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

Madeline Macdonald and son, with Mary Sykes

Inveterate letter writer Madeline Macdonald, Class of 1955, was moved to put pen to paper and write to the editor of The Times last month on the subject of reverse snobbery about i… More...

There was a spontaneous round of applause for the show-stopping LEH favourite Star in the Sky at the first-ever combined… More...

In this festive season of giving, we are calling on you to consider donating to our Christmas Alumnae Appeal in support … More...

LEH wants to appoint a governor with a special interest in finance to help steer and direct the School to help maintain … More...

Huge congratulations to our incredible Teacher of Biology, Mrs Nicholls whose been nominated for the prestigious Royal S… More...

Most read

Madeline Macdonald and son, with Mary Sykes

Inveterate letter writer Madeline Macdonald, Class of 1955, was moved to put pen to paper and write to the editor of The Times last month on the subje… More...

There was a spontaneous round of applause for the show-stopping LEH favourite Star in the Sky at the first-ever combined Senior School and Alumnae Car… More...

We are delighted to share the exciting news that LEH has been named London’s Independent School of the Year in The Sunday Times Parent Power Guide 202… More...

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