This year, we bid farewell to Jane Lane, who retires as Headmistress of St John's Pre-Preparatory after 29 years at St John's. Her legacy lives on in the countless boys who carry forward the values of light, life, and love that she so beautifully embodied. On Friday, 31 October, family, friends and colleagues gathered in the Pre-Prep Hall to celebrate her remarkable contribution to the school.
When the next chapter of St John's College history is written, it may well be said: "This is the school that Jane Lane built."
These words from Prof Jon Patricios, former Chair of Council, capture Jane Lane's extraordinary contribution to St John's as she retires as Headmistress of St John's Pre-Preparatory after 29 years of service.
Jane's roots at St John's run deep. She grew up on St David Road, at number seven, and has ended her journey just a few doors down, at number three. With a father and three brothers who are all Old Johannians, and two sons who followed in their footsteps, Jane isn't just a member of the St John's family; she is family.
Jane began teaching at St John's in 1997 and was appointed Headmistress of the Pre-Prep in 2012. Fierce about manners, she insisted on proper greetings. Pleases and thank yous were non-negotiable. Yet she also brought a wonderful flair for gentle mischief, encouraging boys to have fun with curiosity and adventure, while giving them love and comfort.
Those who know Jane well understand that beneath the perfect posture and elegant wardrobe lies a heart of pure marshmallow. Her office became a mythical promised land where litter-picking boys earned squishy treats and warm hugs in exchange for their pieces of litter. It was her way of saying, "Thank you for caring for our world."
A gifted artist, Jane's touch is evident throughout the Pre-Prep. From the original vision of the new building (a book-shaped haven nestled below the iconic heritage buildings) to the quiet details that make every visit special, beauty for Jane was never surface-level. It was thoughtful, intentional, part of the learning itself.
Determined to see her vision become reality, Jane pursued perfection. She ensured that the leaking roof remained on every Council agenda until it was fixed. Her artistic vision shines through this award-winning Mark Pencharz-designed building, a true expression of the school motto, Lux, Vita, Caritas: Light, Life, and Love.
Jane also played a pivotal role in creating the 125 Exhibition in 2023, an installation celebrating 125 years of St John's history in the Rene England Auditorium. Naturally, she claims she just oversaw it, but anyone who knows her recognises her signature elegance throughout.
As her predecessor, Helen Popplewell, said, everything Jane touched became more beautiful.
Former Executive Headmaster Paul Edey reflected that the Pre-Prep under Jane's leadership offered a refuge, a place where one could recover the sense that school should be fun. Here, tradition and creativity come together. There is love and care, but also steel.
Her unwavering stance on manners, mutual respect, and love has won Jane the respect of parents, colleagues, and students. The boys from the Pre-Prep, affectionately known as "Survivors", carry these values throughout their journey at St John's and beyond. So much of what defines a Johannian starts here: men of character and depth, well-rounded and caring, men who fight the world's fight.
When asked what she would take away from her time at St John's, Jane simply said "connection."
"She is a lady in every sense of the word, calm, kind, and utterly dependable," said Patrick Lees, former Preparatory Headmaster, who worked closely with Jane for over eight years. "Some people pass through a school. Others shape it. And then, very occasionally, people become part of its DNA. Jane Lane is such a person."
Jane leaves behind a legacy not only in the building but in the hundreds of boys who have passed through the Pre-Prep and gone on to lead lives of impact. In her farewell speech, Jane spoke of the "sheer joy of learning something, many things, every single day" as the most wonderful part of teaching at St John's, and of how the people she met here shaped her life.
As Jane and Alan Duncan head to Montagu, the St John's community wishes them well. Jane's parting words echo the prayer often said in the Pre-Prep: "This is our school, let peace dwell here. Let the room be full of contentment, let love abide here."
Jane Lane has embodied these words throughout her time at St John's. Her legacy will continue to inspire generations of young Johannians.
Lux vita caritas
