Roedean independent school is proud to be hosting the ‘Windows on the World’ exhibition, with celebrated local artist Clare Hackney, as part of our participation in the Brighton Festival Fringe on Saturday 1 May.

Clare, who lives in Eastbourne, is famous for her stunning landscape and seascape paintings. She is enormously influenced by the power of the weather, which is why she’s more than happy to take on the dramatic coastal conditions to create her work!

‘Up the hill’ by Clare Hackney

Following the successful Artist in Residence weekend last September, we wanted to exhibit the work created by Clare and the girls over those two days as part of the notable Brighton Festival Fringe Event.

Clare’s work, as well as all the work of the other participants, will be displayed in our lovely Chapel Cloisters from 11am to 5pm. We suggest you arrive a little earlier as we’re expecting a fantastic turnout of local residents and art enthusiasts alike!

Please join us! Email events@roedean.co.uk to put your name on the guestlist. Alternatively we are very happy to arrange a private visit to Roedean at another time.

See more examples of Clare’s work at www.clarehackney.com

Everyone at Roedean independent school is looking forward to two Open Days during May. The first is for Roedean Senior School on Monday 3 May at 10am (Bank Holiday). As this is a normal working day it is a perfect opportunity for a behind the scenes view of Roedean’s Senior School site.

Our second open morning, for Roedean Junior School, gets underway at 10.30am on Saturday 8 May. Again visitors will be toured by our current pupils and there will be the usual opportunity to meet staff and parents.

Please join us! Email events@roedean.co.uk with the name and age of your child to reserve a place. Alternatively we are very happy to arrange a private visit at another time.

We hope the sun is shining on both Open Mornings and look forward to meeting you then.

Many will have dramatic tales of travel brought on by the volcanic ash problems, and I know many of our students will have experienced the frustration of the flight ban. For those of us used to fast, simple travel, the UK's position as an island nation was reinforced this last week.

In my case, a short trip to Madrid to meet prospective parents ended a week later in Paris, thanks to the kindness of strangers offering a car share out of Spain.

Once I had a space in this car, allegedly one of the few remaining hire cars in Madrid, we passed through the plains of Spain (where I can confirm it does indeed rain), the grandeur of the Pyrenees, and the rolling hills of the Loire Valley. In Paris, I have been sitting it out until a precious Eurostar seat became available.

As I waited patiently in the shadow of Hotel des Invalides, a monument built for Napoleon, I reflected on Napoleon's bid for European domination. This bid was built on ease of moving his army across Europe, before facing the English Channel, the ultimate barrier then as now. 

Napoleon did not have such trouble invading Spain, where he was fiercely opposed. I had observed the brutality of war throught the paintings and sketches of Goya in Madrid.

I had also seen 'Guernica' by Picasso, which represents the aerial bombing of a small Spanish town by the Germans in 1937.The civil war and the subsequent repressive years under Franco were also well-documented, reminding me how recent is the relaxed and open democracy of modern Spain.

On a more positive note, it struck me how interconnected are the histories of Spain, France and the UK. How fortunate we are to be able to journey with ease between them - usually!

So rather than approaching our neighbouring countries with the suspicion and aggression of earlier wars, I hope Roedean students will have an open-minded attitude of respect and interest in other cultures. I also hope that they, too, will one day benefit from the kindness of strangers as I did.

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