With Us Every Step of the Way

The number of entries we received reached a whole new level and we could tell many of you had stepped up your game, so it’s been very hard to pick a winner. Infact we’ve had to tread carefully, as classrooms have obviously moved around over the years, but we think we can rise to the challenge!

Enough of the puns! We are delighted to have prompted such widespread reminiscing and appreciation.  These are just a sample of alumnae response:

Dana Mahdi and her sister Nora both entered.  Dana, Class of 2016, said: “The staircase challenge posted on the alumnae Facebook page brought back such good memories of running down the stairs, usually late to lessons.” While Nora, Class of 2014, said: “I love this “where are these stairs” initiative! It made me laugh, and also confused my brain a little!”

Kate Holder, Class of 2001, told us: “I just wanted to say thank you for posting up the pictures of random bits of the school - my friends & I (class of 2001!) have been very much enjoying the nostalgia.” While Aarti Sood, Class of 2010 said: “Great memories to see the staircases! My friends and I were trying to remember where they were; it’s (only!) been 11 years since we left.”

The youngest person to enter was a 2020 leaver, who hardly had to rack her brains at all, but we had plenty of older alumnae in their 60s and 70s who cast their minds back to their school days. The photos prompted a flood of memories involving BCG injections and violin lessons, and brought a fairly wide range of guesses about which rooms the stairs might be near – from the chapel, to the chemistry labs and from the DT Resistant Materials Room to the swimming pool.

Debbie Hilton, Class of 1979, described one of them, very appropriately as “the Holly Club staircase!” and recalls they were restricted to sixth formers and staff.

When the photos were taken last year, the grey stairs on the left lead up from the HR office (near the meeting room next door to the LRC and behind the assembly hall) and up to Classics office (and the corridor leading to the staff room). These are the ones that seem to be most widely recognised.

The wooden staircase on the right leads from the Product Design corridor (which is actually in a newer part of the school) up to the MFL classrooms. But they prompted a much wider variety of suggestions.

The winner is Nicola Farrow, (nee Burgess) Class of 1994, who says: “Great game! Well, my recollection (from late 80s/early 90s) is that the grey concrete stairs led from the gym/sports changing rooms up to the U6 pavilion and were only to be used by sixth formers and staff.

"The wooden stairs led from the locker/cloakrooms/toilets next to the PE office up to the art room!” Many congratulations, Nicola, your selection of LEH branded gifts is on its way to you.

As usual you are one step ahead of us, and as this game has proved to be such a hit, we will regularly feature ‘Guess Where?’ competitions in future alumnae newsletters.