The Headmistress

Mrs. Deborah Boyd-Moss, MA Cantab PGCE IAPS

Parent, Teacher, Headmistress

Born in Tanzania, brought up in the UK, I have now lived and taught in Kenya for more than twenty-five years. My first hand association with Pembroke House started in 1998 when two of our children, Jemma and James, joined this very special school aged 10 and 8. Two years later, and with a third child Georgina on the way, I moved to Pembroke House myself to become a House Mistress and a Junior School teacher. I am now in my ninth year at Pembroke and starting my fifth term as Headmistress. With the support of my husband Robin and his wealth of experience behind me, I feel fortunate to have this opportunity to contribute to the academically outstanding institution that Pembroke House is today, whilst at the same time retaining and nurturing the traditions and spirit of the school.

I was born in Mbeya in Tanzania – Tanganyika as it was then, whilst my father was in the Police Force. Unfortunately we only stayed in East Africa until I was one year old and then we returned to the UK. However I grew up with tales of Scottish Country dancing at Mbeya Club, long car journeys to Dar es Salaam and Moshi, safaris into the bush, snakes in the bedroom and spiders the size of plates! It all sounded wonderful and was certainly something I longed to see for myself.

However I grew up in the UK starting off in Sutton Surrey, but ending up at age 7 in a wonderful little village called West Meon in Hampshire. From West Meon I commuted to Portsmouth High School. Both my parents believed wholeheartedly that an education was the finest thing one could give a child and and I was lucky enough to pass the exams to this very good school. O levels came along and I did quite well and was branded as ‘clever’. This meant that when I visited my future sister in law – Nicky Parazzi at Cambridge and decided that this had to be the only University to attend, I was given some support. Mrs Zahra my Geography teacher did all she could to tutor me to get through the exams. Fourth term entry came along and I sat the necessary papers and low and behold I was duly asked to go to interview. The interview also seemed to go well and I was finally awarded an Exhibition to read Archaeology and Anthropology at Newnham College, Cambridge.

Fourth term entry allowed me the privilege of a year off and I worked on a Kibbutz for 3 months, I worked in a ski resort for the season and I back-packed around Europe fitting in a course on Archaeology and Anthropology in Naples along the way. All great fun and the year really set me up to make the most of my three year degree course at Cambridge. At the end of three years there was what was known then as the ‘milk round’ of job interviews but – making mars bars, worrying about the production figures for ICI or working in a bank seemed to hold little attraction and I realized slowly that what I really wanted to do was ‘teach’.

Whilst at Cambridge I met my husband Robin. Robin was reading Land Economy and playing a great deal of cricket and rugby for the University and the Northamptonshire County Cricket Team . During the lull in his sporting year Robin began to come out to the Banda and Coach cricket. I was lucky enough to join Robin on one or two holidays and it seemed that this was the ideal place to start teaching. I was fortunate enough to be able to persuade the then Headmaster of the Banda – Ian Wood to offer me a job and I began work in 1984 at the Banda as a Year 3 teacher, a Geography teacher and a games teacher.

Those early days at the Banda were quite wonderful for a new teacher like myself. Fantastic derby days of Banda v Pembroke matches not to mention the rivalry with other schools, lovely parents with picnics in the back of their cars, lots of wine, beautiful sunny days and really super children to teach and coach.

At the Banda I became Head of Geography and Head of the Junior School and began to tackle CE exams, school plays, parent meetings and so on. Although I did not know it then, it was an important time allowing me the opportunity to gain experience for my future role at Pembroke House.

We sent our own children to Pembroke House whilst I was still teaching at the Banda and we certainly did not regret the decision. Two years later with Jemma aged 12 and James aged 10 we discovered that I was going to have another baby, Georgina – quite a shock! However this also proved to be a turning point in our lives. The Banda were not keen on offering me a part time job but Pembroke House were keen for a Housemistress and a Junior school teacher. This meant I could work and be close to Georgina. So began what can only be called a ‘love affair’ with this little school. Pembroke House had all that the Banda offered plus more and it is such a very rewarding place to work that our life soon centred around Pembroke and term times in Gilgil.

I worked for three years in the Girls’ House and one year with the Boys in Mackie House. I was lucky enough to be offered the position of Deputy Head for the following year. Robin however then took the position of general manager at REA Vipingo and this meant a move to Kibwezi and a new life on a sisal estate. We did not feel that Robin could possibly do this alone and so I resigned from Pembroke House with Georgie as a four year old and we went down to Dwa Estate together. Estate life taught me a great deal, there was much entertaining involving a certain resourcefulness , home schooling for Georgina and veterinary work – (the nearest vet was in Nairobi and we went with all our dogs,cats, our horses and ponies).

The final chapter came when Georgie was 6 years old and we knew she had to go to Pembroke House. There was a limit to what we could provide for her on the estate and so we decided that I should also go and teach at Pembroke House once more whilst Georgina joined Form R, much I must say to Jemma and James’ delight.

Three years into my return Sam Cook the Headmaster explained that he was resigning in order to return to the UK. After much discussion Robin and I decided that I should apply for the post. I knew that I would like to be the Head of a school but once one lives in Kenya and works at Pembroke House no other school could possibly be quite like it and so I had really given up hope of being more than a happy teacher running one of the Houses.

As luck turns out I made it through the selection and interview process and as I type I am about to start my fifth term as Headmistress.

I believe wholeheartedly that ‘education’ is the finest gift that one can give a child. Pembroke House offers children a unique experience in a rapidly changing world. We offer children a safe yet challenging environment in which to learn and grow. The years between 6 and 13 are vital in establishing strong foundations – we believe that respect, determination, courage and self belief are the cornerstones of these foundations. Good manners and ambition are the icing on the cake and all in all children leave Pembroke House as extremely capable and independent teenagers with integrity and initiative. We hope they will be able to make the most of all that their future might hold for them.

One of the best pieces of advice I was given was by Johnny Onslow –‘ remember,’ he said ‘that in any given situation the maxim must be‘ for the good of the children’. Remember this and you will not go far wrong’. I am determined to give our children structure, discipline, and challenges supported with real care to allow them to develop fully. Each child has their own special relationship with each member of staff and we place great trust in each child and this in turn develops a real sense of responsibility.

It is a very great privilege to be the Headmistress of this wonderful school and I hope to nurture and care for Pembroke House, respecting it’s traditions and trying to give the children the very best education possible. I have been very fortunate to have Robin’s guidance and with the benefit of his varied experiences I have been led to believe that ‘attention to detail’ is the vital element in all we do. The final piece of the the jigsaw of Pembroke House is our school motto – ‘Fortuna Favet Fortibus’ . It might well be ‘of old’ but it is certainly as true today as it was 85 years ago.

DBM

Mrs. Boyd-Moss is available at any time for any questions that you might have: Get in Touch