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I was saddened to hear that Miss Close passed away on July 31st 2014. She ruled the Science Department when I was a pupil back in the 60s. The obituary was in the 2014 newsletter, but I thought those who were not full members of the OGU would like to know of her passing and those who were would like to know straight away - not months later, so it was announced on there as soon as I heard..
I felt that past pupils of Miss Close would perhaps write their own recollections of her on Facebook. These memories are now printed below. If you would like to contribute to this memorial wall please send me your thoughts via the contact form. Photographs can be sent via email.
Webmistress of WGHSOGU
Comments made on Facebook
| Pat Lloyd (nee Horton) |
I remember her well. |
September 3, 2014 at 10:03am |
| Lorna Miller-Cooper |
Ah, Miss Close.... I remember her well too |
September 2, 2014 at 7:38pm |
| Lucy McCarthy |
Oh Miss Close, RIP |
September 2, 2014 at 8:11pm |
| Linda Griffiths |
RIP Miss Close, she was a good teacher! |
September 2, 2014 at 8:37pm |
| Narinder Dhami |
She was my Chemistry teacher in the early Seventies. I was scared of her, but she was an excellent teacher. |
September 2, 2014 at 9:07pm |
| Sheila Dixon |
She was scary, very old school but I remember her with some affection! |
September 2, 2014 at 9:18pm |
| Caroline Filbee |
Awww this is sad news. I have fond memories of her.....a stickler for everything being just so and dishing out order marks if you forgot to put envelope in the back of your book. Yet her fierceness made you learn. RIP miss Close x |
September 2, 2014 at 10:05pm |
| Jo Chambers |
Aww, she was my favourite teacher and inspired me to become a chemist myself. RIP Miss Close |
September 2, 2014 at 10:14pm · |
| Anna Henly |
Can everyone else remember the precise definition of an atom, a molecule, an element .............??!! |
September 2, 2014 at 11:37pm |
| Elizabeth Botsford |
Miss Close ran in your family - I remember you having the EXACT same notes in your chemistry exercise books as your mum from 30 years eariler. |
September 2, 2014 at 11:46pm |
| Chele Belle |
A wonderful woman - my chemistry teacher back in the 70s - fond memories xx |
September 3, 2014 at 11:58pm · |
| Helen Cooper |
Sad news. Anna Henly - remember precise definitions?! - I don't remember being taught any of those things! I'm sorry to say that I was scared stiff of her, I sat on the back row, messed with the bunsen burners and hardly learnt a thing unsure emoticon |
September 4, 2014 at 12:12am |
| Janet Qureshi |
I remember Miss Close from the 50s and 60s.She lived to a good old age.I hope she did not suffer too much at the end of her life.(Janet Frenzel) |
September 4, 2014 at 11:06am |
| Ruth Taylor-Durant |
RIP. I had Miss Close for O'level 1980-82. Despite her giving me my only ever order mark for getting neutrons and protons the wrong way round (or something like that) throughout my first homework and being useless at science. I enjoyed her lessons and am proud oft my grade C. Sad news indeed. |
September 4, 2014 at 10:27pm |
| Anna Henly |
Why did so many of them teach through fear?? I ended up studying chemistry at university though, or initially anyway. The fear of the chemistry experiments not working added to the adrenalin I guess! |
September 4, 2014 at 10:33pm |
| Lynda Jones |
Miss Close was a 'scary' teacher. You soon learned that she could not be messed with. Homework had to be done, on time and just as she demanded! She only taught me in year 9, but I got 93% in the exam... And I still know all of those symbols and valences and definitions.
I didn't start my degree until my son was 5. On the first day in the Chem labs at Wolverhampton Poly I walked into Miss Close. I was shocked and she smiled broadly and said, 'Hello, Lynda'... She explained that she had just retired and was starting a PhD, something she had always wanted to do. I then regularly saw her in the labs and she was so pleasant and relaxed... Quite a contrast to how I had thought of her at school. I am still amazed that she remembered my name after all that time. I am terrible at recalling names!
When I started teaching at WGHS five years later it was common for ex-Staff to attend the carol service. Miss Close came over to me and made a point of asking me how I was getting on in teaching and congratulating me on my degree result. She was a very thoughtful person and lived a full life. |
September 4, 2014 at 10:49pm |
| Sue Cartwright |
In her last few years Marjorie lived at Abbeyfields in Codsall. She had lots of holidays with Betty Kuphal over the years and I know she really missed Betty after her death. |
September 5, 2014 at 12:05am |
| Sue Holt |
She taught me in the '60s she was very firm! But as I went on to a degree in chemistry/biochemistry she was also inspiring, RIP |
September 5, 2014 at 3:01pm |
| Rachel Edwards |
I remember her being obsessed with full stops in lists! |
September 6, 2014 at 11:56am |
| Julie Helen Tickel |
Miss Close was an inspiration to me, but at first scary ... particularly when I caused a small explosion with the bunson burner! It eventually became clear that her strictness was part of the front she has to ensure that we would do our very best and become all we could be. You would never pick your pencil up without instruction to do so ... She rarely raised her voice but could still a class with a steely look. Miss Close is one of my lifetime superstars! |
Thursday, November 26, 2015 |
Tree Planted in the School Grounds in Memory of Miss Close
On 23 October, 2015, a cold but sunny day, a group of old WGHS-ites met in Bantock Park Cafe for lunch and nostalgia.
We were members of the 1953-entry cohort; Liz (née Bradley), Christine (née Coupland), Pat (née Grimes), Liz (née Hurley, and on the staff 1965—2002), Monica (née Hutchison), Susan (née Lister), Glennis (née Meachem), and Janet (née Ockwell).
We were going to plant a tree at School in memory of our old chemistry teacher, Marjory Close. Also with us were Fiona Bantock, friend and former WGHS colleague of Majory, and Glennis' husband David with his spade.
After lunch we came to School and gathered at the chosen spot, by the tennis courts, near the silver birch we planted for Betty Kuphal (mathematics teacher) a few years ago. Here we were joined by Trudi (current headmistress), Sophie (head girl), and Mark (groundsman) who had dug the hole.
The tree is a cultivar of Whitebeam called Sorbus thibetica 'John Mitchell': we all took part in bedding it in.
We shared memories of Marjory and told of the impact she made on our lives (six of us did chemistry 'A' level). Then we sang the School Song.
After the ceremony Sophie and two other senior girls showed us round the new school buildings. Members of UVIS(1960) not present but with us in spirit were; Kathleen (née Caunce), Rosemary (née Day), Connie (née Hazell), Daisy (née Hurn), and Gill (née Watt).
After paying for the tree and plaque we were able to send £140 to WaterAid, Marjory's favourite charity.
As teenagers we benefitted from WGHS' beautiful grounds. We hope generations of girls will enjoy Marjory's tree.
Monica (Hutchison) Dyer
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