Obituaries
Corinne Petford (née Chambers)
Former Headington Staff, 1959-1990
Corinne taught at Headington from 1959 to 1990. She was Deputy Head, also spending a term as Acting Head and serving as a member of the School’s charitable trust until 2018. During this time, her daughters, and later two of her grandchildren, attended Headington.
We were greatly saddened when Corinne passed away last June. Having such a long association with Headington, her impact was felt across the school community and she will be greatly missed. Corinne’s daughters, Amanda Petford-Long (Headingtonian, 1978) and Bryony Carver (Headingtonian, 1978) have kindly shared an obituary in her memory:
Corinne Chambers was born in Dulwich in June 1932, and in 1951 she went up to Somerville College, Oxford to read Physics. Corinne had a real vocation to teach, even teaching Maths at her own school for a term before going up to Oxford.
At Oxford she met her future husband, David Petford, who was also reading Physics. Corinne and David were married in 1957, and she returned to Oxford to be with David after being offered a position at Headington School, where she taught Maths and Physics until she retired in 1993.
Corinne had short breaks from Headington when their two daughters Amanda (1961) and Bryony (1962) were born, in addition to spending a wonderful year in Zermatt, Switzerland (1970-71) as David was studying sunspots at an observatory on the Gornergrat mountain.
Corinne went on to become Head of the Maths Department at Headington and was responsible for introducing computing as a resource for the girls. She also served as the Deputy Head for many years.
Amongst the many extra-curricular activities that Corinne supported at Headington, the most notable is the Duke of Edinburgh (DofE) scheme. She gave up many weekends to lead the girls on their camping and walking trips, enjoying camping in a field with the girls. Corinne’s love of boats also showed through her involvement with the rowing activities at the school.
Headington School played a part in the lives of many of Corinne’s family: husband David helped her set up the first computers and lead the computing club and also helped with DofE activities; son-in-law Neil gave advice on computer security-related matters; and daughters Amanda and Bryony, and Amanda’s children Edmund and Francesca, were all pupils.
Corinne and David travelled extensively and even after David developed Alzheimer’s, through which she cared for him until he finally had to go into a home, Corinne made a point of taking him on short trips abroad. Corinne had a strong Christian faith and made a point of finding a church to attend each Sunday, no matter where in the world she would find herself.
Corinne died on 8th June 2025, leaving behind four grandchildren, Edmund, Claire, Francesca and Ollie, to whom she was devoted. She has always been extremely supportive of them and so proud of all their achievements.
In closing, one can only say that Corinne devoted her entire life to others. Her selfless generosity, in the widest sense of that word, showed her very strong sense of concern for the well-being of all. She also had a wonderful sense of humour and the rare ability to inspire others.
Corinne is known and remembered fondly by many of us at Headington Rye Oxford. We were touched to receive so many memories of Corinne from her former students and colleagues, and we are pleased to share a selection of these memories:
“I remember Corinne when I was at school (1971-5) although I was not taught by her but she was a very positive presence. I got to know her better afterwards when we met at Headingtonian meetings and school events. Indeed she was at Headingtonians’ Day in 2024. She was a backbone of the School and did a huge amount for many girls over the years. She had a good sense of humour too and both her and David did a lot for earlier school appeals. Before the development office, she was a great help with the production of the magazine and other old girl events.”
Jane Woodcock Headingtonian 1975
“Mrs Petford was an inspirational teacher, so strong, forthright, direct and inspiring. She was also so interested in each individual student and I am sure so many, many girls appreciated that.”
Roberta Miles Headingtonian 1980
“An incredible individual who had the love and respect of all the girls at school. Had a terrifying reputation in U3, but this evolved as we all realised how much she cared for us, evidenced by the sentiments being shared on my Headington Girls WhatsApp group.
I remember her retirement and the emotion in the room from all of those whose life she had been a part of.
One of a kind and she will be greatly missed.”
Vicky Robinson Headingtonian 1994
“Corinne was such a special individual. I do not really know where to start. The first time I met Corinne, many, many years ago, was when I came for an interview for a Maths Teacher. I was finishing my PhD and Corinne immediately put me at my ease. She was warm, kind, considerate and full of joy (in a no nonsense sort of way). I then spent eight happy years working with her at Headington. Particular memories are of our times on DofE - both in our training and on expeditions - and support for my teaching, pastoral care and personal development. I owe her so much and she set me going down many paths, which I will always be grateful for.”
Peter Secker Former Headington Staff
Marinella Petrina Johnson (née Lovett)
Headingtonian, 1975
Written by her husband, Alastair Johnson
Marinella, known to her family and friends as just ‘M,’ was born in Oxford and attended both Headington Prep and the Main School. After leaving school she joined the Valuation Office (part of the Civil Service) where she worked for 38 years in various technical and management roles, before retiring in 2015.
Marinella met her husband in 1985 and were married in 1992 and although she did not have any children, she was a proud godmother. Marinella sadly passed away in April 2025 from Motor Neurone Disease at the age of 66, only five weeks after being diagnosed.
Marinella loved her furry friends, both cats and dogs and also horses, with whom, as a teenager, she competed in local show jumping events. Her lifelong interest continued with her love of horse racing and for the last 22 years she lived in East Hanney, near Wantage, close to the Berkshire Downs. The photograph was taken at a point to point on a very windy day!
Marinella was a unique character, a social butterfly who was loved by many, always had a good story to tell over a glass of wine, and was an equally good listener. She lived for her friends and family. I managed to find a school report when she was aged just 6.5 years old that stated ‘Marinella is interested in all that is going on and her sense of humour is enjoyed by us all’. I think that says it all really. The world is a much quieter place without her and we all miss her very dearly.
Dione Lawrence
Former Headington Staff and Former Parent of four daughters: Penelope Cherry (Headingtonian, 1978), Sally Alden (Headingtonian, 1981), Lucy Bromhead (Headingtonian, 1981), Elizabeth Pope (Headingtonian, 1982)
Written by Dione’s husband, Patrick Lawrence
With great sadness, I have to tell you that Dione peacefully died on January 1st this year.
“Absent Friends”
Alice Brunton
Headingtonian, 2007
Written by Robyn Harris (Headingtonian, 2007)
Alice Brunton (2007) who died at home in Oxford on 11th August 2025 is vividly remembered for her smile, bright eyes, love for learning and the huge joy which she found in the natural world, dancing, music (playing the French horn) and languages (Spanish and French).
Alice joined Headington Junior School in 1999 at the age of 10, having moved from Reading with her parents and brother John.
Alice soon became an active part of school life and on moving to the Senior school enjoyed being involved in the orchestra, on the hockey team, completing Duke of Edinburgh awards and taking part in Rock Challenge dance competitions. Alice was academically able and always worked hard but made sure to have fun along the way!
After leaving Headington, Alice went to St Anne’s College, Oxford to study French and Spanish, achieving a First in 2010. Alice also enjoyed learning flamenco too - showing no end to her talents and interests. Alice then moved to London and would go on to train in the Law, specifically as a solicitor and passionately used those skills in environmental work.
In her free time, Alice enjoyed many hobbies including ballet which she did into adulthood, continuing to learn French and Spanish and actively travelling the globe, sometimes on solo endeavours which she greatly enjoyed. Alice had a great love of nature, in particular she often spoke of how walking through forests (shinrin-yoku in Japanese) brought her much comfort.
Alice was also great at keeping in touch with her many Headington friends and was bridesmaid to Katherine Dunbar (née Jones, 2007), a bridesmaid to Lucy Tandon Copp (née Copp, 2007) and subsequently godmother to Lucy’s second daughter, Flora.
Alice also had several happy holidays to Gran Canaria visiting Lara Clare Bourdeaux Tarr (née Bourdeaux, 2005) and her family.
In November 2025, a group of friends from Headington, and others close to her, gathered to reflect, remember and celebrate her life.
Alice was witty, clever, fun to be around, creative, wise, empathetic and caring. Many fun and happy memories of Alice were shared at the gathering and the overarching theme, which ran through these recollections, was Alice’s sense of joy, fun and zest for life. Alice is greatly loved and hugely missed.
Anne Yeoman Barker
Former Headington Staff
Written by Emma Zvesper (née Rowlands) (Headingtonian, 2000)
Miss Barker was the housemistress of Celia Marsh, the Sixth Form boarding house, during the 1990s. She will be remembered for her Liberty print clothing, her exquisite flower-arranging skills and her border terrier, Martha. Anne had started her career teaching English, and some Religious Studies, before moving into senior management roles and/or becoming a housemistress.
At the centre of Anne’s life was her Christian faith. She offered spiritual support to the school, including preparing candidates for Confirmation. A gifted horticulturalist, Anne took pride and pleasure in arranging flowers for significant events such as Foundation Day. Anne kept in touch with folk from Headington, including Miss Tucker.
Anne and Elizabeth had even known one another prior to Headington, through Christian circles. Anne also supported Mrs Tucker, Miss Tucker’s mother, who lived with Elizabeth on-site. Anne and Doris Tucker would spend evenings together whilst Elizabeth was out on school business – including playing the double bass in school concerts. Likewise, Anne enjoyed a long-standing friendship with Mrs Sonia Vichniakov (née Montgomery), the music teacher. Extraordinarily, Anne had also known Sonia prior to Headington; as young girls they had been at school together!
Anne and Sonia both took great pleasure in the arts and culture. Anne looked on with delight when, in 1990, Miss Montgomery joined a History Department trip to St Petersberg, met a musician and soon became Mrs Vichniakov (never underestimate the wonders of a school trip!). Mr and Mrs Vichniakov both taught music at the School, nurturing the budding musicians of the day. Post-Headington, at a point when Anne was looking for a new house, Sonia went online and found what became Anne’s definitive property on the Long Ditton/Surbiton border. Sonia and Mikhail helped decorate Anne’s house together. On one occasion, the Vichniakovs brought Basil the parrot with them. This time it was Anne’s turn to fall in love. Basil never left.
Anne was devastated when her dear friend Sonia developed a mystery illness and faded before her eyes. Mrs Vichniakov died in 2016 (1952-2016). Posthumously, the cause was determined as motor neurone disease (MND).
After a life devoted to God, people and animals, Anne had a massive stroke and never recovered. Her Requiem Eucharist took place at her beloved St Mark’s Church, Surbiton, on what would have been her 80th birthday (4th March 2026). Many friends attended, including Malcolm Young, Miss Tucker’s nephew. Anne is survived by Georgie the border terrier and Basil the parrot, who have gone to good, animal-loving homes.
Sara Gillian Sage (née Fountain)
Headingtonian, 1976
Written by her sister, Elisabeth Hawkes (née Fountain) (Headingtonian, 1974)
Sara was my younger sister and we became pupils of Headington School when our family moved from Barrow-in-Furness to Faringdon in 1970. We were day girls for our first term (in Ford) and then became boarders in Hillstow, though Sara moved to Davenport after a while. Sara was 12 and I was 14.
Sara made several lifelong friends at Headington. She learned the violin and piano and played in the school orchestra and sang in the choir. She moved into Celia Marsh house in the sixth form and joined St. Aldate’s church choir. When she left school, she became a student at Leeds University where she studied music and graduated with a BA in 1979. She took a PGCE at Bretton Hall but didn’t stay in teaching, but instead worked in the Library Service in East Sussex, in music libraries in Brighton and Lewes, and also worked in various smaller libraries in the area.
She met her husband, Peter, in those days and they married in Seaford in 1993. Their son Adam was born in 1994, and their daughter, Catherine in 1996. Sara was a great letter writer and always kept in touch with her friends from school, as well as members of the family. Sara and Peter continued to live in Seaford after retirement and enjoyed many holidays together in the UK. It was during their last holiday in north Wales in September 2025 that she began to be unwell and she spent her last few months in and out of hospital with pneumonia and lung disease, and sadly died on Christmas day, aged 67, in Eastbourne District General Hospital with Peter, Adam and Cathy at her bedside.
Sara and Liz at Headington School, 1971
Wendy Burrows
Headingtonian, 1954
We would like to acknowledge the passing of Wendy Burrows who attended Headington School from 1943 until 1954.
John Broadhurst
Co-Founder of HSOBC, Former Headington Parent, and Friend
Written by his daughter, Jessica Macpherson (née Broadhurst) (Headingtonian, 1993)
John Campbell Broadhurst, passed away on 22 July 2025, aged 82 surrounded by his loving family. John’s life was celebrated at a service at North Oxfordshire Crematorium & Memorial Park on 4th August 2025.
John was born in Oxford on 25th November 1942 and spent most of his life in Oxfordshire. He went to The Dragon school before continuing his education at St Edward’s. It was at St Edward’s that he was introduced to the sport of Rowing, where a teacher sought out this tall, long-limbed boy and encouraged him to ‘have a go’. He immediately found a connection that went on to become a life-long passion.
After leaving St Edward’s at age 18, he travelled to America to attend the New York Business school for a year. On his return he took up a position next to his father building the family stationery business – Hunt & Broadhurst. After many years of dedication, he branched off to set up his own enterprise in the form of Oxford Educational Resources (OER) – a business that supplied medical teacher training programs all over the world. Alongside his business and career commitments, John’s passion firmly lay within the sport of Rowing.
He continued to pursue this interest and found his place in a very successful squad at Wallingford Rowing Club in the mid-1960’s when the Club was coached by the infamous Jumbo Edwards. Colin Cusack was a young cox at the time before going on to row for Great Britain a decade later and recalls that John “was a good oar, always cheerful with a kind smile”. When his time on the water slowed due to raising a young family, John turned his attention to supporting the Club’s events with many years spent on the Wallingford Regatta Committee, running an event that, to this day, continues to be a major funding source for the Club.
John also supported the St Edward’s School Boat Club, known as the Martyr’s Boat Club, serving for many years as a committee member as well as in the role of Treasurer, Secretary and several terms as Chairman. He was instrumental in ensuring the club remained viable as a facility for alumni to race not only informally against the school but also in open events through registration with the sport’s Amateur Rowing Association (ARA). More significantly he drew on his networking skills to support fund-raising events to help the School Boat Club through times of constrained budgets for boats, equipment and an extension to the Boat House. John’s leadership and support helped the Club perform at the highest levels, nationally and internationally.
In September 1991, John’s youngest daughter was in the Lower V1 at Headington School. She and a group of 15 other girls were given the opportunity to choose from a list of other sporting activities that the School was not in a position toprovide on-site. Val Collinson from the PE department had a connection at St Augustine’s upper school: her husband taught there alongside, Ian Smith, who was not only linked to City of Oxford Rowing Club (CORC) but his wife, Hilary Davis was a rowing coach, who had recently stopped coaching after the birth of her first daughter. Hilary was convinced by Val to run a beginner’s course in sculling for the girls, putting her two-year-old daughter in a bike seat as she coached. With winter approaching, most of the new recruits were expected to lose heart, yet the opposite occurred, more interest was created and Hilary needed help to continue coaching.
A meeting was called and parents were asked if anyone knew about the sport and would be willing to help. Without any hesitation John raised his hand alongside another parent, Tom Collins. Hilary convinced John and Tom that if the girls could become proficient in learning to scull through the Autumn and then learn to sweep in January, they could be ready to enter the ‘School’s Head of the River’ race, in Putney, London in March 1992. These three musketeers did indeed put together an eight and a four, competing under CORC colours. The Headmistress, Elizabeth Tucker, was there to cheer the school on and by the spring of 1992 John and Tom suggested to her that the School set up its own Boat Club.
Headington School Oxford Boat Club (HSOBC) began as a small, humble initiative, borrowing boats and facilities initially from CORC and then from St Edward’s school. John became the first chairman and Tom, the first treasurer, as well as being coaches. The first two clinker IVs with rigging for sculling and rowing were purchased from Kings School Canterbury for a total of GBP 320. These borrowed spaces were used to build boat racks for the growing HSOBC fleet. There were many factors that weaved together to establish the success of the club, however, one of the most important was John’s insistence and transition to professional coaching staff to drive the club forward. This has remained the cornerstone of HSOBC’s success.
HSOBC has blossomed into one of the largest, most admired and successful girls’ rowing programs in the UK and has supported thousands of girls through its robust programme over its 30 year plus history. HSOBC is truly established. Underpinned by John and Tom’s early vision and encouragement, Headington crews have gone on to dominate national competitions, winning multiple events at the National Schools’ Regatta and have had multiple GB representation internationally. The club’s reputation spread internationally, culminating in a landmark victory at the Henley Royal Regatta in 2024, when the Headington eight claimed the Prince Philip Challenge Trophy against a leading International Crew. Headington is the only British school or club to win this title. From these foundations also emerged world-class athletes, including Olympic silver medallist Katie Greves, Paralympic gold medallist Lily van den Broecke and World Rowing Championships winner, Fiona Gammond and many more.
John and Tom’s vision for the club’s own boathouse and water access was recently realised with an official opening in April 2024, by Katie Greves (Headingtonian) and Olympic Silver medallist. The eight-acre site at Long Wittenham in Oxfordshire provides the Boat Club with 300 metres of river frontage and 5km of uncongested water. As well as a large landing stage, boat bays and indoor storage, the new facilities include a crew room, changing facilities and a kitchen, providing a space that Headington can really call home. It was a dream come true for John to stand in this space and see what had been achieved from those humble beginnings.
John’s drive to widen participation and access to Rowing for all youth in the locality found further expression in his foundation and leadership of Hinksey Sculling School (HSS), established with Tom Collins in 1998. Beginning with makeshift facilities and the use of safe waters at Hinksey Boating Lake, Oxford, HSS grew into a thriving community club, providing opportunities for hundreds of children across Oxfordshire. Under John’s stewardship as Chair and Tom’s role as Treasurer, the club has achieved remarkable competitive success: national titles, international medals, and significant achievements at the prestigious Henley Royal Regatta. HSS athletes have represented Great Britain at the World Junior Rowing Championships, bringing home gold and silver medals, while many alumni went on to row for leading universities such as Oxford and Cambridge in the UK, and Berkeley and Stanford in the USA. Just as with HSOBC, the success of HSS has also been thanks to the excellent coaching staff John sought so hard to recruit. Perhaps most significantly, HSS became a beacon of inclusivity, with many of its members in recent years coming from diverse and underrepresented backgrounds—an achievement that reflected John’s conviction that rowing should welcome all. The focus from the beginning was on gathering sponsorship funding to ensure that, having offered a child an opportunity, she/he should not be denied because of the family’s inability to pay club fees.
As a proud member of the prestigious Leander Club at Henley, John attended the Henley Royal Regatta for 60 years. 2025 was the first year he was unable to make it in person. He was, however, able to watch the regatta from the comfort of his home and continue to support his current and previous clubs. His unwavering support lasting until the very end.
Family, friends and colleagues remember him not only for his steady leadership and tireless commitment but also for his kindness, humility, and belief in the potential of young people. John leaves behind a phenomenal legacy measured not only in medals and victories but in the countless lives he influenced, the doors he opened, and the spirit of inclusion he instilled in British youth rowing and far beyond.
John was a dedicated and loving family man. He had a deep connection to Cornwall, where he spent many of his holidays. This instilled in him his desire for the simple pleasures of life such as pasties and cream teas, shared with family and friends. He is survived by his wife, Peta, and three daughters, Helen, Wendy, and Jessica. Peta’s steadfast support gave John the freedom to pursue his passions, whilst remaining a dedicated and loving husband and father. He will be deeply missed by all who knew him.