News of Old Girls
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Joan Gurney (Appleton 1938-1951)
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On Saturday 9th and Sunday 10th September the Grey Friars Hotel, together with many other buildings in Colchester which are not normally open to the public, took part in the 2017 Heritage Open Weekend. The charity, “Learning Never Stops”, which runs the Grey Friars history project had, very generously, been given a room on the ground floor which adjoins the attractive bow-fronted garden room facing north. (Right: Heritage Weekend – Jemma Mitchell from the Grey Friars Hotel greets guests)
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Joan Gurney and Alan Skinner were in attendance with other trustees of the charity to host an exhibition showing the history of Grey Friars and its former extensive grounds. This included its architecture and occupants from 1755 through to the 21st Century with the story of Colchester County High School for Girls from 1920, Colchester Senior Evening Institute (later renamed the Adult Community College) from 1968, and the conversion to the present hotel in 2014. Many items on display were able to be handled by visitors and perused at
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leisure, and the charity’s newly designed t-shirt was on sale, together with the Grey Friars books which Joan was there to sign, if requested.
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About 120 people attended on each day; a number of these were alumnae of CCHS and ex-students of the adult community college. During the weekend, Alan Skinner conducted seven well-spaced guided walks (below) round Roman and Castle Roads (once part of the grounds of Grey Friars). These 50-minute tours proved very popular, and places were snapped up very quickly. Alan had prepared his talk meticulously, leaving room for many questions. He had also designed some very attractive photographic booklets for the walkers to refer to and return at the conclusion of each tour. These will, without doubt, become sought-after collectables!
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The weather was relatively kind for these outdoor activities, but between walks the staff of the hotel very generously took those who were interested on short tours of those parts of the interior which were accessible. And, of course, when weariness set in, there was tea or coffee readily available and the hotel’s delicious refreshments in which to indulge.
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Book this date for next year! Not only will it bring back nostalgic memories, but it will be a chance to admire how tastefully the wonderful features of Grey Friars have been restored.
More photographs and details of tours and talks available on www.GreyFriarsColchester.org.uk
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