PETERHOUSE NOSTALGIA

... MEMORIES ...

PETERHOUSE GIRLS' SCHOOL DEVELOPMENTS 1994 -1997

Hammond House

Much has been done to improve the fabric of the school in the last four years.The first major project during this period was the completion of Hammond House,the B Block accommodation unit in 1994. Building began on the project at the end of 1993 when Mr. Michael Hammond retired. The building was to come into commission in 1995 but it was completed by September and we took the opportunity to move girls in during the Third Term. It was named Hammond House after Mr. Michael and Mrs. Barrie Hammond in recognition of all they had done as founders of the Girls wing. The new block accommodates 32 girls in eight bedrooms, has a new bathroom area and Common Room, and adjoins the Sanatorium wing where the rooms were refurbished to accommodate a full complement of fifty boarders. The House is sited adjacent to the Sanatorium near the Maintenance and Estates Offices.

Other Building Work

During 1994 the bathroom/toilet upstairs in D Block was dismantled as it had led to structural problems in the Dining Hall below. The area was gutted , the partitions between the rooms lowered, to ensure more light, and a new configuration of twelve girls to an area was created. Little Dorm was joined to the D Block area. This meant that double bunks became a thing of the past in D Block. In C Block, again during 1994, the pine wall divisions were dismantled and brighter dormitory areas were created with the passageway flanking the southern line of the building, allowing light and air into the area. A programme of recurtaining took place during 1994, curtains were replaced inall of the dormitories and Houses. Also during 1994 the dining hall had major surgery The ceiling as mentioned before developed structural cracks which necessitated steel pillars and girders being erected. The San Sister's flat was changed and refurbished and the front car park area was enlarged.

Changes during 1995

1995 was a year of consolidation and general titivating of all areas with special emphasis on the classrooms. A programme of tiling the floors, adding posterboards and painting took place. The downstairs toilets were improved and the Tuckshop moved to what was the Gamestore. The book stores were turned into two dayscholar rooms one for working and one for changing.

Changes during 1996

In 1996 a major improvement in the supply of water took place. Water is now pumped from the Kushinga Phikelela Dam and not the Nyakambiri. Those who attended Peterhouse Girls' will remember the shortages we had when in 1992 Nyakambiri dried up completely! Phase 1 and 2 of the Sewage Disposal Scheme took place.

The highlight of the year was the construction and completion of the Dame Molly Court at Peterhouse Boys'. The Court was created to provide common room and study facilities for V Form, VI Form and Prefects. It was designed by Mr. Mark Claypole who designed the Sir Humphrey Gibbs Centre and funded by money collected in England by Sir Roger Gibbs.

Achievements during 1997

1997 saw the construction of two new Vth Form Houses (Cream {ex White} and Violet {or Violent as it soon became christened!) and one VI Form House with a Headgirl's Room (bathroom en suite!). The new Houses were sited off Williams Field in the area between the basketball courts and the new swimming pool. The cement slab used for basketball was lifted, the debris used to create a hillock between the swimming pool and the new Houses. The area has been grassed and will be landscaped in time. A new all weather area was completed between the Estates and Maintenance area and the Athletics Track. It accommodates three tennis courts, in the First and Third Term, an indoor Hockey area and three basketball courts in the Winter Term.

Plans for 1998

During 1998 I hope to demolish the Estates and Maintenance area and fence the Athletics Track. This area would thus become a focal point for Hammond House, the new all weather area and the Winston Field. A new Estates and Maintenance workshop area would be established behind the Gosho Shop equal distance between Peterhouse Girls' and Springvale House. It is hoped that we will have a new Hall to mark the new millennium. This addition would be a multipurpose facility for Peterhouse Girls' and Springvale House. Apart from the obvious advantages of having a new Hall, it will enable us to enlarge the school Library and build a Computer Room in the existing Hall.

J.B. CALDERWOOD, HEADMASTER

3 February 1998.