Last updated:
January 11, 2005

  Heathfield School for Girls

Founded in 1900 with only thirty pupils, Heathfield School purchased an old house in College Road, Harrow the following year, and there it flourished and became a familiar landmark until the school relocated to Pinner in 1982.

Throughout life, certain things happen which cause floods of memories to sweep over me and so many times I am reminded of someone, or groups of people from the past. In thinking about them I have often wondered whether they ever think about me. The answer must surely be yes.

My one regret is that I didn't work harder at keeping in touch. I live in America now, and one of the major events throughout an American's life are the school reunions - five years, ten years, twenty years, fifty years. Without exception, when someone I know has an upcoming reunion he or she will start to panic about what to wear, will they recognize people, are they too fat, do they look old, who has died. They talk about dreading the occasion and wishing they hadn't agreed to go along. But on return they are full of stories about who they met and bring back a renewed resolve to keep in touch - so easy today via email. I think it is a wonderful tradition.

I remember my first day in Kindergarten at St. Keverne in September 1950 and stubbornly refusing to give my name to Miss Roberts. Fourteen years later, I remember my very last day of school in July 1964 as we all scattered this way and that along College Road. We hugged and wept, and we yelled our goodbyes, and we scribbled phone numbers of the backs of our hands - vowing to keep in touch. We promised each other faithfully that we would all meet up at the foot of the broad steps at Harrow-on-the-Hill tube station ten years from that day. We never did; at least I never did, and I rather assume no-one kept that appointment.

Now, in the autumn of my life, I find my thoughts frequently drifting back to those school days, old school friends, Miss Norris, teachers we loved, and those we loved to hate, the familiarity of Harrow, the rumbling of the tube trains, the smell of the local popcorn factory, and I wonder what became of the girls I grew up with. I have often searched the internet for clues. Names keep popping into my head, events, places and, well...... memories.

I have been disappointed to find very little information. Two or three names of girls who were older than I, who I vaguely remember and there are hardly any familiar names on the Friends Reunited site.

Althought I never knew any boy from Harrow County, I recently stumbled upon an amazing site during one of my searches. Heathfield girls were mentioned in the memoirs of several of the letters published on this incredible log of memoirs, which has pages and pages stuffed full of all sorts of priceless photographs and recollections. An extract from one of the letters: ...we used to "follow" the girls from Heathfield School. We never, ever spoke to them of course, nor they to us. We just walked behind them at a respectful distance...

I have been spurred on to endeavour to create something along the same lines but can only do so with a lot of help from Heathfield Old Girls.

If you went to Heathfield, particularly while it was in College Road in Harrow, please write down some memories and share anything you may recall about the school and the girls you knew. Email me if you wish to include a few lines or a long essay, or anything in between . And if you have photographs, that would be very special too. I will post anything that I receive, providing it is above board and respectable.

So check back and hopefully you will find information about old friends and perhaps be transported back to times whether good or bad - those old school days nonetheless.

Deena
3rd August 2003
Phoenix Arizona

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