Twenty ladies who all studied or worked at the Charlotte Mason College paid a return visit to the Ambleside campus that now forms part of the University of Cumbria. The ladies from the Charlotte Mason Association travelled from across the country for their two-day reunion.
Ninety-three-year-old Ann Hawkins from Wolverhampton graduated in 1940 and fondly remembered the buildings and the sense of community the campus created. Ann last visited Ambleside three years ago when she also climbed Scafell Pike.
Over afternoon tea in the newly refurbished Barn building the ladies reminisced about their time as students between 1940 and 1967. 'The Barn' was originally a physical education, theatre space and dance hall for the ladies of the college. They were delighted to see it continuing to be used as a café and social space for today’s students, as well as new flexible learning areas, reception and library facilities.
Julia Topping (Class of 1961) arrived wearing her original college blazer. Purchased from Harrods, the traditional style, dark green wool blazer, edged in yellow and brown, was complete with the Charlotte Mason logo and motto ‘For the Children’s Sake’.
University gateway manager, Marie Wright explained the phases of the re-developmentto the group, who were keen to know what each building would be used for. The ladies were also reassured that the many treasured artefacts and archive materials were being kept in safe storage during the building work and the memory of Charlotte Mason would be retained.
Development and alumni relations manager at the university, Karen Jones said:
“It is with great pleasure that we welcomed our Charlotte Mason alumni back onto campus. The University of Cumbria was founded on the excellent practice of our legacy institutions, which is to be both respected and valued.
“The ladies were delighted to see the campus being brought to life again and were impressed with the positive changes that remain sensitive to the surrounding landscape.”
Posted on Wednesday 25 June 2014
