WHOGA
Westcliff High School Old Girls Association (WHOGA)
- If you would like to join our Association to receive the occasional email about visiting the school and reuniting with old friends, please download and complete our membership form.
- Also add WHSG Past Pupils on Facebook to keep up-to-date with school events!
- If you are currently a member and your details have changed, please email pastpupils@whsg.info so that we can update your records.
JOANNA CHERRY
We are sad to announce that Joanna Cherry, a former Geography Teacher at Westcliff High School for Girls, passed away on 2nd February 2021, aged 73. Joanna was a good teacher, who was calm and organised. We would like to pass our condolences to her family at this time.
PAULINE BAINES
We are sad to announce that Mrs Pauline Baines, a former Deputy Headteacher and Teacher of RE at Westcliff High School for Girls, passed away on 10th February 2021, aged 74.
Pauline Baines was employed at Westcliff High School for Girls from 1988 until 2006, and in addition to her role as Deputy Headteacher and Teacher of RE, she took on many other responsibilities, such as SEN and Team Leader for the Science, Music, Drama and PE Departments, as well as leading the Pastoral Team with considerable success for six years. Pauline was a great proponent of initial teacher training and oversaw the entry of many graduates into the profession. Whilst working at the school Pauline introduced RE teaching at A Level with excellent results.
Pauline was a very loyal and hard-working Deputy Headteacher who was untiring in her efforts to the school, and comments from staff who knew her very well are detailed below:
“I knew Pauline very well. She was affectionately known to all staff at the time as “call me Pauline”. She would always be willing to give advice and help where needed, and was very dedicated and knowledgeable. I think it was the fact that she travelled every day from Kent that surprised most people and she rarely missed a day at work, even during the worst the weather could throw at us at that time. She will be missed by many in her local community and may she now rest in peace.”
“I remember Pauline Baines as both my teacher and my colleague. She was a formidable presence at WHSG when I was a student in the 1990s. She was committed to education and to the development of new teachers. She was also an amazing cook and I think I had one of the best tiramisus I have ever eaten at a celebration at her house when I and my fellow trainees completed our teacher training.”
“Pauline made me feel very welcome when I joined the school, and always took the time to talk to me.”
“Even though Pauline left WHSG, she still returned to assist with the training programmes. Rest in peace Pauline.”
LORENE CAMY
We are sad to announce that Mrs Lorene Camy, a former teacher at Westcliff High School for Girls, passed away suddenly on 12th January 2021, aged 77 years.
For those wishing to watch the service online they may do so on Thursday, 4th February 2021 at 10.00 a.m. at: https://www.obitus.com/, username: Kici8294 password: 956985
Donations, if desired, made payable to SCOPE or U3A, and may be sent c/o: Clarabut and Plumbe Funeral Directors, 11 Kingsway, Bedford, MK42 9BJ, telephone: 01234 354547
Lorene Camy taught at Westcliff High School for Girls from 1982 until she retired in 2001. She was employed as a Teacher of English and Head of the Lower School. Lorene was very highly regarded by both staff and students, and comments from staff who knew her very well are detailed below:
“I worked with Lorene from when I joined the school in 1995 to her departure in the summer of 2001. Lorene was a truly lovely person, a devoted mother and grandmother, gifted English teacher, efficient manager and loyal, supportive friend; it was a blessing to have known and worked with such a special colleague and friend. She had a mischievous sense of humour which provided lively entertainment for the department. While I understood entirely her reasons for early retirement, I was devastated to lose her. We are often told that we are not irreplaceable in our jobs - but this was certainly not true of her. Students and colleagues were poorer for her absence. Her subject knowledge, and more importantly her ability to share it and to provoke independent thought and lively discussion, were outstanding. She was a leading light in a department praised by Ofsted for its "infectious enthusiasm" for its subject.”
“I have very fond memories of Lorene during her time as a teacher and Head of Lower School at Westcliff High School for Girls. She was an inspiration to all of us, staff and pupils alike and everyone appreciated her guidance and empathy. She had a 'happy go lucky' manner but serious at the same time and I shall never forget her smile and laughter. It was a sad day when she left us and hopefully she had many good years in retirement with her children. Rest in peace Lorene you will be sadly missed by us all.”
“Lorene was much loved by staff and students alike and legend has it she used to make the girls hot chocolate if they were upset.”
“Lorene was a much loved person who was very supportive to both staff and pupils”
