The Old Hilarians’ Association is open to any past pupil or member of staff. It was founded by Deputy Head, Miss Mollie Hills, with its main objective to bring together past pupils and staff of St Hilary’s School. Miss Hills was Secretary and then Vice President during her fifty year association with St Hilary’s and Old Hilarians. We are very proud to have such a thriving Old Pupils’ Association, more often seen at senior school level. One reason for this may be the good friendships created during pupils’ time at this school. Leavers become life members on payment of a membership fee. As we are a non-profit making organisation, any spare money is donated to the School usually in the form of a gift.
The Annual General Meeting is held at the School and is a good opportunity to meet friends and talk over tea.
The next AGM will be take place during the Autumn 2011 term, date to be advised.
A newsletter is published annually by Lyn Daniels (Goodridge) and Petra Wilkinson (Butcher). Joint Secretaries are always keen to hear from old pupils so please do email us wilkinson@hollyhedges.freeserve.co.uk
(It helps greatly if you can indicate the years that you attended St Hilary’s).
A Brief History
In 1927 Miss Marjorie Hiorns founded St Hilary’s School as an independent co-educational preparatory school in Godalming, which later in 1966 became a charitable trust with a Board of Governors. The area now occupied by St Hilary’s is marked on maps as Kilcott and a chimney bears the date ‘1870'; but the earliest written records are 1878-84. In 1888 the home was owned by Robert Smith, whose son, George, the Corinthian footballer who played centre forward for England, needed the large field for practising. Today pupils enjoy it at play time and on Sports days. Many additions to the original house have followed over the years to support the learning that goes on and every year the school celebrates with a Hiorns Day along with Founder’s Prize Givings.