Fish out the News
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Reunion of the Class of 1979 – 1986
Anna Cotton and Emma Myers (Sewell) decided that a 20th anniversary cannot be allowed to pass unacknowledged, and as July 2006 marked 20 years of them leaving New Hall in 1986, they agreed they must have a reunion. Through those Old Fishes they were in touch with, they managed to contact about 30 girls from their year who gathered with Sister Mary Gabriel, Sister Teresa and Sister Christina at the Great Eastern Hotel in Liverpool Street, London. They caught up with each other’s news, shared hilarious stories of school and rekindled friendships. They don’t think anyone guessed how much they would all enjoy the evening and how special they all felt to have been at New Hall. They plan to do it again, although this time they won't wait another 20 years!
Monika Linton (Lavery) NH 1971
The following extracts have been taken from a newspaper article entitled “How I Made It”:
Monika fell in love with Spain while she was still at school, thanks to an inspirational Spanish teacher called Mrs Bosley. After studying Spanish at University, Monika went on to teach English in Barcelona and ended up staying three years. When her parents returned to live in England, however, she decided to go back as well. She carried on teaching for a while but in 1988 her brother moved to Barcelona to sell British produce there and asked her if she would like to try selling Spanish wine in the UK. It was a welcome change from teaching so she said yes. She, her brother and a mutual friend each put in £500 to start up the company and with the money she bought a pallet of wine, which she stored in her parents’ garage. Monika decided to call the company ‘Brindisa’ after the Spanish word brindis, which means “a toast”. Then she started going round to see potential customers.
The company went from strength to strength and she set up an office in London and soon companies such as Fortnum & Mason and the restaurateur Alistair Little were buying her products which also now included Spanish cheeses. She started selling other products such as olive oil and after four years was joined by a friend who became a co-director of the company. After two years the friend left and another partner came in who bought her brother’s share of the business. He left after 10 years and Monika now owns 100% of the company.
Four years ago she opened a Brindisa shop in north London, she also has a stall in Borough Market and last year opened a tapas bar there. The company expects to have sales of £4m this year, of which the wholesaling business accounts for about 80%.
Now 43, and married with two children, Monika thinks the secret of her success has been her passion for Spain, which underpins everything she does. She said “There is no other place I would rather be or any language I would rather speak, and that passion comes across throughout the business. That passion for Spain rubs off on everything.
Fiona Stevenson NH 1992
With great sadness, we remember the tragic death of Fiona Stevenson, 29, a student at New Hall from 1987-1992. Fiona left her home at the Barbican at 8.20am on Thursday, 7 July 2005 to go to work, but never arrived. Her family, who still live in Essex, later heard she had died in the horrific terrorist bomb attacks in London.
On behalf of the school community, Mrs Jeffrey, Principal, attended Fiona’s funeral at Our Lady Immaculate Church, Chelmsford on Friday, 29 July 2005. Last September, she met with Ivan and Emer, Fiona’s parents. They welcomed the suggestion of a memorial in the walled garden at New Hall – with a bench, or a water feature, as a symbol of life. Fiona loved the outdoors and gardens. We agreed to tell Fiona’s story to the school, so that if in any way her life could inspire our students to continue the work she had begun, to stand up for justice and peace issues, this would be a great gift and legacy she could give, even in death. As a school, we have continued our prayers for world peace.
Fiona always had a strong sense of right and wrong and was passionate about human rights. Since the age of 14 she had wanted to be a lawyer and had a long-term ambition to work for the UN - so it was no surprise when she qualified in 2000 as a solicitor. She had recently put her legal skills to honourable use working voluntarily for four months in Belize. She had only returned to England at the end of May.
Work did not overshadow the fun-loving side of Fiona. She adored diving and whilst in Belize had completed 2 diving qualifications and a dive in the Blue hole. She also competed in the 180-mile long Ruta Maya 4 day kayak race. She has been described as articulate, strong-willed, vibrant, energetic, caring, generous and, as her friends and sister always said, she never held a grudge.
We all share great sadness at the loss of this wonderful young woman. We pray Fiona rests in peace with God and our thoughts and prayers are very much with her family and friends.
If you would like to contribute to the New Hall garden memorial to Fiona Stevenson, please contact Holly McLeish, OFA Secretary, on 01245 236 105 or email ofa@newhallschool.co.uk
