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alumni/ae page |
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October 2002 After 50 years of dedicated service as an educator and athletics coach in the British school system, Brooklyn Friends alumna Josephine “Jose” Secretan Taylor was awarded the Member of the British Empire (MBE) Award by Queen Elizabeth II. The MBE Medal was instituted in 1917 by King George V and is awarded to people who have rendered important service to the United Kingdom. Jose received the MBE in the Spring of 2000 at Buckingham Palace. She says, “The day I met the Queen and received my medal was undoubtedly, along with my marriage to John and arrival of our son Peter, one of the highlights of my life!” Josephine’s adventure to the U.S. and BFS began in 1941, in the early days of the German U-boat sinkings. During the London Blitz of WW II, German bombers attacked London as residents sought refuge in underground bomb shelters. During this time, many young children in and near London were evacuated to the United States. Josephine was among those evacuated, accompanied to the U.S. by her friend Jane Cargill, to stay with the Grandston family in Miami, Florida. The girls made one scheduled stop before Florida, at the home of Hans Isbrandtsen in Brooklyn Heights, who had arranged for their safe transport from England. Hans was father of Walter ’34, Jacob ’39, and Niel Rising Isbrandtsen ’43, and owned a large shipping company with agents around the world. Unfortunately, after only one month following their arrival in Florida, Mr. Grandston died suddenly and it seemed the girls would be forced to return to England. The Isbrandtsen family invited the girls to stay with them until the end of the war. While a homesick Jane returned to England as soon as possible, Josephine remained in Brooklyn until 1945, when she completed high school at BFS. In those five years, Josephine became part of the Isbrandtsen family and like a sister to Niel. Niel reminisces, “I would say I was very lucky to have her in the family. It really was marvelous and I think very unusual that she became one of us so easily and readily. The chemistry was right. To this day I really have a sister.” After returning to England, Josephine studied physical education for three years, qualified as a teacher, and took a position in Dorking, Surrey, where she coached a full range of sports. She joined the Surrey Schools Committee and served as Team Manager for the Surrey Squad for 17 years. She was then appointed Physical Education Advisor for Surrey. In this position, she traveled to assist physical education teachers throughout over the county. During this period, she met and married John Taylor, the school groundsman. “It caused quite a lot of amusement when I advised an audience of probationer teachers that they should make good friends with their groundsmen.” They married in 1969 and their son Peter arrived soon after. As he was an excellent swimmer, Josephine became involved with swimming at the club, school, county, and national levels. She turned to teaching swimming as her main occupation. One of the highs of her career was the success of her 11-year old squad, which qualified six consecutive years, 1996–2001, for the National Schools Relay Championships. The team reached the finals four times and received the bronze medal twice. When reflecting on her days at BFS Jose said, “I was very happy at BFS. I like to think my ability to adjust easily to new situations is still helping me in my life.” During her BFS days Jose was president of the Student Council, and business manager of The Life and the Magazine. “I can remember many trips to stores in Brooklyn Heights asking, ‘Would you be interested in advertising in the Brooklyn Friends newspaper?’ The charge I think, was one dollar per column inch!” Josephine also recalls how she and her five BFS friends—Ann Field, Mary Fisher, Barbara Bishop, Jeanne Pelletier, and Jane Armstrong—called themselves “The Gruesome Sixsome,” as they wore no makeup. Quite a statement for the times! Jose credits her BFS teachers and involvement with team sports at BFS as influences leading to her career in physical education. Josephine, now retired, loves to travel, garden, sew, cook, and ski. She promises to visit BFS during her next holiday in New York. |
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