"AMASC England & Wales "

National Report for Amasc – England and Wales – 2005

The year started with a very successful AGM in January held at the Army and Navy Club in London.  Some 70 people attended and voted for the name change from Nashe to Amasc – England and Wales – to reflect the international character of the Association.  Other topics discussed were the Presidents’ Meeting in Barcelona in 2004 and the forthcoming meeting of European Presidents in Poland in April.

Sister Bernie Porter gave a brief address about her links with the Society’s NGO, the changing face of the Society and her work in Higher Education. The cocktail party which followed was a great occasion to catch up with amasc friends.

Study Day:

A study day was held in March.  We chose as our theme ‘Towards a better understanding of Immigration’.  The venue for the meeting was the East End of London in order to give a flavour and certainly add colour to the day.  Sisters Joan Faber and Mary Barrow put the day together for us and the morning was taken up with exchange of information on the various different terminologies, which can cause confusion, and the facts surrounding the current situation in the U.K.  In the afternoon we had a very moving account from a Somalian Refugee of her life in Somalia, the reasons for her escape and the difficulties she faced when she eventually reached London. She is now settled and reunited with some of her family and is in turn helping other refugees.  The whole day made us realise that behind the statistics there is a human story, which should help us to overcome fears and prejudices and be more tolerant and open to those who need refuge here. This was a good preparation for the World Congress next year whose theme is ‘Collaboration for a better World.’

Gillie Collyer was accompanied by Bridget Kenton (Hammersmith Association President) at the Meeting in Pobiedziska.   We were also delighted to have Florence Maybury with us as the Young Amasc representative. The timing of our visit was historic as we arrived the day before Pope John Paul 2’s funeral.  The whole country came to a halt and the feeling of grief and loss was very tangible.  In spite of this we were kept hard at work discussing the changes required to the constitution, the proposed programme for New Orleans, the possible candidate for the future world president as well as giving and receiving accounts of the situation of the alumni associations around Europe.  Yamasc held their own meetings which resulted in some very concrete projects for the future.

Local Associations:

Woldingham:  A very successful AGM was held in May at the London Museum of Garden History. Diana Vernon (Head Mistress) gave an account of the school and mentioned the recent visit of pupils to Sacred Heart Schools in the States and a sporting tour planned to Australia.  Florence Maybury spoke for Yamasc and gave a summary of their meetings in Poland in April and the projects they plan to undertake.  Gillie hopes to visit Woldingham in June to strengthen the ties between Woldingham and Amasc.

Also in May Woldingham Chamber Choir gave a recital in Westminster Cathedral at the Festival of Flowers and Music.  This was again organised by a Woldingham Alumnae and was to ‘help children across the world’.  A pupil also gave a violin recital which was outstanding.

Hammersmith:  Bridget went with Gillie to Poland and has now joined the Amasc Committee.  In February there was a winter reunion which unfortunately was poorly attended but was enjoyed by those who went to it.  The summer reunion is planned for the 10th July with picnic at Hammersmith.

Fenham: Fenham has been very active and has had several reunions over the last year.  We hope to establish closer links.

Tunbridge Wells: The Association is still working and there is a reunion planned for October at the Clerkenwell Gallery in London.  Again we hope to establish closer links.

Hove:  This Association no longer exists but alumnae have joined  Amasc – England and Wales.

Digby Stuart: Digby Stuart is now part of the University of Surrey and links with the Association have been lost but we will try to find some contact.

AGM & Cocktail 2005

On Wednesday January 26th we held our AGM and Cocktail Party at the Army and Navy Club in St. James Square, London.  It was an ideal venue and a successful evening.  Anna Clark gave a report of the Association’s activities during the last year.   Money was sent to help the school in Uganda and also a cow was donated to them to be named ‘Anna’!! 

It was unanimously decided to change the acronym from Nashe to Amasc, England and Wales to reflect the international character of the Association.  Anna mentioned the European Presidents’ Meeting in Barcelona last year and the next one in Poznan, Poland in April to which Gillie Collyer and Bridget Kenton (Hammersmith Association President) will go.  Hopefully a Yesca representative will also attend.  A Study Day in preparation for New Orleans will be held on March 5th.  The theme will be ‘Inclusion – towards a better understanding of Immigration’.  To help us towards this better understanding we have decided to hold the Study Day in the East End of London.  For those of us who live outside areas with a multi-cultural population, this should be quite a new experience.  During the day we will be given facts regarding the Immigration situation in England, we will explore the myths and prejudices surrounding the issue.  The day will also include the sharing of experiences with a Somalian and a Bosnian refugee.

Anna stepped down as President of the Association and Gillie Collyer was voted to take over.  The Committee, in recognition and gratitude for all her hard work over the past six years for the Association, presented Anna with a gift.

After the AGM and before the Cocktail Party Sister Bernie Porter CBE spoke about the changing face of the Society, her links with the Society’s NGO, and her work in Higher Education.

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