Keswick Hall College of Education

Former lecturer: Sylvia Ord

Sylvia Ord was a respected Keswick College music lecturer during the 1960s and 70s.

Sylvia was one of three sisters. Being born in 1925 and brought up in London attending the Henrietta Barnet School in Hampstead Garden

Suburb prior to the war. During WW2, however, Sylvia was evacuated to Hereford. Throughout her life music ran through her veins, becoming proficient on the piano and the viola and a number of other instruments.

In post war years her teaching career took her to the Cambridgeshire High School for Girls. Interestingly Cambridgeshire High School was next door to the School of Art, the windows of which overlooked the tennis and netball courts, and from which one of the art students, the young Ronald Searle, could look down at the school staff and girls during P.E. lessons. Ronald Searle based the girls in his St Trinian's books on the pupils at this school

Following a successful teaching career in Cambridge she transferred to Keswick Hall as a college lecturer. She was well liked, occupying a staff flat adjoining some of the students’ room; helping to keep an eye on the comings and goings no doubt.

In addition to her regular teaching commitments, extra curricula musical activities were of great importance to her (in common with her music department colleagues Geoffrey Lacock and Brian Sargent), both in and out of College. She was part of the Norwich Mozart Orchestra for instance and a leading light in a number of college performances including John Gay’s Beggars Opera in 1970, when she once again conducted the College orchestra.

In her golden years Sylvia took up residence in Heathcote Care Home, Norwich.

Based on an article written by Peter Ayres (Old Students’ College Magazine Dec 2016)

Sadly Sylvia passed away early in July 2017.