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Staff Members

• Mr A Wakefield

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• Mr Hewson

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• Mr Williams

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• Miss Applegate

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• Mr Hodgkins

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• Miss Day

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• Miss Allport

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• Miss Curtis

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• Mrs Smith

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• Mr Brain

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Community Leader Miss G. Olseen

Who was Vesta Tilley? A Brief History...

Vesta Tilley was born Matilda Alice Powles (13th May 1864 – 16th September 1952). She was an English Male impersonator. At the age of 11 she adopted the stage name Vesta Tilley becoming the most famous and well paid music hall male impersonator of her day. She was a star in both Britain and the United States for over thirty years.
Tilley was born in Commandery Street, Worcester in Worcestershire in 1864. Tilley first appeared on stage at the age of three and a half. At the age of six she did her first role in male clothing. She would come to prefer doing male roles exclusively, saying that "I felt that I could express myself better if I were dressed as a boy". At the age of eleven she debuted in London at the Canterbury Hall with the name Vesta Tilley. "Vesta" referred to a brand of safety matches and "Tilley" is a nickname for Matilda.
Tilley's popularity reached its all-time high point during world War 1when she and her husband ran a military recruitment drive, as did a number of other music-hall stars. In the guise of characters like 'Tommy in the Trench' and 'Jack Tar Home from Sea', Tilley performed songs like "The army of today's all right" and 'Jolly Good Luck to the Girl who loves a Soldier'.
Tilley made her last performance in 1920 at the Coliseum theatre, London, at the age of 56. For the rest of her life she lived as Lady deFrece, moving to Monte Carlo with her husband upon his retirement. She moved back to England after her husband's death in 1935. Her autobiography, Recollections of Vesta Tilley, was published in 1934. Vesta Tilley died in London in 1952, aged 88.

 

Tilley Parliament

 

Tilley Parliament currently comprises 22 students across all year groups and students representing each tutor group. Tilley Community Captains are Rosalie Haworth and Hannah Walker. Tilley Events Captains are Faye McDonnell and Sophie George. Tilley Parliament meets every Wednesday. They are currently discussing fund raising ideas for Children in Need in November and for our Community activities week this term where we will be having a variety of inter community competitions.
Tilley parliament will also be continuing their work on Healthy Schools this term in collaboration with Miss Allport. This will involve carrying out several audits across departments in order to gain Healthy Schools Status for our College.

Events this term:

Inter form quiz–this will take place this term to promote team work, collaboration and community spirit amongst Tilley Community. It will also assist with integrating Year 7 into their new tutor group and to develop ‘team spirit’.
Children In Need – Tilley Community will be carrying out fund raising along with the whole College to raise as much money as they can for a very worthwhile cause
Charity focus – Tilley Parliament will continue to develop ideas for fund raising this term and to raise as many proceeds as we can for our chosen charity, Macmillan.

Priorities for The Autumn Term:

1. Ensure the smooth transition for all year 7 students so that they feel fully integrated into our Community.
2. Further develop community spirit and pride within Tilley Community
3. Establish an effective working relationship with our Chaplaincy link Rev. Peter Haddleton who will be leading Acts of Collective Worship this year and Eucharist’s within Tilley on a termly basis.
4. Mentoring, with a particular emphasis on Year s 7 and 11.
5. Maintaining high standards of uniform, attendance and behaviour.