Michael Hall Blog Feed - Old Scholar's News

Photo of St John's Fire by Jon Ashe (Class of 1977)

Wed, 29 Jul 2026 11:01:22 GMT

Thank you, Jon, for giving Class 12 — and all Class 12s to come — such a wonderful photograph of the St John's Fire to have in their classroom.

"This year was especially perfect for the fire - little wind, clear skies, warm, proper Midsummer!"

Noel Hamel's Story Chair

Wed, 29 Jul 2026 11:00:32 GMT

A week before the Midsummer Festival, Noel Hamel (Class of 1961) emailed asking about a chair he had made, and whether he could come and take photographs of it. Noel had made the chair over 20 years ago and I'll admit I was a little worried about where it might have got to! But sure enough, after asking around, Emily Gearing-Grief (Early Childhood Manager) knew exactly where it was: it still sits in Applegarth, in the Children and Parents group space.

Old Scholar Rachael Austin (class of 1993) wins Gold!

Wed, 29 Jul 2026 11:00:03 GMT

We are so proud to share that our Old Scholar Rachael Austin (Class of 1993) has been awarded an RHS Gold Medal and named Best Artisan Garden at the inaugural RHS Badminton Flower Show for the beautiful Ruskin Mill Trust Artisan Woodland Craft Garden.

Danièle Gaillemin’s Drama Productions

Fri, 10 Jul 2026 10:50:42 GMT

When it was time for Danièle to leave Butler's Gate at the end of 2025 and move into a care home, Angela Davis (teacher at Michael Hall 1983 - 2012) and Danièle's children — Aloÿse, Josh and Olivier — came across the many bags and boxes of photographs, albums, CDs and programmes that François and Danièle had kept as a record of her remarkable drama career at Michael Hall. This spanned 40 or more years, during which Danièle and many other talented teachers put on professional-standard plays, enabling so many students to take to the stage, discover hidden talents, and form tight-knit class bonds.

Italy Trip 1973

Fri, 10 Jul 2026 10:50:11 GMT

Italy Trip – 14th to 30th July 1973

As this year's Class 12 have their last week in Italy, this feels like just the right time to share this report from 1973.

Clara Shakespear – Hindleap

Thu, 25 Jun 2026 10:27:26 GMT

Walking with my dog at lunchtime on the Ashdown Forest, it often feels like I’ve come full circle, back to the landscape where I’m most at home.

Ted Roberts Exhibition — Thank you to the Three Musketeers

Fri, 12 Jun 2026 08:18:38 GMT

Ted Roberts was an art teacher at Michael Hall from 1965 to 2008, and both his children, Susanna and Ollie, are Old Scholars.

Ted and his wife Irmin used to host an annual exhibition at the school, and it became quite the social event. After they both passed away in 2020, Susanna and Ollie began thinking about how to honour their memory.

Class 8 Projects - Old Scholars Mentor

Wed, 10 Jun 2026 11:20:51 GMT

Each year, Class 8 students take on an independent project, learning a new skill of their choosing over six months — it could be almost anything, something they have been inspired by or are genuinely interested in.

East Grinstead Volleyball Club

Wed, 3 Jun 2026 10:25:09 GMT

What a season for East Grinstead's three teams in the Sussex and Surrey leagues — Queens, Aces and Kings!

Old Scholar Keira Freije (Class of 2004)

Wed, 29 Apr 2026 11:32:29 GMT

We are so proud to share that our Old Scholar Keira Freije (Class of 2004) has been nominated for the prestigious Turner Prize 2026.

Ted Roberts 1980 Painting

Wed, 29 Jul 2026 11:00:43 GMT

Hugo Shellabear and Isabelle Bark loan a Ted Roberts Painting

Old Scholars at Midsummer

Wed, 29 Apr 2026 11:47:33 GMT

Thank You for a Magical Midsummer Festival

What a wonderful day it was! On Saturday 21st June, the grounds of Michael Hall came alive with the joy and laughter of our beloved Alumni, as we gathered to celebrate our Midsummer Festival. Thank you to all Michael Hall staff and friends who worked hard to put on this wonderful festival and to all who attended—it was truly heartwarming to welcome so many familiar faces back, as well as to meet new members of our ever-growing alumni community. We hope you enjoyed celebrating your shared journey through the reunions and hope to see you soon at future events. A special thank you to our Old Scholar who attended the reunion during the festival for her generous donation towards one of our Centenary Projects - the restoration of the Open Stage. Big thanks for your continued support.