Staff Annex
Farewell
The school bids farewell to the following staff:
Gabriela Boiangiu (13-15), Art Teacher
Georgina Booth (13-15), OP Office
Jenny Chalkley (13-15), Design Teacher
Jan Danby (92-15), Sports Teacher
Andrew Dawes (01-15), Deputy Headmaster
Paul Dawson (06-15), Design Technician
Victoria Ellis (13-15), Geography Teacher and Head
of Department
He has inspired several generations of children, and
his passion for languages and language learning has
always shone through. Be it the works of Camus
with A level French groups or, just as importantly, the
famous Mr Nesom ‘word squares’ with Lower School
pupils, Steve has always given one hundred per cent.
It is now time for him to enjoy his other passions
– family, especially becoming a ‘grand-père’; painting,
walking, travel, family history; and, of course, languages!
He is a true Pocklingtonian.
(by Dave Galloway)
Jan Danby (92-15)
Joan Gough (10-15), OP Office
Steve Nesom (82-15), Modern Languages Teacher
In later years Jan enjoyed being a non-resident tutor
in Faircote House. Here she was able to see the girls
in a completely different environment. Her natural
kindness and common sense meant she was greatly
valued in the boarding house.
‘Janby’, as she is affectionately known by colleagues
and pupils alike, will be greatly missed. She has been
a colleague, but most of all a friend over the past 23
years. I look forward to helping Jan settle into her
retirement, although I am sure she will find plenty of
things to do in addition to spending quality time with
her two grandchildren.
Who will make sure all the equipment is ready
for every games session, neatly arranged with
accompanying labels? A difficult act to follow!
Good luck, Janby!
Jim Roberts (06-15), Chaplain
(by Margaret Newhouse, former staff 89-14)
Gwen Walton (76-15), Catering Manager
Andrew Dawes (01-15)
Steve Nesom (82-15)
Although Jan and I had trained at the same
establishment, it wasn’t until she joined the School
that we actually got to know each other (although I
am sure we had come across each other on a hockey
pitch at some point in our playing careers!).
Steve is one of those rare breeds, who finds his place
in life and manages to keep coming back there…
He came to Pocklington School as a boy of 12 from
the family farm in Millington. After his degree at
Newcastle University, interspersed with some time in
France and Norway, and four years in Essex where he
gained some teaching experience and met his wife
Val, he returned to Pocklington in 1982. And here he
stayed…and stayed…in fact, he spent two-thirds of
his life at Pocklington School, before taking a wellearned retirement in the summer!
He has seen many changes at Pocklington over the
years and he himself has had many roles, in addition to
his first love of teaching French. He has been a Lower
School Housemaster and Head of Department; he
organised Community Action, Trusts and EMA, as well
as being a Careers Assistant; he ran the cross country
team for 15 years and the School walk; he has led
many trips to France, both exchanges and study trips;
he has been a welcome colleague on many trips to
Germany, to theatres, ice-skating, bowling and much
more; he has been a committed and involved tutor…
the list goes on and on. But his most important role
has been as a teacher.
In September 1992 Jan became a member of the
developing Girls’ Games Department in Pocklington.
Jan’s expertise and knowledge of a range of games
was most welcome as the number of girls in the
School started to increase. She was exceptionally
conscientious and organised in all she did and when
she said she would do something she could always
be relied upon.
During her time at School, Jan has coached many
teams of differing age groups in a range of sports. As
i/c Rounders she raised the profile of a game which
is thoroughly enjoyed by the girls. Although winning
was important, Jan was always keen to give everyone
the opportunity to represent their school. With this in
mind, she encouraged all pupils to improve and aspire
to be the best they could be.
The girls she has coached over the years have
benefited from her knowledge and kindness. In
particular the years she has given to coaching 2nd
XI Hockey will be remembered by the girls for
many years to come. I know the coaches of the girls’
teams have all valued Jan’s experience and greatly
appreciated her help and advice over the years.
I had the pleasure of going on several hockey tours
with Jan, both in this country and abroad. I think she
must have been the only member of staff to be able
to boast of having a police escort when in Blackpool
with a hockey team! Who needs a satnav to get you
to your destination?!
September 2001. The long and distinguished career
of David Nuttall, Deputy Headmaster, had arrived at
its memorable and final conclusion.
It was always going to be a rather public and challenging
task to follow such a high profile Pocklington figure as
David. Staff and existing pupils had been used to the
concrete and highly efficient world of expectations
and demands of the home-grown master of the
School’s machinery that was David.
A new world was dawning. With the emerging
Headmastership of Nicholas Clements, the School
was changing to meet the fresh challenges of the
new millennium. Pocklington had welcomed girls
of all ages into its ranks and now, with the drive
throughout the Independent Sector toward a sharper
focus on pupils’ personal and social education, wider
pastoral awareness and auditing, formal government
inspections of schools, league tables, the use of ICT
for communications and record-keeping between the
staff and its practice within the classroom, th H