This week, we had A Conversation With… Mrs Lynne Fairbairn, Matron of Welsh House. Lynne joined as a daily matron for Welsh House in 2012. Before then, she trained as a nursery nurse, worked as a private nanny and set up her own crèche. Needless to say, there are few people who can provide such expert experience when looking after young people.
What does your average day entail?
I start work at 7.45am and do the laundry before meeting with Mr Howorth, Welsh Housemaster. We discuss anything that has happened or is going to happen each day. We have 49 boys in Welsh, 36 board and the remaining 13 are a mix of day, and flexi-boarders, so I have to work out how many are in-house on a daily basis. I also have to work out the situation with pupils’ medication and deal with the lovely cleaners and maintenance team. I deal with emails with parents and return phone calls then at break time I walk Bella, my dog. After lunch I go into Henley and get any bits we might need from Tesco, or doing the banking and so on. From 4 o’clock, chaos reigns supreme as the boys come in from games and their fixtures; sometimes they are injured or cold and wet. On Wednesdays, I always put on hot chocolate and biscuits for them. I also do a Matrons evening once a week, which might consist of pancakes or hot dogs, but I want to try omelettes next week!
If you could do any other job in the College, what would it be and why?
I'd like to be bursar but I don’t think I’m qualified to do it; I’d quite like to spend the money coming in to the School. Welsh House would be a palace for myself and these lovely boys! Joking aside, it’s a lot of responsibility, and I wouldn’t want it for myself. I love being a matron, and I wouldn’t want to do anything else. The day I don’t want to be a matron will be the day I die.
What is your favourite thing about working at Shiplake?
The freedom; the space; the environment. Being part of a community, without being forced into it. It’s like a safety net, I know it’s there to keep me safe if I need the help. I also feel very safe here, as a single woman. I take Bella for a walk at night, and I never feel like I’m in any danger. What’s so nice to see though, is that the kindness of Shiplake comes from everyone, from the gardeners to the pupils and their parents. Nothing is too much for them, and they’ll always offer help!
Who were your role models when you were younger, and why?
My grandad was my main role model. He was kind, thoughtful, strict, very strict. He was a person whose respect you had to earn, but he worked very hard for what he wanted. He taught me that if you want something, you need to earn it, and not expect it. He taught me independence, he taught me to be strict when I need to be, in order to gain the respect of the boys, which is certainly necessary.
What makes Welsh House so special to you and the Welsh House boys?
Where shall I start?! Before anything else, Welsh House is a home for myself, Bella and 49 teenage boys. It’s the furthest boarding house from the School so the boys feel as though they’re getting away from it all. I just love it here, I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else.
What are you looking forward to in the coming months?
There are certainly big changes coming in the next few months. Mr Howorth is, of course, leaving before Christmas and Mr Rose will be stepping into the role of Housemaster. Mr Rose is great, but things are going to change. I really hope he’ll make it his own house though, not just take over from Mr Howorth. I’m looking forward to Christmas too, I love Christmas in the North-East, with my family.
What does the future hold for Lynne Fairbairn?
I think that this will be my last job. I think I’ll retire when I finish here. I know that my current Year 12s would love it if I came over to College House with them at the end of this year, but the only way I’ll be leaving Welsh House is at the end of my time at Shiplake College.
