Tree planted by Headmistress to honour Dame Frances Dove and 100 years of Women’s Suffrage

Headmistress, Rhiannon J Wilkinson, planted a tree on the Rye in High Wycombe last week to honour the memory of Dame Frances Dove, the School’s Founder and campaigner for girls education.

With the help of High Wycombe’s mayor Councillor Sarfaraz Khan Raja, Mrs Wilkinson, planted a Dove tree (Davidia Involucrata), a few metres away from the School’s War Gates on the park-side.

Dame Frances was a nominee of the Women’s Local Government Society’s 100 Suffragist Project, who campaigned for women’s rights in voting equality.

The tree-planting ceremony was attended by the Mayor, members of the local historical society, as well as Councillors Hilda Stearn and Councillor Mrs Lesley Clarke OBE who have spearheaded the project locally.

Mrs Wilkinson said: “It is always a honour to be asked by the local community to participate but it is even more gratifying to be remembering one of our own. The tree is a beautiful tribute to Dame Frances Dove and I would like to thank all of those involved, not least Wycombe Council and the Mayor, for making this lovely event possible”.