Invicta Vlogs
On Friday last week, we held an Alumni event as part of Invicta's 75th Anniversary celebrations.
On Friday last week, we held an Alumni event as part of Invicta’s 75th Anniversary celebrations. For the preparations, Mrs Harris has been researching the history of the school by exploring archives at Springfield Library along with liaising with former students and staff. It was lovely to welcome 150 Alumni guests to tour the school and then share their memories of Invicta. I was delighted to be able to talk to so many women about their memories of students, staff, buildings, lessons, trips, food, hair styles, uniform and gossip on who has done what! Absolutely everyone I spoke to, had a ‘tale to tell’ but what was really striking, was that they remembered fondly their time at Invicta. I thoroughly enjoyed all my conversations with our guests and really appreciated the fact that some of them had travelled long distances to be with us.
One lady’s story really struck me. She started the school in 1941 and was able to tell stories of the buildings she was in, how the girls had to move because of the war and what they all got up to throughout the war! At the end of our afternoon, she very kindly donated her school hat. It was extremely touching and something that we will treasure. For our girls, it is a great memento for our anniversary but it is also a wonderful reminder of how things have changed. We have a very simple uniform now by comparison. We do not have ‘made to measure’ clothing as indeed, they did at various times in the schools’ history; nor do we have rulers to measure the length of skirts! But, what we do have is a strong awareness of the need for uniform and an understanding that it is not only an excellent representation of the school, but it is a way of maintaining tradition.
It was very apparent on Friday, that it was the traditions of a school, that people remember – the routines of an assembly, the formula for learning verbs in French for example; the way in which girls were greeted or expected to behave around the school, along with end of term celebrations!
So many ‘Invicta girls’ over the past 75 years, have relayed so many wonderful memories. We hope to do their memory proud by continuing their legacy as a strong school community that values tradition, and yet moves forward with the times. Indeed, everyone commented on Friday, that Invicta was always the forward thinking school. I am extremely proud to think that we have that balance of ‘tradition and modernity’. What a wonderful combination and long may it continue!
