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Rachel Ashton – Old Girl (1988-1995)

Rachel Ashton – Old Girl (1988-1995)

I can remember now the feeling of trepidation, age 11, walking into MTGS on my first morning at ‘The Big School’, wondering who I would meet and if I’d make friends. I needn’t have worried, the first person I met was Rachel, who greeted me with a smile, introduced herself and it felt like we’d known each other forever. Over the following seven years, we stuck together and through our mutual love of singing, drama and avoiding PE became firm friends, a friendship that would endure long beyond school.

She was one of the big characters of our year, known and loved by all for her quick wit, comic timing and bubbly personality, who threw herself wholeheartedly into any challenge (except PE, where we always came last in cross country). It became clear very early on that she was an immensely talented actor and singer, with a knack for impressions and a facility for dialogue, and had really beautiful handwriting. Her impersonation of Mrs Stubbs is legendary.

She always had projects on the go, whether writing a new Red Dwarf script, memorising Alec Guinness quotes or arranging TV theme tunes (like Blackadder) for organ, as she was the organist at Ince Blundell Hall, another one of her talents. She was an enthusiastic member of the choirs (though grew a little tired of singing Beatles songs), and in latter years performed a number of solos, where she could show just how brilliant a singer she was. The last time she and I ever sang onstage together was at Prize Giving, where we performed Rossini’s Cat Duet, something we both found hilarious and relished every second.

Whatever her choices, they were always completely individual and she would never be influenced by others. One example of that was her insistence that she wanted to learn Russian, a language she embraced and loved, and she was highly entertained on arriving in Russia on a school trip (staying with a family she was convinced were Mafia) for people to keep asking why she was speaking with a Scottish accent (well done, Mr Aitken…).

After A-level, she studied Linguistics and Italian at Lancaster University, and worked for a time for the Charities Commission. It was her love of singing and music that won the day, though, and she gained a place to study at the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama, after which she sang professionally and also trained as a music educator, so she could pass on her love of performing to the next generation. Not content with that, she also appeared as a straight actor in a number of productions and continued to write plays, her love of drama undiminished from when she was younger.

That she was so full of life and hitting her creative peak made the shock of her cancer diagnosis even worse. With characteristic stoicism, and a relentlessly positive attitude, she faced chemotherapy and radiotherapy with real courage, even teaching herself to play the mandolin to alleviate her boredom whilst recuperating. On being told that she was in remission, she gained a place to do a Masters Degree at Birmingham Conservatoire and she began the course with relish, loving every second and grabbing life with both hands. It was a hard blow, then, to discover the cancer had returned but once again she faced months of treatment with positivity and determination, and her sense of humour remained fully intact to the end.

She wasn’t able to complete her Masters, but was granted her degree posthumously, something that would have made her immensely proud. She was an incredibly talented individual, taken from the world far too soon, before she had fully had an opportunity to demonstrate just how gifted she was, in any number of fields, although she will be remembered for her singing above all. But more than that, she was a much loved daughter, sister, auntie and friend, someone who was kind, thoughtful, funny, loyal, witty, brave, and unique. I, along with everyone who knew her, will miss her enormously and I am honoured to have called her my friend.

Jennifer Johnston
Old Girl (1988-95)

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Congratulations to Claudia, David, Jude and Ruby w Congratulations to Claudia, David, Jude and Ruby who had the privilege of attending the annual wellbeing conference at the @merchant_taylors Hall in London, where this year’s theme centred around safe spaces and belonging.

As part of the event, they were invited to present to delegates on how our TENDO programme helps foster a strong sense of belonging and creates safe, supportive spaces within our School community.

Their presentation was met with great enthusiasm, earning praise for its thoughtfulness, clarity, and confidence.
Train like a pro this May Half Term! ⚽ Our Foot Train like a pro this May Half Term! ⚽

Our Football Camp is led by Marine FC Manager and UEFA licensed coach Bobby Grant, giving young players the chance to sharpen their skills, grow in confidence and enjoy a brilliant day of football.

Places are limited - book now via the link in our bio! ⤴️
We were delighted to welcome world-class baritone We were delighted to welcome world-class baritone @rwoodbaritone to work with our Cambiata Choir last week 🎶

The boys thoroughly enjoyed the session, which focused on developing changing voices and building stage presence. 

It was a fantastic opportunity to learn from a professional singer of such high calibre, and we’re very grateful to Roland for sharing his expertise and enthusiasm.
Harry and Jude from our Eco Committee share how th Harry and Jude from our Eco Committee share how the Recycle 4 School BoxDrop initiative is helping us support sustainability at Merchant Taylors’.

Three textile recycling boxes are now in place across the school, perfect for any pre-loved items you no longer need.

A big thank you to our Eco Committee for driving this initiative and inspiring positive change across our community. ♻️
Pupils from Years 7 to 10 delivered outstanding pe Pupils from Years 7 to 10 delivered outstanding performances at the recent Alderley Edge Festival, earning multiple 1st, 2nd and 3rd place finishes across a range of drama categories including Acting Through Song, Shakespearean Text, and Duologues.

A highlight of the weekend was being awarded the prestigious William Roache Cup for Outstanding Drama Performance, recognising the school’s exceptional contribution to the festival.

Read more and see the full list of winners via the link in our bio ⤴️
On Thursday, the Year 5 Drama Club enjoyed a speci On Thursday, the Year 5 Drama Club enjoyed a special visit from Dr John Gill, former Head of Drama at Merchant Taylors’. Dr Gill kindly returned to support the pupils as they prepare for their upcoming performance next week.

His wealth of experience and encouraging guidance provided a valuable boost to the group, who thoroughly enjoyed the opportunity to rehearse under his direction.

We are grateful to Dr Gill for giving his time so generously and look forward to seeing the pupils bring their hard work to life on stage.
On Day two of their residential, Year 4 had a bril On Day two of their residential, Year 4 had a brilliant time canoeing and paddleboarding - with Mr Roberts “accidentally” taking a splash! 💦

In the evening, pupils headed out on a nature walk linked to their Science topic Habitats, gathering natural materials to create their own mini habitats.

To round off the day: bushcraft, fire-lighting, and toasted marshmallows under the trees. A fabulous end to a fabulous day!
📣 We’re hiring! The Ian Robinson Sports Cent 📣 We’re hiring!

The Ian Robinson Sports Centre at Merchant Taylors’ is looking for a Casual Holiday Club/Leisure Assistant to join the team.

If you’re enthusiastic, sporty, and great with children, this is a fantastic opportunity to help deliver fun, high-quality activities and inspire young people to get active! 🏀⚽🎾

Click the link in our bio to find out more ⤴️
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