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On Saturday, 15 March, gymnasts past and present took part in a display to celebrate 30 years of gymnastics at Tormead and to recognise the invaluable contribution that Miss Fran Gregson, who started the sport at the school, has made to the club.
The event, organised with Tormead Old Girls’ Association, included a surprise for Miss Gregson, who is retiring after 30 years, when numerous ‘old’ gymnasts returned to celebrate with her.
A routine was given by mothers of some of the current gymnasts together with a re-creation of a 1970s routine from a video sent in by ex gymnasts.
All the gymnasts provided the Grand Finale.
Mrs Michelle Torpey, Tormead’s Director of Gymnastics, was delighted with the success of the event and the pleasure that the reunion and displays had provided.
Miss Gregson said ‘It was such a wonderfully exciting surprise and so beautifully orchestrated by Mrs Torpey.
It was amazing to see all the people from the past and all still looking so young!’
Miss Gregson joined as Head of P.E. and Co-ordinator of Boarders’ Leisure Activities (Tormead was a boarding school in those days) when she was appointed by the then Headmistress, Mrs Jean Crouch-Smith, who also instigated the building of the gym.
Miss Gregson has been responsible for organising such major events as the Centenary Celebration Service at Guildford Cathedral in 2005 and, most recently, the Official Opening of the
JCS
Building, predominantly for the Performing Arts, and named after Mrs Crouch-Smith.
She was appointed to her current role, as Head of Lower School, in 1989 and resigned as Head of P.E. the following year to concentrate on that role, whilst remaining as a gymnastics/sports acrobatics coach – a role she will continue on a part-time basis.
When interviewed by some pupils Miss Gregson was asked ‘What was the hardest challenge you’ve ever completed’.
Miss Gregson answered ‘That’s very difficult, I’m really not sure.
Leaving next week will probably be my hardest challenge’.
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