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Chloe Manning
Chloe Manning sadly passed away on 28th August 2023
Many of you have worked with her over the years, and a number of OCs had her as your matron in Franklin or as an invigilator. She arrived at Canford in Autumn 1968, and carried out her last exam season in the summer of 2022.
When she arrived at Canford, there was no official music school and she supported her husband, Beverley Manning, (Director of Music) in his work to develop the music department.
Until the music school was built, Canford Music department was housed in a shack by the river featuring the sign “when this sign is under water then the music school is out of action”. However, during the building of the music school, lessons and exams took place in ‘1 The Park’ where pupils were supplied with warm scones and cakes straight from the oven and celebrated the end of school with croquet and “Woodpeckers”. However, I am sure there was a sense of relief for Chloe (especially as legend has it that she had to deal with a screaming baby who shall not be named) when the music school was finally opened by Sir David Willcocks (all things Christmas.)
Chloe was an incredible soprano and took part in the choral society, musical productions such as Gilbert and Sullivan’s “The Mikado”, “The Pirates of Penzance”, “Trial by Jury”, helped organise new musical events such as the annual “Music on the River”, the House Music competition, the Friday concert society, and played host and hotel to visiting guests such as Julian Lloyd Webber, Humphrey Lyttelton, Carlo Curley and Richard Baker (news reader of Morcambe and Wise fame) who congregated in her lounge enjoying a spread of food, drinks, laughter and often the witty chat of her youngest child.
Plentiful platters were available during the evenings for any members of staff, sixth form or parents that came by, and she did all this whilst working full-time as a primary school teacher and raising two children. When she finally stopped teaching primary, she committed herself to being a Matron and/or invigilator which she did for the last 33 years. Chloe had no desire to retire and on her 80th birthday she was still running around the school full of her zest for life - it made her happy.
She was passionate about education and loved working with young people. Her favourite aspect of being a matron was developing that special relationship found in House and the pupils adored her. Her time as an invigilator and exam reader allowed her to continue working in the school that she loved, and to continue helping pupils feel comfortable and supported. She might not have enjoyed some of the new technology, but Chloe loved working with the invigilating team and still being part of the education system and the Canford community.
When I think of mum and her role over the years, I view her as a gentle, generous, loyal and unassuming presence who has been instrumental in the development of so many lives and contributed to the Canford of today. She never would have regarded herself in that way, but she has been as much a part of Canford history as the trees in the park - a beautiful, essential backdrop.
Thank you to those who worked alongside her - whether as staff or pupil as you made her happy and gave her life purpose.
Naomi Miles(Daughter of Chloe and Teacher at Canford)
