Page 19 - Luce 2015

Develop ment

From the her parting thoughts and

Director of reflections:
Development “I just wanted to express
my most heartfelt gratitude
to all of you for giving me
Reflecting on my first year the opportunity to become
in this new role, it has been a part of life at JCH, and
an enjoyable and enriching for making my three years
experience – a period of re- here so wonderful and
acquaintance with the College fulfilling…
that I left back in the early
1970s but also an introduction
to the wonderful community I have been thinking over
that is JCH today. my time here and how
much it has become a
At the same time it has been my great pleasure to meet and part of my being. At first I
talk with alumni from as far back as the post-war years who expected my time at JCH
have shared with me their fond memories of a time when Miss to end as if we would be
Joske strode the corridors, freshers shivered and slept on the severed apart. Instead, it
balcony overlooking Ormond and Trinity, and students shelled is almost as though I have
peas on the lawn on Sunday mornings. In the article below grown another limb, and
(on pages 22-23) I have endeavoured to capture some of the JCH is that limb. At first,
reminiscences from Jenny Taplin (1948), Floranne Everson I thought I was leaving.
(1956) and Mary Playford (1953). Their affection for JCH and But I’ve recently realised
for the enduring friendships created here shine through. that instead, rather like the
mind and the spirit, JCH
Over the past year I have met and chatted with today’s is knit in myself and is
students in the Dining Hall, on the stairs or in the JCR kitchen coming with me.
over steaming mugs of coffee. Without exception, they have
impressed me with their warmth, intelligence, good humour …. I feel that JCH has Janet Clarke Hall Society Choral
Scholar Georgie Kirkham
and consideration. Whether preparing a fantastic activities given me the confidence
programme for College freshers, rehearsing for the College and foundations with which to grow myself and explore what
play, toiling over assignments or swotting for exams, the I can do out in the wider world. I am so much internally
students have demonstrated a maturity, generosity of spirit and richer for my place in this community. Through JCH, you have
lively enthusiasm that reflects the values of the College. shown me what I now realise I desired most of all: to learn
how to carry out my determination to do the right thing by the
I was moved by a beautiful letter of thanks sent to Dr Powell world.”
and his team in November 2015 by Georgie Kirkham, a
student departing after three years in residence at JCH. In Georgie’s wonderfully reflective letter expresses more
2014 Georgie was awarded the Constance Tisdall Memorial eloquently than I can, the reason why supporting the
Scholarship (College) and in 2015 the JCH Society Choral College through our Annual Giving Appeal or leaving a gift
Scholarship. With her permission, I am keen to share some of in your Will is so important and meaningful. Scholarships
and bursaries made possible by the generosity of donors
enable the brightest and most deserving students to become
part of the very special community that is Janet Clarke Hall,
regardless of their personal and financial circumstances.
Georgie’s words are testimony to the power of the ethos
to which our Principal referred in his introduction to last
year’s Luce. Dr Powell wrote, ‘it is not what our students will
become in terms of future prosperity but rather who they
will become in terms of outlook and values that focuses my
mind as we build this incredibly intensive and rewarding little
community year by year.’

It has always been a privilege to experience being part of the
JCH community. By supporting the College, those of us who
have had that privilege in the past can have the pleasure of
knowing we are enabling others to enjoy that experience in
the future.
Ms Shelley Roberts
The reason for philanthropy: rural leadership students Tom Director of Development
Skinner, Kelsey Hayes and Ruby Jacobs
J anet Clarke Hall 19