CLOGA EVENTS 2009

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Upcoming Events:

• A Reunion for the Leavers of 2006 will be held in the New Hall on Friday 10th September 2010 from 6.30-8.00p.m. Please reply to Fionaporter@Lineone.net
• On Sunday 10th October Dr Jillian Pipe (Pritchard) is organising a Reunion in Richmond, Surrey for the Leavers of 1969. Please contact Jill at jmpipe@btinternet.com if you would like to attend.
• AGM 2011 -  date to be arranged and will appear here once confirmed.
• Events  2010-2011 details and dates to follow.

In order to keep our information on the database as up to date as possible please send your email details to Fiona Porter (MacHaffie) the Membership and Database Secretary at Fionaporter@Lineone.net

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Recent Events:

CLOGA lunch with Year 13 Leavers

The Sixth Form Centre was packed with Year 13 City girls dressed in their old school uniform. After a speech from Jill Dixon (Chairman of CLOGA) encouraging the girls to stay in touch, we all enjoyed a delicious buffet lunch. There was a feeling of great joy amongst the City girls, that their time had been fulfilling, stretching and empowering. Now they were all off to wonderful universities. I spoke to the Head Girl who told me what a wonderful experience it was being Head Girl and also what an enormous time commitment. It obviously did not keep her from her studies as she was off to Cambridge in October.

The camaraderie between the girls was palpable. I remember the feeling. So many brilliant times shared... it's hard to say goodby. But lucky there's CLOGA to help keep in touch.

 

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CLOGA Lunch with Year 11 Leavers

Fifteen girls from Year 11 and I gathered in the Sixth form Centre on May 6th. Many were off to mixed schools - such as Westminster, UCS (now co-ed in the Sixth Form). I gave a short speech encouraging the girls to stay in touch through CLOGA. They were very enthusiastic about keeping connected even though they were leaving.

I was absolutely delighted by the questions the girls asked after my short talk: how can they join CLOGA? did I stay at City for the Sixth form (of course I did!!) Did I enjoy University?

I mentioned in my talk that my favourite teacher all those years ago was my English teacher, Mrs Guest. At the mention of Mrs Guest, I heard a huge cheer from the girls as Mrs Guest continues to delight girls at City to this day. Well despite the 23 year age gap, it's great to know that the girls and I can nevertheless connect through the teacher who ignited my love - and theirs -  of reading the classics.

 

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The Colton Memorial Lecture: Professor Lord Robert Winston

 

 

 

 

 

The Colton Memorial Lecture was given by Lord Winston on Tuesday 29^th April. He posed the pressing and controversial question, "When does life begin?" to the audience of current and past students. He continued to present information which demonstrated that conception was not a single, instantaneous moment, but a process of around 40 days. He maintained that human life begins with the development of the mind and of consciousness, which he considers the core of life. He spoke about the relationship of ethical principles and scientific understanding surrounding reproduction. "Ethics need to be informed by the best possible science," stated Lord Winston.

Lord Winston also spoke about his work, which involves transgenetic animals, changing genes by changing sperm. This may have an implication for animal to human organ transplants and tackling the problematic cell recognition. His latest ground breaking investigative research has pioneered techniques in transferring germ cells from the testes of one male into the testes of another. It means males will be able to act as surrogate fathers carrying another males sperm and fathering offspring that are not genetically their own. As Winston explains the work has important implications for males undergoing x-ray treatments for cancer - which kill off sperm cells.

Lord Winston conceded that throughout history there had been many examples of misapplied or bad science and that remains a scientific weakness; human observation can lead to reinforcement of a social bias. He implored the use of scientific modesty: science isn't 'truth'. The more we investigate, the more we understand how the subtleties in the environment can have a large effect on development.

CLOGA's Anniversary Dinner:
On the 21st November 75 old girls and partners attended CLOGA's 110th Anniversary Dinner, held at the Worshipful Company of Baker's Hall, near Monument in the City of London. The Old Girls' Association was established 2 years after the school was founded, which explains the delay in the celebrations vis-a-vis with the school itself. It was a great night for all in attendance.