Attention: You are using an outdated browser, device or you do not have the latest version of JavaScript downloaded and so this website may not work as expected. Please download the latest software or switch device to avoid further issues.

NEWS > Alumnae News > Jennifer Saunders (nee Bush) 1933-2021

Jennifer Saunders (nee Bush) 1933-2021

It was with great sadness that we learned last month that 87-year-old Jennifer Saunders, Class of 1950, had died peacefully at her home surrounded by her three children.

Much-loved sister of Trish White, Class of 1955 and former LEH Deputy Head, Jennifer left school from UV to go The Cripplegate Secretarial College, which was part of the same foundation as LEH.

There, in addition to secretarial skills, she spent an intensive year studying finance and accounting, drama and French and went on to be a private secretary to the Senior Director of The Thames Haven Oil Wharf Company.

Jennifer is pictured here, aged 15, wearing the stripped senior summer uniform dress.  She was musically very gifted, playing piano and teaching guitar and always had a great passion for Scottish dancing.

Jen remained life-long friends with some her former LEH classmates and a group of 15 or so of them met regularly for lunch and coffee to reminisce about school days and favourite teachers such as Miss Cross, Miss Denney and Miss Ruby Davies, who sometimes joined their gatherings.

Stella Stephens, nee Buttress, Class of 1949, first got to know Jen and Trish when they were all under the age of 10 and she used to take them to Sunday school.  She later went on attend Jen’s guitar lessons for many years, remembering that Jen was part of a band that often used to entertain residents in local care homes. “She was such a lovely lady,” says Stella. “So kind, patient and talented.”

Rosemary Burdett, nee Abbott, Class of 1950, was also a close friend having lived next door to Jen and Trish all her life until she got married. As children they were in and out of each other’s gardens all the time, playing table tennis and sneaking through the gate in the back fence. While Jen and Rosemary were in different classes at LEH, they both attended Cripplegate College together, and landed jobs in the City, where they would meet up for lunch. 

Rosemary recalls: “We were always close and always there for each other. It was a sorry day for me when she died as she had always been in my life. She will be greatly missed by all of us.”

Our thoughts are with Trish and Jennifer’s family at this sad time.

Similar stories

We were sad to hear that Penny Cooper (Nicholson), Class of 1970, passed away peacefully this month aged 71, surrounded by her family and loved ones. More...

As part of our celebration of Pride Month, we're delighted to invite all members of the Holles Pride Club, and any LGBTQ… More...

It’s only been a few months since you left, but we really miss you guys. Mrs Cole and Mr Tompsett are delighted to invit… More...

A new film about a forgotten chapter of women’s football, made by writer and director Rachel Ramsay, Class of 2005, pack… More...

The 2024 edition of the alumnae magazine Holles Connect is out now. It explores why 'Kindness Counts' for pupils and for… More...

Most read

We were sad to hear that Penny Cooper (Nicholson), Class of 1970, passed away peacefully this month aged 71, surrounded by her family and loved ones. More...

Nicky Budd with Vicky Sayer and Clare Jansen, Class of 2016

We know that many alumnae will be just as sad as we are to learn that our former Director of Sport, Nicky Budd, passed away last month at the Royal Ho… More...

It’s only been a few months since you left, but we really miss you guys. Mrs Cole and Mr Tompsett are delighted to invite you to your first LEH School… More...

Travel Story Award

 

CONTACT US


Lady Eleanor Holles School
Hanworth Road
Hampton, TW13 3HF

0208 979 1601
alumnae@lehs.org.uk

LEGAL

This website is powered by
ToucanTech