Events and reunions

The Hive Society

All alumnae are also very much part of our new Hive Society – combining our parents, friends and alumnae community. There are lots of events to book in for – from walks in the park to yoga, talks, courses and social events .

Spring Term dates for the diary
Mon 9 Jan Motivational Monday Yoga
Sat 14 Jan Partnership: Salvage Sister Workshop – Beginners Powertools
Sun 15 Jan Community Dog Walk Stanmer Park
Mon 16 Jan Motivational Monday Yoga
Mon 16 Jan Spa Afternoon HarSpa, Harbour Hotel
Mon 23 Jan Motivational Monday Yoga
Mon 23 Jan Waxing Lyrical Talk with Mr Sherwood How did Casablanca try to shape the views of Americans in World War II?
Sat 28 Jan Partnership: Salvage Sister: Lamp Making Workshop
Mon 30 Jan Motivational Monday Yoga

Sat 4 Feb Partnership: Pallet Planter Workshop
Sun 5 Feb Partnership: Seedy Sunday Community Seed Swap
Mon 6 Feb Motivational Monday Yoga
Weds 8 Feb Waxing Lyrical: Crisis at Christmas 2022 with Ms Pearson
Sat 18 Feb Partnership: Wooden Marquee Letter Making Workshop
Mon 20 Feb Motivational Monday Yoga
Weds 22 Feb Brighton Gin Distillery Tour and Tasting
Sat 26 Feb Community Dog Walk Stanmer Park
Mon 27 Feb Motivational Monday Yoga

Sat 4 March Partnership: Salvage Sister Workshop – Beginners Powertools
Mon 6 March Motivational Monday Yoga
Weds 8 March Waxing Lyrical: International Women’s Day
Mon 13 March Motivational Monday Yoga
Fri 17 March Spring Concert
Sat 18 March Partnership: Salvage Sister: Lamp Making Workshop
Mon 20 March Motivational Monday Yoga
Mon 20 March Waxing Lyrical: Former England Netball Captain Pamela Cookey
Sat 26 March Community Dog Walk Stanmer Park

See full listings and details of how to book online on the The Hive Society pages of the website – here.

Recent events

Prep Science Week – 13 March

Prep enjoyed a brilliant Science Week this week – with particular thanks to Vet Lucinda Preston (Class of 2005), Engineer Andrea Catlow (Class of 1999), Associate Professor in Plant Molecular Genetics Juliet Coates (Class of 1992) and AI specialist Jennie Lees (Class of 2000). It has been wonderfully inspiring to have alumnae deliver all of the STEM talks – you are our heroes!

Fashion Club – Guest Speaker

We have enjoyed a few guest speakers and workshops over the term – and last Friday, 10 March, we heard from alumna Joanne Boyd (Class of 1999) who works with the beauty and merchandising with brands such as Versace as well as being a personal stylist. Joanne, who studied Fashion at the London College of Fashion talked to students about Sustainable Fashion, and also about her pathway into fashion from Brighton Girls.

Y13 Leavers 2022 – Our A-Level Certificate Celebration

It was wonderful to see so many of our 2022 Year 13 Leavers at the start of January 2023 when they came in to collect their A-Level Certificates.

Young Alumnae Celebration Wednesday 21 September 2022

A huge thank you to our young alumnae – leavers of 219, 2020, 2021 and 2022 who came in for an inspirational talk with our current Sixth Form and Year 11 about their university and further education experiences. It was wonderful to see you all again!  Thanks also to our Sixth Form for leading tours of the Temple, and to the teaching staff who were able to join us, particularly Mrs Croydon who has just retired this Summer.

In attendance:  Kalea Stagg, Ella Dale, Ellie Mackechnie, Zahra Batool, Eleanor Briddock, Ky Drake, Jen  Joseph, Emily Kennard, Kiara Rummery-Milne, Arlette Lewis, Eva Norton, Isobel Hornsby, Rani Martin, Molly Kronhamn, Maddy Burnham, Mae Turner Trott, Maddie Cooper, Appy Race, Phoebe McCallum

40th Anniversary Reunion 

BHHS Class of ‘82, 4 July 2022

It was back in March of this year that Deirdre Walton (nee Lee), a lifelong friend from birth, mentioned that this year would be our 40^th anniversary of leaving school, for the Class of ‘82. Would it be a good idea to arrange a reunion, our first in 40 years? We met for coffee in Hyde Park to discuss ideas and set a date, 25^th June. We had seven contacts to follow up between us. We got in touch and asked them to track people down and spread the word. We also set up a WhatsApp group.

We eventually settled on Withdean Stadium for the venue as it has plenty of free parking and they offered us a room for 32 and access to their garden.

I contacted the school alumnae and Rebecca Findlay, Head of Community, who is “looking at all things alumnae at Brighton Girls” replied and was extremely helpful. She very kindly offered to give us an informal tour of the school, which had just undergone an extensive refurbishment programme. They had one name on their alumnae list that we did not have. Rebecca offered to make contact for us. Three months later our net had spread. We had 34 in the WhatsApp group, 24 signed up for the reunion and 17 for the tour.

The day was a great success. Everyone was so happy to see friends from 40 years ago, when we had no idea of where our lives would take us. Some of us had shared information on the Group chat, so we had some knowledge of what they had gone on to do or become. Some had retrained as mature students and changed careers. The following careers were represented on the day and as a group:

Doctors, physiotherapist, psychologist (trauma focused), psychotherapist, occupational therapist, solicitor, barrister & judge, Professors of Geography and Literature & creative writing, primary school teachers, Further education teacher in DT, college lecturer in women’s studies, PR, personnel development, specialist teacher & educational assessor, SENCO, Geologist in oil exploration around the world, Architect, garden designer & landscaper (own business), interior designer and soft furnishing (own business), Computer specialist, IT training, marketing, advertising & public relations, human resources, travel industry, finance manager, motor finance, Civil Service, Customs & Excise, Social Housing Regulator, Medical profession’s regulators, Actor, pianist, food specialist, yoga teacher, humanist celebrant.

We ascertained that 10 of our group had started at BHHS in Kindergarten in 1969. Five had gone on to do the full 13 year marathon (1969-82), kindergarten to upper six and four, kindergarten to upper five. Several among us are living in the Brighton area or Sussex, one as close to school as a 10 minute walk away and one as far as New Zealand. Also, four of our mothers, two aunts, twelve siblings and one child had been pupils at the school.

After lunch 17 of us, (plus one of our mothers and a sister, both past pupils) went on to visit the school to be shown around by Rebecca and her daughter Clementine, who so kindly gave up their precious time on a Saturday afternoon. The builders had handed back the keys of The Temple building the day before. The interior was fresh, light, modern and uniform throughout. Furniture had not yet been moved back so the rooms looked spacious. One’s immediate impression, walking through the main entrance is the remarkable transformation of the old hall. With the vestibule and stage removed it is such a cleverly designed impressive space now, proposed to be a sixth form common room. Many classrooms are essentially the same, some having been knocked through to create larger spaces. It was fun trying to remember which lessons, teachers and form teachers we had had in which rooms. What had been our cloakroom area in the basement is now reassigned to the music department.

The Old Vicarage, our Junior School, was also light and modern internally. I was struck by how incredibly high the ceilings are. Kindergarten was a particularly colourful room with fun bright furniture, fittings and work pinned on the walls. I remember being in that room for my entrance assessment back in 1969. The hall, which had seemed so large was now a classroom and the cloakrooms had gone.

There was a lot to take in in one visit. Both buildings now feel less like the 19th century houses they were originally built to be and more like a modern school.

A huge thank you to Rebecca and Clementine for a fascinating trip down memory lane.

Sarah Armitage (nee Colman)

Betty’s Birthday – May 2021

Betty taught English at the school from 1949 to 1964, and joined us at school to celebrate her 100th birthday.

Read more…