Former student celebrating a landmark birthday
7th December 2022
Having started at St Mary’s College – now University of Gloucestershire – 80 years ago, Olive Pitman has just celebrated her 100th birthday with 100 guests.
On leaving the college, which was then based at Park Campus, Olive spent most of her 41 year career teaching at Bishop Gilpin CE Primary School in Wimbledon. She and her late husband, Cyril, were often seen at College Reunions, and the highlight for them was always the Reunion Sunday morning service in the college Chapel.
They were devoted to the Chapel and the two paintings of saints, either side of the chancel arch, were commissioned by Olive in memory of her brother, Dr Fred Holwill.
Guests gathered to celebrate Olive’s birthday at Kingswood Golf and Country Club for a tea party, organised by All Saints’ Church, Benhilton, in London.
John Harvey, who was taught by Olive as a nine year old, and studied at St Paul’s College, a predecessor of our University, from 1962-1965, said: “I was able to speak about Olive’s college days and then, on behalf of the Alumni Association, present her with a birthday card and letter of congratulation from University of Gloucestershire’s Pro-Vice Chancellor, Dr Matthew Andrews.
“Keeping in touch with her student year group was always important to Olive; she acted as year secretary from 1944 until the early 21st century. There may not be many of Olive’s year remaining but she will be remembered for her love of the college and her abiding Christian faith, nurtured at St Mary’s.”
