Many former pupils who were at Mark House in its last few years will have known Marjorie and have been saddened to learn of her sudden loss in April 2024 at her home in Sherebourne, Dorset.
Majorie was the school’s ‘last’ Needlework Teacher and one of an enthusiastic and committed staff team who had given Mark House something of a pioneering role in its final few years; this by enabling pupils to achieve their potential and ambitions through the ‘Extended Year’ provision.
Whilst this initiative increased the school’s academic standing and external examination results, the increasing number of creative and performing arts activities, in which Marjorie was highly involved, were held in equal status and so fulfilled the school’s wish to provide a ‘rounded education’ – this aimed at enabling youngsters to be creative, build their self confidence, work as part of a team and, of course, enjoy and learn from new hobbies and interests. She was, of course, a member of staff when the school was suddenly closed and the plan for it to become Walthamstow’s first Comprehensive School was inextricably abandoned.
Majorie continued her teaching career at a number of other schools, although by then she was already highly involved in the Markhouse Drama Club which continued to run in the school’s premises until 1977; thereby continuing to pass on her skills and enthusiasm in creating costumes and props for the many productions that were staged
Marjorie was very much of a ‘behind the scenes heroine’ at the Drama Club and perhaps, in this capacity, might be best remembered for somehow managing, with just a small group of current and former pupils, to create over 100 different historical costumes for a play called ‘1066 and All That’ This was a remarkable achievement and, given how Mark House and the Drama Club often had to operate, was probably all managed by Marjorie on a ‘shoestring’ – with, no doubt, some due thanks to her occasional visits and very suitable ‘finds’ at the local jumble sales!
As most readers will also know, Marjorie was married to Peter who was encouraged by her to become involved in the Drama Club. Peter then contributed greatly through establishing a photographic and video project to extend the range of activities offered to MDC members. Many of his photographs of the MDC plays are featured throughout the website; along with three of the films that he produced and can still be seen on the Markovian Films page
Marjorie had grown up and went to school in Hackney and from there onto teacher training. She and Peter met during this period and, after marrying in 1963 and the subsequent birth of their two children in 1968 and 1970, they subsequently moved to Canning Road in Walthamstow. It was here that they became actively involved in Greenleaf Road Baptist Church; their local church where they still continued with many of the friendships after their eventual move to Sherbourne.
At some point after the closure of Markhouse, Marjorie returned to her roots and taught in Hackney; then again in Walthamstow, where she spent some time at the Kelmscott School. This was just some 500 yards further along from her former post at Mark House – the school Kelmscott eventually replaced!
Old habits were clearly hard to ignore and even after retirement Marjorie continued to apply her needlework skills in making dresses for friends, for proms and weddings and, of course, for her grand-daughters. She even retained her interest in drama and was involved in school productions; with one of the most notably being at the Bancroft School in South Woodford where she made the Dalmatian costumes for this well-known Walt Disney play – although, according to her daughter Jennifer, not all 101 of them!
As with other Mark House staff, and no doubt at the other schools where she taught, Marjorie also gave a great deal of personal time, interest and support to her pupils; similiarily to those who continued in the Drama Club after leaving Mark House.
At Mark House this was, of course, all in addition to the time consuming and creative activities taking place in her ‘comparatively spacious’ and ‘remote’ former ‘Needlework Room’ – duly and fondly remembered to be snugly found:
‘in the Upper Hall – first turning past ‘stage left’ and via the first door left off the corridor’
Given the subsequent conversion of the corridor store cupboard into CEL’s experimental light studio, Marjorie duly oversaw one of the most ‘hidden’ but creative, areas in the whole school!
Marjorie’s funeral was held at her own local Church in Sherbourne on the 13th May 2024.
Marjorie Kett 1941 – 2024