The Record 2014 - 2015

PEOPLE Susan Norton Nick Coram-Wright Susan carried out a number of roles at St Edward’s from 2004 to 2015 and was a greatly valued member of the Common Room. Below, Nick Coram-Wright, who worked with Susan for many years in the Modern Languages Department, reflects on her time at the School. Housemistress, Head of German, Tutor in Segar’s and Sing’s, Community Service Coordinator, Queen Proper and Calamity Jane; these were just some of the roles that Susan Norton played during her 11 years at St Edward’s. Susan was appointed to the post of Housemistress of Corfe in 2004. She rightly made demands of the girls but at the same time was humane, tolerant, motherly and empathetic but in no way a soft touch. Parents and their daughters appreciated her combination of common sense, experience and wisdom. David Corran, former Housemaster of Sing’s, has fond memories of Susan as a fellow HM. She was “one of the most perceptive and emotionally literate people I know. She used her skill in this professionally – I know so many girls in Corfe who valued her understanding, intelligent sympathy and ability to make life better for them as a result”. After five years in Corfe Susan became a tutor in Sing’s with

David and then moved to Segar’s. Here she was admired as a wise guide, someone who was principled and whose moral compass was set firm. Susan established a reputation in the Modern Languages Department as a versatile colleague who was as happy teaching French and German to Shell beginners as to IB native speakers. In 2013 she took over from Rachel Grange as Head of German, determined to ensure the survival of German in the curriculum. As those of us who teach MFL know, lessons can at times feel like one 40-minute cabaret after another with bouts of wild gesticulation, exaggerated gesture and endless repetition – all in front of boys and girls with looks on their faces ranging from mild bemusement to complete incomprehension. It therefore came as no surprise that Susan was very much at home during the biennial Staff Panto. Here the mask of respectability was allowed to slip for just a few days, revealing a drama queen par excellence. Susan has left St Edward’s in order to focus her energies on establishing a language school in the south of France. There she is offering courses that not only develop the language skills of children of all ages but include cookery and fine dining alongside local culture and traditions.

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