Saint Martin's Old Girls Association

Malvern Hall, home to our Prep School 👇



Old Silhillians

🎨Did you know that one of Britain’s greatest artists painted a local Solihull landmark?

Few people realise that in 1821, John Constable - one of England’s greatest landscape painters - captured Malvern Hall on canvas after returning to visit the estate. Invited by Magdelane, the widow of the Earl of Dysart, he painted the house following its restoration, creating a work that survives as a remarkable snapshot of our local heritage.

It’s easy to think of Constable’s landscapes as belonging exclusively to Suffolk, but here in Solihull we have our own small place in that story.

A reminder, perhaps, that the places we pass every day often have richer histories than we imagine.

Wishing everyone a peaceful Sunday.

It was wonderful to see so many familiar faces at our annual London Dinner at the House of Commons on Friday. With the event selling out within just two weeks, it was fantastic to see such strong engagement.

We are hugely grateful to our alumni for their continued support and for making the evening a real success. Highlights included a great speech from The Rt Hon The Lord Case CVO PhD, which was enjoyed by all.

A brilliant evening in such an iconic venue ✨

Solihull School Old Silhillians

We are so proud of Julie Felix, who served as Head of Dance at Saint Martin’s Girls School from 2002–2018. Julie’s passion, dedication and impact on generations of young dancers continue to be recognised, including in this recent BBC News feature celebrating her work and legacy.
A wonderful reminder of the lasting influence of inspirational teachers 🩰
Read more here:

Britain's first professional black ballerina has shoes restored Julie Felix has now had her shoes repaired 40 years after her first professional solo performance.

We are holding our 465 Solihull Dinner & Dancing event on Friday 5 June at Copt Heath Golf Club. At last year's event, the whole school community came together for a very enjoyable evening.

Book your tickets here: https://www.trybooking.com/uk/104556

⭐ School Archives Day Spotlight: Saint Martin’s Old Girls ⭐

For School Archives Day, we’re celebrating the history of Saint Martin’s Old Girls by exploring our digital archive. The Saint Martin’s collection includes school publications dating from the school’s opening in 1942 through to 2018, offering a fascinating glimpse into school life across the decades and capturing the stories and achievements of generations of students.
📚 Log into Solihull Community and head to the Archives tab to explore the Saint Martin’s Old Girls homepage https://alumni.solsch.org.uk/home

👏 FUTURES Friday Seminar Update 👏
We were delighted to welcome Ravneet Virdee (Saint Martin's Old Girl 2015-2017) to speak about the NHS Scientist Training Programme. The session gave students a valuable opportunity to explore one of the NHS’s most competitive postgraduate pathways.
You can read the full news piece on Solihull Community: https://alumni.solsch.org.uk/news/news-from-solihull-alumni/338/338-FUTURES-Friday-Seminar-An-Introduction-to-the-NHS-Scientist-Training-Programme

After the seminar Ravneet had tour of her old school, Malvern Hall where she enjoyed seeing how the site has developed since her time here.

Thank you, Ravneet, for your time and enthusiasm, we hope to welcome you back again soon! 🌟

FUTURES Friday Seminar: An Introduction to the NHS Scientist Training Programme  

A huge congratulations to Fenella de Minckwitz (SMOG 1964-1979). It’s wonderful to see one of our Saint Martin’s Old Girls continuing to inspire. Fenella’s incredible leadership and expertise have shaped Gourmet Foods for over 30 years. Well done, Fenella, what an achievement, and what a brilliant example of dedication, talent, and entrepreneurship from a member of our community 👏

We are saddened to announce the recent passing of Cynthia Dodson. Cynthia was a dedicated Physics Teacher at Saint Martin’s from 1986 to 2006, giving 20 years of committed and loyal service. She will be remembered not only for her exceptional teaching, but also for the enormous contribution she made to the wider life of the school.

Our deepest condolences go to her family and friends at this difficult time.

Funeral Details
🕊 Thursday 12th February 2026
🕚 11:00am
📍 St Michael’s, Baddesley Clinton, Off Hay Wood Lane, Baddesley Clinton, Birmingham B93 0DG.