Stella has issued a challenge to other former pupils: “Have any of our fellow alumnae been friends for longer than us?” We’d love to hear from you and see your pictures if you’ve kept in touch with LEH friends over the years.

This is who is who from L to R: Janet Lawrence (Gill-Hooton) Class of 1954, Stella Stephens (Buttress) Class of 1949, Rosemary Burdett (Abbott) Class of 1950, Ann Reynolds (Shipley) Class of 1949, Eileen Phelps (Struckman) Class of 1955 and Janet Cody (Squire) Class of 1949.  To see Annette Golding (Scovell) Class of 1950, who was also there, please see the photos below.  You will need to be logged into your Holles Connect account to see the photo gallery.  Annette is the fourth on the right.

“A group of us got together and rekindled our friendship again in the 1970s and met up every month,” says Stella, who has two children, eight grandchildren and 13 great-grandchildren.  “But over the years, people have sadly passed away or moved house, but there’s still eight of us who catch up regularly, ranging in age from 85 to 92.

“There’s such a strong bond between us. We just get on so well and have been there for each other through all of the major events in life, supporting one another through illness or difficult times.  We love to hear about each other’s holidays, interests, and family.  And we still reminisce about our school days – all the sad and funny things we’ve shared.”

Stella has a particularly close connection with LEH having returned here in 1965 when she joined the staff as a biology teacher, first called Mrs Wright and then Mrs Tomlins. And like the rest of the group she treasures her memories of school days as a pupil.

She says: “I still love to come back for the Alumnae Lunch and see how the school has changed so much over the years. Once you’re an LEH girl, you’re always an LEH girl!” If you can beat their lifelong friendship, please get in touch: alumnae@lehs.org.uk.