide range of areas, including leading New House for 13 years, teaching both PE and Geography, undertaking numerous School trips and, most recently, running the PSHE programme and taking the lead in terms of delivering this crucial area of the curriculum in an original and dynamic way. She arrived at Oundle in 1997 as Head of Girls’ Games, following 20 years working across a wide range of schools, including in the maintained sector, a Catholic convent and a girls’ day school. Initially, she tutored in Wyatt until 1999, when she became Deputy Housemistress of New House. In 2002 she took on the role of Head of Sport, stepping down from this post to take over New House in 2004. Both her daughter, Bridie, and son, Jack, attended the School, leaving in 2004 and 2006 respectively.
Having served as Nicola Guise’s deputy for several years, her time as Housemistress of New House began in the most challenging of circumstances. Nicola was the archetypal ‘tough act’ to follow, but Marianne stepped into her shoes seamlessly, continuing with everything that was already great in the House and adding many brilliant touches of her own. At all times her focus was on the happiness and wellbeing of her girls, but this did not mean that she was unaware of their failings and foibles. In fact, it was her clear awareness and understanding of those occasional weaknesses which made her so brilliant at her job and rapidly gained admiration, respect and affection. She fostered academic excellence and co- curricular participation in equal measure, ensuring the girls
maintained the strong sense of the House’s very special identity, not least inspired by its beautiful environment down by the river. One of Marianne’s most defining features is her energy, which she used creatively to prioritise inclusivity in the House, ensuring that everyone – girls, domestic staff, matrons, House listeners, Tutors – felt welcome and part of the community. The annual highlights included mince pies and mulled wine in December, and the Pimm’s picnic on Speech Day. She also organised barbeques for pupils and their invited guests, and arranged yoga classes during exam season.
Marianne’s exceptional leadership was most clearly demonstrated by the loyalty and love expressed by former pupils and those who tutored with her. Caroline Rees writes: “Marianne’s incredible sense of humour, her warmth and openness, and especially her infectious energy have meant that everyone who has worked with her has enjoyed spending time in her company. We will feel her departure keenly; I feel that I have benefited from Marianne as a patient mentor and a fantastic
team-mate who has also become a true friend.” Clare Westran, a long- serving Tutor, reflects upon the way in which Marianne’s leadership helped shape the girls in her care: “New House girls are special. They are different. They have learnt from Marianne’s example and by the time they leave, they are strong, fair, kind and loyal. They are people who know what it is to give of themselves and, most importantly, they are fierce and unafraid. They leave here and they are ready to live their lives thewaytheywantto–anditis Marianne who has helped them become like that.”
Marianne’s belief in the life- affirming and life-changing value of travel was clear throughout her time at the School, perhaps most significantly through her seven trips to Kenya. Ian Clark writes: “Marianne joined the Kenya trips in 2005 and soon became the bedrock of not just future trips, but also of fundraising and ‘friend raising’. In Kenya, Marianne would charm Kenyan headteachers, mastermind vegetarian extravaganzas from local markets and mix concrete with the best of them, all with a smile and time for local children. In the UK, she helped us link up with TourAid to bring Ngecho pupils to Oundle in 2010 and New House raised thousands of pounds over the years for bursaries and buildings in Kenyan schools.” Catriona Redding recalls another occasion: “Marianne co-led an innovative community partnership in 2004 with a state school in Wellingborough, creating a project which reflected upon race and class. The project included a visiting Kenyan school and culminated in a dance performance that crossed racial and class divisions in an energetic and positive way.”
Marianne also initiated the girls’ www
THE OLD OUNDELIAN 2017 –2018
<<<RETURN TO CONTENTS
69