Honours and awards
Dame Erica Christine Pienaar, DBE, FRSA (born 20 March 1952) [1] is a South African-born British schoolteacher and educationalist.
Executive Head Teacher of the Leathersellers' Federation of Schools [2] until September 2013, Dame Erica also served as a director of James Allen's Girls' School.
Pienaar arrived in Great Britain at the age of three with her parents and elder sister in 1955 when her family emigrated from South Africa.
She was educated at Rockmount Primary School in South Norwood then attending Coloma Convent Grammar School for Girls, before going up to Goldsmiths, University of London where she graduated as BA. [3] After further studies, she took an MBA (LSBU).
Pienaar began her teaching career in 1973 and taught for 40 years in South East London. She was Headmistress of Prendergast Hilly Fields College from 1998 to 2008. As of September 2009, Prendergast School became Prendergast Hilly Fields College, part of a Federation with the Crofton School, now known as Prendergast Ladywell Fields College; Prendergast Vale College joined the federation in 2011. [4] [5]
Brockley is a district and an electoral ward of south London, England, in the London Borough of Lewisham 5 miles (8 km) south-east of Charing Cross.
Sydenham is a district of south-east London, England, which is shared between the London boroughs of Lewisham, Bromley and Southwark. Prior to the creation of the County of London in 1889, Sydenham was located in Kent, bordering Surrey. Historically, the area was very affluent, with the Crystal Palace being relocated to Sydenham Hill in 1854. Today, Sydenham is a diverse area, with a population of 28,378 and borders Forest Hill, Dulwich, Crystal Palace, Penge, Beckenham, Catford and Bellingham.
Lewisham is a London borough in South London; it forms part of Inner London. The principal settlement of the borough is Lewisham. The local authority is Lewisham London Borough Council, based in Catford. The Prime Meridian passes through Lewisham. Blackheath, Goldsmiths, University of London and Millwall F.C. are located within the borough.
Lewisham is an area of south east London, England, 5.9 miles (9.5 km) south of Charing Cross. It is the principal area of the London Borough of Lewisham, and is also within the historic county of Kent. It is identified in the London Plan as one of 35 major centres in Greater London, with a large shopping centre and street market.
The Worshipful Company of Leathersellers is one of the livery companies of the City of London. The organisation originates from the latter part of the fourteenth century and received its Royal Charter in 1444, and thereby is the senior leather industry-related City Livery Company.
Philip Charles Harris, Baron Harris of Peckham is an English businessman and politician. A prominent Conservative Party donor, Harris is a member of the House of Lords.
Forest Hill is a district of the London Borough of Lewisham in south east London, England, on the South Circular Road, which is home to the Horniman Museum.
Colfe's School is a co-educational independent day school in Horn Park in the London Borough of Greenwich, in southeast London, England, and one of the oldest schools in London. The school is a member of the Headmasters' and Headmistresses' Conference. The official Visitor to the school is Prince Michael of Kent.
Abraham Colfe was vicar of Lewisham from 1610 to 1657 and a notable English philanthropist, founding Colfe's School, a reading (primary) or Latin school and five almshouses for the inhabitants of Lewisham. The school later came to bear his name.
Prendergast School is a comprehensive girls' secondary school, located on Hilly Fields, Brockley, in the London Borough of Lewisham. It has an independent board of governors. The Headteacher is Paula Ledger. The school motto is from Chaucer's Prologue to The Canterbury Tales: "Trouthe and Honour, Fredom and Curteisye".
Lewisham College is a further education college in the London Borough of Lewisham, south-east London. It was established in 1990, having previously been known as SELTEC since the early 1970s, which was run by the Inner London Education Authority. The college has two campuses, its main one on Lewisham Way in Brockley, and another one in Church Street, Deptford.
Dame Prudence Margaret Leith, is a British-South African restaurateur, chef, caterer, television presenter/broadcaster, businesswoman, journalist, cookery writer and novelist. She is Chancellor of Queen Margaret University, Edinburgh. She was a judge on BBC Two's Great British Menu for eleven years, before joining The Great British Bake Off in March 2017, replacing Mary Berry, when the television programme moved to Channel 4.
Dame Georgina Mary Mace, was a British ecologist and conservation scientist. She was Professor of Biodiversity and Ecosystems at University College London, and previously Professor of Conservation Science and Director of the Natural Environment Research Council (NERC) Centre for Population Biology, Imperial College London (2006–2012) and Director of Science at the Zoological Society of London (2000–2006).
The Reverend Sybil Theodora Phoenix OBE is a British community worker of Guyanese birth. She was the first black woman to be awarded the MBE, in 1973.
Christine Elizabeth Hardman is a retired British Anglican bishop and former Lord Spiritual. She served as Archdeacon of Lewisham, 2001–2008; Archdeacon of Lewisham & Greenwich, 2008–2012; and Bishop of Newcastle, 2015–2021.
Prendergast Ladywell School is a co-educational all-through school located in the Crofton Park area of the London Borough of Lewisham, England.
Prendergast Vale School is a mixed all-through school located in the Lewisham area of the London Borough of Lewisham, England.
Gregory Percy Jones is an Alderman of the City of London Corporation, where he represents the ward of Farringdon Without. Jones had previously served as a Common Councilman for the same ward from March 2013 until his election as Alderman in February 2017. On both occasions, in keeping with City tradition, Jones stood as an Independent. Gregory is a Liveryman of the Worshipful Company of Leathersellers where has served as steward and is currently 3rd Warden. He is also a liveryman of the Worshipful Company of Butchers.
Hilly Fields is located in Ladywell ward in Lewisham, South East London, and is managed by the London Borough of Lewisham. Preserved as a park through the efforts of Octavia Hill, the park was opened in 1896.