Archive photo. Lady Margaret School opened with 86 girls and 11 boys in September 1917
Fulham’s Lady Margaret School will be visited by its oldest living pupil to launch its centenary celebrations this weekend.
Ninety-five-year-old Peggy Mitchell, who lives in Wimbledon, will cut the birthday cake tomorrow (Saturday) with the help of Amina Khelfaoui, 11, the school’s youngest pupil.
The party will run from noon to 5pm and residents are invited to join pupils, teachers and parents at the CofE girls’ school in Parsons Green.
“We are so fortunate to be part of such a wonderful community. And we are really looking forward to welcoming local residents – as well as Old Girls, former staff and parents – into our school on Saturday to help us celebrate our 100th birthday,” said Lady Margaret headteacher Elisabeth Stevenson.
“We hope they will join us on such a special day in our school's history. We have so much to celebrate from our rich heritage, including a wonderful collection of archive material, to new enhancements which include the recent school expansion and addition of our Centenary Garden.”
If you’re an Old Girl you’ll get to meet up with former classmates and see how the school has changed and expanded over the years.
Local residents are also invited to come and learn about the school’s history and join guided tours, perfect for those who are thinking of choosing the school for their daughter.
Cllr Sue Macmillan, H&F Cabinet Member for Children and Education, said: “Lady Margaret has done a fantastic job educating local girls over the past 100 years. During this time, their commitment to nurturing talented, confident girls has been truly impressive.”
History of the school
Lady Margaret School opened with 86 girls and 11 boys in September 1917. The school takes its name from Lady Margaret Beaufort (1443-1509) the mother of Henry VII, hence the choice of the Tudor Rose as the school's emblem. After the Second World War, the school re-opened in Parsons Green in 1943 with reduced numbers.
But by 1944 there were 223 pupils. In September 2012 and with 725 pupils on roll, the school was awarded academy status. In 2013, H&F Council authorised the school to expand from three to four forms of entry so that more girls could enjoy the benefits of a Lady Margaret education.
100th anniversary party
Lunch at Lady Margaret will be accompanied by piano recitals, followed by cream teas later in the afternoon. A champagne bar will be open throughout the day and student artwork will be on display and available to buy. There will also be a netball tournament, refreshments and music among the fun.
Peggy and Amina will cut the cake at 3pm. Peggy joined the school in 1927 when she was five when the school had a kindergarten and left aged 17 in 1939, before the school evacuated to Midhurst Grammar School in Sussex for the duration of the war.
During the centenary year, the school will be raising funds for the new Centenary Garden and this year’s charity, chosen by the pupils, SACCA Rwanda, which works to help street children in Rwanda.
You can find out more by visiting Lady Margaret centenary celebrations.
You can also read up on the history of Lady Margaret School.
