Sultry singer Kim Wilde, enjoying much success these days, seems to have been a rather ordinary girl at school.
Her former headmistress, Mrs Margaret Helmore, of Presdales, Ware, tells me that Kim Smith (as she was known then) was “a friendly, outgoing girl, but she didn’t shine in any particular way”. Mrs Helmore recalls that Kim, a student at Presdales from 1972-79, was “just an ordinary pupil.”
She did not sing or show any interest in sport or drama and gave little indication of the fame and fortune she would later achieve, but the whole school knew her father was a singer and that Kim wanted to follow in his footsteps.
Kim, Presdales’ best-known old girl (well, she is now 24) stayed on into the sixth form and although she may not have put a great deal into school, she certainly got something out of it – the lasting friendship of three former classmates, Claire Smith, Sue Dawson and Juliet Divine. The happy foursome remained such good pals that Kim decided to take her ex-schoolmates on her recent European tour of Germany, Switzerland, France, Holland, Denmark and Sweden.
She was quoted as saying on Tuesday :” iwas so bored with all the men’s talk. I craved for some good old female gossip. If I didn’t want to swig beer with the lads the alternative would be sitting alone in my hotel room. Now I’ve got the girls to chat to.”
Mrs Helmore said she has not heard from any of the girls since leaving school. I dare say, however ,we will be hearing a lot more of Kim’s current single, Rage To Love, which was written by Ricky and Marty Wilde, and has climbed 16 places to number 38 in the charts.