Miss Margaret Gadd started at St Swithun’s in 1926 as a boarder in Hyde Abbey. At the time the school was still located in its North Walls premises in Winchester town centre. The Hyde Abbey boarding house that Margaret would have lived in was in Worthy Road and used to be a boy’s school before becoming a boarding house for St Swithun’s girls.

The Hyde Abbey boarding house on Worthy Road

Margaret spent her last year of schooling in the current premises on Alresford Road, however she did not live in the Hyde Abbey boarding house we see today, as it didn’t open until 1933, a year after she left.

During her time at St Swithun’s Margaret was a House Rep’ for the historical society. She seems to have been a talented speaker, with our archive revealing certificates for The art of speaking verse and Elocution.

Margaret aged 14

In the St Swithun’s Chronicle of 1938 it was reported that Margaret was teaching commercial subjects at Clough’s Commercial College in Southampton whilst also running the copying office there. Three years later, Margaret returned to St Swithun’s as an assistant to the housemistress at one of the boarding houses whilst also helping in the school office. The acting Headmistress at the time, Miss Clark described her as ‘at all times a loyal and satisfactory member of the school’. Her loyalty to St Swithun’s continued all throughout her life.

At some time later in the 1940’s Margaret became the personal assistant to Sir Thomas Miles during his time as chairman of the Morris Motor Co and then at BOAC (which later became British Airways). Her work included a great deal of overseas travel but she regularly attended Old Girls’ Reunions and she stayed connected to the school.

Margaret during her time at BOAC in the late 1950's

Later in life, after her time working at BOAC, she moved to Wales and worked for the Welsh Tourist Board. We believe she spent the remainder of her life living in Wales.

Margaret working for the Welsh Tourist Board in the 1970's

Margaret passed away aged 94 in 2009 after a long successful and productive life.

Shortly after her death a friend of Margaret’s said:

‘Over the years Margaret and I chatted about all manner of things and it was remarkable how often St Swithun’s came into the conversation.

Always she talked with enthusiasm and affection about the pupils, the teachers and the place. She enjoyed those memories and knew that the school had played an important and positive role in laying the foundations of her successful life.’

Demonstrating her long-lasting relationship with the school, just a few months before her death Margaret wrote in the 2009 edition of the OGA Chain:

‘I am interested to hear of the school news. I am 93 now and not very mobile – I still play bridge and am always pleased to see friends and hear of contemporaries and OGs.’

OGA Chain 2009

Margaret left St Swithun’s a generous residual legacy for the provision of bursaries to enable others less fortunate than her to benefit from a St Swithun’s education.  The school has excellent pastoral care and high-quality teaching that continues to prepare an individual for the wider world.

Leaving a residual legacy to St Swithun’s can have a long-lasting impact, allowing you to support girls at the school far into the future. If you are interested we have recently launched our 1884 Legacy Society which to enable you to connect with others who have pledged to support the school with a gift in their will. You can find out more by viewing our brochure.