An appeal is being made by a Bournemouth School for past pupils and staff to get in contact. Bournemouth Collegiate School merged with two Bournemouth Schools in 2009 – Wentworth College and Uplands School.
The school is now appealing for past pupils and staff to get in contact. Helping with the appeal is a family who have connections with all 3 schools!
The Chair of Governors at Bournemouth Collegiate School is Nina Dunne who has been involved with the school since 2004 and whose own son Thomas attended Uplands School from 1998 – 2004.
Nina invited her sister in law, alumna Sarah Smith (nee Dunne) who was a pupil at Wentworth Milton Mount from 1966-1969, and her sister Theresa Rowett (Nee Keats) who was a former pupil of Uplands School and attended from 1971 – 1979 to come along for a trip down memory lane and meet up at Bournemouth Collegiate School.
Sarah, who boarded at Wentworth Milton Mount said, “It is wonderful being back at the school. It’s certainly bringing back lots of memories. The boarding facilities are quite different now to how they were when I was at school. At that time we had 8 to a dorm, whereas now there are just two pupils in a room and sixth formers even get their own room….with ensuite!”
Sarah continued, “ I remember lots of staff names from my school days – Miss Hibbert, Miss Wood, Miss Braeburn, Miss Kuhn and Miss Butler. I wonder what became of my school friends. I would love to hear from Sara Stuart, Lesley Wells, Caroline Pye-Smith and Melanie Westall. I particularly enjoyed walking around the grounds and seeing the changes.”
Theresa reminisced, “I’ve never been back to school since I left. I really enjoyed my school days. I loved both sport and learning. I remember the PE teacher who lived at school. She had a dog called Shamus who would come along to all the sporting fixtures! I too remember lots of names from school – Caroline Swaffield, Wendy Bolson, Diana Turner, Anne Ruby and Tiffany Standish.”
BCS Head of Development and Alumni relations, Kate Shaw said, “In my relatively new role at Bournemouth Collegiate School I am hoping to create a vibrant alumni community and have set up an alumni group called, ‘Bournemouth Collegiate School alumni incorporating Wentworth College and Uplands School.’ We are hoping to plan a celebratory reunion in the future, for all years, and I would urge past pupils and staff from any of the schools to get in touch in order that I can include them on our new alumni data base. I will endeavour to keep them informed of school news and events in a regular alumni newsletter. ”
BCS Chair of Governors, Nina Dunne, added, “I really hope that past pupils who went to the schools will get in touch and spread the word with their school networks.”
Anyone interested in reconnecting with the school is asked to email kate at the following address alumni@bournemouthcollegiateschool.co.uk and let Kate know your name, maiden name, years at school, school attended, address, email address, phone numbers and profession.
A Facebook page has been created with the name, ‘Bournemouth Collegiate School alumni incorporating Wentworth College and Uplands School.’ Alumni are encouraged to like the page at
http://www.facebook.com/BournemouthCollegiateSchoolalumni and to follow the school on twitter @BCSprincipal