The Chalet School at Glendower House

by Sheryl Burke

Part of the Chalet School is off to the Görnetz Platz in the Swiss Oberland. But what of the girls left behind at the English branch in Carnbach? It’s hard for them to settle down knowing their friends are having adventures in the Alps, and new girl Doris Howell discovers she has joined a school still finding its feet. Will it all be plain sailing or will resentments and unease mar the first term at Glendower House? The girls have been left the well-known brown and flame uniform but have to work to make sure the Chalet School spirit has stayed with them as well. As Doris Hill misses Mary-Lou, and Cherry Christy comes out from the shadow of her infantile paralysis, Doris Howell finds friends, and mistresses rekindle old friendships. The Sixth Form’s sense of unity creates a new tradition, while the Fourth Formers devise a plan to make their new school stand out. In a term packed with unexpected excitement, the school gradually comes together under the leadership of Miss Edwards, and with the help of some inspired ideas from a new Quintette.

Genres: School Stories

304 pages, Paperback

Published December 6, 2024

Reviews

[Betsy A. · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is yet another of the many fill-in stories that populates Elinor Brent-Dyer’s Chalet School series. The story is set at the same time as “Barbara of the Chalet School” by EBD and “The Chalet School Returns to the Alps” (fill-in by Lisa Townsend) in the Autumn Term. At this point in the series, the Chalet School has moved to Switzerland. Some of the girls are unable to move to the Oberland, and many are left behind in Wales at Glendower House. In this story, new girls come to the Chalet School, like Dorrie Howell, and some who didn’t get to go to the Continent are sad about it, like Doris Hill. Miss Edwards takes over as Head of the new school. There are old mistresses and girls but also a new slate of teachers and students. Everyone begins to settle in, but the school struggles to find ways to differentiate themselves from the Chalet School in Switzerland. There is a feeling of inferiority by the girls as compared to those in Switzerland, and the story highlights some of their struggles. Doris is missing her “Gang”, all of whom left for the new school. Dorrie is persecuted for her background by Jennifer Penrose, a perennial thorn in the side for many of the girls.

Little by little the girls and mistresses find their feet. The Fourth form with Doris, Dorrie and Cherry Christy begins to form connections, and they have the idea of making their own traditions while helping the children of Carnbach. They decide to make Christmas presents for the poor children of the town, sing carols for the townsfolk and host a Christmas party for the children to show their neighbors they care about them. Guiding is still an important part of school life at Glendower House, unlike the CS in Switzerland. They celebrate Remembrance Day for the Wars, some old Welsh traditions, and Bonfire Night. By the end of term, the inhabitants of Glendower House have found their place and take pride that they are just one of the many branches of the Chalet School.

This was a good story, adding to the background of what happened to the school that was left behind, as EBD never really addressed it. I wish there was more emphasis on how the girls each navigated their new way of life; there was a bit too much background noise/info for my taste. There were a lot of story lines and moving parts, which made the story less cohesive. The story of the history of Cherry Christy and her mother was brilliant and moving. There were some truly beautiful scenes, especially with the Christmas play, but this was not my favorite of the fill-in offerings. As usual with GGBP fill-in novels, there is a comprehensive foreword and afterword to explain how the book fits into the series.

[Readsandeats · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a great fill in.
We are with the Chalet School girls whose parents for whatever reason decided that they were not going to Switzerland with the others. It is about them and those who join the school as they forge their own identity. We also see how some of the girls from the series get on as they stay in Wales and how they react to being serapated from their friends.
Love this book. I really enjoyed seeing how the school adapated and became their own branch. How the Swiss contingent reacted to what their Welsh counterparts were doing. I really hope that others will write more fill ins for this branch of the Chalet School

[Anne Ray · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great fill in with some familiar names returning.

As is always the case with these, nothing really momentous happens as this would have been mentioned in the EBD books. This means no school burning down, charabanc accidents etc but still a good read.

In future books I’d love Madge Russell to be a bit more of a character.

Remembrance Sunday is a really nice touch, inexplicably missed out of the original series. We are given a good explanation for this in the Swiss books as Switzerland was neutral, but wonder why it was never mentioned during the Welsh years?

Enjoyed reading this and hope for more Glendower tales.

[Jane Irish Nelson · Rating 4 out of 5]

This new fill-in novel in the Chalet School series covers the first term for those girls left behind at Glendower House in Wales, when the rest of the school moves to Switzerland. Naturally some of these girls are missing their friends, while a few new girls join the school. New friendships are formed and new traditions created by these Chalet girls.

[Heather · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely fantastic. I have waited a long time to read this story.

[Emma Sadeghi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Took me a little while to get into it but really loved it when I did. A very believable fill-in for Glendower House.

[Jen Pritchard · Rating 3 out of 5]

I learnt many new facts about history and religion when reading this!

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very EBDish