OGA News - Spring 2019

oganews MALVERN ALUMNAE 100 COMMEMORATIVE EDITION / SPRING 2019

CONTENTS Welcome by Cecily Hewlett ............................................................................................................................................................ 3 Headmistress' Report by Mrs Olivera Raraty ............................................................................................................................... 5 Diary dates .......................................................................................................................................................................................... 6 Malvern Alumnae 100....................................................................................................................................................................... 8 Malvern St James .......................................................................................................................................................................... 120 Annual Giving Report ................................................................................................................................................................... 131 Malvern Girls' College .................................................................................................................................................................. 132 The Abbey School ......................................................................................................................................................................... 142 St James's and St James's & The Abbey.................................................................................................................................... 148 Lawnside ......................................................................................................................................................................................... 152

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OGA OFFICER ROLES PATRONS Rosalind Hayes, Philippa Leggate Elizabeth Mullenger, Val Payne Peter Pollard, Duseline Stewart, Trish Woodhouse HONORARY PRESIDENT Olivera Raraty HONORARY VICE-PRESIDENTS Patricia Birchley, Anne Borrowdale, Clare John, Sarah Musgrave, Pauline Newton, June Roundhill, Patricia Wilkinson, Elisabeth Rambridge, Hannah Gill, Joan Newby, Fiona Fowles CHAIRMAN Cecily Hewlett (MGC 2002) VICE-CHAIRMAN Penny Smith (Reay, St J&A 1980) HONORARY SOCIAL SECRETARY Patricia Wilkinson (Marsden, MGC 1956) HONORARY TREASURER Vacant EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE Decade Representatives 1950s Ginny Wigglesworth

(Lawry, MGC 1959) 1960s Margot Jacob

(Coverdale, MGC 1962) 1970s Jane Mason (Coles, MGC 1970),

Judith Drewer (Horrell, Abbey 1973) 1980s Sarah Guthrie (Turner, MGC 1984) 1990s Alexandra Surman

(Tams, St J&A 1996),

Georgie Pearman

(Oram Hawkins, MGC 1991),

Sarah Smith (Caldwell, MGC 1995) 2000s Daniella Grieveson (MGC 2001) 2010s Laurel Buchanan (MSJ 2010)

Helen Buchanan (MSJ 2012)

Ex Head Girls and OGA Prefects:

Lucy Walton (2017),

Nova Yu (2017),

Lucinda Hobden (2017),

Chloe Parker (2018),

Libby Wilkinson (2018),

Andrea Rugasira (2018),

Jenny Gallagher (2018)

Current Head Girl team:

Hajer Zubairu (HG),

Holly Harvey (Deputy),

Nicky Connell (Deputy),

Tito Otegbeye (OGA Prefect) OGA OFFICE contact points: External Relations Director Fiona Meredith External Relations Assistant Camilla King (maternity cover)

WELCOME BY CECILY HEWLETT

OGA CHAIRMAN

Welcome to this year’s edition of the OGA news. As always, it follows another busy year for the OGA. In particular, the Summer Reunion was very well attended as we celebrated 125 years since the founding of MGC and hosted a special reunion of Abbeyites. From this year, we will be focusing on decade and half decade reunions, so do keep an eye Cecily (second from right) and MGC friends out for your year (although of course all Old Girls will always be welcome at any reunion). The OGA team in school have been working away tirelessly on the recent launch of the Alumnae 100 campaign. This is a fantastic celebration of the many and diverse achievements of our Old Girls and you will be able to read about many of them in this year’s magazine.

Looking ahead beyond this year’s Summer Reunion, we are planning a first current MSJ and Old Girls carol concert in London in December. It seems strange to be thinking about carols and mince pies before we have even reached Summer, but please do put a note in your diaries (December 14th) as it would be lovely to celebrate with lots of you there.

A huge thanks once again for Fiona and the OGA team in school for putting together a wonderful round up of the year’s news and I look forward to seeing you at an OGA event before long.

Cecily Hewlett, MGC 2002 Chairman

Editor’s Note We have dedicated the majority of this year’s magazine to Malvern Alumnae 100, our exhibition designed to showcase some of our most inspirational and interesting alumnae, and demonstrate the breadth of talent in our OGA network.

This was launched in March and is now being exhibited around School. The idea came from all of the fascinating stories I hear from alumnae in the course of my job – meeting you at events, chatting to you on the phone and in email. Realising how uplifting and encouraging these stories are gave me the kernel of an idea, and I am so pleased that it has come to life. Judge for yourself how amazing our network is on page 8 onwards.

To accommodate this, we have had to cut down on other areas of the magazine in this edition; but we will do a digital news supplement, sent out via email, to incorporate these elements. If you are not currently on the email distribution list and would like to be, please see overleaf.

This would be a good opportunity to collect feedback on what you like/don’t like about the magazine and the sort of content you would like included. This is your magazine, so do send in your views.

With best wishes, Fiona Meredith

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The OGA & MSJ

HEADMISTRESS’ REPORT As I sit down to write this report, I reflect on another very fulfilling year. I am delighted that the Malvern community continues to grow and strengthen. We have seen another cohort of Year 13s achieve A level success, go off to university and on to make their mark on the world. We have seen several meetings between generations of Malvern Girls and more recently in the Malvern Alumnae 100 event. It was a highly successful evening and current Malvern girls were buzzing from this brilliant opportunity for days afterwards. As ever, with such a diverse calendar and so many exciting opportunities, there is certainly never a dull moment!

It is difficult to sum up my highlights, but here is a snapshot…

Almost 600 Old Girls attended the Reunion last June, with a special emphasis on MGC and The Abbey School. It was a joyous day: so many groups excitedly exploring corridors and classrooms – whether here in the old MGC building or at The Abbey School building - full of memories of teenage hopes, fears, and foreverfriendships forged. The intervening years melted away as friends and staff reminisced and caught up. In the evening, the MGC Dinner produced some hilarious speeches: school days and all their weird and wonderful idiosyncrasies are never forgotten. It was wonderful to see so many Old Girls, some back for the very first time, enjoying themselves and coming away with new memories in a day of celebration.

MSJ’s excellent A Level results were the strongest in five years, and GCSE results were also exceptional. In the former, almost half of girls achieved at least three A or A* grades and MSJ was placed as the top school in Worcestershire and Herefordshire. In GCSEs, 10 girls achieved eight or more 9-8/A* grades, whilst three achieved a clean sweep of 9/A* grades, placing them amongst the top few hundred in the country. MSJ was placed in the top 150 independent schools nationally by The Times.

A memorable speech was given by OG Kiko Matthews at Prizegiving, about her world-record breaking transAtlantic row. A gifted speaker, she demonstrates the power of confidence, courage and an unshakeable and infectious optimism. We all came away knowing that, even if we couldn’t row the Atlantic, there are certainly other challenges we can embrace and fears we can conquer.

Most recently, we have been joined by forty-three Alumnae for the launch of Malvern Alumnae 100; a spectacular event and a superb initiative. My thanks to everyone who is a part of it and who has shared their story and advice. I truly enjoyed meeting everyone at the

launch; I wish we had longer, and I hope many will come back over time to do Lectures and workshops because your stories are so inspiring. The sense of giving back that so many alumnae share is admirable and incredibly beneficial to the next generation. Even as an adult I felt uplifted by the support, encouragement and optimism. I know that it has helped our girls to feel more confident about their futures and emboldened to take the path less travelled.

Mrs Olivera Raraty with MSJ Sixth Form students

In addition to this we have enjoyed an inaugural Stari Most concert in London; Women in Music, a showcase of female composers performed by MSJ girls; the Spring Music Concert; Prep’s Mary Poppins; Wassailing at Madresfield Court thanks to Mrs and Mrs ChenevixTrench; Lunchbox performances by the Choir at Malvern Priory; National Science Week; the Dido and Aeneas opera performed by our girls; MSJ Art Exhibition; Model United Nations at home and away; superb hockey, lacrosse, tennis and equestrian; assemblies taken by the girls on topics as diverse as sustainability and inspirational women through the decades; and academic enrichment of every variety, plus so much more!

Being Headmistress here is an honour; it makes me feel incredibly proud that we continue a great tradition of first-class girls’ education, living and breathing the mantra #BeAnythingAchieveEverything.

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diary dates

DIARY DATES Please note that some dates may be subject to change due to circumstances beyond our control, and exact timings may not yet be available for all events. More information will be available on email and our Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and MSJ Connect feeds.

If you would like to attend, please check with the OGA Office before planning your journey. oga@ malvernstjames.co.uk/tel: 01684 892288

Saturday 15th June 2019 OGA Summer Reunion for all Old Girls from all Schools Particular emphasis on those who left in years ending with a -4 or -9; so for example, 2014, 2009, 2004, 1999, 1994, 1989 and so on.

Thursday 4th July Morning: Prizegiving with Guest Speaker Dr Caroline Copeland (MGC,2005) Afternoon: Commemoration at Great Malvern Priory Old Girls are welcome to join us at The Priory, but seating is limited so please look out for more information on ticket application nearer the time. Places will be allocated on a first come, first served basis.

Friday 11th October Careers Fair, 4-6pm.

We would be delighted to have Old Girls attend the Fair to talk to current students about their area of expertise.

Contact: Sam Marfleet, Head of Careers Email:marfls@malvernstjames.co.uk

Friday 6th December Honorary Members’ Coffee Morning at MSJ, 9.30-11am Featuring Prep Carol Singing

Friday 13th December Carol Service, Malvern Priory Followed by mince pies and mulled wine at MSJ

Saturday 14th December OGA Carol Service, St George’s, Bloomsbury, London For Old Girls, Honorary Members, Past Parents and families

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NOTICEBOARD CAREERS AND CONNECTING www.msj-oga.co.uk

If you are interested in connecting with other Old Girls for professional networking and social purposes, take a look at MSJ Connect, our networking hub which connects all of our Old Girl community.

This provides an area for Old Girls to offer help – for example work experience/ interview coaching/ CV reviews – as well as to link with other Old Girls in their career sector or in a sector they are looking to get into.

It is a forum to promote yourself and your business, and advance your personal and professional goals.

We relaunched the site in February, and we encourage you to get on board. The more Old Girls we have, the better and more useful MSJ Connect becomes.

You can use it for socialising too. It will pull together all the girls from the same year group, so you can see what people are up to now, chat and share events.

Email

The MSJ Careers Fair

If you are on email, but you are not registered with us, please send us your details. It is a far more immediate and efficient way of us communicating with you, particularly for invitations to events and ad hoc updates. oga@malvernstjames.co.uk

"I would like to invite you to take part in the next Careers Fair. The Fair will take place on Friday 11th October. There would be no need to give a formal presentation, the format for the Fair is informal, but we would be very grateful if are in a position to staff a stand and share with the girls your career path and experiences - is there anything that you yourself wish you had been aware of back when you were starting out?

Social Media

If you are a Facebook user, find us at Facebook/msjoga for the most up-to-date information on upcoming events and regular postings about the schools, the archives and Old Girls.

MSJ_OGA MSJ_OGA

MSJ OGA

Girls from Years 9-13 will attend the Fair and this is a wonderful opportunity for them to talk to women who were once in their shoes, to gain an understanding of the breadth of opportunities open to them both in terms of education and employment.

This is an exciting time for the girls and we hope to inspire and motivate them to think ahead and plan for a fulfilling and rewarding future, I do hope that you will be able to join us and we look forward to welcoming you back to the school. Thank you."

Samantha Marfleet, Head of Careers marfls@malvernstjames.co.uk

Venues for OGA Events We would like to be able to hold more events that aren’t based at school, but finding venues that are suitable and cost-effective is a real headache, particularly in London. If your company is located in central London and has a large meeting room/ conference room/ lecture theatre/ large atrium area which you could offer for free, please let us know.

Without this kind of help, we are very restricted.

We want to do more of these events (at least one per year, ideally in March/ November) and we like to keep ticket cost to a minimum so that they are accessible to all. oga@malvernstjames.co.uk

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Malvern Alumnae 100, launched in March, is an exhibition designed to showcase some of our most inspirational and interesting alumnae, and demonstrate the breadth of talent in our OGA network.

Forty-three of the 100 attended our launch event at MSJ, and our Senior and Sixth Form girls loved it. They were touched that these very busy women had come back to school to talk to them about life beyond school, and offer their advice. We knew it was going to be a good night, but it far exceeded all of our expectations. We were overwhelmed afterwards with a stream of emails, cards, visitors – from parents, girls, Honorary Members and staff – who all had an amazing evening.

Over the next pages, you will get a feel for the Malvern Alumnae 100 exhibition, which is now permanently placed in school; each of the gallery-style profile boards are placed around the building so that girls can see these empowering examples of female achievement all around them. Because of space constraints in this magazine, we have been unable to include the complete profiles in all instances. You can see each in full on the School website: www.msj.gs/ malvernalumnae100. Or you are very welcome to visit school to see the exhibition in situ.

In the physical exhibition, we have also included some Old Girls who are no longer with us – women from previous generations who were female ‘firsts’ or who accomplished something with a lasting impact.

Malvern Alumnae 100 is a celebration of the 100 and what they have achieved – whether that is in their careers, in social contribution, or taking the path less travelled; or sometimes a combination of these things. And also it provides amazing role models to our current students and younger alumnae, showing the options available to them, and also to expect the unexpected. Sometimes the route to success, fulfilment and happiness is a circuitous one; it’s maybe not what or how you expected it, but hard work, determination, and the courage to embrace challenge and life-long learning should set you off on a good path.

We have Old Girls who are at the pinnacle of their careers, those at the early stages, those who are now retired; Old Girls who have spent most of their lives volunteering in various capacities, and those who have set up charities in the UK and abroad to support excellent projects and to alleviate suffering. We have alumnae shaping our political world; saving our planet through environmental campaigning and business sustainability; contributing to our Arts and cultural life; pushing back boundaries in our scientific understanding; being entrepreneurial trailblazers; and championing female leadership. And this is just scraping the surface of a truly diverse bunch. More than anything, we hope Malvern Alumnae 100 shows that there is something out there for everyone, and that we should all strive to do something we enjoy, something that has meaning for us, and that brings us happiness.

The beady-eyed amongst you will notice that the Malvern Alumnae 100 has in fact grown into 100+.

As we neared the end of the selection process (partly through nominations from the Alumnae group, and partly through our research) more interesting alumnae crossed our path, and we felt that it wouldn’t be right to rule these women out. After all, what’s in a number when the end result is a greater pool of talent and wisdom? We are always delighted to hear about our alumnae and what they are doing now. Please keep in touch with us to let us know about you, your friends and peers.

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Angela Glatston ZOOLOGIST AND CONSERVATIONIST

(Angela Smith, MGC 1980 Leaver)

Serendipity is the word that best describes the progress of my career. I have always been interested in animals and nature but never thought I would be able to make it my career. After MGC, I planned to take a degree in Biochemistry but soon discovered that this was not the course for me, and so I changed to study Zoology. I then went on to study mouse lemurs for a PhD. When my supervisor moved his work to London Zoo, I joined him and so began my life in zoos. After I finished my PhD, I applied to become Research Officer in Rotterdam Zoo and I have been based in Rotterdam ever since.

As a new Science Officer, I needed a research project. In an enclosure near the entrance to the zoo I saw a pair of red pandas and immediately knew this was the species I wanted to study.

My work evolved over time from Research Officer to Curator and then to Head of Conservation. These positions have taken me around the world to visit many interesting places and worthwhile conservation projects. However, the red panda always remained my prime interest.

Over the years I have run the red panda breeding programme, supported red panda conservation, worked with CITES (Convention International on the Trade in Endangered Species) to get the trade in red pandas stopped, with the IUCN (International Union for the Conservation of Nature) to get red pandas recognised as endangered, and undertaken red panda research.

Today, after retiring from the zoo, I still run the Red Panda GSMP (Global Species Management Plan) and am the chair of the board of Red Panda Network, a red panda conservation organisation. I still lecture on red panda husbandry and management and am involved in promoting red panda conservation throughout the countries where it lives.

What is your best piece of advice?

You can achieve all your ambitions if you believe in yourself and exploit all the opportunities you are offered.

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Lulu Watts FOUNDER & CREATIVE DIRECTOR, LULU & NAT

(Lulu McEvoy, MGC 1997 Leaver)

From an early age, my love for painting & all things ‘colour’ meant I was always destined to pursue a career that would allow me to express myself creatively. After studying fashion design at Kingston, I went straight into the fashion industry, spending three years in Italy and France, designing adult ranges for Benetton & Et Vous respectively.

Then, whilst working for Liberty of London, I moved into designing children’s wear, which was followed by stints at several international labels, creating successful kids’ collections for Marie Chantel, Aquascutum, Gap and The Little White Company.

At 28, my boyfriend (now husband) and I made a life-changing decision and moved to India. Inspired by the bold, vibrant colours & textiles, I saw an opportunity to develop my own products, marrying the techniques and textures of the sub-continent with a British modern aesthetic. From here, I founded my homeware lifestyle brand Lulu & Nat. Back in the UK, having established stockists including Cotton & Cologne and Designers Guild, I quickly moved into e-commerce and now continue to trade the brand via online, pop-up activation and a network of international retailers.

What does success look like?

Success is when you find the right balance: it’s hard to maintain, and situations around you often conspire to unbalance you, but you should always try to maintain a good equilibrium between family, friends, careers and the things you love.

What is your best piece of advice?

Throughout my career I’ve always followed my passion, persevered through the challenges and avoided taking myself too seriously.

This approach has always served me well, so I pass it on as my personal advice.

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Ashleigh Petrie MECHANICAL ENGINEER AND SENIOR PRODUCT MANAGER AT FINTECH START-UP MONEYBOX

(MSJ 2008 Leaver)

The tech industry is notoriously male dominated but having studied Mechanical Engineering at Bristol University, this luckily didn’t faze me.

I was one of seven women out of 108 students on the course, which meant on occasion I had to stand my ground when being told “women couldn’t be real engineers”. I decided if I can’t join them, I’d better beat them. I graduated with First-Class Honours, determined to succeed.

Product Management wasn’t something I had even heard of when I left university, let alone being my dream job. I was convinced I needed to work in 'real' engineering companies and so I applied for engineering jobs ranging from oil to construction. I was accepted onto the Jaguar Land Rover graduate scheme but was initially dismayed to have been made part of the Electrical Engineering team. I joined 250 graduates and started my first job in the newly formed ‘Infotainment department’ which developed the in-car entertainment systems for their vehicles.

After four years at Jaguar Land Rover and with a couple of successful projects under my belt, I decided that I needed to move to London and learn more about delivering faster pace software projects and looked at working on mobile apps. The fintech market was growing rapidly with start-ups making a mark in the global landscape. Technology had started to transform the financial services sector and I was keen to get involved. I joined a ‘fintech’ start-up called Tandem, a challenger bank that is trying to change people’s relationship with money and how they bank. My time at Tandem taught me a lot about managing international teams of developers with all development contracted out to a development team based in Poland.

After taking the app to launch, I wanted to work in a smaller team at an earlier stage of growth. I joined another start-up called Moneybox, a savings and investing app that is helping a generation invest for their future. I am responsible for the Moneybox Product, which is our app. I work on researching, defining and delivering new product opportunities to our customers, and ultimately aim to deliver market-leading services that will set Moneybox apart from its competitors.

What is your best piece of advice?

Sheryl Sandberg’s book Lean In described careers as a ‘jungle gym not a ladder’.

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Camilla Finlay ARCHITECT AND SURVEYOR OF THE FABRIC TO WORCESTER CATHEDRAL AND EXETER CATHEDRAL DIRECTOR OF ACANTHUS CLEWS ARCHITECTS LTD.

(Camilla Clews, MGC 1995 Leaver)

After a brief flirtation with flying at Malvern, I surrendered to my fate as an architect. My parents were successful architects practising together in Oxfordshire. I wanted to carve my own path, so I took to the air with my RAF flying scholarship and secured my pilots licence before I learnt to drive, but I was creative. I painted as well as having an aptitude for Science and problem-solving, and after being dragged round hundreds of church buildings on family holidays, I developed a passion for our built environment and a desire to create buildings.

I headed north to the Mackintosh School at Glasgow School of Art to study Architecture. After success in my degree and diploma, I took my portfolio to London to work for Sir Terry Farrell and enjoyed many years working on visionary projects at Regents Place, Paddington Basin and Greenwich Peninsula.

After five years in London my architect husband, David, and I made the move to Banbury to join my parents at Acanthus Clews Architects. We started our own family, Thomas in 2009 and Isaac in 2007, and I started working with historic buildings, in their conservation, change and development.

Today my architectural focus is towards buildings of faith; I am currently the srchitect for approx. 50 Listed Parish Churches, two Medieval Cathedrals (Exeter and Worcester), one ‘eco’-monastery (Mucknell Abbey near Pershore), and a member of the Cathedral Fabric Commission for England, (CFCE). I carry out Condition Surveys exploring all the belfries, rooves and hidden spaces. I specify repair work for specialist contractors and conservators, and I design new work in the historic fabric to change the way we use the spaces. My goal is to ensure that these precious buildings can be used and handed on to the next generations, whilst continuing to inspire spiritual affinity.

What is your best piece of advice?

Keep in touch - when you leave Malvern the world is your oyster - to play; to explore; to learn; to meet new people - and you will make loads of new friends, but keep in touch with your friends and mentors from school, they are your foundations, your extended family, they will always be there for you come what may.

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Dr Caroline Copeland LECTURER IN NEUROPHARMACOLOGY

(MGC 2005 Leaver)

I have vivid memories sat in the Greenslade Sit, rifling through university prospectuses not knowing what to do – I had done work experience in hospitals, and decided that studying Medicine was not for me. I was far too squeamish, and terrified at the thought of catching some deadly disease! I stayed there and began watching a movie where one of the characters was a pharmacologist.

Beyond something to do with pharmaceuticals, I had no idea what this job entailed. I left the Sit to have a search on my computer (no smartphones in 2003…).

Fifteen years later and I’m now a Lecturer in Neuropharmacology. Pharmacology is the discipline that examines how drugs produce their effects – for example, how does paracetamol work to relieve a headache? I specialise in drugs that act on the brain, hence neuropharmacology. I’ve taken a very traditional route to get where I am – I have an undergraduate degree in Pharmacology from UCL, a Master’s in Research Techniques from Imperial College, and a PhD in Neuropharmacology from UCL. My job entails teaching neuropharmacology to undergraduates, and conducting research in my laboratory. I am interested in understanding how our brain perceives the outside world – when light enters our eyes, or music enters our ears, how is that information sent and coded by our brains to give us the sensations of vision and hearing? And what is happening in our brains in disorders of perception, such as hallucinations perceived by persons with schizophrenia?

Brains are absolutely fascinating, and my job lets me explain to people just how amazing they are, whilst also working in the lab to advance our understanding of how they work. I can’t thank the makers of that movie enough – I should probably start by going back and actually watching it in full!

What is your best piece of advice?

What you do outside the classroom is just as important as what you can achieve inside the classroom. The extracurricular activities I took part in (playing my trumpet in the orchestra and jazz band; in goal on the hockey pitch) equipped me with several transferable skills that I have used to forge a successful career in academia as a neuroscientist.

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Cathy Lester-Walker MBE RETIRED AFTER A LIFETIME’S INVOLVEMENT WITH THE ARMED FORCES

(Catherine Swallow, MGC 1971 Leaver)

I had no idea when I left Malvern that I would join the Army.

I joined the University Officer Training Corps while I was at Bristol University and it was there that I fell in love with soldiering.

In those days women were only just becoming integrated into the fighting Army and it was a great honour to be posted to 1st Regiment Royal Horse Artillery as the first (and only) woman. It was made very clear to me when I announced my intention to marry that there was no future for me in the Army. (Many years later it was suggested to me by a senior civil servant that I should sue for Constructive Dismissal!)

I spent the next twenty years enjoying life as an Army wife and mother. During this time I started volunteering for SSAFA, the Armed Forces Charity, which supported the wives and families of service personnel who often felt alone or afraid. The Cold War was at its height and Soviet attack was regarded as a genuine threat. In due course I was encouraged to take an employed role and a move to London resulted in my becoming a Director. As an Army wife, I had appreciated the capabilities of ordinary people and so I established an ethos in SSAFA whereby volunteers supporting the veteran community could make decisions for themselves and their clients without referring to a higher authority. I described this as principles-based rather than rules-based.

When I was appointed as Deputy CEO I took on broader responsibilities including running the charity’s housing. In 2014 I was awarded the MBE for my work over the previous thirty years, and at the end of 2016 I bade farewell to a fulfilling working life, and embraced retirement. Which I’ve been enjoying ever since…

What is your best piece of advice?

Keep a diary! It is so easy to forget the details of your life. Your older self will look back with affection, amusement and pride on your achievements, successes and failures, so commit to writing something regularly.

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Sarah Haywood WEDDING AND EVENT PRODUCER, BRIDAL AUTHOR, AWARD-WINNING BUSINESSWOMAN (Sarah Reid Pitcher, St James’s 1981 Leaver)

Ranked No. 1 in Vogue USA’s International Wedding Planners (2018), Sarah’s company, Sarah Haywood Weddings & Celebrations, is one of the world’s leading party planners and event designers; sought by luminaries, public figures, and international royalty. Sarah has been described as “the ultimate insider” by The Sunday Times,“Britain's most sought-after wedding planner and an authority on multimillion-dollar weddings” by TIME magazine, and “one of the most highly-rated wedding planners in the world” by Paris Match.

She is known for creating spectacular, immersive and magical experiences for her A list clients all over the world.

Sarah has also brought about industry standards in event planning, co-founding EPIC (the Event Planners International Collaborative).

Her workshops and courses are designed to assist professionals improve their businesses by introducing quantifiable standards of service and delivery. She is also a best-selling author of the Wedding Bible books, and regularly appears in media across the world.

Her new TV series The Wedding Fixer airs this autumn on the W channel.

Sarah has received a Pink Shoe Icon Award from the Pink Shoe Club which was set up by entrepreneur and Senior Parliamentary Advisor Helene Martin Gee. Its aim is to shine a spotlight on high-achieving females who will act as beacons for others; proving that with determination and ability, anything is possible.

Sarah studied at Warwick University. An early fore-runner of her writing and editing skills was the publication of Vi et Virtute – A Celebration of the 90th Anniversary of the Founding of St James’s, West Malvern, named after the schools motto (Vi et Virtute translates as ‘by force of courage’).

What is your best piece of advice?

Just wanting something and working hard for it is not enough; know, accept and work with your limitations as well as your strengths.

Indeed, this is your responsibility to yourself. You make your own luck in this fiercely competitive, fast-moving world (and I have worked very hard to be this lucky!). I think my teachers and class-mates may be surprised to see me on this list! I was not a high achiever in my school days and have been a late bloomer. But I am living proof that it is not all about exam results - there is room for all of us to blossom and grow.

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Frankie Bendig EX FLAT JOCKEY AND NOW FINE ART CONSULTANT

(Frankie Pickard, MGC 2000 Leaver)

Horses have always played a huge part in my life, dating back to when I was an even smaller person. I started riding out for Nigel Twiston-Davies before school during Sixth Form, continuing through my degree at the Royal Agricultural College. My time at Nigel’s was fantastic and he applied for my amateur licence to start me off. It was clear very early on that I was more suited to flat racing due to my size and build so, during my gap year, I spent six months working in Dubai and six months with Investec Oaks’ winning trainer, Ed Dunlop, in Newmarket. Every holiday I would work for Ed and also I spent time in Ireland at Champion Jockey Charlie Swan’s stables.

After graduating with my BSc in Agriculture and International Equine Business Management, I felt I had to give race riding a shot fulltime whilst I was able, and headed to Jamie Osborne’s stable in Lambourn where I was an apprentice jockey.

I rode professionally for four years as one of only twelve women at the time, and had two hundred rides. I had the time of my life and was able to travel around the world doing something that I loved and made incredible friendships and connections along the way. I stayed working within the industry up until December 2017 when I felt that the time had come for a new challenge.

Today, I am on a completely different career path as a Fine Art Consultant with Clarendon Fine Art, based in their gallery in Cobham. I feel incredibly fortunate that I have been able to take the career path that I would have taken on leaving MGC if horses had not been in the picture. Having been able to experience both careers has been fabulous and I am excited about the future.

What is your best piece of advice?

Do not be afraid to carve your own path, follow your heart and lead the way.

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Gaynor Howard MUSICIAN AND COMPOSER

(Gaynor Thomas, MGC 1950 Leaver)

I had always wanted to teach so, as a newly qualified graduate of the Royal Schools of Music, I was appointed to a small High School in Monmouthshire, where I was the sole teacher of music on the permanent staff. This was good grounding for the career I was to follow, giving me experience in teaching academic and practical music and in organising a department. Three years later, a move to Cardiff High School for Girls meant a larger department and opportunities to work with other schools within the authority.

I had continued to play (cello) and to sing in a semi-professional chamber choir which was increasingly involved in radio and television work. I had married, and decided to take a break from it all while my children were young, but I was frequently being asked to teach privately and quickly built up a private practice of teaching. By the time my own children were of school age, I was offered some instrumental teaching at Howell’s School, Llandaff, during the day. Within twelve months, I found myself appointed Director of Music of this independent boarding school.

Having been a boarder at MGC, I had some insight as a teacher. In those days of stringent discipline, music was often an escape for an individual, and often, friends made through music last a lifetime. The personality of Miss Jackman - “Jackie” - as Head of Music was a major influence on me: her approach was unique.

I was to remain as Director of Music at Howell’s until retirement. During my final year, I was approached by the Associated Board with a view to becoming a music examiner both in the UK and abroad. This gave me a little more time for composition which had begun as a necessity, owing to the cost of sheet music on a limited departmental budget, but I found that I enjoyed writing and I wanted to pursue it.

What is your best piece of advice?

Today, the world of music offers enormous possibilities. Know your strengths so that you refine your choice of training. There will be set-backs – it’s a tough career, but hard work and determination will see you through!

18

Gemma Bruce ENTREPRENEUR

(Gemma Knowles, St James’ & The Abbey, 1995 Leaver)

Profile At school I was an ‘all-rounder’ so there was no immediate choice of degree. I therefore went with my ‘gut’, choosing History of Art with Italian; giving very little (if any!) thought as to what profession it could lead me to. Sure enough, as I left Manchester University, there were very few jobs relevant to my degree. I therefore took a job in London in a totally different sector; a job in Financial PR and Communications followed. Little did I know that as my career moved across to real estate, the marketing and communications experience I had gained over those first five years was to be invaluable.

Similarly, after previously being dismissive of my degree choice, I now find that my knowledge of Art History gives me a much greater level of understanding of the remarkable properties I market and sell and, of course, speaking fluent Italian has become essential.

After I left the world of PR, I cut my real estate teeth working with a Milanese group; two years that set me up to make the leap and set up my own business. A decade on and I have an Italian real estate business that my business partner and I are truly proud of, www. casaandcountry.com.

I believe that entrepreneurial drive is either in you or it isn’t and I certainly always knew that ultimately I wanted to be running a business of my own. Despite the ups and downs and the impact of the 2008 financial crash, I still know I made the right choice and will be staying on this path for the years to come. Our business continues to grow as one of Italy’s most reputable independent estate agencies, closing some of Italy’s most significant real estate sales. Recently, after watching the increasing presence of online estate agencies, I took the plunge and developed a ‘for sale by owner’ website www.the-viewing.com for luxury overseas real estate. The business is still in its infancy; however, yet again, I am thriving on stepping into new territories. And so the journey continues…

What is your best piece of advice?

Your career is a journey. Whilst some jobs along the way may seem boring, poorly paid or irrelevant – they all form crucial steps on your professional journey, building your experience and knowledge.

19

Georgie Pearman ENTREPRENEUR

(Georgie Oram Hawkins, MGC 1991 Leaver)

Georgie and her husband, Sam, started The Lucky Onion Group, a Cotswolds-based hotel and restaurant group, eight years ago. The flagship is No 131 in Cheltenham which is a small boutique hotel and restaurant. Georgie and Sam have won, amongst other awards, Tatler’s Best of Britain in 2016 and have been finalists for the GQ Magazine’s Hotel Awards. Their venues have won Tatler’s Best 101 Hotels in the World and The Times Best Foodie Hotel.

They decided to leave the Lucky Onion in 2017 and start their new venture Country Creatures which now has three sites (a hotel, an inn and a restaurant). Georgie also has a small bath and body brand called 100 Acres Apothecary which is sold in Liberty and other selected retailers.

Formerly, Georgie was a corporate Mergers & Acquisitions lawyer in the City, but wanted to change track when she had a family.

Sam was managing Michelin-starred restaurants in London but wanted his own, so they decided to leave London and move to the Cotswolds. They found a small, boarded up restaurant in Cheltenham and started the Royal Well Tavern. Within nine months, they had a Michelin Bib Gourmand.

They went on to add two country inns, a pub and two small hotels. Sam focuses on the food, wine and restaurant operations whilst Georgie focuses on the sales, marketing and new projects.

Georgie feels she had an idyllic childhood in Malvern. Malvern was, and still is, such a good environment for children to develop into young adults. All her old MGC friends still meet up about once a year as a larger group although she does see some of them more regularly, often in London: they are life-long friends.

What is your best piece of advice?

I don’t think I should give anyone any advice, just because my journey has been full of ups and downs. However, I do say to my children that this life is a long journey and that they will fail and succeed along the way, but none of it really matters. Just try to have a fun life, filled with interesting and kind people and avoid the evil ones!

20

Ginny Davis BARRISTER TURNED PLAYWRIGHT

(Ginny Smith, The Abbey 1974 Leaver)

Ginny arrived at The Abbey, aged 12 with a poor school record and she had to stay down a year. But when she was put in top division French, that small signal that she was good at something boosted her confidence and encouraged her to start to work in lessons.

She also loved performing so when no-one else wanted to speak or read or sing in public, her hand shot up. She went on to Swansea University to read French, but a classical literature course didn’t satisfy her desire to learn a modern language so she moved to Coventry Technical College where she gained top marks in the country in practical French and Spanish exams.

Her first job was in the Translations Department at Birmingham Chamber of Commerce. When she married, she left Birmingham and started work for a criminal solicitor. Watching trials in the Crown Court sparked a lasting fascination in criminal law. At the age of 29, with no university degree, and language qualifications which she no longer used, she decided to return to university, this time to read Law at Cambridge. She gained a First-Class Honours degree and was later called to the Bar. She practiced general common law until the birth of her first child and then became a stay-at home-mother.

When her children reached school age, Ginny started writing and performing comedy sketches about modern family life for parent/ teacher events. At the age of 52, she wrote her first full length play - a one-woman comedy about a typical middle-class family. In 2008 she took it to the Edinburgh Fringe Festival where it was a total sell-out. This was the start of what has become a full-time career writing and performing. All the threads of her previous careers and interests have come together as she now uses her language, barristerial and performing skills, and now in her early sixties continues to work to make her plays the best they can be. She has written ten stage plays and returned twice to perform her own work at the Edinburgh Fringe. She has performed at other Fringe Festivals and over three hundred venues throughout the UK to sell-out audiences, gaining five star reviews. Her courtroom drama Learned Friends won Best Original Piece at Birminghamfest in 2016 and has been performed at many Crown Court venues including Birmingham, Manchester and London.

What is your best piece of advice?

Do what you love, not what you’re necessarily best at. Don’t be afraid to change your mind or course. Every life experience is useful and variety is interesting. Admit it when you just don’t know something. That way you’ll learn.

21

Hannah Storm MEDIA EXPERT IN SAFETY AND GENDER, JOURNALIST, MOTHER, WRITER, RUNNER, WORLD TRAVELLER

(Hannah Cowdy, MGC 1995 Leaver)

I still remember my last Prizegiving at MGC. The guest speaker read a passage from Kahlil Gibran’s The Prophet: ‘You are the bows from which your children as living arrows are sent forth’. At the time my parents joked I was more like a missile, but the words have stuck with me for several reasons. Firstly, the notion that parents – and by extension, schools – have a responsibility to help children take flight.

Secondly, the fact that since the age of 10, I’ve wanted to see the world as part of my work. And thirdly, I knew after my time at MGC that if I did as I dreamt, I really could land – as an arrow does – in the places I aimed for, as well as unexpected and extraordinary destinations.

The last 25 years have certainly confirmed that. From the cattle ranch I lived on in the US for my gap year, to my graduate job at Reuters, the first few years out of school taught me the importance of tolerance and tenacity. These were values forged at Greenslade, where I made friends from around the world, overcame setbacks in the classroom to excel in my exams, and experienced boarding for the first time.

In the years that followed, I realised how valuable MGC’s international community and my language A Levels were in giving me a global perspective. From Reuters, I went to The Times, then ITN, then became the BBC’s person in Peru, later covering Chile, Bolivia and Haiti.

It was Haiti, where I returned for Channel 4 News after the 2010 earthquake which led to the job that I’ve been doing for the past nine years. I saw the challenges faced by journalists in difficult and dangerous situations and wanted to support my colleagues, something I have been doing since 2010.

MGC also helped me find my voice to amplify the amazing work done by many women around the world and I later realised some of the gendered challenges and opportunities we face. I now also work with the UN and others to support women journalists, in particular, to overcome some of those obstacles; and train journalists of all genders to better represent the stories of women who are often the most invisible in society.

As a parent myself now, I want to support my own children so they too can take flight, but I also recognise that in order to do that I need to ensure my own bow isn’t broken or overburdened. As I have grown older, I have realised the value in balance: the need to breathe, to look after myself too.

22

Dr Hermione Lovel RETIRED CONSULTANT IN PUBLIC HEALTH, ACADEMIC TEACHER AND RESEARCHER IN GLOBAL MATERNAL AND CHILD HEALTH

(The Abbey 1966 Leaver)

‘Wow! That’s interesting!’ has been the story of my life. Chance steps, deep immersion and enjoying every minute only retrospectively looks like a logical sequence. When I was 18, The Abbey School was invited to attend an Oxfam ‘Point Five’ conference, about injustices such as poverty experienced by half the world. I began to know then that I was most interested in low resource settings, the developing world.

I did a Biology/Psychology degree then during my MPhil in Animal Behaviour/Ethology decided to move into Health, happening to win a national Fellowship to study Community Medicine.

Public Health is an amazing career. There are so many fascinating aspects. From population surveys, through study of interventions, to policy and strategy; along with commissioning, quality improvement - and hugely importantly - tackling inequalities and ensuring equity of service provision. Key ways of working include collaboration with other organisations and strategic leadership. Ongoing professional development is central. Key topics include health protection (immunisation, screening, outbreaks of disease and other incidents); health improvement and determinants of wellbeing (including exercise and good nutrition) along with ever-essential health communication.

Much Public Health work is done in situations that are uncertain, political and in environments that are sensitive.

From a Research Fellow working on quality of health care in rural Ghana, I held Lecturer and Senior Lecturer posts combining MSc and PhD teaching of senior health personnel from all over the world with research projects on pregnancy cohorts in Sri Lanka with UNICEF, DR Congo, Pakistan, and a 6-African country study with WHO. This led to in-depth work with the newly arrived Manchester Somali refugee community at their request. I joined a Regional Public Health Group with the national lead for sustainable development, another wow subject! I prepared a retrospective portfolio to become a Fellow of the Faculty of Public Health eligible to apply for Consultant posts. I later took a health protection post responsible for commissioning TB services and planning every eventuality for the London Olympics.

What is your best piece of advice?

‘Go in search of the people, Love them, Learn from them, Plan with them, Serve them, Begin with what they know, Build on what they have’ (James Yen,1930s) Listen, learn, enquire, and speak out to address injustice; if you don’t say it, who will?

23

Jessica Robson-Hill MUSIC MANAGER

(Jess Hill, MGC 2005 Leaver)

It is not unusual for graduates in the Arts to have a clear sense that becoming an artist/ performer is not for them, but still to have a desire to pursue a career in a field that has always been a passion and driving force - that was certainly the case with me. Music has always been where my interests truly lie and so after graduating from Durham University with a BA in Music and a Masters in Musicology, I headed to London to forge a career in the Arts.

In 2009 I joined Ikon Arts Management and spent a happy and fulfilling eight years working as an Artist and Festival Manager. As an Artist Manager, I developed and managed the international touring careers of vocal supergroups, working with the likes of The Swingle Singers, Stile Antico, The Real Group and The King’s Singers. As Festival Manager, I programmed and ran an international vocal festival, The London A Cappella Festival, bringing incredible vocal talent from across the world to perform in London.

In 2017, it was time for a new challenge. I joined the BBC Radio 3 team and am currently working on a busy schedule of broadcasts and concerts given by BBC Singers and the BBC Symphony Orchestra and each summer at the BBC Proms.

What does success look like?

The workplace is all about relationships and quite often opportunities arise from chance connections, long-developed alliances and deep-rooted bonds. Don’t just network; build meaningful relationships. They will nourish your present and your future.

What is your best piece of advice?

People often look to the future for success, but for me success is in what we are doing right now. Invest in everything you do with attention to detail, innovation, creativity and enjoyment; future projects will be all the better for it.

24

Kirsty Haines MUSICIAN FOR THE BAND OF HER MAJESTY’S ROYAL MARINES

(MSJ 2015 Leaver)

Perseverance is something that has been instilled in me throughout my career in The Royal Marines Band Service. Since the age of 12, I aspired to become a member of the elite group of musicians that not only perform in the finest venues across the globe, but also train to support The Royal Marines General Service and wider Royal Navy in deployments to protect our country.

Before beginning training in 2015, I first had to pass a week-long interview consisting of physical tests, musical auditions, academic testing and interviews, on completion of which I was offered a place in the Flute and Saxophone category. After leaving MSJ in 2015, I started phase one basic training at Commando Training Centre Royal Marines (CTCRM) in Lympstone which consisted of 14 weeks of military training including weapons handling, field craft, first aid and chemical decontamination (CBRN). After completion of phase one training, I started phase two musical training at The Royal Marines School of Music in Portsmouth, where I am due to pass out in August 2019 as a trained Musician.

Currently I am the Principal Flautist at the Royal Marines School of Music, where I am also trained to play piccolo and both tenor and baritone saxophone to a professional level. As a Royal Marines Musician, we are expected to play in a wide variety of ensembles including Concert Band, Orchestra, Big Band, Function Band, Parade Band and smaller groups including Trios and Quintets.

A career in Music, especially Military Music teaches you many transferable personal qualities including resilience, self-belief, versatility and determination, which will aid me in my future endeavours both within my chosen career and beyond. My next short term goal is to complete a Geography degree – a subject which has always been a passion of mine - provided through the military.

What is your best piece of advice?

Never rest on your laurels, there is always something else to learn and opportunities to be taken. The world is your oyster, just remember to be humble whilst exploring it.

25

Kotska Wallace SATELLITE PAYLOAD ENGINEER, EARTH OBSERVATION DIRECTORATE, EUROPEAN SPACE AGENCY

(Kotska Oddie, MGC 1991 Leaver)

My earliest dreams were of space and becoming an astronaut. After GCSEs I attended the first British Space School, where I visited universities that were conducting space research. Via that association I also travelled the following year to visit Russian space facilities.

So when I joined the MGC Sixth Form I already had goals, involving the need for a Physics or Engineering degree and flying experience.

In Malvern I transferred to the local RAF Cadets Corps, until then a male only preserve. During the summer break I learned to fly via an RAF flying scholarship and gained my Private Pilot’s Licence.

Sadly, when I finished my Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees, the UK was not participating in the manned space programme. I considered flying commercially, but was more attracted to the space industry. Continuing involvement with various Space Associations allowed me to identify where I wanted to work.

My first job was an assignment as sole physicist in a Geographical Information Systems section, utilising satellite optical and radar imagery. I pursued additional lines of work, desiring more hands-on experience with equipment, and eventually I was made Payload Manager for a small satellite.

While TopSat was mid-build I pursued an interesting job opportunity at the European Space Agency’s Technical Centre in The Netherlands and joined the Technical Directorate’s Optics Section. I ran various research contracts, particularly in the development of glass and silicon pore and x-ray focusing optics; and supported projects such as Fluid Science Lab, a facility which is still used on the International Space Station.

Currently, I am Optical Payload Manager for the EarthCARE satellite, responsible for three instruments of a large, ESA mission, for which the Japanese Space Agency is also supplying an instrument. My work covers numerous disciplines, co-operating with many international colleagues, and takes me around Europe, North America and Japan.

What is your best piece of advice?

Seek out and exploit opportunities, push your comfort zone and be a participator.

26

Samantha Vaughan DIRECTOR, DEWSALL COURT

(Samantha Robinson, St James’s & The Abbey, 1995 Leaver)

I left school feeling confident, ambitious and believing that I could achieve my dreams. But over the course of the next decade it was a struggle to pin down what those dreams were and to find the opportunities to help me realise them. I enjoyed working in television, loved teaching excluded teenagers. I got a degree in English, and a few years later, in Psychology, and by my late 20s, was enrolled on an MSc; but deep down, I knew I was a businesswoman.

Then boom! My beloved Dad got a brain tumour and my life recalibrated. After he passed away, we decided, as a family, to create a business in our beautiful home as a venue for celebrations. We did not want to be ‘just another wedding venue’ and aimed high from the outset.

The start-up years were epic (and coincided with starting a family). This was the steepest of learning curves! We built the business on a party space in a barn, which had no kitchen, loos or running water and only one wall (luckily the house itself was in much better shape)! But it worked and eventually we invested in the barn and brought our food in-house. This was a game changer. Nowadays, eight years on, we are often cited as one of the top 100 venues in the country and attract a national and international clientele. I run the company with my brilliant Mum and we have also joined forces with some of our favourite competitors to create a software platform to support similar venues in planning and running events.

I have learnt that an amazing education opens up the world for us, but once we are out there it is down to us to seek out the opportunities, commit to a pathway, and to trust and believe in what we know we are capable of. If your trusty gut says you can do it, then you definitely can.

What is your best piece of advice?

Early starts (extra time at the beginning of the day just for you), granular analysis and planning ahead can sound incredibly dull; but when applied to your own personal development, the performance of your business or being prepared for the future, they all become extremely exciting.

27

Sophy Coombes-Roberts WELSH NATIONAL LACROSSE TEAM, PROFESSIONAL SPORTS PUBLICITY AND SPONSORSHIP MANAGER

(MSJ 2012 Leaver)

I have loved sport for as long as I can remember: as a young girl sitting in front of the television cheering on Tim Henman, or sprinting through a primary school gym competition to get Beth Tweddle’s autograph. This progressed to my time at Malvern, from scoring a goal against CLC in my first ever lacrosse match, to captaining the 1st team to a fifth place finish at National Schools, to winning a silver medal with Wales Seniors at the European Championships whilst still doing my A Levels. Since school, I have played in two World Championships, won two National Club Championships, been named University Sports Captain of the Year and managed to forge a career in the sports industry.

It is so easy nowadays to look at sport on Instagram and think it is glamorous and full of highs, but there have been so many days when sport has been hard. From smashing tennis rackets as a child, not being selected on my first try-out for U19 Wales, heart-breaking lacrosse losses, missing parties and social events because ‘I had training’, and nowadays juggling a full time career whilst still playing at the top level of an amateur sport. Malvern taught me how to love sport, but also how to be gracious in defeat and resilient when inevitably - it doesn’t go your way. I have managed to use those traits to build a career working in sport and I am lucky enough to do something I genuinely love.

Having worked as a publicist at Sky Sports for three years, where I ran an award nominated women’s sport campaign #ShowUp, I have recently moved agency-side to manage publicity and sponsorship accounts for big clients, still focusing on promoting women’s sport.

Alongside my job, I am training for my third European Championships this summer with Wales and still manage to play tennis for Ealing Lawn Tennis Club (although not quite as well as I would like). If you love something enough, you can find the time for it!

What is your best piece of advice?

In a world of social media and emails, resist the temptation to hide behind those platforms. You can never underestimate how far an old-fashioned ‘phone call or face-to-face meeting can help you achieve your goals.

28

Tanith Carey JOURNALIST AND AUTHOR

(MGC 1984 Leaver)

Tanith Carey is a national newspaper columnist and former foreign correspondent who now writes books which offer a lucid analysis of the most pressing challenges facing today’s parents. Her ten publications to date have been translated into 15 languages. In 2019 they include What is my child thinking: Practical Child Psychology for Modern Parents and The Friendship Maze: How to help your child navigate their way to positive and happier Friendships.

Taming the Tiger Parent - How to Put your Child’s Wellbeing First in a Competitive World received praise as ‘a critique to re-orientate parenting’ from parenting expert Steve Biddulph. It has also been cited in books by the world’s best-known educationalist, Sir Ken Robinson. Girls Uninterrupted: Steps for Building Stronger Girls in a Challenging World and its predecessor, Where Has My Little Girl Gone? have also helped position Tanith as one of the UK media’s leading commentators on girls’ well-being.

As an award-winning journalist, Tanith also writes on social trends, parenting and family relationships for a wide range of newspapers and magazines around the world including The Daily Telegraph, The Guardian and The Daily Mail.

She spent ten years at the Daily Mirror, including roles as Woman’s Editor and Features Editor. Soon after the birth of her first child, Tanith was awarded Consumer Journalist of the Year (London Press Awards) – and later that year moved to New York as The Mirror’s US Editor. Tanith has also been nominated as National Newspaper Health Writer of the Year and for Feature Writer of the Year (popular press) at the 2017 UK Press Awards (Society of Editors). She has received a UK Press Gazette Scoop of the Year nomination for her investigative journalism. Tanith is also a regular presence on household TV and radio programmes, including Radio Four Woman’s Hour and You and Yours, and This Morning.

What is your best piece of advice?

Identify your own ‘spark’ - the thing you would do by yourself even if no one else told you to do it - then build a career around that, rather than what you think you SHOULD do. That way you cannot fail.

29

Ursula Mackenzie PRESIDENT OF THE PUBLISHERS ASSOCIATION

(MGC 1969 Leaver)

Following a start in academia – I obtained a PhD in American Literature from Nottingham University and my first job was as a lecturer in English and American Literature at the University of Hong Kong – I decided in favour of a career in book publishing.

My first job was at Granada Publishing as a Rights Manager, but I then moved to Transworld where over the next fifteen years I rose to become Hardcover Publisher. I was asked to join Little, Brown Book Group as the overall Publisher in 2000 and was appointed Chief Executive and Publisher in 2006. Over the next ten years I led the company to two Publisher of the Year awards in 2010 and 2014. I was President of the Publishers’ Association from 2012 – 2013. I handed over the CEO role to my chosen successor in 2015, becoming Chairman until I retired at the end of 2016.

I now sit as a non-executive director on the Boards of Profile Books and Andrew Nurnberg Associates. I am also President of The Book Trade Charity.

What does success look like?

Success is doing a job that you really enjoy – I never had to get up in the morning thinking ‘I’ve got to go to work today’. You spend far too much time at work for it to be merely something that pays for what you like to do at the weekends.

What is your best piece of advice?

Don’t worry too much about being a ‘success’ at school – I was never even a prefect in my middle school house! But ensure you get the best education possible and aim for a career about which you will feel passionate.

30

Professor Ursula Martin LEADING ACADEMIC WORKING IN MATHEMATICS AND COMPUTER SCIENCE

(The Abbey School 1971 Leaver)

I was a pupil at The Abbey School, where I remember particularly Miss Castledine’s wonderful Mathematics teaching, playing the organ in Malvern Priory, freezing cold dormitories, and running in the rain on the Malvern Hills. I saw my first computer in Malvern in 1970, at the government research lab which is now the commercial company Qinetiq.

From The Abbey I went to Cambridge, and was awarded a first class degree in Mathematics at Girton College, and a PhD from the University of Warwick. My career as a researcher at the interface of Mathematics and Computing has taken me all over the world, working in universities, and industrial labs, on how to make computers better at solving mathematical problems, and subsequently to senior academic leadership in the University of London. I have been appointed a Commander of the Order of the British Empire, a fellow of both the Royal Society of Edinburgh and the Royal Academy of Engineering, and awarded an honorary doctorate from the University of London.

I am a passionate advocate for women in Science, and was the first female professor in any discipline at the University of St Andrews.

I now have a portfolio career, working at the Universities of Oxford and Edinburgh. My broader work on the culture and context of Mathematics and Computing includes a recent popular book on the mathematics of the nineteenth century pioneer Ada Lovelace, often called the “first computer programmer”.

What does success look like?

Being able to help others define and achieve their own success.

What is your best piece of advice?

Take risks, seize opportunities, and don’t be afraid of making mistakes.

31

Deborah de Chazal CHARTERED ACCOUNTANT, MOTHER AND CONSERVATIONIST

(Debby Wallwork, MGC 1970)

Born in the UK, my early years were spent in Malaya and it was a big shock to be sent to MGC aged 11. I had to adapt to living in community with lots of girls, being without my family, and the cold. I remember chilblains and freezing on the lacrosse pitch: tracksuits weren’t allowed. My adaptation to this completely different lifestyle influenced me for later life. I appreciated the opportunities and the holistic education at MGC. I had no idea what I wanted to do as a career and first chose Biochemistry. After leaving MGC, I went along with a friend uninvited to an interview to become a Chartered Accountant and was offered a place. I took it up, enjoyed the work, was admitted to membership of Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales (ICAEW), one of only 5% women in 1975.

Marrying a Mauritian took me to Mauritius. I was the first female Chartered Accountant on the island. I worked in the private sector until the birth of my first child; I felt if I had children I wanted to bring them up myself. My first plan was to work part-time but fate decried otherwise: my daughter aged 8 was diagnosed with Leukaemia and for the period of her childhood I needed to keep myself available.

This guided me into voluntary work where I could use my expertise which NGOs lacked. I sat on Boards including Cheshire Home, English Speaking Union and the Mauritian Wildlife Foundation (MWF), in the role of Treasurer, involving hands-on work in the organisations.

During this time I also acquired a lot of soft skills, especially revolving around communication.

In 2010 I assumed the post of Vice President and Executive Director of MWF in a full-time, more hands-on role, to work for a cause close to my heart, the protection of the Environment.

What is your best piece of advice?

Try to work at something you enjoy and that makes the most of your talents. You will never enjoy 100% of your work but aim for 75%!

Always do your best.

32

Lottie Van-Praag GLOBAL ESPORTS BROADCASTER, ANCHOR AND PRESENTER; INTERNATIONAL LACROSSE PLAYER

(Malvern St James 2013 Leaver)

The green hills and red stone walls were the first things I set eyes on when pulling up to MSJ for the first time. I distinctly remember being dropped off at Hatfield, aged just 11, and can still remember the fear I had rushing over me as my parents drove away. I thought to myself, “This is a terrifying new experience, how am I ever going to fit in?” Little did I know that being at Malvern would shape me into the strong, independent and fearless individual I am today.

My time at Malvern is something I will never forget: the opportunities for academic teaching, friendships to be made for life, and something close to my heart - the SPORT. I was hooked on Lacrosse from the day I picked up the stick. I went on to play at county level, regionals and for several years I represented my country at the World Championships and achieved UK Player of the Year.

MSJ allowed me to be independent and this has let me blossom into everything I am today. Many wouldn’t believe me if I told them exactly how shy and timid I was when I first got to school - in direct contrast to the person I am now, being watched on screen by millions of people worldwide, delivering the biggest Esports titles.

I started my broadcasting career as a full time Presenter for Gfinity, allowing me to grow and develop my style within Esports, an industry that is famously underpopulated with females. I have established myself as a respected Host for numerous triple A titles; following London Call of Duty events, I built my way up with the Gfinity Elite Series reporting Counter Strike and Street Fighter 5 for four consecutive seasons, which aired on BBC3 and BT Sport. I am the current Anchor for Halo, hosting the Halo Championship Series for 343 and Microsoft, reporting on the final Halo 2018 Finals and the Halo 3 2v2 Showdown. I cover Fortnite, Forza, FIFA19… the list goes on.

Esports is a tough place to be as a woman. But I believe it can change and I hope to do my part in effecting that change. The number of women out there playing video games is colossal but underestimated, and there are successful careers waiting for them all. If you want to do something in life, there should be nothing that stops you and especially not your gender.

What is your best piece of advice?

Don’t ever tell yourself you can’t! MSJ always told me I could and they believed in me, which is why I am where I am today. Fight for what you believe in and never give up.

33

Lucy Walker TWO TIME ACADEMY AWARD-NOMINATED FILMMAKER

(MGC 1986 Leaver)

Lucy grew up in England and attended Oxford University, where she graduated with First-Class Honours in Literature, and directed theatre and musical theatre before winning a Fulbright Scholarship to attend the Graduate Film Program at NYU Tisch School of the Arts. There she earned a Master of Fine Arts (MFA) degree and directed award-winning short fiction films. While living in New York, she also enjoyed a successful career as a DJ and musician.

Lucy’s films include feature documentaries The Crash Reel (2013), Waste Land (2010), Countdown to Zero (2010), Blindsight (2006), Devil’s Playground (2002) and short films, notably The Tsunami and The Cherry Blossom (2011) and The Lion’s Mouth Opens (2014), as well as television, including twenty episodes of Nickelodeon Blue’s Clues. Her films have been shortlisted for five Oscars (nominated for two), nominated for seven Emmys (winning one), an Independent Spirit Award, a DGA Award, a Gotham Award, and have won over one hundred other film awards. For her advertising work she has been recognised with awards including three Cannes Lions, two Clios, two One Clios and two Association of Independent Commercial Producers Awards.

Lucy is also an acclaimed virtual reality director. Her first VR experience, A History of Cuban Dance (2016), premiered at the 2016 Sundance Film Festival and showed at SXSW and the Toronto International Film Festival. She has directed branded VR experiences for AirBnB, Toms Shoes, Vaseline, Vice, and the Buena Vista Social Club.

Lucy now lives in Venice, California and for fun in 2017, took over organising and curating TEDxVeniceBeach and hosted a wildly successful inaugural event featuring talks by Diane von Furstenberg, Moby, and Agnes Varda, among others.

What is your best piece of advice?

Don’t be afraid of failure, it’s the best way to learn. Tune into what truly interests and inspires you, then pursue it. Find people who encourage and support you, and try to offer the same to those that you believe in.

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Penelope, Viscountess Cobham CBE BRITISH BUSINESSWOMAN

(Penelope Cooper, St James’s 1971 Leaver)

In 1977, Penny’s late father-in-law died and her husband inherited Hagley Hall and estate in North Worcestershire. The hall was opened to the public and its listed rural buildings converted to workshops, offices and flats, and Penny developed an extensive corporate and private entertaining business in the house. In 1987 she was appointed to the board of the English Tourist Board, followed by membership of the boards of English Heritage, Historic Royal Palaces, the Museums and Galleries Commission and the Countryside Commission. In 1992 she served as a Special Advisor to the Culture Secretary and subsequently, inter alia, joined the board of the V&A, the London Docklands Development Corporation and British Waterways. In 1999 she became Chairman of the British Casino Association, taking the private sector through the passage of the 2005 Gambling Act. Also working in the private sector she has been an advisor to Citi Private Bank, Farrer & Co and EY. Having been Deputy Chairman of VisitBritain since 2005, in 2009 she became Chairman of VisitEngland, the national tourist board.

She chaired the board through the period of the Olympics, the 800th Anniversary of the Magna Carta and the Rugby World Cup. Her second period of appointment finished in 2017, and she was recruited as the Director General of The 5% Club. Their 350 members all aspire to 5% of their workforce being apprentices or in other “earn and learn” places. She is an advisory board member of Urban Legacies and sits on the board of the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust. She chairs the Museum Prize Trust, developing a Prize for Enterprise with support from Google and continues, since 1985, to sit on the board of Historic Houses, to which most privately owned important houses belong.

Since 1994 she has been President of the Women of the Year lunch and awards.

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Ruth Whitehead FIRST WOMAN RECIPIENT OF ENGLAND GOLF’S GERALD MICKLEM TROPHY

(Ruth Thompson, MGC 1961 Leaver)

Retirement from being deputy head of a large successful comprehensive school in Cheshire lasted for 24 hours (!) before I was invited to take on the role of County Captain of Cheshire Ladies Golf Association. This turned out to be the beginning of over twenty years in golf administration.

Starting at county level then progressing to regional and eventually national level, I was fortunate enough to be involved in modernising the English Ladies Golf Association into EWGA (English Women’s Golf Association), becoming the first chairman of the Operational Board, looking after the association’s golfing activities. From that I progressed to be involved with the men’s national golf union in order to amalgamate the two organisations into England Golf.

Part of my responsibilities as being chair of the operational board was to organise and deliver rules courses to volunteers around the country. After having successfully passed the R and A rules exam in St Andrews, the home of golf, three colleagues and myself travelled the length and breadth of England to assist counties in obtaining referees for tournaments. This was great fun and most challenging and rewarding. In addition to this I also refereed at some national tournaments as well as running many championships where I was privileged to be involved with players who are now playing at national and international level.

I have had such enjoyment from the game of golf, playing and meeting incredible people, who are still friends to this day. To be the first woman recipient of the Gerald Micklem Trophy for outstanding contribution to the amateur game is something I never expected, but is something of which I am extremely proud, much of which can be attributed to the training and education I received at MGC. What is your best piece of advice?

Listen to others, respect and value their opinions, but above all give without expecting anything in return.

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Sarah Massini CHILDREN’S BOOK ILLUSTRATOR

(Sarah Godwin, MGC 1982 Leaver)

I have always loved Art. In a childhood punctuated by moves to different countries and schools, art was a constant and a refuge. By the time I arrived at MGC, I wasn’t much good at anything other than art, and even then it’s fair to say I wasn’t the best in the class. But I loved the friendly hubbub of the art room, and it was here I developed a latent interest in illustration above all other artistic disciplines.

However, I studied graphics in Manchester, with the very practical need to eventually have to support myself in mind. During the course we were encouraged to enter the Royal Society of Arts bursary awards. I saw the stamp section as an opportunity to combine design with my greater desire to illustrate. I won the competition, a trip to New York, a job at a London design agency… and my stamps were published! At 21, I was the youngest ever designer of British stamps.

And so I began my career as a corporate designer, working on everything from tiny logos (you might know the Bloomsbury Publishing logo) to giant exhibition stands, for various blue-chip clients. But the lure of illustration was too strong and it wasn’t long before I was pulled into children’s publishing where, for five years, I worked as an art editor.

The birth of our son was a new start in many ways for myself and my husband. We moved out of London and I took the now-or-never plunge to return to my first love of narrative illustration. I built up a portfolio, got an agent and never looked back. With 25 books illustrated and published in 25 languages, it seems like a big leap from the MGC art room to where I am now.

What does success look like?

Hard work, dedication, determination - and the flip side - spending your life doing something you enjoy and doing it well, with all the attendant feelings of satisfaction and fulfilment.

What is your best piece of advice?

Don’t be deterred from pursuing your own special and particular interest. And then pursue it with all the love and energy you have.

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Sarah Mountford DIRECTOR, HOUSE OF MUTT

(Sarah Morley, MGC 1987 Leaver)

Having spent most of my time at MGC on the sports fields, followed by a happy three year period romp through History at Cambridge, I found myself qualified for quite a lot in general but very little in particular. Whether this led to the disjointed ‘thing’ that is my career, or whether it was merely indicative of how it was always going to be, I don’t know. But what I do know is that it’s been fun, immensely rewarding, constantly surprising, far from dull, and has the interesting side effect of meaning I’m never too far from a common cause with anyone I’m plonked next to at dinner parties!

So, seeking excitement after school, I joined the Army. Sandhurst led to my being posted to serve in the Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment in London, as the first woman to do so. One Short Service Commission later, I returned to studying, and took up the place at Cambridge University to read History.

That led, much to my supervisors’ chagrin and exhausted brain cells’ delight, to marriage to an Army Officer and a beach posting to Cyprus. The latter bid farewell to any City/PR career prospects I might have been entertaining, so I turned to journalism instead – which could be done from wherever I happened to be and could continue around the three babies who appeared in quite quick succession.

Blagging and pure luck led to my being taken on by The Daily Telegraph, amongst others, as a freelance feature writer.

Fast forward a few years, many articles and a few PR desks later, and I found myself with increasingly independent children, a husband now permanently in the UK, and the itch to start a home-based business which somehow drew together my various skills.

The House of Mutt dog boarding was born in 2010; and within a month was taken on by Harrods, concierge company Quintessentially, and a fair few glitterati of London. We are, apparently, the best there is! Every day is different, the alpha owners are invigorating, the dogs are calming, the TV cameras call quite often. It’s fun.

What is your best piece of advice?

Just do it. Prevarication doesn’t get much done. Have a plan – but know it’s fine to change it. Think big. Always aim for the top of whatever tree you’re circling at the time.

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Professor Sophie Gilliat-Ray FOUNDING DIRECTOR, THE CENTRE FOR THE STUDY OF ISLAM IN THE UK

(MGC 1987 Leaver)

I found my intellectual niche through my degree in Religious Studies at the University of Wales in 1989. I became fascinated by diverse religious and spiritual ‘worldviews’, and I was particularly interested in the growing presence of Muslims in Britain. Having gained a First Class degree, I then embarked on postgraduate study, gaining a Distinction in my MA in ‘Inter-faith Studies’, and then a PhD in 1994.

I started my postdoctoral career in the Department of Sociology at the University of Warwick, working on a high-profile project about publicly funded chaplaincy in Britain (resulting in the publication of Religion in Prison: Equal Rites in a Multi-Faith Society, with James Beckford). In 1999, I moved to Cardiff University as a Research Fellow. I was promoted to Senior Lecturer in 2007, Reader in 2010, and Professor in 2013 (and produced three children along the way!). My book, Muslims in Britain: An Introduction has become a standard textbook in my field. During my career, I have won over £4.5m in research grants, published five monographs, and over 26 international peer-review journal articles, and more book chapters and reviews than I can count!

In 2005, I established a specialist research centre at Cardiff University, and with it an emergent field of ‘British Muslim Studies’. Day-to-day, I supervise PhD students and postdoctoral researchers, as well as taking a share in undergraduate teaching and university administration.

I often address international conferences on issues of religious diversity, the accommodation of Islam and Muslims in public institutions, and religion in public life more broadly. I have successfully navigated a sensitive and complex field of study, winning the support and respect of grassroots Muslim communities across the UK, policy-makers, my academic peers, and senior university management.

What is your best piece of advice?

Don’t believe anybody who tells you that you can’t do something. Academic flourishing can happen at any time in your life. Be patient.

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Sophie Grant COMPANY DIRECTOR/OWNER, EL KARAMA LODGE, WILDLIFE SAFARIS, KENYA

(Sophie Mills, MGC 1998 Leaver)

MGC gave me confidence: the teachers, the Housemistresses, everything was geared to nurturing and to make us believe we had unlimited potential provided we were prepared to work hard. Despite this, when I left school I didn’t know what I wanted to do. I only knew I wanted to make a positive impact on people’s lives; how to do that was harder to define. My route to running my own safari business and training as a wildlife guide in Kenya was circuitous, and I hope that that fact will give many of you hope!

I read English Literature at Cambridge which was AMAZING, and then went on to a disastrous first year in Law because I wasn’t sure what else to do. For years I thought not completing the full training in Law was my biggest failure, but now I see it as one of my biggest successes.

In 2006, an inspiring colleague, the late Jim Cogan MBE, gave me the opportunity to leave my job in Westminster fundraising, and to go to Nairobi and start up his new organisation, The Good Earth Trust. With Jim’s guidance and vision, I set myself up at a company called Makiga Engineering and launched into two fascinating years of learning. My time in that role gave me a tremendous respect for Kenyan people; they have a deep humility, resilience, they are not afraid of hard work and they have a natural entrepreneurial streak.

I met my husband, and by 2009 I was living on a working ranch called El Karama - his home - in one of Kenya’s most stunning wildlife regions.

We wake up in the shadow of Mount Kenya and fall asleep to the sound of hyena and lions. I never, ever take this incredible world for granted and feel lucky to be able to make a contribution to it.

El Karama Lodge is my labour of love; we support 23 local Kenyans and have trained them to become the wonderful eco-tourism professionals they are now. The business is a recognised leader in eco-tourism, sustainable travel and family adventure. Preserving unique habitats and wildlife in this climate, where population expansion is exponential and wildlife is at risk, is a privilege and huge responsibility. There are very few moments in my life when I am not thinking and breathing El Karama, it runs through my veins and powers my resolve when things get tough.

What is your best piece of advice?

Pick something you are passionate about, apply yourself and make a contribution where and however you can.

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Tamsin Barber BROADCAST JOURNALIST AND PRODUCER

(MGC 1998 Leaver)

I have always been interested in current affairs and finding new stories, but thought that I was too shy to be a journalist. However, my determination has always seen me through. I studied for a degree in Archaeology at UCL, followed by a postgrad course in Broadcast Journalism at Cardiff University, where I was sponsored by the BBC. A month after leaving the course in 2004, I got my first job as a researcher at BBC Radio 4 working on Arts and History programmes.

My dream was to make radio documentaries – and in 2007 I produced my first programme, Fighting Chance, about ethnic minority boxers in Britain, bringing a fascinating world to a new audience. I made other documentaries including Colour Me White about skin bleaching and Wars of the Roses, following the Britain in Bloom Competition, which won a Garden Media Guild Award for National Radio Broadcast of the Year in 2009.

In 2018, I went to Germany to make a BBC World Service documentary about child survivors of the Belsen Concentration camp – a remarkable experience. Other work includes Radio 4’s A History of the World in 100 Objects, where I visited parts of the British Museum that you can’t normally go in! I’ve worked on Radio 4’s obituary series Last Word, have done some reporting and produced a radio drama in Tokyo.

After a stint in television working as a researcher and development producer, my love for radio took me to the BBC World Service. I currently work as a Producer with the Presentation team and manage the Archive Project consisting of over 30,000 programmes, making digital content and documentaries. My next project is an exciting new radio series, where a teenager interviews a leading technology expert about their career.

What is your best piece of advice?

Never give up, however hard it may seem. Garner all your self-belief because opportunities will come.

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Emma Woffenden ARTIST, EDUCATOR AND CURATOR SPECIALISING IN GLASSMAKING “One of the UK’s most innovative glass artists” - National Museums Scotland

(St. James’s 1980 Leaver)

After attending an Art Foundation, I went on to study a BA in 3 Dimensional Design, specialising in glass. I knew very little about glass as a material but considered it a good idea to learn something new. The key thing was I had something I needed to express and I enjoy the physicality of making things, problem solving and inventing. During this time I went on an exchange to Philadelphia and visited the Czech Republic; these experiences influenced my ideas beyond what was happening in the UK. Although I have worked on design projects, I am primarily a sculptor. Studying a material could lead you into different areas within Design or Fine Art. My best known design is the transglass project using recycled bottles. This was a design collaboration begun in 1997, and later a small factory was established in Guatemala City. Other collaborations have involved a filmmaker and performer.

In my 20s I was finding out how to make a living alongside a studio practice and started an MA at the Royal College of Art, aged 29.

From this point I was on the radar and museums and private collectors bought my work. I had a representing gallery in London, Arts organisations commissioned me to make installations or exhibit, and I continued a career made up of different jobs. My first studio after my MA was supported by the Crafts Council and I bought equipment enabling me to work on my own pieces and on commissions, so we hired the space out and ran workshops.

It’s a career that can be as rigorous or as light-hearted as you care to make it; a career you shape yourself. I travel a lot, mainly exhibiting, but also giving talks about my work, participating at symposiums or running workshops. Recently, for three years I worked as an Artistic Director for a glassmaking centre in Scotland, deciding their themes and conference subjects and bringing in other artists from around the world to teach or fulfil residencies.

What is your best piece of advice?

Don’t close doors opened to you. A need/desire to practice art is more important than an obvious talent for it.

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Sue Garrard COMMUNICATIONS AND BUSINESS SUSTAINABILITY EXPERT, FORMERLY SENIOR VP AT UNILEVER

(Sue Anderson, MGC 1978 Leaver)

School taught me resilience. I joined MGC when I was fourteen and everyone had got all their friendships sorted, and that was very difficult. But the choices we had here were massive - clubs of every kind, which helped me find the things that I was good at. If these opportunities weren’t presented, I’d never have known what I loved, like music and drama.

Plans are difficult because they have a habit of going awry. I had planned to go to university, but at the last minute all of that changed. Instead, I ended up packing my trunk, checking in to a hostel in London and getting my first job at the Department of Energy.

I’ve never encountered a glass ceiling; I think that mentality leads you down a route that’s about being recruited because of your gender not because of your capability and experience. I think women can do whatever they want. I think we are limitless in our abilities and we are naturally much better collaborators. A woman has to choose what her priorities are, but that’s the challenge of life all the way through.

I’ve done various Communications roles, working in the Civil Service, in agency and most recently for Unilever plc. When I was working in the Department for Work and Pensions, there was a change in government. They wanted to cut the size of the civil service by half a million jobs; I had only been in post for five years and it’s cheaper to cut those who haven’t been there very long. I started to think of other options, where I could have some kind of positive impact. And then Unilever just landed in my lap: a company trying to be a responsible face of capitalism.

As Nelson Mandela said, ‘Everything seems impossible until it’s done’. If you really want to make a difference, it’s hard; and the easiest thing to do is to allow the barriers in your own mind to get in the way. But when you are absolutely determined that you are going to make a change, it is truly remarkable what you can achieve. What you can do on your own is tiny, but what you can achieve when you get everybody wanting the same thing is amazing.

What is your best piece of advice?

Work out what you are really good at, and what you love. And then align that with what you can get paid for, and what the world needs. These four things combined are the Japanese philiosophy called Ikigai and it is a simple, brilliant way of ensuring you live a life of meaning.

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Judith March MBE TEACHER, MENTOR AND IRRITANT

(MGC 1975 Leaver)

Without role models, teaching seemed the only route to combine motherhood and work in 1979. I loved teaching History and helping young people (especially the troubled and challenging) but the school was bent on rules and limiting ambition. I joined an Education Authority, eventually becoming Assistant Director of Children’s Services; again those pesky, bolshie youngsters. The 90s introduced league tables and targets: more measuring, less doing. Innovation and intuition disappeared. ‘Your compliance is non-negotiable’, I was told.

So in 2003, with 2 young daughters, I sought a haven somewhere tiny and freer, becoming the first Director of the Personal Support Unit, a new charity for people without lawyers in the Civil and Family courts. It had helped 150 clients. Starting with £20k, one room and 10 volunteers in the Royal Courts of Justice, I flourished and so did they. Sparse legal aid meant litigants on low incomes (often vulnerable) floundered in our procedure-bound courts. After 25 years of battling bureaucracy, I knew which rules and regulations you could safely do without. Volunteers, either retired (or bored of being bossed), and trainee barristers (not yet cynical), required little management, were appreciative of leadership, and arrived at our door in droves and stayed. The judiciary, especially the very senior, understood us and lent help, and soon ministers, civil servants, law schools and the legal profession joined in. We grew. By 2014, we had Units in all major court sites in 15 cities across England and Wales, 700+ volunteers, 40,000 clients a year, and we were a winner of The Guardian’s Charity of the Year.

I knew I had to quit soon after, as bureaucracy loomed again. I now combine everything I learnt, loved and loathed of the above as Vice Chair of a special school for teenagers who need loads of extra help due to difficult beginnings.

What is your best piece of advice?

Take more risks; seek and act on praise and criticism, and tell someone what you admire in them every day.

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Phyllida Lloyd CBE THEATRE, OPERA AND FILM DIRECTOR OF ‘MAMMA MIA!’

(Lawnside 1974 Leaver)

Phyllida Lloyd is an award winning theatre, opera and film director. She has worked at The National Theatre (The Way of The World, The Duchess of Malfi, The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie and What the Butler Saw), The Royal Court (Six Degrees of Separation, Hysteria, Wild East) and The Donmar Warehouse (The Threepenny Opera, The Boston Marriage, Mary Stuart (also West End and Broadway)). She produced The Shakespeare Trilogy for The Donmar (London and New York) and Josephine and I (London and New York).

Opera productions include Gloriana, La Boheme, Medea, Albert Herring, Peter Grimes and Carmen for Opera North. Also Macbeth for the Royal Opera House and Paris Opera; and The Carmelites, Verdi’s Requiem, The Handmaid’s Tale and Wagner’s Ring for English National Opera.

She directed Mamma Mia! on stage and screen and most recently Tina the musical at the Aldwych. She also directed the film The Iron Lady which won Meryl Streep her third Oscar.

Her screen recordings of her Donmar productions of Julius Caesar, The Tempest and Henry IV have recently been made specially available for use as a learning/teaching aid in secondary schools.

Phyllida has been nominated for Olivier, BAFTA and Tony awards and received The Philharmonic Society, Southbank and Emmy awards. In 2005 she was the Cameron Macintosh Visiting Professor at St Catherine’s College, Oxford, and in 2009 was awarded a CBE for her services to Drama.

What is your best piece of advice?

Don’t try to solve everything at once. The solution will come, but it may not come until the last inch.

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Bethany Barnes CMgr MCMI PORTFOLIO DELIVERY MANAGER AT BARCLAYS BANK

(MSJ 2013 Leaver)

I think all my teachers knew from that start that I wasn’t going to follow the most conventional path. So when I turned down an unconditional place at Cardiff to study International Relations and Politics, and took up a place on the Barclays Higher Apprenticeship scheme, to the cries of “What are you doing?” it really shouldn’t have been all that unexpected.

My MSJ days weren’t always easy: I wasn’t naturally academic, although MSJ’s fantastic support team meant I came out with brilliant grades. I loved the extra-curricular activities I took and they all form a special part of who I am today.

My most important take aways are still the confidence to give anything a go, the ability to spark up a conversation with anyone, and the desire to always leave things better than I found them.

When I left MSJ I really wasn’t certain what I wanted to do, so I took two gap years where I lived in three different countries, and I learnt more about myself than I ever could have expected. When I was ready, I came I home and submitted my UCAS application. I received unconditional offers from five top universities but turned them all down. I decided that apprenticeships offered me the ability to study and apply my studies throughout a variety of roles, growing both professionally and academically.

Since my first day as a Barclays Higher Apprentice (Leadership and Management), four years ago, my world looks very different. I have a First Class degree, I’m a Chartered Manager, I’ve represented Barclays on national TV and print campaigns. But what I’m most proud of is the platform I have to keep educating the world that university isn’t the only option. I truly believe apprenticeships are the way forward. Mine has given me so many opportunities: I represented Barclays in the House of Lords at 20, bought my first property at 21, became business partner to the Director of Artificial Intelligence at 22 (working with big names like Google), and at 23 I advised the head of UCAS and the Minster for Education on how to reform careers advice. Now at almost 24, I’m starting to think, what next?

What is your best piece of advice?

Own your journey. Give yourself time to explore and to find out what path is for you. Follow your passions and think how you can make them work for you. Some of the most successful business people on the planet started by doing what they loved and evolving it.

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Lucy Richardson FOUNDER OF THE ORCHARDS SCHOOL OF COOKERY

(Lucy Bomford, Lawnside 1993 Leaver)

I left school and studied Music Technology at the London College of Music. Although I loved music, I soon realised that I it was not going to be my career. When I graduated, I moved to Paris and worked as an au pair for the summer. I then took a crash cookery course and embarked on the first of several ski seasons cooking in a chalet.

Each summer I returned to the lovely French family in Paris, and through their contacts I obtained employment as a trainee chef in a prestigious restaurant with The Costes Group. I worked as a chef and then became a Manager. My sister came out to join me and it was then that we decided to set up a cookery school. With the experience we had gained from working in the mountains, we had seen how bad the cooking could be, and the lack of staff training in some companies. Staff who had done cookery courses were unable to put a meal together, so we left Paris and spent another season in the Alps to get us up to date, while we planned and promoted our new venture.

In the Spring of 2003 we converted part of our parents’ house into a purpose built kitchen to teach six students. Acting as a builder’s mate, I learned the skills of the trade, which were to be invaluable during the early days of our business. It was during that time that I achieved a personal success with my letter about dyslexia being printed in The Daily Telegraph. It was confirmed that I was dyslexic in my early teens and school had been a real struggle. Some teachers were very inspiring which helped me hugely, and I looked back at those teachers and followed their style with my teaching in the cookery school. It is due to them that my teaching has been so successful. I also learnt that a good teacher, with enthusiasm, can make anything interesting.

We opened our Residential Cookery School in September 2003 using the bedrooms of our house for accommodation. The school has been a great success and within a twelve year period we had built the school up from six students in a kitchen in our farmhouse, to forty-eight students in six kitchens, converting barns, building additional facilities and employing a team of twenty-six staff during our busy months. There are three of us running it now as my sister’s husband Nicholas joined us over 10 years ago when they married: he definitely needs a mention!

What is your best piece of advice?

You are in charge of your own destiny. If you don’t like the route, change direction. Accept your weaknesses and don’t dwell on them.

Listen to your closest family. They will sometimes tell you what you don’t want to hear but it is often good advice.

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Credit: Jonada Joshari

Elizabeth Gowing TRAVEL WRITER AND CHARITY CO-FOUNDER

(MGC 1990 Leaver)

Elizabeth studied English at Magdalen College, Oxford, before training to be a primary school teacher. After work in Inner London schools as teacher, Deputy Head and teaching consultant she moved to Kosovo in 2006. There she co-founded The Ideas Partnership charity which uses the power of volunteers to tackle challenges in education, the environment, and cultural heritage, with a particular focus on the excluded Roma, Ashkali and Egyptian communities.

She is the author of Travels in Blood and Honey: becoming a beekeeper in Kosovo, Edith and I: on the trail of an Edwardian traveller in Kosovo, The Rubbish-Picker’s Wife: an unlikely friendship in Kosovo, The Silver Thread: a journey through Balkan craftsmanship and Unlikely Positions in Unlikely Places: a yoga journey around Britain, to be published in 2019. She is also the translator from Albanian to English of Hasan Prishtina’s memoirs of the 1912 uprising and of the biography of Yugoslavia’s longest-held political prisoner, Adem Demaci. She is a frequent contributor to Radio 4’s From Our Own Correspondent.

In 2016 President of Kosovo Atifete Jahjaga awarded Elizabeth the Mother Teresa medal for her humanitarian work, and in 2017 Theresa May nominated her a Point of Light with an award for volunteering around the world. In 2018 she was made a citizen of Kosovo by decree of the new President, Hashim Thaci.

What is your best piece of advice?

I think I’d say ‘It’s when you feel you don’t fit in that you know you’re doing something extraordinary.’

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The Revd Dr Rachel Nicholls WRITER AND PRIEST, CHURCH OF ENGLAND

(MGC 1979 Leaver)

I have taken a varied journey through life since leaving MGC. I went to Trinity Hall, Cambridge to read English, expecting this to be a stepping stone to a future life as a writer. During my first year, I felt a strong call to be a Congregational Minister and so changed direction to read Theology for the last year of my degree. I then spent two years as a voluntary worker at an inner city Congregational Church in Birmingham, before attending a college in London for theological training.

I was ordained as a Congregational Minister in 1988 and began work in a church in the Yorkshire Dales. There were more changes to come, however, as I began to have an increasing sense that I should transfer to the Church of England. This was a big change and a complicated process, involving a period of discernment and re-training. Having moved back to Cambridge in the meantime, I was able to take up my education where I had left off, and completed an MPhil in Biblical Studies and eventually a PhD (published in 2007 as Walking on the Water: Reading Mt. 14:22-33 in the Light of its Wirkungsgeschichte).

I served my curacy at a church in Cambridge and then I worked for about a decade as a ‘volunteer priest’ in a city centre parish while writing in a freelance capacity for ROOTS church resources and completing four books of worship resources published by Kevin Mayhew. In recent years, I have begun writing full-time. I have completed two novels and a scattering of poems. My fiction is not published yet - but I live in hope!

What is your best piece of advice?

Embrace the adventure - never stop asking ‘What if …?’ As the poet Mary Oliver puts it, ‘Tell me, what is it you plan to do with your one wild and precious life?’

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COPYRIGHT © Board of Trustees of the Science Museum

Sarah Staniforth CBE TRUSTEE AND DIRECTOR OF HERITAGE ORGANISATIONS; CONSERVATOR

(MGC 1970 Leaver)

I remember my first Chemistry lesson at MGC to this day. I was addicted from the start. Like so many of the Science teachers, Dr Hetty Bardsley was married to a scientist working at the Royal Radar Establishment (now part of Qinetiq). We were exceptionally lucky to be taught by a cohort of inspirational women scientists, very unusual in girls’ schools in the 1960s. I also loved Art and was bitterly disappointed not being able to do Art A Level alongside Maths, Physics and Chemistry because it wouldn’t fit in the timetable.

I went to St Hilda’s College, Oxford to read Chemistry but I still hankered after combining art with science. A friend told me that some of the London museums had scientific laboratories. I made an appointment at the Science Museum and asked their advice.

They directed me to the National Gallery Scientific Department where I met Garry Thomson, Scientific Adviser, who suggested that I studied paintings conservation at the Courtauld Institute of Art. A perfect combination of art and science. After receiving the three year postgraduate diploma and beginning a PhD on colour measurement of paintings, a vacancy was advertised in the National Gallery Scientific Department where I worked for five years on preventive conservation of museum collections.

In 1985 I moved to the National Trust to advise on paintings conservation and preventive conservation in historic buildings. Over the next thirty years I was promoted to Head Conservator, Historic Properties Director, and Museums and Collections Director, broadening my portfolio to include archaeology, historic buildings, gardens and parks. Five years ago I left the National Trust to take on a number of governance roles including Trustee of the new English Heritage Trust and the Landmark Trust, President of the International Institute for Conservation of Historic and Artistic Works and become a member of the Heritage Lottery Fund South West Committee. In the most delightful piece of circular fortune, I was recently appointed a Trustee of the Science Museum Group, the very organisation who gave me that great piece of advice nearly forty years earlier that set me off on my career in heritage conservation.

What is your best piece of advice?

Find a mentor. It is unlikely to be the same person throughout your career. You will have different ambitions at different times and you need to find the inspirational person who can help you develop.

50

Portrait by Theodore Ramos

Professor Dame Lesley Rees MEDICAL PRACTITIONER AND FIRST FEMALE DEAN OF ST. BARTHOLOMEW’S HOSPITAL MEDICAL COLLEGE

(Lesley Davis-Dawson, MGC 1959 Leaver)

After graduating with distinction from St. Bartholomew’s in 1965, Dame Lesley embarked upon co-founding a world-renowned Centre for Clinical Endocrinology and has won numerous awards for research. She was the first Secretary-General of the International Society for Endocrinology to be elected from outside the United States, and in 1980 she was one of the youngest Fellows to be admitted to the Royal College of Physicians. She became Dean of St Bartholomew’s Hospital Medical College (Bart’s) from 1989-95, the first and only woman to hold the post. Dame Lesley led the College to a successful merger with the London Hospital Medical College as part of Queen Mary University of London in 1995.

I had a happy time at MGC. I remember well Miss Jones, the Housemistress at Mount who was a wonderful woman and had a huge influence on me. She came straight to the point, didn’t mess around, and was instrumental in me achieving a place at medical school at a time when it was unusual for women.

This reflected the ethos at MGC as a whole. We were expected to get on with things, to do the best we could. It was a well-grounded school, straightforward and honest. There seemed to be an almost unwritten rule about standards and expectations, and we knew not to fall below them.

Important to me through my career was doing what I thought was intrinsically the right thing. Sometimes there are difficult decisions to be made, and you can’t expect others to make them for you.

I still keep in touch with MGC friends. I have fond memories of Drama Society, which I headed and loved. And of course, I loved exhilarating walks on the Malvern hills. It is such a beautiful place.

Wasn’t I lucky.

What is your best piece of advice?

Have the courage of your convictions: sometimes you don’t know what the consequences will be, but go with your gut.

51

India Wilkinson (1998-2017) YOUNGEST BODY DONOR IN THE UK

(MSJ 2016 Leaver)

As a student, India excelled in her studies, but MSJ also helped develop the things she found harder: team sport, socialising and public speaking. In Year 13, a Prefect with A* predictions, a player on the 1st Netball Team and holding an offer to study Chemistry at St Andrews University, India was diagnosed with brain cancer.

Subsequent surgery paralysed India down the right hand side and left her unable to speak, read or write. She was however, fully cognisant and consequently aware of her deficit. Bravely accepting the unimaginable, India applied herself to her rehabilitation; many of the important lessons she had learnt at MSJ aiding her progress. With dogged determination she learnt to walk again. Harnessing the dedication and diligence she had applied to GCSEs, she redeveloped her literacy skills. Using grit and resilience, India regained her voice and all the while, she displayed a remarkable composure and acceptance of her circumstances.

She compiled a bucket list involving skydiving for charity, having a tattoo, travelling to several countries, planning her funeral, making a short film and (most importantly to her) arranging for her posthumous body to be accepted for scientific research. India acknowledged her fate and wanted loved ones to enjoy the time they had left with her. She wrote letters ‘for afterwards’ to relations and listed possessions she wanted to be distributed amongst friends and family.

Several months after India died, her parents received an email from Bristol University Bequest Office naming her as the youngest body donor in the UK. They wrote, “It is unusual for a person who is so young to consider body donation. The majority of our donors are much older, or have worked in Science backgrounds throughout their lives, but India came to a decision about body donation that most donors consider over some time. She clearly had a spirit of generosity and forethought beyond her years.”

India’s life should have been much longer, but in her few years she graciously captivated all MSJ aspires to. She was courageous, unique, committed, conscientious; a truly exceptional individual. And in the end, she made a difference to Science, as she had dreamed that she might.

India’s film can be found on YouTube and is called ‘Inside My Head’.

52

Rebecca Dykes (1987-2017) CIVIL SERVANT AND HUMANITARIAN

(MGC 2005 Leaver)

Rebecca was a pioneering humanitarian who was tragically killed while working for the British Embassy in Beirut, Lebanon, in December 2017, aged just 30. After studying Social Anthropology at Manchester Univerity, she worked for the VSO Exchange Programme, and then in 2010 for the Crown Agents in the Conflict, Humanitarian and Security Operations Team. In 2014, she became a civil servant in the UK government’s Stabilisation Unit, which focuses on peace-building in countries affected by conflict. In that role, Rebecca spent much of her time working on deployments to Sub-Saharan Africa, where she managed relationships with United Nations and European Union peace-building missions.

Around this time, Rebecca studied for a Master’s in International Security and Global Governance at Birkbeck, University of London.

In 2014, Rebecca moved to DFID’s Middle East and North Africa Department. She then worked as a Research Analyst specialising in Iraq and Libya at the Foreign Office.

The year of her death, Rebecca was promoted to Programme and Policy Manager. That role took her to Lebanon, where she focused on improving the lives of Syrian and Palestinian refugees and impoverished Lebanese host communities. The projects she oversaw helped those communities become more peaceful and resilient through the establishment of social stability dialogue mechanisms, increasing the capacity of strained essential services and the creation of jobs.

Rebecca loved her work and was proud to dedicate herself to causes in which she believed. Just hours before she died, she had been overjoyed to learn that she had successfully secured the future of the Palestinian Youth Project, a project which improves social stability in Palestinian communities across Lebanon.

Following Rebecca’s death, the Rebecca Dykes Foundation was established to continue her stabilisation work in Lebanon, with a focus on women’s empowerment. The Foundation has already funded a substantial project in collaboration with Christian Aid and Lebanese women’s charity KAFA to support a shelter for vulnerable women and establish a 24/7 emergency helpline.

Advice that we might learn from Rebecca’s experience is to dare to follow your heart; our capacity to care for others is powerful and can take us to exciting places and inspire others to follow in our path.

53

Stephanie Haire GLOBAL MERCHANDISER, JIMMY CHOO, LONDON (Stephanie Burford, MGC 2002 Leaver)

Malvern Girls’ College gave me a fantastic foundation for my career. My love of Art meant that I was always in the Art block at School.

I spent hours researching and being inspired by all aspects of the subject, including painting, drawing, textiles and fashion. I left school with 3 As for A Level in Economics, Art History and Art. During my gap year, I worked for a magazine in Shanghai, China. I knew I wanted a career within fashion but wanted to combine it with business, so I completed a Joint Honours degree at Nottingham University in Economics and Philosophy, before taking a postgraduate degree in Buying and Merchandising at London College of Fashion.

My first job was as an Allocator with Cath Kidston in Notting Hill, London. It was a tiny company at that time with only a handful of shops in the UK. As the company grew, I was promoted to Merchandiser and moved into the International Merchandising team supporting Cath Kidston across Japan, Korea, Thailand and Hong Kong. I travelled widely across Asia as the company expanded. When I left, there were over 200 international stores stretching across the globe.

I have since gained further experience in retail with other well-known brands such as Tommy Hilfiger and Calvin Klein and my current position is with the luxury brand Jimmy Choo, in the Global Merchandising team.

My job at Jimmy Choo really is my dream job. It involves planning and working closely with the design and production teams in Italy and driving the business globally with international teams from USA, Canada and across Asia and - of course - being able to wear the world’s most beautiful shoes while I do it!

What’s your best piece of advice?

Work hard, play hard, be kind and make sure you surround yourself with people that inspire you and make you the best version of you.

54

Susan Shaw MCISI FIRST FEMALE TO WALK THE FLOOR OF THE LONDON STOCK EXCHANGE

(Susan Pretty, MGC 1953 Leaver)

I will always feel indebted to “Pippy”, my Summerside Housemistress, for her encouragement and understanding, and her sense of fun!

She instilled in us a great sense of fairness, and also a deep and lasting appreciation of the Arts, which, with my theatrical background, stood me in good stead.

I was not a particularly academic pupil, but I made several life-long friends, and left the Sixth Form to take a secretarial course, which I HATED - but must admit is still very useful. Following a range of jobs, both in politics and commerce, then a stint of exhibition work which I enjoyed, a vacancy suddenly and most successfully fell into my lap for a Guide in the newly-formed Stock Exchange Visitors’ Gallery, where languages were also useful. Trained thoroughly by the Council in all aspects of the Exchange’s workings and including keeping abreast of the effect of world events on prices, I enjoyed five wonderful years there, becoming Senior Guide, representing the Stock Exchange at events abroad and greeting many VIPs in the Gallery. And, of course, during those days I got to know so many of the Members, and also their clients.

I then chose to join a Stockbroker with his own private-client business, initially for three weeks. But encouraged by the instant success of the increased business, I remained for over thirty years! My “boss”, with his Swedish wife and upbringing, was very keen that women should be admitted to full membership of the Stock Exchange, on equal terms with the then all-male bastion; but three times the proposal was turned down by the Members - one reason being that there were no separate facilities for women (similar to an original reason given in the House of Lords!). Finally, with the merger of the London Stock Exchange with all the Provincial ones, where there was already a woman member, the barriers had to fall, and twelve of us were admitted to full membership on 26th March, 1973.

Not knowing quite what the reaction would be, I became the first to enter the trading floor. The rest is history, as they say!

What does success look like?

I am pleased that I helped to break the glass ceiling for women in the City.

What is your best piece of advice?

Opportunities seldom occur twice: if it feels right, don’t wait; and in my opinion, it is not WHAT you know so much as WHO you know.

55

Alice Stapleton CAREER CHANGE COACH FOR THOSE IN THEIR 20S AND 30S WHO WANT TO LOVE WHAT THEY DO (St James’s and The Abbey 1998 Leaver)

Prior to becoming a Career Coach, I studied Psychology and Criminology at degree level, moving on to train and work as a Probation Officer helping to rehabilitate offenders. I’ve always been fascinated by people, and why we behave the way we do. It felt incredibly rewarding to help offenders change and cease their criminal behaviour. However, I decided, fairly soon after qualifying, that I didn’t want to do that job forever. I was quite young at the time, and the role was quite stressful because of its high workload. Government cuts meant that you had very little time to help those most in need.

When exploring alternative career options, I found that coaching matched my natural strengths, people skills, and previous training in how to motivate people to change. I therefore retrained as a Career Coach by completing a Masters in Coaching and Mentoring Practice.

Eight years on, I am now a self-employed Career Change Coach, working one-to-one with individuals in their 20s and 30s who want to change career but don’t know what they want to do instead. I help clients identify what careers would suit them best, and what role would give them purpose, fulfilment, and enjoyment. I hate the thought of people feeling stuck in a job they hate; life is far too short for that! I feel very privileged to be part of their journey, as they move into something they are truly passionate about.

It’s hard starting your own business but the flexibility, autonomy, and lack of office politics is brilliant. Because of my decision to specialise in coaching young professionals, I’ve found that what I do is very appealing to the media. As a result, being a coach has unexpectedly opened me up to some fantastic press opportunities for well-known magazines, newspapers, radio, and TV. It’s a great job for anyone that likes to listen and talk all day!

What’s your best piece of advice?

Whatever you do, don’t just take the first job you’re offered after you leave education, unless it’s something you really want to do. It’s very easy to get stuck there for years after. Give your career a good deal of thought before you make your first move.

56

Alice Welch ROBERT WELCH DESIGN, JOINT MANAGING DIRECTOR (The Abbey 1976 Leaver)

When I left school, I attended Art College to gain a Foundation in Art, as this seemed like a natural familial progression. However, I soon became far more interested in the prospect of applying my creative skills to film make-up. I then studied for an IHBC (International Hair and Beauty Certificate) qualification at Nuneaton Technical College.

Although this did not take me into my dream career at the time, it gave me a skill and (more importantly) a means to earn money and work for some amazing companies, meeting people from all walks of life.

I set up my own business in Warwick with my mother (Patricia Welch née Hinksman – also a student at The Abbey) and the salon went from strength to strength. The key life skill I learnt during this early career was to develop keen listening skills. This has held me in good stead throughout my work (and personal) life.

My second career came about in 1984 when my father suggested that I come and join him in the business, which at the time was a three-person team, and I took a deep breath and said yes!

In the early days, I did every job from shop work to packing parcels and learnt the business literally from the bottom up. My first major step for the business was to start marketing what was then only my father’s designs, by selling at the major consumer shows: House & Garden, BBC Good Food Show etc. Over 20 years later, we are now a company of 70 members of staff and sell to retailers, hotels and restaurants all over the world. There will always be challenges, with fierce competition and the changing world of how shoppers purchase, but for me, a moment which made me reflect was when we were awarded two Queens Awards for Industry. Princess Anne presented them to my brother Rupert and me with the words ‘Your father would be proud’.

What’s your best piece of advice?

Don’t think you need to have sorted your career path when you leave school. Life (and the skills you develop) can take unexpected twists and turns … just have the courage to give all opportunities your best energy and BE BRAVE!

57

Alison Martin HARPIST (MGC 1975 Leaver)

I have been principal Harp of English National Opera (ENO) since 1984. I consider myself to be incredibly lucky in the uncertain world of the Arts. I had great support from Malvern Girls’ College. Piano was my instrument then, and I had wonderful teaching and experiences on Music Corridor. I was dithering about a career path at 17, and the main reason that I am in music is that Miss June Roundhill, the Domestic Science teacher, insisted that I should go in that direction. I owe her everything.

I began at Music College studying piano accompaniment. It was an engrossing and demanding two years, playing for my own teacher, accompanying other students and learning from theirs. But I knew I didn’t want to teach. So with mad abandon, I changed Music College and instrument. I had been second study harp at school, and now Sidonie Goossens was kind enough to take me on, and I worked my socks off for such an icon.

Freelancing in any of the Arts is an unpredictable life. You take on everything you are offered and you learn fast. But I was lucky enough to get the harp job at ENO after five years. I have had a wonderful time, both at ENO, and with “outside” work - guest principal at Sydney Opera House, and tours of Europe, Japan and China.

But it isn’t easy. At 61 I still have to be at my best at all times, up till 10.45pm on long shows, and at morning rehearsals. I can’t go down to a three day week or work from home. I have to make sure my hearing is perfect and that no arthritis is creeping in, that my stamina is right up to the mark. I don’t go sick, because I’m the only harp. There are difficult conductors, and there is immense performance pressure. So far, so good. I can retire when I want, but how can I leave this - and what next?

I have had such a rewarding life; I have spent it listening to and working with the most talented musicians in the world, and laughing a lot. I am still surprised and delighted at how things have turned out.

What’s your best piece of advice?

If you have a vocation, you must follow it; be prepared for nose to the grindstone and possible disappointment, but never play safe.

58

Aminatta Forna FRSL OBE WRITER (MGC 1982 Leaver)

To be a writer you must want it more than you want anything else, which I think is true of every art. Some people write well, but would not wish to be writers; they find they are happier in a job where their skills can be used, working as a journalist or academic, say. I know this because I have been a reporter and I have held academic posts and I have met those people.

To wish to be a novelist is to want to spend the best years of your life alone in a room with people who don’t exist, but who nevertheless follow you everywhere you go for months like unruly children. Those days when I wake up in the morning and I have nothing else to do but write, even when I can’t seem to figure out where exactly my story is going, or my characters remain a mystery even to their creator, or the memory of a critical review or a bad word presses upon my mood, like a stranger’s thumb to my temple, those days are still my happiest.

Some people think writers are good role models, especially if those writers are women, and we can be if you don’t care for job security, healthcare or a pension. I became a writer because I paid no heed to the many people who warned me against it, even told me I would surely fail. I felt I had no other choice, you see. Writers are wont to say such things, alas it is true. I left a well-paid job and I took a great risk. Writing is no occupation for the risk-averse. You must risk everything and even after you have done so, you may find that you are never more than mediocre as a writer and yet sell in the millions, or you may be brilliant and go unnoticed. If all goes moderately well there will be book launches and interviews and there will be speeches and there may even be prizes. But the best thing of all is that you will wake up in the morning knowing there is nothing else you would rather do than write. And sometimes you have all the time in the world to do it.

What does success look like?

It is playing the long game. It is easier to be a one hit wonder than to stay on form and keep improving. Stay with the plan. That goes for life and love, too.

What’s your best piece of advice?

My best piece of advice is the one I have pinned to a board in my office. ‘Nobody ever won a prize for paperwork.’ Admin is death to creativity. Keep on top of it, but don’t let it take over. Hire someone else to do it as soon as you possibly can.

59

Annabel Rayer HEAD OF COMMUNICATIONS (NORTHERN EUROPE AND MIDDLE EAST) AT DYSON (Annabel Warner, MGC 2002 Leaver)

When reading Michelle Obama’s book, Becoming, her opening remarks struck a chord with me. She said that when young people are asked ‘what do you want to be when you grow up?’ it has an implied finality. That you grow up and you become what you wanted to be, then that’s the end. She said – and I agree – that that clearly is not true in today’s society.

When at MGC, I was pretty sure that all I wanted to be ‘when I grew up’ was a broadcast news journalist – Kate Adie style. I heeded the advice of the careers team and avoided applying for a pure broadcast journalist degree and instead set my heart on studying Government at LSE. I got a place. Win. Yet I decided to defer for a year. Looking back, it was ultimately that gap year which changed my life path.

I worked in bars. I sold double glazing. I spent three months working on a marine project in Fiji. I also completed a short internship in the House of Commons working in the office of the Leader of the Official Opposition. Yet the opportunity which fundamentally changed stuff for me was two weeks work experience at The Citizen newspaper in Gloucester as a trainee reporter. I was advised to defer university for another year and if I didn’t like the job, I could always take up my place a year later. So that’s exactly what I did. The truth of the matter though is I loved the job and I never made it to university. I then landed a job in the House of Commons as Parliamentary Press Officer to Jeremy Hunt MP. Westminster life was fantastic and I found myself in situations where I was briefing the likes of David Cameron and Theresa May. I moved back to Gloucestershire when I started a family and I spent a fun few years at Nestlé Nespresso as Head of PR, Events and Sponsorship where I remained until I received a call from Dyson inviting me for interview early last year. Life at Dyson is fantastic – a British technology business which is brimming with incredibly intelligent and talented individuals who challenge and inspire each other daily. While I am not an engineer, I work alongside those that are, day in, day out. What is amazing to see is how Dyson is inspiring more and more women into the engineering profession. Dyson has its own university, The Dyson Institute of Engineering and Technology, and this year over 40% of all undergraduates joining the programme are female. It is a great place for young talent – and it is a great place especially for female talent.

What’s your best piece of advice?

Growing up never ends. Keep your options open and try whatever takes your fancy. A decision is never non-reversible.

60

Anne Borrowdale SOLICITOR AND SCHOOL GOVERNOR (Anne Lea, MGC 1970 Leaver)

I have spent 30 years volunteering to serve as a school governor in sometimes challenging situations and taking on leadership roles within that service. I qualified as a solicitor with a City law firm in March 1977. Although it was then over 50 years since the first woman had been admitted to the profession, there were still comparatively few women solicitors.

After our first child was born six years later, my husband’s success meant I did not have to work from a financial point of view.

My education and secure family background had given me the confidence to believe that if I worked hard, I could do anything I put my mind to. This also gave me the confidence to believe that I could achieve success from working as a volunteer as well as from being employed.

I was drawn into the world of education. I wished to make a difference and took on challenges; the local maintained primary school when it was threatened with closure and then a local prep school following a very serious fire which destroyed two thirds of the school.

I remained a governor of the primary school for 25 years, chairing the governing body for 10 years and was on the board of the prep school for 10 years during which time the school was successfully rebuilt and became financially secure. During this time I also became a governor of MGC. I took a very close interest in the school’s merger with St. James’s and served on the merger steering committee.

Following the merger I remained a governor of Malvern St James and chaired Council for 10 years, retiring in 2017.

Looking back, my experience of serving as a school governor for 30 years in both the maintained and independent sectors has been very rewarding. I could not have taken on these challenges successfully had it not been for my education and professional training.

What’s your best piece of advice?

Aim high, work hard and believe in yourself.

61

Barbara Greenwood VOLUNTEER WITH GIRLGUIDING UK (Barbara Walker, MGC 1967 Leaver)

I was a Brownie before MGC, but never a Guide. It wasn’t until my own girls were of Brownie age that I rejoined as an adult volunteer.

It’s a familiar story: “Brown Owl is leaving and the pack will have to close if someone doesn’t help out. It’s only a couple of hours a week.” That was 30 years ago and the two hours a week often turned into 20!

I ran the Brownie Pack until five years ago. Being a unit leader is a very rewarding experience, especially seeing a shy seven year old girl blossom into one ready for Guides at 10. I worked with a great team and made many friends.

For three years as District Commissioner I supported all the adults in the area, which in a pre-email era was quite a challenge and it required a different set of skills. When my role as District Commissioner finished I was asked to arrange the retrospective CRB checking (as it then was) of every Guider in the County after which I was awarded the Good Service to Guiding Brooch in 2008. Every new volunteer now undertakes a DBS check as part of her initial training.

Since retiring from Brownies, I help in our County shop each month and using my skills as a retired Museum professional, volunteer as Heritage Adviser for the County. One of the most enjoyable parts is heritage evenings with the girls. This keeps the Guiding heritage alive and the girls love dressing up in old uniforms.

Girlguiding is a unique girls-only space dedicated to creating a better world for girls and young women. Girls take what they do in guiding with them as they grow up, helping them develop the skills and confidence to become the young women they want to be.

What’s your best piece of advice?

You won’t know if you can do it unless you try.

62

Bryony Tomlinson INVESTMENT BANK DIRECTOR (MGC 2003 Leaver)

Having studied Philosophy and Psychology at Oxford University, I initially avoided applying to traditional City jobs, as at the time I didn’t really understand what most of them did! The property industry seemed more tangible, so I started my career at one of the large surveying firms where I was sponsored through a part-time Masters alongside work.

I began in investment agency, advising clients on buying and selling commercial property (offices, retail etc). I then pushed for a move into investment management where I worked on the property portfolios of various UK pension funds. Whilst in that team I got involved in business development, which is when I started to pivot towards my current focus. I then moved into investor relations at a private equity real estate firm which was doing more complex property investments. My role was liaising with their institutional investors (e.g. pension funds, insurance companies etc.), which gave me a better overview of the capital flows behind the commercial property markets.

In 2011 I was approached about a job at my current firm; our team act as advisors to real estate managers, helping them to raise their funds. I cover institutional investors in the UK, Nordics and France, and I work across a mix of global strategies; our mandates range from raising a French office fund, to a US healthcare fund. Whilst the hours in investment banking can be long and the clients demanding, when you take satisfaction from your job, it makes it tolerable! I enjoy the variety and working within a driven team. I travel within Europe about one day a week, which has its pros and cons...I’m writing this on a late night flight to Helsinki!

Both real estate and investment banking are still male dominated areas and I regularly find myself the only woman in a meeting.

However, one of the most useful things I developed at Malvern was confidence in my own abilities, and it didn’t occur to me that my sex might hold me back in my career. Fortunately, and perhaps because of this, I don’t believe it has.

What’s your best piece of advice?

Push for and seize opportunities. Your experience is what you will get paid for in the future, so place value on broadening it and keep learning. Build your network but don’t focus on what your contacts will deliver for you in the short term; careers are long so value your network in its own right, and over time, it will deliver.

63

Dame Clara Furse DBE CHAIRMAN AT HSBC UK BANK PLC (Clara Siemans, St James’ School 1975 Leaver)

As well as her Chairman role at HSBC UK Bank plc, Clara is a non-executive Director of Vodafone and Amadeus IT. She is a Senior Advisor to Chatham House, a member of Bocconi University’s International Advisory Council and in 2012, she chaired the Lead Expert Group of the UK Government’s Office for Science Foresight Project on computer trading in financial markets. She was an External Member of the Bank of England’s Financial Policy Committee (FPC) from 2013 to 2016 and CEO of The London Stock Exchange from 2001 to 2009.

“Citizen of Nowhere” I grew up all over the world, courtesy of my father’s job working for a large Canadian multinational company.

By the time I landed at St James’, I was speaking three languages; Dutch was my first language, then English and Spanish. But my education at American International schools in far flung places was pretty chequered, to say the least! Despite this and the rather strange experience of wearing a smart navy blue suit, a boater and having to learn to play lacrosse (at which I was absolutely rubbish) on freezing cold and muddy fields in miniscule sport ‘skorts’, St James’ got me through numerous O Levels and three A Levels.

I was extremely fortunate to get into the London School of Economics, which enabled me to pursue my dream of a career at the heart of global finance. I married a wonderful Brit, and have made this country my own. The City of London is, in my experience, a wonderful place to work; a uniquely international and strategic UK asset, brimming with opportunity for bright and ambitious young women.

What’s your best piece of advice?

“Take the road less travelled” (but know where you want to go!).

64

Deirdre Anne Kinloch Anderson OBE SENIOR DIRECTOR, KINLOCH ANDERSON LIMITED (Deirdre Loryman, MGC 1956 Leaver)

I left Malvern Girls College in 1956 when I was 17. I was studying for my A Levels but was finding Botany and Zoology “limited” and wanted to “broaden my horizons”. I left in Lower 6 and went on to a year’s course for overseas students at L’Universite Grenoble after which I went to St Andrews University, graduating with an MA in French and Spanish.

I married immediately aftear graduation. My husband was the fifth generation in his clothing and textile company in Edinburgh, whilst my commitment centred around the welfare of our family of three children. Our lifestyle roles were complementary but very different. There was a lot of travel to be encompassed in those days. When the family had grown up, I then joined Kinloch Anderson Limited as “leaflet delivery girl”. I was 50! I was fully committed to the workplace but determined that promotion would come by merit and not through privilege. Opportunities to take responsibility came my way, not only in the company but also with the Leith Chamber of Commerce, Queen Margaret University College, The Institute of Management, The RSA and the Merchant Company of the City of Edinburgh. In 1999 I was elected as the first lady member of The Society of High Constables of the City of Edinburgh since its foundation in 1611.

I have taken leading management positions in our Company with the Retail Shop Employment, the Corporate Division for the Design and Development of Exclusive Tartans and for the Development of the Kinloch Anderson Brand overseas. I host group visits, I speak about tartan and Highland Dress and/or Family Business both within and outwith our premises in Leith, Edinburgh.

Tartan is one of Scotland’s great icons of identity and an expertise in which our company is renowned. In January 2010 I was awarded an OBE for services to the textile industry following the establishment of the Scottish Register of Tartans within The National Archives of Scotland, thereby safeguarding Scotland’s Tartan Heritage in perpetuity within the public domain.

What’s your best piece of advice?

It is not what you know but what you do with what you know that really matters most of all. The difference between a person and a special person is that extra thought, courtesy and expression of thanks.

65

Elizabeth Oliver MBE ANIMAL WELFARE ACTIVIST IN JAPAN (MGC 1959 Leaver)

People often ask me, “Why did you go to Japan?” To which I answer, “out of curiosity.” Actually I came here as a result of several coincidences, as I call them. I loved travelling and had plans to visit Mongolia (this was back in 1965); just before setting off I was staying at the home of an MGC classmate, Louise Wright, whose father had a guest from Japan. He was one of the first Japanese to visit Britain for business. Being a polite Japanese, he offered me his name card and said if I ever came to Japan, to look him up (little did he ever think I might take him up on this offer!). To cut a very long story short, whilst I was in Hong Kong I was debating whether to go on to Australia, when I discovered a cargo boat destined for Kobe, Japan. The rest is history, and the kind Japanese man who had given me his name card, became my mentor and father-figure in Japan. I returned to the UK and studied Japanese at the School of Oriental and African Studies and eventually returned to become an English teacher at a university in Osaka.

Although I came to adopt several dogs and cats while here, it was only when I began volunteering at another organisation that I came to realise the enormity of the stray animal population in Japan. This led me in 1990 to form my own organisation called ARK (Animal Refuge Kansai), mainly with the help of friends and volunteers. ARK grew steadily but the Kobe Earthquake in 1995 was a watershed moment for us when we took in 600 animal victims. I could no longer continue teaching while heading what was had become a much bigger organisation.

We now have the original shelter in Osaka, a Tokyo ARK office where animals are kept with foster families and a new facility in Sasayama in neighbouring Hyogo prefecture. We care for nearly 400 animals, mostly dogs and cats, and employ 30 staff. In 2011 we experienced another large quake and tsunami in Tohoku which brought in a further 200 animals, but most of our earthquake animals could find forever homes. I might add that 60% of our adoptees in Tokyo are foreigners, attached to Embassies so when people go home they take their pets with them. ARK animals are now to be found in many countries around the world. Most of my work nowadays is involved in management and fundraising and I attend international conferences and give lectures in Japan and overseas.

I was honoured to receive an MBE in 2012 for services to animal welfare and civil society in Japan.

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Elizabeth Rita CELEBRITY HAIR & MAKE-UP ARTIST (Elizabeth Scott, St James’s 2005 Leaver)

I am an outrageous dyslexic but St James’s taught me how to overcome it and turn it into an advantage, which I am forever thankful for. They honed in on my artistic skills which led me to gain a BA Honours in Theatre Design and an ITEC Diploma in Fashion, Theatre and Media Hair & Make-Up from Shepperton Studios in London.

I joined a London make-up agency within a year and a half after leaving college which is very rare; I still thank my lucky stars for this fantastic opportunity and after ten years, I am still with my wonderful agent today.

Now for a bit of celebrity name-dropping! I’ve painted such faces as Rita Ora, Sam Smith, Snow Patrol, Jonas Blue, The Vamps, Steps and even, somewhat incongruously, proper old school actors like Richard E Grant and Robert Lindsay. I have also been part of the make-up team for Taylor Swift, Rihanna and Katy Perry. Moreover, I have recently been reunited with one of St James’s very own stars, Jennifer Kirby from Call the Midwife. Some of my favourite TV shows to my name include X Factor, The Voice, Britain’s Got Talent and Strictly Come Dancing.

One mega-label for which I designed hair & make-up for their London trunk shows for three years running, was Christian Dior. This was a massive achievement for me and a real stepping stone in my career. Over the last two years I have been working with the powerhouse skincare brand Nivea as their ambassador. This has included lots of presenting to large audiences here and abroad, which St James’s prepared me for over the seven years. I have also been interviewed in a lot of magazines and written my own articles, which, for a dyslexic, was one of my biggest fears but also one of my best achievements.

What’s your best piece of advice?

My parents have always told me “Try your best at everything, that’s all anyone can ask”. Secondly, choose a career you love as life is too short to do something you hate.

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Emma Gilpin Jacobs GLOBAL COMMUNICATIONS AND BUSINESS LEADER (MGC 1987 Leaver)

Emma has built her career leading global organisations in designing transformative partnerships, growing talented teams and devising and delivering creative ideas that strengthen reputation and relevance.

As Senior Director for the Pew Trusts (including Pew Research Center), Emma currently leads the institution's expansion in the UK and Europe. Pew is an independent, non-profit, non-governmental organisation founded in 1948 with a mission to solve today’s most challenging problems. Emma recently launched a new partnership between Pew and The Economist, The Evidence Initiative, which aims to shine a light on the use of evidence in decision-making and public policy across the G20.

Throughout her career Emma has specialised in offering strategic advice and management across media, business, politics and notfor-profits. She has served internationally for more than 20 years in a number of executive roles, predominantly for large global media companies. From 2000-2006 she was International Director of Public Affairs for Time Inc., developing Time and Fortune’s European and Asian offerings.

Emma then served at the Financial Times Group between 2007 and 2013 as a member of the Executive team that successfully managed the FT’s transition to digital. Emma has also served as Strategic Communications Consultant for a number of organisations, including the office of the UK Deputy Prime Minister. She has also lived and worked in the US and Asia as well as London, where she is now based, and was educated internationally until joining Malvern Girls’ College in 1985, before gaining her BA in History from the University of Bristol.

What’s your best piece of advice?

Listen to your inner voice, trust your instincts and work hard at what those draw you to.

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Felicity Houlbrooke ACTRESS WORKING IN MAJOR THEATRES THROUGHOUT THE UK AND INTERNATIONALLY (St James’s 2005 Leaver)

I always hugely enjoyed Drama whilst at St James’s and relished the opportunities of performing in school productions and singing in the choir (headed by the inspirational Mrs Lynne Lindner). However, I never considered performing as a career option. I went to Sheffield University to study English Literature, having developed a passion for it whilst at school, largely thanks to Ms Angie Fearnside who instilled a love of Shakespeare in me that I still frequently draw upon now. Whilst at university, I became heavily involved in the University Theatre Company and met people who were planning to go on to train in acting after their degree. This had never occurred to me as an option and so I explored the idea further and gained a place at Mountview Academy in London to study on their postgraduate acting course.

After my training, I was fortunate enough to be taken on by a wonderful agency who I am still represented by now. I subsequently worked in a number of commercial theatre productions including UK tours of: The Importance of Being Earnest, Agatha Christie’s Black Coffee alongside Liza Goddard and Robert Powell and The King’s Speech with Jason Donovan. I have also had the privilege of performing around the world, including Off Broadway in Henry Naylor’s award-winning Echoes.

One of my favorite roles to date is that of Bobbie in the West End production of The Railway Children at the purpose-built King’s Cross Theatre. It was a wonderful experience being able to recreate such a well-known and loved story on stage, as well as act alongside a real vintage steam train!

My work on touring productions has brought me to Malvern Theatres three times thus far, most recently in November in a production of My Mother Said I Never Should. Each occurrence was incredibly special to me. It is a privilege to be able to stand on the stage that fed me so much inspiration whilst growing up.

What’s your best piece of advice?

Although knock-backs are hard, try not to take them personally. Much of the time, it is simply a case of you not being the right fit for that particular project or role. Learn from it and you will build resilience. All you can do is go in and show them what you do. Be your brilliant self. No-one else can do that. Remember, they want you to do well and to be the right person. You could be the solution to their problem.

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Felicity Rogers BA Hons, PgDip PROFESSIONAL SINGER (St James’s 2008 Leaver)

I always enjoyed Music and Performing Arts at School and the opportunities available at St James’s were fantastic. During my time at school I was a founder girl chorister at Worcester Cathedral. I was inspired to read Music at Durham University and then to complete a Postgraduate Diploma in Vocal Performance at The Royal Birmingham Conservatoire. During both my courses I enjoyed singing in opera ensembles and chamber choirs.

Since graduating I have been lucky to sing with organisations such as the Royal Shakespeare Company (in both Stratford-upon-Avon and The Barbican, London), Ex Cathedra, Armonico Consort and Birmingham Cathedral Choir. This has included several collaborations with The Birmingham Royal Ballet taking me to The Coliseum and Sadlers Wells in London; Alhambra Palace, Granada and Birmingham Hippodrome. I also enjoy education projects, and have worked with children’s choirs in venues such as The Royal Albert Hall and Symphony Hall Birmingham.

Being a self employed freelance musician can be daunting but the variety of my work is so exciting it is worth the determination and hard work. I am also privileged to teach the boy and girl choristers at Birmingham Cathedral and run the music library there. Teaching singing and music theory to young children is exciting because they have such energy to learn and succeed.

Sometimes I am a soloist with an orchestra, sometimes a choir member working with other singers as an ensemble, and I enjoy both equally. Music really is about collaborating with others to create something beautiful at the end of it. I’ve been in CD recordings of both sacred and secular choral music and met some truly fantastic musicians along the way, in addition to radio and TV broadcasts. It really is extremely varied.

What’s your best piece of advice?

Take advantage of all the extra curricular activities available to you and don’t give up on your aspirations. If you need extra tutoring or to do some extra work to achieve your goals, it will all be worth it in the end. Don’t be afraid to ask for help or some guidance, there are lots of important decisions to be made in preparation for leaving school. The music industry can be very competitive, like all jobs, but keep going!

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Fiona Sperry BAFTA AWARD WINNING VIDEOGAME PRODUCER, CEO AND FOUNDER OF THREE FIELDS ENTERTAINMENT (MGC 1988 Leaver)

After five happy years at MGC, I went to University College London to study History. I had no clue what kind of job I wanted so I just chose a subject I enjoyed. After leaving university I still didn’t really know what I wanted to do so I temped in London until I fell into my first ‘proper’ job as an Editorial Assistant at the McGraw-Hill Book Company, before taking a sideways step into the videogames industry.

The company I joined, Criterion, primarily made technology for games. The timing was fortunate as they had early access to the as yet unreleased and closely guarded secret, PlayStation2. We were complete nobodies but we made a racing game, Burnout, which became a massive success. Over the next 12 years, I oversaw the development of five Burnout games, the shooter Black as well as two Need for Speed games once we had been acquired by global games giant, Electronic Arts. I also ran all of Electronic Arts’ game development in the UK. It was an amazing time and we won a heap of awards including four BAFTAs. After having my daughter, I left and formed my own studio, Three Fields Entertainment, where I continue to design, create and publish games for PlayStation, Xbox and PC. What’s your best piece of advice?

Do every job you’re given, however trivial or menial they seem, to the best of your abilities. People above you will notice your work ethic and give you the leg up you need to progress.

What does success look like?

Being happy and comfortable in your own skin is more important than any amount of power, influence or money. This can take time to develop but once you have it, you have it for life and no-one can take that away from you.

What’s your best piece of advice?

Do every job you’re given, however trivial or menial they seem, to the best of your abilities. People above you will notice your work ethic and give you the leg up you need to progress.

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Gaby Morgan EDITORIAL DIRECTOR AND ANTHOLOGIST (MGC 1988 Leaver)

Poetry is powerful stuff. It teaches us about empathy and tolerance: they are words for life.

I studied French at UCL and gravitated towards courses involving poetry. Towards the end of university, I worked for Macmillan Children’s Books during the holidays. I knew I had found my home. Two weeks after graduating, I joined full-time and have now been with them for 25 years.

Early in my career, I was given the opportunity to put together an anthology for National Poetry Day and have been compiling poetry collections for children and adults ever since, including five titles in the Read Me series, Poems from the First World War, Poems for Love and most recently A Year of Scottish Poems.

I publish poetry, non-fiction and fiction for children aged 6+. For every book, I build the team: author, illustrator, designer and editorial consultants. I work with a huge variety of authors including Carol Ann Duffy, Chris Riddell, Jacqueline Wilson, John Agard and Tony Robinson, and with institutions such as the BBC, Science Museum and Imperial War Museum. Books might be to do with an event or anniversary, such the centenary of the end of the Great War or the Suffragette movement, a trend, game or an important newsworthy topic, including the environmental impact of single use plastic or mental health and exams.

Ten years ago, I was central in setting up the Children’s Poetry Summit, a UK network of poets, publishers and literary organisations that celebrates and promotes poetry. It provides a regular forum for discussion, information exchange, sharing of ideas and good practice. The sheer variety of opportunities in publishing is endlessly rewarding. Every day brings with it something new and exciting.

What’s your best piece of advice?

You will stumble – sometimes things do not go as planned – there is a different way of getting there or you may find you should be somewhere else entirely!

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Gay Haines HEADHUNTER (Gail Connolly, MGC 1963 Leaver)

In 2016, I was surprised, flattered and delighted to be included in The Sunday Times/Debrett’s 500 Most Influential People in the UK – something I could never have imagined when I first started my life in advertising. The very notion would have been absurd.

For 13 years, I had the privilege of working at some of the best agencies in London: Y&R, CDP and JWT. In 1993, in need of a change, I bought out the founding partners of Kendall Tarrant. My ambition from day one was to try to take the business of headhunting onto a different plane.

Kendall Tarrant grew quickly and in 1996 I floated the company on the London stock market in order to raise the money to build a global business that could partner agencies around the world. Over the next few years, we opened offices in New York, San Francisco, Hong Kong, Shanghai and Australia. Kendall Tarrant became the pre-eminent global headhunting firm in the Communications sector.

In 2006, I took the decision to set up a different kind of offering - one that concentrated solely on senior briefs and candidates around the world. Grace Blue was born in September 2006, and from the beginning was blessed with the support of many of the most talented and respected communications practitioners, both as clients and candidates.

In 2014, I bought a building and developed a hotel in Ramsgate. The refurbishment of Albion House was difficult and challenging, but very exciting. Once the holiday home of Queen Victoria, it is now one of the most respected hotels in Kent. I have no idea why I thought it would be a good idea - on paper it was a mad decision for someone who had no idea how to run a hotel!

What’s your best piece of advice?

Do the right thing and fear nothing. Be fearless and assume that anything is possible.

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Hannah Buckley TEACHER IN A DYSLEXIC SPECIALIST SCHOOL (Hannah Evans, MSJ 2010 Leaver)

“It’s not fair,” I often cried to my parents, every day after school pursuing arduous homework that was meant to take 10 minutes, but took me 30. I always found throughout my early years of education that my dyslexia was slowly eroding my self-confidence and my ability to do anything right. Little did I know that all of this arduous homework would turn into what I would say is one of the greatest gifts that dyslexia can be transformed into: determination.

I joined St. James’s when I was 10 years old and it was there that I found teachers started to believe and focus on my abilities. I found this most prominently in Music under the direction of Lynne Lindner. Lynne quickly discovered my unknown musical abilities and was placing me into choirs and giving me singing lessons the minute I arrived. She instilled hope and purpose into me and throughout my secondary education gave me ample opportunities to sing solos in cathedrals, musicals, operas and on choir tours across Europe. Music had given me a voice that I was so scared to use before.

My passion for Music and the inspiration of Lynne’s teaching meant that I went onto pursue both Music and Education at university. I was so determined to be ‘that’ teacher who helps children find their voice, increases their self-belief and removes the stigma attached to learning difficulties. I feel very privileged in my current role, Head of Performing Arts at Calder House School, a dyslexic specialist school, where I can do this on a daily basis and help inspire dyslexic pupils to thrive.

What’s your best piece of advice?

The moment you have an instinct to act on a goal, physically move within five seconds or your brain will stop you. 5-4-3-2-1-GO!

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Dr Hannah Price MSci, PhD THEORETICAL QUANTUM PHYSICIST (MGC 2006 Leaver)

Scientific research makes you stretch your imagination to the extremes. In my work, I study the very coldest places in the universe, far colder even than the depths of outer space. Instead, these places can only be created in scientific laboratories, where clouds of atoms are cooled in state-of-the-art vacuum chambers. As a theorist, I propose and calculate new ways to make experiments like this reveal more about Quantum Physics and the fundamental ways in which our world works.

My path to being a theoretical physicist started in the Science and Maths classes at Malvern, and has taken me around the world to study, travel and work. After my time in Malvern, I attended a Sixth Form College in Italy, where my parents were teaching, before heading to the University of Cambridge to study Natural Sciences. To be honest, I initially felt overwhelmed by the confidence of other students there, but support from friends and professors helped me find my feet. By the end of my degree, I knew that I wanted to learn more, and so I stayed for another three years, doing a research PhD in Theoretical Physics and captaining the university’s competitive wine-tasting team (yes, that is a real thing!).

Now, almost six years later, I am still enthralled by Quantum Physics and I have my own PhD students, here at the University of Birmingham, where I am a Royal Society University Research Fellow and academic staff member. Looking back, the route to get here has not always been easy, but it has been exhilarating. Some highlights include four years living in the Italian Alps as a scientific researcher, and winning this year’s Maxwell Medal, awarded by the UK Institute of Physics to a young theoretical physicist. Most of all though, it is such a privilege to spend each day trying, in a very small way, to push back the limits of what we know.

What’s your best piece of advice?

Don’t be put off by the stereotypes – people often expect scientists and mathematicians to be white men who act like awkward geniuses, and that is simply wrong. Have confidence in yourself and help us change these outdated and harmful preconceptions.

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Imogen Edwards-Jones AUTHOR, JOURNALIST AND BROADCASTER (MGC 1986 Leaver)

I am a best-selling author who is probably best known for the Babylon series, including Hotel Babylon and Fashion Babylon – both of which were made into primetime TV series on the BBC. I went on to sell over 1.5 million copies in the UK alone. I am also the author of 20 books including fiction and non-fiction and have worked as a journalist in Fleet Street for over 25 years after I won The Independent newspaper scholarship to study a postgrad in Journalism at City University.

I originally read single Honours Russian at Bristol University, after being quietly asked to leave the French department! A fluent Russian speaker, I was then sent to write about the first 100 days of the collapse of Communism by the Mail on Sunday in 1991/2 which lead to my first book, The Taming of Eagles, published in 1993.

As a broadcaster I worked for BBC Radio 4 and 5 as a panellist and documentary maker. I have presented numerous programmes for television, some more successful than others. I was Fashion Correspondent on Richard and Judy’s This Morning, a news reporter at L!VE TV under Janet Street Porter and a panellist on This Week Only, a satirical news show on Channel 4. I have also edited three books for War Child.

I am married, with two children, live in London, and am a member of the London College of Psychic Studies, as well as being an honorary Cossack. My new novel, The Witches of St Petersburg, is about black magic in the Russian Court.

What’s your best piece of advice?

If someone tells you you can’t do something, grit your teeth, dig deep, smile and prove them wrong.

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Credit: Jenny Brough, Hello! Fashion UK

Iskra Lawrence SELF-CARE ADVOCATE, INTERNATIONAL MODEL, L’ORÉAL PRINCE’S TRUST AMBASSADOR, AERIE REAL AND NEDA AMBASSADOR, EXECUTIVE PRODUCER ‘THE MIRROR CHALLENGE’ (MSJ 2009 Leaver)

Rolling hills, Harry Potteresque buildings, breathtaking views; Malvern was a sublime place to go to school. I loved the subjects and small class sizes, but the opportunity to develop other skills was just as important. One of my favourite things was the sports MSJ offered, especially Lacrosse where I even trained with the Midlands Women’s team! Modelling is a physical job and sport has given me the stamina to put in extra hours after the ‘day job’ to develop my career.

This allowed me to expand into roles such as the Aerie Real Role Model, and a L’Oréal Prince’s Trust Ambassador; roles where I’ve used MSJ’s ‘inclusion and respect’ ethos when communicating with, and creating content for, my over 6 million social media followers.

There were girls from many different countries in my year, and now I live in the USA and work globally, I realise how great it was to have this international exposure. I remember fondly the pastoral care given by our Hatfield housemistress, Mrs Pallett, who had elegance, wisdom, and kindness in equal measure. Along with other role female models such as our Headmistress, Mrs Leggate, we learnt in an all-girls environment that we can be anything we want to be. This sort of confidence stayed with me on red carpets at the Golden Globes and Cannes Film Festival, and when I became the Executive Producer of my own show The Mirror Challenge.

Modelling and food often have a difficult relationship. I have suffered with body dysmorphia and wrongly tried crazy diets, but in my days at MSJ, food was a real pleasure and I hope the sticky bun day tradition still continues... and ‘Dining Room Etiquette’ definitely helped me when dining with the CEO of France’s largest company, and attending Royal Events with the Prince’s Trust.

What’s your best piece of advice?

Be present, enjoy your time at MSJ; use the opportunities this amazing school provides to explore your interests and your ‘self’. Use the skills and confidence you develop at MSJ to follow your passions and believe in yourself. Turn your dreams into plans and your plans into actions. The real you is good enough!

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Janice Lee Fang REGIONAL COMMUNICATIONS LEAD AT TRIPADVISOR (Janice Lee, MGC 1998 Leaver)

If you’d asked me 20 years ago what I’d want to be when I grew up, I would have laughed in your face if you’d told me I’d end up leading a regional function for a global disruptor of travel. I knew I liked writing; it was why I had come to an English boarding school. But as a young person full of doubt about my own abilities, any suggestion of leadership would have seemed laughable to me.

After reading an English degree at Leeds, which was about all the ambition I had had at Malvern, I became a journalist at a newspaper in Singapore. The job took me everywhere, from covering a conference about premature balding to interviewing Morgan Freeman in Los Angeles. Looking back, the job taught me to be thoughtful, inquisitive, proactive and self-driving - traits I attribute a lot of my success to today. I later made the switch over to communications, learning the ropes in public relations and dabbling in brand marketing.

Today, I can claim to be a fairly dynamic communicator and business collaborator with over 16 years in journalism and communications.

I’ve helped hotel properties deal with situations that have been tragic and I’ve told CEOs what they should say on and off camera. My current career has me applying myself in a fast-moving hi-tech environment which also feeds the geek in me. Somehow my love for writing found its place in the world and I know I am one of the lucky ones who can genuinely say I love doing what I do.

In my spare time, I chase after adrenalin on my mountain bike and otherwise spend most of my time with my husband, two little girls and dogs.

What’s your best piece of advice?

Always ask why and never stop wanting to learn and be better.

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Dr Jennifer Hughes RETIRED GENERAL PRACTITIONER (Jennifer Edwards, MGC 1959 Leaver)

It seems unbelievable that in 1949, sciences for girls were not available in Newbury, Berkshire. For some reason I had decided that at 10 years old I wanted to be a doctor, partly because many of my cousins were, and also because I liked our family doctor. So, thanks to my parents, one a Veterinary research worker, the other a Biochemist, I was sent to MGC where my parents were very impressed with the new Science block, which was unusual in those days.

Eight years at Malvern equipped me for entry to one of the best medical schools in London: St Thomas’ Hospital. Thanks to MGC, I was offered three places at the hospitals I applied for, armed with four A Level Sciences and a state scholarship, plus advice on how to dress at my interviews each day!

So on to St Thomas’ where there were six girls and sixty boys in my year. I qualified at 23 years old, then spent two years as a houseman. I was married at 24 to a fellow student and set up in General Practice together in the country. It was a good life with two daughters.

Today, there is no antagonism to women as there was in my day. The intake of women is equal to that of men. If you choose university first, you do get a degree so could opt out at this stage and perhaps think again, but it is shorter to go straight to a teaching hospital. You should be good at Sciences, like people, should enjoy solving problems and should not mind working hard.

What does success look like?

Medicine involves hard work but it is rewarding and very interesting. You will never be rich but never poor. I retired from General Practice in my late 50s when my husband died. I was lucky to be able to continue working in the private hospitals in Cambridge and eventually retired at 69 years old.

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Credit: Will Bremridge

Jennifer Kirby BRITISH STAGE AND TELEVISION ACTRESS (St James’s/MSJ 2007 Leaver)

I am an unlikely actor but my stubbornness won out…! I was raised near Malvern and attended St James’s and then Malvern St James. I was the first Deputy Head Girl of Malvern St James. I have an English and Drama degree from the University of East Anglia.

From there I went on to the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Arts (LAMDA), and before I graduated gained the role of Elizabeth Bennet at the Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre. This role won me many award nominations, including a place on the long list of The Evening Standard Award for Best Newcomer.

Among my copious and varied stage roles I was widely praised for my work at the Royal Shakespeare Company (gaining a nomination for an Ian Charleson Award). Whilst performing with the RSC in New York, I auditioned via self-tape for the role of Nurse Valerie Dyer in Call the Midwife, and within a week of returning to the UK, I began playing this role. I have recently completed my third series as Valerie, and have been long listed for a National Television Award for ‘Best Dramatic Performance’ for my work on the programme.

What does success look like?

Someone who knows there can be no happiness without sadness, no achievement without a journey, and no success without failure along the way.

What’s your best piece of advice?

Remember, nobody ever really knows what they’re doing. Feel the fear, count to ten, and then leap in headfirst.

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Jo Blackshaw INTERNATIONAL MOUNTAIN LEADER (MGC 1989 Leaver)

MGC gave me the best start in life – it gave me an academic grounding and a wonderful set of A Level results, leading to a place at Oxford University to study Biological Sciences. MGC gave me outdoor activity weekends away, where I learnt the value of the shared outdoor experience and deep friendships that continue today.

Whilst at Oxford and afterwards as a Biology teacher in some great schools, I continued this mix of academic life and outdoor experiences.

I took opportunities to trek at high altitude and go white water rafting in Nepal and canoeing and trekking in Canada and New Zealand. I was lucky enough to accompany sailing, skiing and Duke of Edinburgh Award expeditions. But I wasn’t entirely happy. So, in 2004 I took the brave step of leaving teaching and becoming an Expedition Leader.

I am now a qualified International Mountain Leader. And I have the best job: I lead expeditions and treks all round the world. I’ve been to Mongolia and Morocco, to Kinabalu and Kathmandu, to Vietnam and Venezuela, to the Dead Sea in Jordan and to the summit of Stok Kangri (6153m) in the Himalayas. I have done the Tour du Mont Blanc over 20 times now – not summiting the beautiful mountain but circumnavigating it via France, Italy and Switzerland. It is one of the most beautiful hikes in the world. Sharing these journeys allows me to motivate and inspire others, opening their eyes and minds to the possibility of change.

I also convey my passion for the outdoors with people through my website jojourneys.com, where I showcase photography, quotes and a blog.

What’s your best piece of advice?

Making decisions about what to do next is scary. However, if you can see that everything that you do provides a learning experience, then there is no such thing as a wrong decision.

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Joy Hadji Alliy FOUNDER, NOVITA LAW (MGC 1996 Leaver)

Being a lawyer in a developing country is fraught with challenges, especially during interactions with government institutions. To succeed in this predominately male-oriented industry, you must develop a thick skin from day one.

I studied Law in the UK and my legal career began in 2002 as a junior associate in one of the reputable law firms in Tanzania. As a woman, I had to be wary of obstacles that could derail my success such as excessive drinking, recreational drugs and indecent proposals from higher-ups. Recognition by peers and clients requires hard work, commitment and clocking in thousands of billable hours. Sacrificing my own personal development, health and time spent with family was the only way I knew how to succeed. I worked for the same firm for over eight years, slowing rising up the ranks, until I was made junior partner.

I left the firm in 2010 and went back to the UK to pursue a Postgraduate Diploma in Legal Practice, hoping to eventually qualify as a solicitor. The competition for training contracts was stiff, particularly for mature students. Undeterred, I came back to Tanzania in 2012 and joined a small boutique firm. While working at both firms, I advised clients on finance, oil and gas and energy transactions. The most rewarding experiences came from helping companies navigate through unchartered territories, advising the Government of Tanzania on transactions such as the bus rapid transit system, and becoming a client’s trusted advisor.

I set up my own firm, Novita Law in 2015, after working for a total of 12 years in practice. My areas of expertise are now focused mainly on corporate and commercial law. The firm operates at a much slower pace than what I am used to. I still practice and hope to pass on to my team the same principles and values that were instilled in me during my training days. Being ranked by Chambers Global for a number of years, even after I left the corporate world, has been my greatest achievement to date. The acknowledgements confirm the belief that hard work and dedication are keys to success.

What’s your best piece of advice?

Women can be afraid to pursue their dreams because they fear failure and judgment. Be brave, be bold and be true to yourself.

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Joy Hunter MBE SECRETARY IN CHURCHILL’S WAR CABINET (Joy Milward, Lawnside 1942)

Looking back over a long life, I realise that my parents’ decision to send me to Mrs Hoster’s (a prestigious secretarial college) rather than following my chosen career of Nursing, stood me in good stead for my varied - and at times traumatic - life that followed.

I began work in January 1944 at the Offices of the War Cabinet and was soon transferred downstairs to the underground war rooms in the Joint Planning Secretariat where we were privileged to very top secret information including typing the battle orders for D-Day. I went to the Potsdam Conference and then spent three months in the States for the Bretton Woods Conference with Maynard Keynes.

In 1946 I joined the Archbishop of Canterbury’s staff. Married in 1949, we caught polio, and my husband died aged 32. With three children under six, and a fourth on the way, it was back to work. First, I worked from home; then undertook part-time jobs followed by being appointed Director of Educational Services at the National Book League. This led me to short course teacher training, with jobs in a girls’ grammar and a mixed comprehensive in Surrey. I was headhunted for the NHS as a trainer in health education and was given the opportunity to increase my subject base. Finally, I managed two county-wide services for Age UK Surrey – counselling and training.

Ten years ago, totally unexpectedly, my War Cabinet days surfaced again, engaging me in challenging, exciting events on television, press and other interviews, and involvement in national events.

Since the age of 14, I’ve been involved in a variety of voluntary work; followed my thirst for learning, gaining five national qualifications, culminating at the age of 75 in an Oxford Masters degree – with Distinction – in Theology. Thanks to Lawnside, my love of music and my public speaking involvement has multiplied so that I’ve met thousands of people and made wonderful friendships. The most important things in my life are my three children, eight grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren.

What’s your best piece of advice?

I would hesitate to give advice except to say that I think the skills of management, organisation and communication are essential. I had no game-plan and changed jobs as my circumstances changed, so seize the day, accept opportunities and challenges, and stick with it. Remember, failure is not the end but the beginning of success.

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Katherine Bradshaw WRITER AND HEAD OF COMMUNICATIONS AT THE INSTITUTE OF BUSINESS ETHICS (“KP” Parker, St James’s & the Abbey 1988 Leaver)

I began my career in the 1990s working as a PR in the entertainment industry, with clients like Eddie Izzard, James and New Order.

Although working with musicians and comedians could be seen as a glamorous job, I was looking to make a more meaningful impact on the world. It was while working for the comedian Rob Newman that I became interested in globalisation and how the way that business was conducted had a significant impact on people’s lives, as employees, consumers and communities.

When I first started at the Institute of Business Ethics, business ethics was mainly referred to as an oxymoron and wasn’t really taken seriously. It was seen as a ‘soft issue’ until the collapse of Enron happened. By the time of the financial crash in 2008, the business world had woken up to the fact that how they conducted their business was just as important as what they did. Ethics had an impact, not just on their reputation, but on their profits, and potentially, their very existence. The IBE promotes high standards of business practice based on ethical values. We do this by raising awareness of business ethics issues through our research and sharing good practice.

In my spare time, I write creative fiction, and as a writer, I believe that stories have the power to create cultures and communicate beyond rules and regulations. Part of my role includes writing scenarios to help sensitise people to ethical issues and consider the ethical dimensions of their work.

The world of business is complex; sometimes there are no single right answers, just a choice between two less wrong ones. Because there can be an ethical dimension to every business decision, it’s important for people to feel empowered to speak up if they see something that doesn’t feel right. My work at the IBE includes researching the ways in which companies support employees to do the right thing, and sharing these to help others improve their ethical culture through our Good Practice Guides. The two most recent of these are Encouraging a Speak Up Culture and Communicating Ethical Values Internally.

By talking openly about issues and offering practical advice, I’m proud to be part of an organisation which supports businesses and their employees to help create a better and more sustainable business world.

84

Katherine Barnes BSc BIOMEDICAL SCIENCE GRADUATE (MSJ 2015 Leaver)

From a young age I have worked extremely hard in order to achieve academically and was diagnosed with dyslexia, aged 11. At MSJ I excelled on the sports field but the high demands of A Level Chemistry often left me flailing; A Level results day didn’t produce an overwhelming sense of joy either! Finding myself in Clearing made me wonder whether I had the capability of spending the next three years in academia.

Yet despite this, in September 2015 I began a Biomedical Science degree at Oxford Brookes University.

In these three undergraduate years, a whole multitude of personal changes occurred. For the first time, something clicked. My confidence and academic capabilities escalated, placing me amongst the top 5% of my cohort. One of the hardest challenges was selecting a topic for my undergraduate research project. Drawing upon personal experience and as a diabetic myself, I decided to set up bespoke E-mentoring for type one diabetic patients aged 13 to 18. The aim was to address the question ‘Do type one diabetic patients between 13 to 18 year olds demonstrate improved blood glucose control and psychological management following mentor directed digital engagement?’

On discussing my project with others I was surprised by the sheer amount of interest there was in the programme. I was also shocked when Worcestershire Royal Hospital Paediatric Diabetes Department told me that they supported the project and would facilitate the recruitment of participants and collection of their data. An additional highlight occurred when the Society of Endocrinology presented me with their Undergraduate Achievement Award for the highest mark in an undergraduate research project.

However, I wouldn’t say that university life was plain sailing. The experience was mentally exhausting and the prospect of dropping out was contemplated on numerous occasions. During this time I utilised my feelings to help support those around me. I hosted charity and social events to raise the awareness of mental health issues in students. During Eating Disorder Awareness Week, I organised several events to raise money for the eating disorder charity, BEAT. The past three years have emphasised that even if you do not initially succeed, do not give up. There will always be ways that you can overcome personal challenges and employ pre-existing knowledge to propel you forward. At the moment I am putting this into practice to assess what career path I would like to take in the future, whilst utilising my passion to improve the quality of others’ lives by working in a local care home and at Birmingham Children’s Hospital.

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Professor Lesley Lokko PROFESSOR AND DIRECTOR OF SCHOOL OF ARCHITECTURE, AND NOVELIST (St James’s 1983 Leaver)

I arrived from the blistering heat of Ghana in September 1981 with only a vague idea of how cold England might be. It took me about ten minutes to work out that most of my first term would be spent carrying my duvet around. Westminster House (as the Lower Sixth boarding house was called in those days) was probably fairly well heated but I remember getting out of a warm bed on winter mornings as being the hardest thing I’d ever done.

I left Malvern two years later for Oxford University to study languages (Hebrew and Arabic) but switched to Sociology and moved to the US instead. Five years later, after wondering what on earth to do with a degree in Sociology, I applied to University College London to study Architecture, not realising at the time that it was a seven-year process! And of course, as soon as I’d finished, I became a novelist.

People often comment on the rather drastic career switches I’ve made, particularly from architect to novelist, but in fact, they’re simply different facets of the same interest: a deep and abiding curiosity about the world around us; how we relate to one other; the relationships we form, both with each other and with our built and imagined environments. For the past twenty years, I’ve been teaching architecture rather than practising and I’m still astounded by our capacity to imagine a different and better world, whether at the scale of a house or a city.

Architecture is a wonderfully maddening and exhilarating discipline. I’ve been an architect for nearly thirty years and it still has the power to surprise and excite me, which is a wonderful thing to say about anything, never mind your job! Now that I run a school of architecture, I have less time than I’d like to teach, which still remains the most important thing I’ve ever done. Students are endlessly inspiring. I really do believe that.

What’s your best piece of advice?

Work hard and be prepared to listen. Trust the process, not the outcome. And remember there’s very little ‘social’ about social media.

86

Lucy Walton INTERNATIONAL HOCKEY PLAYER AND GOLFER (MSJ 2017 Leaver)

When looking at my career, I am only at the start. During my time at MSJ, I was known as the sporty girl who walked around in her PE kit all day, every day. I was fortunate enough that during my school years I represented my country in both Hockey and Golf at age group level.

In addition, I was 3rd in the U16 Faldo World Final in America, finished 3rd in the English Girls U13 and U15 Championships and won the Worcestershire and Herefordshire Ladies County Championship three times (the first time I was the youngest ever winner of a County Championship). In Hockey I represented England Blue U17 at the UK Games against the other home nations. I was awarded Junior Sports Personality of the Year for Malvern Hills District twice and Worcestershire and Herefordshire County once.

At school I realised that there was only one career path that I wanted to take and that was sports related. I had no idea what I wanted to do within sport, so I chose to study the extremely broad degree of Sport and Exercise Science at Loughborough University. With a keen interest in Food Technology at school, I decided to further my knowledge in nutrition by studying modules in this topic area. I hope to further my interest in Sports Nutrition in the future.

When I arrived at Loughborough University I jumped into university life and ensured I took part in as many activities as possible with so many opportunities on offer. After a struggle with injury in my latter school days, I finally managed to play some sport at university and was lucky enough to play First Team Hockey in the National League as well as First Team Golf.

I am now a Loughborough Sport Ambassador which includes providing presentations and tours around the university to prospective students and visitors. I am also a peer mentor to first year students who study Sport and Exercise Sciences.

What’s your best piece of advice?

Enjoy what you do, and take every opportunity that arises.

87

Melanie Dawes CB PERMANENT SECRETARY, MINISTRY OF HOUSING, COMMUNITIES AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT (MGC, 1984 Leaver)

I could never choose a favourite subject at school – I liked a bit of everything. I was at my best when I was drawing together the arguments and joining things up, rather than investigating the detail.

This made it hard to decide what to do with my career. After studying PPE at Oxford, I nearly became a lawyer. But I was intrigued by economics. In my year off, travelling round Asia, I loved finding out how individuals, families and communities lived and worked together.

I joined the Civil Service - via the economics fast stream - in 1989. I liked the idea of applying my economics to real-life policy problems, and I’ve never looked back. It was the last year of Margaret Thatcher’s government, and since then I’ve served five more Prime Ministers.

The Civil Service offers enormous variety, and we work at a very fast pace. After six years as an economist I branched out and became a general policy adviser. I spent 15 years at the Treasury, during John Major’s and then Tony Blair’s government, working on tax, public spending, Europe and monetary policy. After that I went to HM Revenue and Customs where I led large-scale operations and negotiated higher tax payments from some of the big companies. During the Coalition years, when David Cameron was Prime Minister, I ran the Cabinet Secretariat - sitting at the Cabinet table every week and taking the minutes.

In 2015 I became a permanent secretary, running a government department – Housing, Communities and Local Government. Our main aim is to fix the housing crisis. We run a wide range of programmes and policies to build more homes, make life fairer for people who rent, and reduce homelessness. We also oversee the relationship with local government, including how councils are funded.

People sometimes ask how civil servants can work for different political parties. The answer is that it’s our job - our role is to serve the democratic system and do our best for the elected government of the day. That impartiality is deeply embedded in our values.

What’s your best piece of advice?

You will achieve most in life if you do things that motivate you, and work with colleagues who value you. So don’t put up with careers or employers that don’t make you happy. Also: cherish your MSJ friendships – they’ll always be there for you!

88

Moky Makura ACTRESS, PRODUCER AND COMMUNICATIONS EXPERT (Jumoke Akinsemoyin, St James’s 1983 Leaver)

Moky was born in Nigeria, educated in England and has lived in London, Johannesburg and Lagos. In 2015, she joined the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation as the Deputy Director.

She is a well-known face across Africa as a result of her career in television which started in 2001 when she became the African Anchor and Field Reporter for South Africa’s award-winning news and actuality show, Carte Blanche. In 2007, she conceptualised, co-produced and presented a lifestyle TV series for the pan African pay TV channel MNet called Living It, which focused on the lifestyles of the African continent’s wealthy elite. The series is still being run on the channel. In 2008, she played a lead role in the ground breaking and popular MNet Pan-African drama series, Jacob’s Cross, which has proved to be one of the most successful drama series ever produced in Africa.

An accomplished writer, Moky’s articles and opinion pieces have been published in various magazines and newspapers. In November 2008, her book Africa’s Greatest Entrepreneurs, with a foreword written by Richard Branson, was published by Penguin Books. The book featured on the top 10 best-selling business books in South Africa and was selected for the Exclusive Books Homebru promotion which showcases the best of South African writing.

In 2009, Moky also started a mass market fiction book series called Nollybooks aimed at getting young Africans to read.

Moky is a Marketing Communications professional with a wealth of experience gained from over 18 years in the PR industry. An entrepreneur with a pan African vision, Moky formed her own communications agency - Red PR - early in 1999, with the vision of becoming the first panAfrican PR network. Three years later she left to set up as an independent consultant to pursue her media passions.

As part of her passion to present a positive image of Africa and showcase its heroes and achievements, she created a website that has become a repository of positive facts about the continent: www.africaourafrica.com What’s your best piece of advice?

As a frequent traveller, success to me is in the moments when I hit turbulence and I think the plane is going down... I realise I am OK; that if it all ends today, I have lived my best life with few regrets... that’s success to me.

89

Tine Jaeger COMMUNITY HEALTH NURSE FOR THE UNITED NATIONS (Christine Jaeger, MGC 1970 Leaver)

My destiny emerged one evening when, with other Hatfield girls, I saw a film about relief work after an earthquake. I was gripped. By the end of the evening, the shy, idealistic, sheltered 14 year old me knew I wanted to ‘do something overseas with suffering people’.

I wasn’t clever enough for Medical Studies; and Nursing, not being a degree subject, didn’t fit with expectations that most MGC girls should go on to university. So, influenced by my father’s interest, I took a Biochemistry BSc. On its completion I knew this was not for me so I refocused and trained as a nurse and midwife. This led to four years working as a District Nurse in a deprived part of Brixton, London where none of the houses in one of ‘my’ streets had hot water or an indoor toilet.

The pull overseas continued, leading me to work as a Community Health Nurse in a UN-run camp for Cambodian refugees in Thailand.

My MGC days had taught me the resilience needed to survive and enjoy living in a community! The work was varied and, apart from running routine clinics and making home visits with refugee health workers, occasionally it included mass immunisation campaigns, managing cholera epidemics, and tracking potentially rabid dogs. I stayed for six years, until a peace accord was signed and the refugees went home.

Thereafter I worked for 15 years as a Community Health Advisor to various charities. The work involved conducting needs assessments and evaluating projects in many vulnerable countries such as Afghanistan, Mauritania, and Colombia. The people I met, often poor, illiterate and marginalised, continue to inspire me.

What’s your best piece of advice?

Seek to fulfil your life according to your own passion and gifting, not others’ expectations of you.

90

Vicky Jones EXECUTIVE COACH AND CORPORATE TRAINER (MGC 1996 Leaver)

I have always been fascinated by human behaviour and what makes us tick. When I was at MCG I focused on the Sciences in Sixth Form, with Biology always being my favourite subject. I didn’t really know what I wanted to do when I left school, so I decided to take a gap year and travel to Australia. I immediately fell in love with the relaxed beachy lifestyle.

I decided to do a degree I knew I’d enjoy even though I didn’t know what I wanted to do as a career (I believe you will always do well if you focus on what you are passionate about). I went to Oxford Brookes and studied Biology and Environmental Sciences and was very happy to graduate with a 2:1.

After leaving Uni, I moved to London and my first job was in a large advertising agency as I was attracted by the fast pace and fun campaigns. Sitting at my desk in Leicester Square one rainy February, I decided to apply for my working holiday visa, so I could move back to Sydney. I continued to work in the media industry for another 13 years and climbed the ladder to become Account Director at Fox Studios. I loved the diversity and the opportunity to work on some of the biggest movie releases in Australian history (including Avatar).

Aged 35, after the tragic loss of my brother, I was forced to re-evaluate my life and decided I wanted a more meaningful career. I began researching life coaching, quickly realising it ticked off multiple passions of mine in one amazing career. I could work in challenging and dynamic environments; use my natural ability to inspire and motivate; and incorporate my love of Science in my work. All of our actions are driven by our biology, after all.

Since then, I have set up my own business and focus on empowering women to reach their potential. I now coach women in senior leadership positions and run various mentoring programmes for the Australian government (their goal is to have 50% of senior leadership positions held by women by 2020). I do a lot of work with the Environment Protection Agency and the Biodiversity Conservation Trust so when I look back over my career, all the dots joined up in the end!

What’s your best piece of advice?

If you feel butterflies; chase them. They are a sign you are about to grow.

91

Bonnie Chan Woo RISK-LOVING #WOMANBOSS, ALWAYS LEADING POSITIVE CHANGE, CEO OF ICICLE GROUP (Bonnie Chan, MGC 1994 Leaver)

When I left MGC, I wasn’t the type that knew exactly what I wanted to do. With a good degree, I blindly followed the ‘fashion’ at the time and entered investment banking in Hong Kong. It took me two years to realise that I could only be truly motivated if I was my own boss in a space that I could set my own agenda, take risks, be creative and experiment with new ways of doing things, so from there I decided to embark on a journey as an entrepreneur.

Being an entrepreneur is gruesome yet rewarding. Being my own boss means I have all the freedom to try new things, but with very limited resources and with full accountability for all consequences. The combination means that the chance of success is much slimmer than that of failure. But the most rewarding part is, through failures I learn to pivot and adapt to stay afloat, to continue in the game. I cherish the qualities that grow out of the experiences which only make me stronger: resilience, empathy and humility.

Starting from providing marketing services, I built up my company, Icicle Group, by developing creative production teams across media and geography one piece at a time. To fuel growth in the fast-changing media space, I listed the company on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange and now we are building and investing into media and entertainment assets, including TV shows and live events globally. With the phenomenal economic growth in China, we now advise and arrange strategic collaboration between Chinese brands and international platforms. Commercial consideration aside, these cross-cultural projects also build meaningful bridges, lasting international partnerships and foster mutual understanding between the East and the West.

With my identity as a woman entrepreneur, it is my natural calling to champion women leadership in my community, for which I received the Veuve Clicquot Business Woman Award in Hong Kong in 2018. This year, I am launching a new media outlet to drive awareness of gender gaps, provide support to other women entrepreneurs and drive useful dialogues and positive narratives around the subject.

What’s your best piece of advice?

Stop making check lists to live up to others’ expectations of you. Listen to yourself to find your true calling. With that, you will have the motivation to give all of yourself all the time and be able to enjoy every up and down of the journey.

92

Dr Caroline Lucas MP MP, THE GREEN PARTY; FORMER LEADER AND CO-LEADER OF THE GREEN PARTY (MGC 1979 Leaver)

Caroline was elected as the Green Party’s first ever Member of Parliament in 2010, representing Brighton Pavilion. She served as the first Leader of the Green Party, from 2008-2012; and Co-Leader from 2016-2018. Prior to that, she was one of the Green Party’s first Members of the European Parliament, where she served from 1999-2010.

She attended Malvern Girls’ College from 1972-79, studied English Literature at Exeter University, and went on to do a PhD in Sixteenth Century Literary Romance (never let people put you off studying what you love, on the grounds that it “won’t be useful”! - it always will, one way or another). Before being elected to the European Parliament, she worked for Oxfam for 10 years, her last post as Head of the International Trade Policy team.

Her most recent book, Honourable Friends: Parliament and the Fight for Change, details her first parliamentary term as a new Green voice in the House of Commons. She is a champion of electoral reform, and believes in the role of peaceful direct action as well as parliamentary politics. She was arrested - and later acquitted - for taking part in non-violent direct action outside the fracking site in Balcombe in 2013.

She is a Vice-President of the RSPCA, a Council Member of the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament, a Parliamentary Champion for UNICEF, and a Patron of the United Patients Alliance - a group which campaigns for the legalisation of cannabis for medicinal purposes.

She is a passionate campaigner for urgent action on the climate emergency, and chairs Parliament’s All-Party Parliamentary Group on Climate Change.

What’s your best piece of advice?

Margaret Mead’s insight made a huge impact on me: “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it’s the only thing that ever has.”

So follow your dreams, take risks, believe you can make a difference, and never be afraid to fail - failure can teach you just as much as success!

93

Elizabeth Day AUTHOR, JOURNALIST AND BROADCASTER (MGC 1997 Leaver)

When I first came to Malvern Girls’ College, as it was then, I was lacking in self-confidence. I was scared, nervous and had been through an unhappy time at my previous school. It was a cognitive leap becoming a full-time boarder, but luckily when I joined in Upper Four I had my older sister Catherine, who was then in her final year, to shepherd me through.

When I arrived, lugging a suitcase that was twice my size, I felt almost immediately embraced by an atmosphere of warmth. It wasn’t just that the teachers seemed to care (although they did). Nor was it just that my fellow pupils were welcoming rather than judgemental (although they were). It was something less tangible than either of those things. It was the sense that, at MGC, I would be encouraged to be not someone else, but rather to be the best version of myself.

My four years at Malvern gave me confidence, not just academically but personally too. I did a lot of debating and my coaching sessions with Mrs Melhuish taught me so much about speaking in public and winning over an audience (one of her key pieces of advice was to smile before I started talking so that you set yourself and your listeners at ease, which is something I now do every time I give a speech). I was so lucky to be taught by some incredible people: at A Level I remember being impassioned by Mr Thomas’s History of Art lessons, stimulated by English with Mrs Melhuish and Mr O’Reilly and so deeply inspired by History with Miss Walker that I went on to read this subject at Cambridge University, graduating with a Double First.

I left Malvern with some great friends, more courage and an excitement about engaging with the world around me. I remain profoundly grateful for this extraordinary gift.

In July 2018, I launched my podcast, How To Fail With Elizabeth Day, which is now in its third season and has attracted guests such as Phoebe Waller-Bridge, Lily Allen, Gina Miller and David Baddiel, as well as reaching the top of the iTunes chart. My fifth book, partmemoir, part-manifesto, is called How To Fail: Everything I’ve Ever Learned From Things Going Wrong, published in April 2019. I’m currently a weekly columnist for The Mail on Sunday’s You magazine and contributing editor at Harper’s Bazaar.

What’s your best piece of advice?

Life gets better the more you get to know yourself.

94

Dr Jane Davidson PRO VICE-CHANCELLOR FOR SUSTAINABILITY AND ENGAGEMENT, AND DIRECTOR OF ‘INSPIRE’ AT THE UNIVERSITY OF WALES TRINITY SAINT DAVID (MGC 1975 Leaver)

The aim of INSPIRE is to embed sustainability throughout the university’s culture, campus and curriculum. Jane has won a number of UK-wide awards for this work and in 2017 became an associate faculty member at Harvard University.

From 2007- 2011, Jane was Minister for Environment, Sustainability and Housing in Wales where she proposed legislation to make sustainable development its central organising principle – the Wellbeing of Future Generations (Wales) Act came into law in April 2015. She created a Welsh Climate Change Commission and Future Generations Commissioner; the 800 mile Wales coast path; legislated on waste which has seen Wales become the lead recycling country in Britain - and third in the world for municipal recycling; and introduced the Welsh charge on carrier bags which led the way across the UK. From 2000 – 2007, Jane was Minister of Education, Lifelong Learning and Skills in Wales. She introduced curriculum changes to create a Foundation Phase (3-7), the Welsh Baccalaureate and integrated Education for Sustainable Development and Global Citizenship into the Welsh curriculum. She also pioneered free primary school breakfasts, the Education Maintenance Allowance and additional grants to Welsh university students from low-income backgrounds.

Jane is a patron of the Chartered Institute for Ecology and Environmental Management (CIEEM) and Tools for Self Reliance Wales (TFSR Cymru). She holds honorary fellowships from IEMA (Institute of Environmental Management and Assessment), WWF, CIW (Chartered Institute of Waste), and CIWEM (Chartered Institute of Water and Environmental Management). She contributes regularly to international expert events eg Harvard University, Salzburg Global, SOIF (School of International Futures), Sustainable Brands and the Caux Dialogue on Land and Security. She is a RSA Fellow and chairs the RSA in Wales.

What’s your best piece of advice?

Be persistent. Don’t give up. Achieving is 10% talent, 10% hard work, 80% luck so be ready for each opportunity as it comes and take it. Carpe diem.

95

Dr Becky Fisher JUNIOR DOCTOR, BOOK AUTHOR, ASPIRING SURGEON (MSJ 2011 Leaver)

I am a junior doctor working in Cheltenham. I trained at Edinburgh Medical School and King’s College London. I hope that one day I’ll be a surgeon who also does academic research and teaching. My job as a hospital doctor is pretty exciting: I look after people when they are very unwell and apply my knowledge to help them. It is energising and tiring, joyful and sad, inspiring and frustrating, all in equal measure.

MSJ taught me to have balance in my life to help me cope with this stress. For me, learning to sing in Mrs Lindner’s choir provided this balance. It has been the source of lifelong friends, my own form of meditation and, crucially, an output where my self-worth isn’t measured in academic achievement. Since leaving school I have worked as a professional singer and sung with the National Youth Choir of Scotland across Europe and America, including at the Royal Albert Hall three times.

MSJ emphasises developing leadership skills at an early age, and this background set me up well as a medical student: in 2017, I led a group of 80 surgeons and students to publish a new surgical textbook, entitled Introduction to Surgery for Students. I am now an advocate for aspiring surgeons as a Foundation Doctor Representative at the Royal College of Surgeons, and am teaching on King’s College London’s Surgical Sciences BSc course. Although I am only just beginning my medical career, I am excited for the journey ahead.

What’s your best piece of advice?

Throw all your energy into what MSJ has to offer. It doesn’t matter whether you’re academic or not, work out what YOU like doing and go for it.

Also, Malvern College boys improve with age. If he’s tolerable now, you’re onto a winner.

96

Kiko Matthews I AM A MULTITUDE OF THINGS! EDUCATOR, ADVENTURER, ENVIRONMENTALIST, COMMUNITY BUILDER...

(MGC 1999 Leaver)

My world was turned on its head when I developed Cushings disease, a rare and life-threatening condition, in my late 20s. I’d always been motivated by challenge and adventure and in narrowly avoiding death, I got incredibly clear on how I wanted to spend the rest of my life. I wanted to live a life of purpose. Doing things that helped people and the planet, and challenging myself as I did.

I went part-time in my day job as a Science teacher in a high school, qualified as a paddleboard instructor, set up my own business, and then a charity. In 2016, Charlie Pitcher, then Atlantic world record holder for the men’s solo row, suggested I go for the women’s record. In 2018, I set a new record for the fastest woman to row across the Atlantic.

Now I have set up an initiative called Kik Plastic which will see me cycling 6700 kilometres around the UK’s coast - and organising local beach cleans - to raise awareness of the problem of single use plastic, and to engage communities to help tackle it.

When I was at school, the focus from all around was on grades and university and being part of extra-curricular clubs, sports etc. But there was less emphasis on alternative ways. To be fair, I’m glad I got good results and a degree, as it has subsequently set me up in life for ‘success’. But what is success to me? It’s living a fulfilled and honest life; being happy; knowing that I connect with people around me; belonging to a community, and knowing that I am doing good for those around me.

There’s not a worry of failure, or doing the ‘wrong thing’. Making money is not my success - in fact, I think it can hinder us really developing and being the best you. Why row across an ocean if you have ‘everything to lose’? I had only something to gain.

What’s your best piece of advice?

Don’t be afraid of what people think or what you think people think. Don’t be afraid of it not going to plan, or failure; ask for help and advice but allow yourself to make decisions and choices. Don’t fear the unknown, for that is where the success lies.

97

Dr Laura Young MBE FOUNDED TEAPOT TRUST IN NOVEMBER 2010 WITH HER HUSBAND, JOHN, AFTER SEEING THE GAPS IN CARE FOR THEIR DAUGHTER, WHO HAD SLE LUPUS (Laura Taylor, MGC 1986 Leaver)

Dr Laura Young MBE is a social entrepreneur and founded Teapot Trust, an East Lothian-based charity dedicated to providing art therapy in hospitals and mental health units to children coping with chronic conditions. She received an Honorary Doctorate from Queen Margaret University in 2015, and in 2016 was awarded an MBE in recognition of her services to children in Scotland. Laura was very proud to be made 54th Scotswoman of the Year, in February 2017.

Her school friends will remember her as someone who gave anything a go. Not particularly sporty in the traditional sense (no great ball co-ordination for team sports), she enjoyed swimming and dance at school. However, it was in music that she found a passion, playing the flute and singing in the choir. She remembers racing down the stairs to get a good sewing machine and loving making jewellery at the weekends when not heading out on D of E expeditions. Despite her artistic tendencies, a love of science led Laura to read Chemistry at the University of Bristol.

Laura trained at the Science Museum London and remains an ardent supporter of museums and heritage crafts and believes that referencing our past can help create ideas for the future. She is on the Court of Queen Margaret University and a Trustee of the National Museum of Scotland. She relishes the opportunity to be involved in any form of crafting. A competent knitter, Laura is interested in Slow Fashion and tries to sew her own clothes whenever time allows. At an event in Downing Street to celebrate National Women’s Day in March 2017, Laura wore a dress she had made herself, to emphasise the importance of doing art and being creative alongside exercise, eating well and sleeping well, as a route to good well-being in life.

A champion for improving hospital experiences for children and young people through arts and creative therapies, Laura continues to be a campaigner for Making and the Arts being key to good mental well-being.

What’s your best piece of advice?

You can do and be whatever you like, but to be successful you alone have the power to turn the trials and tribulations of life into stepping stones. Whilst we can look for helping hands along the way, you alone make the jump to the next stepping stone and no one can do that but you.

98

Patricia S. Wu MB ChB, FACE, FRCPE ENDOCRINOLOGIST, PROFESSOR AND DIABETES ADVOCATE (MGC 1979 Leaver)

Of my MGC experiences, Dr. Hetty Bardsley’s Chemistry class stood out as the most memorable. Dr. B. ignited my interest in Science with her lively illustrations of how the elements C, H and O combine in infinite configurations to write the manuscripts of life. I was mesmerised watching her chalk dance between formulae on the board, transforming equations into meaningful cellular processes. Undoubtedly this experience persuaded my career choice in Endocrinology, the study of hormones (chemicals that effect cellular signals) and their roles in human health. Both my A Level Science teachers were women with PhDs. Having role models who showed that women can successfully study Science to the highest level encouraged many students from my class to pursue higher education in scientific fields.

My experience with the MGC music programme was similarly life changing. Being a choir member taught me the importance of team work and time management while learning a balance between academic work, rehearsals and weekend performances. The countless hours I spent practising piano in the attic music rooms were, in retrospect, my way of managing the stresses of living away from home and the academic pressures. I learned to find time in a busy day to unwind, be it doing something I love, or just meditating, so that I can be refreshed.

After graduation from Medical School, I joined a university training programme with rotations through different subspecialities. I worked with Dr. Judith Steele, MBE, a diabetologist who specialised in caring for pregnant women with diabetes. Despite choosing to work part-time to balance family life and career, Judith was one of the most prolific clinical researchers and innovative clinicians in her field, advancing safe obstetric care for women with diabetes. She was generous with her time to mentor trainees. Our collaboration in clinical research propelled me to study molecular endocrinology and into the role of a medical educator.

One of the most rewarding aspects of my career is that I have been able to positively impact the lives of many people through my roles as a clinician, researcher and educator.

What’s your best piece of advice?

Have courage; follow your passion. Be curious and open to learning new ideas. Seek mentors to support you. Know that there is no limit to your achievement if you focus and work hard.

99

Rosie O’Connor ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR, SPECIALIST, VICTORIAN, PRE-RAPHAELITE AND BRITISH IMPRESSIONIST ART AT CHRISTIE’S, LONDON (Rosie Henniker-Major, MGC 2000 Leaver)

At MGC my two favourite subjects were Art and History, and I’d always planned to read History at university; but during Sixth form an art lecturer came in twice and spoke firstly about Picasso’s Guernica and secondly about Chagall. This lit a spark of interest which was heightened during my gap year when I attended an eight week pre-university History of Art course in Italy. I subsequently applied and was accepted to read History of Art at Edinburgh, which was brilliant as the courses offered were very diverse.

During my penultimate year at Edinburgh, on a family holiday, I was talking to a cousin about not knowing what to do next, and he suggested the Graduate Internship at Christie’s, where he worked with early British paintings. Luckily I was successful and joined Christie’s Furniture Department in September 2005, moving to the Country House Collections Department the following year. This was a fabulous introduction into life at Christie’s as the Collections department sell the entire contents of houses for clients, so we were involved with all the various departments, chasing estimates and amended cataloguing; I gained a great insight into how the company worked.

In September 2006 I got my first proper job as Sale Administrator for British Drawings and Watercolours. This involved working with the Specialists to win consignments, put catalogues together and help sell the sales. A few years later I moved into a Junior Specialist position in the department, and then in 2012 I moved into the Victorian, Pre-Raphaelite and British Impressionist Art department as a Specialist.

Highlights of my job are getting to visit clients in their homes to see their art collections, to provide insurance valuations or for business-getting purposes, which gives me an insight into how collections are formed and why. It’s wonderful to talk to people who’re interested in what I’m interested in, and this is also the case once our sales go on view and clients come in to see what we have on offer.

The job is constantly challenging and exciting, both in terms of the tight deadlines for the sales catalogues, but also because there are always new things to learn about the artists we handle. I seem to be one of the lucky ones; although the pay is abysmal, I genuinely love what I do on a day-to-day basis!

100

Saffron Hare CREATIVE DIRECTOR OF HER FAMILY BUSINESS, JAMES HARE (Lawnside 1992 Leaver)

I am incredibly lucky that I am very interested in what our family business does. James Hare is a fabric wholesaler which specialises in supplying the fashion and interior trade.

As Creative Director, I direct and manage the new fabric collections with our design teams. The nature of our business means I might be working across the current collection, the next one in the pipeline and starting work on the collection after that - it’s a fast moving industry. We are possibly unique at James Hare because we have both interior and fashion fabric collections. Trends from the catwalk run almost parallel to those in interiors now. It keeps me on my toes but it’s so exciting working across both industries.

I travel a great deal, both meeting suppliers and overseeing production, but also selling the collection all over the world. I still get a buzz visiting new countries. I am the fifth generation of the family to be involved. When I was younger I didn’t really think that would be the way my career would go, but inevitably one gets drawn in to it. James Hare has everything - a British heritage and obviously a strong family ethos, so in the end I couldn’t resist any longer and, actually, it’s a huge privilege to be part of it. I have worked there for 20 years but everyone starts at the bottom, even the family, and I don’t think that’s a bad thing. I have learnt all aspects of the business from every department and that’s invaluable knowledge to draw on.

Every day is different. Often there are deadlines to meet and lots of meetings, but then I might need to turn my attention to something else unexpectedly. That’s what makes a day fun and I really enjoy a sense of achievement, especially when a collection is finalised and I can present it to the team.

What’s your best piece of advice?

Find something which excites you. A stimulating job will fulfil your life.

101

Samantha Price MA HEADMISTRESS, BENENDEN SCHOOL (Sam Mitchell, MGC 1992 Leaver)

When I was in the Sixth Form at MGC a number of my friends said that I would be a Housemistress one day. At the time I laughed out loud as I couldn’t envisage being a teacher (I had not always been the model student at School), let alone being responsible enough to be a Housemistress. In fact, I never thought I would go near another girls’ school again, let alone lead one!

Having left Malvern in 1992, I spent a year at an American boarding school on the East Coast as an English Speaking Union scholar where I had fabulous time, mostly playing hockey, learning ice-hockey and rowing. This set me up well for my four years at Edinburgh where I read History of Art. Like many graduates I didn’t really know what I wanted to do initially but was lucky enough to secure a post in the Development Office of Tate Britain where I was involved with the development of what is now Tate Modern.

However, two years later a position came up for a History and History of Art teacher at Reading Blue Coat School and it was then that I knew that my real calling was to be a teacher. From there I went to King’s, Canterbury where I was a Housemistress for four years before going to Hereford Cathedral School as Deputy Head. It was in 2010 that I felt leading a girls’ school was to be my next step and I took up the helm at Godolphin in Salisbury for a short time before starting at Benenden in 2014. As part of my role I am also a Governor at the John Wallis Academy in Ashford, Chair of the Boarding Committee for the Girls’ Schools Association and Chair of the Wellbeing Group for the Headmasters’ and Headmistresses’ Conference. There is no doubt that I have what I believe to be the most fulfilling job there is.

I am married to Major Iori Price, who is an army Chaplain and we have two children, Gabriella (age 13 and a Benenden pupil) and Oliver (age 10).

What’s your best piece of advice?

Never expect to realise your full potential at school (you can’t possibly at age 18) and embrace the fact that life is a journey of learning, which is why every stage is exciting and full of opportunity.

102

Sara Murray OBE SERIAL TECHNOLOGY ENTREPRENEUR (NINAH, CONFUSED.COM, BUDDI) (MGC 1987 Leaver)

Malvern seems a long time ago now. Things were different then. No mobiles, no email – no Facebook or Google. Imagine that! You had to go to the library to find out about stuff. As a result, we spent more time playing sports than you do. I’m not sure that makes a difference.

Here I am, 30 years later, thinking about school. Decisions you make there have a big impact on your life, on what you do next. What you do next drives your 20s. That’s the time you have so much fun. So, think about what you’re doing. Keep your options open. Do more of what you love.

I went to Oxford after Malvern. It was a bit of a shock to the school. I loved it there. I studied PPP (Physiology, Psychology & Philosophy).

It sounded interesting and it was.

Soon after that, I founded my first business. I’m on my third serious one now. They’ve all been in tech. The opportunities in tech are so huge for you now. If you enjoy how things work, study engineering. It’s as fascinating as you want it to be. You’ll have to get good results though – you know what that entails!

I’ve employed a lot of people, built some exciting products, travelled the world for work and fun, changed markets for the better, got a Private Pilot Licence (helicopter) and watched my daughter go through boarding school, too. You have all this ahead of you and you can do all the things you want to do. Your challenge is trying enough things out to discover what you really love. What an exciting journey!

What’s your best piece of advice?

School is something you just have to get through before you can really start enjoying life. Some of your friends from there will be with you the whole way – be nice to them!

103

Sarah Austin FOUNDER OF THE REALLY HELPFUL CLUB (Sarah Skinner, MGC 1987 Leaver)

Having studied Classics and Modern Languages at Oxford, I went into the City and spent 10 years with Baring Asset Management, where I was appointed as their youngest ever female director. I loved it. The City was a great place to start your career – lots of opportunity, exciting, interesting people, but tough and challenging as well. I left in 2003 to start my family.

I have two children, aged 15 and 11, and have been very lucky to be able to devote myself to them full-time. With my children growing up, I founded the Really Helpful Club (RHC) four years ago. I now have the time to build my business alongside raising my family.

The RHC is a free, online and offline network for positive, like-minded people to share their connections, advice and knowledge.

Our Membership is unique, there’s nothing quite like the Really Helpful Club. It’s free to join and, with over 15,000 members, our ever-growing community is buzzing. Our members can be swapping contacts for childcare, sharing digital marketing advice or even recommending a brilliant nutritionist!

We also run informative, inspiring and interesting events, covering all aspects of life, from health and wellbeing, to career advice. Our Back to Work programme recognises there is a growing pool of talented and well-educated women who all too often leave the workplace to raise a family and then lack the confidence or opportunity to find the role that utilises their talents and fulfils their ambitions. Our workshops and seminars provide opportunities to be informed and inspired and learn from other women who may have already done it. Taking those first steps can be daunting. Our events and online business hub help our members to rebuild confidence and fulfil their dreams.

I have learnt a huge amount since taking my first step. I find it immensely rewarding to see the difference that we are making across our community. I bring all the experience from my corporate days and everyday life and combine it with a passion to build something really exciting.

What’s your best piece of advice?

Be passionate about what you’re doing, otherwise no-one else will. Whatever you do, remember to always believe in yourself, be brave and be prepared to have a go. Finally, build a support network to share knowledge and skills, you can’t do everything on your own.

104

Sarah Bagnall INDEPENDENT FINANCIAL ADVISER/PRO TENNIS PLAYER (Sarah Stallard, MGC 2000 Leaver)

When selecting my course for university I had no idea what job I wanted to do so I chose a subject that I was both interested in and that I felt could lead me into the ‘job in the city’ that I thought I was ‘supposed to do’. While studying at London School of Economics I continued my tennis training and decided that I would play full-time after graduation. So, while all my friends were doing internships in big city firms, I was off round the world, using my student loan to fund my tournaments.

Tennis was a very lonely world but I was completely addicted to the thrill of competition and seeing how far I could get with it. The highs and lows were extreme. The highest points would have to be finally getting my first world ranking points in Australia, beating the no 72 in the world, winning a British Tour tournament and training in Cairo for six months. My lowest points are obvious: every time I lost! Like most players, I struggled with injuries and finally had to stop due to a wrist injury.

The lessons I learned from tennis proved invaluable when, working as an Independent Financial Adviser a few years later, I decided to set up my own business.

Since Economics A Level I had been very interested in financial affairs but when I had to think seriously about a career in Finance after my tennis was cut short, I realised that the standard city job in a multi-national firm just was not for me, as I wanted to work in a smaller company in a client-facing role. A few years in, I got the confidence to go off and set up my own business. Starting from scratch with not a single client to my name and only enough in the bank to survive for one month was perhaps a little bold, but it certainly focuses the mind and it is surprising how many people want to help you if you show a bit of entrepreneurial spirit! I have learned a lot along the way about business and about myself. I now have about 250 clients, and an office in central Bristol and London.

However, my greatest, and most recent, achievement was giving birth to our beautiful daughter. It is entirely possible to juggle having a baby and running a business and I even signed up a new client the week after she was born. It is definitely a challenge, but I set myself small goals along the way and four months in things are going really well.

105

Serena Kelsey DESIGNER TAILOR (Lawnside 1977 Leaver)

I started my own bespoke design and tailoring label for men and women in the late 1980s, after attending fashion school and an apprenticeship both in couture and on Saville Row. Being the 80s - the ‘boom years’ - most of my potential city clients were glued to their screens having no time to get to their tailor, so I decided to offer a service that went to them at their offices.

The company grew quickly from a one woman band to a team of ten with the flagship Kelsey store opening in Holborn in 1990. In 1997 the second store was opened in the City of London. The Kelsey London Label I designed for men and women was stocked at Selfridges, John Lewis and Saks Fifth Avenue, New York.

I was voted Menswear Designer of The Year in 2001 by GQ readers. Clients include royalty, captains of industry, legal professionals and A-list celebrities, the likes of Kate Moss, Oasis, Paul Weller, Primal Scream, The Stone Roses, Dizzy Rascal, Greg Wise, Ioan Gruffudd and Gary Rhodes.

Having emigrated to Auckland 7 years ago, I am continuing to create exquisite garments for many of New Zealand’s top executives and lawyers, and sporting stars.

What’s your best piece of advice?

Well to be honest, my school life was pretty hit and miss! On reflection though, it must have set me up to be a determined and focused young lady. I do feel for all the staff and Headmistresses - I can hear them tutting now!

I would say work hard, play hard and follow your dreams but always stay empathetic, and finally, stay true to who you really are.

106

Sue Forbes NATURE & TRAVEL PHOTOGRAPHER (MGC 1981 Leaver)

Everyone assumed I’d go into a sports-related field, given how much time I spent playing sports. However, my degree is in Electronic Engineering from Warwick. Once I began working as a design engineer, I realised I really wanted to be an engineering manager. So began a theme in my career: as my aspirations shifted, I followed them.

I joined the Royal Air Force as an Engineer Officer and was the first woman ever to receive the Queens Medal for the most outstanding Officer Cadet in the year. This resulted in interesting postings, including the Falklands Islands and Cyprus. After six glorious years, it was time to move on.

I needed to broaden my horizons to expand my career opportunities, so I completed a Masters of Business Administration at Stanford University, California. It paid off in a rewarding career in Silicon Valley, working for McKinsey as a management consultant and then for various high-tech companies, starting in Product Management. Eventually, I added Marketing, Business Development, Sales and Engineering in executive general management roles from small startups to large multinationals. It was fascinating work on the cutting edge of technology and took me all over the world. It’s also a 24/7 environment and can be quite brutal.

So, after 17 years, it was time for the next change. This time I followed the passion I’d only managed to do in my spare time with my husband – photography and travel. Passion and determination have allowed me to find a niche working on expedition ships travelling the world. I teach photography, drive boats, guide, and photograph the most amazing wildlife. I’ve been published in various books and magazines and won awards, the highlight of which was last year at the Natural History Museum Wildlife Photographer of the Year awards, where my photo was selected to be one of 100 in the exhibit out of 45,000 entries.

What’s your best piece of advice?

Don’t worry about deciding on your whole life’s career right out of school. Be a lifelong learner. You can change if you’re not fulfilled.

107

Victoria Prentis MP BARRISTER AND MEMBER OF PARLIAMENT FOR NORTH OXFORDSHIRE (Victoria Boswell, MGC 1989 Leaver)

I have wonderful memories from MGC: English lessons with Mr Bowditch who pushed his desk around the classroom as Blake’s Chariot, and instilled in me a lifelong love of Austen and Shakespeare; Mrs Melhuish driving me to debating competitions all over the country, introducing me to power dressing and the movement for the ordination of women; and Miss Hicks, the librarian who always found exactly the right books.

With this start in life, it seemed natural to read English at Royal Holloway, followed by Law at Downing College, Cambridge. Called to Middle Temple after several years in private practice, I went on to become a lawyer for the Treasury Solicitors’ Department, working on cases involving prisoners, army inquests and national security. Juggling a family life with my career was made much easier by positive job sharing; ultimately we were jointly Head of Security and Justice in the now Government Legal Department. For many years I also dedicated at least one day a week to voluntary work: I was a founding Trustee of the Northamptonshire Parent Infant Partnership and set up and chaired the Benefactors’ Board of the Oxford Hospitals Charity.

The opportunity to represent the area where I had always lived in the 2015 General Election was not one I could ignore. After 17 years in the Civil Service and with my daughters settled into secondary school, I was ready to stand. My legal background has been put to good use on the Commons Justice Committee, with Brexit, and in my role as Parliamentary Private Secretary to the Leader of the Commons, the Rt Hon Andrea Leadsom MP, who is responsible for organising Parliamentary business. My charitable work has also continued with initiatives including starting Singing for Syrians and the Great British Spring Clean.

Public speaking tricks I learnt at Malvern are put to good use every day: learning to speak on a subject with only ten minutes notice, and then for a very precise time period (usually 3 or 5 minutes) was invaluable during my time as a barrister and has proved extraordinarily good training day for the House of Commons chamber.

Reconciling the views of over 90,000 constituents is not always easy. Making the most of the opportunity to make a genuine and lasting difference is something I have always been determined to do.

108

Caroline Keene ENJOYING SPORT INTO MY EIGHTIETH YEAR! (Caroline Johnstone, MGC 1959 Leaver)

I loved my time at Malvern, especially as we played games every day. We had no athletics at school, but I joined Gloucester Athletic Club and Westbury Harriers after I left, and competed in cross-country events.

I married at the age of 19, and had two children in Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe), where we lived for three years. I played tennis and took part in a 20 mile road walking race (which I won!). On returning to England in 1963, between having three more children, (usually dragging up to five of them around with me!) I entered track and cross country races, and became County Cross Country Champion; I also came 10th and 24th in two consecutive national cross country races. I was even one of the first ladies to compete in a triathlon in the 1970s.

I love cycling too, and raised money for charities by cycling first from John O’Groats to Lands End in 1986 in 10 days, and six years later I cycled from Lands End to John o’Groats. I raised over £4,000 on the first ride, and a thousand on the second.

Since then I have cycled to Gloucester’s twin towns for Barnardos charity, and was made very welcome in each (Metz, Trier, and Gouda). In 1995 I cycled the length of New Zealand, 1310 miles in 14 days, and raised more money for the British Heart Foundation.

In my 70s, I cycled from London to Paris in four days, and then from Paris to Geneva. Another cycling event was coast to coast across England, when I swam in the Irish Sea, and then, three days later, in the North Sea! Now in my 80th year, I hope to ride in the Prudential Ride London 100 in aid of the Multiple Sclerosis charity.

What’s your best piece of advice?

If you start a challenge, it may be hard, but never give up.

109

Charlotte Laidlaw SOPRANO SINGER (Charlotte Mason, MSJ 2010 Leaver)

I was introduced to singing at St James’ by music teacher Lynne Lindner. With such support and encouragement from Lynne, I began to sing with renowned choirs such as the National Youth Choir of Great Britain and The Rodolfus Choir. This lead to being accepted for a place to study for my degree at the Royal Northern College of Music in Manchester. At the RNCM I was involved in multiple opera productions such as Kurt Weill’s Street Scene and Mozart’s Così fan tutte.

Since graduating from the RNCM with my Masters of Music, I have been a regular chorus member with Bergen National Opera with whom I have performed Britten’s Peter Grimes, Wagner’s Flying Dutchman and Verdi’s Requiem.

Now freelancing in the North West, I sing with the BBC Daily Service Singers and many other Manchester-based choirs. My earlier choral experience at St James’s and later MSJ, has greatly influenced my solo career and I perform regularly as an oratorio soloist.

Most recently I have been the soprano soloist in Bach’s B Minor Mass, Haydn’s Nelson Mass and Handel’s Messiah.

If, like me, music consumes your every waking moment and if you are ready for the challenge, then there is nothing more rewarding than chasing your dream – the rush of live performance makes all the hard work worthwhile!

What does success look like?

Waking up in the morning and knowing that your hard work made your passion into your career.

What’s your best piece of advice?

If, like me, music consumes your every waking moment and if you are ready for the challenge, then there is nothing more rewarding than chasing your dream – the rush of live performance makes all the hard work worthwhile!

110

Daphne Woodrow SECRETARY TO THREE PRIME MINISTERS: ANTHONY EDEN, HAROLD MACMILLAN AND SIR ALEC DOUGLAS-HOME (Daphne Shrimpton, MGC 1954 Leaver)

When I was at MGC, we were not encouraged to go to university and so, like many of my contemporaries, I firstly did a Cordon Bleu course and then a secretarial course in London. From there I was sent for an interview at 10 Downing Street and started a job there in the Secretariat, where we were known as the ‘Garden Room Girls’, as our office overlooked the walled garden at the back of the building. I arrived at the tail end of the Suez Crisis and my first boss was Sir Anthony Eden. He resigned through ill health about three months later and the only time I took dictation from him was to transcribe his resignation speech!

I then worked for Harold Macmillan for seven very fascinating years. As the office had to be manned twenty four hours a day, we worked night and weekend duties on a rota as well as normal hours. Macmillan spent many of his weekends at places like Blenheim Palace, Chatsworth, Petworth and, of course, Chequers, so one met some very interesting people. I worked through some momentous times including the Suez Crisis, the U2 incident, the Cuban Missile Crisis and the Profumo Affair to mention but a few.

My trips abroad included Bonn, Paris, New York, Nassau and Washington DC meeting General de Gaulle and President Kennedy among others.

After Harold Macmillan resigned over the Profumo Affair, my last year (before I left to get married) was spent very happily working for Sir Alec Douglas-Home. My last trip abroad with him was the very sad occasion of President Kennedy’s funeral in Washington.

In my day you were recruited straight from secretarial college but today I believe you would have to join the Civil Service to get a similar job. I was part of a very close-knit group and made friends for life.

What’s your best piece of advice?

Have confidence in yourself, knowing that you have received a first class education and can achieve your ambitions.

111

Isabel Burt FOUNDER AND DIRECTOR, THE ORCHARDS SCHOOL OF COOKERY (Isabel Bomford, Lawnside 1993 Leaver)

I left Lawnside and went to university to study Design Technology and Home Economics with a view to teaching. I had no idea what I wanted to do and one of the teachers at Lawnside said I would be good at it, so that was the start of my journey. School was tough for me as I am dyslexic and it was not recognised so much then, like it is now. I had to work twice as hard to get half as far, but I think this instilled a good work ethic.

On completing my degree, I wanted to learn to ski as I had never had the opportunity while growing up (something to do with school fees!). I did a cookery course so that I could do a ski season and live in the Alps for five months, cooking in a chalet. This opened up a whole new world to me. What an incredible lifestyle: I loved skiing every day, being in the mountains, blue skies in the winter, partying hard every night.

After several seasons, I decided to move to Paris for a year to improve my French so that I could get a proper job in the mountains.

This was easy to do as my sister Lucy (also a Lawnsidian), was already living out there having trained as a chef and was working in restaurants. While we were both enjoying the Parisian life, my sister came up with the idea of training chalet cooks from our family home, as no one ran proper bespoke chalet courses then. So we both went out for another ski season to promote our new business idea (everyone thought we were mad and it would never work, in fact the only support we had was from our parents).

We built the cookery school over the summer with one of our father’s friends and opened in September 2003 (aged 25 and 27).

Since then, the school has grown from training six students a week or fortnight to 48, and won lots of awards. The ones I am most proud of are ‘Cookery School of the Year’ and the ‘Best British Cookery School’.

What’s your best piece of advice?

Make the most out of every opportunity however big or small, it will help you get to your dream (even if you don’t know what that is yet!). Those of you who are dyslexic - school can be tough but there are things where you can shine above the rest. Put everything you can into school: you have to work so hard compared to others, but this helps you succeed in later life.

112

Clare Tooley WINE PROFESSIONAL (Clare Brown, MGC 1988 Leaver)

It is, perhaps, unusual to love your job so much you cannot imagine doing anything else. It is certainly a privilege. That level of commitment, however, is common in the wine trade. It appears in many facets of the industry, from production to marketing, grapegrowing to note-writing, tank to bank. Far from being exclusive, it encompasses both art and science, providing rich pickings for the most inquisitive of minds and a fulfilling career for the ambitious.

With an MA in Languages from Clare College, Cambridge, I still had no idea what I wanted to ‘become’. In 1995, a job ad took me to John Armit Wines and their loft in Notting Hill, a tasting slab groaning with fine Burgundy, and an epiphany that this was a good place to start. In the intervening years I’ve been a buyer, managed a winery and established an international wholesale network which included a brush with the KGB and dinner with Chinese pirates. I have studied hard for multiple exams (WSET Diploma and Master of Wine) and been awarded the Lallemand Science and Trinity Champagne scholarships. I have been inducted as a Chevalier in Bordeaux, Burgundy and Champagne and hosted tastings at sea and on a Hollywood rooftop. I’ve been fortunate enough to taste hundreds of thousands of wines and travelled as many miles.

I steadfastly believe that the best part of the job are the many brilliant minds and generous people I’ve met along the way. They ensure you never stop learning, that your glass is always full and that you make memories as delicious as the wines they pour. In 2006, I moved to Bordeaux with my husband and two young sons to manage my employers’ estates and spent years battling with French bureaucracy, loving nearly every minute of it. We moved to California in 2014, much to my surfer sons’ delight. Fire and earthquakes aside, I enjoy the beauty and bounty of the US wine valleys and the chance to source for several clubs (Wall Street Journal, Laithwaites, Virgin, Turner Classic Movies, National Geographic). The adventure continues.

What’s your best piece of advice?

Travel the world as much and as often as possible; keep learning and keep listening; take yourself seriously but never forget to laugh; explore outside your comfort zone but always come home; it won’t always work out and that’s fine, just pick yourself up and move on; take the time to work out what makes you happy and keep doing it.

113

Caitlin Hughes BUSINESS CONSULTANT AND DIRECTOR OF JUVENTUS F.C. (MGC 1998 Leaver)

Lots of things are said about curiosity including that it “keeps us moving forward, opening new doors, and doing new things” (Walt Disney). This is certainly true for me. It is why I studied Psychology and International Relations, and why I ended up with a portfolio of roles in media, digital and sport.

I left university in 2001. The dotcom bubble had just burst, Facebook didn’t exist, and Google had only recently moved out of a garage.

Meanwhile, a new currency called the Euro was launched, the US was set on regime change in the Middle East, and then, dreadfully, the 9/11 Twin Towers attack happened. It was impossible not to want to understand more so I left the UK to study an International Relations Masters at a US university.

Emerging again from a period of study, I joined the Boston Consulting Group as I was curious about how businesses work. In the years that followed I worked with more than a dozen companies from a US hedge fund to a UK supermarket group to the Royal Opera House.

The experience was both exhilarating and exhausting. I adored the variety and pace and I made some tremendous friends.

From there I took a well-trodden path into industry by joining the BBC, an organisation I loved and admired. I was thrown into the team that launched the iPlayer and didn’t look back. It couldn’t have been a more an exciting time to work in media: the internet was coming of age and that freed us up to think in completely new ways. Over almost ten years I worked in many different parts of the organisation in wooden-panelled board rooms, radio studios, prototyping labs and international commercial offices.

Today I run my own company called Halios which advises fast-growing companies, primarily in the media, digital and sports sectors. I am also an independent director of Italy’s most successful football club, Juventus, where I am able to bring views on their commercial activities. For two years now, I have also been Treasurer of the David Nott Foundation, a charity that provides essential training for surgeons in war zones.

We count our success by the number of lives we believe we save, which puts just about everything else into perspective.

What’s your best piece of advice?

Follow your curiosity and have the courage to try new things. Careers aren’t always built in predictable straight lines.

114

Melanie Bles FASHION PHOTOGRAPHER (Melanie Garforth Bles, MGC 1996 Leaver)

I left MGC knowing I wanted to be a fashion photographer. In fact, I knew I wanted to be a fashion photographer from the age of 12. It was just a combination of my mother’s Vogue magazines, a love of popular culture and an even deeper love of photography. However, it wasn’t until I was about 24 that I was actually brave enough to admit it to myself and other people. I mean, a ‘fashion photographer’, it just sounded way too flamboyant and a far-off fantasy...

Luckily my Art teacher at MGC, Mrs Rowberry, started me on the best path possible. She pushed me to get into the top Art Foundation course out there, the year-long course all students must do after A Levels and before any degree in Art and Design. And much like anything, aiming for the best you can be is a great start, wherever it leads you.

After that, I decided on a degree in Graphic Design, at Central St Martins, which is where I started to specialise in taking pictures and realising my dream. When I graduated, I started working in photo studios, cleaning floors and making coffees until 3am, then as an assistant to other photographers, a classic way to break into the industry. It was so tough and I made very little money for a very long time, but I got to travel and be with the creatives and photographers I had always wanted to learn from.

Fashion photography is a collaboration. A conversation between stylists, art directors, models, make-up artists, hair stylists, set designers, location managers, the client. But ultimately it is the vision of the photographer to bring these talents and creative minds together to create one great image. Each assignment is different, each client has different needs and requirements; it’s these challenges that I love. Communication, diplomacy, leadership, are all qualities that are needed on the job, other than your creativity. Clients to date include Fendi, Stella McCartney, Nike, Pucci, Dior, Vogue, Cos and H&M. A career in the arts can be extraordinary, international, intense, financially rewarding and highly fulfilling; something that is often surprising to those in other fields. But if you have a passion for the Arts I implore you not to be afraid.

What’s your best piece of advice?

Do what you love. If you love what you do you’ll work hard, and if you work hard you’ll find what you’re looking for...

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Genefer Archer HELICOPTER PILOT (St James’s & the Abbey, 1998 Leaver)

I left St James’s & The Abbey and took a year to travel Canada and Alaska. I returned to Bournemouth University to do a BA in Communication and then went to South America for two years of travelling and working. I can’t say I knew with any certainty what I wanted to do while at school or even university. I only found my passion for aviation and flying helicopters in my late 20s.

What I do know is that years of working in other industries, and my strong foundations of school and university, meant that I had the confidence to start retraining without too many qualms. Having my Private Pilot’s Licence has enabled me to have some wonderful experiences; I regularly take friends and family over London to see the sights from 1000ft, and I’ve done the Three Peaks Challenge in a helicopter - flying the length of the UK is breathtaking. I have flown to just south of Paris in a day and back; and dropped to just a few metres above the waves along deserted beaches in South Africa. En route to Wales last year, I realised I was close to Malvern and diverted to fly over St James’s for a trip down memory lane.

I am in the process of completing my Commercial Pilot Licence so I can move into working full-time in aerial filming and photography.

Studying for the APLTs (Airline Transport Pilot Licence) is a long and protracted process involving 14 theory exams and needing a lot of flight hours logged. I balance this study with residential property development, which gives me a much needed distraction at times.

I’d say that it’s good to be prepared to change tack within your career. I had 10 years of working as a personal trainer; I loved it so much that I went back to university to do an MSc in Sport and Exercise Science. A few years later, I realised that there was something I wanted to do more; so I made the leap into aviation. That decade in my 20s wasn’t wasted time; I developed many skills that serve me well in my role as a pilot. I don’t regret them and I don’t regret not finding flying earlier; I found it when I was ready to put in the work necessary to become a pilot.

My focus has always been to do what makes me feel inspired, challenged and uplifted. Aviation, and particularly helicopters, is a small industry but the people I meet through flying (pilots, engineers and ATC) are engaging and intelligent, and inspire me to always want to be better and try harder. Becoming a pilot was one of the best decisions I made, because every flight brings me moments of pure joy.

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Kate Ferry CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER, TALKTALK PLC (Kate Ferry, MGC 1991 Leaver)

I credit MGC for much of my career success. Dr Valerie Payne was a real inspiration to me and to this day I often quote her as constantly reminding the MGC girls that we were capable of doing anything we wanted and that any job was open to us.

I always advise young people to study what they really enjoy. With good academic results under your belt you can go on to a career in any field. I studied French and Spanish at Durham after leaving MGC, yet my first job was with the accountancy firm PriceWaterhouseCoopers where I qualified as a Chartered Accountant.

I left the audit practice of PWC almost immediately after qualifying, and my path to CFO was not the most traditional. I spent 12 years working in the City within Equity Research. Prior to joining TalkTalk, I was Corporate Affairs Director of Dixons Carphone, part of the Executive team that oversaw the merger of the UK’s largest electricals retailer and the UK’s largest mobile phone retailer. I am now Group CFO of TalkTalk plc, without doubt the most rewarding (and challenging) job I have done to date.

As a Board member of a listed company I have a responsibility to help more women reach senior roles, particularly in Finance (only 6% of FTSE 250 CFOs are women). I am not a fan of some of the recent public initiatives, for example quota, which if we are not careful will make women feel that they only got to the top because they had an unfair advantage. The way to encourage more women to fulfil their potential is to give them the support network they need, particularly once they have a family. To me this means giving both men and women flexibility so that modern working couples can both work full-time and raise a family.

Corporate responsibility is also critical in my role and, alongside the executive team, I spend a lot of time thinking about such issues as making the internet safer for our children. When not at TalkTalk, I spend time with my three young children. I also love to travel so I still use my languages (and continue to play the clarinet when I have time). I also sit on the Board of Heads Together, the mental health charity supported by the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and Prince Harry.

What’s your best piece of advice?

It may sound like a cliché but be true to yourself and be authentic. You will always be more successful ‘being you’ rather than trying to be something you are not.

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MALVERN ALUMNAE 100 Joy Alliy Gen Archer Sarah Austin Sarah Bagnall Tamsin Barber Bethany Barnes Katie Barnes Frankie Bendig Jo Blackshaw Mel Bles Anne Borrowdale Katherine Bradshaw Melanie Dawes Gemma Bruce Hannah Buckley Isabel Burt Tanith Carey Clarissa Caroe Bonnie Chan Woo Sophy Coombes-Roberts Caroline Copeland Jane Davidson Ginny Davis Elizabeth Day Deborah de Chazal Rebecca Dykes Imogen Edwards-Jones Kate Ferry Camilla Finlay Rebecca Fisher Sue Forbes Aminatta Forna Dame Clara Furse Sue Garrard Sophie Gilliat-Ray Emma Gilpin Jacobs

Angela Glatston Elizabeth Gowing Sophie Grant Barbara Greenwood Gay Haines Kirsty Haines Stephanie Haire Saffron Hare Sarah Haywood Felicity Houlbrooke Gaynor Howard Caitlin Hughes Jennifer Hughes Joy Hunter Tine Jaeger Vicky Jones Caroline Keene Serena Kelsey Deirdre Kinloch Anderson Jennifer Kirby Charlotte Laidlaw Iskra Lawrence Janice Lee Fang Catherine Lester-Walker Phyllida Lloyd Lesley Lokko Hermione Lovel Caroline Lucas Penelope, Viscountess Cobham Ursula Mackenzie Moky Makura Judith March Alison Martin Ursula Martin Sarah Massini Kiko Matthews

Gaby Morgan Sarah Mountford Sara Murray Rachel Nicholls Rosie O’Connor Elizabeth Oliver Georgie Pearman Ashleigh Petrie Victoria Prentis Hannah Price Samantha Price Annabel Rayer Dame Lesley Rees Lucy Richardson Jessica Robson-Hill Felicity Rogers Elizabeth Rita Susan Shaw Fiona Sperry Sarah Staniforth Alice Stapleton Hannah Storm Bryony Tomlinson Clare Tooley Lottie Van-Praag Samantha Vaughan Lucy Walker Kotska Wallace Lucy Walton Lulu Watts Alice Welch Ruth Whitehead India Wilkinson Emma Woffenden Daphne Woodrow Patricia Wu Lewis Laura Young

CELEBRATED ALUMNAE

from earlier generations now deceased Dame Alix Meynell Dame Barbara Cartland Doreen Warriner OBE Dame Elizabeth Lane Gillian Lowndes

Dr Hetty Bardsley (Hon. Mem) Margo Durrell Mary Hayley Bell Professor Patricia Lindop Sarah Holman

Shirley Paget, Marchioness of Anglesey Dr Una Kroll Liz Tilberis

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MALVERN ST JAMES

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MALVERN ST JAMES GINNY WIGGLESWORTH Prep girls enjoyed a fascinating talk from MGC Old Girl Ginny Wigglesworth (Lawry, 1959), as part of their topic learning about school life in previous eras. Ginny talked about life at Hatley St George (the Prep or 'junior' department of MGC) where she started as a boarder in 1952. The girls lapped up her memories about sweet tins brought back in trunks at the beginning of each term, with 60g rations dished out by Matron on Wednesdays and Saturdays after lunch; buns - Chelsea, apple, iced, donuts (every day! Not like now - once a week); midnight feasts; no talking after 'lights out'; burnt custard; handwriting; learning the piano and getting your knuckles rapped for errors; no heating; 2 baths per week; breaking the ice on the water jug for strip washing; and the strict discipline of Headmistress Miss Brooks and Housemistress Miss Warrie. And also friends for life - Ginny had just attended a reunion in London with the girls she was at MGC with. Ginny's conclusion? "Malvern girls are very special; you are having a wonderful education in a wonderful environment."

SIXTH FORM EXPERIENCE In October we welcomed two recent Old Girls back to school to talk about their Sixth Form experience, as well as life after school.

They were Elizabeth Rees (2014) who is studying for a MA at UCL and Angela Liu (2017) who is studying at Oxford University.

Angela, Mrs Olivera Raraty and Elizabeth

YOUNG ENTERPRISE This year’s YE students have been extremely successful.

Current, who has been focusing on reducing plastic pollution through their zero-waste starter packs, won the Sustainability award and Best Finance award. Meraki, who made a “Take 10” box in order to help reduce stress, won Best Presentation. Not only did the girls win a combined three out of eight awards, but all three MSJ companies (including Puzzle who have been spreading positivity through their hand-painted wooden signs) are Winners and are advancing to the next stage, the Herefordshire & Worcestershire Presentation Evening.

malvern ST JAMES

ONE YEAR ON Letter from Oxford from last year’s Head Girl and Founders' Award scholar

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y name is Chloe Parker and I left Malvern St James in 2018. Since then I have taken up my place at the University of Oxford reading Engineering Science.

Having been a pupil at MSJ for the past 10 years, I can say with all honesty that going into an unknown environment was daunting. Having now completed two terms, I feel more at home in this iconic city.

Many will be aware of the reputation surrounding Oxford, and it has been my experience that it lives up to that reputation! A typical day consists of lectures, tutorials and working on problem sheets. We have Labs for five hours one day a week. These vary from computing - simulating a rocket launch, thermodynamics - looking at the efficiency of an internal combustion engine, electronics - where we are building a radio, and mechanical labs – in which we have designed on CAD a truss bridge which we will build next term.

Oxford runs a general engineering degree, meaning the course includes contents from mechanical, civil, electrical and chemical engineering. In the first term however, it did feel as though I’d actually signed up for a maths degree!

Every week we are set two tutorial sheets, each of which are typically supposed to take us 15 hours and are generally full of the questions too long or too hard to be covered in the lectures.

The thing I found most challenging when I arrived was balancing the workload, sports, socialising, work, making friends, work, living in a completely new city and work!

However, after a few weeks I found I had slipped into a routine and everything was miraculously getting done!

(Not having to cook certainly helped). In addition to academics, I have joined the Uni lacrosse team, a sport I loved playing at MSJ, to keep active. Training is quite intense with three training sessions, a match, fitness and strength and conditioning sessions each week. The finale of the season is the Varsity against Cambridge: it was an amazing experience to play in such a historic fixture. I would really recommend getting involved in a university sport as it is a really good social activity and helps you keep healthy.

MSJ helped me become a well-rounded individual, so I did feel prepared going into university especially having

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boarded; however nothing can truly prepare you for moving away. I would recommend to people that they really look at what their course will involve and check that it is what they want to be studying, as there will be many late nights in the library questioning why you chose this!

It’s also important to do things you enjoy as well as your studies in order to make the most of the experience and independence.

Looking to the future, in truth I was never convinced regarding the Oxford course and environment. I have enjoyed my first two terms but have made the choice to re-apply to Imperial. I have received an offer to read Mechanical Engineering as this was the course I had wanted to study. So although I am unsure what I am going to do regarding my next step, I have found this year to be valuable and it has taught me a lot about myself and what I am capable of.

malvern ST JAMES

GREENSLADE REDEDICATION AND OFFICIAL RE-OPENING

Year 13s proudly presented their newly revamped boarding house on 14th October 2018 for a rededication ceremony, exactly 30 years to the day since it was opened by the Bishop of Worcester. This time, Mrs Raraty and Rev Taplin were the officiators and we all raised a glass of fizz to the House’s continued success.

Over ÂŁ500,000 has been spent on the project, which sees a new structure in Sixth Form boarding with the Year 12s all in Poulton and Year 13s all in Greenslade.

This allows us to create a real school-touniversity experience where the girls are given far more independence and a more grown-up living space where they can enjoy continental breakfast in the House, have visitors over, cook and entertain, and both study and play hard!

Pianos, pool table, giant sofas, giant wall-mounted TVs, snug spaces, places to get away from it all and places to hangout together are all on offer.

It was great to see Housemistresses past and present in attendance, including Mrs Elisabeth Rambridge, Mrs Liz Prophet and Mrs Lynne Poynton, along with Miss Courtney Grainger, Miss Anouska Van Ravenstein and Ms Sue Cole.

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COMMEMORATION & PRIZEGIVING Kiko Matthews did a superb job as our guest speaker at the 2018 Prizegiving with an incredibly inspiring and entertaining speech. Thank you for coming back, Kiko!

Kiko with Honorary Members

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COMMEMORATION & PRIZEGIVING

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malvern ST JAMES

INDIA WILKINSON TRIBUTE DAY

S

aturday 13 October was a special day at MSJ, when our community came together to celebrate the life of India Wilkinson, who died in December 2017 from a brain tumour. She had been a gifted Year 13 student with a promising future as a scientist, and was our much-loved OGA Prefect.

India loved many things: science, art and netball being just a few. So we decided to bring all of those things together.

Old Girls, led by Katherine Barnes, played with staff (thanks to Ms Sarah Townsend, Mrs Kelly Shaw-Young and Mrs Melanie Detnon) and current students in a fast-paced friendly, while Honorary Members including Mrs Liz Prophet and Mrs Joan Newby cheered from the sidelines.

The group then repaired to the main building for Tea, where we were joined by many more staff and Honorary Members.

Dr Sarah Guy and Mrs Raraty spoke about India’s life and impact on us all. There is no doubt that India was destined to be a great scientific mind. An artwork modelled on Klimt’s Tree of Life was unveiled. Our huge thanks to Josselyn Chau who created this beautiful piece, featuring Merlin, India’s dog, and pictures of India and friends from their time at School. This is now mounted in the Dining Room for everyone to enjoy.

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malvern ST JAMES WASSAILING AT MADRESFIELD COURT Madresfield Court was the magical setting for the MSJ Singers, along with the Year 7 Music Scholars, to perform songs and readings as part of a Wassailing concert that took place on 6 December 2018, thanks to MSJ parents Mr and Mrs Chenevix-Trench.

DIDO & AENEAS

The Senior School performed Purcell’s opera for their annual production which was a triumph. The title characters were played by Lara Maylor-Wrout and Sylfiana Wong.

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malvern ST JAMES - A YEAR IN PICTURES

MSJ Carols at Malvern Priory

MSJ Prep's Mary Poppins production

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The Gambia 2018

'Trashion' Show - Fashion from recycled materials

Junior Schools' Art Exhibition

Lacrosse 2nd Team

A full sweep of A*s / 9s in GCSEs

malvern ST JAMES - A YEAR IN PICTURES

Team MSJ

Leith's girls taking a well-deserved break

Under 14 ISA netball champions

Remembrance Service in The Quad

Gold Duke of Edinburgh's Awards for Sabrina and Jackie

Off to university for Year 13

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THE FOUNDERS’ AWARDS PROVIDING TRANSFORMATIVE EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES FOR TALENTED GIRLS

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enevieve Manning is this year’s Year 12 student who has been given the Founders’ Award, the school’s most prestigious scholarship. The Founders’ programme was launched in 2015 to recognise all-round excellence and to give opportunities to girls who couldn’t be at MSJ, or participate as fully, without bursary assistance.

After excelling in her GCSEs, Genevieve (Vivi) is now studying Biology, Chemistry and Maths at A Level as well as Music AS Level. Her aim is to study Veterinary Sciences at Cambridge.

“My parents have made sacrifices for me to be here at MSJ. I think that it has been worth it, especially with all the different extra-curricular activities I do and the GCSE results I achieved. The main goal now is to study veterinary medicine at university. My parents have done everything they can to make sure that I have the best chance at it, and the school has supported me brilliantly.

I have been so fortunate to have been helped with day fees through my academic and riding scholarships, and now with the Founders’ Awards, which has allowed me to board. I couldn’t have been a MSJ pupil without this assistance. I would like to say a massive thank you to all of the alumnae, the Old Girls’ Association, and everyone in the MSJ community who has donated. You have made a massive difference to my educational journey.”

Meanwhile, our two Year 13 Founders’ Awards recipients, Holly Harvey and Lara Maylor-Wrout will be taking their A Levels this Summer. Lara, who joined in Sixth Form, is holding an offer to study Medicine at Cardiff, whilst Holly is taking a gap year before applying to study English Literature at university in 2020. Last year’s Head Girl, Chloe Parker, also a Founders’ Award recipient, has almost completed her first

Genevieve Manning practising for her charity recital in aid of Birmingham Children's Hospital Burns Unit and The Gambia

Whilst Vivi is academically focussed, she has fully embraced life at MSJ and, thanks to her Founders’ Award bursary, is now able to flexi-board. She credits this with allowing her to take part in diverse extra-curricular activities and to balance her academic work and hobbies. She is second soprano in the choir and a Grade 8 piano player, and has performed Evensong at Tewkesbury Abbey and taken part in the Armed Man concert at Worcester Cathedral. She plays in the 1st Lacrosse and Netball teams, and is a talented rider, co-captaining the school’s team. She competes in dressage, show jumping and arena eventing for MSJ and has made it to the National Championships at Addington every year. Her mother runs a livery yard and so her weekends and evenings are often spent at the stables brushing and tacking up, and mucking out.

She’ll be brushing up on her leadership skills next year, too, as it has just been announced that she will be Deputy Head Girl for 2019-20.

Vivi has wanted to be a vet since she was very young. During the holidays, she has been gaining valuable experience on farms near to her home, where she helps with the lambing season.

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Genevieve in competition

year at Oxford University studying Engineering Science; after much deliberation, she has decided to transfer to Imperial College London to read Mechanical Engineering starting in September. Coco Chernel, also an Award recipient for 2016, is enjoying her first year at the University of Leeds studying Physics. Coco also represents the university lacrosse team.

She says, “It is a stimulating and engaging course which challenges me to explore concepts in further detail than ever before. I am hoping my degree will provide a strong foundation for a career in renewable energy, a subject which I am extremely passionate about.”

ANNUAL GIVING

ANNUAL GIVING REPORT APRIL 2018 TO MARCH 2019

Donations to the The Founders’ Awards bursary campaign have been received gratefully from the following: Old Girls and Honorary Members Mrs Sheila Pemberton (McKenzie, MGC 1946) Mrs Jennifer Finch (Longworth-Krafft, MGC 1967) Mrs Sarah Fontes (Tickle, MGC 1956) Ms Bryony Tomlinson (MGC 2003) The Old Girls’ Association Parents’ Donations (2018 Leavers) Mr MD Rees Mr and Mrs Peter M Cooper One anonymous OGA Lectures and School Talks Thank you to all those Old Girls who have come back to MSJ to work with current students: Sue Garrard (Anderson, MGC 1978) - OGA Lecture November 2018 Elizabeth Rees (MSJ 2014) – Sixth Form Experience Guest Speaker and Year 10 talk Rose Owen (MSJ 2013) – Year 10 talk Romilly Moran – Year 10 talk Angela Liu (MSJ 2017) – Sixth Form Experience Guest Speaker Kiko Matthews (MGC 1999) – Prizegiving 2018 Guest Speaker Charlotte Laidlaw (MSJ 2010) – Vocal Workshop Ginny Wigglesworth (Lawry, MGC 1959) – talk to Prep girls about life at MGC in the ‘50s 2018 Summer Reunion Planning Thanks to those who were involved in the planning for the MGC Reunion and The Abbey School reunion, attending the specially convened meetings or being interviewed by phone: Judith Drewer (Horrell, Abbey 1973), Isabel Evans (Clayton, MGC 1974), Fiona Sedgley (MGC 2009), Sarah Smith (Caldwell 1995), Dr Val Payne, Mrs Pippa Leggate, Mrs Ivian Lloyd, Helen Pugh (MGC 1974), Jenny Thomas (MGC 2002), Ginny Wigglesworth (Lawry 1959), Jane Mason (Coles, MGC 1970), Margot Jacob (Coverdale MGC 1962), Dani Grieveson (MGC 2001), Alice Wright (2008), Bryony Tomlinson (2003), Ann Parrack (1950), Anne Borrowdale (Lea 1971), Charlotte Morrison (Page, 1973), Cecily Hewlett (MGC 2002) MGC Summer Reunion Guest Speakers: Anne

Borrowdale (Lea), Charlotte Morrison (Page), Janice Lee Fang (Lee, 1998), Laura Wilde (1998), Cecily Hewlett, Jenny Thomas, Amanda Brown (Johnson, 1988), Margaret Chittock (Davies, 1951), Sue Stubenvoll (Stiff, 1964) Katherine Barnes (MSJ 2015) – chief organiser of Old Girls’ Netball in memory of India Wilkinson; and all those who attended, including former staff Malvern Alumnae 100 Thank you to all our Old Girls who have given their time and commitment to being part of the Malvern Alumnae 100, a group whose life paths offer inspiration to the next generation of women. Please see our supplement on pages 8-119 for the full list of the 100.

Forty-three of the group were able to be with us for the launch on March 14th: Sarah Austin (Skinner, MGC 1987), Tamsin Barber (MGC 1989), Bethany Barnes (MSJ 2013), Katie Barnes (MSJ 2015), Frankie Bendig (Pickard, MGC 2000), Jo Blackshaw (MGC 1989), Anne Borrowdale (Lea, MGC 1970), Katherine Bradshaw (“KP” Parker, St J’s&A 1988), Gemma Bruce (Knowles, StJ’s&A 1995), Melanie Dawes (MGC 1984), Hannah Buckley (Evans, MSJ 2010), Isabel Burt (Bomford, Lawnside 1993), Lucy Richardson (Bomford, Lawnside 1995), Bonnie Chan Woo (Chan, MGC 1994), Jane Davidson (MGC 1975), Imogen EdwardsJones (MGC 1986), Kate Ferry (Kirkland, MGC 1991), Camilla Finlay (Clews, MGC 1995), Sarah Bagnall (Stallard, MGC 2000), Becky Fisher (MSJ 2011), Angela Glatston (MGC 1968), Kirsty Haines (MSJ 2015), Felicity Houlbrooke (St J’s 2005), Caroline Keene (Johnstone, MGC 1957), Deirdre Kinloch Anderson (Loryman, MGC 1956), Catherine Lester-Walker (Swallow, MGC 1971), Hermione Lovel (Abbey 1966), Moky Makura (Akinsemoyin, St J’s 1983), Judith March (MGC 1975), Sarah Massini (MGC 1982), Sarah Mountford (Morley, MGC 1987), Jessica RobsonHill (Hill, MGC 2005), Elizabeth Rita (Scott, St J’s 2005), Felicity Rogers (St J’s 2005), Susan Shaw (Pretty, MGC 1953), Hannah Storm (Cowdy, MGC 1995), Sam Vaughan (Robinson, St J’s&A 1995), Kotska Wallace (Oddie, MGC 1991), Lulu Watts (McEvoy, MGC 1997), Emma Woffenden (St J’s 1980), Daphne Woodrow (Shrimpton, MGC 1954), Laura Young (Taylor, MGC 1984) MSJ Archives Mrs Mary Laver (Boyle, St J’s 1974) and Mrs Jenni Chuck (Hon Memb, St J’s, MSJ) for the regular time they volunteer with the Archives.

Angela and Philip Clifford - report card signed

by Miss Isabel Greenslade for Philip’s mother.

Mrs Elizabeth Nixon (Burlingham, Abbey 1939) – 1931 Abbey School photograph and 3 Abbey School caps.

Mrs Rachel Renaud (Gregory, MGC 1989) – 1984 Address Book, 1989 OGA News, 1985 Strawberries & Cream Party Tickets, USA Lacrosse Tour 1984 Test Match Card, Order of Service – Christmas 1983, MGC sports skirt, MGC swimming costume and cap.

Mr James Craufurd-Stuart, son of Joyce Mary Parsons (MGC 1930) – two photo albums.

Mrs Lucinda Venn (Buxton, St James’s 1963) – Report from Miss Alice Baird and photographs Ms Jenny Montgomory (Rowney, The Abbey 1958) 1st Team blazer and photograph of Esme Wrenick (Abbey School 1929 Leaver) Dr Hermione Lovel (The Abbey, 1965) – a wealth of material from her own archive and some of her mother’s effects (Charmian Brown, The Abbey 1936), including copies of The Hazel Nut from various decades, school trunk with uniform, games sticks, board, games caps, 1st Hockey and 1st Lacrosse Teams photos from the ‘30s, hockey ‘colours’ games cap from 30s, many photos.

Ms Philippa Hynes (Sykes, Abbey 1965) – school photographs 1950s-‘60s, Abbey Commemoration Order of Service 1965, photo of Chapel Ms Sarah Barrett (The Abbey) – school photos from the 60s from Mary Anderson (Clarkson).

Mrs Helen Moxon (Abbey 1959) – photos, register and booklets.

Mrs Janet Bradbury (Bennett, Abbey 1959) – photographs.

Mrs Judith Drewer (Horrell, Abbey 1973) – school photos, psalter, centenary supplement.

Diana Smith Billard (Smith, MGC 1974) – various orders of service, school magazines and news sheets, address supplements from the ‘70s Julie Wilcher (Westmacott, MGC 1962) – various items from Julie and from her mother (Vera Gough, MGC 1920s) including newspaper coverage, 1920s school photos, school tie and various photos from the 1950s/60s Dr Frankie Williams (Royals, MGC 1966) – MGC prospectus and photos Ms Ellen Mozley – photo from Anne Fawles Mozley (MGC c1949) Mr Noel Knight - exercise books and MGC brooches from his mother’s time at school (Beatrice Margaret Knight, nee Hooper, MGC c1924)

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MALVERN GIRLS' COLLEGE

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MALVERN GIRLS’ COLLEGE

Pippa Leggate, Headmistress 1997 – 2006 Reflections on MGC’s 125th Anniversary

Pippa, standing right, with Dr Val Payne (standing left), with Elisabeth Rambridge and Nicki Castello

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arking the 125th Anniversary of Malvern Girls’ College was always going to be a special occasion and we were not disappointed. It was wonderful to see so many members of MGC attend and contribute to the general excitement of the day. From the moment people walked into the main building up the steps and into the front entrance, there was an air of expectancy and a buzz as the meetings and greetings took place.

Even the weather was kind as we gathered on the 16th June.

It was a delight to see so many former members of MGC, both pupils and staff, arrive and engage in excited chatter as they attended the various events on the day. The Founders’ Library was the venue for the first drinks gathering and

the level of chatter said it all, as the years disappeared and news was caught up on. Lunch followed in what would have been the “cloakies“ for most of us, but now was revealed as an extensive and well laid out central dining area. For many this proved the first, new encounter in a journey of exploration into the world of Malvern St James, as MGC has become.

The final highlight of the day was a formal Black Tie Dinner attended by over 150 MGC alumnae. The dinner was attractively laid out in the York Hall with candles, flowers and round tables providing a stylish air to a much loved and familiar setting.

The evening was capped by a series of entertaining and enlightening recollections and vignettes contributed by representatives

from the different decades. These reminded us both of the passage of time and the sense of continuity that MGC has provided over the years to so many, against a backdrop of changing circumstances.

It was exciting also to catch up and to become more aware of the ongoing success of Malvern St James which is the outcome of several Malvern schools including MGC. Today MSJ provides that particular brand of girls’ education which serves the present pupils who face an ever changing world. Over the years generations of girls have been educated in Malvern schools and have contributed significantly to our world, but it is heartening to see that the fine tradition of high expectations for young women continues to blossom and flourish.

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MALVERN GIRLS’ COLLEGE - REUNION DINNER 2018

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MALVERN GIRLS’ COLLEGE - REUNION DINNER 2018

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MALVERN GIRLS’ COLLEGE - reUNION DAY 2018

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MALVERN GIRLS’ COLLEGE - reUNION DAY 2018

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MALVERN GIRLS’ COLLEGE

REGIONAL REUNIONS Late 1950s Old Girls

Jill Gladstone (Vernon, 1958) writes: “On 27th September 2018, twenty-one of us made our way to Sandra SmithGordon’s (Farley) home in London, by the Thames. We arrived, watching heron, waders and shags drying out their wings on the mud flats and we left when the tide was in and lapping against the walling. We had a lovely time - welcomed

by Sandra then catching up on everyone’s news. Twenty-five letters had been received, with their apologies and these were all read out. Ginny Wigglesworth (Lawry) caught us up with news of MSJ, as she represents our era on the OGA Committee. Poot (Tricia Wilkinson (Marsden)) couldn’t attend but, as always, sent her best wishes.

We decided on forthcoming dates:

• on 3/10/2019 we will meet again at Sandra’s for lunch.

• 1/10/2020 will be a rather special date as we will all be 80! Amazing! So we have decided to celebrate big time!

We are booked in at the RAF Club in London for a lunchtime gathering. It won’t be cheap, but well…

Please would you make a note of the dates, and if you think that you would be interested in the RAF Club event please will you reply early so we can book the right size of room.

(Editor’s note: Please respond to the OGA Office and we will pass your details on – oga@malvernstjames.co.uk/ tel: 01684 892288).

Gillian Hamilton (Shuttleworth) had brought up-to-date address lists which were so useful and appreciated. We had just learned of Caggie Sankey’s death a few days earlier and decided that the two friends who were planning to attend her funeral, in Kent, would take our donations to that.”

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MALVERN GIRLS’ COLLEGE NORFOLK REUNION Tishy Bayne (Mackenzie, 1964) and Anne Laubscher (Scott, 1954) organised our 28th Annual Norfolk Reunion on Wednesday, 26th September 2018, held once again, by general consent, at the Anchor Inn on the North Norfolk coast at Morston, on yet another glorious sunny day. This year there were only seventeen of us there, because sadly three of our longstanding regulars were unable to be with us at the last minute because of illness, so we all signed 'Get Well' cards to Jen Murray (Carter 1947) and Alan Fry, telling them both how much we missed them and looking forward to seeing them both (and, of course, dear Marianne Fry (Newman, 1951)) again next year. Unfortunately, we were also missing Tricia (Marsden 1956) and husband John Wilkinson and Christine Booth (Sutcliffe 1954) on their usual jaunt down to Norfolk from Yorkshire. Our last two 'regulars' to be missed were Joan Rivers (Turnbull, 1954), who was at her sister's 80th birthday party and Anne Charlton (Burton, 1958), who was on holiday in Spain!

However, we were delighted to welcome Lottie Ridler down again from Lincolnshire, with her two Lincolnshire passengers who have not been able to come for several years (Beth Stone and Pat Cope) and Heather and Peter Hornbrook drove all the way up from Burnham-onCrouch that morning. Charmian and John Gilbert came up once again from Kent and hope that they are now 'accepted as part of the Norfolk clan' (yes!); Audrey Peters fitted us in on her 'East of England Tour' from Devon and Sue Key-Burr also drove up for the day from Woodbridge. This just leaves rather few actual Norfolk Old Girls - Sarah Jewson, Susie Riddington and Jill Hargreaves with her husband Roger, who were missing the last couple of years, because they had told us they were moving south to be nearer their family and we had crossed them off the invitation list! Fortunately, Susie rang them to ask them for a lift and we were very pleased to

find that they had not moved after all and to welcome them back into the fold!

We very much hope to see them all again next year, along with the other six missing.

Old Girls, if there is anyone else who may expect to be moving to, or holidaying in, Norfolk in the second half of September next year, do please phone Tishy on 01603 742601, or email her on pbayne46@gmail.com, to invite yourselves to join us!

Editor’s Note: Sadly, there is an update to this news: Jen Murray, who was a stalwart of the OGA Norfolk Reunion, and its Chief Organiser for many years, died later in 2018. See Notices further on in this MGC section. A commemoration service was held in March this year.

MID WALES GROUP Ann Payne (Nash, 1956): “We remain a small group of nine (Suzanna Johnson [Habershon], Eira Jones [Greet], Maureen Jones [Evans], Jessica King [Styles], Jennie Vint [Weston], Penny Eckley [Peirson Jones], Margaret Underwood [Collis], and Sally Leathem). Six of us met for coffee in Glasbury in February and then decided to try and get a party up to go to the 125th Summer Reunion at school. In the event only three of us were able to go - Jessica, Sally and myself. I met up with my daughter, Kirsty Payne, and we were amazed at some of the changes which had taken place, even since she was there in the 1980s. Maureen, Jessica, Jennie and I met for lunch at a pub in April and then Eira, Suzanna, Maureen and I met again at a country house hotel in September. We had planned to go to the Aberglasney Christmas Fair in December but only four could make it and then two of us had heavy colds so the outing was cancelled. We hope for more inspiration for 2019.”

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MALVERN GIRLS’ COLLEGE NORTH AND EAST YORKSHIRE REUNION A reunion was held at the home of Liz Ticehurst (area representative) in April 2018.

“Everyone brought something towards the lunch and we had a very jolly time. Those who attended were from MGC, Liz Ticehurst (Major, Ryall 1966), Penny Avison (Beck, Mount 1957), Tricia Wilkinson (Marsden, Ivydene 1956), Margaret Nicholson (Bird, Mount 1948), Jill Gladstone (Vernon, Benhams 1958), Frances Johnson (Summerside 1960), and Tracey Viner (Summerside 1984). From St James’s we had Jackie Seymour, Bridget Laycock, and Isabel Denyer. I contacted lots of Old Girls and received some very nice letters. We were a bit short on numbers so decided to invite the husbands along which added to the day.”

Editor’s note: If anyone lives in North or East Yorkshire and would like to be put in touch with Liz about future reunions, then please contact the OGA office so that we can pass on your details.

WHERE ARE THEY NOW? Christy Page-Turner (Tetley 1953) is looking for Dr Harriet Martin (1976) who now lives in New Zealand.

in memoriam Angela Marsh-Smith (Holgate, 1943) on 1st February this year. She had a long and full life, lived to be 91 ½ and had 3 children, 7 grandchildren and 5 great-grandsons with one further great-grandchild expected shortly. Until the final few months of her life she enjoyed reasonable health, playing Bridge and seeing family and friends regularly.

Mary Lambert (Reed, 1940s) on 6th February, 2018, aged 93. Daughter of a Lancashire cotton mill owner, she was sent to Hatley St. George and then Avenue. She was affectionately known as 'Taddy', being a good swimmer!

Her great friend was Judy Rook whom she often spoke about. She went on to study Acting and Speech Therapy

at The Central School of Speech and Drama in London where she had the same voice coach, Elsie Fogerty, as Sir Laurence Olivier. She practised as a Speech Therapist in Bradford, working primarily with children, and was highly regarded. She had a life-long love of music, poetry and nature which was nurtured at MGC, was a season ticket holder at Burnley F.C. with her husband Walter, and was a devout Christian until she died. Her daughter, Jessica, also went to MGC (Avenue, Head Girl 1970).

Jen Murray (Carter, 1947) on 12th December 2018. Tishy Bayne (Mackenzie 1964) writes: “She went into hospital early in September with sepsis and was not well enough to go home for weeks, although we visited her several times in the Norfolk and Norwich Hospital and she seemed quite cheery, although not able to walk. She went from there to a rehabilitation hospital nearer home for several weeks, but as she was still totally unable to walk, she was transferred to a good nursing home in Sheringham.

However, the staff there became concerned about her condition and she went by ambulance back to the Norfolk and Norwich hospital, where she was diagnosed with a second bout of sepsis and the doctors told the friend who was with her that things did not look good. During the evening she drifted in and out of consciousness and then quietly slipped away.

We shall all remember her for indefatigably organising the MGC Norfolk Reunion Lunches for 25 years - and all

Jessica and Mary

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MALVERN GIRLS’ COLLEGE

Jennifer Murray

without a computer!- and we were very sad that she was not able to come to the lunch in September.”

Caroline “Caggie” Stevens (Sankey, 1958) on 16th September 2018, following a stroke.

Honor Collins (Doll 1946), peacefully on the 22nd February 2019 at the age of 91 in a nursing home in Dorking.

Elizabeth Mary Sawtell (Shipman, 1949) on November 13th 2017, just three weeks before her 61st wedding anniversary. She was the much loved mother of two girls and two boys and the equally loved grandmother of two girls and two boys and will be much missed by them as well as by her many friends, and most of all by her husband.

She was 86.

Frances O’Neill (Pascoe, 1948) in 2017.

Barbara Stone (1958) earlier in 2019.

Shaunagh Wand (Crew 1947), peacefully after a short illness on 30th January 2019.

Jane Mignon Hudson (Dalling, 1955) on 16th November 2017.

Olga Evans (Griffiths, 1949) in January 2017 at a care home in South Wales. She remained in contact with many

of her school friends and always spoke fondly of Malvern.

Janet Patricia ‘Tish’ Smart (Hopper 1945) on 12th January 2019.

Jennifer Duffy (Pugh 1954) on 8th March 2019.

Catherine Inniss (Mann 1958) on 10th January 2019.

Colleen Anne Frost (Pegley 1946) on 23rd October 2018.

Her daughter said that she loved her time at MGC.

Honorary Members (former staff) Mrs Elizabeth Locke (Whittaker) who was an RS teacher at MGC in the late 70s/early 80s and then Head of Department for many years. Mrs Sue Adeney has written in to say she was incredibly well-respected and inspiring, and many of her students went on to study Theology at university. Elizabeth died on December 15th after a long fight with cancer.

Miss Joy Taylor, who was Head of Lacrosse in the MGC PE department from 1988 through to retirement in July 1995.

She also taught for a while, part-time, at Lawnside. Miss Taylor played lacrosse for England, and was clearly much loved and respected by colleagues and girls alike. Says one fellow teacher, "Her energy, empathy and enthusiasm, even as she retired, were an example to us all."

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The

ABBEY SCHOOL

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THE ABBEY - reunion 2018 THE ABBEY REUNION Around 165 of you joined us last June for The Abbey School Reunion, which was put together with the kind help of Judith Drewer (Horrell, 1973). It was a tremendous day, starting with drinks and lunch in the York Hall at MSJ, a ceremonious singing of the school song, and then everyone on to coaches for a trip up to Malvern Wells and The Abbey building. The school is now The Abbey College, an international school, and we are very grateful to them for allowing us access. Tea was served back at MSJ before everyone headed away.

Thank you to all who came: there was a tremendous atmosphere, and thanks to all of you who brought ‘treasure’ with you – please see the Annual Giving Report further on in the magazine which details donations to the Archives. Thanks in particular to Hermione Lovel who brought a full original trunk-load of items from her time at School, and that of her mother, Charmian Brown, who attended the school in the 1930s.

Judith Drewer writes:

Judith Drewer with her mother Elizabeth Horrell

“The Reunion in June brought Old Girls back to Malvern for the most amazing weekend. I would like the thank the Headmistress, staff and in particular Fiona Meredith and her team for making us all so welcome and for giving us such a memorable day. It is now 40 years since the school in Malvern Wells closed its doors, but the spirit of those who had been there was undiminished. Old friendships were rekindled and happy days and horrors were relived!

Thank you, Malvern St James – it was a triumph and I am sure you will be seeing and hearing more from Abbey Old Girls in the future.”

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THE ABBEY

THE ABBEY

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THE ABBEY Interview with

ELIZABETH NIXON Elizabeth Nixon (Burlingham), aged 97, talked to Fiona Meredith about her time at The Abbey School in the 1930s.

Elizabeth was the youngest girl in the school when she joined in 1929, aged 8. Her aunts attended in the 1880s, and it was decided that both Elizabeth and her older sister Ursula should follow in their footsteps. She remained at the School until she was 18 and had completed her School Certificate examinations in the Summer of 1939, as the nation headed towards World War II. “My time at The Abbey was a happy one and I think of it often. There was a strong work ethic and we were very well taught. We respected our teachers and the Headmistresses, Miss Florence and Miss Alice Judson, and we were instilled with a strong Christian ethos. We made great friendships which lasted well beyond school. Although sometimes it was disciplinarian to a degree that would seem excessive today, back then it was the norm. We didn’t know any different and so we accepted it.”

Full-boarding was the only option, and once girls were installed at the beginning of term, they were largely cocooned from the outside world, save for two exeats per term. The only other time the girls went off school premises was for Founders’ Day at Hollybush and Commemoration at Malvern Priory. They were not allowed to go into Malvern or onto the hills alone, nor were they allowed to receive visitors. So, despite the fact that Elizabeth’s brother was at Malvern College and would occasionally walk past the Abbey when he was allowed out, they could never actually meet!

School life had a certain rhythm to it. “I remember breakfasts of porridge with black treacle, and occasionally bacon. In general, the food was good; but we were constantly hungry!

Bread would be sneaked out of the dining room in the legs of our knickers, so that we could eat it in secret later.”

After breakfast, the girls would be divided into groups by the Gymansium teachers, to do exercises outside in the fresh air.

This was followed by Chapel for about 20 minutes before the school day began. Bread and dripping was the snack at midmorning break, and post was given out.

On the curriculum were Arithmetic, Geometry, English, History, Latin, Scripture and French. In addition to French lessons, “There was a French Table in the Dining Room, where pupils had to sit with Madame for one week on rotation, speaking French throughout.”

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There were readings every day from The Daily Telegraph – though nothing too risqué. Pages deemed unsuitable were folded over so as not to trouble impressionable young ladies.

“I remember vividly the abdication of King Edward VIII, in order to marry Mrs Simpson. We came down in our dressing gowns to hear the abdication speech on the wireless, all in tears. We thought that it was wonderfully romantic and that he should be allowed to marry for love.”

Music was a big part of school life. Sir Ivor Atkins, the organist at Worcester Cathedral, came every Friday for singing and choir practice. The same greeting started each session: “Good Afternoon, gels.” “Good Afternoon, Sir Ivor.” After singing, the girls flocked down to the Chapel to practise the hymns to be sung the following week.

Outside of the classroom, there was swimming, hockey, lacrosse and netball. Elizabeth remembers being in the

THE ABBEY

Netball team, aged 8, and generally she excelled at Games.

“In swimming, we learnt life-saving skills in the outdoor pool, but before you could enter the water, a layer of mould on top had to be skimmed off. Before being ‘pool-ready’ you were expected to endure three days of cold baths, presumably to acclimatise the body to what lay ahead. The Abbey regularly played Hockey and Lacrosse fixtures against Malvern Girls’ College, Lawnside, St James’s, Ellerslie, and Alice Ottley in Worcester. “St James’s were the fiercest opposition, but also the most anticipated matches as they always served the best tea, much better than MGC!” The Judson sisters, Florence and Alice, the first Headmistresses of The Abbey, were good friends with the Baird family who founded St James’s. The Guiding movement was celebrated at both schools. The girls completed badges and did camps.

“We would create campfires and cook ‘dampers’ – dough cooked on a stick and then jam inserted in the hollow centre once the stick was removed.”

Elizabeth remembers the death of Florence Judson while she was at the School, and then Alice, a historian, taking over. Alice was “very bright, read very well, and was highly dedicated. She did some teaching, including poetry and literature, which she loved.” On Founder’s Day – July 12th (Miss Judson’s birthday) – the whole school decamped to Hollybush for a picnic, after which the girls were allowed out by themselves. This was sheer delight!

Every girl would have pocket money provided by her parents. “You were expected to keep a ledger from as young as 8. Each week you had to account for every penny spent and present your ledger for marking to the Head of the Junior House. There was an offertory to the Church

every week (two services on Sundays), and on Saturdays a sweet stall would come to School.”

After holidays, there was a process to mitigate against illnesses spreading amongst the student body. “Each day for two weeks, every girl’s temperature would be taken.

If you showed any signs of being unwell, you would be whipped off to the Sanitorium.”

There was a strict regime at the school. “Of course, now I can laugh about some of these things, but it could be vicious. There were injustices, but we would never be allowed to answer back, even to defend ourselves. If you were given a conduct mark – for example, for forgetting your books, talking after lights out, or making noise in the corridor – you would have to learn a poem by heart.” If your transgression was greater, you would be sent to bed.

This probably wouldn’t mean very much to modern-day teenagers, but in the 1930s, “it was a horrible experience: a freezing cold dorm, alone, feeling a bit spooked.” The ultimate sanction, though, was being sent to Leamington.

This meant a week in isolation in Leamington House, to sleep alone at night. On the whole though, the Judsons were regarded as being fair-minded. “The discipline led to a focus, and the sense of doing the right thing.”

In July 1939, Elizabeth had completed her School Certificate with seven credits. She went to Bedford College of Physical Education, before becoming a Games teacher at Northampton High School between 1942-46, and then teaching at the Cadbury factory in Bournville where she met her husband, John.

Elizabeth now lives in Malvern, is active in the Malvern Priory community and the University of the Third Age.

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ST JAMES’S and St James’s & THE ABBEY

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Elizabeth Mullenger

oganews spring 2016

Headmistress 1986-1997

Those of you who struggled to read my handwriting prior to email communication and computer-printed Reports (perish the day!) might be pleased to know that I am now studying and attempting to practise calligraphy. I find it a most enjoyable challenge. I also continue to travel whenever possible, especially, as always, to Italy; and I spend a lot of time at the theatre and art exhibitions and enjoying music.

Governorship at Malvern St James remains both exacting and rewarding and keeps me well in touch with educational development.

There has never been a better time to celebrate the continuing pioneering achievements of women and their singular gifts of teamworking, networking and leadership and I am delighted to see how strongly the MSJ OGA is promoting this in its excellent ‘Malvern Alumnae 100’ project. Congratulations!

It was a great joy to see so many Old Girls from The Abbey at last summer’s Reunion: another very memorable day and a reminder of the strength of our constituent alumnae groups and now of our combined force as MSJ. In a small but nonetheless significant way the Founders’ Garden reminds us of this. It is still lovingly tended by Miss Stewart and Dr Payne who would, I know, welcome help from any willing local Old Girls (please let them know via school if you could do so). The gardens of St James’s are still magnificent, especially in Spring and Autumn, and Regents College is very welcoming to former pupils and staff who wish to visit old haunts.

Last year we mourned the death of Libby Anson (formerly TwistonDavies, formerly Maude) who had been part of the school for so many years as an Old Girl of St James’s and then Governor of St James’s & the Abbey, St James’s, and MSJ. An oak tree is to be planted on the MSJ playing fields in memory of her long, distinguished and loving service.

This winter we received the tragic news of the death of a much younger Old Girl, Katherine (Katie) Fereday (St James’s & The Abbey 1997). Katie and her father were both killed in a car accident near her family home in Cumbria early in the New Year. Hannah Plant, Amy Knowles, Roma Moore, Kate James and Caroline Hackett attended her funeral. Amy has written about Kate in this edition of the magazine (see on).

It is always interesting to receive news of Old Girls, and to realise when tragedy strikes, and in happy times too, how strong and lasting the friendships made at school can be. I look forward very much to seeing some of you at the Reunion in June and, as ever, hearing from you.

Affectionately,

Elizabeth Mullenger

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HONORARY MEMBERS

ROS HAYES

Headmistress MSJ 2006-10 and St James’s 2003-6 “ Travel makes one modest. You see what a tiny place you occupy in the world.” - Gustav Flaubert There are few places in the world where you can feel completely removed from civilisation. Although human beings have colonised most of the world, we have yet to establish permanent settlements in Antarctica. Being only accessible from November to March, there are just a few expedition huts and research stations dispersed across this vast, remote continent.

Forty years ago, a friend of mine joined British Antarctic Survey and sent airmail missives home describing his experiences. Some of my former students may remember me reading extracts from his letters when we were studying Antarctica in Geography lessons. Captivated by his fascinating accounts, I vowed one day to visit this frozen continent.

Starting with a flight to Buenos Aries, I set off in December 2018, on a thrilling expedition into this icy world. From Buenos Aries, I took a flight to Ushuaia, a port at the Southern tip of Argentina, where I boarded a small expedition ship for a two day sail across the notorious Drake’s Passage to reach the Antarctic Peninsula. Force 10 winds ensured a rough sea with a huge swell and reminded us that we were venturing into challenging territory!

Fortunately, on arrival, we were blessed with calmer weather and were able to land twice daily to walk on pristine snow amongst the most spectacular scenery. The landscape surpassed anything I had imagined. It was overwhelming. It’s immaculate and unspoiled nature is unlike anywhere else on earth. Majestic icebergs, the blinding white expanses of ice and snow and the incredible blue of the sky, colonies of penguins sitting on eggs or feeding chicks, Weddell seals basking in the sun, the spouts of humpback whales and the slap of their tails as they breach the water, albatross, with a wing span of 3.5ms following the ship and, above all, silence.

Antarctica is a place that such a small percentage of people have a chance to visit, I feel privileged to have had the opportunity to have experienced the world’s last great wilderness.

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IN MEMORIAM Amy Knowles (1997 Leaver) writes: It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of our dear school friend Kate Fereday.

Kate tragically died aged 39 following a car accident that happened in Cumbria on the 29th December 2018. She was back home visiting family for Christmas when the incident happened.

Kate, or to many of us known as Katie or to others as Katherine, attended St. James’s & the Abbey School and was in my year.

Miss Mullenger, Headmistress during Katie’s time at St. James’s, described her as a “very clever and lovely girl, and a talented artist”.

As school friends we all remember a string of merits and distinctions being read out after Kate’s name at the end of term. And for those of us who have been fortunate enough to have known her in recent times are aware, when talking to Kate you would always learn something new and she would love a debate on Brexit!

Kate had a warm, kind, calm nature and was a loyal friend.

Following Kate’s school years she went on initially to study Architecture and then changed to read English at Cardiff University, where she gained a First. She pursued her passion for reading and writing and became a journalist when she moved to London.

Kate then chose to share her love of literature and poetry and became an exceptional English teacher at Putney High School where she taught between September 2010 and August 2017.

Kate loved travelling and in recent years had made trips to India and Costa Rica. If not reading a book, she would be seen behind the camera: she was a fantastic photographer.

Kate moved to Lisbon in August 2017 and taught at St Julian’s school. She loved exploring the city, the

Portuguese pottery and, of course, eating the famous delicacy ‘pastéis de nata’, better known to us as Portuguese custard tarts!

Kate will be sorely missed by family, friends and everyone that knew her.

Carol James (Williams 1976) on September 26th 2018 at the age of 59. She was an inspiration to many people she met and her artistic talent did not go unnoticed. She put up a brave and long fight but finally succumbed to her illness.

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LAWNSIDE

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LAWNSIDE

Duseline Stewart Headmistress 1971-1990

2018 has been an eventful year. It started with a visit to my brother in Florida where I actually watched a bald eagle foraging for food from the sitting room window. The variety of birdlife was amazing, but few little ones. In June, Mikey and I had a week's holiday in Cornwall with my brother and sister-in- law and other members of the family including a two-year-old. Mikey was a great hit, everyone wanted to take him for a walk including the toddler. She insisted on walking him on his lead round and round the dining-room table. Mikey found this a very puzzling activity.

Rather less pleasant was the fall in which I fractured my hip while gardening in August. It took two days for the doctors to decide not to operate, but to let the fracture heal naturally. This resulted in nine weeks of house boundedness. Fortunately my kind brother flew over from Canada for a couple of weeks to help me, during which he arranged for a chairlift and a walkin shower to be fitted to my great relief. My neighbours too were wonderfully kind and attentive. I passed the time watching rubbish television (Homes under the Hammer was compulsive viewing), and knitting poppies for the 11th November.

Now I am back on my feet and back to dog-walking and gardening and getting impatient with our silly parliamentarians.

Hopefully, by the time you read this they will have reached some conclusion.

Affectionately yours,

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LAWNSIDE Alice Reeve (1992) wrote in with an article which we will publish in the next magazine; in the meantime here is an extract about a Local Hero award she has been nominated for, in recognition of her work to raise the profile nationally of Fybromyalgia, ME and Lyme Disease, and to encourage greater recognition within the NHS of these conditions: “I had a lovely surprise back in February this year. Breeze, the local radio station, called me to say that I had been nominated for the 2019 Local Heroes Lifetime Achievement Award and I had been shortlisted for the final stage. It was now up to the public to choose their hero. The nomination was made by a good friend, Clare Palmer. This is what Clare wrote: ‘Alice is very unwell, diagnosed with Fibromyalgia, ME and also Lyme disease. She has significant Arthritis (caused

by Lyme Disease) and is in a great deal of pain every day.

She sadly has been hospitalised a few times in the last few years, the last time being with Septic Arthritis.

Despite her very poor health, Alice has been campaigning and fighting incredibly hard for patients for over a decade, with great sacrifice to her own wellbeing at times. She has been working very closely with local MP Alex Chalk and attended several Parliamentary meetings on behalf of patients, including participating in the Lyme Disease APPG. Alice has run support groups for patients since 2009 until very recently when she became too unwell to attend them herself, although she still manages the group from her home. Alice fights daily for her own health and that of others and has made a considerable difference to many patients’ lives.

She is incredibly humble and would not ever consider that she should receive this award as she believes that what she does is vital and necessary.

Alice (right) with her patron, Sonia

Alice has for many years attended and also held educational seminars to educate the public and also NHS doctors on the conditions. Fibromyalgia, ME and Lyme are not conditions that are widely known about and so Alice works hard to make sure that GPs are aware of the plight of patients, many of whom are completely house/bed bound.

Without Alice, these patients would not have had support when suffering such isolating and frightening conditions.’

I found out a few weeks later that I had actually won the award. The awards evening will be held in Cheltenham at the beginning of April.

Three months before this, Gloucestershire Live had listed 19 inspirational people in Gloucestershire; I had been included in their list too.”

IN MEMORIAM Gillian Mayall, on 6th August 2018. Mrs. Mayall was in charge of Drama at Lawnside for many years and responsible for many memorable productions.

Particularly spectacular were the Offenbach operas, La Belle Hélène and Orpheus in the Underworld. The first production in the new hall was done in very difficult circumstances - because of the 3-day week, building had been delayed and the windows were put in on the morning of the performance which took place in a bare hall with unplastered walls and a concrete floor. Her enthusiasm undoubtedly transferred itself to her pupils.

Mrs Russell died in Southsea at the age of 101. She will be remembered by many girls as the housemistress of Lawnside where she reigned with great good humour and her faithful dachshund, Lorenzo. Lawnsidians will

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remember her enjoyment of wrestling on TV on Saturday afternoons.

Angela Marsh-Smith (Holgate, 1940), on 1st February this year. She had a long and full life, lived to be 91 ½, and had 3 children, 7 grandchildren and 5 greatgrandsons with one further great-grandchild expected shortly. Until the final few months of her life she enjoyed reasonable health, playing bridge and seeing family and friends regularly.

Claire Sims (late 1940s), in March 2018.

Elisabeth Ann Middleton (Roberts 1957), on December 24th 2015.

NOTICEBOARD THE OGA AND YOUR DATA On 25th May 2018 new data legislation came into effect across the EU. Called the General Data Protection Regulation, this supercedes the 1998 Data Protection Act. We use your data to communicate with you about OGA and school reunions, events and news, and fundraising. We do this via email and/ or post where you have given us your contact information. This helps us create a vibrant and flourishing community, to keep people in touch with one another, and to forge closer relationships between the OGA and the school.

In the future we may start to use SMS/text messaging, and we will seek your individual permission to do this.

Changes are also to be made to PECR (Privacy and Electronic Communications Regulations) at a European level, but there is no expected date as yet for the new e-Privacy regulation. In the meantime, we adhere to PECR regulations that state that consent to use your email address must be freely given.

As you will be aware from our previous data statements printed in the OGA magazine, we operate best practice.

Your details are stored on our school database. The information you share with us is held securely on this system and used by the Old Girls’ Association, and can also be shared, where appropriate, and with the approval of the data administrators, with other relevant departments of the school, such as Careers. Your details will not be shared with others in the OGA without your express consent. Your data will never be disclosed to third party organisations for commercial purposes. Where we have to use a third party organisation to handle our data (for example, mailing houses for the distribution of magazines and other literature), we ensure that they are fully compliant with the relevant data legislation.

Our full data statement can be found at: http:msj.gs/ogadata If you would like to unsubscribe at any time from our postal and/or email communications, please let us know by contacting: Tel: 01684 892288 email: oga@malvernstjames.co.uk Post: OGA Office, Malvern St James Girls’ School, 15 Avenue Road, Great Malvern, Worcestershire WR14 3BA

AGM 2019 Proposal of Constitution change An OGA Annual General Meeting will be held on Summer Reunion day on Saturday 15th June 2019.

We would like to make members aware of a proposed change to the Constitution which will be voted on at this meeting.

It is relating to clause 3(g) of the Constitution under ‘Membership’, relating to Honorary Members (former staff). Currently this point reads: ‘3. The Members of the Association shall consist of the following: g. Honorary Life Members who shall consist of all members of the teaching and resident house staff who have served the School for a minimum of five years and any other or others elected by the Executive Committee in recognition of any particular service to the School.’

The proposal is to change the minimum period of service from five years to two years in order to be eligible to become an Honorary Member, applying to teaching, house and other staff.

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MSJ Connect www.msj-oga.co.uk Call 01684 892288 oga@malvernstjames.co.uk www.malvernstjames.co.uk Malvern St James, 15 Avenue Road, Great Malvern, Worcestershire WR14 3BA