A Tribute to
Ena Phillips
When
Miss Ena Phillips retired the following tribute appeared in the December 1960 issue
of the School Magazine.
“Miss Phillips
is a quiet, unobtrusive sort of person whom it took time to get to know, but
any visitor coming to a school concert or Speech Day and hearing the girls sing
would at once realise that here was a teacher of high quality. In her own way
she secured the achievement of high standards and made the necessary practice
seem worthwhile. After the playing of a record, a few words from Miss Phillips
would deepen the meaning that the music had for us, and add to our enjoyment
when next we heard it.
Miss Phillips
was not only a devoted teacher of her subject but was personally interested in
the individuals in her classes, even though they might not be in any way
outstanding, and this interest in people went beyond school to a large circle
of friends. She was one of the few teachers who taught every girl from the
first form upwards and she taught at Farnham Girls’ Grammar School for thirty
years.
We were very
sorry that Miss Phillips felt that the time had come for her to retire. She
leaves behind her in past and present pupils a deep appreciation of her work as
a teacher and as a friend. All our good wishes go with her in her retirement.”
In the OGA
section of the same magazine Miss Phillips wrote thanking the Old Girls’ for
their gift of a cheque, with which she bought a typewriter, to go with the
record player and records from the School. She also said she would be moving to
North Devon to live with her eldest sister while her other sister remained in
the family home in Farnham.
Miss Phillips
maintained a regular and lively correspondence with the OGA secretary, over the
years that she remained in Devon, always referring to her happy memories of her
time in Farnham and her regret that, with the closure of the railway in her
part of the country, she was not able to visit her many friends there. In her
letters she often recalled visits from Old Girls’ and the great pleasure these
visits gave her.
Her last years
were spent happily in the Silver Thread Care Home at Instow where her sister
had also lived. A very nice letter had been received from the Proprietors
saying that Miss Phillips, at the age of 96, had died on 30th
November 2002 after catching a virus in the October. They added that she was a
lovely lady, always very grateful for whatever they did for her, and that they
would miss her smile.
Miss Phillips
was a very good pianist and accompanist and her choir training was excellent,
as was her preparation of candidates for examinations. One of the most
memorable experiences for some choir members was being selected to sing in the
Ripieno Choir of girls’ voices (trained by Ruth Railton) in the Bach Choir’s
annual performance of the ‘Saint Matthew Passion’. This was held at the Royal
Albert Hall, on Passion Sunday, and conducted by Sir Reginald Jacques, with
famous soloists – including Kathleen Ferrier one year. Another memorable
performance was singing in the Gallery Choir in Britten’s ‘St. Nicolas’,
conducted by Denys Darlow in St. John’s Wood.
Miss Phillips also
took parties of girls to the Ernest Read Children’s Concerts at the (then new)
Festival Hall. Many Old Girls’ will remember being meticulously prepared in the
singing of ‘Non Nobis Domine’ each year for Speech Day and will recall one of
Miss Phillips favourite expressions “The tip of the tongue, the lips and the
teeth”. Many have Miss Phillips to thank for nurturing their interest in music
and quite a number of them also went on to make their careers in music. All
will have happy memories of their music teacher.