Wednesday 23 January 2013 A permanent memorial to Second World War heroine Mafalda Whitaker is planned at GSAL. An engraved stone tablet honouring Mafalda will be added to the display of war memorials under the porte cochère where former pupils who died in active service are commemorated. Mafalda, who attended Leeds Girls’ High School from 1928-33,was a sister in the Queen Alexandra’s Military Nursing service and was aboard the hospital ship SS Khedive Ismail, en route from Kenya to Colombo (then Ceylon), when it was torpedoed by a Japanese submarine. More than 1200 people lost their lives in the attack. Remembrance Sunday this year coincided with Armistice Day and the school chaplain, Adrian Roberts, led the traditional service, which recognised Mafalda’s sacrifice. The school’s Scouts and the CCF cadets contributed to the presentation of flags and colours and, as a link with the school’s history, the Moorland Road Chapel bell rang from 10.15. Wreaths were laid by Joanne Pellow for Leeds Girls’ High School Old Girls’ Club, David Bell for the Old Leos’ Association and by head boy and girl, Tom Wilcox and Leah Weerasinghe, on behalf of GSAL. Following the First Lesson, read by Cdr Stuart Jackson RN, Contingent Commander of the CCF, Isabel Kempner sang the ‘Pie Jesu’ from Faure’s Requiem and later the school choir sang ‘The Lord’s Prayer’ from David Fanshawe’s African Sanctus. After the service there was a parade and drill by CCF Cadets which concluded with the laying of a wreath by Flight Sergeant Aneel Singh Bhuhi under the porte cochère. Alumni
