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Eulogy For Elaine Dunford

September 14, 2015
by Linda Wilkinson

Linda Wilkinson, ex-Head Girl at Central Foundation School in Spital Sq, remembers former Headmistress Elaine Dunford who inspired an entire generation of young women in the East End

Elaine at twenty-one

My first memory of Mrs Elaine Dunford, Headmistress of Central Foundation School for Girls in Spital Sq, was in 1963. Somehow – miraculously even – I had passed my 11 Plus in Maths but failed in English, yet nonetheless she invited me for interview.

It was a Grammar School and I had set my heart on going there, but my failure to pass part of the exam had put my acceptance in jeopardy. My mother was definitely against me attending the school since I was a nervous child and she was concerned that all that education would “worry your brain,” as she put it.

Yet, on a warm summer’s day, she and I were ushered into the school and the Headmistress’s Office. Neither mum nor I were prepared for the person we met. To date, teachers had been stuffy and sometimes scruffy, and definitely not anything like the beautiful elegant creature who welcomed us into her sanctum.

Due to my mother’s resistance, the interview did not go well. Finally, Elaine asked her to wait outside whilst she and I had a ‘private’ word. She didn’t quiz me on my English but on my hopes and aspirations for my future. She was funny, softly-spoken and I sensed she was kind too. When, some fifty-two years later, she passed away on 12th July 2015 – I felt strangely bereft.

She had not been a constant presence in my life, indeed I never saw her after I left school in 1970. Yet as I thought about my reaction, I realised that it was not Elaine herself but the way she had helped me see the world and my place in it that had been a constant. I was not alone in my feelings, as revealed by the comments on our Central Foundation School Old Girls’ Facebook page and I began to wonder where this woman, who had touched so many lives, came from.

She had been born Elaine Prevett in 1929 and attended the Fulneck Moravian School in Leeds before studying English at University College, London. This was at a time when university places were automatically given by preference to men who had missed out on education due to the First World War. Elaine was one of only two women in the intake that year. She came to our school as a student teacher and, by 1955, was the Head of the English Department. In 1961, aged thirty-one, she became the youngest headmistress in London and possibly in the entire country.

The school was small by today’s standards, at any one time there were only around four hundred and eighty of us. The intake was predominantly from the East End, with a few girls from out of London, and one third of pupils were Jewish.

Elaine once told me that we were both exhilarating and terrifying to teach, as we were all so clever that she never knew what questions we would ask. She ran a tight ship of staff and somehow managed to navigate the difficult task of maintaining harmony between older teachers and the trendy young ones of the ‘Swinging Sixties’ generation.

She was progressive in a quiet non-confrontational manner. She was a Humanist and our assemblies were not the dry-as-dust events suffered by our friends at other schools. It was not that God was never mentioned but presented in a different manner. She read us C S Lewis’ Perelandra, plus The Diary of Anne Frank, also Ruth First, and a host of other writing. At the heart of these readings always lay a moral message of fairness and caring for others.

As a teacher, Elaine was mesmeric and she insisted on teaching every class at least once a year, despite a heavy work load as Headmistress. She made Shakespeare sing in a way I have seldom encountered since.

Elaine also instigated sex education at Central Foundation School and when she overheard a group of girls, who after they been through the course were still unsure of how the ‘seed’ got to the ‘egg,’ she ushered them into the nearest empty room. Fifteen minutes later, they emerged having learnt what copulation was in no uncertain terms.

I had the privilege of being Head Girl and so I got to know another Elaine, distinct from the awesome creature wearing her gown who swept along the school corridors at speed – a more relaxed but, nonetheless, impressive character.

Some aspects of her marriage were not going well and on occasion she was upset by this. She knew I would never relay anything outside her office and that understanding went both ways. It was during the year that I began to grow up, I confronted by own limitations and she gave me the tools to overcome them. Although she never forgave me for spending the Head Girl’s prize money on a pair of boots and a handbag, rather than books.

For my part, I never told anyone until much later of the time we both had a cold and were required to sing or speak at the Christmas Service in our church of St Botolph’s, Bishopsgate. Her suggestion of a snifter of brandy to loosen up the vocal chords got a little out of hand – for me at least. We survived though, and I sang Once in Royal David’s City with what I hope was aplomb.

Since Elaine’s death, stories of a more personal nature have emerged. If pupil’s family situation was particularly difficult or violent, she would had them come to live with her for periods of time. She also personally supported the families of girls who were having emotional or financial problems. Her friendships with some pupils extended long after they had left school and some were still in contact at the time of her death.

I suspect we shall never see her like again and I would like to close this eulogy with these extracts from letters that I read at her funeral. It was put together by Elspeth Parris from recollections by pupils through the years.

In person, your elegance and poise gave us an example that we could aspire to and the intellect you imparted to us allowed us to move forward in the world in a way many of us could never have imagined.”

“You were caring when we were in trouble and, in a world which often seemed to have an attitude that children were by nature ‘bad’ and needed that ‘badness’ worked or even beaten out of them, you believed that children were basically good. It was that caring, above all else, that has given you such a firm and important place in all our hearts.”

“In a world that, for most of us, had at least some dark places, you, as teacher, as Headmistress, but above all, simply as yourself, were a beacon of light. And for that, we thank you with all our hearts.”

Elaine ended her days in Rye where she had moved with her second husband Colin Robertson. It was a love match sadly cut short by his premature death. We understand Elaine’s death at eighty-six years old from Alzheimer’s disease was peaceful. Her coffin was a woven basketwork casket festooned with lilies. Just as she had been in her life, it was elegant and apposite.

Elaine as a young woman

Elaine’s marriage to Steven Dunford

Elaine Dunford (1929-2015)

Central Foundation School for Girls, Spital Sq

A London memorial service for Elaine Dunford (Robertson) is being organised by her former pupils on October 17th – any enquiries regarding this may be directed to lindaswilkinson@gmail.com

Bishopsgate Institute is collecting a digital archive of memorabilia from Central Foundation School for Girls. If you have photographs, reports, magazines or any other material that the Institute can copy for the archive, please contact archivist stefan.dickers@bishopsgate.org.uk

You may also like to read about

Old Girls of the Central Foundation School

At The Central Foundation School for Girls in Spital Sq

The First Reunion of the Central Foundation School for Girls

24 Responses leave one →
  1. Glenn permalink
    September 14, 2015

    A beautifully told story. Elaine must have been a wonderful person. Thanks for bringing this to us, the readers of this blog.

  2. Cris Beesley (Andrews) permalink
    September 14, 2015

    Thank you Lin, I think you have gone a long way to explaining why, all these years later, so many of us ‘Old Girls’ will have as I, at this moment have, tears in my eyes.

  3. Susan Goldman permalink
    September 14, 2015

    Thank you Lin Wilkinson for this very fitting eulogy. So many of us ‘old girls’ remember Elaine Dunford with great affection and you have captured the essence of this lovely woman, perfectly.

  4. Linda Dowdall - now Barney. permalink
    September 14, 2015

    So beautifully written Lin, encapsulates so many “old girls” feelings indeed. Thankful that I will be in the UK for this. Rather certain that tissues will be required by all present. So very thankful for this life experiernce.

  5. peter edmonds permalink
    September 14, 2015

    what better memorial than those words, obviously an inspirational woman.

  6. Nadjie Butler permalink
    September 14, 2015

    This piece captures many things about Elaine Dunford, but what I hope impresses those that read it, is what an inspirational woman she was. She went beyond being a Headmistress and taught us how to be valuable members of society. Under her leadership we all believed we could achieve and be anything we wanted. What a legacy. Thank you Lin for you dedication in ensuring that her passing did not go unmarked.

  7. September 14, 2015

    Mrs Elaine Dunford — R.I.P.

    Love & Peace
    ACHIM

  8. Beryl Happe permalink
    September 14, 2015

    Thank you Lin, a very touching and informative piece. I only knew Elaine as a student teacher, she didn’t become Head Mistress until I had already left CFS, but I wish our paths had crossed.

  9. carol monnet permalink
    September 14, 2015

    thankyou Lin, she was a kind and generous person. Always an encouraging word for every student. My thoughts will be there with all those who can be present.
    Reposez en Paix chère Elaine Dunford.

  10. Herry Lawford permalink
    September 14, 2015

    Marvellous; the people you write about never fail to inspire. Thank goodness you keep their names alive

  11. Mavis Ogus (nee Mendel) permalink
    September 14, 2015

    Thank you, Lin, for the lovely trip down memory lane. I knew Elaine as a student teacher and then Head of English and we remained firm friends after I left school. She was a charismatic teacher and an elegant inspiration to so many. my husband and I met her, Stephen and Colin many times over the years. it was lovely to see how happy she was with Colin. She ended her splendid career as an HM Inspector. We met for a very happy lunch in Rye not long before she died.
    Mavis (1951-1958).

  12. Sharon Carr-Wu permalink
    September 14, 2015

    I love these personal stories of people who’ve contributed so much to the life of Spitalfields. Rekindling the memories of these remarkable people ensures that they’re not forgotten. A wonderful tribute to a very remarkable teacher. Thank you again, Gentle Author for posting this and thanks to Linda Wilkinson for writing her story.

  13. Barbara Perry nee Hart permalink
    September 14, 2015

    Were it not for Mrs Dunsford offering me a governors place I wold not have been able to attend CFS and would have missed out on a very important part of my life. So thank you and may you rest in peace and happiness. Thank you Lin for a wonderful piece.

  14. Viv permalink
    September 15, 2015

    Would that more teachers were like this wonderful lady – sadly nary a one in my old school!!

  15. Sylvia Lombardi permalink
    September 15, 2015

    What a beautiful tribute. I left CFS in the summer of 1961, so just missed the privilege of having Elaine Dunford as Headmistress. Nor did I ever have her as an English teacher. However, I do remember her as being elegant and having a modern outlook.

  16. ISA (@MELANCOLLYBABY) permalink
    September 15, 2015

    What an interesting tale about Elaine I too went to a grammer school and cherished the positive way of teaching us and this brings back happy memories!

  17. Rupert Neil Bumfrey (@rupertbu) permalink
    September 15, 2015

    Hopefully we are not the last generation to have such charismatic educators 🙂

  18. Lauraine Baker (nee Haswell) permalink
    September 20, 2015

    I was a pupil CFS from 1957-1962, Elaine Dunford was my English Teacher for the first three years, and headmistress for the last two, she still taught us for one lesson a week while we were preparing for our GCEs. She was an excellent teacher with a modern approach to teaching which was very refreshing. Very sad to hear of her passing, than you Linda for bringing back so many memories.

  19. Pat Butt (was Pat Felt 1963/68) permalink
    October 2, 2015

    Lin, I have just read your Eulogy and for a girl that “failed” English, your time at Spital Square was well spent….as was mine and every girl that came into contact with Mrs. Dunford. I am sure other people remember their schooling and teachers with fondness, but Mrs. Dunford and her team at Spital Square have touched so many lives we were lucky to have known her.
    Pat

  20. valerie bennett nee green permalink
    January 13, 2016

    I was taught English by her but not for long I left in 1958.I remember her say one day she would like 2 children. The girl would be called Alison and the boy Mark.

  21. Lynda Pace Avery permalink
    January 24, 2016

    Elaine Dunford was an inspirational teacher. I attended CFSG from 1966-1970. I loved Film Studies, where each week we would learn about some aspect of film, such as stunts, make-up etc. At the end of each term we were allowed to vote for a film we would like to watch in. It’s entirety. I remember watching The Birds and Some Like it Hot. Through those lessons I developed a lifelong love of film.
    Things were difficult for me at home, as the eldest child of divorced parents I had a lot of responsibility and was struggling. Mrs Dunford suggested that I could go and live at he house, it didn’t happen, but her door was always open to me. I have much to thank her for and although my immaturity meant I didn’t grasp the opportunities open to me at the time her faith in me gave me the confidence to go back into education as a mature student.

  22. July 27, 2018

    How sad but very interesting to read the passing of ‘mummy’ Dunford. Only just caught up with your web site! I was there 1957-1963. Fantastic Secretarial 6th form with Miss Maisie Heath her shorthand/typing/bookkeeping has served me well over the years together with the great general education and I can boast to be the first Prefect elected from that form other than the academic 6ths.

    Many happy memories and still keep up with some of ‘my dear girls’.

  23. August 1, 2018

    Thank you. She was a breath of fresh air to CFGS. I recall her telling me that she respected me for not giving her the names of other girls at the nightclub I visited, though she had pressed me. Yet, I still had to serve detention. 🙂

  24. Rosanne (Roz) Alderson permalink
    April 9, 2023

    All through my adult years I have felt a deep regret that I had wasted a fantastic education and that I had stolen a place from someone who might have used that education to fulfil a beneficial life. I have often felt the need to apologise for that, in particular to Mrs Dunford. Sadly, it would appear I’m too late. We did butt heads a few times, but I must admit she was always fair even when angry.
    She was a forward thinking woman, very elegant, and I’m sad to read that such a remarkable woman was robbed by Alzheimer’s. I shall always remember her fondly

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