As today is Giving Tuesday we’d like to express our gratitude to all of the donors in our community who have made a lasting impact by including financial gifts to the GDST to fund bursaries, thus providing more girls with the opportunity to benefit from an exceptional girls’ education.
One such donor is NGHS alumna, Peggy Mason, who attended the Junior School and Senior School until 1939. The ‘Peggy Mason Bursary’ will fund six Sixth Form bursaries, the first of which has been awarded this September 2020.
Peggy’s Story
Peggy left school early at the request of her father to help run the family bakery business though she regretted not finishing her academic studies and going on to further education. However, she was incredibly successful and built up some sound business knowledge which she later turned to another of her passions, sport.
She became an influential committee member of the Nottingham Squash Club to such an extent that she succeeded in altering the dynamics of what was initially a male dominated environment. She loved all sports and later in life she enjoyed tennis and golf and became proficient at both.
In the 1970s, she turned her attention to an idea which had arisen from her passion for sport. As a keen Wimbledon fan, she considered that sportswear for women tennis players desperately needed improving. She consequently set up a business with friends, selling beautifully designed tennis dresses, which were worn by the likes of Margaret Court and Evonne Goolagong Cawley – female tennis professionals of the 1970s and early 80s.
GDST Spirit
Peggy was a true GDST girl, a passionate believer in fairness. Confident and fearless, she was much respected in her community and amongst her many friends.
Peggy had no children of her own but nevertheless was acutely aware of the importance of a good education, particularly as her schooldays had been considerably foreshortened by the war. We, and our whole school community, are incredibly grateful for the generosity of her bequest which will provide a lasting gift of education for talented girls. Some words of gratitude from this year’s recipient:
“I’m so grateful to the late Ms Mason for enabling me to attend a school that empowers hundreds of girls to be the best that they can be, every year.
The Peggy Mason Bursary award has allowed me to thrive academically and achieve grades to the highest of my ability, in an environment manufactured to produce the next generation of empowered workers.
I recognise that I have been extremely privileged to not only have my education funded by the great Peggy Mason, but to be able to one day give back to the school in her memory. I promise to make the most of this once-in-a lifetime opportunity and will honour Ms Mason’s memory.”
Peggy Mason Bursary Recipient
Year 12 student, Nottingham Girls’ High School
GDST Giving
There are more details about the support given to the GDST and other donors who have contributed to bursaries at this link which also takes you to the GDST Giving magazine. And you can read Peggy Mason’s full story in this year’s edition of our alumnae magazine Connect.
The legacies of former GDST girls are incredibly special and ensure that future generations of girls can follow in their footsteps.
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