Thamesmead School
Aylward House

  Aylward House

 

 

   

Head of House – Mrs Foster

Deputy Head of House – Mr Bunting

 

Tutors:

A1 – Miss Shillabeer                   A5 – Miss Powell

A2 – Mr Stevenson                     A6 – Miss Jones

A3 – Miss Bull                            A7 – Miss Caulfield

A4 – Miss Tang                          A8 – Mr Moore

 

House Team:

House Captains: Maddie Williams, Dhru Patel

 

Tutor Group Prefects:

A1 - Robert Berning                    A5 - Ellie Egleton

A2 - Carrie Saunders                  A6 - Hannah Littlemore

A3 - Lucy Spencer                      A7 - Jess Stephenson

A4 - James Hyman                     A8 – Charlotte Nugent

 

Support Prefect:   Megan Hedges

 

Biography: Aylward House was named after the courageous lady, Gladys Aylward who was born in London in 1902. She had a quite normal childhood and after leaving school, worked as a servant in a large house. When she was twenty-five years old she felt a strong desire to work in China, she could not explain this but she knew this was what she must do. It took her four years to save the money for the fare and to acquire the money to enable her to leave England. Once in northern China, Gladys had a variety of jobs including working in a prison. When the Japanese invaded the region in 1938, Aylward was running a hostel in Yangcheng where she cared for war orphaned children and working as a foot inspector. She devoted herself to helping the Chinese army by spying for them. When, in 1940, the Japanese realized what she was doing, they came after her making it impossible for her to stay in Yangcheng. Gladys decided that she must evacuate the war orphans in her school, and take them to the safety of Sian. It was then that she began her famous journey leading 100 orphaned children over the mountains and across the Yellow River. During the trek of approximately one hundred miles, taking twelve days, they had to endure the elements and many hardships. She continued working in China until 1947 when the new Communist regime took over; she then returned to England for ten years. In 1958 she went to Hong Kong and opened an orphanage and later an orphanage in Taiwan. She continued to work with children until her death in 1970. We have chosen Aylward as the name of our house because Gladys Aylward faced great challenges. She preserved when things became difficult and finally she showed that she cared for others. These are the qualities that we hope you will develop as students of Aylward House. Charity:

Aylward House currently supports the ‘Shooting Star Children’s Hospice and organises various fund raising events throughout the year. Last year this included the designing and making of Christmas cards and jewellery and biscuit decorating stall. Last year we raised £733.5 for the Hospice.

 


  


 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

       

 
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