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March 2012Issue 5 March 2012

The Gregg School is different from most schools. Certainlythere are classrooms, sports pitches, laboratories, netballcourts, music rooms, art studios, just as you would expect,but all in the setting of an elegant mansion and a magnificentGrade II Listed historic garden. As pupils work busily throughthe day, it probably never occurs to them to notice theirexceptional surroundings, or to think about the lives ofprevious occupants of the building.Townhill Park is the last remaining grand country house inSouthampton. Originally a farmhouse, and then agentleman’s residence, Townhill Park House was bought bythe family of Lord Swaythling in 1897 on the marriage of theeldest son and heir, Louis Montagu. It was enlarged andimproved for Louis and his beautiful bride, Lady Gladys,between 1910 and 1920. Louis adored Lady Gladys and hewanted her to have everything money could buy. Thesplendid panelled hall was built as a music room for her, andshe would sing to entertain guests. The house was furnishedwith exquisite antiques and valuable paintings by “OldMasters”.

Lord and Lady Swaythling entertained lavishly. The yearsbefore the First World War saw the heady days of countryhouse weekends, shooting parties, elegant dances, and evenvisits by Queen Mary and Princess Alice. An army ofservants, maids, footmen, cooks and gardeners, made theluxurious lifestyle of the family possible. At New Year therewas a Servants’ Ball. The gentry stood one side of theballroom whilst servants and gardeners stood along the other,until Lady Swaythling started the dancing with the butler orthe Head Gardener.The Swaythlings had three sons and a daughter, Joyce, whowere all cared for by nannies in the nursery. Stuart becamethe third Lord Swaythling in 1927. Ewen served in navalintelligence during World War II, his plot to deceive theGermans was immortalised in the film “The Man Who NeverWas.” Ivor became a Communist and worked in films withAlfred Hitchcock.

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(Print) ISSN 2044­9550 (Online) ISSN 2044­9569

100 Years of TownhillPark Gardens

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A very warm welcome to the fifth edition of the Gregorian. This issue includes acontribution by Rosaleen Wilkinson on the history of the house gardens as well asformer staff Mary Collett and Stanley Barker.

I have become involved over the years with charity work, inparticular taking people aboard sail­training ships to uninhabitedislands. This enables people to escape stress, chill out and relaxand discover what they really want to do with their lives. It canbe truly life changing!At the moment I am preparing a 1932 gaff schooner for Christianretreats and other uses in the Canaries. There is an urgent needfor volunteers to help with mechanical and electrical work,plumbing, painting, sanding, carpentry and cleaning. We mayalso need crew to move the boat. Please could you considerhelping? Accommodation and food aboard provided.Whilst working and learning about boat maintenance you willalso have the opportunityto learn knots, handlewarps and completesections towards theCompetent Crewcertificate.If you'd like to help Chris,please get in touch via theAlumni Office (contactdetails on the back page).

The Alumni Association has had a year of consolidation in2011, with a good influx of new members from both the Classof 2011 and previous years getting back in touch. Althoughthere has been no headline reunion, numerous smallergatherings have taken place. The Association is happy tosupport any reunion plans, and our 800 strong database offormer pupils allows us to communicate widely via thisnewsletter, online and on our Facebook pages. Ongoing, thekey to our success and relevance is ensuring that we stayconnected to the wider Gregg family. As such, we are alwayskeen to hear from the alumni on any subject of interest. Inparticular, to coincide with the London Olympics we areparticularly interested in receiving stories and pictures of asporting nature, recent or past, involving alumni.

In addition, we plan for several eventsin 2012. If you are interested in takingto the field for an Alumni vs School afternoon of cricket, inpulling on your football boots or your netball skirt and playingfor an alumni team please get in touch as we look tointroduce annual sporting events to our calendar. A summerreunion event is also penciled in the diary. Your ideas for whatform this could take are gratefully received.Finally, as always we are interested in alumni membersgetting involved however they feel able, whether bysupporting the Friends of Townhill Park Gardens, putting on ayear group reunion, joining our committee or organising anevent. Please do get in touch.

Welcome from the Chairman

Where Are They Now?Chris Wren (Class of 1971)

We were delighted to learn that Peter has gained aplace at Yale Graduate School in America as a VisitingResearch Assistant in the Department of Physics.The award of a place at the “Ivy League” Universityfollows Peter’s success in gaining the Physics Prize atSurrey University, which is awarded to the top studenton the Masters course.

Peter will join thePhysics Department atYale in February,where he will carry outresearch into NuclearPhysics, and hopes tobe back in England intime for Christmas.

Peter Humby (Class of 2007)

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Classes of '84, '85 & '86 Reunited!On the evening of Saturday 19th November 2011, the White StarTavern in Southampton was descended upon by about 50 formerGregg School pupils from the mid eighties – and it was a trulymemorable evening!As more and more people arrived, it was a surreal experiencelooking at so many familiar faces that we hadn’t spoken to or seenfor just over quarter of a century. It really didn’t feel that long agothat we said goodbye, took lots of photos of friends and teachers,and wrote all over each other’s school shirts. Who would haveguessed back then that Sherilee Sellers (nee Dawson) would goon to be the school’s head teacher, and a further two, KarenMcLellan (nee Hart) and Beth Everett (nee Phillips) would also beworking there.The reunion was organised by Stuart Judd and Marcus Hebbes ­so ‘hats off’ to you guys for making it happen. You did a greatjob, and all those hours spent contacting old friends on Facebookpaid off. There’s now a Facebook Group for the mid eightiesclasses where many of the old school photos have now appearedwhich have been joined by numerous shots from the reunion. Itreally is great to see these even if we do look just a tad older!!Many had travelled from across the UK to attend the reunion, andat least one came from overseas.We were the house party generation and there was plenty ofreminiscing about these during the evening, as well as the hoursand hours spent at the Southampton Ice Rink. The nostalgiadidn’t stop there ­ even a copy of ‘Smash Hits’ from about 1983found its way to the reunion much to the delight of some of theladies who drooled over pictures of Nick Heywood and DavidSylvian.Most of us made it to about midnight and a hard core groupmanaged to party until 3am – not bad for a bunch of fortysomethings! So be warned young Gregg Alumni members – thiscould be you in 20 years time (now that’s scary as the classes ofthe mid eighties will be in their sixties ­ argh!)

Year Group ReunionsLet us know if you are planning a reunion for a specificyear group or year groups.We are more than happy toemail alumni from the year groups who are on our contactdatabase to pass on details about your event and topublicise it in our newsletters.

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On Saturday 5 October 1974, The Gregg School swimmingrelay team travelled with Mr Hart, Mr Brushett and myself tothe English Schools’ Swimming Championships in Guildford.We were looking forward to a very successful outcome,having an extremely strong team which comprised MichaelAbrahams, Richard Spencer, Gary Abrahams and IanHughes (Gary and Ian also being full international swimmersat the time).Our main rivals to become English Schools’ RelayChampions were Anfield Comprehensive from Liverpool,Bradford Grammar and Millfield School in Somerset. Thetension in the Swimming Baths in Guildford was amazing,and the noise deafening! Our boys swam twice – in the 4 x50m Freestyle and the 4 x 50m Medley (Backstroke,Breaststroke, Butterfly and Freestyle) and you can imaginethe excitement and relief when the school team won bothrelay events, and the under 16 competition with aplomb.However, their magnificent victory was soon to beovershadowed by events which were unfolding a fewhundred yards away, for this was the day the Provisional IRAdetonated two, 6 pound gelignite bombs in two pubs, killingfive people and wounding a further 65.

The noise in the baths had drowned out the sound of thebombs and the first we knew of the terrible tragedy was whenMr Hart turned on the car radio as we attempted to join thetraffic returning to Southampton.It was certainly a day I shall never forget – for two verydifferent reasons.

Reverend Barker is now retired and lives in Abergavenny,Gwent.Gary Abraham went on to win a bronze medal for GreatBritain in the Moscow Olympics in 1980, and Ian Hughesrepresented Scotland in the 1974 Commonwealth Games inChristchurch.The victory in Guildford followed the same team’s win in bothrelays the previous year at Leeds whilst the boys were inYear 10. The boys were all members of the top club in theCountry – Southampton Swimming Club – under thecoaching of David Haller and Ray Cayless.The Barker shield is competed for each year at the School’sSwimming Gala.

Guildford: Triumph and TragedyReverend Stanley Barker (Staff, 1973­1976)

Looking BackMary Collett (Staff 1982­2008)Writing essays has never been my forte and it is hard to knowwhere to start when asked to write about my time as ateacher at The Gregg School. An advertisement in theSouthern Evening Echo in February 1982 for a part time P. E.teacher at The Gregg School – summer term only ­ promptedmy husband to persuade me to apply. That was the start ofmany years’ service which I thoroughly enjoyed and oftenreflect on the good times and experiences.During the winter months I always enjoyed encouraging thecross country, hockey and netball teams and athletics androunders were firm favourites in the summer.As a P.E. Teacher there were many house events to helporganise. The Cross Country race used to take place on theCommon, the Swimming Gala at Centre 2000 and Sports Dayat the Sports Centre. These involved the whole school andstaff – I am aware that the occasions were loved by some anddreaded by others. Swimmers at the School excelled in theCity Championships held annually at Centre 2000 winning theteam competition on many occasions.I have always been keen on swimming and following mysuccess at a Channel Relay swim I decided to have a go atorganising a Gregg School team. A year of planning andtraining for Shaun, Massimo, Donna, Kathryn, Michael and

James resulted in the team completing the challenge in thesummer of 1988 raising money for The Rose Road Centre. Apresentation dinner was held in Dover in November whenthey all received their certificates and had a swim in theirharbour to celebrate.Summer Camp was a highlight of the summer term. The firstholidays at Avon Tyrrell in the New Forest were a greatexperience for Staff and Pupils. We had to pitch tents, provideactivities, cook and wash up. I was in charge of canoeing

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March 2012which usually resulted in a few pupils going for anunscheduled swim and Mr Brown was also known to capsizein spectacular fashion. As the years went on the holidaysmoved further afield and Year 9 adventure week at Budebecame a firm favourite. I can honestly say I enjoyed everycamp.Skiing was not on my list of sports until I reached the ripe oldage of 40. I was given the chance to join the School trip to theAlps and that was the start of many trips to the slopes and Istill enjoy the challenge today.During my time at the school we moved from Winn Road toTownhill Park House where there was plenty of room on sitefor games and cross country and there were changes madefor senior games. Yacht sailing at Hamble was introduced andmany pupils took advantage of the chance to learn the basicsof seamanship. My son took part in a course and on arrival inSydney secured a place on the company yacht on the strengthof the knowledge gained at school.As a needlework teacher, I spent many happy hours in mylater years at school in the textile department. Teaching boysand girls to design and sew was a challenge and most lessonspassed without incident. One boy did manage to machinethrough his finger nail but it was removed without too muchbother. With a little encouragement most pupils achievedsuccess and I still hear from pupils who say the sewing skillsthey learnt have come in useful. Tie dye and batik cushionswere always a favourite.I also taught pupils at St. Winifred’s School and one of thehighlights of my time there was the achievement of theswimming team at the English Schools Relay Championshipsheld in Sheffield where they were placed 4th in the freestyleand medley relays – an exceptional result for a small school.I was honoured to be asked to read the lesson at the CarolService held at the end of the autumn term in my last year atthe Gregg School. This brought my time almost to a close anda farewell tea and presentation in July 2008 saw me hang upmy kit for the last time. I have so many memories of my life atThe Gregg School and I can honestly say they are nearly allgood.Since leaving the Gregg School I have had time to train andcompete in chosen events without the worry of returning to theclassroom. I remember only too well the morning of 17thSeptember 1987 returning from a Channel Relay swim whichhad lasted 19 hours and 52 minutes and thinking I was goingto be late for my lessons as I was stuck on the M25 at rushhour. (The swim should have taken 12 hours allowing me timeto get home and have a shower.) I have also managed 2 otherrelays but do not plan any more due to old age!A month in Antigua sounds like fun and this was my fate inearly 2008 when Pete ­ our son ­ completed a solo row acrossthe Atlantic. We were fortunate to have accommodationoffered for 4 weeks so we made the most of the sun and thebeaches. Pupils at school took part in a sponsored “rowathon”to raise money for his charity – Alzheimers – and also made aradio link with him mid Atlantic. While I was there I took part ina race across the bay in Antigua to raise money for the localprimary school’s library fund and enjoyed competing in warmwaters and won the event. The problem was getting the prizehome as it added considerably to our baggage allowance!

The “Escape from Alcatraz” swim in 2009 was great fun. Eighthundred competitors took part in the race from the Island tothe beach and achieving second place in my age categorywas a real surprise. This is a challenge which I stronglyrecommend as the American organisers were mosthospitable.I have continued to take part in Biathle which is a run, swim,run event competing in Dubai, Monaco, Italy, Sophia andGermany since retiring. I have competed at WorldChampionships for 12 years winning on 10 occasions andcoming 2nd twice. I really enjoy the competitions and it is agood incentive to keep fit. Next on the agenda is the Olympic5 mile run on 30th March which starts in the Olympic Villageand finishes on the track in the Stadium. Five thousandrunners have been selected to take part and this promises tobe a great event.Retirement is great – there is never a dull moment!

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Twenty­five gardeners were employed. In 1920 a garden­boyearned 37p a week for sweeping leaves, pushingwheelbarrows, making tea, and trapping rats for 2p a tail.Country­house life ended with World War II. Lord Stuartloaned the house to the Red Cross in 1939 as a convalescenthome for soldiers. Then, in 1948, Stuart Montagu, third LordSwaythling, sold the Townhill Park estate to SouthamptonCouncil for housing development, retaining about 20 acres ofgrounds around the house. Thereafter, the house was usedas a boarding school for handicapped girls from 1948 to 1969.Then it became a hostel for Merchant Navy cadets until 1985.During this time the gardens were well maintained, but whenTownhill Park House subsequently became a conferencecentre, the grounds only received minimal care and rapidly fellinto decay. Photographs show the desolation of the collapsedpergola and ruined Sunk Garden. The beautiful gardens,which were the tribute of Lord Louis Swaythling to his lovelywife, Lady Gladys, seemed to be irretrievably lost.However, when the Gregg School bought the estate in 1994,both house and gardens had received Grade II Listed status,and restoration work had to be undertaken. The gardens areof national importance because they were planned by one ofEngland’s greatest garden designers, Gertrude Jekyll. Theyhad to be saved.The gardens and arboretum were laid out one hundred yearsago, in 1912, to Gertrude Jekyll’s plans, working incollaboration with the architect, Leonard Rome Guthrie. Theformal gardens display many of Gertrude Jekyll’s inspirationaldesign features. There is a three­sided pergola, surrounding aSunk Garden. This is laid out with symmetrical paving andbeds, and has a circular lily­pond in the middle. There areherbaceous borders backed by yew hedges, a luxuriantly

planted Herb Garden, and a terrace with a fine “framed view”looking into the distant countryside. Gertrude’s elaborateplanting plans for the Sunk Garden and the Herb Garden stillexist.

Continued from front page

The beautifulgardens seemed tobe irretrievably lost

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With the assistance of Hampshire Gardens Trust, a “Friendsof the Gardens” group was set up in February 1997. Shortlyafter this, volunteers Janet and David Harley took overresponsibility for the Sunk Garden and Rosaleen Wilkinsontook on the herbaceous borders and Herb Garden. They arestill caring for these areas fourteen years later. The GreggSchool maintenance staff, Mel, Brian and John, re­laid paths,and major structural work was undertaken to rescue the hardlandscaping features. In 2001 a skilled Estate Manager,Matthew Hunt, was appointed by the school to maintain thegrounds and sports pitches.In 2007 restoration work began on the overgrown arboretumwith the help of a “posse” of volunteers, led by Ian and JonSouthwell (a former student). This was set out at the sametime as the garden and has fine examples of exotic treesdiscovered by plant hunters. The Orchard, which dates fromthe 1950’s, has also been restored.The Friends of Townhill Park House Gardens group isindependent of the school and raises much of its own moneyto pay for the restoration. Four public Gardens Open Days areheld each year ­ in March for the daffodils, May for thebluebells in the arboretum, July for the herbaceous borders

and finally in September, when, in association with HeritageDays, the house is open for guided tours which areundertaken by current students. Around 700­800 people visitthe gardens over the course of the year.On 1st July 2012, the gardens celebrate their centenary withthe unveiling of an arch at the entrance to the gardens by GillyDrummond, Deputy Lieutenant of Hampshire and President ofHampshire Gardens Trust, with other distinguished guests.The “Friends” invite all students, past and present, and theirfamilies to join us for this special occasion to enjoy the beautyof this historic estate.If you would like to make a donation, however small, towardsthe Centenary Arch, it would be very welcome. Please sendyour donation to “The Friends of Townhill Park HouseGardens” c/o Peter Wilkinson, 13, Shanklin Crescent,Southampton SO15 7RB or send it to The Gregg School.

Opposite: The sunk garden and pergola before restoration. Above: The sunk garden following restoration.

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You can now find us online at www.gsaa.org.uk

Among other things, our website contains all pasteditions of the Gregorian, information about theconstitution and committee, details of alumni events anddetails of exclusive alumni benefits.

Or, find us on facebook at:www.gsaa.org.uk/facebook

Have Your SayA­Level results? Graduating? First Job? Getting married?Having Kids? Retiring? If you have anything interesting tosay, get in touch! To contribute to the next edition of theGregorian, simply email your news, stories, and photos tothe Media Officer, media@gsaa.org.uk or write toAlumni OfficeThe Gregg SchoolTownhill Park HouseCutbush LaneSouthamptonSO18 2GFFor general enquiries, email committee@gsaa.org.uk

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Sunday 11 MarchGardens open to the public 2.00­5.00pmWednesday 28 March ­ Saturday 31 MarchAnnual Musical ­ "Half A Sixpence" ­ performancesnightly at The Hub Theatre, Southampton City College.Monday 7 May (Bank Holiday)Gardens open to the public 2.00­5.00pm

Advertise YOUR business here!For just £10 a year (£20 for non­members) youwill be able to place an 8cm x 8cmadvertisement in our Alumni Newsletters(produced twice each year).If you have a business you’d like to advertise, orknow of anyone who may be interested in anadvertisement, please contact the alumni office.