My first connection with St Christopher’s was in the early 1950s. My husband was an English master at St Dunstan’s College. His Head of Department was Basil Harvey, husband of Helen Harvey, the Speech & Drama teacher at St Christopher’s, so in those days there was a most creative collaboration between the two schools when the girls were invited to take part in the St Dunstan’s school play. These girls were super and highly talented and, several years later, made drama their career. It was my job to help with the costumes and choreography where needed. The girls always cried on the last night, which was a very emotional occasion! Little did I think that, twenty-five years later, I would become Headmistress of their old school!

I had trained for five years at Leicester College of Art to become an Art Teacher. After one year’s teaching in Kent, I got married and took ten years off to bring up a family of three boys, returning to teaching in 1961. After two terms at Greenhayes Preparatory School, West Wickham, I became an Art Teacher at Prendergast Grammar School, later becoming Head of the Department of Art and Needlework. I feel that this background was an admirable training for a Headmistress of St Christopher’s! A jack of all trades! From the beginning, in 1976, I also taught Needlework and later Art in the senior school. Again, we made all the costumes for the school plays. I found that the dramatic tradition at St Christopher’s was undiminished.

At the retirement of my predecessor, Mrs Grove, the Senior Mistress, Mrs Brakey, also retired after many years’ service to the school. I was somewhat at a loss without their expert guidance. However, Mrs Adams was a pillar of strength and the secretaries, Mrs Brewster and Mrs Judge, helped me around the complexities of the office system. At the end of the first year, I asked Mrs Light, who taught French, to be the Senior Mistress; a position she held until her retirement. Later, she became Mrs Harris (having remarried) and I owe her a great debt of gratitude for her loyal support (I am sure it was not always easy) for what I was trying to do in the school.

When I arrived, I found strong parental involvement, but no formal PTA. This was soon formed as the St Christopher’s Association. There were, at that time, two major social events. The first was a formal dance where long dresses and dinner jackets were worn. The other was the St Christopher’s May Fair. The latter not only involved the current school, parents and governors but also past Headmistresses and friends of the school, some of whom travelled, annually, long distances to give their support.

In the early ‘80s it was agreed that the Science facilities in the school were no longer adequate. The existing laboratory was said to have earlier been a bedroom where Dr Johnson slept on a visit to the Cator family, the first owners of the house. An appeal was launched, which involved many extra fundraising activities, such as antique fairs, an auction, raffles and a sponsored spelling competition to raise the large amount of money needed. At that time, the grass tennis courts were also sold, Holmoaks flats were built on the site and the school drive was cleared and improved.

Following this fundraising campaign, the new labs were opened and a new junior classroom. As Enid Blyton had been Head girl of St Christopher’s in 1914, we named the new classroom after her and Dr Anthony Claire (the regular psychiatrist on the BBC’s "In the psychiatrist’s chair”) formally opened the labs.

During this period the provision for under 5s increased. In addition to our original Kindergarten, we took in Little Kerrywood and Old Dunstonian Playgroups when they closed. The old original School Hall was one of the rooms used ever since for those classes.

It is not possible here to mention all those members of staff who served in the school in my time, but I would like to record here my sincere thanks to them for their collaboration and support.

In retirement, I have missed the day-to-day contact with staff and pupils alike but not the noise! As the years go on, I am most heartened to hear how well past members of the school are doing in later life and am most pleased when they (or their parents) stop to have a chat. St Christopher’s has always been a very special place. This is recognised by the pupils but, sometimes, not until they have left. The biggest compliment is when they send their own children to be educated there, and life goes on!”

Suzanne sadly passed away on 11 June 2025.