Betty Harris( Mrs Forsberg) 1925—1933

Irene Jennings (Mrs Rolph) wrote
It is now with great sadness that I have to report the death of my dear friend Betty who died in January 2006 after a very short illness. We had been friends for over 74 years and we both joined Whyteleafe together although she was in the year below me. I joined the school in 1927 when I was 11 after passing a scholarship. We used to catch the same train at Coulsdon North railway station (often a steam train) which is how we got to know each other. We lost touch during the war years and then met again at a Whyteleafe reunion. My younger son is the same age as Betty's son and we have kept in touch since. As we have both widowed, we have been very close and had seen each other regularly.

Her son Michael writes
I write to inform you of the death of my mother . When sorting out her possessions we found a number of school yearbooks that were quite old! My mother was a very active woman throughout her life and we received many kind and generous tributes to her from people who know her through her involvement in the Women's Institute, the church , her old school, tribunal hearings and voluntary work as St. Albright's Hospital, Marks Hall and her many year (38!) as a school governor in Colchester. She had great affection for her old school and would have smiled at the name of the commemorative fund 'Bellis Perennis' as my business is that of a flower and vegetable seed merchant, a business which was established by my parents over 50 years ago.

Miss Beall wrote
It was a shock to hear last February that Mrs Gill had died after a short illness.
For fourteen years she was the school secretary, dealing with staff, pupils and visitors. This she did with tact and efficiency. When I first came to Whyteleafe, she helped me to settle in and learn about the school.
In addition to her secretarial work, Mrs Gill produced the school plays. Among these, the Nativity Play stands out. For those who took part in it and those who attended the performances, it was a moving experience.
While at school and after she left, many girls enjoyed her Speech and Drama Classes
Heavy snow prevented some of us from attending her funeral, but Mrs was able to be there to represent the school.