Page 20 - ES MAG 2018 dig

Time Travel

with Helen Leonidou

by Alexandra Kassinis 5B

We all (usually) like our school, but I gained a whole new appreciation for its
amazing past through a recent conversation with Ms Helen Leonidou who has
been part of the English School community since she arrived as a 4th former from
England in 1963. Ms Leonidou generously shared some of her experiences and
memories from her perspective as student, alumnus, parent and grandparent of
current students and longtime sta member. From these memories, it is clear that
those who support the School from within help to shape its identity over time.
For this, the School owes Ms Leonidou a debt of thanks!

We know you as the Secretary of the Board, while the “ES for boys” was at the current school location. In
but how did you start working at the School? 1962, it became the rst gender-integrated school on the island.
In the main building courtyard, a wall was actually built to separate
I graduated in 1967. After completing my A levels, and because the girls from the boys in order to keep the girls “safe” from the
I had simultaneously acquired administrative qualications, the boys. (I think the boys were more frightened of us girls though.)
Headmaster, Mr Antony Eggleston, hired me as his assistant right We spent breaks talking to the boys through the cracks in the
after graduation. I was also honoured to be secretary to Mr David bricks, because it was frowned upon to talk to the opposite gender
Humphreys when he rst joined the School in 1968 – a Headmaster outside of class! The Years 5, 6, and 7 went to school at the
who left an unforgettable mark on our School until his retirement Akropolis Lyceum campus whereas the Years 1, 2, 3, and 4 went
in 1988. I left the School for a while after getting married to live to school at the current main building campus. Teachers had to
abroad but somehow found my way back—I’ve been the Board’s run from one building to another every day! It kept them t and
18 Secretary for 30 odd years since! some used bicycles which we would sneakily move from where
they were parked and then take great hilarity in watching the
“We are all lucky What is the biggest poor bewildered teachers try to nd them. From this you will
to belong to change you have appreciate that our idea of ‘a good time and fun’ was far tamer
than it is today! In 1970, everyone moved to the current ES location
witnessed at the
this family.” School? and gave the Akropolis Lyceum building to the government who
in return funded the construction of the old Newham building
In 1957, The English School which was demolished a few years ago for safety reasons. We
– Ms Helen Leonidou for Girls was founded and have been fortunate that the Government has since funded
up to 1962, the School operated separately for girls and boys. the Science Building and the new Newham Building which is
The “ES for girls” was located at the current Akropolis Lyceum now under construction.

Main Building in 1950s