Lesley returns to school 

In April, Mary Chapman generously donated her cherished childhood doll, Lesley, to the Archives Office. Many alumni will fondly remember Lesley, who accompanied Mary when she began boarding at Selwyn House in Term 3 of 1954. Complete with her own Selwyn House uniform, suitcase, and accessories, Lesley is a significant addition to the school's archives, capturing a nostalgic moment in time. Recently, Principal Julie Calder and Business Development and Marketing Manager Jennifer Shepherd presented Lesley to the Year 1 students, enriching their unit of inquiry. The children shared heartwarming stories of their own beloved toys, which are cared for with the same affection Mary had for Lesley. 

 Lesley will be proudly displayed at the upcoming 95th Alumni Event.

Lesley Chapman's history

Words by Mary Chapman

"In 1954 I started as a boarder at Selwyn House in the 3rd Term, as Correspondence School was difficult for my Mother and the School bus that took us seven miles to Mt Somers ceased due to lack of children up the Ashburton Gorge. Fortunately, a place was available at Selwyn House for a boarder provided I started in the August term. I don't remember, but I wonder if I had been taken to Christchurch to Ballantynes to be measured up for School uniform. More likely, this was all done through their travelling sales representative, Mr Foote, who made two trips per year to our station Inverary. Prior to leaving for Selwyn House in August 1954, my Aunt (Doris Flora Gibb) and my Grandmother (Jean Wilson) came to Inverary and sat and sewed clothes for my doll Leslie. She was named after Aunt Lesley Chaffey, my parents closest friends who lived at Mt Possession, neighbours up the Ashburton Gorge. I do not remember if this doll Lesley was bought to go to Selwyn House or was earlier. What I do remember was that in August 1954 it was very cold in the Men's Dining Room where they set up the Singer Sewing Treadle machine. There they sat and knitted, painted and made the dolls clothes she still wears and forms part of this archive. She accompanied me on the trip back to School from Ashburton where I sat in the seat behind the Roads Services Driver and hugged her with tears in my eyes. At school she sat on my bed, like the treasured dolls and teddy bears of all other boarders. Later on she became the beloved doll of my niece Virginia Chapman when she visited her Grandmother Isobel Ethel Chapman."