From Ms Allum

It is with deep sadness that I share the news about the passing of Barbara Draper, the Head’s Secretary at SCEGGS from 1988. Barbara was appointed to the role during Miss Bowman’s time, having started work at SCEGGS in 1979 in what was then known as the “Bookroom”, similar to today’s General Office. And before that, Barbara was a SCEGGS girl herself, as was her daughter Danielle, from the Class of 1990.

Fiercely loyal and faithful to tradition, Barbara was a dependable constant for me for over 27 years and I am sure there would be many parents and students reading this who have been greeted by Barbara during this time. Stoic and unassuming, Barbara kept things ticking behind the scenes and was sensitive to everyone’s needs.

Just a month shy of her 80^th birthday, Barbara was working up until the end of Term 2 this year when she went on a few weeks’ leave. During that time, she was diagnosed with oesophageal cancer that had advanced throughout her body.

We are thinking of how to mark Barbara’s incredible service to the School and we will share with the community how this will unfold in due course.

We are all feeling her loss tremendously, and are finding comfort and strength in each other, sharing anecdotes, recalling her humour, care of others and sense of duty. In this way, we know that Barbara will continue to live on through our memories. Never has it been truer that once a SCEGGS Girl, Always a SCEGGS Girl!

Jenny Allum
Head of School