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SEW LONG ... FAREWELL

January 2010

Sibford School has bid farewell to its Head of Textiles, Lesley Norton, after more than 27 years.

Lesley joined the Quaker-run school back in January 1982 as a needlework teacher and assistant housemistress for Penn Girls boarding house.

In 1991 she became senior housemistress and in 1998 was appointed Head of Textiles and Joint Head of Boarding.

Over the years Lesley has seen a lot of changes at the school. When she joined back in the eighties, the school was still operating in the old Manor House on the opposite side of the road from the current campus.

The Manor was sold in 2000 and the proceeds used to help fund the building of a new art and music block, which was to become Lesley’s textile base for the next eight years.

Sibford head Michael Goodwin, said: “Lesley has had an amazing impact on the school over many years and will be very much missed. We wish her all the best in her retirement.”

Former pupils from across the globe have been sharing their memories of Lesley via the Sibford School fan page on the social networking site, Facebook.

Heather Palmer said: “I was at Sibford between 1995 and 1999 and I loved it! Mrs Norton was cool. I don’t know how she put up with us all.”

Wong Kam Yung, who left Sibford two years ago, said: “Mrs Norton was so kind to me when I was in Sibford. She was my teacher for GCSE and one of the best school times I had was in her lessons, learning a lot while at the same time having so much fun.”

Tamsin Young, who was at the school from 1994 until 2002, added: “I remember Mrs Norton. A really inspiring, funny, lovely, caring teacher! I’d like to thank Lesley for all support in and out of the classroom and for giving me my love for textiles which I still hold today. Enjoy your retirement.”

Lesley Norton is pictured with Sibford head Michael Goodwin and members of her sixth form tutor group who presented her with a shield as a lasting memento of the school. From left to right (back) Lucas Colley, Tom Da’Silva, George Tucker and George Neighbour (front) Michael Goodwin, Tom Roger, Alex Jardine, Lesley Norton, Emma Hearle and Pippa Guy

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