A Fond Farewell

Sue Lawrence (above) joined the College in 2012 as a teacher of DT and (marriage to Sam in 2014 and two daughters later) was appointed Housemistress of Saints’ House – the first co-educational Day House at Lancing and the first new House to be established in 40 years at the College – in 2018. Her design flair has been put to brilliant effect in the creation of a particular and harmonious sense of community and House ethos. Her attention to detail (from the physical detail of the layout of pupils’ rooms and workspaces to the design of the House itself, to the emotional detail of how to bring and bind a new community together) has been matched by a wider vision for the House. Rigorous and kind, administratively precise and imaginative, she has established new ‘traditions’ in Saints’: the creation of House families, a weekly break-time brunch, a sleepover – these have made this community feel distinctive.

Sue and family leave us for a tremendous adventure as she and Sam become House Parents for a school for elite skiers in the French Alps.

Graham Davies joined the Spanish Department in 1997 as Head of Spanish – a position he held for many years. In this capacity he inspired generations of Lancing pupils, and those that he sent on to illustrious universities across the world have retained links and returned to visit. He has quietly and modestly made a significant impact on those he has taught. A distinguished crossword clue creator, a jazz pianist and a composer, Graham’s abilities and passions have extended beyond the classroom and a thread of tunes shared with colleagues across lockdown have charted the emotions of the past year. Graham forged and grew the College’s links with our partner school in Oviedo and has shared his knowledge and insight into the history, traditions, gastronomy and language of Spain with colleagues and pupils alike. A long-time tutor in Second’s House, Snr D is owed a debt of gratitude by Lancing pupils across three decades. His is a welldeserved retirement and hope it will be a long and a happy one.

Isabelle Tarbet also leaves the Languages Department to retire after six distinguished years as a French Assistante, where her warmth and dedication have encouraged the weaker to confidence and to conversation, and has extended and challenged the most able linguists.

Serena Shah (below) came to Lancing in September 2019 straight from Cambridge where she had graduated in Music and held a choral scholarship at Jesus College. Serena has been a wonderful colleague, superb teacher and contributed so much to the musical life of the College. An outstanding singer, violinist and pianist, her support of and participation in choral and instrumental music here have been second to none. Serena is now about to embark on an exciting chapter in her life as she moves to take up an appointment at Harrow International School, Hong Kong. Serena will be greatly missed but will take our warmest good wishes with her in her new ventures.

Edward Grimble (above) joined in 2019 and brought energy, intellectual spark and absolute commitment to the English Department. In his championing of independent writing and close reading and his challenge of all his pupils, he has had a profound impact. A new verb has entered the parlance: to be ‘Grimbled’ means to be put through one’s academic paces with rigour and at speed. Gibbs’ House will also mourn his departure as a Tutor. Godolphin and Latymer School is very fortunate to gain someone of his calibre, intellectual conviction and care for all those he teaches – and the relative brevity of his time at Lancing is balanced by the strong impress of his influence.

Our cohort of undergraduate assistants each year play a tutorial and pastoral role in Houses, coach sport, assist in the programme of weekend activities, help at Lancing Prep Hove and Worthing and are often the glue that binds together the co-curricular programme. We say farewell this year to a particularly strong group. Amelia Davies, Lydia Hughes, Lucas Johnston and Natalie Taylor have assisted from the Equestrian Centre to activity camps, have stepped in to help manage quarantine provision, have become masters at administering Lateral Flow Tests (the core of our team) and have been unfailingly cheerful, flexible and generous with their time and talents.

Amelia, Lucas and Natalie return to university for their final year’s study and Lydia goes on to work and travel internationally.