Page 11 - Abberley Adventures - Dec 2021

ABBERLEY ADVENTURES Arrivals and Departures
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Sally Pearson
Rupert Tapper
Rupert has taught Classics in a number of top prep schools over a period of over thirty years. Unsurprisingly, it is not easy to find an experienced Latin and Greek teacher able to step in midway through the year as maternity cover and so we are extremely lucky to have ‘found’ Mr Tapper at this time. He will be living in a cottage on the school grounds and he will be fully involved in all areas of school life. We look forward to welcoming Rupert to Abberley Hall at the start of the new term.
Jo Drury
Jo left us for maternity leave in December 2020 and she returned for the final week of the Autumn term. Jo has worked at Abberley for a long time and knows the school as well as anyone. It was wonderful to have her back in the Science department and also helping out in a variety of areas including in the Maths and Games departments. Welcome back, Jo!
Kim Pritchard
Kim has helped out in the Nursery for a number of years as well as working for us as a cleaner. Kim is brilliant with these young children and we are delighted that she has agreed to come and work with us as a full-time TA. She will be undertaking her TA qualifications whilst doing the job, under the expert guidance of Debs Williams.
Exciting Projects and Investment
We are so excited that, with the support of Malvern College, we have embarked on an ambitious plan to invest in school facilities over the next few years to maintain our unique historic buildings and grounds as well as to invest in new and upgraded facilities.
» A huge amount of work was done over the Summer to refurbish areas within the Victorian mansion. This included painting, carpeting, lighting, new pictures and new furniture in downstairs areas and up on the boarding floors. A child’s environment has a huge impact on the way that they think and feel and so it has been wonderful to see the appreciation they have for these lovely refurbished areas around the school.
» Work on Yates Theatre and the Music School is almost complete and this fantastic new space is already in use. Music lessons now take place in this new area and we have already used Yates Theatre for a handful of events. Finishing touches are going in and we will be having public events in the beautiful Yates Theatre from next term onwards. We can’t wait for parents to see this very special and historically unique space!
Emily Dobson
Our children love riding at Abberley and this term has been no exception with more children choosing to ride than ever before. Sadly, our wonderful riding teacher, Sally Pearson, has decided that the time has come to retire, or, as she puts it, to “hand over the reins to another lucky person”. Sally is leaving us to spend more time with
her new granddaughter and because her husband needs her to help more on the farm. In Sally’s own words,
‘What a wonderful “office” I have had... Marvellous biddable ponies, green fields, keen young riders, willing Gap students, beautiful grounds and a supportive Abberley Hall staff. To see the smiles on the children’s faces after they have mastered their first trot, canter or jump, is something that just makes my heart melt. Moments like those will stay with me forever. Huge thanks go to the generous owners of the pony boarders. I can’t thank them enough. Riding at Abberley simply wouldn’t happen without them!!
It has been a privilege to be part of such a wonderful school, a school which is going from strength to strength under the brilliant leadership of the extremely hard-working Jonnie and Tessa Besley and their team. I’m sure that my successor will be “champing at the bit” with exciting anticipation of what the “job” will bring to their lives.
I would like to take this opportunity to thank you, the parents and all of my supportive colleagues at Abberley Hall very much for giving me such an exceptional three years. I have so many fond memories. I would love to come and visit now and again. Special places are hard to leave behind’.
Harriett Kirby Smith
Tessa and I knew Harriet from our days in Suffolk and Mr Dunham used to teach her at Old Buckenham Hall Prep school in Suffolk, where I was a pupil myself a long time ago. Mr Dunham remembers her as an excellent chorister and so, when she got in touch to enquire about coming to work with us as a Gap, we jumped on
the opportunity. Harriet arrived with us in April having completed a degree in Psychology. She has been superb and helped out in all areas of the school. She has been a huge asset to the Music School and she has been a key member of staff. Harriet leaves with our very best wishes.
Emily will be with us for the first few weeks of the Spring term before heading off on maternity leave. We wish her all the very best of luck for when her baby arrives. Emily maintains that she will be back at work after six months but let’s wait and see! Best wishes, Emily. You will be a great mum. I hope the child’s first words will be in Latin!