Airlie Spring Term Newsletter
10 February 2023 - Airlie
This half term, the Airlie Newsletter is dedicated to showing our appreciation to the admirable, amazing, and attentive matrons of Airlie House. Their assiduous assistance with everyday life is invaluable and Miss Flynn and Dr Tsaknaki, as well as the pupils of Airlie House, are immensely appreciative for all they do for Airlie!
Mrs Styles (Day Matron)
- How long have you worked in Airlie?
12 years.
- What’s your favourite thing about Airlie?
The girls!
- How many days a week do you come in?
Five.
- When you tell people about your job, how do they react?
Well, since I’m a matron, they think I have nurse training.
- What has been your favourite Airlie House trip/outing?
I liked the boat trips.
- And what was your least favourite?
There hasn’t been a least, because when you’re there, everyone just sort of makes the best of what we have, so it’s never bad.
- What’s the best part about being a matron?
Watching the girls grow.
- And what’s the worst part about being a matron?
Going to A&E!
- What other jobs have you held?
I used to be a cleaner in Barry, and before that, I looked after my three girls at home.
- Do you have any pets?
Yes, I have a dog.
- What do you do in your free time?
Dog-walking, reading, looking after my granddaughters!
- What’s your favourite colour?
Blue.
- What’s your favourite school meal?
The chicken katsu curry!
- And what’s your least favourite?
Sweet and sour noodles and having curries on a Monday. I think it’s much more of a Friday-evening meal.
- What’s your favourite food cuisine?
I don’t really mind. Just not sweet and sour!
- What’s your favourite movie?
Pretty Woman. I also like Dirty Dancing though.
- If there was one thing you could magically make all the girls do, what would it be?
Tidy up after themselves!
Ms Kerridge (Evening Matron)
- How long have you worked in Airlie?
Since September 2019.
- What’s your favourite thing about Airlie?
The girls and the family environment.
- How many days a week do you come in?
Four.
- When you tell people about your job, how do they react?
They are mostly surprised. Usually something along the lines of “Ooooh, Wycombe Abbey!”
- What has been your favourite Airlie House trip/outing?
Definitely the ice-skating in the rain in London.
- And what was your least favourite?
None! “Ms K does it all”.
- What’s the best part about being a matron?
Looking after the girls because it’s like having 40-odd children. It’s brilliant! And then they all go to bed at 10 and I can go home and relax.
- And what’s the worst part about being a matron?
People bringing down a load of laundry just as I’ve put the last load in!
- What other jobs have you held?
I was a stewardess in British Airways. I was a manager of a bridal room. Also wedding floristry, which I still do now!
- Do you have any pets?
Yes! Five cats.
- What do you do in your free time?
What free time?! No, no, I’m only kidding. I sometimes travel to Qatar where I have family, so I go out to Doha regularly. I go out with friends for coffee. I like doing my gardening and I like sitting on the couch spending time with my cats just relaxing with a brilliantly scented candle in the background made by Dr T!
- What’s your favourite colour?
I have three: red, white, and pink.
- What’s your favourite school meal?
The lasagne especially the crispy bits with some coleslaw.
- And what’s your least favourite?
Anything that has lamb!
- What’s your favourite food cuisine?
Middle-eastern. Especially things like fattoush, hummus, baba ghanoush, pita breads, etc.
- What’s your favourite movie?
Baby Boom, definitely!
- If there was one thing you could magically make all the girls do, what would it be?
Register on time!
Mrs Treacy (Evening Matron)
- How long have you worked in Airlie?
Since 2016 – nearly 7 years!
- What’s your favourite thing about Airlie?
The girls, but also the staff.
- How many days a week do you come in?
Three.
- When you tell people about your job, how do they react?
Most people are surprised because it’s an unusual job. I’m always very positive about it so… you know… I’ll put it this way: there are some other matrons around because of me!
- What has been your favourite Airlie House trip/outing?
The party boat!
- And what was your least favourite?
There isn’t one I haven’t liked, but the ice-skating was very wet. It wasn’t so much the trip as it was the weather. You can’t dislike the trips when they’re with Airlie people!
- What’s the best part about being a matron?
Interacting with the girls.
- And what’s the worst part about being a matron?
The unnamed laundry!
- What other jobs have you held?
Before this, I was a primary teacher. When I was in school, I had a job in the evenings parading greyhounds before a race!
- Do you have any pets?
No, not at the moment. I used to have chickens for 10/12 years though!
- What do you do in your free time?
I line dance three times a week. I’m the treasurer of a charity shop. My husband and I also host safari suppers dinner parties!
- What’s your favourite colour?
Blue!
- What’s your favourite School meal?
It has to be the lasagne.
- And what’s your least favourite?
A minced-up chicken… something or other. Also, anything with coriander added into it—the flavour can be very strong!
- What’s your favourite food cuisine?
Italian is my favourite. Pizzas… pastas… lasagne again! Chinese is also good.
- What’s your favourite movie?
Oh gosh… there’s too many! I like Dirty Dancing, Mamma Mia, all the Harry Potter films! Oh and Seven Brides for Seven Brothers!
- If there was one thing you could magically make all the girls do, what would it be?
Name all their laundry and put their big laundry out on time!