Gwyneth Holmes now holds the distinction of being the first teacher at EIC to make it all the way to retirement. She has been with the school since the Primary department started in 1983. We have managed, below, to capture a few of her parting thoughts.

You are the first teacher to reach retirement since EIC began, would you tell us a little about the early history of the school?

The school was started in the main building of the Ricmar Hotel in September 1982 by Kirsten Heristchian and a group of seven teachers (including Val Artacho and Mike Sutcliffe) with fifty two children. The Primary school began a year later in September 1983 when I came. First of all we had to wait for the tourists to go and then we made each classroom out of every two bungalows.

What are your early memories?

Amazed at being able to gaze upon the Mediterranean sea from my classroom (over sand dunes). A bar in a school - my ex colleagues in the U.K. wouldn’t believe me! Worrying about the safety of the children until the pool was fenced. Turning left out of school - the road had no central reservation and was single-lane each way. All the different languages and nationalities of the children - such a contrast to teaching in the depths of West Yorkshire. Being inspected within weeks of getting rid of the tourists and still waiting for books and resources to arrive from the U.K. (and passing despite these problems). Our first Christmas Show at the Don Carlos - we had no music teacher and Jacky Holmes, a very versatile Irish teacher who played piano in a bar in Torremolinos at weekends, volunteered to accompany the children (from all over the world) in a very pub-like rendition of Jingle Bells. The one overriding memory I have of the early days was the incredible effort and energy of everybody - we grew so quickly - within four years we had 437 students - 37 nationalities, 8 or 9 primary staff and about 24 secondary teachers - the classrooms were still hotel-like, each having two bathrooms, complete with baths, showers and bidets!

Where do you think is the ‘centre’ of the school?

Without doubt - the garden! In those early days all celebrations took place in the garden; prizes were given at the Summer Fiesta and all our assemblies and social events were held outside. In fact I shall never forget my first assembly in September 1983 and the strength of feeling and respect between staff and students. Mike Sutcliffe particularly getting a rousing ovation from his students - one of the things that helped to build the school.

What do you feel are the strengths of the school?

Events like the Summer Fiesta - so wonderful for keeping in touch with all our ex students and their families. I have to mention the first one in 1984 because although we have enjoyed each one in their different ways, the first was beyond comparison - we had twenty six nationalities competing on their stalls to give the best of their country in food, drink, costume and entertainment. It was such hard work but was instrumental in creating the unique international feeling that became the strength of the school. The P.T.A. or Friends of EIC - (although very difficult to form at first) added tremendous strength through its social events - I can remember car rallies, pet shows, curry suppers, cabaret evenings, barbecues, Burns nights, Hallowe’en - all the parents and staff worked so hard for the good of the children/school and I know it was this combined effort which got the school through its difficult times during the recession of the early 90’s, enabling it to survive and achieve its present status.

Sports - we have always had an excellent sports record. I can remember going into the mountains at Archidona in 1984 to watch EIC win the Andalucian Volleyball championship - quite an achievement . Also the Primary Sports Day held each spring which Mandi & Mick Izatt introduced is wonderful for promoting and encouraging our young athletes.

What will you miss most?

The children of course, the things they say, the way they accept you exactly as you are and above all their honesty; like the little girl who said to me “Oh Mrs Holmes you must have done a lot of washing up to get all those wrinkles on your hands!” I shall be replacing the children with plants on my retirement - they don’t answer back!

What do you hope for the school’s future now that you are leaving it?

It pleases me to see the school’s resources and facilities improving each year but I hope the principles on which it was founded never change “a school free from political, racial and religious prejudice”. I hope it always remains an International school teaching an English curriculum. I have always felt the school to be a microcosm which has been there through the years for children leaving trouble spots all over the world - and if the world was like our school, there would be fewer problems. May EIC continue to provide its special qualities - I’m very proud to have been a part of it.

Gwyneth Holmes 12th June 2001