‘Happy Years’ at St Mary’s led to More Than 40 Years of Teaching

Former student of St Mary’s College, Olive Windsor Pitman (nee Holwill) has passed away at the age of 102.

St Mary’s College was a predecessor of the University of Gloucestershire we know today. Based at the current Park campus in Cheltenham, the residential teacher training college inspired women teachers of the future, while their male counterparts attended St Paul’s College, based at what is now our Francis Close Hall campus.

After finishing her training, Olive enjoyed a 41 year teaching career teaching at Bishop Gilpin CE Primary School in Wimbledon, but her fondness for her college remained.

Olive and her husband, Cyril, were often seen at College Reunions, and the highlight for them was always the Reunion Sunday morning service in the college Chapel, which is at Francis Close Hall.

Photograph of St Mary’s College, Park Campus, in 1951

They were devoted to the Chapel and the two paintings of saints, either side of the chancel arch, were commissioned by Olive in memory of her brother, Dr Fred Holwill.

Olive celebrated her 100th birthday in 2022, with one hundred guests gathering to share her special day. Her friend, Father Grant Holmes, has paid tribute to Olive, saying: “She was Senior Student in her day and secretary to her year group of alumnae. In her long and happy life, she still thought of her time at St Mary’s as the happiest years.”

The Chapel, Francis Close Hall, Cheltenham