It is with much sadness that we announce the death of Alison (Elizabeth) Cavendish (1934 – 2024), former Headmistress of Sutton High.
She believed passionately in educating and inspiring young women having taught inter alia at Sydenham High School, GDST (1960-69), Head of Lady Margaret School (1971-1980) and Head of Sutton High School, (1980 to her retirement in 1995). She hardly ever raised her voice but had a kindliness and quiet authority which drew staff and pupils alike. At Lady Margaret School, she oversaw the change to comprehensive education with its first comprehensive intake arriving in September 1977: the school’s sixtieth anniversary.
Her father was a rector and she grew up in a series of vicarages including one at Clovelly which had been the home of Charles Kingsley, and later in the rectory at Mells in 1944. She was head girl at Bath High School, and later trained as a librarian. After officially retiring she continued to be hugely active as a magistrate, in her local church, at various charities, and as a Director at Collingwood School.
She was a fabulous great aunt to four great nephews, who remember her with deep affection.
Camilla Cavendish (Putney High School, 1974-1986) and Caroline Maughan (Bath High School 1955-1959 )
Below is a tribute to Miss Cavendish by Sue James, school archivist and former Head of History at Sutton High School.
It is with sadness that we can announce that Alison Cavendish passed away on Sunday 17th November. Aged 90. Miss Cavendish served as Head of Sutton High School between 1980 and 1995.
Miss Cavendish’s tenure as headmistress was substantial and there will be many memories of her, especially from those who were in the school community in the 1980s and 1990s. Probably her busiest year was 1984, the school’s centenary, where she had a myriad of celebrations to oversee. The main focus was an ambitious one, funding and building the Sports Hall. This was not her only building project as the Garden Building and the Cavendish Library were also built and the two houses for the junior, now prep, school were refurbished and connected by Hayes Hall.
Buildings were not the only innovation as the GCSE replaced the old ‘O’ level system of examining 16-year-old students, in 1986. Miss Cavendish supported these new examinations as she thought they were “testing to see what the girls can do rather than what they have forgotten.” She was far-sighted, raising money for the Cavendish library so that there would be a place not just for books but for what she called “the invisible revolution”, the use of computers across the curriculum. She also added a Reception Class to the school.
Miss Cavendish was very self-effacing. She used to say that she was only good at History but, of course, this was far from the truth. Her administrative skills and attention to detail were legendary, especially in checking reports and in compiling the timetable for the whole school.
Yet, it is probably in her relationships with the girls that she is best known; from the sixth form down to the “moppets”, as she called the youngest pupils. Her calm demeanour masked a good sense of humour and she wrote witty sketches for staff to entertain the girls. When she was asked at her retirement what she wished to be remembered for, she said that she wanted to be known as a good listener; that too many headmistresses could speak well but were not so good at listening. I am sure that there will be many who can testify to this quality and many others besides.
Our condolences go to Miss Cavendish’s sister, Caroline, her wider family and friends.
ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE FUNERAL OF
Alison Elizabeth Cavendish
4 September 1934 – 17 November 2024
The Funeral Service will be held on Wednesday 18th December at
All Saints Church, High St, Carshalton, Surrey SM5 3AG at 11.30 am. Followed by Committal for close family at North East Surrey Crematorium, Lower Morden Lane, Morden SM4 4NU at 12.40 pm
A buffet reception will be held at the Greyhound Hotel, next-door to the church. It will begin after the service finishes at around 12.15-12.30
In place of floral tributes you are kindly asked to make a donation to St Raphaels Hospice, a local charity which Alison supported for many years. You can donate on their website
https://www.straphaels.org.uk
