August 2026

Thanks to our wonderful administrator, Rosemary Lloyd , Studley Reunion afternoon tea at Studley Castle on August 19th , was a great success. 21 members met in the old dining room now known as the Oak Room .We were served an excellent AfternoonTea with plenty of lovely food and pots of tea. 

Members chatted happily   Recalling wonderful memories of their time at StudleyCollege. One such member was Pat Graham, (Paddy Peel – 1957-1959) . This was the first time Pat had been back to college since she left 60 years ago.  Paddy, from Norfolk, was recalling the  Rag night they took part in at the end  of their final year.  Pat has led an interesting life since leaving Studley and promised to submit an article in next years yearbook

Some members brought photo albums  of their time at Studley and also a copy of the biennial photo of the whole college, students and staff.

Rosemary gave a speech about the future of the guild and the Year Book and is happy to continue. In her role as our administrator for another year. This includes producing the Year book for which she is desperate for more  articles from Studley members .so girls please take note and do your very  best to comply!! The Guild committee decided to no longer charge the  annual membership fee as there is enough money  in the Guild account which covers the cost of producing the year book and Rosemary’s secretarial expenses.

We thank Rosemary for all she has done to help the guild and the reunion to continue. So ended another enjoyable and successful gathering

September 2025

At the beginning of the month Sandy Martin (nee whitelaw ) and I drove down to Boscastle to visit Celia Langley who now finds it difficult to drive all the way to Warwickshire for the reunion.   We are class of 1958/60. It was good to see her. Celia is the only one of our year who managed to be a farmer in her own right acquiring a farm, milking  Jersey cows and rearing beef cattle.  I hope to write more about her interesting post college life. 

Earlier this year we were informed that Mary Brock had died aged 97!  And  Dr Pauline Last has also passed away at the age of 99. Pauline was a Horti student as far back as 1943-46.  

Photos are of the reunion in August. It is so good that we can meet in the Castle which has changed very little over the years since 1969 when it had to close and was sold.

August 2025

The reunion took place on Wednesday 13th August at Studley Castle.  Seventeen Guild members arrived to meet up and enjoy a delicious afternoon tea and to chat about old times .

Attendees:

Jill Carless

Margaret Connolly

Ann Deacon

Sue Osbornesgh

Jill Down

Jenny Easton

Sandy Martin

Carol Fox

Cherry Holyhead

Rosemary Lloyd

Janet Griffith

David Martin

Holly McGee

Ann Peters

Our Tea was served in what used to be the Common Room  now called the Garden Room! The old murals have gone and been replaced with more modern ones, flamingos being the choice of the Warner Leisure Hotel as it now is.  The staff were wonderful providing lots of tea as a good natter requires such attention. Thanks to Rosemary Lloyd for organising the reunion.  The year Book  for 2025 has been despatched and thanks go to Rosemary for bringing the current issue together.  The reunion for 2026 will be Wednesday 19th August and will be in the Garden Room again. We do hope a few more people will see the date in the Year Book  and reserve the date.  If you have received your 2025 Year Book you will see that Rosemary will be very glad of any articles of interest ready for the 2026 issue.

July 2025

Sorry I have not updated since last year. I have been recovering from ankle surgery but all ok now. Also been a bit slow to get back into the blog. It has been fairly quiet on the college front since last year . Some of you may remember Dr. Pauline Last who is in her late 90s and now in a rest home in Winchester. Last autumn I had an email from a tv programmer Frances Harper who wants to highlight women in horticulture. She asked me about Studley College and did I know any past students of interest who could be added into the program . I thought of Pauline who has very good memories of Studley in the past. I put her in touch with Pauline and Frances wanted Pauline to record some of her memories over the phone and this was arranged. Frances was still looking for sponsors but hoped to start filming this year so watch this space.
The other item to be mentioned is this years Studley Reunion at the Studley Castle Hotel . This is short notice I know as I tried to get this on to the website a month ago. If you would like to attend it’s not too late. Just phone or email Rosemary Lloyd ( her details are on the home page of the website). and book yourself in. The date is August 13th at 2.30 pm for afternoon tea .
Cost is £22.50. Look forward to seeing you at the reunion. I hope to have photos and an account of how the reunion went soon after. Till next time.

 

September 2^nd 2024

I have recently received an email from someone who is researching for a TV programme about Gardening Women! Research revealed Studley College of Agriculture and Horticulture and would like to know more about students who attended. Interesting stories  about past students would be welcome so any of you out there whose mothers or grandmothers have interesting tales or yourselves too, perhaps you would email them to me and I can pass them on to the programmers.

 

August 21^st 2024

I’m very pleased to report on a very successful reunion at Studley Castle yesterday. Twenty past students and the daughter of a past student (1940s) met for Afternoon Tea and were able to have use of the old common room for our assembly. Our Administrator, Rosemary Lloyd, organised the event and brought some memorabilia from the archive. The official archive is at Reading University which Rosemary has visited and she was quite amazed at the amount of history of the College that is stored there. Other members brought photographs and Albums . Jane Tirard brought some old college magazines dating from 1947 up to 1982 which preceded the current year books. Although I recently discovered a copy of a magazine entitled “Down to Earth” dated 1963 produced by students at the college at that time.  Jane’s Mother, Helen Warren, had been a student from 1947-1949 so Jane was able to give us a glimpse of the time her mother was a student and her life afterwards. The tea was lovely! Typical tea with warm scones, petite sandwiches and a variety of delicious cakes plus many pots of tea.  The afternoon passed very quickly with much catching up to be done.  The names of those who attended can be found at the end of this update. We are very grateful to Rosemary for all the organising of this event and for publishing the Year books. She is looking for to receiving more items for the Year book so put on your thinking caps and pull out those memories of your time at Studley. Jot them down and send them to Rosemary.

PS Erratum from the 2024 Yearbook !! in the article “Travels of a Farm Boy” the date 1987 should read 1997. I know one person who spotted the error. How many more of you did?

Attendees at reunion

Lesley Douglas Liverpool	Kim Douglas	Carol Fox Shipston on Stour
Ann Peters Skipton	Jill Down Ivybridge	Janet Griffiths Herefordshire
Will Easton	Jane Tirard	Gill Carless Malmsbury
Holly McGee Chipping Norton	Megan Haynes Stratford on Avon	Rosemary Prosser Pershore
Margaret Connolly Ewelme	Margaret Connolly Ewelme	Sue Kinnersley Morton Bagot
Shirley Martin Pershore	Rosemary Lloyd Cambridgeshire	Geoffrey Lloyd

August 2024

Well at last I am able to update. Now that we are recovered from the pandemic I will endeavour to post what’s been happening in the Guild. We were able to enjoy a reunion in August 2023 and again last year in August.

We meet again on August 21st at 2.30 for afternoon tea at Studley Castle hotel. There are still spaces if anyone is able to attend. Contact Rosemary Lloyd should you wish to be there. We are able to use the old common room for our get together. The castle has been beautifully restored. I remember it was in great need of maintenance and restoration. About 18 past members have signed up this year . Down on last year, as illness and travelling has impacted.

My year was 1958-60 and a few of our year have been able to attend most of the past reunions. We really miss Helen Fowler who was the mastermind of most of the past reunions.

Over the last couple of years I have had contact from daughters and granddaughters of past students from the 1940 eras.

The past three year books have been added into the website for you to peruse if you are not a member of the guild but would be interested to read them and maybe would consider becoming a member.

March 2022

 Now that the restrictions for the Pandemic have been lifted we hope to arrange a reunion this year on Wednesday 17th August. Rosemary Prosser will be visiting Studley Castle soon and is hoping to link up with the manager there to explore the possibility of fixing a date  so watch this space.

February 2021

I am very sad to report the death of Helen Fowler on January 27th 2021. Due to the situation at  that time only one of us could attend her funeral. Click here ( Helen Fowler) to see the order of service.

We will miss Helen as she always arranged our reunions at Studley Colleg. Due to the Pandemic we have not been able to meet at Strudley Castke. when lockdown ended in 2021  Studley castle was open only to residents so we are still waiting for a reunion to be arranged.

March 2020

Mollie Cooper Studley student 1962 -1964
I received and email from Alan Ruff who was married to Mollie Cooper. who had sadly died and going through old photographs he found these 5 which may be of interest to students who were at Studley during those years. It would be good to hear from any who knew her and could share past experiences.

2019 has been a busy year. After the opening of the new Studley Castle Hotel we were able to have a reunion as depicted in August. I hope to add more photos of the reunion.

I have had an email from overseas enquiring about a relative who weas a former student and emails from two others.

Mel Cross from New Zealand emailed me on 24th September 2019 . She is researching the life of Takapuna Rangiuia, a Maori woman who attended Studley College c. 1919-1921. She may also have used a christian name of Eunice Teeke/Maki. She was probable on the Colonial Training Scheme. For these enquiries I direct to the Archives at Reading University. Jenny Glanville is the person to ask for.

The next enquiry, 24th November, came from Noel Douglas-Wallis who was also researching in formation about his paternal Grandmother who had been a student. Her name was Winifred Allen. Winifred was born in March 1886!! She married in 1919 so she must have spent her time at Studley early 1900s.

Jenny Clarke emailed me on 23rd December 2019 needing information about her paternal Grandmother who may have attnded the college when it was known as Lady Warwick College!! Her grandmothers name was Gwendoline Florence Richards. She married one of the tutors – Charles William Muir who may have been a professor. Florence’s family were not impressed by this marriage and she was disinherited from a sizeable fortune. The pair spent their time advocating socialism!. Would love to know more about these two.

In December Helen Fowler celebrated her 80th Birthday.

Finally, to start the new Year, a message from our administrator Rosemary LLoyd. We would like to reach out to 37 members who are on our datea base who have not paid their subscriptions. Please could you look into this to see if you have paid or have not paid? Rosemary is putting together the Next year book so it would be really good to catch up on this. The subscription is still only £7. good value for money. Would be good to see some more students at the next reunion if it can be managed. And any articles for the Year book would be most welcome.

Now 2020 is upon us. Happy New Year to all who may be reading this blog.
Carol Fox

August 21st 2019

Here is a photo of the group that attended the reunion at the Studley Castle Hotel on 21st August. 23 members attended and an excellent lunch was served in a private corner of the large entertainments room. A tour of the hotel facilities was offered to those who had not been before. We were looked after very well by the staff and one of their staff members . Charles, was allocated to look after us and assisted with the group photo taken outside the restored castle. The old common room and rooms above are still being rstored.

A short meeting was held after lunch where the accounts were presented by our administrator, Rosemary Lloyd. The Year book is almost ready to be sent out and a members subscription form will be included so you can all pay your annual sub! Rosemary has held back to include details of the reunion.

August 16th 2019 update.

July 8th 2019
Hi Everyone.
Apologies. I have not been very active lately on the website.
Please note that our Reunion for 2019 will be at Studley Castle Hotel on 21st August. We will meet for lunch. Please contact Rosemary Lloyd about booking lunch and maybe accomodation if you wish. Studley Castle Hotel is a Warner Leisure hotal and it is very impressive. The old Dairy block has been preserved and is adjacent to the Spa facilities. The have done an amazing job of restoring the castle itself to its former glory..Rrosemary Lloyd, Helen Fowler, Rosemary Prosser
and myself were invited to the grand opening ceremony preformed by the Mayor of Studley.

This page will show notices etc. that the Secretary wishes to inform members. 
It is with great sadness that I report the sudden death of our Treasurer Pauline Pickering on September 16th 2018.a full Obituary will be in the 2019 year book. The funeral was held on Monday 15th October in Holcot, near Northampton,followed by burial in St Mary’s churchyard,Holcote.

April 13th 2019

December 31st 2018

Happy NewYear to all ex students of Studley College
Hope all had a pleasant time over Christmas.

I have received some very interesting information from a Dr Pauline Last Horti 1943/1946. 
Paulinee writes that it is 75 years since she started at Studley College in 1943. she had not studied chemistry as it was not offered so this meant that she had to have catching while doing outdoor paractical work at Studley until she could become a full time student. So her years at Studley spanned 1940 until 1946.
Miss Ekins was Principal until she retired in 1946 when Pauline finished her BSc Finals. miss Ekins was very scientific and also shrewd in administrating the college. She was abrupt but had a wry sense of humour. .As Head Student Pauline has to report to Miss Ekins every night at 10pm that all the students with “passes” had returned safely. miss Ekins was in bed but behind a screen!!
During the war the college was allowed to grow luxury crops such as peaches and grapes which sold for high prices at Birmingham Market. This helped the not so well endowed finances of the college. By 1946 the number of students was at its maximum and put Studley on a sound financial basis. In the summer of 1944 a “doodlebug” crashed into Swanley Collegeand killed the Head student.the group of degree students there were evacuated to Studley to finish out the summer term.
At the end of the war, women who had been in the forces or Land Army were able to obtain grants and five entered Studley as mature students. they were a very pleasant addition to the Studley Community and very tolerant of the younger students. One of them,WInifred Dullforce,gained a degree in Horticulture and was appointed a lecturer at Nottingham University.
So if there are any students of this era, maybe fellow students of Pauline please do let me know. It would be good to add other stories of Miss Ekins time as Principal. My email address and phone number are on this website.

I received another letter from a former student also in her 90s which her daughter very kindly sent. Unfortunately due to a rather hectic period leading up to Christmas I have mislaid the letter and hope that I will be forgiven . I only have a list of websites, included in the letter, which might be of further interest .

www.bbc.co.uk/history/ww2peopleswar/stories/17/a4998117.shtml
www.discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/c/F90535
www.fwi.co.uk/news/studley-old-girls-happy-memories.

August 16th 2019 update.

July 8th 2019
Hi Everyone.
Apologies. I have not been very active lately on the website.
Please note that our Reunion for 2019 will be at Studley Castle Hotel on 21st August. We will meet for lunch. Please contact Rosemary Lloyd about booking lunch and maybe accomodation if you wish. Studley Castle Hotel is a Warner Leisure hotal and it is very impressive. The old Dairy block has been preserved and is adjacent to the Spa facilities. The have done an amazing job of restoring the castle itself to its former glory..Rrosemary Lloyd, Helen Fowler, Rosemary Prosser
and myself were invited to the grand opening ceremony preformed by the Mayor of Studley.

This page will show notices etc. that the Secretary wishes to inform members. 
It is with great sadness that I report the sudden death of our Treasurer Pauline Pickering on September 16th 2018.a full Obituary will be in the 2019 year book. The funeral was held on Monday 15th October in Holcot, near Northampton,followed by burial in St Mary’s churchyard,Holcote.

April 13th 2019

December 31st 2018

Happy NewYear to all ex students of Studley College
Hope all had a pleasant time over Christmas.

I have received some very interesting information from a Dr Pauline Last Horti 1943/1946. 
Paulinee writes that it is 75 years since she started at Studley College in 1943. she had not studied chemistry as it was not offered so this meant that she had to have catching while doing outdoor paractical work at Studley until she could become a full time student. So her years at Studley spanned 1940 until 1946.
Miss Ekins was Principal until she retired in 1946 when Pauline finished her BSc Finals. miss Ekins was very scientific and also shrewd in administrating the college. She was abrupt but had a wry sense of humour. .As Head Student Pauline has to report to Miss Ekins every night at 10pm that all the students with “passes” had returned safely. miss Ekins was in bed but behind a screen!!
During the war the college was allowed to grow luxury crops such as peaches and grapes which sold for high prices at Birmingham Market. This helped the not so well endowed finances of the college. By 1946 the number of students was at its maximum and put Studley on a sound financial basis. In the summer of 1944 a “doodlebug” crashed into Swanley Collegeand killed the Head student.the group of degree students there were evacuated to Studley to finish out the summer term.
At the end of the war, women who had been in the forces or Land Army were able to obtain grants and five entered Studley as mature students. they were a very pleasant addition to the Studley Community and very tolerant of the younger students. One of them,WInifred Dullforce,gained a degree in Horticulture and was appointed a lecturer at Nottingham University.
So if there are any students of this era, maybe fellow students of Pauline please do let me know. It would be good to add other stories of Miss Ekins time as Principal. My email address and phone number are on this website.

I received another letter from a former student also in her 90s which her daughter very kindly sent. Unfortunately due to a rather hectic period leading up to Christmas I have mislaid the letter and hope that I will be forgiven . I only have a list of websites, included in the letter, which might be of further interest .

www.bbc.co.uk/history/ww2peopleswar/stories/17/a4998117.shtml
www.discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/c/F90535
www.fwi.co.uk/news/studley-old-girls-happy-memories.