Croydon High School for Girls

AFTERNOON TEA

On Thursday afternoon, 21st March, Mrs Leonard welcomed a group of very special guests for a delicious afternoon tea at the school. They were Croydon High Alumnae and representatives of the Class of 1955 and earlier. The ladies were soon at ease, chatting with old and new friends over tea and cake and reminiscing about their school days.

They really enjoyed browsing through a selection of photo albums put together specially for the event and had great fun identifying themselves. The memories seem to come flooding back and we were enthralled by some of the stories of school life during the war years. Some themes are constant it would seem, as one lady recalled how she and her friends would love to look over the wall and watch the Trinity boys go by! She did add however, that the one year they were allowed to have a School Dance no boys were allowed and the girls had to dance with each other!

We were particularly proud of some of our sixth form girls who joined the tea party and acted as charming hosts, talking easily with these fascinating ladies and really enjoying their stories.

It was a very happy occasion and good to remind ourselves of the wonderful tradition of this school and the remarkable ‘girls’ who are associated with it – then and now!

HOT CHOCOLATE, CUP CAKES AND CHAT FOR OUR CLASS OF 2011

We were delighted to welcome back so many of our youngest ‘old girls’ to a reunion in the 6th Form centre last Friday evening. The girls were obviously happy to see old classmates and teachers and to pass on all their news after just a term out in the world of Uni! Everyone seems to be doing well but it was touching to hear from several of the girls how much they miss their Croydon High family. They are working (and playing) hard of course and we look forward to staying in touch and hearing more about their adventures in the future.

Calling all Friends of Croydon High – Join the Ivy Link

Saturday July the 11th was a very important day in the history of the Old Croydonians, Croydon High’s Old Girls’ Association which is one of the longest established alumni groups in the country. At the Association’s AGM, held at the school, the Old Croydonians voted unanimously in favour of dissolving the OC, with membership transferring to a new organisation to be known as The Ivy Link – Linking the Friends of Croydon High. This proposal had come about after a great deal of thought and careful consideration by the OC’s Committee, who have become increasingly aware of a dwindling membership and other issues affecting the future of the association. After discussions with the Mrs Leonard, the idea developed of forming a new organisation to be administered by the school, but retaining all of the benefits enjoyed by existing members. This new organisation would invite membership from not only ‘old girls,’ but also ex-staff, parents and anyone else with a link to the school.

The AGM was held as part of the OC’s Annual Summer Lunch attended by around 80 members and hosted reunions from both the class of 1960 and 1981. It was a very happy and lively occasion with a buzz of shared memories and laughter filling the air. The mood was extremely positive with everyone seeming to embrace the idea of this new phase in their history and all looking forward with optimism to the possibilities ahead. As Mrs Leonard told the members, “You are Croydon High, it is in your blood. Although I have only been here a relatively short time, I can feel it seeping into mine and I promise you we will do everything to move the Ivy Link forward and to reach out to more and more people who have such great regard for our school.”


If you would like to find out more about The Ivy Link or if you have any news or notices for the Ivy Link Magazine, please email us at ivylink@cry.gdst.net. We will be delighted to hear from you.

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