| TEAM |
How did you get involved in this reunion?
|
| ELAINE |
Rebecca said that a reunion would be nice, I asked her to let me know if
anything happened
- and before I knew it I had been coerced into joining the team. I am still not
sure quite how that happened but I have just about got my twisted arm back into
its normal shape...
|
| TEAM |
What role do you play in the team?
|
| ELAINE |
I play a bit of a background role, having provided and scanned the old
school photo (and 'edited' the Christmas Card one) and done my bit to try and
remember names and track down a couple of people I have had contact with. Perhaps
my most useful role is that I seem to be the only one still living locally with a
place big enough for us to meet up in! Oh, and visiting the school with Steve was
great fun too - do check out the photos of how it is now.
|
| TEAM |
What are your aims for the event and what do you hope to achieve?
|
| ELAINE |
I would like to be able to see what has happened to those people who were
so familiar in our teenage years, but are total strangers now. I find it curious
to see how a cross-section of people who were all so similar (well, in theory
anyway...) at that time can be so diverse a few years on.
|
| TEAM |
What would people remember you for during your time at PPS?
|
| ELAINE |
I'd be surprised if there was much that anyone would remember me for, I
was hardly a high-profile pupil! Having been moved up from the school year I
should have been in, I often mixed with friends from years below our own who
were more my own age. However, other Librarians and School Choir members may
well remember me.
|
| TEAM |
How would you view your time at PPS?
|
| ELAINE |
I am glad I caught PPS as a Grammar school and I feel it is a great
shame they are no longer available locally for my children. There were certainly
some great characters teaching there that I shall never forget! I took full
advantage of various clubs and activities offered by the school and generally
enjoyed being there.
|
| TEAM |
Did you have a favourite subject at school?
|
| ELAINE |
I think that has to be art. Especially when Mrs Green used to tell me
about her boyfriends, when I was in the 6th form - and quite an eye-opener it
was to the innocent young me!
|
| TEAM |
And your least favourite subject?
|
| ELAINE |
History had me fascinated as we studied ancient China and the discovery
of America, but when I opted for O level and found we were studying the first
50 years of the 20th Century, complete with blow by blow accounts of two World
Wars, that was the biggest disappointment of all... no wonder I failed!
|
| TEAM |
Did you ever do anything completely stupid at school?
|
| ELAINE |
Of course... but you don't expect me to tell you, surely?!
|
| TEAM |
Did you have a favourite teacher?
|
| ELAINE |
I think that has to be Mrs McChesney. I still drop by and chat to her from
time to time, and she was invaluable for identifying the teachers in the 1976 photo.
|
| TEAM |
Tell us what has happened to you over the past 20+ years.
|
| ELAINE |
I started with a temp job at Ian Williams, builders, just down the road from
the school. I hated phones, but had to learn to operate a switchboard, which largely
cured me of the phobia! Then onto nearly 5 years in the Civil Service at the Portsmouth
Unemployment Benefit Office. A quick dabble in Housing Benefits saw a rapid exit,
and back to a temp agency who trained me in word processing. I spent some time with
an Insurance Loss Adjuster after the
1987 storm, which was quite fascinating stuff, especially the National Trust claims.
From there, to computers generally and to Desk Top Publishing more specifically, and
I haven't looked back since. I have run my own business for a little over 10 years now.
|
| TEAM |
Do you have a family?
|
| ELAINE |
Yes, I got married in 1987 and Vicky was born in 1991, Geoffrey in 1993. Geoff
quickly rid me of all my ideas of having 3 kids and we decided to stick at 2!
|
| TEAM |
Where do you live now?
|
| ELAINE |
Just up the road in Horndean, not far from my parents. I did move to Purbrook,
then to Cowplain, but I am back in Horndean now. Hardly adventurous!
|
| TEAM |
Have you kept in touch with anyone from school?
|
| ELAINE |
Mainly Rebecca, although I have bumped into others from time to time.
|
| TEAM |
How have you changed since leaving PPS?
|
| ELAINE |
That's a difficult one to answer... we all grow and develop as we grow older,
and I certainly hope I am wiser for the passing years.
|
| TEAM |
Apart from organising the reunion, how do spend your time?
|
| ELAINE |
I have always worked alongside bringing up the children - in fact I had just
left work to set up my business when I first became pregnant, so the two have muddled
along together for the past 10 years! We have recently bought a house which requires a
great deal of work. I am not quite sure where 'modernisation' becomes 'renovation'
but at least the walls are sound...(the roofs, among other things, are not!).
As far as leisure is concerned, some 7 years ago I joined the classical guitar
class at South Downs college, and have never looked back. I have worked up to about
grade 5 standard and play in the Havant Area Guitar Orchestra - or hago - who in 2001
won the large ensemble class in both the Portsmouth and Chichester music festivals.
|
| TEAM |
Have you had your 15 minutes of fame?
|
| ELAINE |
The only time I remember getting on TV was when I was about 18 and in the
Venture Scouts. We spent a couple of days 'up a tree' in the QE Park as a sponsored
event. I even have a photo of us, up the tree, watching a portable telly with a
picture of us on it! Actually it was all very civilised, with tents on wooden
platforms lashed together from poles - even a loo tent in its own little area.
|
| TEAM |
What would you say has been your greatest achievement?
|
| ELAINE |
I am not sure I can answer that one - partly because I don't think I have
achieved anything that stunning, but also because I believe life is a continuing
set of goals and achievements, each one evolving from what has happened previously.
|
| TEAM |
Do you have any unfulfilled ambitions?
|
| ELAINE |
To finish off this house! That'll probably take until retirement, then I
shall think again from there!
|
| TEAM |
Much can change in 20 years - how will we recognise you at the reunion next year?
|
| ELAINE |
From what everyone tells me I haven't changed a bit, so if you can remember
who I was you'll probably recognise me. The hard bit is probably going to be remembering
me in the first place...
|
| TEAM |
And finally, knowing what you know now would you ever organise another reunion?
|
| ELAINE |
I hope so - but let's see how this one goes first. There's nothing like
enthusiasm and praise from others to make it worth having another go.
|
