Former Pupils

All former pupils of Beaconhurst School, The Beacon School and Hurst Grange School are eligible to become members of the Beaconhurst Former Pupils Club. The club organises reunions and social events throughout the country which continues friendships and maintains links with the school. The annual AGM and Reunion, which takes place at the school, is an ideal opportunity to keep in touch and all FPs receive annual copies of the school’s newsletters and FP Supplement.

If you are not receiving the annual Former Pupils' Mailing, which comes out at the begining of June, please e-mail your detials to Mrs Marsha Eastwood (m.eastwood@beaconhurst.stirling.sch.uk) so that we can put you on our mailing list.

Former Pupils' News

90th Anniversary Celebration - Saturday 3rd October 2009

What a wonderfully happy atmosphere there always seems to be at Beaconhurst and that was certainly true on Saturday 3rd October when fifty former pupils, guests and staff members enjoyed a lunch to celebrate the founding of two schools, The Beacon School for girls and Hurst Grange Preparatory School. We were delighted to welcome Mrs Wendy Mackay (nee Mills ) who was the first pupil ( aged 5 ) to enrol at the Beacon in September 1919. The Rev Clifford Hughes and his wife Kathleen were honoured guests along with Mr Gordon Murphy, current Chairman of the Board of Governors.

The Rev Hughes gave a delightful talk sharing his memories on the amalgamation of the schools. The name Cameron means a great deal to FP’s and they were delighted to hear from the Headmaster that there are plans to renovate and refurbish the Cameron Hall. Barbara Brown, vice president, made a presentation to Mrs Susan King who was retiring from the committee as the staff representative, a post she held for many years. Fortunately she has agreed to stay on the committee as her experience is invaluable to us. Iain Kilpatrick, Headmaster, presented a bouquet of flowers to Carole Duffy from Sodexo, the school caterers, as she is leaving to take up another post. We thank Carole and her team for once again providing us with a superb lunch and looking after us so well.

One of the highlights of the event was the young piper, Joss Bryson from Senior 1. He was fantastic and provided a great atmosphere to kick off the event. Our guests all enjoyed browsing through the memorabilia on display. Combining this event with Beaconhurst Open Day was an ideal opportunity for the FP’s to tour the school and appreciate all the developments.

London Reunion - March 2009

On Saturday 14th March about twenty former pupils gathered in London for a lunch, kindly hosted by Yvonne Horsfall Turner. This is a biennial event, and this year it gave those of us who live in the South a chance to celebrate the 90th year of the founding of the Beacon School and Hurst Grange School. Yvonne had even baked a celebratory birthday cake! We were delighted that the Headmaster, Iain Kilpatrick, travelled all the way to London to join us. He was able to update us on all that is happening at Beaconhurst, and had even managed to unearth, in the attic, a 1951 prospectus for the Beacon! Once again, our thanks to Yvonne for her hospitality and hard work.

Glasgow Reunion - May 2009 at the Millennium Hotel, George Square

This proved to be a great central venue for this get together. Fourteen ladies enjoyed a lovely dinner in the conservatory , giving us some privacy , which was probably a good idea judging by the noise level! Our thanks to those who travelled from as far as Berwickshire, Edinburgh and Dunblane. Perhaps we could extend the invitation wider next time as this venue is so accessible by train and bus?
All the ladies expressed an interest in coming to the School Open Day on 3rd October 2009 to join in the celebrations to mark the founding of The Beacon and Hurst Grange 90 years ago.

Kate Jackson
President