18 Abingdon Prep • September 2023 PEOPLE - FOND FAREWELLS ANNE PARKER As many of us know, Anne’s mind thinks in numbers, patterns and geometric shapes, such is her keen interest in Maths. It is only fitting that this farewell starts with some key numbers. Anne has been a Maths teacher at our school for nearly 21 years. In her 1st year, she already had 1 son at the school with her 2nd son just starting. After volunteering in the library, she became a Maths teacher and after her 5th year of being here, took on her own form. 13 years ago I had the great pleasure of starting to work alongside Anne in the Maths department and over the years got to know her as a colleague and friend. As part of her charity fundraising, she started the ever popular APS Bake-Off 8 years ago. If all the pupils she had taught Maths since being here were to sit in our hall, we would need one 3 times its size just to fit them in. Here are all those numbers: 21,1,1,2,5,13,8,3 If we rearrange them, they form the Fibonacci sequence which is rather special. It appears all around us from sunflower seed patterns, the platelets on pineapples, waves in the sea, shells on a beach and even in space. We see the effects of the sequence all around us without it really shouting loudly that it is there. Anne’s impact on this school over her time here is very similar - what she has achieved has affected many lives both in and out of school, but she herself, remains firmly in the wings, preferring to allow the pupils or colleagues to take the spotlight. As Head of Maths, she has steered the department through various changes of staff over the years and diligently and patiently guided all through various initiatives. From Maths challenges to estimation activities, Anne has helped support and nurture all mathematical abilities. Her creativity has come to the fore through the excellent work she has done as Charities Coordinator, helping the school raise over £80,000 for various local charities. Whether you have dressed as dogs, placed silver coins, swum as far as you can, baked your showstopper or donated clothing, Anne has ensured that you have all had fun whilst remembering the very important message of thinking of others. As a form teacher, Anne has supported so many over the years whether in daily school life or through more challenging times and does so quietly and discreetly. She has helped pupils on a range of trips from the recent Rockley visit to many years of trying to tame her competitive edge when engaging in inter-class Laserquest. As a colleague, Anne is greatly respected by all - calm, kind, caring, wise and someone who supports others when they need it. Anne - thank you so much for all you have done and we wish you all the very best over the coming years. We will miss you greatly. Rachel Pairman RICHARD CAMPBELL Numa started at Abingdon Prep in January 2023 and has been a huge asset to the staff room. She has been involved in absolutely everything we have done at school in the past two terms and has worked tirelessly for the staff and for the pupils. She is talented in many ways, not only managing to coach all our sports on the games field and in PE lessons but also equally helpful in the classroom and on various school trips. Whether it be tossing pancakes on Shrove Tuesday or playing her guitar in assembly and in concerts, she will be greatly missed as she has become a cult figure amongst the pupils in a short space of time. We wish her all the very best at Bristol University where she will be studying medicine from October. Richard Sutton NUMA SHAH From being a friendly presence in the car park first thing in the morning, to the daily rounds of putting tables and chairs out, away, repeat... Richard has been great company during his time with us as our porter. He retired from being a coach driver to take up this job, but will now spend (cough) more time on the golf course. We will all miss Richard: for his chat, his baking and especially his dreadful puns!
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