Newsletters

MARCH 2026

Photographic memory

A lovely collection of photographs has come to light which depict plays performed by pupils at West Heath in the 1950s.

As this was in the days before digital and video cameras, a local photographer was invited to take pictures of the cast in their costumes. These photographs can be found on the website this month.

www.westheatholdgirlsassociation.com

Many of the productions were well known historical dramas from that age, but there is one that will not find any online searches. It was called ‘Fantasy on a Diphthong’ (see picture above) and was written by Ann Brown who was, we believe, the school secretary – can anyone confirm this?

Ann also designed the costumes with the help of a young Latin teacher called Ruth Rudge – who, as we all know, went on to become headmistress.

Maybe some of the pupils from the 1950s era can remember these plays and will recognise some of the performers – or did you take part yourself? We’d love to hear your memories.

A big thanks

Our recent request to help update email addresses that were no longer working brought a fantastic response—so a big thank you to everyone who got involved.

Thanks to your help, we’ve been able to reconnect with many people, and we’d like to extend a warm welcome to those who will now be receiving the regular WHOGA newsletter, keeping you up to date with new stories on our revamped website.

We’ll be sharing the list again next month in the hope of uncovering even more updated contacts.

This process did bring to our attention that sadly a few former West Heath pupils are no longer with us. Some of the longer standing members of WHOGA reminded us that the school magazine used to include an obituary/tribute section which informed people when classmates and members of staff had passed away.

It has been suggested that we could reintroduce an obituary section on the new website. This could begin as a simple list of those who have left us with the option to include tributes and comments from friends and former classmates.

We’d really value your thoughts on this. In the next few days, we’ll be running a poll on the WHOGA Facebook page—please do take a moment to share your opinion.

Send us your news

hile we love dipping into the archives and sharing pieces of West Heath history, it’s just as wonderful to hear what everyone is up to now.

If you’re a former pupil or member of staff and have news to share, we’d be delighted to hear from you. Whether it’s a new business venture, a career change, fundraising for a good cause, a book launch, an award or family news — please do get in touch.

We also always enjoy hearing about reunions or your own special memories of West Heath—especially when accompanied by photographs.

You can send us your news and photos to: WHOGA@hotmail.com

We look forward to hearing from you.

The WHOGA Committee
Julie Poole
Frank Baldwin
Tom Miller

FEBRUARY 2026

When a Latin teacher had to wrap herself in newspaper because West Heath staff accommodation was so cold

Ruth Rudge will be remembered as a charismatic headmistress who helped and encouraged all the West Heath pupils who passed through the school during her tenure.

But did you know that after being offered a position as Latin Teacher – while she was still in Australia and without an interview – Ruth only intended to stay one year before moving on to teach in America.

Fortunately for West Heath, she admits that she was ‘duped’ into staying a bit longer by the then headmistress Miss Phyllis Elliott… and the rest, as they say, is history.

On the WHOGA website this month we have reproduced a piece Ruth wrote for the school magazine a few years after her retirement. In it she describes her own impressions of West Heath, the former beauty of places like the American Gardens (pictured) and the Japanese Gardens, and reveals several facts you may be unaware of… including how she had to wrap herself in newspaper because the staff accommodation was so cold during the winter months! You’ll find the story, and other ones you may have missed on the website at:

www.westheatholdgirlsassociation.com

PLEASE PLEASE… We need your help

The WHOGA database for the email newsletters was put together using various other West Heath databases compiled by different people over several years.

However, after the recent newsletters were circulated more than 130 email address were marked undelivered and highlighted as ‘blocklisted’ by the mass email sending platform that we use.

There are several reasons why this can happen.

It can be that the email address has been discontinued.
An email spam filter may have marked our newsletters as junk – this can sometimes happen when emails are received from a mass email system.
An email address may have been inputted slightly incorrectly
Email filters may have marked WHOGA emails as junk because it did not recognise the email address they were coming from.
Or someone may simply have ‘unsubscribed’ either on purpose, as they no longer want any association with the former West Heath School, or may have unsubscribed in error – again because the WHOGA email address was not recognised.
Sadly some of the people on the list may no longer be with us.

Before we remove the details of these undelivered emails from the WHOGA database we are asking if you can go though the list below to see if there are any names of classmates or friends you recognise and are still in touch with, and if so…

Please supply an up-to-date email or contact them and ask if they can send one.

Some of the details below includes more info than others – such as maiden names, years they were at West Heath etc.

As mentioned above, these details were compiled from various older databases and so we cannot be sure that all the details are correct.

Please can you, or the person named, send us an updated email address to:

WHOGA@hotmail.com

Let’s aim to amend as many as we can so that more West Heath Old Girls and staff can enjoy these monthly updates.

The WHOGA Committee
Julie Poole
Frank Baldwin
Tom Miller

JANUARY 2026

When half the school went downhill

We delve back in time again on the website this month with some old cine film of one of West Heath’s ski trips to France.

The very first ski trip was to Les Arcs in the 1980s. This was such a success, that the next trip to Les Deux Alpes in France saw almost half of the school sign up to hit the slopes – many for the first time.

The recently found cine film has degraded with age, and this has affected the quality, but at least some of it has been saved for prosperity before it is too late. See if there is anyone you recognise.

There is a link to a very short extract of the film on the website’s home page. You will find the full version of the film on the ‘Video Page’ in the ‘Members Only’ section. You need to apply for a password for these members only sections. Details of how to apply are on the website.

Name from the past

One of the other new stories on the West Heath Old Girls Association website this month mixes both news and nostalgia.

It is about the old name of Ash Grove, that was the name of the house and the estate before West Heath School moved in, being revived.

It is now being used by the events company that organises wedding ceremonies and receptions within the school grounds.

It is believed the Ash Grove name originally came from the farm area where the house and grounds were established back in 1764 – hence the name of Ashgrove Road that runs outside the school gates from Sevenoaks Common to Old Cross Keys.

Just to slightly confuse matters historically, opposite the school gates is the private road of West Heath Lane. It derived its name from the school after it took over Ash Grove House in the 1930s. West Heath Lane is part of the original long drive running down through the Solefields Playing fields and on to almost opposite Sevenoaks School which would have been the access for vehicles to Ash Grove House before the surrounding area was developed with more roads and residential housing.

Send us your news

Although we are happy to keep dipping into the West Heath history files it is always nice to have some present-day positive news stories. If any former West Heath pupils or staff have any news we would love to hear from you.

This could include new businesses, or new work avenues, raising money for charity, book launches, awards… these are just a few examples.

Plus, we love hearing about reunions, or any of your own special memories of West Heath – especially if they are backed up with photographs.

Let us know about any news by using the contact email: WHOGA@hotmail.com

We look forward to hearing from you. Happy New Year everyone.

The WHOGA Committee
Julie Poole
Frank Baldwin
Tom Miller

DECEMBER 2025

Christmas time, mistletoe and wine…

Christmas at West Heath was always a time of excitement. Carols by candlelight in the senior common room, lunch with crackers in the dining room, and of course going home for the festive holidays!

We have only managed to unearth a couple of Christmas lunch photos. If anyone has any of their own we would love to see them.

Children’s book author remembers her days at West Heath

New additions to the West Heath Old Girls Association website this month include memories from 94-year-old Griselda Gifford, one of the oldest members of WHOGA. She is now a children’s book author and has written 34 of them.

She has wonderful recollections of her days at West Heath in the 1940s including sneaking into Sevenoaks to watch a Royal Wedding, the dreaded Saturday night dancing, and being told by the local vicar that it she met any men she should turn around and run away!

Did headmistress see a ghost?

Griselda remembers being told stories about headmistress Phyllis Elliot being confronted by the ghost of Florence Nightingale. Find out more on the website.

Caught on camera – in the old gym

he latest video film is of a games lesson in the old gym, which also doubled as a dance studio. It was also used for the occasional play performed on a stage made of large boxes.

There are stories that part of the gym was formerly a squash court. Can any of the older WHOGA members confirm this?

The video shows how this small area was utilised before the opening of the new sports hall by Princess Diana in November 1987.

An extract from the video is available to all on the WHOGA website and there is a longer version in the ‘Members Only’ section.

Members Only sections

To get in the ‘Members Only’ sections on the WHOGA website you have to have a password which can be obtained by following the instructions on the website.

There is a small charge of £10. However, if you were one of the former pupils who paid £10 to set up the original website you are entitled to a new password for free.

Any News?

Remember, if you are having, or have had, any West Heath reunions – or have any other news or memories involving former pupils or staff – do let us know, and whenever possible include some photographs.

You can contact us by email by CLICKING HERE

We look forward to hearing from you. Merry Christmas.

The WHOGA Committee
Julie Poole
Frank Baldwin
Tom Miller

NOVEMBER 2025

Drama Hall demolished

This month we pay a visit to the West Heath Drama Hall. Sadly, the building has been demolished after it was deemed unsafe for use a couple of years ago.

Everyone will have their own memories of performing on the large stage, being in the audience for one of the many fun events held there, the assemblies, and of course when it was used as an exam hall. You’ll find a post about the hall on the website and some photographs.

There are also some details of what is going to replace the hall. The current management of West Heath have submitted a planning application to build a new hall with an upstairs and a downstairs.

The ground floor will be another hall with a servery so it can also be used as a dining room, and upstairs there will be new classrooms.

The plans also include a new entrance and reception, as part of the new hall, where visitors will enter the school buildings.

The school says this will make it safer for visitors, pupils, and staff, although it’s a shame people arriving will no longer go through the imposing and attractive front door and into the beautiful wooden panelled entrance hall.

Grease is the word

And talking of the old hall, following last month’s video rendition of Bohemian Rhapsody, we have edited another video of the memorable performance of Grease. There is an extract on the main website, but if you would like to watch the full version sometime, you will find it in the ‘Members Only’ section.

Can you help?

The West Heath Old Girls Association has been contacted by Alison Crawford, the Assistant Archivist at St Catherine’s School in Sydney, Australia, where former West Heath Headmistress Ruth Rudge was a member of staff between 1948 and 1950. She taught Latin and English and was a resident mistress in the boarding house.

Ruth kept in contact with St Catherine’s after she came to work in England. The school is particularly interested in some correspondence they found from her that she sent in July 1990, as the letter mentioned she still had photographs of the school and some of the staff.

The school wonders what happened to these photographs after Ruth passed away. Members of her family may still have them, but we don’t have any contact details.

Are there any members of WHOGA who have had contact with Ruth’s family or helped them with the memorial service held on Wednesday 28 October 2009 at St-Martin-in-the-Fields in London? (Tributes and photos from the day can be found in the ‘Members Only’ section on the WHOGA website).

If anybody does have some contact details please email them to WHOGA@hotmail.com and we will forward them to St Catherine’s.

Alternatively, if you prefer, we can forward the contact details for St Catherine’s to you, and you can send them to the family.

Members only passwords

We are pleased that the Members Only passwords for the website all appear to be up and running now. If you are having any problems get in touch and we will try and help. If you want to get a password, follow the instructions on the website.

There is a small charge of £10. However, if you were one of the former pupils who paid £10 to set up he original website you are entitled to a new password for free.

Any news?

We look forward to hearing from you.

The WHOGA Committee
Julie Poole
Frank Baldwin
Tom Miller

OCTOBER 2025

A trip back in time

We take a nostalgic trip back in to the past on the West Heath Old Girls Association website this month.

Firstly, some old videos of past school activities have re-emerged. Extracts from these will appear at regular intervals on the website in the future and the first one chosen for this month is from a Staff Revue in the late 80s when six West Heath residents performed their own version of Queen’s Bohemian Rhapsody.

You will find the link on the website. westheatholdgirlsassociation.com

See how many of the former staff you recognise.

Drama Hall demolished

The Staff Revue was performed in the school’s drama hall. Sadly, this hall has now been demolished, but we would love to hear accounts and see photos of your own memories of performing in the hall for a future story on the website.

Claydon House mystery solved

Secondly, last month’s story about trying to uncover more details of when pupils and staff from West Heath were evacuated during the second world war to the historic Claydon House in Buckinghamshire has produced a wealth of information and delightful memories from former pupils.

Plus, a faded note found among old West Heath paperwork confirms the evacuation by the school in 1940, and it was just as well, as the note also reports that several West Heath buildings were damaged by bombs during the war.

You can read all about West Heath’s time at Claydon House on the website.

westheatholdgirlsassociation.com

And here is a reminder about the WHOGA database and details for getting a password for the members only sections.

EMAIL ADDRESSES

A great deal of work has been carried out in an effort to update the WHOGA email database. As reported last month, it is being compiled by combining names and email addresses from several different lists going back over many years.

Some of you may have appeared on more than one list, so until we finish the check for duplications this may result in you receiving this newsletter more than once.

Apologies if this is the case, but we are still working on updating the database and will sort it as soon as possible.

If you have a more current email address you would prefer us to use, please supply the details.
If you hear of any former classmates who are not getting the WHOGA newsletters, please suggest they provide us with a current email.
And, of course, if you prefer not to receive this correspondence you can unsubscribe.

PASSWORDS FOR THE ‘MEMBERS ONLY’ SECTIONS

A reminder that when the original website was launched several years ago, former West Heathans were invited to contribute a donation of £10 towards the cost of setting up the site. In return they received a password which allowed them access to the ‘Members Only’ sections.

It is great to see that many new people have applied for a password for the members only sections on the new website. All applications have now been approved but if you are still having any problems applying for a password send us a message using the email on the website and we will do our best to help.

New sections will be added to the website as we go along, but if you have any suggestions for something you would like to see, drop us an email.

When sending any email messages or correspondence, please include your name from your West Heath days for ease of identification.

We look forward to hearing from you.

The WHOGA Committee
Julie Poole
Frank Baldwin
Tom Miller

SEPTEMBER 2025

New tales on the Old Girls website

There are some new additions to the website this month including:

Can you help solve the mystery of the connection between West Heath and Claydon House in Buckinghamshire.
Former pupil goes on tour of UK theatres with new production after World Premier in Kent.
A class from the 60s get together for a reunion and provide a great photo from yesteryear.

You can read all these stories and more by using the link above.

If you have any news or memories involving former West Heath pupils and staff, or information and photos about reunions you are having – or have had – send us the details using the WHOGA email details. You will find them on the website.

Everyone who has already applied for a new password for the members only sections on the new WHOGA website has now been approved. It’s great to see how many people have signed up. Or if you want to apply, below is a reminder about the WHOGA database and details for getting a password.

Several emails on the original WHOGA database bounced back when we sent last month’s newsletter. This maybe because the email address we hold is out of date or no longer in operation. Please check with any of your West Heath friends or relatives whether they are receiving our messages, and if not please send, or get them to provide, a new email address.

EMAIL ADDRESSES
The database for the WHOGA newsletter has been compiled by combining names and email addresses from several different lists going back over many years. There are more than 500+ emails on the combined database but some of the information provided may now be out of date. If you have a more current email address you would prefer us to use, please supply the details.
If you hear of any former classmates who are not getting the WHOGA newsletters, please suggest they provide us with a current email.
If you prefer not to receive this correspondence you can unsubscribe.

PASSWORDS FOR THE ‘MEMBERS ONLY’ SECTIONS
When the original website was launched several years ago, former West Heathans were invited to contribute a donation of £10 towards the cost of setting up the site. In return they received a password which allowed them access to the ‘Members Only’ sections.
We believe we have identified a list of the people who made these contributions, and they will shortly receive a separate email explaining how they can set up a new password for the ‘Members Only’ sections on the new website.
If you have never had a password for the ‘members only’ sections and would like to apply for one, use the APPLY FOR A PASSWORD button at the top of the page and follow the directions.

If you have problems following the instructions send an email by
CLICKING HERE and we will send you a guide on how to get your own password.

New sections will be added to the website as we go along, but if you have any suggestions for something you would like to see, drop us an email.

When sending any email messages or correspondence, please include your name from your West Heath days for ease of identification.

We look forward to hearing from you.

The WHOGA Committee
Julie Poole
Frank Baldwin
Tom Miller

AUGUST 2025

Welcome to a new West Heath Old Girls Association (WHOGA) email newsletter which also coincides with the relaunch of a new WHOGA website.
The purpose of the newsletter is to help keep us all up to date by informing you about posts on the website involving former staff and pupils. Plus, we will take a look back at the history, traditions, events, and amusing stories that made West Heath such a unique school.
These items will be featured on the new website, and the newsletter will alert you to the latest articles once they have been posted.

For example:
Who received an MBE in the New Year’s Honour’s awards?
Which ‘celebrity’ and former pupil has been helping to plant trees?
Plus, read tributes to former staff who have sadly passed away.

You will find the new website at:
westheatholdgirlsassociation.com

All the information from the previous sites have also been transferred to our new WordPress platform.
In order to protect the privacy of WHOGA members, there are still some ‘members only’ sections that can only be accessed using a password (see more info below).
And of course we want to hear from you. For example, several year groups have annual reunions. Make sure you email in some photographs and information from these get togethers. Or if you are launching a new business, publishing a book, or just have some good news, let us know by emailing details to:

CLICK HERE

EMAIL ADDRESSES
The database for the WHOGA newsletter has been compiled by combining names and email addresses from several different lists going back over many years. There are more than 500+ emails on the combined database but some of the information provided may now be out of date. If you have a more current email address you would prefer us to use, please supply the details.
If you hear of any former classmates who are not getting the WHOGA newsletters, please suggest they provide us with a current email.
And, of course, if you prefer not to receive this correspondence you can unsubscribe.

If you have problems following the instructions send an email to:
CLICK HERE

and we will send you a guide on how to get your own password.

New sections will be added to the website as we go along, but if you have any suggestions for something you would like to see, drop us an email.

When sending any email messages or correspondence, please include your name from your West Heath days for ease of identification.

We look forward to hearing from you.

The WHOGA Committee
Julie Poole
Frank Baldwin
Tom Miller