Remarkable women, from Anti-Apartheid campaigners to marmalade makers, are celebrated in Her Story, a Harrodian writing competition that marks Women’s History Month.
Her Story was conceived by Harrodian History Teacher and Head of Politics Charlotte Arnold and invited both our pupils ( from 13s to Sixth Formers) and our teachers to write about a female relative who they had found inspirational.
The student winner, Sixth Former Kitty, below right, wrote about her South African-born Great Grandmother, Elaine Leon, below, who combined a public role as a courageous opponent of apartheid with a personal one as the benign matriarchal ‘nucleus of an extended sprawl of family and friends’ dispersed all over the world. ‘She not only governed and organised the family but kept everyone connected,’ writes Kitty. ‘She is fiercely respected, for her grace and wisdom enriches those who know and love her.’
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She not only governed and organised the family but kept everyone connected
Kitty, Harrodian Sixth Former, on her Great Grandmother, Elaine
Winner of the Teachers’ prize, Head of Media, Sam Cullis, below, wrote about his grandmother, Christine Trodd, the presenter of BBC Radio's Music and Movement broadcasts in the early 1950s. ‘Her can-do spirit of determination and positivity was boundless,’ he told me. ‘I cannot remember her ever complaining about anything.’
Student runner up, Sixth Former Felix, has been similarly impressed with the enduring resilience of his Grandmother, Angela Mynors, who overcame chronic health problems to become a passionate cyclist touring every inch of Europe on a Pino tandem with husband Peter, below. ‘With every journey added up, she had managed to cycle the equivalent of circumnavigating the globe around the equator,’ writes Felix.
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With every journey added up, she had managed to cycle the equivalent of circumnavigating the globe around the equator
Felix, Sixth Former on his grandmother, Angela
English Teacher, Mr Digby Don dug back into ancient family history to find his inspirational woman. Dundee confectioner and trailblazing female entrepreneur Janet Keiller, Mr Don’s great, great, great, great grandmother created the distinctive recipe which made Keiller’s marmalade a household name although predictably, perhaps, it was the name of her son James that appeared on the marmalade jar that defined the brand.
Her superpower was love, which she chose every single day of her life
Mr Rodricks on his mother, Grace
Maths teacher, Warren Rodricks nominated his mother, above, as his personal hero for the courage, patience and love which she brought to life. Born in India, Grace emigrated to the far west of Canada and was clearly a woman who lived up to her name, as Mr Rodricks powerful and moving tribute illustrates: ‘When faced with racial abuse from strangers and smug condescension from ‘friends’, she chose love. When she lost him, the man who meant more to her than anyone else, she chose love. Her superpower was love, which she chose every single day of her life… Without her, I would have never had the opportunity to be the best thing that I am today…a father.’
You can read all these five stories by following the links above. We will be producing an on-line book of all the Her Story entries soon and will provide links to this in our final Newsletter of the term.