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St Edward’s:
150 Years
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Chapter 3 / Houses
come very close seconds in the netball and rowing competitions,
too. Our juniors are full of enthusiasm for such events and it is
hoped the success of the seniors will rub off on them soon …
Amidst the academic and sporting life are the rich cultural
activities, and at Teddies as in Mac’s we have brilliantly
talented musicians, artists and actors. Laurence Olivier, who
once slept in the Mac’s dorms, would no doubt have been
thrilled at the performances this year of Lara Paul, who won
best actress in the Shell plays. We also had Anna Swinton,
Yasmin Hass-Sinclair and Flossie Pugh as major actors in
Romeo and Juliet
, as well as Meg Neville ably working
backstage. Remember these names for the future.
It is extremely difficult to single out individuals in Mac’s,
though. One of the most remarkable ‘traditions’ of the House
is the girls’ ability to put on an evening of entertainment and
fundraising that is Mac’s Factor. The Sixth Formers who almost
entirely run this event themselves manage to include every
single girl in the House. They showcase talent as well as the true
camaraderie of Mac’s. Anyone with a teenage daughter, who has
experienced their extremes of emotions and their amazing ability
to be recalcitrant, should be impressed with this feat!
When I wander around the House most nights after everyone
is in bed, or at least in their rooms, I cannot help but get a
sense of the history of this place. I will be Housemistress for a
fraction of the time Mac’s exists but I am very glad that I am.
Debra Clayphan
Housemistress, Mac’s (D)
Mac’s (D)
St Edward’s may be celebrating its 150th anniversary but my
reign as Housemistress of Macnamara’s House has only just
begun … I am the fifth Housemistress in Mac’s after a succession
of Housemasters, and no doubt any Mac’s Old Boy would
notice huge changes if they came to visit – not least the fragrant
atmosphere and the tasteful cushions. Please do not be fooled
by the more superficial feminine touches, though. Mac’s girls are
serious about themselves and their futures and display a healthy
level of competitiveness! The photo of the girls on the staircase
is a lovely way to represent both the current inhabitants of this
grand old house and one of its original features.
As you can also see the girls begin their day with
appropriate solemnity at call-over at 8.10am, when the entire
House gathers for registration and notices. These can be serious,
nagging and occasionally joyful, as when our birthday prefect
leads the celebrations for the birthday girl. Lessons get underway
and the House falls quiet apart from our team of domestic staff,
who have to try and work around messy teenage girls. That is
always part of the nagging! Break time sees the rush of toast-
making – trying not to set off fire alarms – and important chats
before the next lessons. Jackie England, our Matron, is on hand
to react to any situation, which she does patiently, professionally
and with loving care. Lunch call-over at 12.55pm is a repeat
of the morning but with girls away at dance lessons, sporting
commitments, teacher meetings, outside visits and so on. This
session is brief, as we always have hungry girls wanting to get to
lunch: yes, they do eat heartily, just like the boys.
Afternoon lessons take place on the ‘long days’ and sports
on the ‘short days’. Mac’s girls have had a very successful recent
history of House competitions. This year our senior girls have
won the steeplechase and the Senior House Hockey. They have
Above: Lara Paul in the Shell play.
Right: Lucy Poffley.
Right and top right:
Macnamara’s House.
Below: Callover with
Mrs Clayphan, Mac’s
Housemistress since
2012.
Far right: Mac’s girls on
the House staircase.
Left:Christmas
party in
House, 2010.
Above left: 2011 BBQ,
Lower Sixth cooking
for Shells and Fourths.
Above right: Jackie
England,EmilyHigginsand
Flossie Pugh.