Commem 2022 Jane Smellie (Aston) '87 speech
Friday, 20 May 2022
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Jane shared the following 'Parent Reflections on Queen's' at the annual Commemoration service in the Cathedral on Friday 6th May Good afternoon, everyone and many thanks to Mrs Wallace Woodroffe for asking me to speak today. My name is Jane Smellie and in my lifetime, I have had a few different titles; Helen’s sister, Miss Aston, Angus’ wife, Mrs Smellie, optometrist, part-time taxi driver, pitch side supporter etc. but today, most importantly, I am Esther’s mum (or mummy). When it came to choosing a school for Esther the least complicated choice would have been for her to follow her two elder brothers into their school. But us Smellies never like to make life too easy and, in my view, the only school for Esther was Queens and that is mainly because I am also a Queen’s Girl. And I say ‘I am’ in the present tense as I believe that we never stop being Queen’s Girls even when we leave and go out into the big bad world. In 1973, back in the olden days, when I was 4 years old, my parents sent me to a school in Chester to follow my big sister, but it was not The Queen’s School. Like every 4 year old I was a little nervous but very excited to be a big girl and starting school but disaster struck in the form of my reception teacher … let’s just call her Miss Trunchball! One of my first memories of being at school was standing up by Miss Trunchbull to read to her and being so scared that I wet myself!! I therefore did what every self-respecting 4 year old would do and I refused to go to school! My parents tried every which way to coax me into school with little success and the poor gentleman we shared lifts with just used to drop the other children at school and bring me back home to be deposited back with my mother! There was nothing else for it and a few weeks before Christmas I moved schools and so began my Queen’s School career. And guess who was my reception teacher at Queen’s? Yes! It was Miss Honey, well actually her name was Miss Coppins, but she was young and beautiful and kind, and she played the guitar and we sat on the mat and sang Kum Ba Yah and I was in heaven. I did cry again but this time on the way home! Like Esther, apart from those first few weeks, I was a Queen’s Survivor and made it all the way through to year 13 or Upper Sixth as it was known then. I cannot believe that it is nearly 14 years ago since I dropped Esther off at The Lower School on her first day; she loved her new uniform (she hadn’t learned to roll up her waist band at that point) and she skipped in proudly sporting her new strap purse across her chest! On Monday I took Esther out for brunch, and I quizzed her about her time at Queen’s. The million-dollar question was ‘Did we make the right decision’. Should I have given up that Porsche??? I’ve never been into cars anyway!! And the answer was a resounding ‘yes’ – phew! Angus and I have brought our children up to be independent, to have opinions and to make their own decisions (that has been good and bad!) and if, at any time, Esther had wanted to leave Queens we would have supported her decision, but she said to me on Monday that she just couldn’t imagine going anywhere else. But the question is ‘why’? We talked about her journey through the school from the joyous time she had at The Lower School with the fantastic productions including the Wriggly Nativity, Michael Recycle and Litter Bug Doug (teaching sustainability at such a young age), hockey with Mrs Tottey and Mrs Green, the Young Voices Choir performing all over the country with great success in the Songs of Praise Competition, sports days at the lower school, which were just phenomenal, House of Dance, World Book Days with the teachers generally taking the dressing up more seriously than the girls – particularly Mrs Taylor, understated as ever, dressed as Queen Elizabeth 1st! There were fantastic trips to Paris and all over the UK … Oh! And there was brilliant and inspirational teaching too. And then on to the senior school with even more opportunities. Esther is the sort of student that wanted to suck the school dry of everything it could offer. From lacrosse, hockey, athletics, drama, singing, flute, orchestra, choir, DofE, etc. etc. As Esther is my third child I had pretty much given up on parenting when she came along, she still complains that she never had a set bedtime! So, I was just too delighted that Queen’s provided her with a structured, caring environment full of these wonderful opportunities and extracurricular activities. We talked about those teachers who have particularly inspired Esther; Mrs Tottey; who took me and a gang of girls on the very first Queen’s hockey tour to Holland in 1984, we lost 22-0 in our first game! And she was still there to take Esther on her hockey tour to Holland with, thankfully, a much more impressive set of results. Mrs Green for teaching Esther to believe in herself and in her ability when her nerves were getting the better of her at important hockey tournaments. Mrs Broome, Mrs Healey, Mrs Clayton and Ms Souza who have nurtured her love of music and, sometimes, gently cajoled her into being involved in lots of bands, choirs and orchestras. Mr Wilson and Mrs Dawson who could not have been more kind in supporting Esther through, possibly, the toughest year to apply to university ever! We talked about how Queen’s frankly ‘smashed it’ during lockdown with the incredibly efficient way they had the girls up and learning online almost immediately and the brilliant communication with the girls and their parents. There was also zoom music lessons from the peripatetic teachers and sports challenges- it must have been such hard work for the whole team at Queens and to see Mrs WW sitting at the top of the steps to the field on GCSE results day with a broken ankle just personified their commitment. I think that possibly the most important quality of Queen’s for Esther is the mutual respect between the girls and the teachers. It really is quite unique. Esther feels that she can approach any of her teachers for help and they will give it to her without question. She also feels that the opinions of each and every girl are valued at the school. Esther felt comfortable enough to express to Mrs Cox a couple of weeks ago that she wasn’t convinced that all her lessons at the beginning of term were the best use of her time. Mrs Cox then proceeded to deliver her Chemistry lesson and then asked Esther at the end whether she felt that it had been useful to her. Esther was, thankfully, very satisfied with her teacher! You’ll be pleased to hear Mrs Cox that Esther says that you and Mr Cripps are inspirational. There is a magic to Queen’s – there is no doubt about that. And who knows where that magic comes from; the incredible leadership from the headmistresses? The teachers that give up their time to support the struggling student just as Mrs Jones, my O’level ( yes I am that old!) biology teacher did for me when I was struggling with my A’levels? The wonderful support staff; we had the kindest caretaker at The lower school who used to drive us around the field in the wagon at the back of his little tractor (no health and safety then!) and Esther too had a wonderfully kind caretaker at the lower school. The Governors for navigating the school through tricky waters and keeping it, not only afloat, but on the crest of a wave. The hard-working QSPA bringing the parents together and raising vital funds for the school. And also, not to forget Esther’s fabulous gang of friends. Not every day is paradise in the world of friendships but the girls have such a special relationship and I know that they will be friends for life. My friends for life are out there somewhere in the Alumni section – I hope that they are not doodling on their Orders of Service!! In the end the magic is the sum of all these parts. So, I must thank my parents for respecting the opinion of a 4 year old who clearly knew best when it came to her education. Thank you to Mrs WW, the teachers, the support staff and Esther’s friends for nurturing and caring for my daughter and allowing her to grow, to shine and blossom into the young woman she is today. I know that Queen’s has totally prepared Esther for her next big step, to be able to face and deal with all the challenges life will throw at her. Because you know, you can take the girl out of The Queen’s School but you will never take The Queen’s School out of the girl. |