Trying to dedicate an article to the devoted service that Adrian and Mandy Hathaway have shown in the 13 years as Houseparents in Grimwade is an almost impossible task to achieve, a book would be much more suitable!

The Hathaway’s relationship with Grimwade started in 1987, Adrian as a Resident House Tutor and Mandy as Resident Junior Matron. Having met at the College it was only fitting that they should choose to marry in the Memorial Hall in 1990, a wonderful occasion repeated by son Elliot for his own wedding in 2021.

It is very hard to imagine a whole family that is more invested in the College than the Hathaway’s. Adrian as Grimwade Housemaster and holding a senior teaching operations role in the Prep School alongside his Science teaching responsibilities, Mandy as Grimwade Housemistress, Son Elliot is an OS (PP,WH,HH,96-10) & is married to OS Emily (nee Tattersall) (PP,WH,BH,03-10) and Daughter Jess (PP,WH,BH, 98-12) is an OS and Teacher in Shell.

Feeling the love and affection that they hold for Grimwade as they speak it is inspiring to hear the privilege that both Adrian and Mandy feel having been in role for over a decade. Their ethos has always been to make the House a cosy home away from home, with the needs of the growing children at the heart of all they do. The house has provided a safe, loving, caring and nurturing environment for a generation of Grimwadians to navigate their progression towards maturity – somewhere every child can feel they belong no matter what other life challenges they may face.

Routine is key to providing security and the Hathaways have cherished the opportunity to regularly gather round the table in the computer room on a Sunday morning in Pj’s for a relaxing breakfast or on a Wednesday afternoon for one of Mandy’s delicious cakes. It always provided the opportunity for everyone to come together, chat and relax, all surrounded by the handprints of the pupils that had gone through the House before them.

The 24/7 role of Houseparents can be physically and emotionally demanding but Adrian and Mandy have taken great support from the team of outstanding staff within Grimwade that have supported them in all they have done. Long serving cleaning and matron staff, resident and visiting tutors and GAP students, many of whom have gone to flourish in their own teaching careers have only added to the caring and nurturing atmosphere of the House.

Building positive relationships is key to all that the Hathaway’s have achieved in the House over the past 13 years. They have learned that close and trusting relationships built within the house can ebb and flow as the pupils pass through the Senior School as they strive to find their own true feeling of self but that with that process comes a sense of maturity that sees Grimwadians often grow close again to their former Houseparents as they complete their education at the College.

This positive relationship often lasts into adulthood with many OS keeping in touch with Adrian and Mandy and proudly updating them on the achievements they make during the next stages of their lives ensuring that the House has become a magnet for OS. Many former pupils regularly pop in for a catch up if they are ever on campus for an event or even just in Bishop’s Stortford for the weekend, seeking out their handprint on the wall and always receiving the warmest of welcomes. Mandy and Adrian are also heartened to start to see the children of their former pupils coming up through the College, reinforcing their ethos of community of which they cherish so deeply.

Adrian and Mandy are leaving the House on a high and take with them treasured memories of the children and staff that have been part of the Grimwade community during their tenure. Their highlight being the Grimwade Centenary Celebrations in 2012 which provided the opportunity to unite the House across the generations and show the older Old Stortfordians who had inhabited the house generations ago, the cosy home from home that our current pupils now enjoy. 

Grimwade Centenary Celebrations 2012 with Special OS Guest of Honour, General Sir Peter Whiteley (GH,1928-32) 

Exciting times lie ahead for Mandy as she leaves the College at end of term. Having recently completed a Degree in Psycology, she is hoping to be able to move from a career nurturing children to offering companionship and support to the older generations. Adrian will remain at the College in his senior role within the Prep School and home will become Elsenham as they will move off campus to start a new chapter locally.

We extend our sincerest gratitude to Adrian and Mandy for their devoted service to a generation of Grimwadians and we wish them immense happiness in the future as they embrace new opportunities beyond the House.