Twenty years on a schoolgirl returns to her old school as a member of staff but has anything changed? By a new writer to us. By Tara Patterson Finally Lake Windermere came into view and, as the road twisted around the hills, Tara gazed upon a sight she hadn’t seen for nearly twenty years. It was […]
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Room 234
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The Hangover
An evening in the local pub leads to a break of Matron’s rules and a painful visit to the Headmaster By Tara Patterson “Come on Tara another drink won’t hurt,” said Tara’s Roommate, Clare Nicolson. The two junior members of the school staff of Queen Anne’s Boarding School, Ambleside were enjoying a night out in […]
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The Witness
Tara is asked to help Matron resolve a delicate situation. By Tara Patterson It was nearly the end of the 2015 exam season. Six weeks of Sixth form and GCSE Examinations had been intense and stressful not only for the pupils of Queen Anne’s Boarding School, Ambleside, but for all the staff too, especially 35 […]
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Carnforth 1968
Another story in the series, this one looking back at matron’s youth. By Tara Patterson A request from the chairman of the School railway society reminds Matron Taylor of her past. Matron Taylor thumbed through the pile of internal mail on her desk; email had not yet infiltrated the medical department of Queen Anne’s Boarding […]
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HMHS Emphatic 1982
In the next part of the series we learn a little more of Matron’s past. By Tara Patterson Tara stood before Matron Taylor in her new uniform. As was usual at Queen Anne’s it was everything you would expect from a traditional nurse’s uniform; a burgundy short-sleeved dress with white piping on the sleeves, a […]
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Parliamentary Research
A young MP visits Queen Anne’s to discover the secret to good school discipline but gets more than she bargained for By Tara Patterson At twenty-four, Hannah Philpott was the youngest MP in parliament. As a member of the up and coming SNP party she had been surprisingly elected to represent a lowland Scottish constituency […]
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Have You Thought About Becoming a Nurse?
Another flashback to Meryl Taylor’s youth recalling the incident that sparked the beginning of her Nursing career. By Tara Patterson Mr Rose, the Deputy Headmaster of Queen Anne’s, stood at the lectern at the end of morning prayers on this May 1968 morning and addressed the school. “You will be pleased to know that your […]
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A Character
An inspection of the school cellar leads to a painful outcome for one pupil and a sense of deja vue for Matron. By Tara Patterson Matron Meryl Taylor had worked at Queen Anne’s boarding school, Ambleside for thirty years. Despite the fact that she had turned sixty-five during the school summer holidays, she was not […]
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Uncle David
The marriage of Mr Lane’s Goddaughter sparks memories from years past. By Tara Patterson Today was a bitter sweet moment for Mr Lane, Headmaster of Queen Anne’s Boarding School, Ambleside. His Goddaughter, Hannah Reeves, was getting married and he had the honour of walking her down the aisle to give here away. For David Lane […]
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The Handover
In the next part of the series we recall Meryl Taylor’s return to Queen Anne’s, this time as Matron. By Tara Patterson Nurse Meryl Taylor looked at herself in the full length mirror and checked her uniform; she was wearing her new mid-blue uniform dress that was covered with a starched white apron. As it […]
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What the Papers say
An adventure into journalism leads to an unfortunate encounter with the headmistress. By Tara Patterson Sixth form prefect Alice Watts pushed open the heavy school gate and walked confidently down the driveway of Queen Anne school, Ambleside. Her high heeled peep toed shoes clicked across the footpath. Alice had a very trim figure, her black skirt […]
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In Hot Water
A new girl’s attempts to improve the living conditions in CJ house backfires. By Tara Patterson Holly Elliot felt like a fish out of water. At the age of eighteen, she was the new girl starting as a border in the upper sixth form at Queen Anne’s School, Ambleside. Her father worked for a large […]
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Detective Work
There is still an atmosphere between Meryl and Jennifer as they are called to investigate reports of wrong doing in the local town. By Tara Patterson The Cumbrian wind and rain rattled against the window; Meryl felt cold as she wrapped her maroon gym skirt around her waist. She quickly snapped shut the fastening and […]
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Aunt Meryl
Matron has some time away during the holidays but is disappointed by her Goddaughters attitude. The next in the series. By Tara Patterson The two members of the medical staff of Queen Anne school, Ambleside were relaxing in the Matron’s sitting room. It was getting near the end of the Christmas term. It had just […]
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Matron is Away
Matron Taylor accompanies a group on a school trip but will the girls take advantage of her absence By Tara Patterson Hannah Philpott MP rushed from her office through the corridors of power down to Westminster Hall. Through the crowd of MPs and media crews she spotted the group she was looking for; twenty schoolgirls […]
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Caught Stealing
A girl is tempted by what she finds on her Physics teacher’s desk By Tara Patterson Katie England felt well and truly fed up. Two weeks into the spring term of 1986, she had already had enough. The school bell rang; she miserably dragged herself out of bed and reluctantly put on her uniform. As […]
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Back To School
A New Pupil joins Miss Meanwood’s A level English class but can she adapt to life in the sixth form? By Tara Patterson “Okay, class, settle down!” Miss Meanwood’s voice boomed out as she swept into her classroom. The twenty-five lower sixth girls instantly leapt to their feet and stood in orderly rows behind their […]
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Abuse of Power
It’s 1995 and we discover Under-matron Patterson didn’t have a happy time as a schoolgirl. By Tara Patterson “And that gymslip looks too short, Patterson,” snapped sixth form prefect Jayne Turner. “Don’t you know the rules? I think we ought to check. On your knees, sprog, hands on your head!” Fifteen year old Tara Patterson […]
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Found in the Archives
Another story in the series. Jennifer returns to Queen Anne’s to do some research but Meryl discovers a painful reminder of her Past. By Tara Patterson The summer holidays were well underway. Retired deputy headmistress, Jennifer Hapwood, walked up the familiar stone steps to the main entrance of Queen Anne School, Ambleside. After pressing the […]
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Toothpaste
A dormitory prank sparks a memory By Tara Patterson Queen Anne sixth form girl, Meryl Taylor, walked into her shared dormitory dressed in her nightie and dressing gown; she felt happy and relaxed after her weekly bath. Outside, it was almost dark on this June Friday evening. It was still muggy after a hot day […]
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