Notice is hereby given the Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the Downe House Seniors’ Association will take place on Tuesday 27 February at 6.30pm.

The meeting will be conducted virtually and an Agenda will be sent out  beforehand to those who wish to attend.  Please register your interest by filling out the on-line form.

For further information, please email the DHSA Administrator, dhsa@downehouse.net

2024 DHSA Magazine 

We are planning the next DHSA magazine for Spring 2024! All contributions, however short, are valued enormously. Please do encourage others to contribute their news too. 

To submit your news please CLICK HERE, confirm some brief personal information and type your news into the box on the form…. that’s it! 

Please submit all news by Wednesday 14 February 2024. 

If you have any queries, please do not hesitate to contact dhsa@downehouse.net

Keeping Old Seniors in touch with activities and events at School and with each other

Whether through the publication of its biennial DHSA magazine, hosting of events and reunions, or offering financial grants towards further education, retraining or travelling with a purpose, the Association is another way for Downe House girls to stay in touch with each other and remain part of the Downe House Old Seniors community.

Please click here to read the DHSA Constitution.

DHSA Magazine 2020-21

DHSA Magazine 2021

The latest edition of the DHSA magazine is now out and   hopefully, you have received a copy. The magazine  incorporates features and sections including News  from the School, Member’s News, photographs shared by Members and also reports from those who have received DHSA Grants, as well as articles about the DHSA Short Story Competition and Reunions.

You can enjoy reading this edition over on the Downe House Foundation page here. 

Reunions and news

Enjoy news from our latest events as well as updates from the DHSA Chairman.

1990-1995 DHSA Reunion

The DHSA Committee welcomed 75 leavers from 1990-1995 to the Bluebird in Chelsea, for what can only be described as a fantastic and well attended reunion. The atmosphere was electric from start to finish and the two hours seemed to fly by. So many happy, familiar faces and a lot of reminiscing. The fizz and rosé flowed throughout the evening and The Bluebird canapés did not disappoint. It goes to show Downe House girls really do know how to party regardless of their age!

‘Huge thanks for a wonderful evening on Thursday night. It was such fun to see so many familiar faces and catch up with besties. I thoroughly enjoyed it and the venue was both special and terribly familiar!’

‘Thank you very much for a lovely DH gathering last night. So good to see everyone and all looking the same as ever (our daughters may not agree…). It was a wonderful evening and I’m so grateful you got us all together again.’

‘Thank you for a wonderful evening last night. So much fun catching up with old friends and seeing so many recognisable faces (the overwhelming cry of “you haven’t changed a bit” echoing around the room) and then peering at name stickers to help the aged brain!’

The Honorary Seniors’ Lunch

Honorary Seniors are generally long-standing former members of staff who are recognised for their valued service to Downe. On Saturday 4 March 2023, the School and the DHSA were delighted to welcome back 24 Honorary Seniors for a lunch and short Chapel service.

Read more

1970-1979 DHSA Reunion

On Tuesday, 18 October 2022, we held a reunion for those members who left from 1970 through to 1979 in the atmospheric Gallery Room at the Bluebird in Chelsea. We were delighted to see sixty members, join us for drinks and canapes, with each year group well represented, with a special mention to 1977, who were the largest group.

The event was a lovely opportunity to catch up on everyone’s’ news, to share stories of our time at Downe and to reconnect with old friends. We are very thankful for everyone who came up and for all their support of the DHSA.

“I’m so glad I finally made the effort to come to a reunion, and I hate to admit, the first one I have attended since I left Downe 45 years ago! And I hope it won’t now be my last! It was lovely to catch up with so many of those from my year and some of us have now vowed to keep in touch!”

Hurlingham Club Lunch Party, DHSA Reunion

On Friday 19 September 2021, the DHSA held a Lunch Party at the Hurlingham Club for members who left in 1970 or before.

The Lunch was extremely well attended with 63 guests, with each decade from the 1940s to 1970s represented.

Read more

Alumnae reunion in Scotland

The second in a series of regional reunions planned by the DHSA and the Foundation Office took place in the beautiful Inveraray Castle and Gardens in Scotland. Read more about the reunion.

Discover

A message from the DHSA Chairman

The Downe House Seniors’ Association (DHSA) was established in 1946 to build and maintain strong and lasting bonds between former pupils and the School. On leaving Downe House, a girl will become an ‘Old Senior’ and a member of the DHSA providing a link which lasts for life. The DHSA operates through regular printed and electronic communications, which help girls to stay in touch with each other, maintaining existing friendships and forging new ones, all the while keeping in contact with the School.

The DHSA aims to:

  • provide contact and regular news updates for members
  • empower members to maintain existing links and develop new contacts
  • support individuals and year groups through regular communication, reunion events and grant giving

We are very proud of the DHSA’s work, values and close links with members of all ages and the School.

The DHSA Short Story Competition 2022

The annual DHSA (Downe House Seniors’ Association) Short Story Competition is a wonderful opportunity for our students to flex their creative writing muscles and share their thoughts on a given theme. This year, Queen Elizabeth II’s Platinum Jubilee was the inspiration with each school section writing on a theme take from one of Her Majesty’s personal qualities. The story content did not have to relate to the Queen, the themes were purely to spark ideas. The Sixth Form were given the theme of Dignity, Upper School had Endurance and Lower School wrote on Wisdom.  

The stories submitted showcased a passionate interest for a wide variety of literary genres. The shortlisted work was judged by a panel of DH alumnae with careers or interests in the world of writing and publishing. Mrs Boswell, one of our English teachers, who began the competition, and 2021 winner, Poppy Scales, also joined the panel.

In each category (Lower School, Upper School and Sixth Form) there is one winner and two runners-up. The highest scoring story overall wins the Clare Balding Prize for Excellent Writing. This year we held a celebration to honour all our talented finalists. We were delighted to be joined by Poppy Scales, who is currently studying English Literature and Creative Writing at the University of East Anglia. Poppy led a spirited and motivational creative writing workshop where the finalists were tasked with various writing and thought exercises to conjure up new characters, worlds and plot lines which they took to with enthusiasm and imagination.  

A celebratory lunch followed, with the Catering Department providing a delicious spread in the Boardroom, including cupcakes for all the winners. We were thrilled to be joined for lunch by some familiar faces from the judging panel as well as the English Department. It was wonderful to see everyone bonding over a love of literature. 

We congratulate all participants and are delighted to announce that the overall winner of the Clare Balding Prize for Excellent Writing 2022 was Annabel.

Congratulations to our well-deserving 2022 finalists: 

Sixth Form winner: Lauren 

Sixth Form runners up: Lottie and Mary  

Upper School winner: Annabel  

Upper School runners up: Isabelle and Effy 

Lower School winner: Sophia  

Lower School runners up: Rosie and Aryana

DHSA Grants

The DHSA is also a grant giving body, providing support for its members who undertake “worthwhile projects” at any stage in life; traditionally this has been to support those doing medical electives, overseas placements or re-training in order to make a career change or retraining after a career break. The Committee awards Grants according to the merits of each application and a report is requested in return to inform future leavers of how the DHSA can support further educational initiative and activities. DHSA members can apply for grants at any stage in life e.g. retraining after career break etc. During the last 25 years over 100 grants have been awarded to members aged 18 – 90 years of age.

Read the DHSA Grant Application Criteria.

Complete the online Application Form for a DHSA grant.

Following receipt of a DHSA Grant, individuals are required to submit a report and supporting photographs illustrating the use of their monies. Please note that a member is only eligible to receive one grant award from the DSHA.

Applications are reviewed twice a year by the Committee. Applications will be considered individually and on their own merits if submitted by the following deadlines:

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