In this fiftieth anniversary year of girls first joining Haileybury in 1973, we have been pleased to hear from a number of OH women who remember their years at Haileybury during this remarkable period. Here Clare Hanbury (Tr 77) tells her story in her own words…

Hello (mostly) Boys!

You have no idea how terrifying it was to join the minute cohort of girls at Haileybury in 1977. That was even for a girl WITH THREE BROTHERS (Damian, Rupert, and Tobias) who had gently bullied me throughout childhood. But there I was on That Balcony in Hall, Day 1, having tea, and being peered at by the masses below.

And that continuous scrutiny didn’t stop till I left. The nicest boys in Trev, Term 1 were the more grown-up Oxbridge ones who were leaving soon! (e.g. Jim and Phillip) and the Removes. So when it was my turn to serve the chips, the Removes got big helpings, and they loved me even more. Sweet.

Music, English and horse-riding with Dan Hearn

Highlights at Haileybury were… the music – I forget how many choirs I was in and in the orchestra (percussion). Then there was the acting (Sweeney Todd with Steve Cartwright) and The Importance of Being Earnest (great make up). Both directed by Dan Hearn who I used to take riding on my horse with the help of 3 rugby lads (usually Steve, John and Tim) so Dan was covered at all 4 corners in case he slid off.

Then there was Simon Watson who is still a friend – an English beak who asked the class a question and waited until we answered – even if no one did throughout the whole 40-minute lesson. That’s patience. It was a weird method and we never really figured out what was going on but here I am all remembering it all these years later.

‘Plebs’ and ‘Dates’…

Then I enjoyed ‘Plebs’ which was a gathering around watery hot chocolate and stale buns at ‘break’. We even had our own newsletter.

I liked the prayer before meals with us all together, standing up and silent. Then I won the school 200 metres girls race but there was only one other girl who could run (Lucy S). I enjoyed not turning in ‘dates’ given to me many times for not attending rugby matches.

A broken toe of petulance

Lastly and maybe a lowlight was kicking an iron bedstead in frustration after David Hunt refused to agree with my long list of demands for proposed ‘house society’ events.

“Don’t you realise, Clare, “ he said, “that you are the first ever GIRL captain of house societies in the history of Trevelyan? He wanted us to listen to him playing the piano and we wanted to go to movies in Harlow. I resigned. I also broke my toe.

Made in Haileybury…

The wondrous Jane Everard who organises this OH society thing – thank you – has suggested 350 words for this update and I’m already over this but I’m going to tell you anyway a little about the woman I have become since those far off days.

Today, I have 2 outstanding adult children, I live half the time in Alderney in the Channel Islands where I swim, watch sunsets, and have fun. I can also be found in London and if you have a large net, catch me in my camper van from which I explore Scotland, Ireland and, I hope to get to Europe too when I can pluck up the courage to drive on the other side of the road.

Charity work

From wherever, I run my international child health charity www.childrenforhealth.org – which is my life’s work, so I’m overseas too sometimes, pretending to do useful things.

I have been so lucky to have spent most of my career working with amazing people and seeing amazing things all around the world.

I started it all off after Haileybury, by training to be a teacher in Cambridge (the most outstanding course) and then teaching in international schools in Kenya and then Hong Kong, then onward into international development. I probably have very little of use to pass on to the younger ones whose world is different.

I’m still in touch with Steve Cartwright, Jo KitKat, Jim and Lucy nee Parton, Louise nee Shepherd, David Solomon (4^th brother status) Nigel Stuart and James Woodall and I was in touch with dearest Trish Anderson who is no longer with us.

I think Haileybury made me brave.

Clare Hanbury (Tr 1977-79)