With great sadness, over the weekend we received the news that the former director of the Henley office in South Africa, Fran Connaway, has died of pancreatic cancer. Fran had been ill for some years, and to those who knew her it is perhaps little surprise that she had defied the prognosis of a few months to live that was given to her by the doctors at the beginning. Fran being Fran, she found a way not just to exceed that prediction but benefit from various sorts of ground-breaking treatments that, while they may not have restored her to a very active lifestyle, at least made sure that no-one should forget that she was still around.
Fran was a founder member of the group that set up shop for Henley in South Africa (long before I joined the College), and was its heart as well as much of its character up until her illness. I first met her at Henley a day after I had been appointed to my job in 2005, about a month or so before I was officially to begin, at a clan gathering of the somewhat eclectic bunch of international partners and subsidiaries that the school then maintained. It was clear that she was a force of nature, a whirlwind of opinions (often forcefully put), ideas and a collector of ribald anecdotes. She also had an encyclopedic knowledge of who was who and what was what in the education and business sector in South Africa, and I think she saw the wonderful potential in the place as being worth the constant hassles and worries. Above all, she was dedicated to the success of the students; and woe-betide anyone who stood between them and their learning! She was particularly fond of taking aim at bureaucracy and nincompoops.
I’d say that Fran was utterly loyal to those she thought competent or like-minded, and completely dismissive of those she felt were in it for their own ego or simply just not up to the job; with Fran there were no half-measures. She didn’t suffer fools gladly, and was often right not to, but she had a big, big heart. She also loved to gossip, and always wanted to know the latest from the UK, and she made going down to Johannesburg a pleasure not a chore. I still recall on my first visit out there that she insisted on driving me (she drove like a southern-European in a hurry, and tended to talk non-stop while doing so, with ideas and opinions bursting out to the surface all the time) to a craft market to pick out some small souvenirs and gifts for my family.
It won’t be possible to replace her, but the good news is that the school she set the foundation for is now really blossoming into a major player in the market under the leadership of Jon Foster-Pedley and Frempong Acheampong, and the continued guidance of Vivien Spong, who was also Fran’s “right-hand” for many years.
Chris Dalton's Personal Development Blog 
Fran was a wonderful,warm, funny and talented women who will be greatly missed by all who knew and loved her. Yes she was a hard task master and as already said definitely did not suffer fools gladly so much so that you knew where you stood in an instant. The world was a better place for her being in it and on a personal level I have been blessed to of known her and worked alongside her. Chris’s words are a fitting tribute to someone who is irreplaceable and will never be forgotten. Her foundation Henley in South Africa which was her greatest passion along side her family continues and grows stronger and is a fitting and just legacy to her.
I am saddened to hear the news about Fran – a truly talented lady whom I had the privilege of spending time with in Johannesburg and Cape Town several years ago for the launch of Henley’s Archbishop Tutu scholarship programme. Chris – your words sum her up so well and she would have enjoyed reading them.
Nicely put Chris. We shall all miss Fran. She was a real force of nature who wore her heart on her sleeve. A fighter-there must be thousands in South Africa who benefitted from he support and encouragement.
Please could you tell me if this was Francesca Connorway whose late father was Victor Connorway. I believe this may have been a cousin whose side of the family my sister and I have lost contact
Hello Kevin, well the short answer is that I don’t know if this is the same. Perhaps others reading this would know. I’m assuming that you or your family have ties with South Africa and or Mozambique (where she was from), though the different spellings of the family name make me doubt that this Fran was your Francesca.
My Uncle Vic originally lived in Mozambique. His wife was Belita ? and I had three cousins Victor Johnny and Francesca, who I only met once. There is an uncanny resemberlance to this Fran. I think they also lived in Johannesburg. I think Uncle Vic ran some sort of import business.
But thanks for your response.
Hello Kevin, this Francesca was indeed your cousin. I lost contact with her in 1972 when I went to the Army but, her youth along with her friends, including those who studied in SA, was intertwined with mine and some of my friends.
Her father was the general manager of “Pendray e Sousa”, the sole importer of GM vehicles to Mozambique (except Opel replaced by Vauxhall). Opels were imported by another company.
Her mother was Portuguese and her brothers were too young at the time but, I remember their names.
Her father surname was Connaway not Connorway. I don’t understand the misspelling but, all the data you provided is spot on.
I don’t remember where she was born but, she spoke portuguese as a Portuguese.
She was shy then, contrary to what I’ve read here.
Hello Kevin, this Francesca was indeed your cousin. I lost contact with her in 1972 when I went to the Army but, her youth along with her friends, including those who studied in SA, was intertwined with mine and some of my friends.
Her father was the general manager of “Pendray e Sousa”, the sole importer of GM vehicles to Mozambique (except Opel replaced by Vauxhall). Opels were imported by another company.
Her mother was Portuguese and her brothers were too young at the time but, I remember their names.
Her father surname was Connaway not Connorway. I don’t understand the misspelling but, all the data you provided is spot on.
I don’t remember where she was born but, she spoke portuguese as a Portuguese.
She was shy then, contrary to what I’ve read here.