My name is Lucy Barnes (nee Hailey) and I currently live in Esher, Surrey with husband Tim, two daughters Alice and Madeleine.

I was a pupil at Priors Field from 1971 – 1974 and re-kindled my relationship with the school when my eldest daughter, Alice joined in 2005 as a pupil.

I soon became involved in a key fund raising event called PF Catwalk due to my links with the fashion retailing industry and helped to produce the show for 3 years.  It was hard work but extremely rewarding to work with the girls.  The show went from strength to strength and we raised enough money to re-furbish and re-open the heated swimming pool used all year round by pupils, parents, staff and even for private events!  It was a tremendous achievement and a team effort and I feel proud to have been part of it.

In 2008, I was asked to join the committee of the PSA (Parent Staff Association)  helping out with various events and at the recent Old Girls reunion in May 2010 was elected Chairman of the PFOGA under the umbrella of The Huxley Club.  It is a tremendous honour and a very exciting time lies ahead. I shall be working closely with Sam Bushell, the Alumnae administrator and will be visiting the school on a regular basis to catch up with all the news and developments.

Our aims are to increase membership levels and to encourage leavers in particular from the 1970’s, 1980’s and 1990’s to return to Priors Field and become more involved in the PFOGA.  We now have a dedicated space set aside in the Old Library for the huge amount of photos and archive material that has literally been gathering dust over the years.  We plan to invite a team of Old Girls and current pupils to help us properly display and document this information.  We also want to encourage our Old Girls to participate in our Networking events (the first to be held in London at the end of the year) to help our current pupils (particularly the sixth formers) decide which path to take after PF. We can provide valuable information and personal experience to help the girls in this increasingly complex and competitive world.  There will also be a ‘ 70’s decade’ gathering which I am undertaking to organise in the not too distant future!

We have a serious ‘loophole’ in the database for 1970’s,1980’s and 1990’s leavers and would welcome any suggestions and advice to encourage Old Girls to get in touch and any way you feel the appeal of the PFOGA can be broadened.  Please contact me via sbushell@priorsfieldschool.com

I am really looking forward to meeting as many of you as possible over the next year and please don’t forget to look at the website on a regular basis for news and updates.

Finally, we would love to hear from you with all your news.

Lucy Barnes (nee Hailey)
Chairman PFOGA