A Service of Thanksgiving for the Life of Mary Rose Farley took place on Sunday 3rd April, in the Girls’ School Chapel. We remembered Mary Rose Bateman – Headmistress of Berkhamsted School for Girls from 1971-1980.

Born 16th March 1935, Mary Rose died peacefully on 8th September 2021.

Attended by current and former staff, several family members including her sister, Felicity Crawley, and several Old Girls.

A moving service, led by Rev Jane Markby, with tributes from former head girls, Cortina Butler and Jane Pargeter, together with one from her niece, Alice Crawley, who remembered first visiting Mary Rose at the Berkhamsted Girls’ School when she was 4 years old, and a Bible reading, read by Liz Richardson.

The choir, which was somewhat depleted thanks to last minute covid cases, sang beautifully and we are very grateful to Jean Wild (Hon) for organising the music and Jenny Smith (Hon) for accompanying on the piano.

The sun shone and we had the pleasure of reminiscing over afternoon tea in the Old Dining Room, under the watchful gaze of Mary Rose from her portrait.

The opportunity was taken to thank Liz Richardson for her huge contribution to the School over the past 34 years as she approaches her retirement at the end of next term, and for her support of The Old Berkhamstedians. She was presented with a gift and bouquet of flowers.

To see the Order of Service and copies of the tributes, click on the links below. 

Order of Service

Tribute - Cortina Butler

Tribute - Jane Pargeter