On Edgarley Open Day, staff, parents and pupils said a fond farewell to Kevin and Hilary Cheney, who are retiring. Kevin was appointed Headmaster of the Prep School in 2000, having first arrived at Millfield Senior School in 1980 to teach History. The Cheneys quickly immersed themselves in school life, becoming Houseparents at Holmcroft in 1981. Five years later Kevin left to embark upon a career of three Headmasterships, culminating in ten settled and successful years at Edgarley, which has thrived under his leadership. It has benefited particularly from Kevin and Hilary's attention to the appearance of the campus and its beautification.
We wish Kevin and Hilary well, as we do long-serving staff Cathy Papworth, Bruno Reina and Marilyn Barlow (Pre-Prep).
Cathy came to Edgarley in 1988 to as a supply teacher for one term! A rapid change to full-time saw her become a stalwart of the Geography department, which she led from 1998, and a flag-bearer for all things ecological. A major player in MPS's Green School status, she was the brains behind the celebrated Environment Day, which features a countryside walk and the visit of many experts from different areas of ecology.
Bruno arrived at Edgarley in 2000 and within two years quickly established himself as Head of the Modern Languages Department, overseeing the change from Common Entrance to Continuous Curriculum, and the introduction of Mandarin and Russian into the languages options available to pupils at MPS. In September 2009 Bruno was appointed as an academic coordinator; a step that led to his appointment as Deputy Head at Devonshire House, Hampstead.
The Pre-Prep have said farewell to Marilyn Barlow who has retired after 25 years! Marilyn taught in each year group of the school since its inception - beginning in Kindergarten with the first 7 pupils - during which time over 1,400 children have passed through.
Edgarley has also said an especially sad goodbye to Terry Dampier, the school courrier, who retired in August after 26 years at MPS. Appointed in 1984 as a ‘General Factotum’, Terry played an essential background role in keeping the school wheels running, doing countless ‘runs’ between MPS and Millfield.