Welcome to the temporary website of Harrow County School for
Girls. This Grammar School, founded in 1914, was closed in 1975, with the
reorganisation of education in the Borough of Harrow, Middlesex. We have
set up this website as a subsection of the Gaytonian website (Harrow County
School for Boys, Gayton High School, now known as Harrow High School) in
response to enquiries by old girls, as there does not seem to be a functioning
alumni organisation.
Thanks to Katie Percival (Finch) for help with this.
Photographs from May 17 2008 Reunion
Famous and not-so-famous Old Girls
1965-1972 Reminiscences of Fiona Santon
Illid Landry
Sadly, Illid Landry died June 10th, 2009
Leslie Hutber (née Watson -
at School 1965-72) writes:
Illid
Landry was the most inspirational teacher in my life: she was also responsible
for my silver jewellery collection!
When I started at HCGS in 1965, she seemed a breath of fresh air in the hallowed
halls of tradition and a largely mature teaching staff. With her painted nails,
mini skirts and white wet-look Ravel loafers, she made a strong impression on us
young girls. Yet it was not the fashion sense but rather her sheer enthusiasm
for, and love of, her subject which had the lasting effect. When I think now of
many of my favourite works, Keats' 'La Belle Dame Sans Merci', Shelley's 'Ozymandias',
Laurie Lee's 'Cider with Rosie', Richard II (which was our set text for GCE and
which I knew almost by heart), they are all coloured by memories of her teaching
them , often perched on a desk at the front of the room, not really much older
or bigger than the rest of us. In connection with Richard II, she was also the
author of an unforgettable visit to the Mermaid Theatre to see, in the title
role, an exciting new young thespian, Ian McKellen. This was my first experience
of the 'high' such a performance can deliver.
Not all lessons with Mrs. Landry were a joy, however. One dire day sticks in my
mind when the class were left on their own for a short time with instructions to
QUIETLY move desks and chairs to make a performance space. We did not manage it.
The formidable Miss Platt, teaching nearby, was disturbed and made her wrath
known. Order marks followed, but more than that, a sense of having let down a
teacher to whom we felt loyalty and who maintained her discipline through
respect and not terror.
I always meant to contact Illid Landry and thank her for all she did for me. I
never got around to it and have 'something to expiate'. All I can say now is
that if any of my pupils remember me with half the gratitude and affection with
which I remember her, then I will be content.
These are postcard images of the School, from the early years after it opened. (Thanks to Alex Bateman for these.)