Melvill
Housemistress: Ann Spavin
Melvill was founded in 1884 and named after the Revd Henry Melvill who was the last Headmaster of the East India College. The House took his family motto “delectando Pariterque Monendo” which means “by pleasing and instructing in equal measure”. In the summer of 2000, the Melvill boys’ House located in the KBM block closed as Lloyd Bookless retired. The House then opened a year later in its modern reincarnation and admitted 50 enthusiastic young women. The new girls' Melvill House adopted the motto, the crest and the House colours, which are red and black. The House now is a term-time home to 60 girls, the Housemistress and her family and a resident tutor.
The building
Melvill is luxurious, modern, comfortable and beautifully situated. The three-storey building is located around two large ponds and surrounded by mature trees and gardens. There are a number of municipal spaces in the House, including a large common room, two TV rooms, a pool room and two large kitchens. Removes and Middles live in a segmented dorm, Fifth Form pupils share double rooms and the Sixth Form are mostly located in single rooms. All rooms have a sink.
Aims of the House
- to provide a “home from home”
- to ensure a safe and happy atmosphere
- to encourage the development of self-reliance and self-esteem in all members of the House
House spirit and a feeling of camaraderie are essential components of a happy boarding environment. Girls are encouraged to join in House and school events and to broaden their experience academically as well as in sports, music, art and drama.
Ann Spavin went to Tonbridge Grammar School for girls and then went on to Loughborough University to study Sports Science. She came to Haileybury to run the games programme and has taught Physical Education, Information Technology and PHSE. She took over Melvill when it became a girls' house in 2001. She is married to Jon and has two young children and a huge black German shepherd called Blue. She teaches Physical Education and ICT. Her interests include cycling, aerobics, amateur dramatics and music. She plays the piano - but very badly.
House tutors
Claire Tomsett
Claire joined Haileybury and Melvill house in September 2009 from Wellington School in Somerset. As well as being a tutor in Melvill, she is Head of Instrumental Studies and plays the saxophone and violin.
Elspeth Harvey
Elspeth was educated at the Fort Beaufort High School (Eastern Cape, South Africa) and the University of Cape Town. Before arriving at Haileybury some 20 years ago, she was a librarian in South Africa, Canada, and at Wellington College in the UK. She is married to Duncan Harvey, a maths teacher at Haileybury, and has two grown-up children, Luke and Jessica. She has always been a Sixth Form tutor, and knows how stressful it is making those crucial decisions about courses and universities, both from her own children and from experience. Leisure time interests are gardening, films, reading, antiques, walking on the beach, wildlife and rugby. The last two could possibly be combined!
Claire Bradley
Claire teaches in the Mathematics Department. She has been at Haileybury since 2004 and was previously a tutor in Hailey. Recently she has taken on the role of Duke of Edinburgh's Award co-ordinator. She is a tutor to the Melvill Fifth Form.
Ian Sanders
