Anne Jarrett
Former Prep. teacher passes away.
Anne (centre) with David Curtis and Jill Mayles.
With great sadness, we announce that Anne Jarrett [Prep. staff 1959 - 1986] died on Wednesday 25th February. Her funeral is at St Thomas' Brentwood at 11 o'clock on 19th March.
Below is the valete, from 1986, written by her colleague Frank Halford.
Anne Jarrett retired from the Prep. School Staff in July, after serving the School faithfully for 27 years. She was appointed to take charge of a first year form, and the care of small boys starting their career here remained her main concern for the rest of her time here.
Many years ago, a parent whose boys had recently left the Main school bound for university, said how grateful she was to the School for what it had done, and then added how particularly grateful to Mrs Jarrett and the Prep. School who had given them such a good start. In her last year, another parent said of her first-year son that he had grown up a lot in a very short time, and ended up by saying how grateful they were to Mrs Jarrett. Thus Anne demonstrated her true professionalism, as keen and interested in her boys in her last year as in her first.
When the school record was made, she chose to be heard questioning boys on the parable of the Good Samaritan. It was a fitting choice because she herself was always ready to help others. Successive Headmasters have been grateful for her loyalty and dependability. She put the school before herself. Anne had a high sense of duty and commitment, and likewise expected high standards from her small boys, deeming good manners to be an essential part of education.
A keen theatre-goer, Anne trod the boards herself as a member of Bill Barron’s Pedagogues. We shall miss her ready enjoyment of a good joke and her raffle-ticket salesmanship. The leaving gifts she received from governors, colleagues, parents and boys clearly demonstrated the extent of their appreciation. We are glad to know that Anne will be spending here retirement in Brentwood and look forward to seeing her on many occasions.
