As so often in adversity, the true character and strength of our community shines through. Over the past months, I’ve shared with you the many ways our pupils, staff, parents and alumnae have joined together to support each other and the wider world, and have managed to bring joy in these challenging times.

It was a real pleasure to see so many of you over Zoom at our very first Virtual Reunion, and although we weren’t able to welcome you to LEH in the usual way, it was an unexpected pleasure to be joined by alumnae from all over the world.

As Christmas approaches, I have been determined to inject as much fun and celebration as possible into the last few weeks of school for staff and students alike, especially as some of the traditional events that make the festive season at LEH so special have had to be cancelled.

The Christmas trees are up now and look more beautiful than ever. The pupils have collected masses of gifts to be distributed to local homes for the elderly, and they have written personal messages in hundreds of cards.

The Friends of LEH have gone virtual with their Christmas Bazaar, enabling us all to have a chance to win a prize in their incredible raffle and to purchase gifts online from local business stallholders.

We hope you are enjoying our “Twelve Days of Giving” emails, which share with you a snapshot of all the wonderful acts of kindness, creativity and ingenuity that go on at LEH every day.

And as a grand finale to the term, we hope that you’ll join us for our very first virtual Alumnae Carol Service on 10th December at 7pm. I can’t promise you the mulled wine and mince pies that we often share, but I can guarantee you simply angelic singing!

Thank you, our esteemed and treasured alumnae, for all your support this year. I hope you manage to have the very best Christmas possible in these extraordinary times, and I wish you a very, VERY happy and healthy New Year.

Warmest regards,

Heather Hanbury