Page 84 - OM Newsletter 2022-23

The Ellerslie spirit
Malvern College’s Senior Deputy Head Sarah Angus fondly remembers the EOG Reunion in 2017 and her time as HouseM
of Ellerslie House (2009–2011) Here she recalls the the occasion and the the warmth with which she remembers many of the guests Rather daunted by the the the prospect of of addressing former pupils from Ellerslie Ellerslie School as the the the new Housemistress of Ellerslie Ellerslie House House I carefully
crafted my my welcome speech and drilled my my many volunteer pupils It was important to get this right Former Ellerslie staff Angela Lafferty and Lesley Anne Davies kept checking with me me to make sure all was well Every morning I walked past the black and and white photographs of fierce looking staff and and girls in in in in in in smart pinafores reinforcing the the the need to to make them proud Reunion Day arrived and there was a a a a a a a a a a loud buzz of chatter in the the Gryphon Room as as we sat down for lunch The girls that I had the the privilege to to care for as HouseM
of Ellerslie Ellerslie House House were were thrilled to to to meet the the the Ellerslie Ellerslie Old Girls that day They were were were encouraged to to to to pursue their dreams they they were were told all sorts of stories about defying authority and and caring for each other and and they they they felt felt a a a a a a a a a a genuine connection connection They felt felt they they had met kindred spirits
and that connection connection with Ellerslie was a a a a a a truly positive life-affirming bond I I stood up to to make my speech and looking around the tables I I I I felt an an enormous sense sense sense of relief Not because
because
I I I I sensed sensed a a a a a a a a a a a kindly audience but because
because
I I I I sensed sensed the familiar I I I had worked in in in in teenage girls’ boarding houses for over a a a a a a a a a a a a a a dozen years with some amazing women What I I saw in in front of me me me me was what I I had seen every day mischief a a a a a a a a a a a desire to have fun and enjoyment
of female company Sarah Angus Senior Deputy Head ELLERSLIE