Still at the front of the class at 100

Phyllis Lee celebrated her 100th birthday on Monday 9th November surrounded by her friends and family. A resident of Drum Housing’s Oak Lodge, Hendon Road in Bordon, Phyllis enjoyed a wonderful afternoon with flowers, cake and champagne.

The local lady who was the Headmistress at Blackmoor School through four decades after World War 2 has been a cornerstone of the local community, playing an active role in the Blackmoor Parish as well as establishing the first local Brownie pack.

Having been born in North Shropshire on 9th November 1909, Phyllis studied to be a teacher at Liverpool College before moving to the area in 1933 when her father was employed as Head Gardener at the Beaulieu Estate. Here, Phyllis spent time with the young Lord Edward Montagu, the third Montagu Baron of Beaulieu, who had inherited the title after his father died in an accident when he was just two years old. Indeed Phyllis recruited Montagu’s sisters, Caroline and Anne to join her Brownie pack.

Phyllis’ teaching career began at Beaulieu Primary School before moving to Greatham in 1948 where she became Headmistress at Blackmoor School. Her ongoing involvement with the local Church brought her into contact with Lord Selborne on many occasions and the number of eminent members of the community that turned up to Oak Lodge on Monday to help Phyllis celebrate her birthday is a wonderful testament to her contribution to it.