Former and current staff and pupils returned to FHS on Saturday 2nd March to celebrate the School’s 138th birthday. We were especially delighted to welcome former Headmistresses Mrs Jennifer Anderson and Miss Stephanie Pattenden.

Following the Old Girls’ Society AGM, in which annual reports were submitted and committee members re-elected, the popular drinks and canapés reception was hosted up in the lecture theatre. A commemorative display to celebrate the life of former FHS English teacher Mrs Leonie Lazarus, who sadly passed away in January of this year, drew much attention from guests - as did the 1960’s archive board, with many alumnae regaling peers with tales of their time spent at FHS during this decade. Some were able to spot their younger selves in the 1964 whole-school photograph.

Following lunch in the School Hall, Headmistress Mrs Lucy Elphinstone addressed the guests with current school news and events. Mrs Susannah Graham-Campbell, former Chair of the Old Girls’ Society was thanked and presented with flowers by Mrs Elphinstone, before current Co-Chair Mrs Anne Cyron brought the Lunch to a close with her first speech at such an event.

Keen to show our alumni around the newly-built Centre for Creative Enterprise, the tours proved very popular and showcased the state-of-the-art building, which now provides Sixth-Form students with a larger space to study and develop their entrepreneurial, design and technology skills.

The entire event was celebrated by almost 60 guests; it was a joy to witness many old friends reacquaint themselves with both the School and their peers. We look forward to welcoming you all to next year’s birthday event: an evening drinks reception in March 2020.