King Edward VII School Memories

Ciaran shares his story as a past recipient of the Assisted Places Scheme which was introduced by the Conservative government in 1981 lasting until 1997.

When did you attend KES and how was your experience?

I joined KES in 1989 when I was 12 years old and left in 1996 to study English at Oxford University. At the time I don’t think I was aware that I was being financially supported through the Assisted Places Scheme to attend the school. Without the assisted place I benefited from there would have been no chance I could have attended the school - and consequently I doubt I would have been able to attend the university I did or pursue the career I have.

There’s little doubt much of what I’ve accomplished over the last three decades can be traced back to the head start I got joining King Edward VII in 1989 at 12 years of age. Those formative years did so much to shape my understanding of my place in the world, and to give me confidence to take on any challenge, no matter how alien it felt. It has also made me realise that excellence comes in many guises and from many different backgrounds and a school like AKS deserves to be full of the very best young people. Therefore, if additional financial support can be offered through the AKS Lytham Foundation to those families who would benefit the most, then the opportunities are immense.

What do you think about the AKS Lytham Foundation?

I strongly believe that the assisted place I received played a very important part in the opportunities I’ve been able to take advantage of for the last two and a half decades. I’ve subsequently become a strong advocate for social mobility, championing it as I have become a Board member in one of the country’s largest utility companies. Now it’s my turn to pay back some of that opportunity, in the hope it inspires others to nurture talent wherever it can be found. A bursary isn’t a substitute for hard work and determination, but it’s a helping hand you can’t put a value on until later in life.

To watch the full interview with Ciaran as part of our new AKS Lytham Foundation film, please visit https://oaksconnect.com/pages/ aks-foundation

Jean Salmon (née Bloxham), QMS 1940 to 1945, was one of the foremost British female racing drivers of the 1950s. One of the few to race regularly, she often beat her male counterparts, predominantly at the wheel of an Aston Martin. Born in 1926 in St Annes as Jean Noel Edwina Liver, she attended QMS and later became an air stewardess – serving Winston Churchill was a fond memory – and married the gentleman racer, Roy Bloxham. At the age of 18, her mother, Ethel, had become one of the first women to hold a driving licence, and shared her passion for speed and beautiful cars with Jean and her brother. Having initially competed in sprints and hill climbs in her Aston Martin DB2, Jean made her racing debut when her husband secretly entered her for the Ladies’ Race at Goodwood’s 1955 International meeting. She came third despite being terrified and racing against famous drivers including Pat Moss (sister to Stirling). During her career she accumulated over 60 trophies and 15 podium places including 7 victories. Tragedy struck when her husband, Roy Bloxham, crashed in a 1961 race at Goodwood and was killed, choking on a piece of chewing gum. Jean then retired from racing but remained as director of the Gerrards Cross Motor Company along with racing driver Michael Salmon, whom she later married.

Jean Salmon was elected as an honorary member of the British Racing Drivers Club in 1993, becoming a full member in 2001. As one of only a handful of women to hold this honour, she said it was the proudest moment of her life. Jean died in 2016 at the age of 89.

Queen Mary School Memories

Sara Hanks, QMS 1969 to 1976, studied Law at Oxford University and had a stellar career after leaving QMS. She joined a London law firm and later emigrated to the USA with her American husband, a China expert for the Defence Department. By the age of only 31 she had been appointed as Chief of the Office of International Corporate Finance in the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (equivalent to the London Stock Exchange) in Washington DC.

Her success continued with a role as partner at one of the world’s largest law firms, Clifford Chance based in New York. As a corporate and securities attorney, Sara gained top-level experience of global industries including financial institutions, energy and technology companies. This expertise led to her appointment as General Counsel of the Congressional Oversight Panel, the overseer of the Troubled Asset Relief Program (TARP) during the depths of the financial crisis in 2009. In the course of this work on Capitol Hill, Sara gained a unique perspective on the consequences of government involvement in the financial markets.

Now living in Virginia, Sara is co-founder and CEO of CrowdCheck, which provides due diligence, disclosure and compliance services for entrepreneurs, enabling investors to make informed investment decisions. We are proud to have Sarah as onboard as one of our AKS Foundation Patrons.