School Heritage
The words that bind us
The history, hymns, songs, and prayer of the Annie Walsh Memorial School have echoed through generations — from the foothills of Freetown to our homes across Texas. Gathered here, on one page, is the heritage we share.
A Brief History of the AWMS
From a mountainside village to a 175-year legacy
In 1816 the Anglican Church Missionary Society opened a small private school for girls in the mountainside village of Charlotte in Sierra Leone, with only eight students on the roll. The school began with a vision to educate and train young African girls in pursuit of excellence in all areas — high academic performance, sound discipline, and a solid Christian foundation.
Annie Walsh, for whom the school is named, was a young English girl whose dream was to work in Africa as a missionary. Tragically, she died in an accident before she could fulfil that dream. Her parents established the Annie Walsh Memorial School Fund, which was combined with monies collected by the Church Missionary Society to endow a school in her memory.
In 1865 the school moved to its present location in Freetown on Kissy Road, and in 1878 it was formally named the Annie Walsh Memorial School — today the oldest secondary school for girls in West Africa and the proud mother of girls’ education across the region.
1816
A seed is planted
The Anglican Church Missionary Society opens a small private school for girls in the mountainside village of Charlotte, Sierra Leone — just eight students on the roll.
1849
Annie Walsh Memorial School founded
Endowed through the Annie Walsh Memorial School Fund and the Church Missionary Society, the school is established in Charlotte to train young African girls in pursuit of excellence.
1865
Move to Kissy Road
The school relocates to its present location in Freetown on Kissy Road, where it has stood for more than 160 years.
1878
Formally named
The institution is formally named the Annie Walsh Memorial School — today the oldest secondary school for girls in West Africa.
Symbol & Meaning
Our Crest
The flower is the EASTER LILY — it used to grow all over the school and bloomed at Easter.
This EASTER LILY symbolizes Peace, Purity, Rebirth and Hope. It is most often associated with the Resurrection of Jesus Christ and motherhood. It is also gifted to mothers as a symbol of gratitude.
The Trumpet shape of the EASTER LILY represents the Trumpet, sounding the message that Jesus has risen.
The EASTER LILY is a white flower with golden pollen and green leaves, our School colours — GREEN and ORANGE for the Pupils and WHITE for THE OLD GIRLS!
With all these enlightenments THE ANNIE WALSH MEMORIAL SCHOOL is a CHRISTIAN school.
NON SIBI SED OMNIBUS
Leadership Through the Years
Roll of Principals
Current Principals
After the 1998 Split
Past Principals
In 1998 the school was split into Senior and Junior sections.
Tradition & Community
Our Houses
We have six Houses, all named after past Principals.
BISSET
Miss Bissett served as the 9th Principal from 1894 – 1917.
CASPARI
Miss Caspari served as the 4th Principal from 1875 – 1878.
DUNKLEY
Miss Dunkley served as the 8th Principal from 1889 – 1894.
HAMBLET
Miss Hamblet served as the 11th Principal from 1927 – 1930.
POLE
Miss Pole served as the 12th Principal from 1930 – 1954.
SASS
Miss Sass served as the 1st Principal from 1849 – 1869.
School Hymn
A happy, lovely Annie Walsh
Let us thank the Christ for all who did their duty,
Famous men of old, and great of heart in fight:
Who fought their way and laboured for their duty,
And strove to make our Annie Walsh
A happy, lovely Annie Walsh.
Happy in His praise and lovely in His light.
Now they thank the Christ, who called them to be captains:
Now they sing His praise in everlasting light:
And still they pray, they pray the Lord today
That He would make our Annie Walsh
A happy, lovely Annie Walsh.
Happy in His praise and lovely in His light.
Let us pray the Christ that He would make us soldiers
Truer in His ways and braver in His fight:
That we, as they, may loyally obey,
And help to make our Annie Walsh
A happy, lovely Annie Walsh.
Happy in His praise and lovely in His light.
— J M C Crum
170th Anniversary Anthem
A century and seven decades of light
Commissioned to mark 170 years since the founding of the Annie Walsh Memorial School, this special anthem was composed to celebrate a legacy of pioneering girls’ education in West Africa. It is performed at anniversary gatherings of the AWOGA sisterhood — from Freetown to chapters across the world — a tribute to the generations of students, teachers, and old girls who have carried the school’s light forward.
Non Sibi Sed Omnibus — “Not for self, but for all.”
School Song · Current
Build on a firm foundation
We want to build on a firm foundation
On the Rock of Integrity,
We want to set a good example
Of truth and loyalty.
If we can meet success or failure
With courage and humble grace,
And work with zeal, for our ideal
In the world to take our place.
We want to build on a firm foundation
To keep life’s golden rule.
For Christ the great Architect made the plan
We follow in Annie Walsh School.
An earlier version of the school song shared the words of the school hymn above, before being replaced by the current anthem sung today.
School Prayer
Author of all goodness
Lord, who art the Author of all goodness,
look down in mercy upon our School,
and bless all those who belong to it —
present or absent, even those who have gone from among us.
And grant that in all the duties of their larger life
they may remember whose they are and whom they ought to serve,
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.