At the 2021 AGM, Glenda Sewell stood down after 34 years on the GCA committee, including periods as Chairman and Secretary. At the same meeting, she was unanimously elected Honorary Vice President of the GCA, only the third person to receive that honour.
As Guest of Honour at a celebratory lunch a fortnight later, attended by past and present members of the GCA committee, Glenda was reminded, in an address from the current Secretary, Sheila Conway, of her long service and many achievements and of the lasting impression she had left on her colleagues, several of whom had penned tributes and reminiscences which Sheila read out.
Many recalled her unfailing energy and enthusiasm, combined with a businesslike approach to organisation, which resulted in great thoroughness and attention to detail, ensuring the success of any event she was responsible for arranging.
Coming into Classics teaching from a Modern Languages background, and, like many other Classics teachers, then finding herself Head of a Department of one, she was acutely aware of the need for staff training and support. For years, she ran the Teachers’ Forum, a twilight training session for teachers held in the Spring Term in her department rooms at Bishop Reindorp School. She was also a main organiser of the Staff Development Day which ran until a few years ago at the end of the Summer Term and provided very varied and useful support for teachers. In the days when it was easier for teachers to get time off school for INSET, it was normal to get about 40 teachers attending.
Glenda has taught Latin at several State Secondary Schools, often after school or under adverse conditions, and has been a staunch supporter of the GCA’s efforts to encourage the study of Classics in the maintained sector. The GCSE Conference was always a major interest of Glenda’s. It was originally a whole day event, with lectures relevant to the Latin texts in the morning and Class Civ topics in the afternoon. Glenda was always keen to make sure that the students had good value from the day.
In addition to the events for which she had direct responsibility, Glenda has always been willing to help out at any GCA event, in very practical ways. A recurring recollection in the tributes paid to her was how often she provided and served refreshments at GCA events. This had clearly left a lasting and pleasurable impression on very many!
Donations from friends and colleagues were used to present Glenda with a statuette of the Goddess Hebe, as a lasting reminder of her outstanding service to the GCA, as well as flowers and a John Lewis voucher.
The Guildford Classical Association 