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FEATUREMatrons, the Heartbeat of the CommunityThe role of matron in any school is a key element of the pastoral make-up of a boarding house and at LWC that adage is utterly true. The matrons are the heartbeat of each house. The care, support, and love that they give to the pupils (and the staff!) is utterly phenomenal. Each House lays claim to the fact that their matrons are the best matrons in the school and fiercely defends their stance. If you took the time to ask pupils what the best thing about the LWC boarding house experience is, you’d find that the role and impact that the matron has on their world would be frequently at the top of their list. So, as Head of Boarding, and as a Houseparent, and on behalf of pupils past, present and those to come, a huge thank you to the matrons for being such a massive element of the pastoral care and love within the world that we inhabit in the boarding house at LWC. TOM SHEDDENHead of BoardingHazelveare House Parent and Sternian (2001, Sutton)Matron Memories SharedDr Isabelle Butcher (2010, Park)During my time at Lord Wandsworth College my matron at Park was Mrs Jacqui Fowler. I left LWC in the summer of June 2010 at the end of the Sixth Form and fourteen years later I’m still in touch with Jacqui. Jacqui was supportive, caring and a friendly face. She was always on hand whatever it was we needed; from help with laundry, questions about homework to health matters! Jacqui also created a real sense of togetherness in Park; each day we received the newspapers and Jacqui would involve us all doing the daily crossword before we all walked the path to the main school buildings! A great start to the day. At the end of every day Jacqui would be there in the house with her door open and would always let us chat to her about our days. Sometimes we would get a Milky Way from the tuck shop! For me, Jacqui’s care and role in my life has never been forgotten and my parents and I remember her fondly. I am grateful that to this day we are still in touch! Thank you Jacqui.The official definition of a Matron is ‘A woman in charge of domestic and medical arrangements at a boarding school’. That definition may have been accurate in times past, but the Matrons of today are so much more! They truly are the heart of our boarding houses, they are a kind face, a listening ear and the smell of freshly baked cakes and clean laundry. They make boarding houses into second homes for our boarders and day pupils alike.When asked, Helen Taylor (Matron, School House) described her role as ‘House mother, giver of biscuits, general food stuffs and paracetamol. We need to be ready to deal with any situation or emotion, it may be a child with a small cut on their finger or a child who is feeling sad and needs someone to talk to. Our door is always open’.If you were in House you would observe kindness, humour, warmth but also strong leadership. The room inspection chart has a grading that included ‘I have no words’! I think any parent of a teenager can relate to that. It is clear to see the strong bond between the Matrons and the pupils, there is a mutual respect. ‘They give as much back to me as I give to them’we were told.Two of our longest serving staff members are Matrons, Ceci Elliot (Hazelveare) who has been with us since 1985 and Emma Booth (Gosden) since 1987. Emma loves her role and describes it as ‘second mum (or grandma)’. Emma has many fond memories involving singing, giggles and making gingerbread houses. ‘As much as I love summer, it is hard knowing the Upper Sixth Form will soon be leaving us to spread their wings’ she said ‘but September always brings in a new bunch of smiling new faces, some are nervous but it never takes long to settle them in’.34